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GOBA Arrives

2013-06-19T14:58:33-04:00

NEW BREMEN — Thousands of cyclists have arrived in New Bremen today as part of GOBA's tour. The riders will be in the area until Friday, and there are scores of activities available to them as well as the public.

Make sure to pick up a copy of Thursday's Leader for a recap of Day 1 as well as interviews with riders and others associated with the event. On Thursday, an off-day for GOBA participants, cyclists have the opportunity to go on outings to St. Marys and Wapakoneta. Residents in St. Marys could see several hundred cyclists traveling throughout the city on Thursday.

Daily Rundown

2013-06-19T11:45:27-04:00

June 19: The St. Marys Community Public Library will host a Story Time Dance Party at 11 a.m. for children 2 to 5-years-old.

The St. Marys Community Public Library will host a Day of the Prairie Dog program at 1 p.m. today for grades one through three.

Citizens for the Improvement of St. Marys Schools will meet at 7 p.m. today at the St. Marys VFW.

Teens Arrested On Drug Charges

2013-06-19T10:45:43-04:00

COLDWATER — Two Mercer County teens were arrested on drug charges on Tuesday.

Coldwater Police Chief Jason Miller said Coldwater police officers received a complaint of possible drug trafficking in the area of Hardin Street. An undercover officer from the Grand Lake Task Force was sent to the area and observed an alleged drug deal take place. The vehicle involved was quickly stopped in Celina, where drugs were located.

That incident led to a search warrant being issued for a residence at 607 N. Second St., Coldwater. Located during the search warrant was approximately 3 grams of black tar heroin as well as drug paraphernalia and a rifle.

Arrested were a 17 year old Coldwater male for drug trafficking, as well as Shane A. Vest, 18, of Coldwater, for possession of heroin.

Coldwater police officers were assisted by officers from the Grand Lake Task Force, and the Celina Police Department.

Suspect Held On $5M Bond

2013-06-18T09:29:18-04:00

CELINA — One of the two men accused of killing Robert and Colleen Grube has been ordered held on $5 million bond.

Flanked by several Mercer County sheriff’s deputies, Trevin M.A. Sanders Roark, 19, made his initial appearance Monday afternoon in Mercer County Common Pleas Court. Sanders Roark, along with Bryant L. Rhoades, 22, was indicted last week on a slew of felonies, including aggravated murder, murder, involuntary manslaughter, kidnapping, aggravated robbery, robbery, aggravated burglary, burglary and theft in connection with the November 2011 killings of the Grubes in their rural Fort Recovery home.

Mercer County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Ingraham set an arraignment hearing for 3 p.m. July 2 — when Sanders Roark is expected to enter a plea to the charges.

Rhoades was scheduled to appear in court at 2:30 p.m. today for his initial appearance in the case.

Daily Rundown

2013-06-17T09:19:37-04:00

June 17: The St. Marys Community Public Library will host a movie at 11 a.m. today.

• The St. Marys Community Public Library will host a movie marathon from noon to 6 p.m. today for those in grades four through six.

• A computer basics class will be held from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. today at New Bremen Public Library. Call or stop by the library to register. Class size is limited.

• The Animal Magic Exotic Animal show will appear at 1 p.m. today at New Knoxville Public Library.

• The Animal Magic Exotic Animal show will appear at FJ Stallo Memorial Library at 3:30 p.m. today.

• The Animal Magic Exotic Animal show will appear at the New Bremen Public Library at 5:30 p.m. today.

• IT Manager Fred Miller will be presenting “Accessing eBooks with Multiple Devices” from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. today at FJ Stallo Memorial Library. Call 419-628-2925 or stop by the library to register. Space is limited.

• The St. Marys Community Public Library will host a learn to tat program from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. today for adults. The cost is $10 for supplies.

Card Both Shy and Successful

2013-06-15T10:26:30-04:00

NEW BREMEN — Victoria Wente considers herself shy — when she used to visit the fire station with her firefighter father, for example, she said it took a long time to be comfortable talking to people.

But that reticence has never kept her from going after what she wants.

The senior said several times, “I want what I want,” adding that she probably gets the trait from her father, who is also very focused.

“It’s made me driven,” Wente said “I have goals, and I want to get to them.”

She said she’s worked very hard to be second in her class academically with the hope she’ll earn a scholarship to Miami University in Oxford, which she said is an expensive, private university.

“I’m OCD about (my grades,)” she said. “If it’s anything lower than what I want, I’m upset ... I study a lot.”

She fell in love with Miami’s beautiful campus on a club volleyball trip.

“Since then, it’s always been my dream to go there,” she said.

The daughter of Ron and Sheila Wente said she plans to study accounting.

“Originally I wanted to be a vet,” she said. “Then I took accounting as a sophomore.”

She said not only did the class interest her, but math had always been a strength.

“When I go into math class, everything makes sense,” Wente said. “Even if it doesn’t at first, I can make it make sense.”

Not everything comes as easily, Wente said. History is difficult for her, but she said she puts in the time to make good grades.

The New Bremen-native plans to return to town after she graduates and hopes she can find work in the area.

“I want to be here,” she said.

Wente said she liked her childhood in the area because she spent so much time outside, writing in chalk or riding bikes, camping or going to the beach.

She’s spending her summer baby sitting three children two days a week, playing volleyball and reading.

Wente will leave Sunday, one of six young women who will represent New Bremen at the American Legion’s Girls State this year, where she hopes they’ll let her act as the State Highway Patrol person.

“That would be so much fun,” she said. “They run around and can pull people over, send them to court, give them tickets. They make whatever rules they want.”

Wente said she thought the experience would help her learn about government in a way that was more fun and interactive than classroom learning.

When Wente returns, she’ll be off to Canada this summer to see her older brother, nine years her senior, who is getting married soon.

Volleyball is her real love, she said.

“How can I put it. It’s my thing,” Wente said. “I want to do it all the time.”

With the same intentional focus Wente has used to achieve academically, she’s used to overcome her shyness. When Wente goes places by herself, she said she tries to sit by people she doesn’t know, and to say ‘Hi’ to new people.

“It’s really hard to be out there when you’re not used to it,” she said. “Most people here know who I am and that helps.”

Suspects In Grube Homicides Indicted

2013-06-14T12:08:58-04:00

CELINA — The two suspects accused in the shooting deaths of Robert Grube, 70, and his daughter Colleen Grube, 47, have been indicted on a slew of felonies, including murder.

On Thursday, a Mercer County grand jury issued indictments for Trevin M.A. Sanders Roark, 19, and Bryant L. Rhoades 22, on charges including aggravated murder, murder, involuntary manslaughter, kidnapping, aggravated robbery, robbery, aggravated burglary, burglary and theft in connection with the November 2011 killings of the Grubes in their rural Fort Recovery home.

In a news release, Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Fox noted Sanders Roark is scheduled to appear in Mercer County Common Pleas Court at 1 p.m. Monday and Rhoades at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. Fox declined further comment on the matter.

If convicted, the two each face life in prison.

Tornado Confirmed In New Knoxville

2013-06-13T16:42:35-04:00

NEW KNOXVILLE — A storm system that left a wide swath of damage along Ohio 219 near New Knoxville also spawned a tornado.

Auglaize County EMA Director Troy Anderson told The Evening Leader that the National Weather Service confirmed an EF0 tornado hit the area along Ohio 219 Wednesday night and into Thursday morning. The tornado, which packed winds of approximately 85 mph, touched down for a 2 mile stretch along the road.

"We looked at the area of impact in New Knoxville and the amount of damage," Anderson said. "After looking at the videos and pictures I took last night and early this morning, it was confirmed that New Knoxville had a tornado."

An EF0 is the lowest tornado rating on the Enhanced Fujita scale. An EF5 tornado — the highest rating — has winds in excess of 200 mph.

Friday Happenings

2013-06-13T14:54:00-04:00

June 14: The Holy Rosary Festival is today in St. Marys.

Lego Builder’s Club will meet from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today at New Bremen Public Library.

Story Time will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. today at New Knoxville Library.

All are welcome at Vacation Bible School at New Community Church, 1025 Greenville Road, St. Marys, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today. Call 419-394-8111 for details.

BOE OKs Fees

2013-06-13T14:44:23-04:00

ST. MARYS — Students in the St. Marys School District will now have to pay fees to participate in school-sponsored activities.

Members of the board of education passed a measure authorizing a pay-to-participate plan during Wednesday night’s board meeting. Under the plan, the participation fee for a student’s first sport is $100, $75 for the second sport and $50 more for the third sport. The fee to participate in a middle school musical or play is $50, and $75 to participate in a high school musical or play. It will cost students $25 per show choir group they join.

Marching band, concert band and concert choir will not have participation fees, and cheerleading fees will be the same as for all other sports.

Members also approved the St. Marys City Schools five-year forecast, which Treasurer Tom Sommer explained.

“The one thing I noted, back in October, when we approved the forecast ... we had a forecast of expenditures and excess of revenues about $1.5 million for this fiscal year,” he said.

“On this forecast, we’re showing it at $1.6 million. Why it went up that amount was due to (the fact that) we had 18 staff members retiring this year so there was quite a bit of severance that was paid.”

Also approved during the meeting were various changes to the 2013-2014 lunch prices. The price of lunches for students in grades K-5 increased from $2.15 to $2.25, and the price of lunches for students in grades 6-12 went up from $2.60 to $2.70.