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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.

Storms Sock Region

2013-06-13T09:57:46-04:00

ST. MARYS — A fasting-moving storm system toppled trees, downed power lines and destroyed buildings in the eastern portion of Auglaize County Wednesday night and into this morning.

Auglaize County EMA Director Troy Anderson said the storms rolled into the area packing winds up to 60 mph. The National Weather Service issued multiple watches and warnings throughout the day — something Anderson said gave residents plenty of time to plan ahead for the storm.

New Knoxville got hit hard by the storm. Neil Armstrong Airport sustained damage and Anderson said there was a mile stretch of Ohio 219 that had numerous buildings damaged by the winds.

Anderson said he cannot confirm a tornado touched down in Auglaize County at this time.

St. Marys Interim Safety-Service Director Greg Foxhoven said there were no power outages within the city limits during the storm. However, four poles outside the city broke — three of which feed the New Knoxville area and one that feeds the Tri Township area.

Mayor Makes SSD Pick

2013-06-11T09:40:50-04:00

ST. MARYS — City councilors approved the first reading of an emergency ordinance Monday night that would name Greg Foxhoven the new safety-service director.

Following an executive session, councilors approved the first reading of the measure that would remove the interim label from Foxhoven’s current title. According to the ordinance, Foxhoven would be paid an annual salary of $82,000.

After a lengthy search, St. Marys Mayor Pat McGowan announced his intention to hire Foxhoven, pending council approve of his contract. The ordinance also waives the engineering and residency requirements for Foxhoven — who lives approximately a mile outside the city limits.

“He (Foxhoven) interviewed the best of anyone that I’ve been a part of here,” McGowan told The Evening Leader following the meeting. “He’s passionate about the community. He is a proven leader in his management of the police department and as his stint here temporarily, his performance has been exemplary. He’s respected and has a lot of integrity and that’s something that I think sets him apart from everyone else.”

Car Wash Helps Animals

2013-06-10T13:35:48-04:00

WAPAKONETA — Dogs donned bikinis and swimming trunks as part of the second-ever Humane Society of Auglaize County car wash Saturday afternoon.

The event, which was held at Greve Sales and Service in Wapakoneta, gave motorists a chance to stop by and get their vehicles washed for a free-will donation. Proceeds from the car wash helped cover operating expenses at the no-kill shelter.

“All profits will help the shelter animals,” said Sonya Osting, an organizer of the event. “We did our first one last year and it turned out very well. So we decided to hold one again and we will probable have another one in August.”

Osting said she got the idea from a group of Girl Scouts who had a car wash. Osting decided to put a twist on the typical car wash and feature one with animals in bikinis.

“Everyone said, ‘You aren’t going to get me in a bikini,’” Osting said. “And I said, ‘No, we are going to put the dogs in the bikinis.’ We thought it would be a fun idea and it turned out well. It’s a lot of fun, we got a lot of volunteers involved and it’s good for the shelter.”

Cats Looking For Homes

2013-06-08T08:08:38-04:00

WAPAKONETA — June is national Adopt-A-Cat month, and approximately 55 cats and kittens are hoping for adoption at the Humane Society of Auglaize County, where the facility is already over capacity.

“We’ve had some good adoption rates with the kittens,” said Sonya Osting on behalf of the no-kill shelter.

Last month the shelter adopted out five to 10 adult cats and 20 kittens. Unfortunately, the society has to turn down callers with cats or kittens every day because they are already over capacity.

“Our biggest challenge is space,” Osting said. “We get five to 10 calls per day from people who want to surrender, and we just can’t take them.”

This time of the year is especially challenging as people find mothers tending kittens under their porches or in their barns.

“It happens all the time during this season,” said Osting. “We encourage people to try to find homes for them themselves.”

The shelter suggests “free pet” ads in newspapers, on Craigslist and even the website Freecycle.

The more difficult pets to relocate, she said, are senior cats and black cats. But black cats, and even black dogs, have lower adoption rates. As for senior cats, Osting said there are several advantages to adopting older.

Osting pointed out that older cats are often already litter box trained, spayed and neutered, declawed, and have their vaccines.

“If you don’t want to go through the kitten phase, they’re great,” Osting said.

Their personalities are also calmer, she said. The advantage of cats in general, she said, is that they’re often less maintenance than dogs, and don’t need walks.

The shelter reaches out to potential owners through Facebook and PetFinder.com, but they’ll also open their doors with an Adopt-a-Thon from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 22.

At the event, the shelter also plans to give pet owners the first peek of the new grooming salon, Fetch!, which will offer pet maintenance and boarding.