Archive - 2013 - News Article
April 26th
Two weeks after the Wapakoneta FFA Consignment sale, the tally is finally calculated long after the goods have exchanged hands.
While the work continues for weeks after the event, the week of work earlier this month at the Auglaize County Fairgrounds leaves an even longer lasting impression on the FFA members spending time to make the annual event a success.
Wapakoneta agriculture teachers and FFA advisers Ron Brown and Chris Turner along with 200 volunteers organize the $250,000 event each spring. This year marked the 25th anniversary of the sale.
Rules are changing for how cell phones are handled at the high school.
“In the past, as educators, we fought the idea of cell phones, thinking they might go away,” Wapakoneta High School Principal Scott Minnig said. “They are not.
“They are ingrained in our society,” he said told Wapakoneta City Schools Board of Education members as they shook their heads in agreeance.
Changes approved this week by board members would affect how cell phones are used at the school beginning next school year.
Decorations for what may be one of the biggest nights of the year for a high school student are being switched up this year.
Wapakoneta High School teacher and junior class adviser Aaron Stiger said as a way to cut costs this year he hand-crafted the decorations instead of purchasing them from a prom company.
“We were paying thousands of dollars for cardboard, so Mr. (Principal Scott) Minnig and I looked at it and asked ‘how can we save money and be something we can use year after year,’” Stiger said.
Wapakoneta City Schools Board of Education members this week voiced their support of the Apollo Career Center, which serves the district.
Apollo administrators are asking for support in the communities the school serves with a levy on the May 7 ballot.
The money the levy is expected to raise would be combined with $23 million in matching funds from the state to improve, expand and renovate buildings and facilities, acquire career and technical equipment, and upgrade the 36-year-old school site to meet the needs of 21st century learning.
Economic development directors in two counties touted a new website designed to match employment opportunities with the skilled labor force for those jobs.
Mercer County Economic Development Director Jared Ebbing and Wapakoneta Area Economic Development Council Executive Director Greg Myers explained the new website they spearheaded to “connect the dots” of local workers, or workers with local ties, with area companies.
April 25th
Life would be a little easier if people just laughed a little and took a little bit better care of themselves, an expert and humorist says.
Humorist Kay Frances presented a humorous look at relieving stress and being healthy during the Administrative Professionals Luncheon held Wednesday in observance of Administrative Professionals Day.
After spending nearly 75 minutes debating aspects of the proposed $2.1 million West Auglaize Street reconstruction project, a Wapakoneta city official stresses the key is striking a balance between the interests of neighborhood and city residents for the betterment of the entire community.
If a bipartisan bill passes, one of the co-sponsors says he believes the legislation will connect employers with the workers they need and workers with the training they need to secure a better employment future.
Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, of Ohio, discussed Wednesday the benefits “The Careers through Responsive, Efficient, and Effective Retraining Act” would have on job seekers and employers. The CAREER Act is legislation he co-sponsored with Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennett, of Colorado.
April 24th
A parent’s worst nightmare.
Flashing emergency vehicles lights greeted the onrushing mother, who soon saw the carnage. Two vehicles badly damaged. Twisted metal. Blood and broken bones. Now broken lives.
Parent concerns about bed bugs, heat exhaustion and not enough meals during band camp last year were brought up Tuesday during the Wapakoneta City Schools Board of Education meeting.
Band Director Klayton Hilleary addressed the concerns as he discussed this year’s band camp, planned for the end of July. A parent had written a letter to board members about her concerns and Hilleary said he had the same concerns and began addressing them late last year.
