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August 2008 |
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County Solid Waste Department needs more money for gasoline and propane
By KAREN CAMPBELL
Staff Writer
Increased fuel, propane and natural gas prices are causing departments and offices within the county to find other sources for extra money to cover costs.
Last week, increases in diesel fuel, but largely propane, have contributed to the need for additional funding in the Solid Waste supplies budget, District Coordinator Dave Reichelderfer said. Reichelderfer is the latest county department administrator to request a budget transfer to address high fuel costs.
Reichelderfer requested $7,000 additional from his cost allocation budget, which is typically set aside for unanticipated operation costs, be moved to the Solid Waste fund supplies line item. Commissioners, who approved the change, said he is just one of several department administrators facing that situation mid-year. |
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Tuesday, 17 June 2008 |
Wapak’s 175th celebration soiree planned for Saturday
By MATT NICHOLS
Staff Writer
Each year, a multitude of annual parades are scheduled across the United States. Floats, color guards and marching bands striding down city streets have become routine and common in the nation’s society — but a parade that comes once in 175 years is something special indeed, organizers say.
After nine months of planning by members of the Wapakoneta 175th Anniversary Committee, the 175th anniversary parade is scheduled to take place at 2 p.m. Saturday through the city’s downtown.
“This parade is so different because it’s going to focus on historical moments as well as (the city’s) citizens — so obviously we’ve worked very hard and we’re very excited,” Wapakoneta 175th Anniversary Committee member Ellie Archer said of the parade, which honors the city’s founding in 1833.
Starting at the Auglaize County Fairgrounds, the parade is to wind out the front gate and travel east on Auglaize Street. The parade is to end at the intersection of Auglaize and Park streets.
More than 125 entries are set to take part in Saturday’s parade and some entries are intended to bring more than just one vehicle.
Barber said the Buckeye Farm Antiques (BFA) members plan to bring approximately 20 pieces of farm machinery. The Wapakoneta High School band and the Miami Valley Pipes & Drums also are to take part along with dozens of other marching units, vehicles and floats — including a buggy built in 1770 and an 1856 racing sulky, Committee Chair Rachel Barber said.
Before the parade begins, a fleet of Model-Ts will make their way down the same parade route. The antique cars are provided by the Bluffton Model-T Club. The antique vehicles would have run with the parade, but Barber said the parade pace would ruin the automobile’s transmissions.
Area historian and former longtime Auglaize County Auditor Vern Doenges is to lead Saturday’s parade as the honorary grand marshal.
Due to his dedication to the preservation of Wapakoneta’s history, Barber said Doenges was the only choice for the title. It is a grand honor for Doenges, but Barber said his grand marshal duties will not be taxing.
“Vern doesn’t have to do any more than what he does in his daily life — be friendly, hospitable and wave to people,” Barber said.
Barber said the parade is being taped by WBGU-TV Bowling Green and aired on the network at a later date.
After the parade concludes at approximately 4 p.m., the party is to move to Heritage Park along the Auglaize River where food and entertainment will be provided.
The Kiwanis Club is selling chicken dinners for $6.50 presale and $7 the day of the event. The dinners include half a chicken, two sides, roll and butter. For presale tickets, contact Mark Selvaggio at 419-739-5050 or Nina Laney at 419-739-3502.
The Lima Beane Chorus, Sugar Grove and Duh Band are to perform live music from 4 to 9 p.m.
While the planning of the parade was a long and arduous task for the committee, Barber said she is most looking forward to Saturday night’s Midsummer’s Fire on the Water at the Auglaize River — an event Barber label as a “very special commemoration.”
At dusk on Saturday, the Auglaize River is to be set a blaze in honor of its contribution to earliest days of Wapakoneta’s history.
Barber said travelers of the 1700s would travel by canoe from Lake Erie to the Ohio River. The Auglaize River was one of the rivers used in the trip and travelers would stop at Wapakoneta, and tow their canoes 4 miles to the Pusheta Creek. From there, they would paddle down the Miami and on to the Ohio River.
“Even before it was a city, Wapakoneta was really an 18th century rest stop, and after the Shawnees left in 1832 and the community was established, there was great attention and focus paid to the river,” Barber said.
When the parade concludes and attendees are making their way back to the live entertainment, parade officials said they hope they will have engrained a fantastic memory into the minds of all those who will line Auglaize Street on Saturday afternoon.
“We look forward to presenting a memorable parade that people will be talking about for a long time,” Archer said. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 19 June 2008 )
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