4-H’ers on a mission to recruit new members By JIM LANGHAM Feature Writer Experienced 4-H members in the county have been visiting elementary schools to pres- ent the mission of the organization and en- courage young students to enroll in 4-H. According to 4-H program assistant Staci Hiler, older 4-H members have been visiting mainly third grade classes around the county explaining the meaning and mission of 4-H and giving instruction to students how to join a club close to them. The only exception is Divine Mercy School in Payne where the presentation is made to the entire school. Those schools being visited include Paulding Elementary, Grover Hill Elementary , Payne Elementary, Antwerp and Oakwood, said Hiler. Hiler said that those members mainly in- volved include junior leaders, camp coun- selors and members of the junior fair board. “They do science-related activities with the students in the classroom to introduce them to 4-H,” said Hiler. Most popular is a presentation titled “Science on a Stick,” Hiler said. “4-H guides young people to grow and be- come responsible, skilled adults. The organiza- tion offers over 200 different projects that en- gage youth in new learning opportunities,” said Hiler. “It gives youth the chance to meet INSIDE: SeniorSpotlight School Zone School newsletters Look inside! Special sales events from ... Chief, Rural King, DollarGeneral, Marco’s Pizza Around PauldingCountyBargain Bin reopens Jan. 16 PAULDING – The Bargain Bin in Paulding is closed until Jan. 16 forcleaning and reorganiza- tion. 2014 Ohio Fairs Schedule Now Available REYNOLDSBURG –Ohioans can start planning visits to all of their favorite fairs across the state. The Ohio Department ofAgriculture has released the official dates for the 2014 fair season, which includes Ohio’s 94 county and inde- pendent fairs and the Ohio State Fair. The Paulding County Fairwill kick off the 2014 fairseason on June 9, and the season will wrap up on Oct. 11 with the Fairfield County Fair. For a complete sched- ule, visit the department’s website at www.agri.ohio.gov, click on “Divisions” and then clickon “Communica tions Office”. P P A U L D I N G A U L D I N G C C OUNTY OUNTY VOL. 139 NO. 19 PA ULD ING, OHIO 419-39 9-4 015 www.pr og res sne wspape r. org WED NES DA Y , J ANU ARY 1, 2014 ONE DOL LAR USPS 42362 0 P P ROGRESS ROGRESS DEFIANCE – The Defiance Post of the Ohio Highway Patrol is investigat- ing a one-vehicle fatal crash that occurred Friday evening on the Defiance-Paulding County Line Road. Dead is Sylvester D. Ankney, age 63, of Cecil. According to troopers, the crash occurred at about 9:09 p.m. Dec . 27 on the coun ty line (Township Road 8), about one-half mile east of The Bend Road (County Road 133). Ankney was driving a 2007 Buick Rendezvous eastbound when he traveled off the north side of the road, overcorrected and went back into the east- boun d lane. He then over cor- rected again and traveled offthe north side of the road and struck a ditch. The vehicle then overturned several times. Ankney was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a safety belt, accord- ing to troopers. It does not appear alcohol and/or drugs played a role in the crash. The incident re- mains under investigation. Generous county residents share Christmas spirit By NANCY WHITAKERProgress Staff Writer PAULDING – Christmas is officially over for 2013, but Paulding County was one ofthe most generous counties with many successful giving proje cts. The giving spirit begins early in the county with sever- al organizations, entities, schools and churches partici- pati ng. Over at the Paulding Carnegie Library, the annual mitten tree was put up and do- nations of scarves, mittens and gloves were received. Sara Molitor, head of youth services, said that gloves and mittens were distributed to WIC and to Head Start. Molitor said, “This year the bookm obile had them on the bus and peopl e coul d get a pair when the y stopp ed to get a book. We still have the tree Grace McClure, who has helped head up the Christmas Elf Project for the past fouryears, said that in addition to gift cards, toys and other gifts, that families received a fruit clothes basket. Boy Scouts also assisted with cleaning up after the din- ner and in packing the fruit baske ts. McClure said, “My 8-year- old grandchild also helped us this year and said, ‘This has taught me that the real mean- ing of Christmas is not me re- ceiving gifts, but in giving.’” The annual TGIF (ThankGod It’s Free) giveaway was held Saturday, Dec. 7 at the extension building at the fair- grounds. Vicki Kadesch and Sue Wannemacher of the Paulding United Methodist Church have been doing this event for the past 13 years. This year, between 400-600 le we ved. Jim Langham/Paulding County Progress Teams of 4-H leaders recently visited the county grade schools to recruit young students for 4-H. One of those teams consisted of Matthew Klopfenstein, Arlen Stoller, Sylvia Young and Alec Kuhn. See RECRUIT,page 2A See CRASH,page 2A T wo injured in crash ANTWERP – Two Paul- ding County men were in- jure d, o ne seriou sly , fol lowi ng a two-vehicle motor vehicle crash on Sunday afternoon south of Antwerp. The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Van Wert Post is in- vestigating an injury crash that occurred at 3:13 p.m. Dec. 29 on Ohio 49 at County Road 162 in Carryall Township, Paulding County. A 1995 Ford F-150 pickup truck, driven by Jack DeLong, age 62, of Cecil, was stopped facing westbound on County Road 162 at 49. A 2002 Ford F-250 pickup, driven by Drew Taylor, age 20, of Antwerp, was southbound 49. According to troopers, DeLong failed to yield to Taylor and proceeded west- boun d on 162, attemp ting to cross 49. The pickup trucks collided and went off the southwest side of the intersec- tion. Taylor’s truck subse- quently struck a utility pole, brea king it of f. Both vehicles were disabled after coming to rest in a field. DeLong was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. His injuries could have been minim ized by wear ing a properly adjusted seatbelt, troopers said. Taylor was wearing his seat belt, which One-vehicle crash claims Cecil man
