By: Mark Holtsberry

Samuel Reed Heller born October 12, 1890 in Norfolk, Virginia. The son of Edward W. born April 16, 1869 in Indianapolis, Indian. And Levina Elizabeth (Oswalt) Heller born December 6, 1870 in Poneto, Indiana. 

This couple was married August 25, 1888 in Indiana. On February 21, 1889, a son, Jessie Clyde was born, followed by Verna May May 30, 1896, Russel Edson April 23, 1899. By 1900, the Heller family was living in Harrison, Indiana. Edward was a farmer and the Samuel was in school. On June 25, 1905, a daughter Minnie Marie was born, followed by Florence (Flossie) Irene March 5, 1908. 

By 1910, the family was living on Walnut Street in Harrison, Indiana. Edward, still farming and Samuel, now eighteen, was working odd jobs. A son, Melvin Adolph was born May 28, 1910, he was a sickly child and passed away, August 11, 1910.

On November 10, 1911, a daughter Rosetta Helen, died at birth. In 1917, a daughter, Sylvia Margrinta died at birth. As the world went to war, the United States called for the registration of a draft. 

On June 5, 1917, Samuel registered for the draft in Wells County, Indiana. Listed as medium height and build, brown eyes, brown hair, and single. He was living near Bluffton, Indiana. Samuel’s brother, Russel Edson registered for the draft, June 5, 1917 at Wells County. Samuel enlisted into the military April 27, 1918. He served in the United States Medical Corp out of Indiana. During that timeframe, Jessie Clyde Heller, caught influenza and pneumonia and passed away November 27, 1918. He was discharged February 3, 1919 with the rank of Private First Class. He was discharged at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. As for Russel Edson Heller, he was killed in action, October 11, 1918 in France. 

On September 4, 1919, Samuel’s mother, Levina, passed away from chronic pneumonia. She was buried in Paw Paw, Michigan. By 1920, Samuel was living in Paw Paw, Michigan on North Brown Street.

He was working as a driver for a company. Still single, his sister’s Minnie, Flossie and Rosetta along with his father, Edward were living with him. By 1930, Samuel was living in Ft. Wayne, Indiana on 215 and a half Main Street in a boarding house. He was working as a glass cutter in a glass factory. Sometime after 1931, Samuel married a gal named, Lillian (Lida) May Donley, Bailey, Cramer, Myers, Beineke. Her first marriage was not to the Bailey man, records are not clear what his name was. She was born February 9, 1880 in Paulding County. On January 20, 1934, Samuel’s father, Edward Heller passed away in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was buried with his wife in Paw Paw, Michigan. In 1935, Samuel became ill. Samuel and Lillian were living at 2430 Elyetta Street in Ft. Wayne. In March of 1935, Samuel took ill in his bed and on June 25, 1935, and passed away. His cause of death was coronary occlusion. He was buried in Sherman Cemetery lot 24, space 4. 

On July 9, 1935, Lillian applied for his Government Issue tombstone. August 8, 1935, application for his stone was accepted, and on September 9, 1935, the stone was shipped. It is unclear who installed his stone. On April 16, 1940, Lillian passed away in Defiance. She is buried with Samuel. Looks like she finally settled down.

… Until Next Time!

Penny For your Thoughts By: Nancy Whitaker

I was very fortunate to be invited to an Amish wedding reception. The sweet Amish gal that cleans my house, invited me and said any friends of mine could come too. We were very excited to get invited and began to wonder what an Amish wedding would be like. I asked Naomi, my Amish friend, what the bride would wear. I said, “I bet she will wear white for her wedding.”

Naomi replied, “No, Amish brides wear black dresses with a white prayer cloth over it.” 

Actually this Amish family has 16 children and resides close to Geneva, Ind.

We did learn that the Amish usually get married on a week day. This day was set for Tuesday, Sept 1. What we were invited to was a reception for family and friends.  The actual ceremony was to take place on Friday.  Another reception would be held on the day of the wedding

An Amish wedding can last all day  starting in the morning and lasting into the evening.  The closeness of family is part of what makes the Amish community such a tight-knit group and choosing a spouse to build a family with is a crucial and joyous element of that.  

Being we were friends of the family, we knew we should dress conservative. However, it was to be 94 degrees outside that day and we knew it was going to be a hot day. The reception was to be held at the bride-to-be parents’ home in a big cement like building. 

The invitation we received stated the address of the event, but we did not know the directions. Two different routes to get there was on the internet and we had them all, and we all wanted to take our own way. We got lost and at one time had navigated to Chattanooga Ohio. After stopping to ask directions we were on our way.

Dating customs and wedding traditions among the Amish vary from community to community. While you can’t assume one community will be just like another, you can bet they will be quite different from a typical English courting and wedding.

Dressed conservatively , we parked the car and walked thru a graveled driveway. My friend Naomi came to greet us and she was barefooted but she was walking across the stone drive like she had shoes on. In fact quite a few young Amish gals were barefoot.

We went into the long cement building and long tables covered in blue table cloths and blue vases of flowers adorned the big room.

Each Amish lady  was wearing dresses and bonnets, and the guys were all in dark pants and shirts. 

After greeting us, we sat down at a long table on benches. Food was served as a buffet with chicken, mashed potatoes, noodles, corn, salad and pie. Water was drawn from the well and a big pitcher of cold well water was on the tables. What can I say? The food was perfectly cooked, pies were baked to perfection and the cold well water (which was located outside with a pump to pump out the water) eased our thirst.  

Also passed around, was a big cardboard box full of all kinds of candy bars and also a box of combs for your hair.

The bride and groom were both in attendance and the bride was wearing the black dress with the white prayer cloth over it.  There were a lot of children in attendance all attired in the traditional Amish clothing. There were a lot of babies there and the little baby girls had on their Amish clothing too. Everyone was happy and smiling and for a while you wished you were a part of the Amish community. I wanted the bride-to-be to open my gift as I had got them an automatic salt and pepper grinder. The grinders ran off of 4 batteries. She liked the gift and said she would be sure to use it.

We saw no cell phones, TVs or radios. In fact, a game of volleyball was being played, the older men were visiting on the porch and outside were a bunch of women washing dishes in an enamel pan. They all smiled and told us goodbye. 

This family has 16 children, 11 married and 5 still at home. There is no electricity, running water, furnaces, or showers. One thing I forgot to visit was the outhouse, I was curious but did not want to wait in line. 

What a simple life style and what happiness they have, loving one another, helping one another without pride or prejudice. (We did not take any  pictures). 

Have you ever attended an  Amish wedding or reception? Would you enjoy the simple pleasures of the Amish? Let me know and I’ll give you a Penny For Your Thoughts.

Dotting My Teas By: Marlene Oxender

A postcard – that’s all it was. A small piece of paper that had never been thrown away, stored for decades in a cardboard box. 

My father was a young man when he received notice from the United States Selective Service to report to the American Legion Hall in Bryan, Ohio, on January 28th at 8 a.m. for a physical examination. The postcard is dated January 23, 1941. It states that failure to report was punishable by imprisonment and fine and could result in losing valuable rights.

Nearly 80 years after Dad had received the postcard, I found it in one of many boxes that had been stored on a shelf in my parents’ home. 

As I read the words, I thought how my father had once read those same words. He would have held the card in his right hand. His thumb would have been in the same place as mine as he read the message on the postcard. 

To him, the words meant his days ahead would be full of goodbyes. And full of uncertainty. 

To me, the postcard was part of Dad’s story, and I already knew the ending. But it made me wonder about the beginning. And the middle.  

In October of 1940, men between the ages of 21 and 35 were required to register with their local draft board, marking the start of the WWII draft process.  

My father was standing in the post office when he read those words for the first time. I wonder what his thoughts were. Did he turn to the person next to him and tell them the news?  

He worked at Busy Corner, a store that was popular in Edgerton. Did he drive there to show them the postcard, or did he head to his parents’ home in Hicksville?

Dad wrote in his memoir that he’d been led to believe his military days would be completed in a year or so, but he came home nearly five years later. While he was gone, someone took care of his car and kept his papers and belongings safe until he returned.

I wonder how many of those postcards are still in existence. How many men kept that piece of paper?

Nearly all of us have a cardboard box tucked away somewhere in our home. It’s full of things we chose to keep. Our high school diploma is in that box, along with the tassel from our graduation cap. There may be a ticket stub from a concert back in 1979, programs from high school musicals, photos and scrapbooks, and a few papers with Xs and Os written at the bottom. 

Had my father not saved the papers he once held in his hands, I would have missed part of his life story. I would not be able to share his experiences with others, and I could not have written my Picket Fences book.

My dad was from a large family, so becoming the father of eleven children may have seemed ordinary to him in some ways. But before Stevie’s birth, he could never have imagined becoming the father of a child with Down syndrome. Life has a way of putting postcards in our hands, quiet notices that let us know things will be changing.

My father didn’t choose the postcard that sent him off to war. And he didn’t choose the one that came years later when he learned Stevie would be different from the child he expected. I can look at my father’s story and see the plot twists. I can write about the detours and delays. I can tell you about his cares and concerns. 

When Dad placed the postcard in safekeeping back in the 1940s, he likely knew it would someday become a conversation piece. But he was a young man in the middle of his story, and his draft card remained in storage all the days of his life. He had never unpacked the card to show to others.  

Someday, another hand will lift the lid on our cardboard box. They’ll see the paper trail we left behind and find answers to questions they didn’t know they had. They’ll learn more about the beginning and the middle of our life. 

And since our box has room for one more piece of paper, we can surprise them by leaving a note. They’ll see our handwriting once again as they read the words we penned to them. They’ll turn to the closest person and tell them what they just found. And although the words in the letter already reside in their heart, they’ll appreciate the fresh batch of Xs and Os we left behind. They’ll feel our presence once again as they tuck that little piece of paper into their own box – one that will be opened years later by another pair of younger hands.  

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

ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, ARE WE IN THE LAST DAYS? 

This question has been presented to me many times. It’s a very thought-provoking question. The concept of the “last days” or “end times” is a significant theme in the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments. Various passages discuss prophetic signs, events, and humanity’s spiritual condition as indicators of these last days. Today I will only touch on a few of them.

I won’t dive very deep into this topic because I am not a theologian. I’m just a non-denominational pastor, filled with the Holy Spirit, serving in an interim position at a Presbyterian church. For some, that could be a sign of the end times (smile). But for me, I see it as many members, one body, with Christ as the head. 1 Corinthians 12.

Here is the Scripture from Matthew 24:6-8 (NIV): 

6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  

7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  

8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.  

Just look at the news; these events are happening every day. 

To include wars, natural disasters, and the rise of false prophets. The apostle Paul also discusses the last days in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NIV):  

1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  

2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  

3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  

4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—  

5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.  

 This describes a world filled with selfishness, conflict, and a departure from faith. Does it look and sound familiar? As in something you witness every day? 

I don’t know about you, but it sure has made an impression on my spirit. A life-changing one, prompting me to be more Christlike in my actions, words, and thoughts, and to solidify my faith. 

Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV) states:

“24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  

25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  

26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  

27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

When we were immature, we believed anything, but now that we have matured, whose report will you believe? WE SHALL BELIEVE THE REPORT OF THE LORD!   

Peace & Love,

—Pastor Dwayne

Don’t know why I have been lately thinking about fear. Wondering how many emotions there are. Probably heard a sermon somewhere along the line. The Bible says it is a sin to worry. God forbids it. But how do you avoid it?

So many things happen that cause us to be concerned. Seems like the last administration had us completely confused as to what was going on, now we are 6 months in a war with no end in site, and the Ukraine war grinds on for years. Things are falling apart all around us yet the Bible tells us not to worry. lt even says to have joy.

I’ve heard a lot of singing groups at Shipshewana and the one I remember most were siblings, two ladies and man.

They were very talented. The man had won Best Musical Christian Artist 5 years in a row. He played the trumpet and told us he practiced 2 hours every day. But the one lady stole the show. 

An extremely attractive lady, she had been left at the altar by her fiance.

She never did marry. Now she takes care of her older mother. She has a neighbor that is a retired nurse that takes care of her mother when she is not there so she is free to travel. She said she had a gift and a ministry of helping people deal with the spirit of fear.

She said people afraid to fly, all kinds of fears, she has been able to help. She gave a 2-hour sermon in 5 minutes. The Bible addresses the problem of fear in Philippians 4:7-11.

1. rejoice always….No matter what the circumstances. In this world it seems like we go from one problem to the next. Just when things can’t get any worse they do. 

2. V5 Let your moderation be known to all men. Mrs G would say, “Christians should act with calm, gentle, reasonableness toward everyone, because God is always close by.” The preacher would say that you must let everybody know what’s got hold of you. Make it known.

3. V6 says with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests known to God. Replace worry with prayer, telling God what you need and thanking him for what He has already done. Don’t get comfortable with being miserable.

Be careful where you place your attention. The devil has two access points, your eyes and your ears. The preacher gives one final example. He was in a meeting in China where they were meeting in a hidden place. The girl that was singing asked if she could sing two songs. She sang, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, deep in my heart. Deep in my heart to stay.”

Her minister explained that her mother and father had been killed for the faith and that she probably would not live through the week, and sure enough she was captured, tortured, and killed.

PS… If you read what I write I appreciate you taking the time. I thank you and I appreciate feedback or ideas.

—James Neuhouser

By: Ron Burt

The USAC AMSOIL 410 Sprints were at “The Bullring”, Kokomo Speedway for the Annual Smackdown. 50 cars registered to have a shot at Saturdays $30,000.00 to win. Thursday, August 27th Kyle Cummins had his car dialed in and won opening night and $6,000.00. Friday, August 28th former Midwest Thunder Midget driver, Cale Coons found Victory Lane, and he collected his $6,000.00 payday. When it comes to the big events it’s hard to beat a driver with years of experience. Justin Grant drove like he owned the Bullring and won his 6th Kokomo Smackdown, and this was his 4th in a row. Grant earned $35,000.00 counting the win and lap money. On the podium with the winner Kyle Cummins who started on the pole and Jacob Denny.

Attica Raceway Park had their normal Friday night show. Cap Henry won the 410 Winged Sprint Feature. Bryan Sebetto found victory lane in the 305 Sprint Class and Wooster Ohio’s Doug Drown waved the checkered flag in the DIRTcar Late Models.

Mansfield Speedway hosted the Great Lakes Super Sprints and the Ohio Valley Late Models, Friday, August 28th. GLSS 360 Sprint driver, Darin Naida won the feature for the winged rockets and Mason Hannagan finished 6th and that was enough to win the 2026 GLSS Southern Championship. The DIRTcar Late Model Series winner was Corey DeLancey from Parkersburg WV.

Flat Rock Speedway Feature winners on Saturday, Factory Stocks Rayce Metdepenningen, Figure 8 Jeremy Vanderhoof, Street Stock B Main Harry Deacheaux II, Street Stock A Main Stevie Cronenwett Jr and Outlaw Super Late Model Paul Pelletier.

Millstream Speedway in Findlay had family night last Saturday. The USAC Thunder Midgets had a close and exciting feature. Bryce Massingill was able to keep in front of Matt Lux and Tyler Nelson for the win.  The Great Lakes Super Sprints put on a competitive show with close racing. Darin Naida won his 2nd feature of the weekend. The Great Lakes Lightning Sprints were also in action. Greysen Thompson worked his way from 3rd to 1st in the A-Main. Zach Milbee won the DIRTcar Late Model Feature.

Angola Motorsport Speedway had 72 cars on Saturday night, featuring their Fab 5 plus the M.A.C.K.S. Feature winners, Late Model Riley Mason, Modifieds Tommy Cook, Street Stock Parker Moyer, FWD Outlaws David Fisher, Hornets Travis Barcus and M.A.C.K.S Joe Warner

Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon had their Season Championship and your feature winners, DIRTcar Late Models Casey Noonan (Unofficial 2026 Late Model Track Champion), Late Model Sportsmen Dylan Hough, Dominator Super Stocks Brad Eitniear and Sport Compacts Ryan Okuley (2026 Unofficial Compact Track Champion).

Until next week, keep your wheels down. Ron Out!

Archbold, Ohio – The Northwest State Community College Board of Trustees met in regular session on Friday, August 28th at the Archbold Campus. A major highlight of the meeting came at the very end, when a motion was made to extend the contract of NSCC President Dr. Todd Hernandez. The motion was carried, and after the meeting concluded, Dr. Hernandez and Board Chair Mickey Schwarzbek signed the agreement.

MORE ON PRESIDENT HERNANDEZ

Dr. Todd Hernandez has been President of Northwest State since April 1, 2021. With this new contract extension, Hernandez will continue to lead the college at least through June 30, 2031. Hernandez continues his efforts to energize the northwest Ohio workforce, and provide great educational opportunity for students throughout the College’s six-county service area of Williams, Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding and Van Wert counties with his “Elevate Northwest Ohio” initiative, which seeks to increase educational attainment to the region. Northwest State naturally plays a critical role in that endeavor.

Dr. Hernandez expressed his gratitude to the Board for the opportunity to continue to serve the College and the community in this capacity, and noted how this extension is a direct reflection on the great work the faculty, staff and administration are doing providing education, training and services to our community to help improve the lives of individuals and strengthen communities – which is essentially the NSCC mission.

In other Board action: 

• Approved the employment of Erin McDonough as Director of Development and Alumni Relations.

• Approved the promotion of Marianna Doolittle to Interim Dean-Arts & Sciences, Nicole Hand to Workforce & Apprentice Programs Manager, Colin Doolittle to Dean-Industrial Technologies & Black Swamp Safety Council, Brittany Chamberlain to Vice President-Human Resources & Leadership Development, Timothy Lucas to Electrical & Automation Training Coordinator, and Daniel Robarge to Equipment Specialist.

• Approved the transition of Katy McKelvey to Special Assistant to the President, and John Mueller to Faculty-Industrial Technology (Automation).

• Approved the transfer of $750,000 of unallocated reserve funds to the contingency reserve fund.

• Approved the rescheduling of the October board meeting from October 16th to October 30th, to be held at the NSCC Van Wert Campus.

• Approved Faculty Workload Policy (amended), to comply with ORC 3345.45 (The Advance Ohio Higher Education Act).

• Approved new Cash on Hand Policy, regarding minimum cash reserves and financial reporting.

• Approved the local administering of state appropriated capital projects under $4 million.

• Approved miscellaneous employment contracts, two retirements, and four resignations.

A new outfit. A warm winter coat. A pair of shoes that fit.

For many of us, these may seem like simple necessities. But for a child who started the school year without something new to call their own, they can mean so much more. They can provide comfort, confidence and the reminder that someone in their community cares.

That is the heart behind Clothes for Kids (C4K), a community initiative of the Defiance Area Foundation. And this September, Clothes for Kids is once again asking Defiance County to step up and help make a difference for local children.

Last year, 197 donors helped provide clothing for 295 children across Defiance County, representing approximately $62,569 in community impact. An additional $17,587 in monetary donations helped the program purchase clothing for students who did not have an individual shopper.

But behind every number is a child.

Clothes for Kids began when local community philanthropist Sharron Farrell recognized that some families simply could not afford new clothing for their children. She took one step to help meet that need, and what began as a small effort has grown into a county-wide tradition of generosity that reaches hundreds of children each year.

Now, the program needs the community’s help to continue that legacy.

Beginning September 8, community members can sign up to become Clothes for Kids shoppers. Participating schools will identify students and gather their clothing sizes throughout September. Shoppers will then be matched with a child and receive their size assignments from October 5-7.

From there, the fun begins: it’s time to shop!

Shoppers purchase new clothing and essentials based on their child’s sizes and return the items to the collection bins at the Defiance Elks by Friday, October 23. You don’t have to make a huge gesture to make a meaningful difference. Sometimes it starts with simply choosing to shop for one child.

Ready to help? To become a Clothes for Kids shopper, email deficlothesforkids@gmail.com. Those who would rather make a monetary donation can visit DEFIANCEAREAFOUNDATION.ORG/COMMUNITY. Checks may also be mailed to the Defiance Area Foundation, 613 W. Third St., Defiance, OH 43512, with C4K in the memo line.

Together, our community can provide more than new clothing. We can give hundreds of local children a boost of confidence and show them that Defiance County cares.

The stage is set and the getaway car is packed. Bonnie and Clyde ride again! Over Labor Day weekend, a 25-member ensemble of cast, crew, and directors from the Van Wert Civic Theatre (VWCT) will travel to Lima, Ohio, to represent Northwest Ohio at the Ohio Community Theatre Association (OCTA) State Conference.

VWCT is one of just 15 community theatre groups selected from across the state to perform at the three-day annual festival, held at the Veterans Memorial Civic & Convention Center in downtown Lima.

VWCT will take the stage on Sunday, September 6, at 2:30 PM to perform a 40-minute excerpt of their hit musical production from September 2025, Bonnie & Clyde.

Earning a spot at the state showcase is a significant achievement. After qualifying at the Northwest Regional OCTAFest earlier this summer, VWCT was selected to join 14 other regional excerpt winners for the statewide celebration of community theatre excellence.

The excerpt competition tests technical precision as much as performance quality: each group has strict time limits to load in their set pieces, present a seamless 40-minute cut of their show, and load off the stage under the eyes of state adjudicators.Theatres from around the state will spend the weekend taking part in professional theatre workshops, networking with fellow groups from across Ohio, and watching performances from the participating theatres.

The festival culminates on Sunday evening with the annual OCTA Awards Banquet, where productions will be recognized with state honors for acting, vocal performance, directing, and technical execution.

Anyone can attend the Ohio Community Theatre Association festival.  For registration information, visit the OCTA website at octa1953.org.

To learn more about Van Wert Civic Theatre and their upcoming season, visit vwct.org.

Congratulations LifeWise Academy-Defiance and LifeWise Academy – Ayersville for each receiving a $5,004 grant from the Fitzenrider Fund for Families, a fund held under the umbrella of the Defiance Area Foundation.

Each year, this fund created by the late Paul Fitzenrider, distributes grants to each of the LifeWise Academies in Defiance County.