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.

The Paulding County History Museum is excited to announce its 2026 Quilt Show, continuing a cherished local tradition celebrating the artistry, craftsmanship, and history of quilting in Paulding County.

Now in its second year at the museum, the event carries forward a long-running quilt show tradition originally started by the Patchwork Pals, a sewing and quilting group from Paulding County Hospital, which was previously held during the Flat Rock Fall Festival. Visitors will enjoy a beautiful display of traditional, modern, and artistic quilts showcased throughout the museum.

The free event will run Monday, June 8 through Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily at the Paulding County History Museum, located at 600 Fairground Drive, Paulding, Ohio. In addition to the quilt show, the entire museum will be open for visitors to explore and enjoy throughout the week.

Special programming during the week will include a presentation from Threads of Love, a quilting ministry from Westgate Chapel, on Saturday, June 13 at 1:00 p.m. The group will share the story behind their ministry and how quilting is used to support and encourage others through handmade gifts.

Guests will also have opportunities to participate in several raffles throughout the week, including daily quilt and sewing package giveaways. Tickets will also be available for purchase for a chance to win a beautiful quilted wall hanging donated by Red Barn Quiltery of Monroeville, Indiana, with the winning ticket to be drawn on Saturday, June 13.

Community members who would like to display a quilt during the show are encouraged to participate. Quilt drop-off dates are scheduled for Saturday, May 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Tuesday, June 2 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

For more information about the Quilt Show or quilt submissions, please contact Guy Dasher at 419-769-7269 or Jennifer at 419-796-9098

PAULDING – The Paulding County Fair will return to the Paulding County Fairgrounds June 6-13, offering a week packed with 4-H and Junior Fair competitions, livestock shows, grandstand events, family entertainment and community activities. Admission to the fair is free, and free rides will be available daily from 1:00-10:00 p.m. throughout the fair.

The fair officially gets underway on Saturday, June 6, with livestock move-in and weigh-ins, a Junior Fair barn meeting and the annual Demo Derby at 7:00 p.m. in the grandstand.

Activities continue Sunday with church services, the Junior Fair Dog Show, horse events, a kiddie tractor pull, Tucker Rodkey performing gospel music, an open goat and sheep show, KOI drag racing, the 10 Talents showcase and a family movie night featuring Charlotte’s Web.

Monday’s schedule features the Junior Fair Goat Show, rabbit showmanship and breeding events, harness racing, the annual parade and coronation activities, a cornhole tournament and appearances by Mike Bishop, Hypnotist, and The WonderDog Show.

Tuesday includes Senior Citizen Day activities, the 4-H Cloverbud Show and Tell, poultry judging, Veteran’s Day Bean Supper, Junior Fair Swine Show, line dancing lessons and entertainment from Magic of Eli and The Wonder Dog Show.

Livestock competition remains a major focus throughout the week. Wednesday features the Junior Fair Market Rabbit Show, Junior Fair Sheep Show, Junior Fair Beef and Dairy Show and the feeder calf auction. The evening concludes with professional wrestling and music from the Seventy80 Band.

Thursday’s schedule highlights 4-H Family and Consumer Science judging and awards, horse competitions, Animal & Me activities, an obstacle course challenge, an open swine show, the Mini Cheer Exhibition, Mini Horse Pulling and performances by The Cup Guy. The Northwest Ohio Women in Agriculture Meet and Greet and Singo Bingo will also be held during the evening.

Friday will feature 4-H Natural Resources and STEM judging, Companion Animal and Veterinary Science judging, horse contesting, the Black Swamp Beef Showdown and an inflatable costume obstacle course. The evening grandstand attraction will be the National Tractor Pullers Association Tractor Pull, followed by music and dancing.

The fair wraps up Saturday, June 13, with the Farm Bureau Farmer Share Breakfast, the annual Livestock Auction, a Junior Fair Horse Fun Show and the popular Rodeo at 7:00 p.m., followed by fireworks.

Throughout the week, visitors can also enjoy Acres of Fun educational programming, livestock exhibitions, horse shows, harness racing, family entertainment acts, live music and numerous 4-H and Junior Fair events showcasing the accomplishments of Paulding County youth. Fair officials note that the schedule is subject to change.

Antwerp VFW Post 5087 hosted a Memorial Day observance on Monday, May 25th, with a small parade leaving from the VFW and marching to the Riverside Veterans Memorial. The ceremony was a moving display of presentations of wreaths by the VFW, Boy Scouts, and American Legion. The featured speaker was Paulding County Commissioner and local military historian, Mark Holtsberry. He emphasized the importance of remembrance, asking the crowd when they last thought about the names on the lists behind him on the memorial wall, or the infamous “Canal Street Five”. Holtsberry’s speech was well-received by all, including the last World War 2 veteran in the Paulding County area, George Forrest (pictured above with Mark). Following the program, light snacks were served at the VFW Hall.

Three former students were inducted into the Paulding Exempted Village Schools Academic Hall of Fame during ceremonies held on May 17, 2026.

Honored for their academic achievements and professional accomplishments were Carlton Schlatter, DMV, a member of the Paulding High School Class of 1979; Frank Lands, a member of the Paulding High School Class of 1992; and Betty Schlatter, CNM, PhD, a graduate of Auglaize-Brown High School’s Class of 1966.

HAVILAND — Wayne Trace Local Schools officially broke ground May 27 on a major expansion project that will further enhance hands-on learning opportunities for students throughout the district.

The new STEAM Center expansion is being funded through a $2.4 million grant from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Development and represents a significant investment in career-technical and project-based education at Wayne Trace.

Designed by Munger Munger + Associates Architects, Inc. and constructed by Alexander & Bebout, Inc., the project will add a dedicated STEAM Center equipped with tools, machinery and production equipment, along with a new art-focused classroom and a STEM/engineering classroom designed specifically for hands-on career-tech learning experiences.

Construction is expected to begin in earnest during early June, with completion anticipated before the end of 2026.

The expansion comes as Wayne Trace’s STEAM and Career Technical Education programs continue to experience rapid growth. Students currently have opportunities to explore engineering, robotics, video production, entrepreneurship, print production, visual design and a variety of real-world projects completed in partnership with local businesses and organizations throughout the region.

School officials noted that the new facility is about much more than simply adding classroom space. The expansion is intended to create additional opportunities for students to build, create, collaborate and gain practical experience that will prepare them for future careers and higher education pathways.

The project was made possible through the support and collaboration of numerous community partners, educators and school leaders. Special recognition was given to Angie Stokes, Wayne Trace STEAM teacher, for her leadership and vision in helping guide the continued growth and development of the district’s STEAM programming.

When completed, the new facility will provide expanded resources and learning environments that support innovation, creativity and workforce readiness, helping ensure students have access to cutting-edge educational opportunities right in their own community.

Those interested in learning more about the expansion project can view a presentation online that details the plans and vision for the new STEAM Center – just scan the QR code here:

By: Mark Holtsberry 

Floyd L. Tabler was born January 24, 1901, in Paulding County, the son of Charles G. Tabler, born October 24, 1873, in Auglaize County, Ohio, and Emma May (Stahl) Tabler, born May 17, 1876, in Paulding County, Ohio.

Charles’ father, Marion Thomas Jefferson Tabler, was a Spanish-American War veteran. He passed away January 31, 1924, and was buried in Hedges Cemetery. I strayed off again, didn’t I? Sorry. Anyway, Charles and Emma were married May 7, 1894, in Paulding. By 1900, the couple was living in Jackson Township, where Charles worked as a day laborer. The family consisted of Wretha, born October 1894; Nellie Mae, born October 1896; and Genevieve “Jennie,” born October 1898.

By 1910, the family was still living in Broughton, Jackson Township. Charles was working at the tile mill, possibly the Baughman Tile Mill. The family had grown with the births of Floyd in January 1901 and William Howard in March 1909. On June 11, 1909, Emma passed away and was buried in Hedges Cemetery.

On November 12, 1915, Charles married Lydia Ann Golliver in Jackson, Michigan. She was born August 3, 1869, in Ohio.

On July 3, 1916, Floyd joined the National Guard out of Paulding, serving with Company B, 2nd Ohio National Guard. This unit was sent to the border between Mexico and the United States during the unrest and attacks against United States citizens. He served in the National Guard until October 16, 1917, when he was assigned to Company K, 146th U.S. Infantry, serving as a private until March 24, 1918.

He was then sent to Camp Sheridan, Alabama, to serve as a replacement soldier until May 29, 1918. He was assigned to Company I, 104th Infantry, as a private and was sent to France. He served in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Defensive Sectors and was wounded in action around October 29, 1918.

After recovering from his wounds, he boarded the ship Mount Vernon at Brest, France, and sailed for home. He arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 4, 1919. His grandfather, Marion Tabler, picked him up there. Floyd was honorably discharged April 23, 1919.

After returning home, Floyd moved to Pennsylvania and began farming in Cambridge, Beaver County. On Tuesday, November 30, 1920, at 9:00 p.m., Floyd was killed by a train at Ambridge, sixteen miles from Pittsburgh. The American Red Cross was asked to locate the family. Found in Floyd’s pocket were his discharge papers, photographs, and documents containing his name and military record.

His remains were shipped back to Paulding and arrived Friday, December 2, 1920. The body was taken to the home of his sister, Mrs. Stanley Howe, west of Paulding, where funeral services were held. Rev. Wilkins officiated, and burial followed at Hedges Cemetery, Lot 11, Block A, Grave 3.

Charles passed away in 1959 and was buried in Hedges Cemetery. Floyd’s sister Nellie passed away in 1966, William in 1969, and Wretha in 1975.

…Until Next Time!

Northwestern Ohio Community Action Commission (NOCAC) recently released their 2025 annual report. The report highlights both the people who work for NOCAC and the programs provided in Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding, Van Wert, and Williams counties.  From long term employee retention to recognition of programming for going above and beyond, 2025 was full of efforts that supported and strengthened communities.

“NOCAC’s 2025 Annual Report highlights the valuable resources, collaborations, and support systems that allow us to create meaningful solutions that address the barriers associated with poverty and help individuals and families move toward greater self-sufficiency and stability.

This work would not be possible without our dynamic employees, whose compassion and dedication ensure that life-changing services and opportunities remain accessible to those we serve. In fact, 21% of NOCAC’s workforce has been with the agency for more than 15 years  demonstrating the deep commitment and experience our team brings to strengthening communities across our region,” Angie Franklin, Executive Director.

Program wise two of the great 2025 wins were both rooted in the Summer Food Program. Specifically, the Turnip the Beet! Award by the USDA for going above and beyond; and the Golden Gourd Award which is sponsored by the Farm to Summer Challenge. The Golden Gourd Award is part of the Ohio Proud efforts which involve several State of Ohio departments including the Department of Agriculture. 

Equally valuable were all the other programming efforts throughout the year including those provided by NOCAC’s Financial Opportunity Center, Head Start, Weatherization and Home Repair, the PATH Center, Housing Services, Publicly Funded Child Care, Health and Nutrition, and Emergency Assistance.