Applause for Nov. 22

EDUCATION

Candidates pass bar exam

A group of area residents recently passed the Ohio Bar Examination and took the oath of office on Nov. 9.

Residents from Allen County included Bethany Elaine Bradley, Rebecca Susanne Newman and Mary Charlotte Sidor, all of Lima; and Jason Michael DeWitt, of Delphos.

Hancock County residents included Gabriel William Poland and Meagan Cathleen Sayre, both of Findlay.

Hardin County residents included Nicole Marie Winget, of Ada; and Courtney Kay Combs, of Dola.

Mercer County residents included Darin Lynn Avery and Milly Ann Schleucher, both of Celina; Philip Marvin Borger and Richard Maurice Delzeith, both of St. Henry; and Kelly Marie Rethman, of Maria Stein.

Putnam County had one resident, Amber Lynn Wagner, of Leipsic.

Van Wert County residents included Collette Jeannine Carcione and Dillon Wilson Staas IV, both of Van Wert.

Clark takes oath of office

Tiffany Clark, a tax specialist with the Lima office of Rea & Associates, Inc., was administered the attorney oath of office by Lima Municipal Court Judge William G. Lauber.

Clark graduated from Ohio Northern University in June 2008 and joined Rea full-time in August 2008. She is skilled in corporate and individual income taxation, tax research and is a specialist in state and local taxes.

TRAINING

Reese attends training session

Gary Reese attended a three-day training to become a certified instructor of the “Biblical Stewardship” series. This series includes six 90-minute sessions on various issues. The material covers scriptural principles, concepts and excerpts from Crown Financial Ministries materials.

Reese is an investment advisor representative with Faith Investment Services in Bluffton.

AWARDS

ONU honors pharmacy alumni

Ohio Northern University’s Raabe College of Pharmacy honored two alumni, Robert McCurdy and Albert Sebok, with Distinguished Alumni Awards.

McCurdy graduated from Ohio Northern University in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy. He began his pharmacy career in 1974.

He served as a member of ONU’s board of trustees prior to returning as the assistant vice president of development and director of corporate foundation-giving in 1996. Since 1997, he served as the assistant dean and instructor in ONU’s College of Pharmacy and is responsible for student affairs and admission to the college.

Sebok graduated from Ohio Northern University in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy. Under his leadership, Revco became the largest discount drug chain in America with more than 2,000 stores.

He served as an original member of ONU’s Pharmacy Advisory Board and was the founder and instructor of the college’s contemporary pharmacy practice class. He is a life member of the Henry Solomon Lehr Society. Fellow alumni recently established the Sebok Pharmacy Lecture in his honor.

Realtors name new officers

The West Central Association of Realtors installed the 2010 officers and directors at its recent banquet.

Jim Kitchen, of Yocum Realty, will serve as president. Neal O’Bringer, of Acheson Realty, will serve as president-elect, and Linda Painter-Stemen, of Cowan Realtors, will serve as vice president.

Directors installed included Tammy Breneman, Belinda Glenn and Tim Stanford, all of Yocum Realty; Chris Fleischman and Sandy Foreman, both with Cowan Realtors; and Joe Guatenti, of Azzarello’s Realty. Teresa Irwin, of Irwin Real Estate, will serve as past president.

Veronica Fox, of Yocum Realty, received the 2009 Realtor of the Year Award. Fox has been selling real estate for 15 years and has been very active in the local board activities.

Contractors receive honors

Tuttle Construction Co., of Lima, was listed as a finalist in the renovation category of The Associated General Contractors of Ohio Build Ohio awards program.

Charles Construction Services, Inc., of Findlay, and Ohio Northern University Inn and Conference Center, in Ada, received honorable mention honors in the new construction under $7 million category.

Build Ohio celebrates the construction industry and includes a statewide awards competition that honors members of the Associated General Contractors of Ohio for excellence in construction. A panel of retired construction professionals selected Build Ohio winners based on the criteria of excellence in project management, innovation in construction techniques and materials, excellence in client service and meeting the challenge of a difficult job.

Schutt named banker of year

Dan Schutt, president/chief executive officer of The Union Bank Company, of Columbus Grove, received the 2009 Banker of the Year Award.

Each year the Ohio League recognizes an Ohio Bank Pac distinguished baker of the year.

The Union Bank Company serves Allen, Putnam, Sandusky, Van Wert and Wood counties.

OTHER RECOGNITIONS

Holmes appointed to board

Thomas Holmes was appointed by Allen County commissioners to a four-year term on the Allen County Children Services Board.

Holmes is the executive director of Covenant Ministry Services-A Samaritan Center, in Lima. He has a doctor of ministry in pastoral care and counseling degree from The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

As an Allen County Children Services board member, Holmes will support the agency’s mission of protecting children from abuse and neglect and strengthening families.

40-plus years at The Lima News

Jack Hunt and Linda Hagerman were recently honored by The Lima News for more than 40 years of service.

Hunt, of Lima, has worked at the newspaper for 45 years. He started in 1964 in maintenance and currently is the pressroom supervisor.

Hagerman, of Lima, has been with the newspaper for 40 years. She began in 1969 in the composing room and currently works in advertising services.

St. Rita’s honors long-time employees

St. Rita’s Medical Center recently honored hundreds of employees for their years of service, including Diane Fruend and Ruth Roller. These two have worked at St. Rita’s Medical Center for 45 years each.

Also introduced were the 2009 Legends of St. Rita’s. This honor was bestowed to Shari Dunlap, Laurie Patrick, Jane Rupert, Sheri Thomas, Amber Wilhelm and the late Kathy Knueven. Legends are nominated and selected on the basis of extraordinary contributions to the medical center, patients and their families.

ODOT District 1 recognizes employee

The Ohio Department of Transportation District One office recently honored Deb Kruse, of Kalida, for her 36 years of service. She works in the highway management department.

Downtown Celina launches web site

Celina downtown merchants commissioned Brand It Design to create a Web site focusing on Celina’s downtown, www.celinadowntown.com.

 “Grand Lake. Great Town. Friendly People,” is the slogan for the site to represent Celina and the merchants. The logo was created by Twyla Hayes of Brand It Design. The logo combines the lighthouse, lake, shopping and entertainment.

The new site offers maps of the area and of the downtown, a calendar of events, shopping and dining discounts and links to other area sites.

How to submit
Applause items

The Applause section celebrates accomplishments of businesses and business people in the Lima region. This includes promotions, special training, awards and other achievements. As space permits, we will also report a significant business anniversary. In this case, please provide the day of opening, key changes in location, ownership and function. Any business or business organization is welcome to submit an item for Applause. To submit an item, send to:

Newsroom/Applause

The Lima News

3515 Elida Road

Lima, OH 45807

Items may also be e-mailed to info@limanews.com. Please include the word “Applause” in the subject line. All items must include the phone number of the person submitting the item.