Archive - Feb 2012 - News Article
February 27th
BOTKINS — High school has been a juggling act for Botkins’ resident Christine Johnson. However, she has learned to handle her busy schedule with precision.
The 18-year-old Botkins High School senior has maintained a 3.8 grade point average, and she has done it with a flurry of activities. No matter what she tries, she seems to always come out successful.
By LANCE MIHM
Staff Writer
More often than not, a five year old can be amused easily. Making crafts, drawing pictures or playing games can keep them happy.
But while rural Moulton resident and five-year-old Jacob Ott may sometimes partake in those activities in his pre-kindergarten class at the Wapakoneta Learning Center, he takes his threshold for thrills to a whole new level.
Ott recently competed in the Grand National Tractor Pulling championship Jan. 29 at Power Show Ohio in Columbus and placed third nationally.
By KAREN KANTNER
Assistant Managing Editor
Unable to see the difference they were making in a national fundraising cause, two Wapakoneta women started their own to help those living within their community.
Candlelight Missions, which Mandy Tangeman and Cindy Colaprete began six years ago, has stayed on a relatively small scale, but it’s just what the pair was hoping to accomplish.
In tough times, a local business owner thought about closing the door on his dream.
But an opportunity arose by the late “Man in Black”, which gave Art Your Mind Design owner Mike Smithson guidance — and an opportunity for him to do design work for one of his favorite musicians.
Smithson, who has owned his downtown Wapakoneta business since June 2011, recently received an e-mail from Bill Miller, who developed the idea to create a Johnny Cash Museum to be built this summer in Nashville, Tenn.
February 24th
With a death rate higher than all deaths for cocaine and heroin combined, abuse of prescription drugs and painkillers is gaining more attention.
Auglaize County Medical Director Dr. Juan Torres said the increased misuse and abuse of prescription drugs has led to a public health problem.
“People tend to think that because the doctor gave them to them they must be good,” Torres said. “Pain killers are thought of as a type of medicine that they need more of once they run out.”
The document outlining the city’s spending for 2012 is to stay intact.
The ordinance setting the budget for 2012 will proceed through the legislative process as planned after Wapakoneta City Council Finance Committee members recommended no change be made to the Recreation Department Fund.
Wapakoneta Recreation Director Jack Hayzlett had voiced concerns to 1st Ward Councilor Jim Neumeier, who chairs the Parks and Recreation Committee, regarding line items being shortchanged in the Recreation Department Fund.
The local library will be hosting a class to help patrons with using their electronic reader.
Auglaize County District Public Library administrators saw the need to create a class for library patrons with helping them to properly use an electronic book, including the Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader, iPad and others.
“Our numbers have skyrocketed,” Auglaize County Public Library Assistant Director Diana Schneider said.
February 23rd
With the first five-year road construction plan nearly completed, a second five-year plan enters the infancy stages.
Wapakoneta City Council Streets, Alleys and Sidewalks Committee members decided Wednesday to start developing a road reconstruction schedule for the next five years after learning the previous road construction plan is nearly complete.
The Wapakoneta Area Chamber of Commerce (WACC) honored seven local businesses Wednesday as it held it’s eighth annual Progress Award Breakfast.
“In today’s economic climate it is important to do this,” Chamber President Dan Lee said. “It is important show that Wapakoneta is still moving forward. We still have a lot of investment in Wapakoneta.”
Brian Dicken, Northwest Regional representative from Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor’s office, was the guest speaker at the event.
For a 2009 graduate of Wapakoneta High School, the decision to return to her hometown will be based primarily on opportunity and less on allegiance.
Heather Wells, who was a member of the school’s top five students, is studying biology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. and intends to study veterinary medicine after college graduation.
