Wednesday, March 7th, 2007

Citizens protest beer sales at Mercer fair

Church, 4-H leaders speak at county fair board meeting

By William Kincaid
About a dozen concerned citizens, including 4-H and church leaders, spoke out Tuesday night against the Mercer County Fair Board's plan to sell beer at the fair.
No one spoke in favor of alcohol sales.
Fair board members last month voted in favor of potential alcohol sales at the August fair. Details of a plan, such as having a beer garden or allowing sales in the grandstand, are to be worked out before a final vote is taken.
During a Tuesday night meeting of the board, 4-H Youth Development Director Barbara Phares said she is concerned about the message that would be sent to youth, if beer is sold at the fair.
"It seems that family fun has to be coupled with the need to indulge in alcohol," she read from a written statement. "The message - you have to include drinking in order to have fun. This is not a message we endorse in positive 4-H youth development."
Dick Vantilberg, who has been associated with the fair through 4-H for 46 years, told board members he hated the idea of them selling out to the beer sales option. He said that although he knows generating enough money has always been an issue, he believes the integrity of the board would be at stake if it decides to sell beer.
Rich Field, representing seven churches and the Serving Friends and Families door-to-door ministry in Celina, said his group already deals with the issue of youth and alcohol and thinks beer at the fair would be an unnecessary risk.
"Are there any other positives besides adding money?" he asked.
Field also said he was concerned about "the moral fiber" of the community and how it would be illustrated by alcohol.
Celina High School student Brandon Williams also spoke against beer sales.
"I can assure you children will get a hold of it (beer)," he said. "Is the money really worth a life? ... Accidents will happen. There is no amount of money that is worth a life."
The Rev. Bruce Head, executive director of Harbor House, said he was representing more than 20 churches that are against the idea.
He applauded the few board members who initially opposed the measure. He also pointed out he could have rallied his troops - hundreds of church members - to the meeting if he wanted to.
Others who spoke out at the meeting commented on liability concerns.
Fair board President Steve Seitz told the paper a special beer committee has been established that will eventually make a recommendation - which the board will either approve or reject.
Seitz said no specific details have been determined but said if approved, beer sales would almost certainly be limited to a "beer garden" area.
Additional online stories on this date
ROCKFORD - Village officials hope to break ground on a new water plant within a year or so.
The water plant is the most important of several pendin [More]
New Knoxville and Marion Local will have a rematch with regional berth on the line
WAPAKONETA - It will be an all-Midwest Athletic Conference Division IV district final at Wapakoneta High School on Friday night.
The D-IV poll cham [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Celina pupils have first taste of authorship
It isn't actually his first book; he has many in his body of work but, alas, they're not quite ready.
"I started writing a long time ago, but I hav
The rules of a popular statewide grant program have changed, preventing the $300,000 award from going to the same county in back-to-back years.
The
Lake Development Corporation members Monday said they fear escalating corn prices could cause local producers to bring farmland containing filter strips back into agricultural production, eliminating a buffer between farmland and local streams.
Mercer County commissioners and Ohio State University's Extension Services agreed Tuesday to hire another extension educator focusing largely on family, consumer and nutrition services.
The telephone rings and a polite male caller explains he is soliciting donations for local law enforcement programs. Frequently the caller uses the name Joe Nunn.
Sentencing has been set for March 21 in the attempted felonious assault case of a former Montezuma-area man.
Dale L. Godwin, 44, of Piqua, formerly
Better health for employees, lower insurance costs for employers among the benefits
MINSTER - Obesity, high cholesterol and smoking - this unhealthy trinity of high-risk can exact a high price from both employees and employers in the area.