Friday, November 22nd, 2013

Auglaize historical association honors Doenges

By Amy Kronenberger
WAPAKONETA - A Wapakoneta man was honored Thursday night for his dedication to Auglaize County and its history.
Verne Doenges received the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award from the Auglaize County Historical Society during the organization's 50th anniversary banquet.
Society administrator Rachel Barber told the crowd of more than 100 that no resident stood out more than Doenges as the best candidate for the award.
"We can think of no person who has done more to further interest in and promote the preservation of local history than Vern Doenges," she said.
Barber noted Doenges' accomplishments as a musician and the longest serving elected official in Auglaize County. Now in his early 90s, he served as county auditor for 28 years before retiring in 1987.
"But Vern is being honored this evening for his love of history," she said. "The reason Vern Doenges is a wonderful historian is he shares things. It's not about collecting history; everyone collects things ... History is not something to be hoarded; it's something to be shared with everyone."
The crowd gave an emotional Doenges a standing ovation as he stood to receive his award. He said he was very flattered and humbled.
"When I was told about the award, the first thing that came to mind was 'Why me?'" he said.
Doenges said he did not have a speech prepared and could only think of one way to describe how he felt about the moment and the people around him. He proceeded to serenade the crowd with the song "Wherever You Go."
Also honored on Thursday were St. Marys sisters Jeanne and Marie Meyer for the "Most Loving Preservation of an Auglaize County Home." Barber said organizers had a difficult time finding the appropriate house because so many historical homes have been refurbished in the county.
"But when you look at this house, it just looks happy," she said. "It's a happy house and it looks much like it did when it was built."
Jeanne and Marie Meyer purchased the 130-year-old home at 101 Ash St., St. Marys, in 1990.
"I wish we had pictures of what the old girl looked like when we got her," Jeanne Meyer said of the residence. "She was desperate. She needed a lot of love, so my sister and I bought her to give her the TLC she deserved."
After the banquet, the sisters told the newspaper they've dedicated their lives to fixing up the house during the past 20 years, working full-time jobs then coming home and painting until dawn. Their brother, a college professor, would visit on the weekends to help out and said "it was a privilege to work on this work of art," they said.
The historical society also honored Auglaize County Commissioners Don Regula, John Bergman and Doug Spencer with an Award for Special Merit for their part in remodeling the courthouse, which was rededicated September 2012.
Regula thanked the society for the award but said everyone involved in the endeavor should be honored.
"When you consider all the work and all the people involved in the project, we really had a minute role in it," he said.
G.A. Wintzer & Son Co., Wapakoneta, was honored for the Business That Best Honors Auglaize County History. Barber said the company has been family-owned since it was founded by Charles Wintzer in 1848. The business began as a tanning industry for strap and harness leather goods.
Over time, the company evolved into an animal feed supplier and transporter of byproducts. It is now operated by fifth-generation owners, brothers Gus and Carl Wintzer.
Other speakers at the banquet included Luke Stedke, communications director of the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board, and Burt Logan, executive director of the Ohio Historical Society. The men spoke about Ohio history and the role of the historical society.
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Phase Two kicks off at Prairie Creek site
MONTEZUMA - Crews soon will be excavating land on the south shore of Grand Lake to double the capacity of the existing Prairie Creek Treatment Train.
CELINA - Sources Community Network Services will be the host site for a navigator to help residents enroll in the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare.
CELINA - Police are investigating the death of a 46-year-old man at his North Brandon Street home.
William Cartwright, 925 N. Brandon Ave., was found unresponsive and not breathing shortly before 6:30 a.m. today. An unidentified person called 911 from the residence.
If it wasn't for the different color uniforms, it might be difficult to separate the two teams competing in Saturday's Division V Region 16 championship game at Donnell Stadium in Findlay.
All-Northwest District Football Honors
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
The Grand Lake Area was well represented when the Associated Press' All-Northwest District football honors were released Thursday night.
COLDWATER - Like a trophy buck crossing paths with a hunter in the woods, that's what it must feel like for Coldwater's girls bowling team.
After capturing the last two state championships, the senior-loaded Lady Cavaliers know they are the prime target as the team to beat again this year.
CELINA - The swimming season is still a few days from beginning but Celina head coach Matt May believes that his Bulldogs have the right ingredients for a successful season.
COLDWATER - Janelle Miller is still struggling to build big numbers within Coldwater's swimming program but the second-year coach is happy with the direction of the two teams.
FORT RECOVERY - First-year head coach Mindy Bubp has a small, but experienced roster of swimmers at Fort Recovery.
The numbers for the boys remai
MARIA STEIN - Marion Local's swimming coach Scott Smith has two teams on opposite ends of the spectrum.
While Marion Local's girls have 19 compet
MINSTER - Although the season hasn't started yet for Minster's boys and girls swimming teams, head coach Laurissa Dalrymple is already encouraged by one aspect of her program as she prepares for the upcoming campaign - numbers.
NEW BREMEN - New Bremen swimming coach Cresta Ritter has an interesting situation heading into this season.
On the boys' side, she finds a very small squad of just five while the girls' team will feature 22 on the roster.
ST. MARYS - Amy Wenning has been a familiar face with the St. Marys swimming program from the time she was a record-setting athlete for the Roughriders nearly a decade ago.
CELINA - Needing a varsity wrestling coach on short notice, Celina turned to a former Bulldog to take the reins of the program.
James Miracle, a 1
COLDWATER - As has been the case for the last decade and a half, Coldwater's wrestling team is in a holding pattern as a portion of the team is still playing football while a group of 14 prepare for the season opener.
ST. MARYS - After posting one of its best records in Western Buckeye League dual matches in just over 10 years, the St. Marys wrestling team will look to build upon last season's success with an experienced group of grapplers.
CELINA - After a couple of years coaching at the junior high level, Celina's first-year varsity bowling coach Carl Huber will guide five girls and seven boys into high school competition this year.
COLDWATER - After winning back-to-back state championships, Coldwater's girls bowling team returns a veteran squad with their sights set on a three-peat.
MARIA STEIN - Consistent improvement is the goal for Marion Local's bowling teams after the boys' squad finished last season with a record of 4-11 while the girls' team posted a 4-9 mark in 2012-13 against the ultra-competitive slate in the West Ohio High School Bowling Conference.
MINSTER - Both of Minster's bowling teams are hoping that the 2012 final results can be a building block for the 2013 season.
Minster's girls are looking to repeat last season's district-qualifying effort after finishing fifth in the West Ohio High School Bowling Conference.
NEW BREMEN - After finishing in the bottom-half of the West Ohio High School Bowling Conference last year, New Bremen's bowling teams are focused on improved results for this season.
ROCKFORD - Parkway's bowling teams have a strong foundation of experience to build upon as the Panthers try to improve on last year's results in the West Ohio High School Bowling Conference.
ST. HENRY - Expectations are at an all-time high for St. Henry's boys bowling team as a veteran squad returns trying to build upon last season's third-place finish in the West Ohio High School Bowling Conference and state tournament qualifying effort.
ST. MARYS - The main focus for St. Marys' boys and girls bowling teams this season is to climb the ladder in the West Ohio High School Bowling Conference standings.
WOHSBC Boys Schedule:
Saturday, Nov. 23 at Pla-Mor Lanes
Coldwater vs. Marion Local
Ottawa-Glandorf vs. Temple Christian
Parkway vs. Wapakoneta