Archive - Jul 2011
July 20th
As NASA retires the three remaining space shuttles to museums, the space program is on halt as they will be working on sending astronauts beyond the bounds of Earth later this century.
The space shuttles have been in operation for 30 years, and a local museum director says it is time to trade them in for something new.
“The shuttles were quite old,” Armstrong Air and Space Museum Director Chris Burton said, “and there is not something to replace them yet.”
This means that the United States will not have means to go out on space explorations for several years.
For some of the youngest members of the Wapakoneta Waves swimming team, the Western Ohio Aquatic League Championships over the past weekend were their first taste of a major competition.
And they didn’t disappoint.
Wapak finished second overall in the competition to perennial power Westside Wave.
By individual age group, the 8-under boys placed fourth and the 9-10 boys took second. The girls were seventh in the 8-under and fourth in 9-10.
Beating a path to the medal stand on Friday and Saturday were Justin Fleagle and Nate Metzger as both won five medals over the two-day meet.
WOAL Championships by Age Division
Boys 8-Under Scores
Westside Wave 199
Shawnee CC Tide 193
Ada/Lost Creek Gators 161
WAPAK WAVES 158
Sherwood Sharks 152
Van Wert Marlins 88
Kenton Stingrays 79
Bluffton Sardines 38
Girls 8-Under Scores
Westside Wave 281
Ada/Lost Creek Gators 227
Sherwood Sharks 201
Van Wert Marlins 123
Shawnee CC Tide 111
Bluffton Sardines 93
WAPAK WAVES 84
Kenton Stingrays 67
Boys 9-10 Scores
Westside Wave 338
WAPAK WAVES 252
Ada/Lost Creek Gators 224
Sherwood Sharks 216
Van Wert Marlins 137
Shawnee CC Tide 68
Bluffton Sardines 10
July 19th
Parents should expect changes to how students are dropped off and picked up at Wapakoneta City Schools beginning in August.
While the new policies apply to students at all grade levels, its primary focus is elementary age children, district administrators said.
“We had some mistakes that were very concerning,” Superintendent Keith Horner said as to why the new policy was being implemented. “A couple of situations last year would best be described as scary.
Crews from multiple area fire departments responded to a house fire at 12:07 p.m. Monday at 16470 Blackhoof Creek Road.
Uniopolis Assistant Fire Chief Michael Wenning said four family members were at home at the time of the fire but all escaped without injury. The residence belongs to Esther and Thomas Huelskamp.
The fire to the structure destroyed the garage, and the home received significant smoke and fire damage. Wenning said that a value has not been determined on the loss, but that it will not be deemed a total loss.
Humane Society of Auglaize County officials terminated a deal with the city of Wapakoneta effective July 31.
In a letter presented by local Humane Society Secretary-Treasurer Tom Harrison and in a presentation by President Sandra Harrison, the Humane Society of Auglaize County, often referred to as ACHS, will cease accepting dogs picked up in the city by Wapakoneta police officers and by the county dog warden.
Robert W. “Bob” Croft, 86, of Indian River, Mich., formerly of Spencerville, died at 2:40 p.m. Sunday, July 17, 2011, in the Hospice House of Cheboygan, Mich.
He was born Aug. 23, 1924, in Kemp, the son of Ethel Marie (Davenport) and Forrest Croft. On Nov. 18, 1943, he married Donna L. Ross, who died Jan. 12, 1976.
Surviving are two sons, Dennis L. (Patty) Croft, of Wolverine, Mich., and James E. “Eddie” (Darlene) Croft, of Alanson, Mich.
Donny Schatz and Tyler Walker came away with the big hardware after the World of Outlaws Sprint Series trip into Northwest Ohio.
Schatz pulled out the win in the Brad Doty Classic on Wednesday at Limaland Motorsports Park in Allentown, and Walker took advantage of Sammy Swindell’s last-turn misfortune to claim the $50,000 winner’s purse in the Kings Royal on Saturday night at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg.
July 18th
The Wapakoneta Waves finished second to powerhouse Westside at the Western Ohio Aquatic League Championships on Saturday at Wapakoneta Waterpark.
Westside entered the second day of the competition with a narrow lead over Wapak and stretched that lead to take the title by a 2,503-2,296.5 margin.
The Sherwood Sharks were third with 2,102.5 points.
Josh Fleagle had a big day for the Waves in the 15-over division.
He snapped his own meet record in the 100-meter freestyle, posting a time of 50.69. He then established another meet record with a 30.14 in the 50 breaststroke.
Area youth brought some “magic” to the stage Saturday as they entertained a crowd for more than 90 minutes.
Of the nearly 20 performers, two young women performed at the Summer Moon Festival scholarship pageant, another tried out earlier in the day for the Disney Channel and a third recently returned home from trying out for American Idol.
In total, 17 area youth took to the stage Saturday and displayed their talent and courage in front of more than 150 people gathered in the Summer Moon Festival Entertainment Tent.
