COMMUNI CATI ONS ENERGY CONSERVATI ON CONSTRUCTI ON "Difference Makers in Business & Industry" ASpecialSupplementToTheDelphosHerald March2013 A Section DELPHOS HERALD THE I N D E X AD ... STORY Gasdorf Tool and Machine ...................2A ........... 2A Bunge ...................................................3A ........... 3A Schmitt Massa & Lloyd Ins. Agency .....4A ........... 4A Fort Jennings Telephone Co. ...............4A Delpha ..................................................4A Westrich Furniture ................................5A ........... 5A Fort Jennings State Bank .....................5A ........... 5A Community Health Professionals .........6A ........... 6A Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative .6A Easy Auto Credit...................................6A C. Allan Runser, Attorney Shaun R. Putman, Attorney ..................6A Helena ..................................................7A Dicks Steakhouse ................................7A St. Ritas ...............................................7A Delphos Area Chamber of Commerce .7A Allied Environmental Services Inc. .......8A ........... 8A Greve ...................................................8A Garmann/Miller .....................................9A ........... 9A Vancrest ................................................9A Dominion ..............................................9A Delphos Herald .....................................9A Farm Credit Services ..........................10A ......... 10A Lee Kinstle ..........................................10A ......... 10A Niswonger...........................................11A ......... 11A First Federal Bank ..............................11A Sydney Electric ...................................12A DIFFERENCE MAKERS in Business & Industry 60 (An ISO 9001:2008 Certifed Company) Gasdorf Tool and Machine Co., Inc., 445 N. McDonel St., Lima, was established in 1953 and has long been recognized as a pacesetter in precision manufacturing. Gasdorf provides complete services ranging from concept to engineering to machine building and installation. The company offers quality prod- ucts to over 400 customers nationwide. Gasdorf upholds a repu- tation of excellence within the small electric motor and packaging industries. Local companies benefit from main- tenance services, rework and rebuilding tasks that directly ensure community progress. As Gasdorf maintains its competitive edge, its manu- facturing capabilities include Autocad design, CNC oper- ations and other techni- cally advanced equipment. Stringent quality control pro- cedures guarantee accuracy in compliance with military standards and extremely close tolerance work. Gasdorf encourages tool and die skills through active involvement in apprentice training programs. An SME affiliate member since 1957, Gasdorf promotes innovation and is committed to the belief that knowledge and experi- ence make this company an industry leader. Gasdorf Tool and Machine Co. The Gasdorf name is synoymous with excellence worldwide! Delphos looking at water projects, new bridges BY NANCY SPENCER nspencer@delphosherald.com DELPHOS A few pumps is all that stands in the way of the completion of the Water Treatment Plant By-Pass Improvement Project at Waterworks Park in Delphos. The city contracted with Peterson Construction for the project in December. Phase II included bidding ($3,500), con- struction administration ($3,000) and con- struction observation ($4,300). Total construc- tion was estimated to cost $247,000, with a Community Development Block Grant cover- ing $194,500. According to Safety Service Director Greg Berquist, there is a bottleneck between the clear- wells and the water plant and the improvements would increase the citys capacity to provide water. The clearwells are used for chlorine contact for water before it is moved to the upground tanks for distribution. The clearwells are cur- rently connected so water has to go through all three before becoming available to move to the tanks. Part of the project will also include separating the clearwells so they can be used individually as well. This will also make it pos- sible to put more water into the tanks in a shorter period of time, he said. The city is getting ready to begin two more water projects. A Gressel Drive water loop proj- ect will get underway soon. Berquist said the city the Community Improvement Corporation is taking possession of a parcel of land neces- sary for the infrastructure expansion and that action will significantly reduce the overall proj- ect expected cost from $140,000 to $80,000 as the city will only need to obtain an easement through the property owned by the CIC. Berquist said the loop will provide greater fire safety for the area and better water quality for food manufacturing. Council is currently considering legislation approving a low-interest to pay for the project. A water loop project on Cass Street will relieve residents from experiencing discolored water which affects laundry and drinkability because they are on the end of a water line. Berquist said Poggemeyer Design Group has already been contacted for engineering on the project and bids will be opened at the end of March. Bunge has granted the city an easement to install the water loop. Delphos also took possession of a new police patrol car this year and will look to receive another in the coming months. The citys recreational facilities saw improve- ment in 2012 and will continue to do this year. The Delphos Stadium Club finished a wrought- iron fence project around the football field and are in the process of putting in new sidewalks at Waterworks Park to connect the new walk bridge that was installed this winter to other paths in the park. The swimming pool will continue to see repairs as stainless steel is installed in the walls on the west side this year. The east side was done last year. The decking in the area of the reinforcement will also be re-caulked. Berquist added that several bridges within the city qualify under the federal bridge program for replacement. The program is a 80/20 match. Berquist said while bridges usually fall under county jurisdiction, the three in question are within the city limits and fall under the citys responsibilities. They are on Seventh, Sixth and Pierce streets where Flat Fork Creek runs under the roadways. Delphos City Schools enjoying glow of success BY NANCY SPENCER nspencer@delphosherald.com DELPHOS The City Schools are enjoying the after- math of the State Report Card for 2012-13. The district as a whole was ranked Excellent with Jefferson Middle School a School of Promise and Franklin Elementary rated Excellent with Distinction. According to the ODE, the School of Promise pro- gram was started in 2003 to help close the math and read- ing achievement gap for stu- dents who represent a range of socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. Being named a School of Promise is an honor, Jefferson Middle School Principal Terry Moreo said. This award is big- ger than one building. It repre- sents the quality of instruction being taught by every teacher in our district. Getting everyone on the same page is a lot of work. We have bi-monthly meetings with teachers to align lessons with state cur- riculum guidelines to apply to teaching, Moreo said. Each course of lessons is mapped out monthly. Finding the students who need the extra help to keep up with their peers is key. We do six individual short- cycle assessments with each student. Their success is chart- ed and instruction is adjusted to them, Moreo said. Our teachers realize that to make educational progress requires change. Daily our teach- ers making practice of this change. In wake of the Sandy Hook School shooting in Newtown, Conn., several district build- ings will see increased safety measures including Jefferson Middle School, Jefferson High School and Landeck. New intercom systems will be installed at each entryway in the buildings. Franklin already has doors visitors have to be buzzed in to enter. Like all Ohio school dis- tricts, Delphos is working on the newly-mandated teacher evaluation process. The Delphos Stadium Club continues projects at Stadium and Waterworks parks. Above: A wrought-iron fencing project at Stadium Park around the football field. Below: Sidewalks are the next order of business at Waterworks Park to connect the new walk bridge to the rest of the grounds. Business stories submitted by advertisers. Our Employees are: Dedicated to improving the agribusiness and food production chain since 1818. Leader in North America for consistent, high-quality oilseed processing products and service. Were proud of our thriving commu- nity and proud to have played a part in Delphosgrowthforover100years! Bunge extends a special congratula- tions to the community. It took a great deal of support, cooperation, and hard workfromalotofpeopleforDelphosto grow and prosper, and were proud that inasmallwayBungeanditsemployees wereapartofitall. Bunge,likeDelphos,hasaheritageof growth and a future to share. And, like thiscommunity,weplantocontinueour vitallyimportantroleandtogrowinser- vice.Weregladthatitwillhappenright inDelphos! Dave Allemeier Shawn Allemeier Robert Andrews Todd Barnhart Justic Brown Gary Carter Tony Carter Erick Eickholt Mike Finn Terry Fischer Matt Foust Donnie Fowler Rick Gable Greg Garza Jaime Garza Debra Geier Joe Geise Larry Grigsby Cory Haehn Joe Hoffman Jim Holman Angie Hull David Hunter Richard Jones Logan Kehres Jeremy Kline Zach Knebel Robin Kriegel Ryan Kriegel Daniel Kuehn Tom Merschman Austin Miller Frank Miller Travis Miller Doug Milligan Doug Milligan Jr. Tony Matney Scott Moenter Dan Mueller Kevin Osting Jerry Parrish Michael Placke Joe Price Mark Robey Ryan Robey Mark Schram Jeremy Stanger Tony Suever John Swickrath Jayne Swygart Michael Truesdale Kevin White Dave Zalar 234 S. Jefferson St. Delphos, Ohio Ph. 419-692-6010 www.bunge.com Bunge Limited, founded in 1818, is a leading agribusiness and food company with integrated operations that circle the globe. Bunge employs over 32,000 employees at over 400 facilities in over 30 countries. Bunges agribusiness operations process and transport tens of millions of tons of com- modities every year. The facility at 234 South Jefferson street is a soybean processing plant originally built in 1909. The business pur- chases soybeans which are processed to make soybean oil and meal. The oil is sent to the companys other locations for further pro- cessing into various food products. The meal is sold to customers both locally and globally. The Delphos facility has been making soybean oil and meal since the 1940s and employs 53 people. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with grain receiving hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tony Matney is the Facility Manager. For more information about the company, visit the companys website at : www.bunge. com Bunge Limited Bunge is a leading agribusiness and food company with integrated operations that circle the globe, stretch- ing from farm field to the retail shelf. March 2013 The Herald Progress Edition 3A Spencerville to see completion of new water plant BY STEPHANIE GROVES sgroves@delphosherald.com SPENCERVILLE Spencervilles new water treat- ment facility, which will be locat- ed adjacent to the Spencerville Swimming Pool on Broadway Street, will be completed in mid May. The 8 containers, which are being constructed in and trans- ported from Quebec, Canada, by H2O Innovation, will arrive May 13. The installation will begin with the tanks being unloaded from the carrier and set in place and the plumbing and electrical work will follow. The funds were secured through the Ohio EPA, The Ohio Department of Development water and sewer grant pro- gram and the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) program through the EPA. The total project will cost $3.2 million with the electrical portion of the project tallying approximately $467,000. The original scheduled com- pletion was set for this past March 4 but design revisions stretched the tentative comple- tion time by more than five months. With a custom project of this magnitude, the village engineer and innovations team had to collaborate on the design before a viable schematic was devised. Once the system is up and running, residents will have quality, filtered, softened water to utilize in their homes for 20-27 cents per day, which is the cost to pay debt service back. In the summer of 2012, the village completed the repair of a main linewhich leaked for close to one year that ran under the railroad tracks at Route 66. The $50,000 project was paid for by the village. The culvert project is now in the design and funding phase and entails replacing the broken main line, which engineers esti- mate at $1 million. It is slated to be apportioned into fiscal year 2016s budget. Spencerville has many in- house construction projects on tap for the upcoming year, which includes; replacing 100- 1200 lineal feet of water main; adding 300 lineal feet of 12 storm sewer pipe at the water treatment plane; tie drainage components from swimming pool into new water main; pave waste water facilities drive at $17,500 mid to late spring; replace the water line under the village Utility Dept. parking lot and then pour a concrete lot; and re-paint the entire swimming pool by the June 1 deadline for $5,000. The village will also take advantage of Moving Ohio Forward Grant program, which financially aids communities undertaking activities to demol- ish dilapidated abandoned and vacant residential properties. These properties have struc- tures on them no one will buy and on average, will cost $7,000 to raze. The village may be in the position to hold property owners accountable and assess them the portion of the cost of demolition (10-15 percent) that the village may have to absorb. Spencerville Local Schools working to meet raised bar BY STACY TAFF staff@delphosherald.com SPENCERVILLE Due to the raised bar put in place by the Ohio Department of Education with the new Common Core Standards and teacher/principal evaluation system, local schools have been scrambling over the last year to prepare their students and staff for the higher expectations. The new standards, which cover core stud- ies like math, science, social studies and English language arts, are expected to be fully in place for all grade levels during the 2013-14 school year. Spencerville Schools, which has been rated Excellent or Excellent with Distinction for the last five years on the Ohio Report Card, continues to work on keeping up. We continue to work on implement- ing the new common core, some of this involves deconstructing the new standards and the alignment of curriculum, particu- larly in math, Superintendent Joel Hatfield said. We are hopeful that we will be able to purchase a number of new math textbooks at various grade levels where we are most in need. We also continue the process of prepar- ing the staff and administration for the new Ohio Teacher Evaluation System and Ohio Principal Evaluation System that will be going into effect. We will need to have a recommendation ready for the board of edu- cation to approve in June. The staff has also been working hard at learning to write new Student Learning Objectives and Student Growth Measures. We are learning a whole bunch of new acronyms. The district is also looking to give stu- dents more opportunities to get a leg up into college by adding more college-level courses. The high school has implemented sev- eral dual enrollment classes in Spanish and business in conjunction with Rhodes State College and are currently working with Urbana University to expand the num- ber of college courses we offer here at Spencerville High School for next year, he said. Student safety is always of paramount concern to school district officials but after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT, Spencerville, like most schools, is ratcheting up the level of secu- rity it offers and training staff to respond better in the event of an emergency. Our Crisis Response Team has recently completed a revision of our Emergency Action Guide, with the support of local police, EMS, fire department and the Allen County EMA, Hatfield said. This docu- ment, along with updated maps, has been submitted to the Ohio Attorney Generals office in accordance with state law. Despite all the issues, changes and man- dates that public schools have dealt with over the last several years and will con- tinue to deal with for several more at least, Hatfield says hes proud of the way his district has been persevering. I am very proud of how hard our staff has worked over the last few years to incor- porate all the new changes coming down from Columbus, he said. This work has been done in spite of the frustration of still not knowing what will be expected of us in the near future. 4A The Herald Progress Edition March 2013 1946 - 2013 THANK YOU FOR 67 GREAT YEARS! CHEVROLET BUICK 1725 East Fifth Street Delphos IN DELPHOS 419-692-3015 TOLL FREE 1-888-692-3015 Next time you are shopping for a new or used car, truck or van ... or want service for your vehicle, take the short drive to Delpha-Chevrolet-Buick in Delphos. Josh Brinkman Steve Fischer Dan Frieburger Don Gasser Dick German Jim Grothouse Bill Grothouse Robert Grothouse Luella Grothouse Robert L. Grothouse Mark Grothouse Bill Gunter Paul Hale Matt Hall Scarlett Kemper Dan Kramer Jeff Mays Wade Pohlman Jake Schabbing Bill Schulte Rick Suever Edith Wieging Dan Wiseman We Are Very Proud To Be The Dealership For Americas Most Popular Cars, Trucks And Vans ... And We Are Especially Proud Of Our Staff Here At Delpha! VISIT US ON THE WEB @ www.delphachevy.com Dave, Tammy, Mike, Randy, Craig & Gary Serving You For All Your Communication Needs Sales - Rental - Service - Installation Residential or Commercial CATV & Digital CATV - Bright Long Distance LOCAL INTERNET ACCESS 65 W. 3rd St. Box 146 419-286-2181 Celebrating 100 Years 1908 2008 Call Features Available: Touchtone Three Way Calling Call Forwarding Caller ID Call Waiting/Distinctive Ringing Repeat Dialing Speed Calling Call Return & MORE 126 South Main Street Delphos, OH 45833 Office 419.692.0951 419.692.4876 Fax 419.692.8812 Schmit Massa and Lloyd Insurance Agency, LLC S M L INSURANCE AGENCY, LLC HOME AUTO FARM BUSINESS LIABILITY LIABILITY - HOME - FARM Serving all your insurance needs! Bill Massa Angie Carder Kathie Thitoff Barry Thitoff Proudly Representing German Mutual of Delphos The Schmit, Massa and Lloyd Insurance Agency offers auto, home, life, farm and business insur- ance. The business is locat- ed at 126 S. Main St. and is open 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. week- days and on Saturdays by appointment. The agency repre- sents German Mutual of Delphos, Motorist Mutual, Ohio Mutual, Progressive, Foremost and Grinell Mutual. The agency is proud of its long-term dedi- cation and consistent pro- fessional service to their clients in the tri-county area. It was started by Robert Schmit in 1956 in the back of Schmits Market and moved to its current loca- tion in 1981. Bill Massa purchased the agency in 1989. Since then, Massa acquired the Carl Core Agency, the Wendell Humphrey Agency and then in 2007, the William Lloyd Agency. Schmit, Massa and Lloyd has been recognized by their insurance carriers for their devotion to service and growth. Schmit, Mass and Lloyd is a member of the Delphos Area Chamber of Commerce and with the Professional Insurance Association. The agency is made up of 2 agents to properly serve their clients needs. Bill Massa is a Certified Insurance Counselor and has been a licensed agent since 1988. Kathie Thitoff has been a licensed agent for 27 years. Angie Carder has been the agencys office manager and customer ser- vice rep for 13 years. Barry Thitoff serves as the week- ly office cleaner. Consistent professional service to their clients is the cornerstone of this long-term insurance operation. Barry Thitoff KathyThitoff Bill Massa Angie Carder The Schmit Massa and Lloyd Insurance Agency Consistent professional service to their clients is the cornerstone of Schmit-Massa and Lloyd Insurance. Ottoville prepares to host Firefighter Convention BY STEPHANIE GROVES sgroves@delphosherald.com OTTOVILLE The Village of Ottoville has seen many advancements in the past year and the board has utilized its financial reach and invaluable foresight to secure the means neces- sary for the communitys future goals. In 2012, council was very busy with plans encompassing improvements within the park and looking ahead toward the annual Park Carnival and Firemens Convention that will take place in the public green space this coming summer. Through the dedicated efforts of the Ottoville Mothers Club, business and public donations, and a matching grant, funds to the tune of $26,231.38 were acquired to purchase new playground equipment for the park, which will be constructed and installed in the spring. The Board of Public Affairs has been research- ing the cost to repair the firehouse. The renova- tions include removal of old metal fascia walls and outdated electrical system, installation and painting of new metal fascia and the installation of new electrical fixtures, conduit and extra exterior outlets. At Decembers meeting, council agreed to contribute $25,000 toward the project. Of the two bids obtained by the Public Affairs board, the most comprehensive bid from Alexander Bebout, Inc., encompasses all the expected work and the estimate is close to $35,000. The plans to renovate the fire station is in the works to prepare the village while host- ing the 139th Northwest Ohio Fire Convention (NOVFA) on June 13-15th this year. The pro- posed detailed cruise and parade routes were presented to and approved by council members. The three day event will draw similar numbers of Fire Departments, at 110, and guests registered, at 1200, as last years convention held in Delphos. The house at 287 Church street was pur- chased with the intent of bulldozing it to the ground, backfilling the depression and utilizing the land for other purposes. Since its purchase, park board members have developed an interest in repairing and using the building for stor- age. They want to leave the first story intact and make modifications to the living space to accommodate storage space and possibly an area for meetings. They would also keep the garage and pay for the re-siding of the house. Mayor Ron Miller explained the first known modification to make the space usable is to remove the asbestos shingles. Samples of the siding are currently being tested for the carcino- gen. Another problem with the structure is a por- tion of the foundation is missing and to utilize the building for storage, the missing portion of the foundation would have to be replaced or the basement would have to be filled in. Board members have also been looking at reducing energy costs. In December, the instal- lation of sixteen new LED street lights and four meters was completed. The plan is to track the kilowatt usage of the lights and determine the energy cost savings, or return on investment (ROI). After six months, the village should have acquired sufficient data to analyze the systems energy efficiency. In November 2012, council approved the purchase of 11.757 acres of Niedecken property in the Industrial Park and will utilize the proper- ty for commercial development. The land costs $7,000 per acre, bringing the total purchase price close to $82,300. In 2013, board members looked to increase its revenues, establish village landmarks, move forward with road construction projects and update its public works vehicles. In January, council approved on emergency measure an ordinance raising sewer rates 25 cents per 1,000 gallons. Villagers will see the increase on their bills in April. The measure will increase the villages revenue by $8,000 per year. The village worked on compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit from the Ohio EPA by having a sewer bypass elimination study con- ducted in effort to increase the publics aware- ness of water source location and emergency measures. In January, The Ottawa Chamber of Commerce members presented a model of the villages four new entrance signs and verified each landmarks location. Each sign is 8 feet long and 5 feet tall, made of 3/4 inch aluminum and will be bolted down onto a one foot high, 6,000 pound concrete slab. The village paid for two of the four signs at $19,000 and Ottoville Chamber picked up the balance. H&M Machine & Welding donated the concrete, bolts and re- bar needed to complete the installation, which will take place when the weather is conducive. The signs will also be highlighted with either solar or electrical powered lighting. The Auglaize Street reconstruction project includes reconstruction of the street, water main , storm sewer, curb and gutter, driveway approach- es and alley approaches. Brian Goubeaux of Choice One Engineering included specifications to rectify drainage problems in the immediate area of construction. The road itself will remain 26 feet wide and there will be no on street park- ing. Bidding on the project will begin this June and it is anticipated that work will begin in July and be completed in the fall. The Ottoville Fire Department will host the Northwest Ohio Volunteer Firemens Assoc. Firemens Convention June 14 and 15. March 2013 The Herald Progress Edition 5A Fort Jennings State Bank the bank of choice www.fjsb.com 302 Delphos Rd. Columbus Grove 419-659-2527 120 E. Main St. Ottoville 419-453-2527 1330 W. Locust St. Ottawa 419-523-3013 120 N. Water St. Ft. Jennings 419-286-2527 12 E. Main St. Leipsic 419-943-2528 FDIC INSURED NEW CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS OPENING SOON! Fort Jennings State Bank The purpose of the Fort Jennings State Bank is to become the bank of choice in the communities we serve. We will accom- plish this by offering our customers the financial services they expect, while providing a return to our owners. In accomplishing this mission, we will remain an independent community bank. The Fort Jennings State Bank has adopted this mis- sion statement. The purpose is to help all employees, directors and stockholders realize the purpose of the banks existence is to serve its customers. In addition to the mission statement, the motto bank of choice was implemented to show the commitment to providing a complete set of financial services to cus- tomers; ATMs, debit cards and Internet banking com- pliment traditional loan and deposit products. In 1918, Leo J. Wildenhaus helped orga- nize and open Fort Jennings State Bank. He served as its first cashier, holding that position until 1958. During his tenure, the bank expe- rienced two world wars and the Great Depression, including the infamous bank holidays. It con- tinued to serve the com- munity and grow. In 1970, it became apparent new facilities would be required to serve its increasing cus- tomer base. The bank was originally located in what is now the U.S. Post Office in Fort Jennings. A new build- ing was constructed across the street and north of the previous bank that includ- ed one of the first drive- up teller windows in the area. In 1988, a new auto- mated teller machine was installed, allowing custom- ers to access their accounts 24 hours a day. By 1990, continued growth led the bank to construct an addi- tion that nearly doubled the size of the building. In 1993, the decision was made to construct a branch office in Ottoville, followed by the purchase of a branch office in Columbus Grove in March 1996. In April 2001, construction of a new branch office in Leipsic began. In 2003, the deci- sion was made to replace the Columbus Grove facility with a new building and a new branch was opened in Ottawa in late 2006. From its inception in 1918, the bank had been owned by its stockhold- ers. In December 1997, the holding company FJSB Bancshares, Inc. was formed with the Fort Jennings State Bank as its wholly-owned subsidiary. The stockholders of Fort Jennings State Bank became the stockholders of FJSB Bancshares, Inc. As the banking chal- lenges of 2011 continue to present themselves, the Fort Jennings State Bank, as a result of our capital position and business plan, has not accepted any funding from any federal relief programs. It remains an independently- owned community-oriented bank. The bank currently employs 33 people. Fort Jennings State Bank purpose is to become the Bank of choice in the communities we serve. Personal, well-informed service, best pric- es and a huge choice of top-value merchan- dise these all combine to make Westrich Furniture & Appliances, the best place to do your furniture and appliance shopping. Westrich Furniture is located at 1105 Elida Ave., in Delphos. Well worth the pleasant country drive from anywhere in the region. Shoppers know they are in for a treat when they drive up to the Westrich Furniture build- ing that has an astounding 150,000 square feet of merchandise and growing. It is the largest furniture store in northwest Ohio, and is currently adding another 20,000 square feet of warehouse. Westrichs realize customers do not want to wait to order their furniture, and therefore, need to have more furniture than anyone around, ready for delivery. They also purchase in larger quantities that allows them to maintain the lowest prices. A walk through a total of seven spacious showrooms reveals this extensive selection. Whether a shopper is looking for a new couch or a refrigerator, he/she can count on the friendly, personal assistance of 20 friendly and knowledgeable sales staff that work on the floor. Jack Westrich, owner of the busi- ness, said his sales people do not use the fast-talking, high-pressure sales tactics that offend so many shoppers. Our people all work together, he said. So, they are most interested in helping the customer with his/ her purchase. Westrich Furniture has its own highly- trained technicians who can service not only their own product, but furniture purchased from any store. We have the best service department, Jack noted. We have the ability to service and maintain what we sell, as well as, products that may have been purchase elsewhere. It is a nice added benefit we are happy to provide. The appliance department is full of experience with Jim Mesker who has 65+ years with the Westrich Store. Customers can do their shopping and compare prices apples to apples, Jack said. They will find we can beat prices anywhere, even on Internet shopping. We are really proud of what we do here. We have a variety of price ranges, too, he said. We challenge a customer to find a better price anywhere. Westrichs has implemented a 200% lowest price guarantee that states they promise the lowest price on identical advertised merchan- dise in their marketplace and back the prom- ise with a 200% of price difference discount if lower. We have a huge following, a large customer base. We will make sure you get what you want, he mentioned. Plus, a shop- per at Westrich Furniture will have the extra benefit of free delivery in a 50-mile area, which includes Mercer, Auglaize, Van Wert, Allen and Putnam counties. We make your money go a long, long way, Jack added. Jack then explained that his family has been in the furniture and appliance business for 75 years. My father started with one store in 1937 which eventually became three stores in downtown Delphos, Jack said. He said the business grew so much that he eventually moved it to the location on Elida Avenue. Jack has 53 employees in his business, who, he said, are just like family. Westrich Furniture is open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Monday-Friday; from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday; and on 12-4 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call 419-695-6045 or visit westrichfurniture.com Westrich Furniture & Appliances Westrich Furniture shoppers can count on friendly, personal assis- tance of 20 friendly and knowledge- able sales staff! Fort Adventure students build and paint pinewood derby cars in Laurie Lindemans Enrichment class on Wednesday as part of Fort Adventure, an after-school program. The students interact together in a stunt derby and include: from left, Gage Stone, Jared Liebrecht, Emma Overholtz, Braden Wilson, Justin Landwehr, Derek Weyrauck and Evelyn Meyer. Fort Jennings School expands security measures BY STEPHANIE GROVES sgroves@delphosherald.com FORT JENNINGS In response to the acts of school violence such as in Newtown, Conn., and the entryway safety questions brought to the boards atten- tion in December 2012 by a concerned parent, the school reviewed its policy and safe- ty practices and decisively implemented new controls. The administration installed a door buzzer sys- tem, which is a safe way to allow access and keep the facility secure by control- ling who enters the building. At the entryway, the visitor pushes a button triggering a buzzing notification heard by the office staff, who visually identifies the visitor and pro- ceeds to initiate the un-lock- ing mechanism, allowing the individual to enter. During check-in at the school office, there are two new safety pro- tocols to adhere to register- ing your name on a sign in sheet and obtaining a visitor pass both provide added security, whether for tracking purposes or identification. F.O.R.T. Adventure has been an immensely success- ful program which focuses on remarkable things exercise, education and cre- ative enrichment. Students in grades 1-4 participate in the program held from 3-4:30 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday. The students are dismissed from classes and meet in the gymnasium to burn off some energy and take part in an exercise regimen directed by a physical edu- cation teacher. After leaving the gymnasium, the students connect in the cafeteria for a healthy snack and engage in a social setting with other stu- dents. At 3:30 p.m., the stu- dents are divided into groups and move into classrooms for the enrichment and home- work part of the program starts. During this session, teachers work with groups of 5 to 10 students for an hour on studies like spelling assignments, currency calcu- lations and learning Spanish. Enrichment activities include school spirit buttons and fig- ures, science-related cooking class and crafts, flower pots and hats. Fort Jennings Elementary Principal Kathy Verhoff believes the program is a great opportunity for the kids. Since beginning the program four years ago, the response from students and parents has been overwhelming. Fort Jennings Local Schools recognizes that stu- dents of this generation learn and engage in education dif- ferently than students of the past. Time and again, research has demonstrated that these students learn best when they are actively engaged and technology engages students. Late in the Fall of 2011, the paperwork for the dis- tricts next Race to the Top payment of $25,000 was filed. The four installments grants were used for technol- ogy and professional devel- opment and in conjunction, the district made plans to buy 10 more iPads and 20 more iPod Touches. The this is last year of President Barak Obamas four-year program. Beginning in the fall of 2012, every 9th grade student at Fort Jennings High School was equipped with an iPad for use throughout their high school career and take with them when they graduate. 6A The Herald Progress Edition March 2013 comfort. love. respect Visiting Nurses Hospice Private Duty Therapy Services Community Health Professionals 602 E. Fifth St., Delphos 419-695-1999 ComHealthPro.org Visiting Nurses & Hospice Staf - Kaye Bradley, Nancy Schroeder, Niki DuVall, Amy Zalar, Kim Carder, Sheila Looser, Pam McMaster & Nikki Wenzlick Community Health Professionals Community Health Professionals (CHP) is celebrating 20 years of making a difference in the lives of elderly, ill, and disabled indi- viduals in Delphos and surrounding counties. CHP-Delphos opened in 1993 as the third branch location of what was known then as Van Wert Area Visiting Nurses Association. Now called Community Health Professionals, the Van Wert-based nonprofit organization has 12 locations and is compre- hensive in its scope of services, including visiting nurses, hospice, therapy and private duty services. It also provides inpatient hos- pice and adult day services. In 2012, CHP was the recipient of a pres- tigious award recognizing home health agen- cies that provide the best patient experience. The annual honor acknowledges the top 20 percent of agencies that continuously pro- vide the highest level of satisfaction through their care as measured from the patients point of view. Our staff is dedicated, first and fore- most- to the well-being of the patients and families we serve, said Brent Tow, President/ CEO of Community Health Professionals. A positive patient experience is important not only to our success as an agency, but also to successful outcomes for our patients. To have the latest of every home health and hospice serviceand a state of the art inpatient hospice centeravailable right here in rural Van Wert County, is a great asset for this area, Tow says. Services are delivered by nurses and staff who are local and available 24-hours a day, seven days a week; and accessing care is as simple as a phone call. A nurse can provide an initial, informa- tional visit at no cost or obligation. Call 419-695-1999 or visit ComHealthPro.org for more information. C. Allan Runser * Shaun A. Putman Attorneys At Law Serving the Van Wert area for more than 45 years 111 East Main St. Suite 105 Van Wert 419-238-2200 www.runserandputman.com C. Allan Runser Shaun A. Putman Probate Estates Guardianships Estate Planning Wills Trusts Trust Alternatives Criminal Juvenile DUI Misdemeanor Felony Corporations/ Partnerships/LLCs Family Law Adoption Divorce Dissolution Child Custody Child Support Personal Injury Wrongful Death Real Estate TIRED OF HEARING THAT DREADED LITTLE WORD? EASY AUTO CREDIT WE CAN HELP YOU N O N O N O N O N O N O N O N O 906 W. Main St., Van Wert 419-238-5255 COME SEE US TODAY AT: ~ We offer Low Down Payments ~ You could drive away in a vehicle for as little as $300 down ~ In-House Financing ~ We make the decision; credit decision not based on past credit history. ~ We offer Payday Payments For Your Convenience ~ We will work with you to fit your pay schedule. Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative, Inc. 419-399-5015 Toll free: 800-686-2357 Serving over 12,900 memberS in Paulding Putnam van Wert defiance countieS in ohio adamS & allen countieS in indiana Paulding Putnam Electric is pleased to announce the release of www.TogetherWeSave.com - a website devoted to giving home owners tips on how to save on their electric bill
Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative, Inc. 419-399-5015 Toll free: 800-686-2357 Serving over 12,900 memberS in Paulding Putnam van Wert defiance countieS in ohio adamS & allen countieS in indiana Paulding Putnam Electric is pleased to announce the release of www.TogetherWeSave.com - a website devoted to giving home owners tips on how to save on their electric bill
Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative, Inc. 419-399-5015 Toll free: 800-686-2357 Serving over 12,900 memberS in Paulding Putnam van Wert defiance countieS in ohio adamS & allen countieS in indiana Paulding Putnam Electric is pleased to announce the release of www.TogetherWeSave.com - a website devoted to giving home owners tips on how to save on their electric bill
419-399-5015 Toll free: 800-686-2357 Paulding Putnam Electric is pleased to announce the release of www.TogetherWeSave.com a website devoted to giving home owners tips on how to save on their electric bill Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative, Inc. Elidas Main Street done, meter project next BY STACY TAFF staff@delphosherald.com ELIDA All that remains in the Village of Elidas Main Street Reconstruction Project. Phase two of the project, which took care of the area between Baxter Street and SR 309, reached culmination in November and all that remains is some fine-tuning. All that we have left now is some grading and seeding which should be done by spring, along with any other little things that showed up over the winter, Mayor Ron Klopfenstein said. Both phase one and phase two have really enhanced Main Street overall. Some other road work was completed throughout the year as well. The 2012 County/Village Road Program saw improvements to Clover Ridge, Orchard and Cherry Blossom at a cost of $58,000, Klopfenstein said. Bidding these jobs out in conjunction with the Allen County Engineer saves the village money due to the quantity purchased. The village also passed legislation authorizing the application to participate in the Ohio Public Works Commission SR 309 Project, which is scheduled for the summer of 2014 and will include new curbs and gutters, grinding and paving of SR 309 through the village and major improvement to drainage issues in the village. The villages meter project, which will be the primary focus this year, was bid out in 2012 to two companies: Datamatic Ltd. of Plano, TX, which will provide the new Firefly AMR system and software; and Utility Sales Agency, which will provide the meters and installation of the equipment. Replacing all the meters in our water and sewer district will greatly improve the accu- racy of our billing system, Klopfenstein said. The telecommunication system was installed in October and November. The installation of the meters and Fireflys began in December and approximately 100 units were up and run- ning by the end of the month. We definitely want to finish the meter project this year and it will end up being about a $500,000 project by the time were finished. The new system will make it so we dont need a reader because it has a Firefly on top that sends radio signals. It will better equip (Continued from page 6A) people to detect water leaks, he continued. Well get alerts when theres a red flag for a certain household, if theres been a dramatic spike in their readings. The village will focus mainly on increases in water usage that last at least 24 hours, so residents neednt worry about causing red flags on laundry day. Basically well be able to get in contact with those residents when the red flags show up and figure out where its coming from, Klopfenstein said. It could be a leak and it could be something like a sump pump. We have a lot of water-activated sump pumps in the village those have valves that tend to stick. Klopfenstein says the village will also continue working on re-vamping its water and sewage plants. The village crews have been dedicating time to maintaining both our water and waste- water plants, he said. One major project at the water plant was the replacement of pump number two. The first pump was replaced in See ELIDA, page 7A Finishing touches are all that remain on Elidas main Street Reconstruction Project. March 2013 The Herald Progress Edition 7A stritas.org Leading you to better health. Emergency Department Welcome to a whole new St. Ritas Emergency Department. William Tucker, MD, FACEP RE Your emergency department. REIMAGINED. We added large-screen monitors in each of our 46 treatment rooms to display imaging and test results quickly and clearly. We incorporated advanced medication administration technology to maximize patient safety. We developed new protocols to ensure a faster emergency-to-admission transition when you or your loved ones require inpatient care. We are the state of the art in emergency care, reimagined. And were here when you need it. OWNERS: TODD LAUDICK KARL MILLER 206 S. Broad St. Kalida, OH 45853 LARGE OR SMALL CATERINGS Phone: 419-532-3029 We DO Weddings! BANQUET FACILITY AVAILABLE SEATING UP TO 90 REHEARSALS, RECEPTIONS, OR ANNIVERSARY PARTIES RESTAURANT & LOUNGE IN BUSINESS FOR YOUR BUSINESS Were working for your success Since 1929 the Delphos Area Chamber of Commerce has been entrusted with promoting a strong economic environment. The Chamber engages opportunities with investors for the advancement of the Delphos area. Strong Community Strong Values Strong Commitment 310 N. Main St. Delphos, OH 45833 www.delphoschamber.com Bus. 419.695.1771 Fax 419.692.1751 info@delphoschamber.com 100 East Oak Continental, Ohio 45831 Bus: 419-596-3806 Fax: 419-596-3506 (Continued from page 6A) 2011 and the third and final pump will be replaced in 2013. Were trying to conserve electricity at the water plant by putting in some variable-speed pumps, a type that takes less energy than the old ones. Were trying to continue updating our sewage plant, the system we have in there now is the same one weve had since the 1960s when it was put in. Its all about trying to stay ahead of the EPA. The village also purchased two vehicles in 2012; a Sterling Model L 75 Vactor purchased from Hancock County Engineers Office, and a 2013 Dodge Charger police cruiser. There were also several adjustments in personnel. Ben Suever was hired as Streets Superintendent, replacing Terry Myer who retired after 25 years. Terry has been a very valuable employ- ee, Klopfenstein said. I commend him for his dedication to the residents. He made sure the streets were plowed, the storm debris and fall leaves were removed and he took care of sign maintenance as well as assisting other departments when needed. Other appointments were: Allison Overholt, who filled the shoes of Administrative Assistant Cathy Warren; Austin Klaus who was appointed Village Solicitor; Scott Fessler, who was chosen to fill the position of Village Administrator; and Nelson Bear, the new Wastewater Superintendent. Overall, Klopfenstein says 2012 was a good year. This village is still in pretty good shape financially. Weve played it close to our belts and weve had some good carryovers, he said. I appreciate the effort and cooperation from the employees and council and I look forward to a successful and busy 2013 for the Village of Elida. Elida Elida will replace all the meters in its water and sewer district to greatly improve the accuracy of their billing system Jennings looking forward to Fort Fest BY NANCY SPENCER nspencer@del- phosherald.com FORT JENNINGS Fort Jennings in recovering from a banner year in 2012. The village celebrated its bicentennial with a three- day festival with activity- packed days and nights. With positive reaction from villagers and those who vis- ited like 1813 re-enactors, many events will return to Fort Fest set Aug. 16-18. Fort Fest is replacing Motor Madness Weekend. The re-enactors, a Huey helipcopter, Eyes of Freedom display and more will return in August. Fort Jennings is now a Purple Heart Village with Aug. 7 designated as Purple Heart Day. Plans for cel- ebrating are still underway. Mayor Jim Smith said the actual events in observance of Purple Heart Day will take place during the vil- lages annual celebration. The Fort Jennings Lions Club hopes restrooms at Fort Jennings Park become a reality in spring. Club mem- bers Ted Verhoff and Steve Schroeder and Park Board member Derek Kaverman presented their plan to vil- lage council in the winter, including fundraising and construction to attach new restroom facilities to the existing concession stand at the park with the addition of two covered patio areas as well. The concession stand is centrally located at the park and the restroom doors will be visible from the road- way, Verhoff said. We will make them as vandal- ism-proof as possible. The Lions and park board estimate the project to cost $37,700 with the bulk of the funds raised through solici- tation. The facility will include two seats in the womens portion and a seat and urinal in the mens. The concrete block building will be low maintenance; all labor will be donated by the Lions Club. The project is estimated to begin in April. The new sanitary sewer line project at Fort Jenning Park, which will also be run to the new restroom facil- ity, will get underway soon. Smith said a pre-construc- tion meeting between engi- neers and the contractor was held and work should begin as soon as weather permits and floodwaters recede in the park. The village received a 50/50 match grant for $24,428 from the Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital Improvement program. The projects esti- mated cost is $42,525. A sanitary sewer line will be installed from Second Street north of Fort Jennings State Bank to and under the Auglaize River and to the Fort Jennings Park Board recreation building at the west entrance of the park. The village has also received a 50/50 grant for the reconstruction of Second Street from Water Street to the end of Second. The total cost for the project is estimated at $42,000. The old pavement will be dug out, a new base put down and then the roadway will be repaved. Potholes, tree removal and pruning and a park cleanup are all on the slate for spring projects. A dozen trees will be coming down in the village and at the park. Cleanup day is April 13 with a rain date of April 20. 1812 re-enactors will return to Fort Jennings in August for Fort Fest.
email Nancy Spencer, editor at nspencer@delphosherald.com Story idea... News Releases... Comments... 8A The Herald Progress Edition March 2013 Allied Environmental Services, Inc. Allied Environmental Services, Inc. (Allied), one of the Midwests premier envi- ronmental consulting and contracting firms, has continued to expand its professional staff and service offerings into the first quarter of 2013. Headquartered in Lima, Ohio, Allied has provided specialized environmental consult- ing and industrial maintenance services for more than 25 years. Building on the momen- tum of a strong 2012, a year in which the company made significant strides including expansion of its hazardous materials manage- ment services, mercury recycling program, and emergency spill response coverage area, Allied is poised to continue expansion of ser- vices and staff into 2013. The expansion of Allieds professional staff has included the addition of Operations Manager,Bob Bourne, a veteran in the indus- try with 33 years of experience managing environmental and industrial remediation projects throughout the United States. I am very happy to be part of theAllied team and lend my experience to an already seasoned staff, Bourne said. According to Allied CEO Steve Carr, Bourne will be instrumental in managing the companys continuedgrowth. Bob has been a leader in our industry for over three decades, and has managed some of the largest environmental clean-up projects in The United States. We are fortunate to have his knowledge and experience spearheading our professional staff, Carr stated. Carr attributes the companys continued growth to its diverse service capabilities, highly trained staff, and advances in equip- ment. Our ability to provide comprehensive service; such as vac-truck services, haz-mat disposal, asbestos abatement, spill response and soil assessment, eliminates the need for multiple contractors and simplifies projects, Carr said. We arealso continually upgrading our equipment to increase efficiency and meet the evolving needs of our clients. About Allied Environmental Services, Inc. Allied Environmental Services, Inc. (Allied) is an environmental consulting and contracting firm with offices in Lima, Ohio and Toledo, Ohio. For over 25 years, Allied has provided professional environmental management and industrial service solutions to private industry, property owners, lenders, municipalities, schools, and hospitals. Allied specializes in hazardous materials manage- ment, emergency spill response, industrial cleaning (vac-truck and hydroblasting ser- vices), asbestos abatement, underground stor- age tank closure, Phase I and II ESA, and air quality testing. For more information please visit Allieds website at www.allied-environ- mental.com. Allied Environmental provides practical yet innovative solutions, coupled with the highest quality of work and ethical practices. 0ree 0|rs|er Ieep 0o4ge of \ar dert !5 d Er|r \ar dert, 0H 1589J (1J9) ZJ8-J911 ddd.0RE\E0HRYS|ER.00M Mor, !aes ar4 !|ars4a 8a to !p de4 ar4 |r| 8a to p Satar4a 8a to Jp Z9JJ Ra J599 Etpress ZJ Z1 J9,999 M||e per ear |ease, MSRP $J!JZ5, $Z995 4ae at s|gr|rg, paert 4oes rot |ro|a4e state sa|es tat. 0ree 0|rs|er Ieep 0o4ge of \ar dert !5 d Er|r \ar dert, 0H 1589J (1J9) ZJ8-J911 ddd.0RE\E0HRYS|ER.00M Mor, !aes ar4 !|ars4a 8a to !p de4 ar4 |r| 8a to p Satar4a 8a to Jp Z9JJ Ra J599 Etpress ZJ Z1 J9,999 M||e per ear |ease, MSRP $J!JZ5, $Z995 4ae at s|gr|rg, paert 4oes rot |ro|a4e state sa|es tat. Greve Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Van Wert Elida trying to balance needs with cuts BY STACY TAFF staff@delphosherald.com ELIDA The last decade has been increasingly rough on Elida Local Schools, with the last couple years being particu- larly trying. Now operating with 43 less staff members than a decade ago, as well as less state funding while educating the same number of students, the district has become adept at making difficult choices. One of the hardest choices made was the closure of the beloved Gomer Kindergarten building. Elidas kindergart- ners are now taught at Elida Elementary, where adjustments had to be made in order to accommodate them. We needed to move our fifth grade to the middle school, thus allowing room for the kindergarten in the elementary school, Superintendent Don Diglia said. We had to remodel two large rooms in the middle school to create four new classrooms. As with any change, there was some appre- hension on the part of some of the fifth grade parents but looking back on it now, with all the careful planning things went extremely well. The fifth grade is now a normal part of our middle school experi- ence. Elida has also been dealing with the changes made to the district report card, which mean the district will have to work harder than ever to maintain the same rat- ing, and the integration of new curriculum that claims to be geared toward giving American students the knowledge and skills they need to compete in a global economy. We anticipated the results from our State Report Card. After several months of delays, we received our results and they were good but we always want to do bet- ter and continue to improve, Diglia said. As a district, we met 22 of the 26 indi- cators for 84.6-percent overall. This was our second highest in the last five years. Because of the new way of calculating the graduation rate, we fell 0.99-percent short of meeting that indicator for the first See ELIDA SCHOOLS, page 10A Bob Grothouse and the employees of Delpha Chevrolet, Buick wish to thank past and current cus- tomers for making 65 years of continuous service pos- sible. Delpha Chevrolet, Buick began operations in March 1946 at its Second Street location and moved to North Canal Street to the current municipal building. Delpha outgrew that facility in 1977 and moved to its current location at 1725 E. Fifth St. Delpha is your local deal- er for Chevrolet and Buick cars, trucks and quality pre- owned cars and trucks. We back your purchase with a well-trained service and body shop repair facility, 24-hour towing and a well-stocked parts department. Your continued support helps us and supports various local projects. For that, we thank you. Delpha Chevrolet, Buick BOB GROTHOUSE SR. Garmann/Miller & Associates has been mak- ing a difference in busi- ness and industry for 20 years now. The beginning 2013 marked 20 years that the company in Minster has been in business. Since opening its doors in 1993, the company has moved locations, added depart- ments, renovated and added on to its current facility and grown to nearly 40 employ- ees. Garmann/Miller is a full-service architectural and engineering firm with registered architects, land- scape architects, design- ers, professional engineers, construction administrators and administrative person- nel. The company has seen growth in the municipal, healthcare and educational industries and has been spe- cifically targeting clients in higher education and healthcare within the past year. The new school year marked successful open- ings of the new Otsego Elementary School in Tontogany, Ohio, and the new state-of-the-art Millstream Career Center in Findlay. Then after the holiday break, students moved into the new Cedar Cliff PK-12 School in Cedarville, Vantage Career Center in Van Wert, and two new middle schools in Findlay, Glenwood and Donnell. A major Garmann/Miller showcase project that was completed this past year was the restored and reno- vated Auglaize County Courthouse in Wapakoneta. Numerous other smaller and private projects were complete this past year and several others are in design or set to begin soon. It will be a busy spring and summer for the com- pany as work will begin on Kenton Elementary School, Bath Elementary School and the new Mercer County Engineer Facility. Work will also commence at Rhodes State College and Wright State Universitys Lake Campus. Steady work will continue in the coming months at Fort Recovery High School, Logan County Electrical Cooperative in Bellefontaine, and Madison Middle School in Mansfield. Garmann/Miller is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council. The USGBC promotes build- ings that are environmen- tally responsible, profit- able and healthy places to live and work. USGBC has developed the LEED Green Building System as a comprehensive assessment tool. The mission of LEED is to encourage and accel- erate the voluntary global adoption of sustainable green building and devel- opment practices through the creation and imple- mentation of universally understood and accepted standards, tools and perfor- mance criteria. Through the LEED green building certification program, Garmann/Miller is pleased to recently have achieved LEED Silver at Edgerton Local Schools and Cridersville Elementary, and LEED Gold at Wapakoneta Elementary. Many other projects are LEED-registered under the certification program and upon completion will apply to become LEED certified. Also several staff mem- bers have achieved LEED Professional Credentials by passing a professional exam. Even through a lagging economy and ever chang- ing technology, Garmann/ Miller continues to forge ahead with making a differ- ence in business and indus- try by helping shape the communities we serve. Check out information about Garmann/Miller s work on their newly revamped website www. garmannmiller.com Garmann/Miller Garmann/Miller & Associates has been making a difference in business and industry for 20 years! 1425 E. Fifth Street Delphos 419-695-2871 www.vancrest.com 2011 2012 2010 AD: Three Sensible Words CLIENT: Dominion Suspect a natural gas leak? safegasohio.org First, move your feet! Then call when youre down the street. Outside or in, detecting a natural gas leak is easy. To help you SMELL a leak from a gas line or appliance, a familiar odor like rotten eggs is often added to natural gas. Or you might SEE blowing dirt, bubbling water or an unusual area of dead vegetation. A leaking pipeline might also make a hissing sound you can HEAR. Also, remember to call the Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS) by dialing 811 at least two working days before digging on your property. And if you suspect a gas leakwalk away, right away. Once clear of the area, call Dominion East Ohio, at 1-877-542-2630. Learn more at dom.com, keyword(s): Natural Gas Safety AD: Three Sensible Words CLIENT: Dominion Suspect a natural gas leak? safegasohio.org First, move your feet! Then call when youre down the street. Outside or in, detecting a natural gas leak is easy. To help you SMELL a leak from a gas line or appliance, a familiar odor like rotten eggs is often added to natural gas. Or you might SEE blowing dirt, bubbling water or an unusual area of dead vegetation. A leaking pipeline might also make a hissing sound you can HEAR. Also, remember to call the Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS) by dialing 811 at least two working days before digging on your property. And if you suspect a gas leakwalk away, right away. Once clear of the area, call Dominion East Ohio, at 1-877-542-2630. Learn more at dom.com, keyword(s): Natural Gas Safety Suspect a natural gas leak? First, move your feet! Then call when youre down the street. Outside or in, detecting a natural gas leak is easy. To help you SMELL a leak from a gas line or appliance, a familiar odor like rotten eggs is often added to natural gas. Or you might SEE blowing dirt, bubbling water or an unusual area of dead vegetation. A leaking pipeline might also make a hissing sound you can HEAR. Also, remember to call the Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS) by dialing 811 at least two working days before digging on your property. And if you suspect a gas leak walk away, right away. Once clear of the area, call Dominion East Ohio, at 1-877-542-2630. Learn more at dom.com, keyword(s): Natural Gas Safety March 2013 The Herald Progress Edition 9A Ottoville preps for 2013-14 inside and out BY NANCY SPENCER nspencer@delphosherald.com OTTOVILLE A track resurfacing project will start Ottovilles grounds preparation for the 2013-14 school year. School board members approved a contract with Star Trac Enterprise of Southfield, Mich., in November for $52,000 to per- form the work. The Big Green Athletic Boosters will give $25,000 for the project. Star Trac resurfaced the tennis courts at the White House when President George H.W. Bush was in office. Another grounds project is the Land Lab started in 2012. The wildlife area near Ottoville Park and the Auglaize River has been let grow over to begin the process. Industrial Arts students have been making bird houses for the area and a $200 Wild Ones grant has been obtained to plant prairie grasses to attract pollinators like bees and hummingbirds. Science teacher Susan Jones is head of the project and cant wait to get started in the spring. We also have a test plot we will plant a single type of wild flower in to attract a certain group of organisms and that last area is a kind of control area to see how plants spread. Pathways and identification plaques will also be added this year. Bowling Green State University will ask for Ottovilles assis- tance with a water-quality-tresting project, collecting data in an effort to track agricultural runoff. Preparations for the next school year inside the building include hiring two new first-grade teachers. Longtime district instructors Diane Langhals and Mary Jane Horstman both submitted letters to the board noting their intentions to retire on May 31. Langhals has been with the district 30 years and Horstman, 28. We have a lot of experience walking out the door, Superintendent Scott Mangas said. They have shown interest in continuing to help as substitutes. Faced with students who are more familiar with the newest technology Ottoville has used Race to the Top and other funds to provide cutting-edge instruction. The funds purchased 33 iPads for teachers and 60 more to fill two mobile computer labs for students. The RttT funds have also provided professional development for teachers so they can use the iPads for instruction. In the 2013-14 school year, freshmen will have the opportunity to purchase iPads at a reduced rate. They will become the second class to use the technology in all their classes and take it with them upon graduation. The after-school program Ottoville Go-Getters will complete its fourth year as an offering in the district. There are 80 students participating the program which offers homework assistance and enrichment time. Big Brothers/Big Sisters continues to enjoy success with ele- mentary little paired with high school bigs. Students and student mentors meet once a week to play games, talk and share quality time. The school will host its annual Cancer Walk on May 10. The effort, under the direction of Pam Hickey, has raised thousands of dollars toward patient care and finding a cure. The district recently completed its kindergarten screening and is preparing for 38-40 news students. Ottoville High School science students Marissa Pohlabel, Kendra Eickholt join instructor Susan Jones in the Auglaize River near the districts Land Lab last fall. The Delphos Herald When the first issue rolled off the press in 1869, D.H. Tolan was the publisher and the population of Delphos at the time was 1,667. The Delphos Herald is a daily newspaper published Monday and Wednesday through Saturday with a cir- culation of approximately 2,800. On Mondays, the Delphos Herald publishes a TMC Shopper Extra which has a circulation of 11,156. The Business Journal of Northwest Ohio and Good Times are Herald products. In addition, the newspaper puts out numerous spe- cials sections that target different aspects of the mar- ketplace. Such special sections include the Health and Medical Guide, the Spring Home and Garden Guide, and the popular high school sports previews. There are 36 employees who work for the news- paper. Murray Cohen took over as publisher in 1962. Ray Geary is general manager. Nancy Spencer is the editor of the paper. This is her eighth year in that position after five years as a reporter and photographer. Sandi Bohn is the head of the composition department, where the design and layout of the newspaper is done. Don Hemple is the advertising manager of the paper. He defines the advertising departments job as providing advertisers with ideas to help their busi- ness grow. Tiffany Brantley is the circulation manager and overseas subscriptions and the paper carriers. Each department works together to create the fin- ished product. From the in-depth local news stories to the thorough coverage of local sports, the Delphos Herald is community journalism at its finest. The office, located at 405 N. Main Street in Delphos, is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. LEE KINSTLE GM SALES AND SERVICE BIG VALUE BIG SAVINGS BIG SELECTION BIG TRADE-IN ALLOWANCES ON NEW & USED VEHICLES Lee Kinstle is the only GM Certifed used Car Dealer in Van Wert County! (Mention this ad & get FREE tank of gas with the purchase of one of these cars.) 650 West Ervin Road Van Wert, OH 45891 419-238-5902 866-LEEKINSTLE LEE KINSTLE.COM AND GAS GO In 1970, Lee Kinstle started a successful Chevrolet-Olds dealership that has grown and changed throughout the years, but still remains a trusted busi- ness in the Van Wert commu- nity. After 17 years of employ- ment at Lee Kinstle GM, Eric McCracken purchased the dealership. He has almost 30 years of experience in the car business. They currently sell new Chevrolets, Buicks and GMCs as well as service all GM makes and models. Proudly serving the Van Wert area for over 40 years, Lee Kinstle is home to 30 employ- ees. The dealership offers not only great customer service, but also many years of experi- ence. They offer both new and used vehicles. We are the countys only GM certifed Pre-Owned deal- er said McCracken, owner. These are inspected and ser- viced pre-owned GM vehicles with warranties. They call us The Big 1 because you can one-stop shop when you come here. At Lee Kinstle we offer not only new and used vehicles but also accessories, rental cars and great service from our sales and service departments. At Lee Kinstle, the employ- ees, management and staff work to make the dealership unique by working hard and being dedicated to each cus- tomer to ensure that they are happy and satisfed. At Lee Kinstle GM, McCracken and his staff have modeled their customer service around the basic and important principles of honesty and respect. If you are looking to start a business, be prepared to work hard. You have to support your community and hope that they support you as well, said Mc- Cracken. Its important to treat people as you would like to be treated. Lee Kinstle GM has the im- portant distinction of being a GM Mark of Excellence dealership. This award is given only to a select few dealerships across the country and is based on sales, customer satisfaction and training. When asked why he likes to own a business in Van Wert, McCracken replied This is a great community. We see peo- ple from all walks of life. It is both challenging and enjoyable to service and sell trucks, cars and SUVs here in Van Wert. Lee Kinstle GMs commit- ment to the community is evi- dent by the many groups and activities they support includ- ing Van Wert youth baseball and football, 4-H, ballparks in Convoy, Middle Point, Ohio City and Grover Hill, Van Wert County Hospital, Van Wert Visiting Nurses, all local schools, Junior Livestock and Boy Scouts. They have also proudly shown their support for Toss A Toy, Support the Troops and numerous churches and private fundraisers. The dealership recently has expanded their new and used inventory to better serve the Van Wert area. All cars are now conveniently located on one lot. Their used car center is now open at the corner of Westwood and Ervin. The people at Kinstles believe that over the next decade, technology will continue to change the auto- motive industry and there is likely to be more electric and fuel-saving cars on the road. Cars and trucks change ev- ery year so ten years is a long time in the industry but they want their customers to know they are keeping up with all those technological advances so that they can continue to take care of their customers needs. But McCracken had one more item to add. We love to sell cars, he said. But we also like ser- vicing your car or truck. It doesnt cost more to have your vehicle serviced at a GM shop. There are many key employ- ees at Lee Kinstle GM. To name just a few, Danny The Dealmaker Miller heads up the used vehicle department. Jeff Wermer is a household name in Van Wert County. He brings 25-plus years of ser- vice experience to Lee Kin- stle GM. Don Dotterer leads the parts department and also boasts 26 yeas of experience, while Jeff Gudakunst has been with Lee Kinstle GM for 15 years as the business manager. Lee Kinstle GM Sales and Service Proudly serving the area for over 40 years! FarmCredit Services of Mid-America, ACA PUT DOWN ROOTS When youre ready to . Whether youre buying a new country home or a 20,000-acre farm, Farm Credit Mid-America has just the loan you need to achieve your goals. FarmCredit is an equal opportunity provider. 1120 Elida Avenue Delphos, OH 45833 (419) 695-6000 Farm Credit Mid-America at 1120 Elida Avenue in Delphos has been lending for 97 years specializing in rural and agricultural lending. Courtney Meyer, Kris Craft, Connie Waters, Emily Lucke, Linda Brahler, Scott Parker and Chris Hager provide value in terms of both money and convenience. Whether its reliable lending, competitive pricing or the introduction of new products, there are many ways we work with farmers, Ag businesses and rural residents. Farm Credit Mid-America offers many products including: Farm mortgage loans - 1-, 3-,5-, 10- and 15-year adjustable products are available. We are one of the few Ag lenders who offer fixed rates for farm mortgages and we can also tie loans to finance indexes like LIBOR and Prime; Operating loans - when a farmer needs money to grow their operations, FCMA has loans to cover farm and family living expens- es. We also offer multi-year lines of credit to draw when customers need funds and capital lines of credit; Equipment financing - loans for equip- ment, livestock, and buildings with fixed rates up to 10 years as well as adjustable and variable rates; Leasing - leasing can increase tax flow, tax advantages in capital preservation; and Residential loans - for a home, rental home or even a vacation home. In addition to lending programs, we offer services like crop insurance, online bank- ing through www.e-farmcredit.com, farmer cash management, a conversion program to convert loans when interest rates or other circumstances offer increased savings. With their conversion program, there is no lengthy and expensive refinancing process. Other programs include agriculture and rural community investment for financing in capital improvements in rural communi- ties such as medical facilities, schools, wind turbines, etc., and an agnition program for financing through equipment dealerships. We are committed to financing agriculture today and in the future. We continue to search for the best possible products and services for our customers. Farm Credit Mid-America is an equal opportunity provider. Farm Credit Mid-America is committed to financing agriculture today and in the future. Farm Credit Mid-America 10A The Herald Progress Edition March 2013 time ever. The good news was our middle school was rated Excellent for the sixth time out of the last seven years, twice it was Excellent with Distinction. Our high school also earned the ranking of Excellent for the seventh time. This year well be focusing more on the transi- tion over to Common Core curriculum, trying to pre- pare for the new tests our high school students will be taking and the increased rigor all of our students will be facing, he added. This spring well be pilot- ing the new online testing with our fourth graders and were also working hard on making the transition into the new teacher and princi- pal evaluations, which has been very time consum- ing. Elidas student achieve- ment fared well in 2012 with numerous wins at academic tournaments and competitions and Elidas basketball team snapped up its second consecu- tive WBL Championship. Elidas football team made it to the playoffs for the second consecutive year last fall, making it the third time in school history. In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy in Newtown, Conn., Elida has joined many other schools in an effort to focus more on student safety. Some measures are already being integrated but struc- tural improvements will have to wait until summer. We want our commu- nity to know were doing all we can to keep our kids safe. This summer well be putting in some vestibules at the front entrances to the elementary and middle schools, which will make it safer and also help with energy efficiency. After the bell rings, anyone who enters the building will have to go through the front office before they can enter the main part of the build- ing, Diglia said. All staff members will have photo identification for all school buildings. Even in the high school well be adding panic buttons to secretary stations, which means they wont have to take the time to call 911, they can just push a button. Despite all of the posi- tive progress, Diglia says Elida is still struggling to make headway financially. We received a Deficit- Notification Notice from the Ohio Department of Education in November, telling us that our current 5-year forecast projected a negative unreserved fund balance, he said. We had anticipated that. We just came off a two-year reduction plan that reduced expenditures by $1.2 mil- lion. Unfortunately, this was not enough as our state revenue has been reduced by $1.8 million. We thought we had the right levy request for the right time in November. A 5-year 0.75-percent earned income tax levy went down to defeat, even though it wouldnt have affected pensions, retirement, social security, interest dividends or capital gains. On May 5, Elida will put a request to voters for a 5,95 mill Emergency Operating Levy. Having already cut $2.8 million from its budget and with an additional $464,000 proposed, the districts carry-over balance for next year is anticipated to be under $184,000. If the levy passes, it will provide a five year plan of financial stability. With everything thats been happening over the last few years, I feel I really have to applaud the staff here at Elida, he said. Weve been downsizing considerably over the last five years, definitely in the last year. Everyone has been doing more with less, and doing so in a very posi- tive manner, which I think says a lot. Elida Schools NISWONGER Check Us Out: www.NPACVW.org Tickets: 419.238.6722 WE LOVE TO ENTERTAIN and it shows! Niswonger Performing Arts Center By Ed Gebert DHI Correspondent VAN WERT - The story of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio actually begins with a similar building more than 400 miles south of Van Wert in Greeneville, Tennessee. When discussions about turning an audite- ria or cafetorium in a new high school build- ing into something bigger, a group from Van Wert paid a call to Greeneville and former Van Wert resident Scott Niswonger. Niswonger had just led a campaign to build and open the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville by putting togeth- er a public/private venture with $5.5 mil- lion of his own money to make it happen. That facility celebrated its grand opening in January 2005. Niswonger remembered, As I recall, a committee came down and visited the center and talked to our city officials and our school officials and took a look at the agreement of how it would work, and that then built the idea for the venue in Van Wert. Soon afterward, community members were solicited to become involved in the project. One of the persons approached was Andy Czajkowski who admitted that his first impression was that building a performing arts center with private funding was never going to happen. But Scott was very persuasive, he stated. The company who did the feasibility study laid out a good case for the economic benefit, and they asked me to get involved. I agreed. They asked me to chair it. I said that I would do it along with a couple of other community members, and Chuck Koch and Karen Koch were very involved, felt this was a great proj- ect, and the three of us agreed that we would co-chair. None of us wanted to run it alone. The funding began with a $2 million gift from Niswonger who had no doubts about the project. I was quite willing to be the lead gift to get some matching gifts in Van Wert. Van Wert had really never asked me to do any projects before, and having done this one in Tennessee, I was very comfortable with the way the result turned out, and how our vocal and instrumental music programs were flour- ishing, explained Niswonger. What Niswonger was seeing in Tennessee, he was confident would also occur in Van Wert. The Greeneville facility had become a real draw for economic development with 60 percent of commercial audiences coming to the shows from out of that county. Last year, 66 percent of ticket buyers at the Van Wert facility came from outside of Van Wert County, proving Niswonger to be correct. Im not clairvoyant, but having seen it for two years with people coming from California and Texas and all over the country following some of their favorite bands, he shared, Just seeing it work here gave me a very high level of confidence that Van Wert would be just as successful as what we had accomplished here in Greeneville. Once the Kochs and Czajkowski set out as co-chairs to make the facility a reality, they had a chal- lenge facing them. The challenge for us was communicating the dream and the realism that it could be accomplished, Czajkowski pointed out. We bought into it, but then communicating that to the general public that this was economic development, that this was about quality of life. The Van Wert County Foundation played a huge part in that, making a large contribu- tion, then an ongoing support contribution which was huge. Niswonger noted, Its a hard concept to grasp that to upgrade the building to a regional performing arts center was going to paid by private money. It was hard to visual- ize that all of our kids at high school in Van Wert would then have, really a professional venue to perform from. Higher expectations were generated by that venue. All of that was a little hard to understand. It was easier for me to see it because I had done it! The students at Van Wert High School and other county schools agree that having the facility is a tremendous asset. Michelle Stoller directs the student musical theater productions for Van Wert High School. We are blessed beyond belief to have the opportunity to produce our high school productions in the NPAC, she reported. As a director, I feel blessed because I can dream big for my show with an expectation that we have the capabilities to make it happen. Many directors have big dreams, but the facility limits the reaching of those dreams. In our case, we can do some incredible things flying people, levitating a beast, adding in impressive lighting, improving sound, just to name a few that may not be possible without our facility. The students have oppor- tunities to experience the technical aspects of theatre in a more professional way than even some colleges can offer. Again, that is not saying other colleges and high schools dont have impressive, very capable pro- grams, but without a doubt, the Niswonger Performing Arts Center enables us to take new risks and allows our students to shine to their fullest potential. Additionally, many of the students have been able to grow from helping with the professional productions the NPAC hosts. After an amount of time, many of the larger local entities got on board with the project and the $9.6 million dollar facility was completed. The finished product looked especially good to the one whose name the facility bears. As far as Im concerned, the center we have in Van Wert is absolutely perfect, beamed Niswonger. Paul [Hoverman, NPAC executive director] has not mentioned one thing that we would change about it. As a patron going in and seeing that beautiful facility, what would you change? Its per- fect! Niswonger went on to praise Hoverman for his experience and leadership. Having Paul on board really put the center in Van Wert ahead of ours initially because we were having to hire a whole staff of people. Paul and the people at the Van Wert County Foundation had been involved in music events for a number of years. After more than five full seasons of enter- tainment in the 1,200-seat music hall, not to mention countless sessions in the 175-seat lecture hall, and a number of events in the NPAC lobby, the center is a focal point for community pride and a tool for local eco- nomic development. I am appreciative that so many people had confidence to push forward with this, and to see the music programs with the high school kids and even younger performing on that stage. First of all, thats what its about in terms of that venue, said Niswonger. Then to be able to showcase our community. When people pull up to that school and that performing arts center, they know that the citizens of Van Wert County are very serious about their childrens education. And that goes a long way. I am very proud of what my hometown community has done, extremely proud of what they have done. The NPAC is a focal point for community pride and a tool for local economic development. March 2013 The Herald Progress Edition 11A Connecting your business... ...Serving all your electrical and data needs. Sidney Ofce 840 S. Vandemark Road Sidney, Ohio 45365 937.498.2357 Lima Ofce 2250 Central Point Parkway Lima, Ohio 45804 419.222.1109 Muncie Ofce 3100 E. 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