Regional Roundup: Bicycle Safety Day holds special meaning for Wapakoneta family

WAPAKONETA - Marlene Froning talks with great emotion about the Bicycle Safety Day scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 9, at St. Joseph School,. The subject hits close to her family.

The Fronings lost a son, Keith Wesley, when he was 9 in a car/bicycle accident on Aug. 2, 1983.

"Education is key," Froning said. By bringing the safety issues to the forefront and educating children and their parents about the risks of not knowing specific laws and not riding with a helmet, she hopes to prevent any more accidents involving bicyclists.

"Be a parent. Wear your helmet also, because kids do follow (your example)," Froning said.

The Wapakoneta Fire Department, Wapakoneta Police Department, D.A.R.E. and the Revolution Cycling Team are partnering with Froning on Bicycle Safety Day. Free helmets will be given to all children. There will be events such as a bicycle safety check and rodeo for.

Call 419-738-8267 for information.

Brother Believe Me band wins "Wish Upon a Song"

LIMA - The local band Brother Believe Me won the "Wish Upon a Song" band contest held April 18.

The band will get a half-hour of TV time and promotion on WLIO, slated to air ay 11:30 p.m. May 10. The 30-minute show also can be seen at noon May 17 on WOHL.

The public is invited to be a part of the filming. It will take place Friday at Club Oasis in Celina. The pre-film party will begin at 8 p.m., with the band taking stage at 9 p.m.

Brother Believe Me is a Northwest Ohio based rock band with two members from Lima, Brian Carpenter and Jason Wheeler. The band was formed in early 2007.

New Knoxville school board members on Air National Guard flight

NEW KNOXVILLE - School board members Brent Henschen and Phil Kuck took an orientation flight aboard an Ohio Air National Guard KC-135 refueling plane April 16 as part of the Guard's public outreach efforts. The flight took them over parts of Ohio while the crew practiced refueling F-16s from the 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo.

Henschen and Kuck were among about 30 school board members from around the state invited to the flight with the 121st Air Refueling Wing, based at Rickenbacker International Airport, in Columbus. The purpose is to familiarize leaders and decision makers with the role and mission of the National Guard, as well as Ohio's employer support of the Guard and Reserve.

Ada pupils honored at Ohio Governors Youth Art Exhibition

ADA - Three Ada High School seniors were honored in Columbus for their artwork. Lydia Schimpf, Michelle Lawrence and Ashlee Mays all had artwork accepted into the Ohio Governors Youth Art Exhibition.

Lydia Schimpf had two pieces of art selected for the show with one of them receiving the Governor's Award of Excellence. This is awarded to the top 25 pieces in the show. She received a $16,000 scholarship to Watkins School of Art in Nashville, Tenn., along with a monetary award of $100.

Michelle Lawrence had one piece selected into the top 300. Ashlee Mays had one piece selected in the top 300 and won a $2,000 scholarship to the Columbus College of Art and Design.

More than 13,500 pieces of work were entered, with the top 300 making it into the exhibition. Every freshman through senior student in any of Ohio's high schools was eligible to enter work. The art items will remain on exhibition until May 14 at the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower, in Columbus.

Blessing of the Bikes and Poker Run to be held

LIMA - The ninth annual Blessing of the Bikes will be held Sunday at Shawnee United Methodist Church, 2600 Zurmehly Road in Lima. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. The service will start at 11 a.m. and the bike blessing at 12:15 p.m.

The Rev. Bryan Bucher said he blesses from 600 to 700 bikes each year. Bucher said the blessing is to let the biker community know the Christian community cares, and to let the general community know motorcycles are out.

"I ride, and I want to get home safely," Bucher said.

A poker run will follow. The poker run starts from Lima Harley-Davidson, at 3255 Fort Shawnee Industrial Drive. Cost of the poker run is $10 per bike, $15 per couple. The ride will be 60 to 65 miles. Riders will come back to the dealership at the end. Proceeds will benefit Heartbeat of Lima, a pregnancy resource center.

Shawnee United Methodist Church also will hold a bike rodeo Saturday for the blessing of the bicycles. During the Saturday night service, the children's ministry will be held outside and their bicycles will be blessed. Bicycle safety and rules will be taught.

St. Charles teacher receives Golden Apple Award

LIMA - Jan Dornick, a first-grade teacher at St. Charles Elementary School recently was selected as one of seven elementary teachers in the Toledo Diocese to win the Golden Apple Award.

The award was established to honor outstanding individuals who devote their lives to teaching in Catholic schools. The Golden Apple Award was established by the Jack and Rhodora Donahue Family Foundation of Pittsburgh and has been expanded from the Diocese of Pittsburgh to include the Diocese of Youngstown and the Diocese of Toledo.

Each award winner will receive $5,000, a Golden Apple keepsake decorated with a 24-karat gold cross and a lapel pin at a banquet May 19 in Toledo.

Dornick has been teaching at St. Charles for 27 years. She and her husband, John, live in Lima.