By DENISE GEBERS • Progress Staff Writer

PAULDING - Friends of the Fair project committee members were busily explaining their upcoming project last week during Paulding County Fair.

The group is proposing to tear down the current wood structured livestock barns to replace them with modern steel buildings. The barns in question currently house the swine, sheep, goat, and poultry junior fair projects.

By JOE SHOUSE • Correspondent

ANTWERP – Antwerp Village Council heard from the ACDC seeking clarification of a $10,000 gift or loan, approved new zoning issues and discussed development plans at Monday’s regular meeting.

This Saturday, June 22, marks clean-up day in the village. Items can be taken to the water plant from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

By DENISE GEBERS • Staff Writer

PAULDING – It just keeps getting better and better.

Following on the heels of an outstanding 2012 Paulding County Fair, this year’s edition gathered more attendance and praise.

ANTWERP – Big Boy$ Toy$ Car Club will host its fifth annual car show Saturday, July 13 in Antwerp. The judged Show will include a 2000 and older class and a 2001 and newer class, rain or shine.

By BILL SHERRY • Correspondent

PAULDING – The old Hotel Barnes no longer exists and now the Village of Paulding may soon no longer own the property.

The Paulding County Fair at Paulding, Ohio, will be the first Ohio fair to make use of video lottery terminal (VLT) money for its harness racing program.

Racing begin on Wednesday, June 12 with a seven-race card. There were also four Trottingbred races on the Wednesday program.

The two-day meet concluded on Thursday June 13 with nine harness races.

Pari-mutuel wagering was a part of each evening of entertainment.

In May, The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association, the Ohio State Racing Commission, OSRC Chairman Bob Schmitz, and Mountaineer Gaming (Scioto Downs) have approved checks for $15,100 each to the 65 Ohio county fairs that conduct harness racing.

These funds are from the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s VLT funds, with $11,600 slated to be used for the Ohio Fairs Fund races. When combined with the Ohio Fairs Fund allocation of $1,354, the base purse for the eight stakes races is $2,804.

The remaining portion of the check ($3,500) is to be used for racing-related and general operating expenses.

If any of the races are cancelled, these allocated funds must be returned to the OSRC, and the funding that came from the Ohio Fairs Fund must be returned to the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Per an agreement between the Ohio Fair Managers Association and the OHHA, the 29 fairs that do not conduct harness racing will each receive $700. This allocation from the Horsemen’s VLT funds may be used for general operating expenses at these fairs.