By BILL SHERRY• Correspondent

OAKWOOD – Oakwood Village Council met May 28 with all council members present. The meeting was one day later than normal due to the Memorial Day holiday.

Resident Kelly Tumblin was granted permission to use the Oakwood Fire Station for the start/finish line and other activities associated with the “Four Years Out of Heaven” 5K run being held June 8 in memory of Taylor Tumblin. Registration for the run will start at 9 a.m. with the race starting at 10 a.m.

OAKWOOD – It was 1938 when Virgil Cooper set out to raise his first flock of just 500 turkeys for the holidays and started what is now Cooper Farms. As they celebrate their 75th anniversary, the Cooper family is humbled by the growth they have seen and thankful to all those who have helped them reach this amazing milestone.

ANTWERP – The Antwerp Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) held a meeting May 28.

Present were president Randy Derck, secretary/treasurer Sue Derck, Mayor Tom Van Vlerah, village administrator Sara Keeran, Ray DeLong, PCED director Tony Langham, Councilman Larry Ryan, Benny Wyckoff, John Kobee, and consultant Larry Dillin.

The upcoming auction of the CIC’s 47 acres of land east of Antwerp was discussed. The object of selling the ground is to help fund improvements to the interchange development at 24/49. The auction will take place at the VFW on June 20 by Gorrell Realty.

Also discussed were sewer/water, drainage and road construction at the site to better serve the area. Discussion is ongoing with Dollar General, which has an interest in locating at the interchange. Keeran, DeLong and Kobee are making arrangements to hold a meeting of the 24/49 land committee and Poggemeyer Design Group regarding the details of the new road leading back to a 64-acre development.

Dillin, reported that his group has contacted a hotel chain, a fast food chain, and a retail store about locating at the 24/49 interchange. No obligations have been made by any of these businesses.

Keeran reported that she is working on a grant for a sidewalk to connect the downtown with the new proposed interchange development.

Events were reported upon; all agreed that the chamber, ACDC and the Vancrest McLaughlin Gymnasium are to be commended on their activities of holding events that are bringing new people and income to Antwerp.

Langham discussed the need for local investor involvement for development of the town. One asset that the community doesn’t want to lose is the wildlife mounts of Dr. Bricker’s. There may not be a place to house it and the money to secure the collection, but it is a real attraction.

All the committee agreed it would be good to hold another public meeting to inform the public of progress that has been happening in Antwerp and solicit volunteers to serve on decision-making committees. A notice will be published when that meeting will be held.

If anyone has any questions or input regarding the development of Antwerp, contact Randy Derck 419-258-5511, or Tony Langham 419-399-8282, or other of the meeting attendees.

PAULDING – The main historic Carnegie Library in Paulding announces its 2013 Summer Reading Program. Children will really “dig” this year’s theme!

The 2013 program is open to children in preschool through fourth grade. Participants will “dig” the cool programs, prizes, story times and much more. Kooky Kirk and the entire youth services staff will lead the program through a summer of digging adventures. All events are free. Register today.

The fun begins with three sessions at the main library on June 25, July 2 and July 9. The Grand Finale will be held on July 16 at the Youth Leadership Building at the fairgrounds. Don’t miss this fun summer event, part of the Library Centennial Celebration.

To register, stop by the children’s department of the main historic Carnegie Library in Paulding. For more information, contact the children’s team at 419-399-2032.

The library’s summer reading program has been a popular event for over 50 years. Many parents and grandparents who bring their grandchildren today participated in the library’s summer reading program when they were children.

Statistics prove that when children stay plugged in to the library and reading over the summer months, they are better prepared to enter school in the fall – ready to learn.

PAULDING – LaFountain Park will be the place to be around lunchtime this summer. Northwestern Ohio Community Action Commission (NOCAC) will again sponsor the Summer Food Service Program in Paulding, but the location has changed from last year.

This year all children ages 1-18, or to 21 with an IEP, can enjoy a free, nutritious meal, prepared by Paulding County Senior Center, on Monday-Friday, June 10-Aug. 9, except July 4.

Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at LaFountain Park, 700 Lincoln Ave., with activities from 12-12:45 p.m.

Gerilyn Larson, of Paulding, is site supervisor, and will be present at all SFSP activities.

Mayor Greg White agreed to allow use of LaFountain Park as a site for the Summer Food Service Program this year. This site is a great choice because it is next to the swimming pool, making it easily accessible to children whose parents allow them to swim after attending SFSP.

Last year, the Summer Food Service Program was held at Kiwanis Community Center, which will serve as the backup site in case of bad storms with lightning or extremely hot temperatures this summer.

Based on the latest MR81 report provided by Ohio Department of Education, 777 out of 1,262, or 61.57 percent of students attending Paulding Exempted Village Schools, qualify for free/reduced lunches. With school out for the summer, many of these children may not receive a nourishing and well balanced meal for a variety of reasons.

To help fill this gap, the USDA funds the Summer Food Service Program, which is administered by the Ohio Department of Education. In addition to the Paulding site, NOCAC sponsors sites in Defiance, Fulton, Henry and Williams counties.

NOCAC, Paulding County Senior Center and other community groups and members, served 117 unduplicated children and 628 healthy lunches last summer at the local Kiwanis center. This year will be the program’s second year in Paulding and NOCAC is working to spread the word to even more families to bring their children for a free meal and fun.

The SFSP still needs volunteers to help during mealtime serving the food, or to provide activities. To date, the following local organizations, churches, schools and businesses are providing volunteers.

Volunteering to help with food service are: National Honor Society, First Christian Church, Job and Family Services-Children’s Services, Huntington Bank, Free Christian Church of God, Nazarene Church and Paulding Senior Center.

Volunteers providing activities include Paulding Exempted Village School volleyball and football teams; Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, Paulding County Carnegie Library, Ann’s Bright Beginnings Preschool, Free Christian Church of God, Job and Family Services-Children’s Services, and Paulding County Senior Center.

Community organizations, businesses and individuals interested in volunteering, as well as parents or anyone else interested in learning more about the program can call Wendy Bryant Scheurich, SFSP coordinator, at NOCAC’s Defiance office at 419-784-5136, ext. 1120, or send an e-mail to wscheurich@nocac.org.

Meals will be provided in accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy. In accordance with federal law and USDA policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

By DENISE GEBERS • Progress Staff Writer

PAULDING – Following a 40-minute executive session Monday morning, June 3, the Paulding County commissioners unanimously voted to rehire Georgia Dyson as dog warden.