Archive - News Article
August 4th, 2011
An experienced sheep showman, 18-year-old Kaleb Vondenhuevel, of Wapakoneta, hasn’t just been around sheep during his 10 years of 4-H and he doesn’t plan to quit raising them once he graduates next year.
“I’ve been around sheep my entire life,” said Kaleb, who grew up on a farm where they were raised and hopes to continue raising them long after he’s done showing them at the Auglaize County Fair.
Area 4-H members showed off their hogs during Wednesday’s Junior Fair Market Hog Show at the Auglaize County Fair.
Participants led their hogs around the swine arena as they were judged on their size and coat.
“They want really big muscles in the pigs and a big loin — the line down their back,” Wes Hirschfeld said after showing a gilt. “They want a very full look.”
The St. Marys student said this is his 11th year in 4-H, and he started out as a Cloverbud. It is his seventh year of showing pigs.
Wes noted all of the other fair events he is participating in this year.
August 3rd
Running a tiny brush through her rabbit Bubba’s fur, 8-year-old Amanda Schultz prepared for her first time showing at the Auglaize County Fair.
“It’s pretty easy now,” Amanda said, but after watching older relatives show rabbits for years she knows it keeps getting harder. “Every year you step up another level. You have to know more and the judge will ask you more.”
Even though taking rabbits to the fair runs in the family, the Wapakoneta girl said she takes them because they are “fun and cute.”
Work continued Tuesday to refurbish the Wigwam in downtown Wapakoneta, after city officials granted an emergency variance.
G.A. Wintzer & Son President Gus Wintzer approached Wapakoneta City Council members Monday regarding a variance to extend the building to the north approximately 11 inches into the city’s right-of-way on Heritage Drive. The existing wall is being reinforced to ensure the integrity of the building, which housed chamber offices, and the YMCA served as city council chambers.
Control, cleanliness and poise were just three of the areas 4-Hers had to display as part of the dairy showmanship event Tuesday afternoon at the Auglaize County Fair.
Dozens of participants entered the show barn looking to advance in the competition. The field featured some newcomers as well as veterans of handling the thousand pound - plus animals.
“I am kind of hoping I place pretty good,” Cody Schlater said. “This is my first year doing dairy.”
August 2nd
When Kayla Schneider’s name was announced as the 2011 Auglaize County Junior Fair queen, she broke into a subtle smile — later saying she knew all the contestants were deserving.
On Monday, Wapakoneta’s Schneider and St. Marys’ Patrick Schwartz were crowned as royalty over the 159th Auglaize County Junior Fair.
Schwartz said the selection gave him a feeling of accomplishment after being chosen.
“Its an awesome feeling,” Schwartz said. “I grew up wanting to be selected some day.”
The city’s legislative body approved moving forward on an opportunity to purchase the former Centennial Elementary School property and make it part of the Wapakoneta park system.
A 49-year-old Wapakoneta woman attempting to cross between stopped train cars got caught on one of them as the train started to move again Sunday afternoon.
Wapakoneta Police Chief Russ Hunlock said at 1:05 p.m. Mary Music, 49, of Apt. 1, 2 Perry St., attempted to cross through the stopped train at the Auglaize Street intersection by crawling between cars. Witnesses saw what happened and called the Wapakoneta Police Department for assistance.
Hunlock said they notified CSX about Music and asked them to make an emergency stop.
Music was removed from the train with no injuries.
August 1st
A local fundraiser brought members of the community together to raise awareness for an auto-immune disease.
“A Walk for Lupus” attracted approximately 400 people Saturday morning to Harmon Field in Wapakoneta to show their support by either walking or running a 5K.
Lupus Foundation of America Michigan and Northwest Ohio Chapter President and CEO Aleta Foust said it is important for everyone to be aware of what lupus is.
“There are 50,000 people in the state of Ohio that have lupus,” Foust said. “There are more people than we know that have lupus”
A local festival dodged the rain this past weekend as it drew large crowds for its activities on Friday and Saturday.
The Uniopolis Jamboree, the mid-summer event, is the major fundraiser for the Uniopolis Fire Department’s budget, and firefighter Sam Blank said that the money will fund their budget for the year. This year the proceeds from the event will go toward updating equipment.
“The money is used for repairs, and for new equipment,” Blank said. “Outdated equipment needs to be replaced.”
