DP 0328 A1

HEALTH & MEDI CI NE
BUSI NESS & I NDUSTRY

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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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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

419-399-5015 Toll free: 800-686-2357

419-399-5015 Toll free: 800-686-2357
Paulding Putnam Electric is pleased to announce
the release of
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
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.
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...
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
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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
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Greve Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Van Wert
Elida trying to balance
needs with cuts
BY STACY TAFF
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
safegasohio.org
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.
before digging on your property. And if you suspect a gas leakwalk away, right away. Once clear of the
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.
before digging on your property. And if you suspect a gas leak walk away, right away. Once clear of the
Ottoville preps
for 2013-14
inside and out
BY NANCY SPENCER
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
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Whether youre buying a new country home or a 20,000-acre farm, Farm
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FarmCredit is an equal opportunity provider.
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Farm Credit Mid-America at 1120 Elida
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Courtney Meyer, Kris Craft, Connie
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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
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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-
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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
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financing through equipment dealerships.
We are committed to financing agriculture
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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.
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