From Staff Reports

MARYSVILLE – A former Antwerp woman, convicted of fatally shooting her father, has been released from prison after more than 16 years.

Mindy Ann Berenyi, 33, was released from the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville on March 1.

Berenyi was 16 when she shot her father, William “Andy” Berenyi, in the back with a 12-gauge shotgun inside their rural Antwerp home in 1995. She claimed years of verbal and physical abuse spurred her actions.

This case was featured in a 1999 episode of the CBS news magazine “48 Hours,” bringing national attention to the matter.

She was convicted of aggravated murder with a firearm specification in October 1999 after two trials, a mistrial, two convictions and two appeals over the course of several years. Her final jury trial was moved to Lima due to public interest in the case and intense media coverage.

She was sentenced to 33 years imprisonment including a mandatory three-year gun specification. She had been in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction system since December 1996.

A definitions section of the ODCR website says the Ohio Parole Board decides when the offender is suitable for release after serving the minimum sentence minus time for good behavior and earned credits.

Berenyi will be under Adult Parole Authority for five years, reporting to a Columbus parole office.

PAULDING – Paulding Police Department is investigating a robbery at a village business Monday evening.

According to a police press release, at about 9:30 p.m. March 11, a white male entered the Brookside North Drive-Thru on North Williams Street (US 127) on foot and asked the employee to open the cash register. The employee complied and an undetermined amount of money was taken.

The suspect exited the business and headed east on Miles Street toward the trailer court.

No weapon was shown during the robbery.

The suspect is described as around 5-foot-7, thin build, wearing a black ski mask, black sweatshirt and jeans, and black boots.

Anyone with information on this robbery is asked to contact the police department at 419-399-3311.

ANTWERP – Antwerp High School will present the musical “Oklahoma” at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, March 15-16 in the school auditeria.

Tickets can be purchased in the high school office or at the door prior to each performance.

“Oklahoma” is set in the Indian Territory just after the turn of the century when cowboys and farmers were competing over fences and water rights. Two more rivalries emerge in the middle of that controversy. Curly, a cowboy, and Jud, a hired hand, are both in love with Laurey. The second involves Ado Annie, Will and Ali Hakim, a trio that will provide plenty of laughs.

Aunt Eller and her niece, Laurey, own a farm in Oklahoma. Curly and Laurey have a secret love for each other, but they are too frightened to admit their feelings for each other. Curly asks Laurey to the box social at the Skidmore Ranch that evening.

Meanwhile, Will Parker has just returned from Kansas City and tells the locals about his experience there. Will is passionately in love with Ado Annie. Ado Annie can’t decide if she loves Will or a sweet-talking traveling salesman, Ali Hakim.

Curly is devastated to discover that Laurey has asked Jud Fry, her menacing field hand, to take her to the box social due to an argument Laurey had with Curly. After her impetuous decision, Laurey is afraid to be alone with Jud, and she wishes she had not asked him.

The music and lyrics of Oklahoma – by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II – are some of the best in musical theater with songs that include “Oh What a Beautiful Morning,” “The Surrey with the Fringe on Top,” “People Will Say We’re in Love,” “I Can’t Say No,” “Oklahoma!” and many more, making this a musical treat for the entire family.

The cast, in order of appearance, includes Curly – Ed Reinhart, Laurey – Kirsi Smith, Aunt Eller – Lydia Schneider, Ali Hakim – Nathan Hawley, Ado Annie Carnes – Samantha Provines, Will Parker – Aaron Schneider, Jud Fry – Ryan Girardot, Andrea Carnes – Lydia Carr, Cord Elam – Erik Miesle, Ike Skidmore – Nathan Lee, Slim – Arron Romero, Gertie Cummings – Beth Hawley, Fred – Justice Clark, Joe – Brandon Laney, Kate – Tiffany Romero, Mike – Brian Geyer, Tom – John Huss, Virginia – Dani Daugherty, Sylvie – Destinee Schlegel, Armina – Kirsten Price, Aggie – Maggie Reinhart, Rebecca – Rachel Becker, Lydia – Katie Hunt.

Chorus: Serenity Clark, Kaitlyn Clevinger, Madison Edgar, Logan Emerson, Chase Gerken, Alex Hindenlang, Allyssa Jackson, Erica Meyer, Annie Miesle, Megaen Price, Kimberly Puckett, Blaire Rebber, Paige Rebber, Gracie Rigsby, Alyssa Romero, Kodi Sensabaugh, Hope Smith, Kortney Smith, Aubree Sproles, Rosa Vachon, Maggie Wilson.

Ballet girls: Dani Daughtery, Annie Miesle, Sam Provines, Kimberly Puckett, Maggie Reinhart, Hope Smith.

Saloon girls: Logan Emerson, Beth Hawley, Allyssa Jackson, Kirsten Price, Kodi Sensabaugh, Kortney Smith.

With video clip

By MELINDA KRICK • Progress Editor

PAULDING – No bids were received for the former Hotel Barnes property at a tax auction 10:15 a.m. Thursday, March 7 at the courthouse.

By JIM LANGHAM

Feature Writer

Staci Hiler, 4-H Program Assistant for Paulding County, is smiling these days with the prospects of the upcoming Paulding County Fair in early June and another successful year of 4-H in Paulding County.

The fact that the local county organization is joining other counties in celebrating Ohio 4-H Week, March 3-9, only energizes her spirit.

Around Paulding County

Upcoming health fair

PAULDING – The annual Health, Business and Industry Fair will be held from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. March 20 at the Extension Building at the Paulding County Fairgrounds.