Regional Roundup: Elida alumni march for Ohio State at Fiesta Bowl

ELIDA - Even though the Fiesta Bowl did not turn out as Buckeye fans had hoped, our area was well represented. Five former Elida band members are now members of the Ohio State marching band and marched during halftime.

They are Amanda Morman, Kevin Harter, Beth Moore, Phil Kirkendall and Aaron Koch.

It was "really cool," Kirkendall said. "All the TV cameras were beside us when we were marching, and the crowd went crazy when we did Script Ohio. We did double scripts, so we did it on both sides."

Hardin County Longbeards host deer hunt for the disabled

KENTON - The Hardin County Longbeards/National Wild Turkey Federation held the first Wheelin' Sportsman NWTF Disabled Deer hunt Nov. 15 at Lawrence Woods, south of Kenton.

Whether it's for the first time or a reintroduction into outdoor activities, Wheelin' Sportsmen brings the joy of the wild to those with disabilities. The event was also sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Natural Areas and Preserves and the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

Volunteers arrived at 4 a.m. to prepare for the hunters. A tent donated by Ken Doll was command center. The Webelos Cub Scout Pack 121 served chili and hot ham sandwiches for lunch.

Ten hunters harvested six deer for the day.

Shawnee pupil donates 10 inches of hair to Locks of Love

LIMA - Emily Miller is a 7-year-old, first-grade student at Shawnee Elmwood Elementary. She recently donated 10 inches of her hair to Locks of Love. Her mother, Kristin Anthony-Miller, is a breast cancer survivor. Emily wanted to help little kids who had cancer.

Hairstylist Bretta Roush, of Angels Family Hair Salon, located on West Market Street cut Emily's hair.

Lima woman, sister write book

LIMA -  Marilyn Williams, of Lima, and her sister Barbara Bailey Caspersen, of Hamilton, Ontario, have published the book "No Time For Tears (The Story of Anna)."

"No Time For Tears" is a work of fiction inspired by their mother's difficult life growing up in Maine.

"Mother always dreamed of becoming a published author, but it never happened," Williams said. "My sister was walking and suddenly it came to her that she should try to finish out our mother's dream. She felt like she was being helped along by mother."

Bailey called Williams to ask for her help completing the book. This book took two years to finish. The sisters used e-mail, telephone calls and getting together a few times to finish the book.

"No Time For Tears (The Story of Anna" is available online for $26 at www.amazon.com and at www.barnesandnoble.com.

Book two in the series, "Moving Mountains," has been completed. Williams believes it should be available by June.

Elida graduate publishes second novel

LIMA - "Chances and Circumstances and Other Select Sketches" is the title of Ron Kovacs Jr.'s second novel, published by Publish America.

This set of stories contains one novella, seven short stories and eight poems. This book can be purchased for $19.95 from www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com or www.publishamerica.com.

Kovacs is a 1983 graduate of Elida High School. He holds a doctorate degree in psychology from California Southern University and lives in Lima. His first novel was "Love, Sacrifice, and Golf: The Story of Johnny Pantella, which is also available online." He has completed a third novel and is working on a fourth.