Friday, May 25th, 2018

Students dig in to help reduce algal problem

By Tom Stankard
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard

Parkway FFA students Tessa Thatcher, left, and Madison Kroeger plant wetland vegetation on Thursday. The plants are being added to a 210-feet-by-10-feet waterway with the hope of improving Lake Erie water quality. The two were among 19 volunteers who were planting 1,100 wetland plants they hope will absorb nutrients from the runoff that eventually flows into Lake Erie. The project is funded by a $25,000 Ohio Environmental Protection Agency grant.

DUBLIN TOWNSHIP - To help combat the toxic algal blooms in Lake Erie, 19 area residents on Thursday morning gathered to plant a vegetative wetland along the 5100 block of Shelley Road, which is located in the lake's watershed.
The group, organized by Mercer County Ag Solutions Coordinator Theresa Dircksen, is repairing a severely eroded waterway that had gullies 8 feet wide and 3-4 feet deep.
Before planting could begin, Dircksen said Braun Excavating of Celina reshaped the waterway.
"It was about 32 feet wide," she said. "In the middle, it almost looked like an open ditch. It was eroded just that bad."
Once the dirt had been moved, volunteers helped seed the area and put in an erosion blanket, which should stabilize 3 inches of top soil, she said. Below that is 18 inches of stone, which Dircksen said they hope will collect water to help the plants grow.
The group on Thursday then planted 1,100 wetland plants.
"The goal of the wetland plants is they can suck up more nutrients than typical grasses can," Dircksen said.
The work is funded by a $25,000 Ohio Environmental Protection Agency grant, she said. The volunteer labor, estimated to be worth about $15 per hour, will cover the county's 30-40 percent match for the grant.
Eleven Parkway FFA students were among those helping. Friends Alyssa Miller and Mecaylah Hesse admitted the project was a lot more work than they had anticipated. Fellow FFA members Madison Kroeger and Tessa Thatcher were amused by the worms wiggling through the soil they had overturned.
Wright State University-Lake Campus students Rose McDonald and Phillip Poore also were doing their part.
Projects such as these are very important, Poore said, because organizers hope the plants will remove from the runoff phosphorus - the main food source for the toxic blue-green algae that are polluting both Grand Lake and Lake Erie. The waterway goes into the St. Marys River on its way to Lake Erie, the integrated sciences student added.
"If the phosphorus doesn't get into the lake, it's less food for the algae to grow," he said.
McDonald, who's studying environmental sciences, and Poore plan to return periodically to take water samples and monitor nutrient levels. Prior to this, they had helped plant wetland plants near the Beaver Creek Watershed south of Grand Lake.
If the wetlands work, Dircksen said she hopes it will become another tool in the box to fight algae in other waterways.
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard

Nineteen Parkway FFA students plant 1,100 wetland vegetation plants on Thursday. The plants are being added to a 210-feet-by-10-feet waterway with the hope of improving Lake Erie water quality. The volunteers hope the plants will absorb nutrients from the runoff that eventually flows into Lake Erie. The project is funded by a $25,000 Ohio Environmental Protection Agency grant.

Additional online story on this date
Fort Loramie outlasts Minster 7-5 in regional semi
SPRINGFIELD - Mike Wiss addressed his team one final time. He hugged players. And then the Minster coach gave a tip of the cap to Fort Loramie.
"W [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Neighbors raise some objections
CELINA - Father-and-son apartment developers plan to build 56 single-story, ranch-style apartments on the back portion of 10.075 acres of land at the corner of Myers Road and Meadowview Drive to help meet a growing demand for housing.
CELINA - A homegrown brewer has already begun work on a major expansion that will eventually triple its production of craft beer and incorporate a full menu of food while a doggy day care, boarding and grooming business is looking to add luxury boarding for pets.
Broering's single lifts Coldwater past Edison to advance to regional final
By GARY R. RASBERRY
grasberry@dailystandard.com
ELIDA - When engaged in a pitchers' duel, a team has to take advantage of any openings.
Coldwa
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Coldwater's Thomas Schwieterman earned a trip to the Division II state track and field championships after a top-four finish in the discus at the regional track meet at Piqua's Alexander Stadium.
Amphicars will reign supreme at this year's Celina Lake Festival to mark the 50th anniversary of the last car to roll off the assembly line at the West German factory where the cars were manufactured from 1961-1968.
Fort Recovery event for diabetes research
FORT RECOVERY - The 11th Annual Ohio State Benefit Pull is making its premiere in Fort Recovery on June 1-2 at Fort Recovery's Ambassador Park.
Sep
ST. ANTHONY - Visitors can enjoy all the strawberries and shortcakes they can eat during the Pomona Grange Strawberry Festival on June 7.
The annua
COLDWATER - Knights of Columbus members will host the group's 51st annual picnic from June 1-3 on the grounds of Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
The
COLDWATER - The Taste of the Town returns to Coldwater for its sixth year on June 5.
The Coldwater Area Chamber of Commerce will host the event from 5-10 p.m. on Elm Street near the depot in Memorial Park.
BURKETTSVILLE - People can expect a new musical lineup and events during this year's community picnic from June 7-10.
Volunteer Kristy Fiely said she's excited to have Electric Circus perform the evening of June 8, followed by Nashville Crush on June 9.
CHICKASAW - Residents will celebrate the village's 180th anniversary during this year's annual community picnic June 8-10.
As part of the celebr
ST. MARYS - Holy Rosary Catholic Church will host its annual festival June 8-10 on the parish grounds in downtown St. Marys.
Fried-chicken dinners prepared by Knights of Columbus Council 1592 members will be sold on Saturday and Sunday evenings. Concessions also will be available.
FORT RECOVERY - The Fort Recovery Harvest Jubilee returns this year from June 13-17 at Fort Site Park and Ambassador Park.
The festivities start on
MONTEZUMA -Several events are returning due to popular demand from June 14-16 at this year's Zuma Days at Zuma Park.
People can once again play sa
The Grand Lake Mariners return for a 29th season this summer. The organization, though, has some new faces in charge.
Kevin McGohan, a 2016 Celina
ROSSBURG - The 65th season of racing at Eldora Speedway features top sprint-car drivers as well as the return of the Camping World Truck Series for t
Local native featured artist at celebration, fireworks also slated
ROCKFORD - The Lake Area Arts Group will participate in this year's Community Days celebration in the downtown area.
The annual festival is set for June 15-16.
MARIA STEIN - Several new activities will debut at this year's Maria Stein Country Fest, including a thrill show and a child beauty pageant.
The an
GRAND LAKE - The Lake Improvement Association's Summer Kickoff will return on June 23 to the Villa Nova Shelter House along Grand Lake's east bank with new events paired with old attractions.
CELINA - With last year's event being largely a washout, organizers of the 14th annual Freedom Days hope for better weather this time around for the celebration set for June 29-July 1 at Lakeshore Park.
ST. HENRY - The St. Henry Community Picnic picnic is set for June 29-July 1 in the downtown area.
Event organizer Cory Hess said festivities will kick off at 1 p.m. June 30 rather than after the outdoor Mass later that afternoon as it had in previous years.
CELINA - The Taste of Celina, which has steadily grown into one of the city's most popular events, is back for its eighth edition on July 13 in downtown Celina.
MENDON - Tabfest, a campout music festival, will return this year on July 20-21 at Mendon Speedway after a five-year hiatus.
Tabfest, so named beca
CELINA - The Immaculate Conception Parish Festival will take place July 20-22 on the church grounds, according to committee member Lisa Schott.
For
CHATTANOOGA - The Chattanooga Farmer's Picnic is a traditional event that has been part of the life of this small community for well over a century.
This year's celebration is set for July 26 and is two miles east of the village on Tama Road.
BERNE, Ind. - Swiss Days returns July 27-30 as a celebration of the community's Swiss heritage.
The annual festival celebrates the traditions, food
The heat was the story at last year's Grand Lake Marathon.
Despite 90-degree temperatures, event participation rose to 1,200 and most runners finished their respective races.
CELINA - Celina Lake Festival organizers have proclaimed 2018 as the year of the Amphicar, anticipating as many as 75 of the civilian amphibious passenger automobiles to splash into the city during the festival taking place July 27-29.
FORT RECOVERY - The 2018 Fort Recovery National Tractor Pullers Association Grand Nationals event is scheduled for July 27-28 at Fort Recovery Ambassador Park.
NEW BREMEN - Since 1921, the fourth Saturday in July has meant one thing in New Bremen: It's time for the Fireman's Picnic.
This year is no exception as visitors can enjoy a selection of festival food favorites prepared and served by volunteer New Bremen Fire Department members on July 28.
WAPAKONETA - If enthusiasm were contagious, Auglaize County Fair Manager Jack Hayzlett could infect scores of people.
The Ohio State math and phys
COLDWATER - The 58th annual Coldwater Community Picnic will be held Aug. 2-5 with a theme of "Storied Past, Bright Future."
Back by popular demand will be the Thursday night movie and music in the park. The family friendly movie, "Ferdinand," will begin at dusk.
The World's Longest Yard Sale will be held on properties all along U.S. 127 from Aug. 2-5.
The event features yard sales stretching from Gadsden, A
CELINA - "Red, White, and Blue - This Fair's ForYou" is the theme of this year's Mercer County Fair, which is set for Aug. 10-16.
As preparations c
ST. MARYS - Memorial Park once again will host St. Marys SummerFest from Aug. 10-13.
The 28th annual SummerFest Artfest opens from 2-3:30 p.m. Aug.
COLDWATER - The 39th annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Benefit Softball Tournament will be from Aug. 15-19 at Coldwater Memorial Park.
The event is the world's largest softball tournament for muscular dystrophy. In 2017, $43,000 was donated to the MDA.
NEW BREMEN - Small-town fun - and lots of it - is on tap for the annual Bremenfest, Aug 17-19 at Crown Pavilion.
The theme for this year's festival is "Bring the commUNITY Together." Grand marshal is coach Diana Kramer, who guided the 2017 volleyball team to the team's first state championship.
ST. MARYS - Headed into the eighth edition of Waynestock - Living for the Rock, founder Keith Jacobs said he and his crew of volunteers are still riding a wave of momentum with no signs of slowing down.
DURBIN - Five hundred pounds of beans and 150 pounds of bacon and ham simmering in 11 old-style butchering kettles can mean only one thing: the return of the Durbin Bean Bake.
ST. JOE - This year's St. Joe Homecoming Festival is Sept. 7-9 on the grounds of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Joe, 1.5 miles east of Fort Re
MARIA STEIN - The Maria Stein Shrine of the Holy Relics is celebrating more than 175 years of history by hosting the Heritage Day Festival from 1-5 p.m. Sept. 23.
NEW BREMEN - The final weekend in September, Sept. 28-29, will see the return of the annual New Bremen Pumpkinfest.
The weekend will feature food, drinks, music and an artisan showcase to the Crown Pavilion and the banks of the Miami-Erie Canal in New Bremen.
MINSTER - Minster Oktoberfest returns this year for the 44th annual celebration, Oct. 5-7.
The event draws more than 80,000 people to the village
CELINA - Celina Summer Concert Series organizers are celebrating their 15th year of providing top-notch musical entertainment performed before the picturesque backdrop of Grand Lake.
ST. HENRY - This year's St. Henry summer concert series will get off to a flying start on June 1 with a performance by the United States Air Force Band of Flight.
COLDWATER - The first annual summer concert series at the new Coldwater Memorial Park Amphitheater will feature four performances by a variety of musical talents.
NEW BREMEN - The New Bremen Summer Concert Series will feature food trucks as a new attraction this year.
"We thought this would be a good add-on,"
FORT RECOVERY - Now in its eighth year, the Fort Recovery Friends of the Arts summer concert will kick off on June 24 with a performance by the oldies group The Avalons.
MINSTER - From the classic rock sounds of Billy Joel and The Beatles to the crooning of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, the Minster Summer Concert Series will feature a variety of music.
ST. MARYS - The St. Marys Area Community Band concerts will again present a series of concerts with some performances changed to Fridays, instead of Sundays.
Armstrong Air & Space Museum, Wapakoneta
Located along Interstate 75 (exit 111), the museum is named in honor of astronaut and Wapakoneta native N
Grand Lake-area visitors have a multitude of choices from which to pick when choosing a place to stay.
Hotels, motels, inns and other lodging accommodations are available to fit the needs of visitors enjoying the variety of summer activities in Mercer and Auglaize counties.
Arrowhead Park Golf Course
Directions: Take State Route 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 Road. The course is located on the corner of Canal and Dirksen.
The 15th Annual Mercer Health 5K Challenge gets underway June 16 with the Zuma 5K in Montezuma.
The summer road-running series features 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) races throughout Mercer County from June to August.