Author: Newspaper Staff

The Tour DeBook Bicycling Event is once again returning to Williams County. However, instead of being held in late September, the event has been moved to May 21, 2016. United Way of Williams County will have a Tour DeBook Maintenance Day on April 22nd to help everyone get their bikes fixed and ready to start riding! Stay tuned for future details on the exciting Tour DeBook Bicycling Event! The Tour DeBook is sponsored by United Way of Williams County in conjunction with Williams County Public Library and Montpelier Public Library. For more information about the Tour DeBook event, please contact…

John F. Arnos, age 88 years, 11 months, of Ridgeville Corners, passed away Sunday morning, September 6, 2015, in his home. Prior to his retirement he had been a farmer and had worked at the Zehr Company in Archbold, Agrico in Ridgeville Corners, Behrman Vault Company in Ridgeville Corners, and had owned and operated J & L Plant Food Company in Ridgeville Corners. John was born in Defiance County on October 1, 1926, the son of Frederick and Frieda (Wesche) Arnos. On February 11, 1950 he married Doris Leininger, and she survives. John was a member of St. John Lutheran…

Belva (JoHantgen) Starr, 102, died peacefully in her sleep at Ebeid Hospice on Friday, September 4th. She was born in Van Wert, Ohio in 1913 to Francis and Clara JoHantgen. Belva credited her work on the family farm for her strength and fortitude. After graduating from high school in West Unity, Ohio she was headed to nursing school, but her plans changed when she met and married Paul B. Starr in 1940. They made their home in Montpelier, Ohio where Belva operated a beauty salon in their home while she raised her children. Upon their retirement they spent their winters…

Alberta L. Armstrong, age 92, of rural Wauseon, passed away Sunday morning, September 6, 2015, at Fulton Manor in Wauseon. Alberta was born in New Madrid, MO on July 7, 1923, the youngest child of George Albert and Allie Mae (Ferrenburg) Eby. She married Ellis J. Armstrong in 1941, and he preceded her in death in 1997. She was a faithful member of the West Fulton Dunkard Brethren Church, rural Wauseon, and a lifelong resident of Fulton County, Ohio. She is survived by two daughters, Nancy (Gary) Rathbun and Lola (Joe) Flory, three granddaughters, Kate (Andrew) Fruth, Karen (Bill) Buckenmeyer…

Kim Cupp, Health Commissioner at the Fulton County Health Department reminds residents that flu season is quickly approaching. One of the best ways to protect oneself from this respiratory illness is to get vaccinated. “Since February 2010, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended annual influenza vaccination for all people age six months of age and older.” Cupp reports there is plenty of vaccine available and that most insurance plans are covering the cost of this preventive health service. She also commented on how important it is for parents, siblings, and…

Wauseon, Ohio — September 1, 2015 – Four County Family Center, a service location of Family Service of Northwest Ohio, announced that September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The Four County Suicide Prevention Coalition announces September is Suicide Awareness and Prevention month. The coalition, which was formed in April of 2010, will be implementing several awareness activities throughout the Four County area this September. Suicide is the 11th largest killer of Americans and 3rd largest killer of youth ages 10-24. “A suicide attempt is a desperate cry for help to end excruciating, unending, overwhelming emotional pain. Most youth do not…

KENT, OH – Kent State welcomes its highest-achieving freshman class ever and continues strong university enrollment. These academically motivated freshmen have an average GPA of 3.35 and an average ACT score of above 23; both are increases over last year and records for an incoming Kent campus freshman class. The following area students are among the more than 6300 newly enrolled students comprising the Kent State University Class of 2019: Emily Bray of Wauseon; Shayla Coffman of West Unity; Taylor Demaline of Wauseon; Elizabeth Garlinger of Wauseon; Nicole Mabus of Wauseon; and Shelby Vine of Fayette. INFORMATION PROVIDED

Archbold, OH – Remember the “good old days” when life moved at a slower pace? When daily chores involved gathering eggs, working in the garden, and cooking a meal from scratch? With a buy one get one free deal for all grandparents and free admission for kids on Sunday, September 13. Grandparents are invited to celebrate Grandparents Day by creating special memories with their grandkids at Sauder Village! “A visit to Historic Sauder Village offers guests an opportunity to reflect on the past and experience the lives of our pioneer ancestors,” shared Kim Krieger, Media Relations. “Whether it’s a couple…

Archbold, OH – Sauder Village, Ohio’s largest living-history destination, invites home school families from throughout the region to Home School Appreciation Days – September 8-12 and September 15-19. Families are encouraged to call and pre-register to receive discounted admission and special coupons for this great opportunity to connect your children to local history. “Our costumed guides and working craftsmen help bring history to life for students of all ages,” shared Kim Krieger, Media Relations Specialist. “Home School Appreciation Days are a great time for home school families to have fun in the past while learning something new at Sauder Village!”…

The Williams County Senior Centers have a variety of events planned for the months of September and October. They welcomed Maggie Fisher as the new Executive Director of the Williams County Department of Aging. She has been with the Department of Aging for 9 years and is looking forward to this new role. The Williams County Department of Aging consists of seven Senior Center sites in the county. The Bryan, Montpelier, and West Unity sites are open Mondays-Fridays while the Stryker, Edon, Edgerton, and Pioneer sites are open Mondays-Thursdays. Each site offers meals, activities such as bingo, crafts, Euchre tournaments,…

Tami Manley Roth and the Montpelier Public Library will be having a Slate Painting Class September 29th. The class will paint on slates that came off the Montpelier Village Hall when the roof was replaced this summer. You can let your creative talent run wild and paint anything you want. Tami will have several examples to help you if you don’t know what to paint. The fee for this project is $20 and must be prepaid. For more information or to sign up for the class call the Montpelier Public Library at 419-485-3287. INFORMATION PROVIDED

Are you interested in being more active this year? Do you want to get into better shape in 2015? If the answer to these questions is yes, then the West Unity Library has exactly what you are looking for! The library will once again be holding Walk Fit workouts for patrons. Participants can come and move along with the staff to beginner fitness DVDs to get in shape. The program is free to the public and will be held weekly on Tuesdays at 12:00 pm and Wednesdays at 5:00 pm. The whole family is also invited to a night filled…

Nancy C. Apt, 72, of Kunkle passed away early Friday morning at Defiance Area Inpatient Hospice Center.  She was born on December 5, 1942 in Bryan to John and Winona E. (Rowley) Apt.  Nancy graduated from North Central High School in 1960. Nancy was a Toll Clerk for the Ohio Turnpike, and had also worked as a secretary at Bard Manufacturing and Lincoln Life Insurance.  She was a former member of the Presbyterian Church in Kunkle where she was an elder for several years. She is survived by her mother Winona E. Apt of Kunkle; one brother Larry Apt of…

(Wauseon, OH) As you enjoy more time outside due to cooler weather, fall sports, family picnics, working, hunting, and camping, your Fulton County Health Department encourages you to protect yourself from mosquito-borne disease. As of August 18, 2015, a total of 45 states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes in 2015. Overall, 210 cases of West Nile virus (WNV) disease in people in the U.S. required medical attention and were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of these, 126 (60%) were classified as potentially life-threatening neurologic illness (such as meningitis or…

Tom Spiess presented the Phillips-Schrock Award for volunteerism to the Fayette FFA Chapter on September 2. Accepting the award on behalf of the FFA were Gene and Sue Schaffner and Dick and Linda Martin. Dick and Gene were both members of the FFA at Fayette. Henry Phillips and Joe Schrock were avid volunteers and are the inspiration for this award.

The Pettisville Elementary will be conducting a Character Education Program developed by the teachers. Each month the students and staff will work at being good citizens while focusing on one particular trait. We will have an assembly every month to “introduce” the new trait. Your child is receiving a t-shirt to wear on the assembly days. The first assembly was conducted on Friday, September 4th and we introduced “RESPECT” as our first focus trait. Each month’s focus traits are: September – Respect October – Integrity November – Gratitude December – Patience January – Self Control February – Responsibility March -…

The Wauseon School District is proud to report improvements in the performance of our Wauseon High School students on the American College Testing college readiness assessment. Over ninety students took the ACT and those that took the test in 2015 scored, on average, higher in each subtest in addition to the overall composite score. Wauseon students also performed higher than the state average in all testing areas in 2015. ACT, Inc. says that the ACT assessment measures high school students’ general educational development and their capability to complete college level work with the multiple choice tests covering four skill areas:…

Dana Mae (Bixler) Beatty, age 87, of Swanton, Ohio passed away peacefully Wednesday night, September 2, 2015 at Swanton Health Care and Rehabilitation Center where she resided. Dana was born November 2, 1927 in Orrville, Ohio, to Loah (Koons) and Calvin Bixler. She married her true love, Owen R. Beatty on February 8, 1947 and thus began a life of love and laughter. For 68 years, Dana and Owen cherished and cared for each other until Owen’s passing this July. Lifelong residents of northwest Ohio, Dana and Owen settled in Swanton to raise their four boys. Dana was an intelligent…

Roger L. Grieser, age 70, of Pettisville, passed away on Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at Fulton Manor in Wauseon, after a brief illness. Prior to his retirement he had worked at the former Fulton Tubing – ITT Higbie in Archbold for 45 years. Roger was born in Wauseon on March 26, 1945, the son of Royal and Magdalene (Detter) Grieser. On September 25, 1964 he married Karen Wood, and she survives. He was a member of Emmaus Lutheran Church in Wauseon. He enjoyed looking things up on the computer, playing solitaire, going out to eat at good restaurants, but most…

George C. Bail, 61 years, of West Unity, passed away Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at his residence with his family at his side. George was born October 15, 1953 in Hudson, Michigan, the son of Robert Franklin and Gloria Ilo (Kelly) Bail. He was a graduate of Hilltop High School. He married Mary Elizabeth (Grizzle) on December 22, 1976 in Adrian, Michigan, and she survives. George served in the United States Marine Corps from 1972 – 1976, during the Vietnam Era. George previously worked at CTI. He was a member of the West Unity American Legion Post 669, Legion Riders…

Families with babies and preschoolers are invited to join the “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program at Swanton Public Library. The “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program is a nationwide challenge that encourages parents and caregivers to regularly read aloud to their children. By reading just one book a night (even if it’s the same book over and over!), families can reach the 1,000-book goal in three years and provide their children essential early literacy skills. Research shows that the most reliable predictor of school success is being read to during early childhood. Reading to children from an early age can help…

Four County Career Center was pleased to host Rachel Blue, Legislative Assistant for United States Congressman Robert Latta, who recently toured the school and visited with students. She visited several career and technical programs and saw students working with instructors in the labs. Superintendent Tim Meister relayed to Ms. Blue the school’s gratitude for Congressman Latta’s continued support of career and technical education and Four County Career Center. Shown above during her visit are (LEFT TO RIGHT) Ms. Blue; with Kenley Brown (Hilltop) from the Veterinarian Assistant program.

The Hilltop High School Class of 1962 met at Four Seasons Diner in Bryan on August 8, 2015 for an annual gathering. The next gathering will be on August 13, 2016. Pictured are: Row 1: Robert Crisenbery, Devon Leu, Jane (Kunkle) Moor, Judy (Hutchison) Rand. Row 2: Judy (Tressler) Nixon, Barbara (Suter) Altman, Charlotte (Gunn) Smith, Peggy (Ledyard) Hutchison, Brenda (Dean) Duvendack, Rodger Green. Row 3: Mardelle (Viers) Roberts, Gloria (Frey) Graber, Barbara (Moor) Crisenbery, Mary (Roose) Hausch, James Hatchel, George Stoops.

Every year, our district receives a rating on the performance of our special education program. In past years, this was our Special Education Determination This year, it is renamed our Special Education Rating. The Ohio Department of Education uses final data that our district submits through the Education Management Information System (EMIS). This data results in one of four ratings — Meets Requirements, Needs Assistance, Needs Intervention, or Needs Substantial Intervention. Wauseon’s 2015 Special Education Rating is Meets Requirements. The primary basis of this rating is the final special education program data our district submitted through EMIS for the 2013-2014…

BRYAN Police On Thursday, August 27, 2015 at 7:42 PM, Kristin M. Way, Age 24, Hillsdale, MI, was arrested for Complicity to Commit Theft-Shoplifting. She was taken to CCNO. On Thursday, August 27, 2015 at 7:42 PM, Adam M. Reese, Age 25, Hillsdale, MI, was arrested for Theft-Shoplifting. He was taken to CCNO. EDON Police (Aug 16) Civil dispute (Aug 16) 911 hang up (Aug 16) Assisted disabled motorist (Aug 16) Traffic complaint (2) (Aug 17) Suspicious activity (Aug 17) Dog at large (Aug 17) Citizen assist (Aug 17) Telephone harassment (Aug 17) Citation; speed (Aug 18) Warning; speed (3)…

Cleona J. Spangler, 81 years, of Evansport, Ohio, passed away Tuesday, September 1, 2015, at Community Health Professionals Inpatient Hospice, Defiance. Cleona was born January 20, 1934, in West Unity, Ohio, the daughter of the late Cleo and Naomi (Esterline) Lutz. She was a 1952 graduate of Kunkle High School. She married William H. “Bill” Spangler on August 29, 1966, in Bryan, and he preceded her in death on November 14, 2013. Cleona worked at Hayes – Albion as a press operator for 40 years until her retirement in 1988. She was a member of Restoration Tabernacle in Defiance. Cleona…

Richard Allen Bailey, age 37, of Delta, passed away unexpectedly Sunday morning, August 30, 2015 at St. Vincent Mercy Hospital in Toledo.   He was born in Toledo on July 25, 1978 to Jimmy Bailey Sr and Bonnie (Hill) Bailey who both survive. Richard attended Liberty Center High School.  He was a drywall and plasterer by trade.  When not working he enjoyed camping, fishing and riding motorcycles. He is survived by his children, Collin Michael Pike, Tristan Annette Bailey and Taryn Marie Bailey; brother, Jimmy Bailey Jr.; paternal grandmother, Joyce Bailey and special friend, Christa Doty.  Richard was preceded in death…

Bryan – The Defiance Post of the Highway Patrol is currently investigating a one vehicle fatal crash which occurred on Saturday August 29, 2015, at approximately 5:40pm, on US 6, near milepost 13, in Williams County. A 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix, driven by Amy Bibler, age 32, of Findlay, Ohio, was westbound on US 6. The vehicle traveled off the north side of the road, went airborne and then overturned into a creek. Ms. Bibler and her passenger, Richard Eagleson III, age 35, of Deshler, Ohio were trapped in the partially submerged car. Both Ms. Bibler and Mr. Eagleson were…

Driving down State Route 34 toward the Ohio/Indiana state line in the fall affords a classic northwest Ohio scene. The rich, vivid greens of corn fields are stacked on both sides of the road surrounding you with a feeling of familiarity and home. Turning off of the state highway onto the stone road of 1-50, still surrounded by fields of corn, and going up and over a set of railroad tracks you will find the home of Stateline Speedway. After finding a place to park and before even getting out of the vehicle, the sound of the roar of engines…

One of the goals of the Williams County DARE program is to assist with developing community. During this process there has been a lot of community support towards DARE. A group called “Friends of DARE” has been developed within our local area. This group is having a fundraising dinner and auction at the Bryan Middle School on October 3rd. They are seeking services or items to be donated, which will be auctioned off that evening. If you are willing to assist, please contact Angi at 419-551-9388 or ohioangi@yahoo.com (these items are tax-deductible). As a reminder ALL funds raised in support…