Friday, March 1st, 2013

Chamber recognizes citizens, businesses

By Christine Henderson
Photo by Christine Henderson/The Daily Standard

Recipients of the Celina-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce honors are, from left seated, Marce Nietfeld, Humanitarian Award; Mary Beougher, volunteer coordinator accepting the Achievement Award for the Community Health Professionals Inc. Adult Day Care Center; and Tammy Barger, Citizen of the Year. Standing are Ambie and Bill Lennartz, owners of Jackson's Garage, Business of the Year Award.

CELINA - Winners of the Celina-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce awards shown brightly Thursday night, despite the dim lighting at the start of the evening.
A power outage in a section of Celina about 4:30 p.m. had staff at Romer's at Westlake scrambling for generators and candles. The chamber award dinner opened in the cool-temperature venue with flickering flames at the tables. Good-natured applause broke out about an hour into the banquet as lights and heat returned.
From nominations by community members, chamber officials selected 2012 award recipients. The winners also received recognition proclamations from Mercer County Commissioners and State Sen. Keith Faber.
Tammy Barger of Celina was named Citizen of the Year.
The former Mercer County recorder was recognized for her philanthropic efforts, including work through St. Paul's Church in Celina, American Red Cross, Grand Lake Mariners, Tri-County Board of Van Wert, Mercer County Relay for Life, Right to Life and Sources.
The Achievement Award went to Community Health Professionals Inc.'s Adult Day Care Center in Celina.
The center provides a home-like atmosphere with a professional staff and volunteers. Clients participate in activities and meals while their caregivers have a respite.
Marce Nietfeld of Celina received the Humanitarian Award.
He was honored for his service at Immaculate Conception Church in Celina, Cheryl Ann Programs, Mercer County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Celina Knights of Columbus. For the American Red Cross, he assisted at numerous disaster sites, such as Hurricane Katrina, Mississippi/New Orleans rebuilding and Pennsylvania flooding. He also has raised funds and worked on projects in Haiti and Jamaica.
The Business of the Year Award was given to Jackson's Garage in Celina, which is marking its 50th anniversary.
Bill and Ambie Lennartz own the business specializing in heavy duty truck repair, towing/hauling and construction equipment repair. Bill Lennartz and his staff have assisted CALL Food Pantry in many ways. The garage participates in Cash for Cans Holiday Food Drive, Shoe Box Ministries and many other community-assistance projects.
After dinner at Romer's, Joanne Li, dean of the Wright State University business school, spoke about the need for business schools and the business community to work together to prevent stagnation in the workforce. She suggested efforts to get more students to begin and complete college.
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CELINA - Antipoverty organization Sources has a new interim executive director to lead board members in their quest to revitalize the beleaguered agency currently under review by the state.
Community Hospital
COLDWATER - The Mercer Health Board of Governors on Wednesday night heard concerns from 25-year employee Marv Bruns regarding a $20,000 performance bonus awarded to former Mercer County Community Hospital CEO Paula Detterman.
State test shows algae toxins not problem
GRAND LAKE - This year's statewide fish consumption report released Thursday confirms the fish in Grand Lake continue to be safe to eat.
The presence of algae toxins in the lake the last four summers have caused some to question the safety of the lake's fish.
CELINA - Mercer County Commissioners on Thursday joined Celina schools and Jefferson Township in approving a 100 percent, 15-year property tax exemption for Ferguson Enterprises.
WAPAKONETA - Auglaize County Engineer Doug Reinhart for the first time will take out a loan to pay for county bridgework.
Reinhart applied for a ne
The local war on drugs continued Thursday as law enforcement officers rounded up seven people indicted on charges stemming from a Grand Lake Task Force investigation.
A 52-year-old Mercer County man pleaded no contest Wednesday in Celina Municipal Court to charges he exposed himself to others.
Terry M. Shaffer, w
A 50-year-old Minster woman was killed after her SUV left the roadway and struck a tree near state Route 66 on Thursday afternoon.
Pronounced dead at the scene was Ina Smith. She initially was trapped in her 1990 Jeep Cherokee and was extricated by Jaws of Life rescue equipment.
Division II District at Paulding
PAULDING - Celina's girls basketball team hasn't faced much adversity over the last couple of months, but they certainly got a taste of it on Thursday night.
All-Western Buckeye League Girls Basketball
Compiled by Ryan Hines
Lima Bath's girls basketball team won at least a share of the Western Buckeye League championship for the third straight year and the Wildkittens swept the top two league honors for the second straight season.
All-Western Buckeye League Boys Basketball
Compiled by Ryan Hines
Bath's Doug Davis and Elida's Denny Thompson shared the Western Buckeye League's Coach of the Year honor as the Wildcats and Bulldogs shared the league championship, but one individual stood above the rest to earn WBL Player of the Year honors.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Coldwater's Justin Post had a short, but successful first day of competition at the Division III State Wrestling Championships on Thursday at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus.
PAULDING - Revenge is a great motivational tool when it comes to athletics, and Celina's girls basketball team is certainly looking for some against Bath on Saturday night.