Mercer County brothers will remember comrades, siblings on Memorial Day
Harold Kleinhenz proudly places an American flag on the porch of his St. Henry home just as he does every day of the year. He doesn't need the upcoming Memorial Day observance to recall his family's commitment to safeguarding freedom.
CELINA - People who use Montgomery Field should help pay for maintenance and eventual replacement of the synthetic turf, says Bill Montgomery, a donor of the field.
New Bremen
NEW BREMEN - The New Bremen High School Class of 2011 will graduate Sunday with 2:30 p.m. commencement exercises at the high school gym. Sixty-four students will receive diplomas from school officials.
ST. MARYS - Two St. Marys residents were arrested after a citizen reported suspicious activity near vending machines in Waynesfield.
Taken into custody for tampering with a pop machine were Charles H. Higginbotham, 35, and Robin R. Hudnall, 34.
Public swimming pools in Mercer and Auglaize counties open up for the season this holiday weekend.
Opening dates and rates are:
Bryson Memorial Pool, Celina
Opening date: Saturday
Season tickets: family, $100; individual, $50.
Division III Regional Track at Troy
TROY - For many area athletes, Wednesday was their opportunity to qualify for the state track meet.
For others, preliminary races were supposed to be run to determine which athletes would be able to earn their trip on Friday night.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Celina's boys were unable to qualify anyone for the state track meet on Wednesday after the first day of the Amherst Division I regional took place at Steele High School.
CELINA - One of the most decorated Celina swimmers will continue his career during college in the Dayton area.
Eric Muhlenkamp will head to Wright State University and join the Raiders' swim program, which has featured several area swimmers over the years.
Inexpensive, unique events and a family friendly atmosphere should make the Mercer and Auglaize county area an attractive destination for summer travelers.
CHICKASAW - People will not have to wait until the second weekend in June to attend the 33rd annual Chickasaw Community Picnic. The event is being held a week early this year (June 3-5) due to scheduling conflicts.
MENDON - The Mendon Firecracker Festival, sponsored by the Mendon Lions Club, will run June 2-4 on the former Mendon school grounds.
Proceeds will help finance the charitable activities of the local Lions Club and Mendon Committee for Future Development.
ST. ANTHONY - Sweet berries and homemade biscuits will highlight the menu at the Pomoma Strawberry Festival on June 9.
The annual event is held at the Unity Grange Hall on St. Anthony Road, east of the unincorporated village of St. Anthony.
Coldwater
COLDWATER - The 44th annual Coldwater Knights of Columbus Picnic will be held June 4-5 on the Holy Trinity Church grounds in Coldwater.
Picnic chai
New Bremen
NEW BREMEN - The New Bremen Historic Association will hold its annual picnic June 5 at the museum grounds, 120 N. Main St. The event takes place 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
ST. MARYS - Holy Rosary church is ready for its annual festival set for June 10-12.
The festival will include beer and food stands, Chuck-O-Luck, instant bingo, Showdown, kids games, a cake wheel and craft booth.
ROCKFORD - After a year of planning, Community Days are scheduled to run June 17-19 in Shane's Park.
Some of the new events include a golf tournam
FORT RECOVERY - The 106th annual Fort Recovery Harvest Jubilee is scheduled for June 16-19 at Fort Site Park and Ambassador Park.
All weekend long, Otterbacher rides and amusements, food stands and an antique tractor display will be available. Entertainment, parking and admission are free.
MONTEZUMA - The small village of Montezuma on the south side of Grand Lake will host its 25th annual Zuma Days festivities June 16-18 at Zuma Park. All proceeds benefit the park.
MARIA STEIN - New features, old favorites and tasty treats await visitors to the 24th annual Maria Stein Country Fest. The event takes place June 24-26 on the grounds of the Maria Stein Center off St. Johns Road.
Freedom Days
CELINA - National Recording Artist Justine Blazer will headline the 2011 Freedom Days Picnic in Celina.
The Detroit-based country singer has opened for Jason Aldean, Terri Clark and Lonestar, and has sung for the NFL and MBL, according to her biography.
CELINA - Immaculate Conception Parish Festival will be held July 15-17 on the parish grounds in Celina.
As in prior years, food stands, raffle tic
ST. HENRY - Good food, plenty of activities and top-notch entertainment are planned for the 2011 St. Henry Community Picnic on July 1-3.
A pre-picn
CELINA - Celina Lake Festival organizers will celebrate the event's 50th anniversary this summer July 22-24 with a professional water ski show and the return of bed racing.
NEW BREMEN - Some new events are planned for the 90th annual New Bremen Fireman's Festival. The event is July 23 at the Crown Pavilion.
Activities begin at 7 a.m. with signup for the Firemen's Memorial 5K run/walk and continue through 11 p.m. with a raffle drawing.
Chattanooga
The Chatt Farmers Picnic marks its 97th year with a variety of activities and entertainment slated for July 28.
The picnic is held annually on the last Thursday in July on Tama Road, about 2 1/2 miles east of Chattanooga.
MINSTER - The fourth annual Bock and Rock - a Beer Tasting Experience takes place smack dab in the middle of summer.
The event, previously held in May at Four Seasons Park, has been moved to July 30 due to scheduling conflicts.
Coldwater picnic
COLDWATER - The 51st annual Coldwater Community Picnic will be held Aug. 6-7 in the village's Memorial Park. All proceeds benefit Memorial Park and the Coldwater Public Library.
Fort Recovery
FORT RECOVERY - The 38th annual nationally sanctioned truck and tractor pulls will be held July 29-30 at Ambassador Park in Fort Recovery.
The event, which features multiple classes of truck and tractor pulling on two tracks, begins at 7 p.m. on both nights.
BURKETTSVILLE - Kids and adults can participate in a "needle in a straw pile hunt" at this year's Burkettsville Community Picnic on July 29 and 30.
The event, scheduled for both days, is one of many activities offered this year, said picnic chairman Corey Everman.
WAPAKONETA - This year's Auglaize County Fair promises to offer more than ever, including new rides and more activities for kids. The fair runs July 31-Aug. 6.
CELINA - High-flying stunt cycles and a top-notch music act will dazzle visitors at the 2011 Mercer County Fair from Aug. 12-18.
The theme for this
ST. MARYS - SummerFest is set for Aug. 11-14 in Memorial Park in downtown St. Marys with the Miss SummerFest pageant scheduled for Aug. 7.
The page
COLDWATER - The 32nd annual Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Benefit Softball Tournament is slated for Aug. 17-21 at Coldwater's Memorial Park.
Organizers hope to go over the million dollar mark this year in the annual benefit for Jerry's Kids, a national fundraiser.
Racing set Aug. 26-28 on Grand Lake
GRAND LAKE - After losing a year due to algae on Grand Lake St. Marys, the 2011 Governor's Cup Regatta is looking to be bigger and better than ever.
NEW BREMEN - New features and longtime favorites are on tap for the 37th annual Bremenfest. The event takes place Aug. 19-21 on both sides of Plum Street.
Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum, Wapakoneta
Located along I-75 (exit 111), the museum is named in honor of astronaut and Wapakoneta native Neil A
DURBIN - Each Labor Day, several hundred people wrap up their summer by spending the day in the woods on Erastus-Durbin Road, west of Celina. They wouldn't think of missing the annual Durbin Bean Bake, a local tradition since 1898, rain or shine.
FORT RECOVERY - The 28th annual St. Joe Homecoming takes place Sept. 10 and 11 on the grounds of St. Joseph Catholic Church.
In keeping with tradit
CELINA - Wings will be flying off plates at this year's Wing Fest, slated for Sept. 10 at the Mercer County Fairgrounds.
Up to 10 vendors will be selling wings, fairgrounds manager Steve Schulte said. A wide variety of events also are slated throughout the day.
NEW BREMEN - Smashing pumpkins with a monster truck should provide novel entertainment for the eighth annual Pumpkinfest. The event takes place Sept. 23 and 24 on the Crown Pavilion grounds.
MINSTER - There is no reason to travel to Germany to participate in an Oktoberfest celebration. Folks in this Auglaize County community will roll out the barrels Sept. 30-Oct. 2 for the 37th annual Minster Oktoberfest.
The Grand Lake Mariners is a summer baseball team that is totally comprised of college players.
The Mariners play in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League, a wooden-bat league that is made up of 10 teams located in Ohio and Kentucky.
The Grand Lake area has numerous options for visitors interested in overnight accommodations.
Campers will feel right at home at Grand Lake St. Mar
Arrowhead Park Golf Course
Directions: Take Ohio 66 south out of St. Marys to Minster. Once in Minster, take a right onto First Street and follow it to Canal Road. Turn left on Canal. The course is located on the corner of Canal and Dirksen.
Eldora Speedway, owned by NASCAR star Tony Stewart and located in Rossburg, is one of the most recognizable dirt tracks in the United States.
Many
