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 By JENNIFER TANGEMAN
Staff Writer
Few people exhibit an enthusiasm about historical artifacts as Jim Bowsher does.
When crews working for G.A. Wintzer and Son Co. started working to build new office space on West Auglaize Street, they came across some interesting finds where a rental home had previously sat.
Jim Kent and others of Kent Surveying began finding pieces of artifacts. They called in local history buff, Bowsher, to try to figure out what the bits and pieces meant.
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Tuesday, 04 August 2009 |
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 Wapakoneta High School graduate Audrey Fisher, at left, receives a bouquet of roses after being named the 2009 Junior Fair Queen from 2008 Auglaize County Fair Queen Emily Spangler. Ben Lehmkuhl was 2008 fair king. Staff photo/Matt Nichols By MATT NICHOLS
Staff Writer
The moment seemed almost too much for 18-year-old Audrey Fisher to handle.
The Wapakoneta High School graduate had taken no more than two steps toward accepting her 2009 Auglaize County Junior Fair queen’s tiara Monday evening when the tears began to well in her eyes.
The same could be said for Andrew Durkee, who like Fisher, found himself overcome with emotion when he heard his name announced as the 2009 Junior Fair King. Before a packed grandstand, the pair walked off with trophies and roses, but also with dreams fulfilled.
“This is something that I’ve wanted for a long time and I wasn’t expecting it,” said Fisher, tears still in her eyes. “It’s just a really good feeling right now.”
This was Fisher’s second time on the court after missing out on the honors last year. The 2008 Wapakoneta High School graduate plans to attend Mount Carmel College of Nursing this autumn. The daughter of Sherrie and Doug Fisher is the assistant vice president of the Wapakoneta FFA, president of the Fryburg Happy Farmers 4-H club, and also is in charge of the Rabbit Department at this year’s Auglaize County Fair.
Fisher did well enough to keep her emotions in check during a photograph session after the award ceremony, but after the camera flashes ceased, the emotions bubbled up as she spoke about why the evening meant so much to her.
“Ever since I was little, I would see the queens walk around and I would wish I was one of those people,” Fisher said, “and now that it’s me — it’s just a shock.”
Fisher’s parents were just as overcome with emotions as their daughter, both fighting back tears as they spoke about Fisher and her accomplishments.
“It’s just relief right now,” Doug Fisher said. “There was a lot of pressure building up to it, but I’m so proud of her.”
Sherrie Fisher echoed her husband’s thoughts.
“She’s worked for years for this,” Sherrie said. “It’s something she’s wanted and worked hard for. She’s done a lot of things for it.”
Durkee, a 2008 St. Marys Memorial High School graduate, is in his first year on the Junior Fair Board. The 18-year-old said when his name was announced as the winner, he thought it was a joke.
“I thought they were kidding,” the son of Dixie and Mike Durkee said. “Then they handed me the trophy and put the medal on me, and I thought, ‘Wow, they really are serious.’ ”
Standing with trophy in hand, Durkee was magnanimous enough to admit he held no advantage over the other nominees on the court.
“I do a lot for the fair, but everyone on the court deserved it just as much as I did,” Durkee said.
Durkee has been in 4-H for 12 years, and when he departs for Bowling Green State University in the fall, he said he does not know what he will do with himself.
“Everything I’ve done in 4-H has just been awesome,” Durkee said. “I still want to help out with the fair and junior fair activities because it was that that really helped turn me into the person that I am.”
Durkee’s mother, who could not keep the smile off her face as she stared at the new Junior Fair king, said it was an honor well deserved.
“I’m so excited,” Dixie Durkee said. “All the accomplishments that he’s done and the hard work he’s put forth at the fair and 4-H and Junior Fair Board.
“He’s been just wonderful,” she said. “I couldn’t be more proud.”
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 05 August 2009 )
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