By: Mark Holtsberry

I found this fella to be very interesting…

Edward Andrew Szabo was born on December 21, 1894, in Madasel, Hungary. He was the son of Andrew Szabo, who was born on July 20, 1863, in Austria, and Mary (Ivan) Szabo, whose birth date could not be found. Edward became a naturalized citizen in 1907. I am guessing his parents did as well. Records were difficult to find until 1920, but I am certain the Szabo family came to Paulding County before 1915 because, on January 27, 1915, Edward joined the National Guard out of Paulding. He enlisted as a private in Company B, 2nd Ohio National Guard.

Edward was a farmer and, on May 22, 1917, married Ilo Emma Ansley in Monroe, Michigan. She was born on April 28, 1894, in Blue Creek Township, Paulding County. On February 17, 1918, Edward was discharged from the National Guard and was listed as an alien enemy. He was not assigned a serial number. Hungary, as any historian of World War I would know, was an enemy of France and Britain as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

On September 12, 1918, Edward was farming when he was called to register for the World War I draft. He was listed as being 5 feet 6 inches tall, with brown hair, brown eyes, a light complexion, and a stout build. He was not selected to serve.

By 1920, Edward, Ilo, and their two-year-old son, Edward Basil Szabo, were living in Jackson Township, where Edward was farming.

On September 27, 1923, Edward’s parents, Andrew and Mary, were living in Geauga County, Ohio. The following account appeared in the Daily Journal Herald of Delaware, Ohio. Andrew had driven his team of horses under a tree when the first large raindrops began to fall. A few seconds later, the tree split in two, and Andrew Szabo fell dead. The horses, uninjured, ran about, giving Andrew’s wife, Mary, her first indication that something was wrong. A triple rainbow appeared during the storm and was seen by witnesses to the event. Andrew was buried in East Claridon Cemetery in Claridon, Ohio.

By 1930, Edward’s family had grown with the addition of daughter Phyllis Marie, born March 20, 1920, and son Dale Ansley, born May 28, 1924, in Broughton. Edward continued farming.

By 1940, he was still farming in Jackson Township. Edward Jr. and Phyllis had married and moved out on their own.

On June 27, 1942, Dale registered for the draft. His brother, Edward, did as well. Edward was not selected, but Dale was. That is a story for another time.

By 1950, Edward had started working for Fruehauf Trailer Company in Fort Wayne. Edward and Ilo had moved to Paulding and were living at 808 Harrison Street. Edward also served as a custodian for the Paulding Methodist Church.

Edward retired in 1960 and remained at home with Ilo in Paulding. On Saturday, August 21, 1965, at 10:00 a.m., Edward passed away at Parkview Memorial Hospital from prostate cancer, a condition he had battled for two years.

Services were held on Tuesday, August 24, 1965, at 2:00 p.m. at Paulding Methodist Church, with the Rev. John Zinsmeister officiating. Edward was laid to rest in Live Oak Cemetery.

Ilo passed away on January 17, 1975, and was buried beside Edward.

… Until Next Time!

“Ministering to the Lord” refers to the act of serving, worshiping, and dedicating oneself to God. 

Often, we see God as this great supply warehouse in the sky where we get all of our needs met.

Need a new job? Call God. Need a new car? Call God. Need a situation changed? Call God.  Need help? call God. 

To some extent, this is true because one of His many names, “Jehovah Jireh,” is a transliteration of “Jehovah Jireh,” a name for God found in the Bible. (Genesis 22:14) It is derived from Hebrew and means “The Lord will provide.” This name is often associated with the story of Abraham, in which God provides a ram as a substitute for Isaac. It reflects the belief in God’s provision and care for His people.       

We often look to God to minister to us, but when was the last time you ministered to God? When did you set aside time to tell him how beautiful he is, how you adore him, or how much you love him? I believe this is the purpose of praise and worship. Not asking for anything, but simply thanking God for who he is and what he has done for you in your life.

It also helps us get out of ourselves. As humans in this flesh, we have a tendency to think only about ourselves and our own needs. Sometimes we don’t realize just how self-centered we are.

This week, I’d like you to set time aside to tell God just how much you love and adore him.

When this type of praise goes up, blessings truly come down.    

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” – Revelation 4:11 (ESV)

In summary, ministering to the Lord is a realistic approach to a faith-filled life that includes thanking our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for who He is and all that he has done and will do in our lives.

Thank you, Lord. Where would we be without you?

Peace and Love.

—Pastor Dwayne 

Penny For Your Thoughts By: Nancy Whitaker

Do you remember your first kiss? Was it a playful kiss? A peck on the cheek? Well my experiences started in kindergarten. I was a small little girl and at recess we gals would go outside and chase little boys. I knew which boy I wanted to catch. He ran faster than me and I never did catch him. If I would have caught him, I would have kissed him. So that was not a first kiss, but it was fun trying.

I bet people have been kissing since Biblical times. we do know that Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, and I read that kisses are mentioned in various scriptures. There was The Parting Kiss, a Betrayal Kiss, a Devotional Kiss, a Passionate Kiss, and a Kiss of Fellowship (greeting). Some countries use kissing as a form of greeting.

Of course we may have heard of French Kisses, cheek kisses, forehead kisses, single lip kissing and butterfly kissing. The last two types of smooching I don’t think I have tried. A friend told me that butterfly kisses is when you use your eyelashes and brush your partners cheek. Then there is the so called Eskimo kisses which we have all probably tried. The kiss involves two noses rubbing together. 

I always thought that you could spread germs if you have a cold by kissing. However it seems as if kissing is good for us. Kisses are supposed to make us feel better. If you kiss and pass germs a doctor says kissing exposes us to bacteria that helps build our immunity. In fact, studies have shown that kissing can transfer over 80 million different bacteria between partners, which works out well for our well-being. The bacteria introduced when kissing help the body recognize and fight off illness. Plus, the act can stimulate saliva production, which washes away harmful bacteria. Now we can just kiss whenever.

As kids we used to play Spin the Bottle. If the bottle landed on the right person, they could tell someone else something to do. A friend of mine told me he got his first kiss by playing Spin the Bottle. (I wonder if he was 12 years old or 32) That is a joke. 

The longest kiss lasted 58 hours, 35 minutes and 58 seconds according to Guinness Book of records. Also couples have broken up over being bad kissers.

I did not know this until I was told that no two lip impressions are the same. 

I think everyone may want or like a kiss even if you have a cold. According to some doctor we just get our germs together and both get sick. 

Here’s something to do:

Tell me some songs with Kiss in the title and I will give you a Penny For Your Thoughts or maybe a Butterfly Kiss…

Here are a few songs: 

“Kiss an Angel good morning.” Charley Pride

“Then he kissed me”

“Kiss Me Quick” by Elvis Presley

“It’s in His kiss”

If there’s one thing I wish I had written – something that takes years to write – it would be a diary. I’d keep the kind of diary that keeps track of forgettable moments – what we did and where we went. Just the facts.  

Those who keep the other kind of diary – full of thoughts and feelings – are sharing words meant for their eyes only. That kind of diary must be placed under lock and key and hidden in a safe place. The owner of the diary knows where the secret hiding spot is, and so does the anonymous reader.

Years go by, and if the little book is still around when their estate is sorted, someone is going to find the diary and take it home to read. That is when a diary becomes a story. 

My mother began writing in diaries at the age of fourteen and continued throughout her teenage years and her engagement to my dad. She wrote about her friends and what they did. The ball games and movies. The dances. She listened to the “Hit Parade” and noted which song was number one for the week. I should count how many times she’d written the word “fun.”

She wrote about a guy named Chuck, but I didn’t know who Chuck was. The two were dating in 1945, but she felt they’d probably break up by the end of the year. He gave her pearls for Christmas, but after the holidays his name disappeared from her diary. 

I realized I was reading a part of my mother’s life I had never known. I found myself thinking that Mom and I should’ve spent some time together reading her diaries so she could tell me the real story of her life. 

Knowing that her friends would have some answers, I began visiting them. They knew who Chuck was and could identify him in the photos. They also remembered when Mom was dating Jack Yoder, a man whose name appeared in her diary when he was on leave from the Army. 

In May of 1944, Mom wrote that Jack had given her a bracelet as a gift. I wonder if I’ve ever seen that bracelet. 

I knew my mother had dated Jack, and they’d gone to his family’s restaurant on her commencement day for a meal. Her diary confirmed what she’d told me. On May 18, she recorded: “Went out to Yoder’s for a chicken supper.” 

She had also told me that the image of his parents arriving at her work at The Edgerton Earth newspaper office, in February of 1945, was something she’d never forget. His parents were there to tell her they’d received a telegram. Their son had been killed in Europe.  

She left work on her bicycle, stopping at the church to pray on her way home. I wonder how long she cried. 

Her experience made me think of the many women from her generation who’d received the same news. Who went through the same heartache and wrote words they never thought they’d write. Many of those diaries are still in existence, here to tell us just a small part of a life story.

In July of 1946, my father’s name appeared in Mom’s diary for the first time. She journaled that Vern Kimpel had stopped by her work that day, and they talked for a “long time.”

On August 16 she wrote: “Mom and Dad went up to Aunt Goldies. I told Vern Kimpel I didn’t have any brakes on bike and he stopt in front of me just to see. He’s nice.”

In September, they spent a Friday evening together at the Williams County Fair on a double date with Mom’s sister Verda and her boyfriend Alfred Curry. Mom spelled Dad’s last name wrong when she wrote: “Al invited Vernon Kimple to go with us. Had a good time.”

Dad’s birthday was the next day, and she wrote: “Vern called me up this afternoon and told me he got his car and wanted us to celebrate his birthday. Went to Bryan to a show. Gave him a plaid necktie.”

They went on their third date on Sunday – taking Dad’s new car to Fort Wayne to see the movie To Each His Own at the Paramount. On the way home, they stopped for a frozen malt at Gardner’s. In the right margin of the diary, she noted the words “wonderful evening.” 

Mom continued to keep a diary as they dated and throughout their engagement, but stopped journaling after she was married. The two of them started a new diary together in 1954, and Dad’s handwriting is present for the first eight days. Then it’s Mom’s handwriting. They were busy people, and the journaling slowed down as the months ticked by.  

After Dad passed away in 2008, I took Mom to the mall to shop for clothes for the funeral. We needed a necktie to deliver to the funeral home, and as we stood in the men’s department, it occurred to her: The first thing she’d ever bought for Vern was a necktie for his twenty-seventh birthday. More than six decades later, I watched her buy the last thing she would purchase for him – a necktie.

Years after Mom passed away, the story came to life again as I read that she had given him a necktie on his birthday in 1946. Her diary entry gave me one last detail: It was plaid. Such a small thing, yet her words helped me see the realness in the story of their life together. Their moments were just ordinary, forgettable moments, yet she preserved them in her own handwriting in the pages of those old diaries. 

Marlene Oxender is a writer, speaker, and author. She writes about growing up in the small town of Edgerton, her ten siblings, the memorabilia in her parents’ estate, and her late younger brother, Stevie Kimpel, who was born with Down syndrome. Her three published books, Picket Fences, Stevie and Grandma, You Already Am Old, are available on Amazon. Marlene can be reached at mpoxender@gmail.com  

By: James Neuhouser

The first production automobile was by Ford in 1902. Wrong. The first production automobile was made in 1888. This is a story I’ve never heard before and it is most amazing. 

The first vehicle to actually travel on the roads was The Motor Wagon, invented by Carl Benz in 1886, patented and put into production in 1888. As with the invention of the airplane there were many people working on it at the same time in different countries. 

Most of the inventors were putting a motor under the seat of a buggy. Carl was the first to build the entire machine from scratch. Many were building engines and Carl made his engine, a four cycle single cylinder with a 954 cc displacement. It only had about 2/3 of a horsepower and had a bit of difficulty going up hills. 

The engines were somewhat like a John Deere tractor, only with one cylinder. A huge flywheel which you spin to start. When it fired it would turn four times before it fired again. You can imagine what a challenge it would be to make all of the machine parts of an engine. Then to make all the gears, the leaf springs, it was the work of a genius.

The first auto was constructed in 1886 but it was put in the barn and forgotten. After all people didn’t need different transportation when they had a horse and buggy. The top speed of the auto was 10 or 12 mph, not much more than the speed of a horse and buggy. 

People ridiculed the invention. Carl’s backers pulled out and he ended up with only one supporter, his wife Bertha. Bertha put her dowery into the intervention. And another thing about Bertha, she was a born promoter. She devised a scheme to get Carl’s machine some attention. 

Early in the morning of August 5, 1888, Bertha got up early in the morning, took her two oldest children and rolled the machine out of the barn. She was going to visit her mother.

Mannheim, Germany to Pforzheim a distance of 66 mi. The trip took an entire day, they got there in the evening. 

Many problems along the way. The leather strap used as a brake broke and a blacksmith was able to install a new one. The fuel line plugged but she was able to unplug it with a hat pin. A couple of stops at a drugstore to buy bottles of fuel. It burned a cleaning fluid called Ligrone which was sold in 12 oz bottles at the nearest drugstore.

The notoriety she got from this venture got several orders and a company was set up to produce automobiles. It was an upgrade to spin the flywheel, hop in and go, then to hitch up horses. Also you didn’t have to feed it everyday when you weren’t working. The company exists to this day, Mercedes-Benz. 1200 of these automobiles were made. In early 1900s other companies. started making more powerful and cheaper automobiles and took over the automobile market. 

By: Ron Burt

ANDERSON, Ind., May 20th Kody Swanson was honored as the #1 driver of 2025 by the National Pavement Sprint Car Rankings. On Saturday night he put an exclamation mark on that honor by winning his fourth Little 500 at Anderson Speedway in Doran Racing’s Wilke Orthodontics/Glenn Farms No. 77 asphalt sprint car. Swanson took command of the 33 car field and led the first 158 laps before pitting and falling to 10th, he battled back, passed Davey Hamilton Jr. on the frontstretch on lap 473, and led the last 28 laps of the 78th annual Little 500 for his Ohio based team’s first victory in the biggest pavement sprint car race in the world. Swanson won this race in 2016, 2018, and 2019. The top 5 finishers were 1st Kody Swanson, 2nd Davey Hamilton Jr., 3rd Dakoda Armstrong, 4th Jake Trainor, and 5th Mario Clouser.

On May 22nd at Toledo Speedway the feature winners were Mike young in the Late Model Sportsmen division, this was his 2nd feature victory of the season and Josh Bunting won Factory Stocks feature.

Thursday, May 28, 2026, Wayne County Speedway in Orrville, Ohio, the World of Outlaw Late Model Series made a stop, with all the national stars in attendance. 45 cars showed up to compete in the Lone Wolf 40, paying $12,000.00 to win the feature. Going into tonight’s event Brandon Sheppard has raced in 4 World of Outlaw Late Model events at Wayne County Speedway and has won 3. 

Nick Hoffman set quick time tonight with a 16.012. The Outlaws had 4 qualifying heat races. Heat winners were Nick Hoffman, Daulton Wilson, Ricky Thornton Jr, and Hudson O’Neal. After the redraw Ricky Thornton Jr. won the pole for the feature and Daulton Wilson started on the outside of the front row. The top 4 from each heat race made the feature. Kyle Moore, the 2025 track champion at Wayne County Speedway, was in heat 4 and finished 8th out of the 11 car field. In the Last Chance Showdown race to make the feature Moore started 8th and could only work his way up to 5th, his Late Model night is over, but he will race his Modified and that feature pays $2,000.00 to win.  

Ricky Thornton Jr. won the 40 lap event and had the $12,00.00 payday tonight. Nick Hoffman started 4th and was able to move up to 2nd. Rounding out tonight’s podium, Bobby Pierce. He fought hard to work his way up from 8th to finish 3rd. All these drivers will be back tomorrow and Saturday night racing on the newly redone ½ mile Mansfield Speedway. It was good meeting several of you from Defiance, Van Wert and Bryan that made the trip over to Orrville tonight. Wave me down, I’m always happy to talk racing if you see me.

Some upcoming races you should have on your calendar would be Ohio Sprint Week featuring the All Star Circuit of Champions and anyone that races a 410 Outlaw Winged Sprint Car. Ohio Sprint Week will have 8 races and one open date for a makeup if needed because of weather. Tracks include 6/12 Attica, 6/13 Sharon, 6/14 Millstream, 6/15 Wayne County, 6/16 Eldora, 6/17 Rain Date, 6/18 Waynesfield, 6/19 Fremont and 6/20 Atomic. First place prize money is $7,500.00 to win at each track but the last race at Atomic Speedway will pay the winner $10,000.00.

Flat Rock Speedway(asphalt) will run the rescheduled 100 lap Joy Fair 100 for ARCA Outlaw Super Late Models June 6th.  Fans will get a bonus. The Turn 1 CRA Pro Series will also be at Flat Rock for a 125 lap feature event.

The 500 Sprint Car Tour Series (asphalt) will take to the high banks of Toledo Speedway, Sunday, June 14th at 3PM. Many of these drivers competed against each other at the recent Little 500 at Anderson Speedway. Anderson is a ¼ mile oval and Toledo is a half mile track. The race teams will need to adjust as the cars will reach higher speeds with more room to race at Toledo. Until next week, keep your wheels down. Ron Out! www.facebook.com/ohiosportsblitz

On May 12, the Antwerp Police Department received an alarm on S. Erie St.

On May 14, the Antwerp Police Department assisted Antwerp EMS at Antwerp Manor.

On May 14, the Antwerp Police Department received a call in reference to open burning somewhere around N. Main St.

On May 14, the Antwerp Police Department received a call requesting an officer be present while children were exchanged for a child custody arrangement.

On May 17, the Antwerp Police Department was called to Sunoco gas station for a disturbance involving a customer.

On May 18, the Antwerp Police Department assisted the Antwerp Fire Department with a call at Antwerp Manor.

On May 19, the Paulding County Juvenile Probation Office requested a welfare check on a resident of Woodcox St. The officer located the individual and found everything to be fine.

On May 19, a resident reported a vehicle parked on the roadway on W. Canal St. near Wentworth that had been there for several hours. The officer located the vehicle and also located an individual distributing fliers door to door. The individual was cited for parking in the roadway.

On May 20, the Antwerp Police Department received a complaint of someone going door to door attempting to sell items. The individual was located and advised that door-to-door sales were not permitted in the village.

On May 21, a resident reported a child custody issue.

On May 21, the Antwerp Police Department received a request to unlock a vehicle.

On May 21, the Antwerp Police Department received a protection order from the Paulding County Common Pleas Court.

On May 21, two suspicious individuals were reported in the parking lot of Antwerp Manor. An officer responded and identified the two individuals, who were seeking a ride to another village. The officer transported them.

On May 21, an officer observed a junk ordinance violation at a residence on N. Main St. The owner will be sent a notice.

On May 22 a person reported that their son had dropped $71 near Marathon. A short time later the caller contacted police again and reported that the money had been found.

On May 23 a resident of Canal St. reported that someone was banging on doors and windows before running away. The juveniles involved were located and a report was prepared.

On May 24 an employee of the Sunoco gas station reported that someone was sleeping in a vehicle and requested an officer check on the individual. The officer responded and determined everything was okay.

On May 25 a suspected fire was reported at the Antwerp wastewater treatment plant. An officer responded and contacted utility personnel.

On May 25 the Antwerp Police Department received a report of a possible violation of a protection order. A report was completed and forwarded to the prosecutor’s office.

On May 25 the Antwerp Police Department received a report of an alleged rape. The case was investigated and a report was forwarded to the prosecutor’s office.

On May 25 a resident reported receiving emails from their bank regarding a fraud case.

If you would like to report any suspicious activity or if you have any questions, please contact the Antwerp Police Department, 419-258-2627. They are always ready to serve the residents of the Village of Antwerp!

The Defiance Area Foundation (DAF) awarded a $10,000 grant to Ignite Academy during the 2026 Spring Grant Cycle through the Defiance County Capital Projects Fund, under their umbrella.

The funding will support Ignite Academy’s Mobile Welding Workforce Initiative, which will bring hands-on welding training directly into schools, businesses, and community settings through portable mobile welding units.

The initiative aims to introduce students to welding skills, safety practices, and career opportunities in the skilled trades while helping strengthen the future workforce pipeline across Defiance County.

PEVS held their annual staff appreciation and recognition breakfast on May 20.  Those being recognized for their service to PEVS this year are as follows:

30 Years of Service:

Tom Bidlack, Shawn Brewer

Retirees:

Michele Boundy, custodian – 28 1/2 years; Kristy Bradford, Tech teacher – 25 years; Eric Deisler, JH Principal – 29 years; Lance Estle, Phys Ed/Health/Intervention Specialist – 28 years; Melissa Harder, HS Social Studies teacher – 32 years; Barb Konopka, custodian – 21 1/2 years; Harold ‘Butch’ Raub, bus driver – 14 years; Dave Smith, bus driver – 17 years; Jon Snodgrass, JH History teacher – 34 years; Nancy Wilcox, bus driver/cafe worker – 26 years

Andres O’Neil & Lowe Insurance Agency is proud to announce it has received the Auto-Owners Insurance Sapphire Agency Award, the company’s highest recognition for growth. The agency earned this distinction by ranking as the top Auto-Owners agency in the state of Ohio— a remarkable achievement that reflects the dedication of their team and the trust of their growing client community.

With six convenient locations across Northwest Ohio — in Archbold, Bryan, Defiance, Hicksville, Montpelier, and Wauseon — Andres O’Neil & Lowe has built a reputation for providing personalized insurance solutions to families and businesses throughout the region. This marks the second consecutive year the agency has claimed this honor, making back-to-back Sapphire Awards a powerful testament to their consistent excellence and sustained growth.

“Winning the Sapphire Award again energizes our entire team,” said Kevin Morton, Owner of Andres O’Neil & Lowe Insurance Agency. “This recognition belongs to every one of our staff members who show up every day with a genuine desire to help our clients protect what matters most. We’re grateful to our communities across NW Ohio for the trust they place in us, and we’ll keep working hard to earn it.”

The Sapphire Agency Award is presented by Auto-Owners Insurance to agencies that demonstrate exceptional performance in growing their book of business while upholding the highest standards of customer service. Being named the top agency in Ohio speaks not only to the volume of new clients served, but to the quality of guidance the team provides along the way.

Andres O’Neil & Lowe Insurance Agency looks forward to continuing to serve Northwest Ohio with the same passion and personal touch that has defined the agency for years. To learn more or to connect with a local agent, visit any of the agency’s six locations or reach out through their website.

For more information, visit www.andresoneilandlowe.com.