“Sweet 16” winners announced

In March of this year Rustic Comfort Photography started taking applications for the Second Annual Sweet 16 contest. Last year, seven girls participated. This year, there was eight. The girls are from anywhere in the tri-county area. Each girl had a session fee, but most all had either the whole or partial fee paid for by a donation from Red Angel Pizza in Paulding. The girls all received a single session at various times and locations starting in April. Then there was a group session that was kindly donated by The Promises We Make, Wedding Venue in Montpelier Ohio. Parents and kids alike get to meet each other, with everyone having fun.

Missing child located man arrested for probation violation

On August 28, 2024 at approximately 12:28 p.m., detectives from Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD) requested assistance in the search of 8-month old Demi Shilling. Shilling was last seen on August 21, 2024, with the biological father Joshua Gaunt. FWPD requested officers to check a residence in the 500 block of Fountain Street, Southern Hills Apartments for Gaunt and Shilling. Gaunt and Shilling were located at the residence. FWPD detectives talked with Gaunt and Gaunt turned the child over to officers without incident. Shilling was transpored to Hicksville Police Department and turned over to the biological mother. The investigation has been turned over to FWPD.

Man dies in Paulding fire

A Paulding man died Sunday morning in a house fire. Paulding Fire and Police arrived at the 2-story home, located at 609 W.

ROBERT E. SCHAFFER

Robert E. Schaffer, 74, of Cecil, Ohio, passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2024 at Vancrest of Van Wert. He was born on December 30, 1949 to Donald and Margaret (Miller) Schaffer in Defiance, Ohio. On February 26, 1972 he married Pamela Rath who preceded him in death on May 30, 1996. Bob worked at General Motors for several years until his retirement in 2010. He loved racing, playing pool, archery, woodworking and fishing. He enjoyed spending time with family. Robert is survived by his son, Gary (Krystal) Schaffer of Cecil, three grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.

REGINA RENE (GOINGS) HERZIG

Regina Rene (Goings) Herzig went to be with the Lord on August 23rd, 2024. She was born on May 22, 1972, in Paulding, Ohio to Stanley and Viola (Copeland) Goings.She came into this world with her eyes wide open reaching for the sky.

SHIRLEY MAY GUMINA

Shirley May Gumina, 88, of Payne, passed away Friday, August 23, 2024, at Vancrest of Payne.Arr by Dooley Funeral Home. .

DONNIE L. SCHMIDT

Donnie L. Schmidt, 84, of Payne, passed away Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at her home.

JEAN B. DELONG

Jean B. DeLong, 98, of Antwerp, Ohio passed away Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Vancrest of Hicksville.

BETTY JANE HOFACKER

Betty Jane Hofacker, 96, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 25, 2024 at the Country Inn Assisted Living Center in Latty Oh. Betty was born on March 14, 1928 on her parent’s farm in Grover Hill Ohio where she grew up. She is the daughter of the Late Nathan Ringger & Alma Wittmer Ringger. Betty went to the Jackson Township one room school house where she would walk about 2 miles from the farm where she lived until she started high school and graduated from Paulding High School in 1946. Her first job out of school was working as a waitress at Balyeat’s restaurant in Van Wert Ohio in 1947 and Grizzlys in Paulding in 1948. In those days Roller Skating was a popular way to socialize in the community and that is where she met Charles Junior Hofacker of Broughton Ohio, at the Fort Brown Roller Skating Rink. On June 25th 1949 Betty married Charles and they started their family of four children, Mary, Gene, Denny & Ron. They lived in Paulding Ohio on Sugar Street until 1954 when they bought a 40-acre farm but the house burned down in 1956 so in 1957 they bought and moved to their 80-acre farm in northeast Paulding County where they raised their family and resided there for 56 years before she moved to the Country Inn Assisted Living at Latty Ohio in 2013. Thank you to the Country Inn Staff, where she received compassionate and loving care. Betty was a very loving mother staying home most of the time to raise and teach her children how to love one another and teach them the ways of God and Biblical principles for this life and the next. In 1956 Betty and Charles both made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ to be their Savior and Lord. After her children were older, Betty did work part time selling Rawleigh Products from her home, working for Stokley Tomato Factory in Paulding and as a Nurses Aid at a Nursing Home in Defiance. They were members of The Rose Hill Church of God in rural Paulding County since 1956 and were very active ministering

TYLER MATTHEW MULLINS

Tyler Matthew Mullins Cavanaugh, of Payne passedaway Thursday, August 21, 2024. Arr by Dooley Funeral Home.