By JIM LANGHAM

Feature Writer

It had all the earmarks of a major music contest. The judges were set and prepared to evaluate presentations by the Wayne Trace Concert Band and Wayne Trace Concert Choir.

A crowd of fans was present to support the hometown favorite musicians in preparation for spring musical contests.

The set-up was in the same format as upcoming spring concerts in order to give local students the feel of contest presentations.

Bill Young of Payne has been selected as a winner in American’s Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund.

Each year, farmers are given the opportunity to win $2,500 donation for their favorite local nonprofit organizations. Double donations were available locally because Paulding County was declared a disaster area by the USDA due to drought conditions. Young had the opportunity to make two $2,500 donations. His selections were the Paulding County 4-H Advisory Council and the Payne Volunteer Fire Department. He received the checks in a special ceremony Monday, Feb. 25 at the Paulding County Extension Office.

Present for the fire department’s donation (above) were, from left – Jeff Hunker from Monsanto’s Findlay office, Gary Gasser from the Payne Fire Department and Young. The fire department intends to purchase new bunker gear.

At the 4-H council’s presentation (below) were, from left – Staci Hiler, 4-H program assistant; Hunker, senior 4-Hers Maggie Wilhelm, Emma Schmidt and Kara Burak; and Young. Plans for the 4-H donations include camp scholarships, a livestock clinic, and materials for a school enrichment program.

America’s Farmers Grow Communities is sponsored by the Monsanto Fund to highlight the important contributions farmers make every day to society and to help them positively impact their communities.

By JOE SHOUSE • Correspondent

ANTWERP – The Antwerp Village Council met in regular session on Monday, Feb. 25. The first utility bill for the new depot was a hot topic among the council and drew attention from most board members. Progress with the new Dollar General continues and Antwerp clean-up day has been scheduled at the meeting.

A recent utility bill from AEP in the amount of $4,112 for heating the depot had several council members questioning if the village can continue to operate the depot.

“We are a small village and we will go broke with this kind of bill each month. We can’t do this,” said Council President Jan Reeb.

By BILL SHERRY • Correspondent

OAKWOOD – Oakwood Village Council met Monday. Feb. 25. Highlighting the agenda were discussions about a replacement fire truck and water and sewer rates.

Fire Chief Kenny Thomas told council that the final arrangements have been worked out for the replacement fire truck. The truck should be ready for delivery about mid-May.

By JOE SHOUSE • Correspondent

PAYNE – The Payne Village Council met in regular session Monday evening, Feb. 25. The announcement of a new EMS chief beginning in 2014 was made, two new EMTs were accepted pending the passing of the mandatory physical exams and drug testing, and bids for garbage collection will be open in March.

Current EMS coordinator Greg Bollenbacher introduced to the council Assistant Chief Joe Garmyn. Council unanimously approved a motion to accept Garmyn as the EMS coordinator beginning in 2014. Bollenbacher will be stepping down from his position at the end of this year.

Story updated 4:55pm Tuesday Feb. 26

From Progress staff reports

PAULDING – Tuesday morning, a hearing was conducted on a motion to seek relief filed last week by an attorney representing Vancrest of Antwerp LLC. The court granted all the requests.

The three-page motion, filed Feb. 19, requested three things of the court: