Fort Jennings students collect $6,600 in donations

FORT JENNINGS - The Fort Jennings Student Council held a food-and-clothing drive contest the week of Feb. 9, raising $6,600. All items were donated to the Putnam County Thrift Store Auglaize Chapel Food Pantry of Melrose for use in the county.

The senior class won this year's contest. Those students will receive an afternoon of bowling. The seventh-grade class won a breakfast of doughnuts and juice for placing second.

This is the ninth year the contest has been held at Fort Jennings High School. The school has raised more than $30,000 during these nine years. 

Mefferd wins local DAR essay contest

LIMA - Katelyn Mefferd, of Lima Senior Performance Based High School, won the 2009 Good Citizen essay contest, sponsored by the Lima chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mefferd received a monetary award and a traveling trophy. Her essay will be entered into the state DAR competition.

Four other girls were recognized as Good Citizens during a recent DAR meeting. They are: Maria Hoffman, of Lima Central Catholic High School; Lauren Miller, of Shawnee High School; Nicole Wallenhorst, of Delphos St. John's High School, and Danielle Williams of Spencerville High School.

All five senior girls were nominated by their schools for good ethics, leadership abilities and extracurricular activities.

Rhodes students qualify for competition

LIMA - Students from Rhodes State's Networking Security program placed second in the Midwest Regional Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition last weekend. The competition assesses understanding and competency in managing a corporate network infrastructure and business information system.

Rhodes State was one of six colleges and universities competing. Members of the Rhodes team are: Matt Reynolds, of Lima; Nathan Schumacher, of New Knoxville; Matt Schumacher, of New Knoxville; Linna Kelly, of Convoy; Kevin Klinger, of Convoy; Jason Pontious, of Lima, and Joe Poeppelman, of Coldwater.

The regional competition will be held March 27 and 28 at Inver Hills Community College, in Minnesota.

Winners announced in oratory contest

LIMA - Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 370 has selected winners in its God, Flag and Country oratory contest. These winners will advance to district competition in late May.

Cory Schoonover, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Schoonover, of Lima, won the 10-11 age division; Hannah Beck, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Beck, of Lima, won the 12-13 age division; and Caitlyn Merkel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Greg Merkel, of Lima, won the 14-15 age group.

Care providers go ‘above and beyond'

LIMA - PSA3 Agency on Aging has recognized several care providers with awards for going "above and beyond" their daily duties in providing exceptional care for the region's elderly.

Heidi Fittro and Teresa Doseck, owners of New Vision Nursing and Home Care of Delphos, got an award, along with health aide Taunya Breece, for helping a senior citizen during an ice storm that left people in Van Wert County without power. The New Vision team helped the senior relocate to Hughes Inn Bed and Breakfast, which provided free room and board.

The second award went to Jerry Miller, an employee of Lock Sixteen restaurant, which works with PSA3 on the Meals on Wheels program. During the course of a delivery, Miller encountered a family that he believed had fallen victim to carbon monoxide poisoning in their home. He received the award for alerting authorities.

Van Wert church holds Awana Grand Prix

VAN WERT - Calvary Evangelical Church recently held its annual Awana Grand Prix. There were 19 participants competing for the top three awards in speed and design.

First place in the speed category went to Nathan Robenalt, followed by Hope Johnson in second place and Grace Lare in third. Top design winners were Courtney Cearns in first place, Madison Turnwald in second and Tyler Riggenbach in third.

Calvary's Awana ministry is offered to preschoolers through fifth grade.