Wapakoneta Daily News
New Trash Totes A Heavy Lift?
Local residents addressed council to express concerns as the city prepares to spend nearly $1 million on new automated trucks and new totes. Wapakoneta resident Linda Knerr is concerned about new containers. "I get it that some people like them and...
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Waynesfield-goshen Students Experience 'Pura Vida' During Costa Rica Adventure
On June 13, Maren Wittenbrink, Abby Brown, Leo Pepple, and Miley Sneary stepped beyond their Waynesfield classroom and into the heart of Costa Rica, where they practiced Spanish while expe riencing the country's culture, history, and breathtaking...
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Auglaize County Historical Society Hosts FB Live program about barns
The Auglaize County Historical Society will present "The Whys and Hows of Keeping Your Old Farm Buildings" with Michael Spencer as a Facebook Live program on Tuesday, July 21, 7 pm, on the Auglaize County Historical Society Facebook page. The program...
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Wapakoneta Crowns 2026 Miss Summer Moon Queen and Princess
The city of Wapakoneta watched a great, scholarship pageant as ten talented and beautiful, young ladies, alongside ten adorable princesses walked across the Performing Arts Center stage for the chance to become Miss Summer Moon 2026. Guests were...
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Boat Ramp And Parking Lot Planned For Fawnway Farms
Heritage Trails Park District is receiving $30,000 from Ohio Division of Wildlife to install a parking lot and boat ramp at Fawnway Farms River Access in the 18500 block of County Road 155A. Executive Director PJ Fought said the project is slated for...
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Moon Market Returns Bigger Than Ever for Summer Moon Festival
What began as a small gathering of just a handful of vendors has grown into one of the most anticipated attractions of the Wapakoneta Summer Moon Festival. Now in its eighth year, the Moon Market will return Friday and Saturday as part of the Summer...
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Annual Run To The Moon 5k Returns to Armstrong Air and Space Museum
More than 500 runners are expected to be on the grounds of the Armstrong Air and Space Museum Saturday, participating in the annual Run To The Moon, the 10K, 5K and 1-mile fun run that benefits the United Way of Auglaize County. NASA Astronaut Dr. Don...
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Say Yes to Parks Unveils Four Phase Plan
For those who ask city park levy campaigners "how will you spend the money?" A detailed answer is now readily available. A daunting $3.9 million project list has been broken down into four multi-year phases. A 2 mill levy expected to generate $508,000...
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St. Paul's Summer Lunch Program Continues 14-Year Tradition of Feeding Children with Compassion
For fourteen summers, St. Paul United Church of Christ has opened its doors to ensure children have access to healthy meals when school cafeterias close for the season. This year, under the leadership of new pastor Rev. Paul Bomeli, the church...
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Summer Moon Festival Highlights First On The Moon's Community Impact
With the Summer Moon Festival just around the corner, plans are underway throughout Wapakoneta as the community prepares to celebrate its rich space heritage and hometown hero, Neil Armstrong. One organization helping lead those efforts is First On The...
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Community Invited to Support Children's Hometown Holiday Through July Raffle
With five months remaining before Children's Hometown Holiday returns to downtown Wapakoneta, organizers are already hard at work planning another weekend filled with Christmas magic for families across the region. Over the years, Children's Hometown...
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St.marys Theater Has Big Plans For Five-year Anniversary of Non-profit
The St. Marys Theater and Grand Opera House has quickly become the pride and jewel of the city of St. Marys, with the restoration project having transformed it from the ground up. With the project and the nonprofit surrounding it has been going on for...
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Big Band Sounds Return to Fountain Park with New Millennium Jazz Orchestra
Feel Good Fridays continues this week with an evening of powerful musicianship, timeless melodies, and big band energy as the New Millennium Jazz Orchestra takes the stage in Fountain Park on Friday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m. Hailing from Fort Wayne,...
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Area Officials Encourage Residents To Find Cool Places During A Dangerous Heat Wave
This week's extreme heat and soaring heat index have sent many residents searching for ways to stay cool, with fans flying off store shelves and people looking for relief from the dangerous temperatures. While Auglaize County does not have officially...
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Air-tow Trailers Breaks Ground on $6.8 Million Expansion in Wapakoneta
Air-tow Trailers held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday on a $6.8 million expansion project that will significantly increase the company's manufacturing capacity while creating new jobs and strengthening its commitment to Wapakoneta. The June 30...
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Agape Ministries Collects Donations For School Supply Program
While summer vacation may still be on everyone’s minds as of right now, Agape Ministries is making sure parents stay ahead of the game when it comes to school supplies this year by offering their yearly program. The Sponsor a Child School Supply...
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Hope Begins Here: Community Supports Crisis Center Fundraiser
For survivors of domestic violence, finding the courage to leave an abusive relationship is often only the beginning of a long journey. The path forward can be filled with uncertainty, fear and countless obstacles. At the Auglaize County Crisis Center,...
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Wapakoneta Eagles Awarded $16,500 in Community Park Fund Grants
The Wapakoneta Eagles Aerie #691 recently awarded $16,500 in Community Park Fund Grants for local park improvements. Wapakoneta City Schools was awarded a $7,500 grant for new shade structures adjacent to the tennis courts at Wapakoneta High School....
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How Performing Arts Center Supports the City of Wapakoneta
The Wapakoneta Rotary Club was visited by Nikki Barger, the Executive Director and Coordinator of Performing Arts Center of Wapakoneta, to discuss how the club can support the Performing Arts Center because of how the Performing Arts Center supports...
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Waynesfield Debates Water Rates
Waynesfield Village Council members are trying to make a proposed water utility hike easier for residents to stomach. In May, Rural Community Assistance Partnership representative Melanie St. Clair presented a study about the current state of...
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Avenue of Flags Program Places 400th Flag in Wapakoneta
The 400th flag purchased through the Avenue of Flags program was placed this week by the Wapakoneta Breakfast Optimist Club. The club members all came together for this momentous occasion on the tree lawn of West Auglaize Street. A very patriotic...
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County Historical Society Honored by National Foundation
The Auglaize County Historical Society has been named one of this year’s National Historic Marker Weekend Photo Challenge honorees by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, Syracuse, New York. The honor was awarded for the Historical Society’s Marker...
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Rep. King Votes in Support of Medicaid Program Integrity and Fraud Prevention Act
State Representative Angie King (R- Celina) last week voted in support of a comprehensive legislative package aimed at fighting fraud, waste and abuse within Ohio’s Medicaid program with the goal of protecting taxpayer dollars. The Ohio Medicaid...
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Beyond the Forecast: Conner Prince Connects with Small-town Ohio
As I searched for my next feature story, WLIO-TV'S new Chief Meteorologist, Conner Prince, kept appearing on my social media feed. For months, I had watched him travel throughout the area, stopping in small towns, attending local festivals, and...
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Marketing Your Business in the Age of A.I.
The Wapakoneta Chamber of Commerce hosts their monthly luncheon for West Ohio Young Professionals as a way for those aged 21- 40 to network and learn professional skills to assist them as their career grows. This past week, the Chamber hosted speaker,...
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Minster Board Has Land Exchange Approved With Village
The Minster Board of Education met this week in order to discuss some important updates involving land purchases that will benefit the school. Superintendent Josh Meyer, providing his report for the evening, stated at the meeting that the Minster...
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Budget Bill to give thousands in funding to local projects if passed
Several district projects within the local area are set to receive some funding soon after some recent legislation was passed through the Ohio House of Representatives. According to some recent news shared in part by State Representative Angie King,...
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Classic Downtown Cruise-in
For June, the Downtown Wapakoneta Partnership hosted the Classic Downtown Cruise-in for the first Friday of the month. Sponsored by Sorensen Insurance Agency, owners were able to buy in to showcase their vehicles to the public right outside the post...
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Drug Arrest in Mercer County
Mercer County Sheriff Doug Timmerman announced this morning (6/5/2026) multiple arrests on drug related charges. Arrested were Cristina Gann (55) of Coldwater, for possession of methamphetamine, a third- degree felony; Brian Orick (50) of Celina and...
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Warriors Way and Generations of Love Unite
A unique partnership between Warriors Way and Generations of Love is creating an opportunity for families to connect, learn, and grow together through an unforgettable day of hands- on experiences in Lima. The Collaborative Community Event, scheduled...
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Doug Jauert: A Quiet Force Behind Wapakoneta's Growth
Some people leave their mark through public recognition and grand accomplishments. Others leave a legacy through steady leadership, generosity, and a genuine commitment to helping their community thrive. Doug Jauert was one of those people. Born and...
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America 250 Auglaize County t-shirts now available
The Auglaize County Historical Society announces the arrival of the official America 250—Auglaize County t- shirts. The t- shirts feature the local logo for the national milestone on the front, while the names of Auglaize County villages and cities...
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June Starts Summer Off With Various Festivals
As summer officially dawns on Auglaize County, many local villages and cities are preparing for festival season, as well as offering plenty of things to do this summer for people of all ages. With school being out, and plenty of graduates looking to...
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WAPAK MIDDLE SCHOOL HONOR ROLL
5Th Grade A Honor Roll Lucas Baber, Harrison Bill, Layla Bower, Noah Boyer, Allie Burden, Dillan Butterfield, Mason Converse, Talon Copeland, Timothy (Elijah) Cross, Avery Dickman, Mahayla Donley, Beau Doty, Gracelyn Fahncke, Dahlia Feltner, Keegan...
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Parks Levy Campaign Shifts Strategy
A need for education, awareness and marketing were the main focus as the Wapakoneta Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee shifts strategy following a failed levy measure to fund capital improvements for city parks. United Way Director Deb Zwez shared...
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Welsch and Moyer Earn Wapak Service Club Scholarships
The Wapak Service Club met Wednesday at noon and one of the highlights of the meeting was the presentation of scholarship awards to two Wapakoneta High School graduates. The scholarships, awarded annually by the organization, recognize studentathletes...
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Students Inspired by Neil Armstrong’s Legacy
The tradition continued as second and third grade students at Wapakoneta City Schools received their own copy of Trailblazers: Neil Armstrong by Alex Woolf. As the books were handed out, smiles spread across the room and excitement filled the air. For...
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New story installed at Story Walk in K.C. Geiger Park
Earlier this month, a new story was installed at the Story Walk Trail in K.C. Geiger Park. The story is titled “Rocky and Friends Great Adventures: The K.C. Geiger Park’s Secret Mystery,” and was written by Mr. Mele’s fourth grade class. The trail...
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New Program Offers Dance and Connection in the Community
For Holly Lopes, movement became something far more meaningful than exercise. It became healing, connection, freedom, and joy. “I didn’t realize how much I needed GROOVE until I experienced it for myself,” Lopes shared. “It completely changed the way...
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Botkins Volunteer Fire Department Raises Funds for New Safety Equipment
The Botkins Volunteer Fire Department is turning to the community once again for help raising money to purchase muchneeded emergency equipment through a bourbon raffle fundraiser. Like many rural volunteer departments across Ohio, the Botkins Fire...
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Wapak FFA Participates in 5th Grade Safety Day
This past week the new Wapak FFA officer team and the former president and vice president presented safety tips dealing with PTO, hydraulics, rollovers, blindspots, ATV’S, dirtbikes, lawnmowers, chainsaws, farm scene, chemical look-alikes, grain bins,...
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Wapakoneta Council: Future Vancrest Facility Gets Tax Abatement
Wapakoneta Council approved a Community Reinvestment area Agreement with Vancrest through emergency measures Monday night amounting to a 75% property tax abatement for 15 years. Vancrest president Mark White told council he has been in the business...
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Wapakoneta’s Elijah Hall Earns Prestigious Air Force ROTC Scholarship
In the quiet town of Wapakoneta, Elijah Hall had always looked toward the sky. While many teenagers spent their afternoons wondering what came next after graduation, Elijah already carried a vision much larger than himself. He dreamed of flight,...
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Friday Nights Come Alive at Party in the Parkway
Party in the Parkway returned to downtown Wapakoneta last Friday night, officially kicking off another summer season filled with music, dancing, food, and community gatherings at Heritage Park with the music of Shifferly Road Band. As warm weather...
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Where Kids and Horses Meet: Inside Sunset Maple Farm Summer Camp
The one thing most kids love is animals, and many are especially drawn to the idea of connecting with horses. But not all of them get that opportunity: some live in town, others don’t have access to facilities, and for many families, owning a horse...
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Auglaize County Sheriff Alerting Public to be Aware of Scammers
As Sheriff of this County, I want the public to be aware of the large number of scams my office has handled in the last year and also the large amount of money the scammers have stolen from Auglaize County Residents. This needs to stop, my office,...
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Local Baseball Prospect Gets the Call to the Majors
For most young baseball players, stepping onto a Major League field is a dream. For A.J. Ewing, that dream became reality Monday when he received the call from the New York Mets to play centerfield against the Detroit Tigers. Ewing, who has family ties...
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Gardener’s Swap & Share Program
Join fellow gardeners on Wednesday, May 13th at 5:30pm at the St. Marys Community Public Library to trade excess seedlings, seed packets, bulbs and plant divisions at the annual Gardeners’ Swap & Share program. Following at 7:00pm, a presentation will...
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SAFY Recruiter Voices Need For Foster Families In Auglaize County
At the May 6 St. Marys Rotary Club meeting, Sylvia Roop, Lead Foster Parent Recruiter for SAFY, spoke about the need for foster families in our area. Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth (SAFY) of Ohio is a nonprofit foster care and adoption...
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One of the hidden gems of Wapakoneta has officially opened its doors for the season
The Market at Wapak is once again stocked with a wide variety of plants, along with honey, jams, and other locally sourced goods. Thirteen years ago, owners Melissa Adkins and Teresa Adkins transformed a simple barn along U. S. Route 25A, south of...
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Embellishments Exhibit Kickoff Set: A Celebration of Design, Legacy, and Community”
On May 5th in Wapakoneta, the doors of Interior Motifs will open to something far more meaningful than a typical community event. The Embellishments Exhibit Kickoff is not simply an estate sale, nor just a gathering; it is a long-awaited memorial,...
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Deb Henekener shares Origami with Helen Hunt Circle
How do you relax? Some people do yoga, some read books, and some like to garden. There is not one singular answer to this question, and everyone has their own unique way of relaxing. For the April meeting of the Helen Hunt Circle, Local artist Deb...
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Arbor Day Planting Celebrates Bonnie Wurst
A Merrill Magnolia tree was planted Friday in honor of Bonnie Wurst on Arbor Day. Bonnie was a longtime city councilman here in Wapakoneta, she was president pro-tem for several years and really helped the city move forward. "One of the things I...
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A Pathway of Pride: Flags Line Auglaize River in Wapakoneta
The walkway along the Auglaize River in Wapakoneta has transformed into a striking display of patriotism, where rows of American flags ripple in the breeze, thanks to a group of Optimist Club members who came together to create a scene that’s drawing...
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Tiny Strings, Big Dreams: Young Violinists Take the Stage in Wapakoneta
Living in a smaller town, our children are not exposed to as many musical opportunities as those in larger cities, where music schools and symphonies often provide structured classes and early training. In many rural communities, schools do their best...
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Council Greenlights Trial To Address TDS Issues
Wapakoneta city council approved a measure with emergency language allowing for a cooperative agreement with Regensyn Energy LLC. who have a developed a method for processing hydrogen and carbon monoxide from waste streams into a source of...
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Community Comes Together for Hospice at Rhinestone Rodeo Gala
Under the warm glow of candlelight and the sparkle of rhinestones, community members gathered Saturday evening for a cause that reaches far beyond a single night of celebration. The annual Hospice Gala, hosted by Grand Lake Health System, transformed...
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Midwest Electric awards $11,000 in scholarships to 13 seniors
ST. MARYS — Twelve area high school seniors were awarded a Children of Members Scholarship from Midwest Electric, Inc. Two first-place students received $1,500, two second-place students received $1,000, two thirdplace students received $750, and six...
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Kentner to Run Boston Marathon with Astronaut Williams
When Amy Kentner leaves this Monday for Boston, she is not just heading to another race. She is stepping into a moment nearly twenty years in the making. Kentner will run the Boston Marathon alongside Sunita “Suni” Williams, a NASA astronaut and former...
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St. Marys Rotary receives update on Grand Lake St. Marys Wetlands
During the April 15 St. Marys Rotary Club meeting, Theresa Dirksen, Agriculture & Natural Resources Director for Mercer County, gave an overview of the Treatment Train Project that uses wetlands to help restore water quality in the lake. In 2010, the...
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Invite To Earth Day Cleanup At Kuffner Preserve With Oak Academy
On April 22nd 12noon-2pm at the Dr. Elizabeth Yahl Kuffner Nature Preserve located at 14840 CR 66A, St. Marys, Ohio, Terry Mcdonald of Heritage Trails Park District is hosting a nature walk for O.A.K. Academy (Outdoor Adventure Kids Academy of...
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Not Everyone Is An Artist Who Can Master The Finest Brushstroke Or Place The Final Piece In
A stained-glass design. For many, art is simply something to enjoy in everyday life, like moving a vase to just the right spot or appreciating color and creativity in small ways. The Riverside Art Center is inviting those everyday creatives to take...
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Tipbacks to Host Bra Decorating Contest to Support Local Breast Cancer Efforts
Tipbacks in Wapakoneta is lifting up the community in more ways than one with its first Bra-dacious Creations Show that will benefit the Pink Anchor Foundation. The Pink Anchor Foundation is a local organization in Celina that provides community and...
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Franklin B. Walter Recipients Honored at Annual Awards Dinner
The Auglaize County Franklin B. Walter Award recipients for 2026 and their honored teachers were recognized at the annual Franklin B. Walter Awards Dinner at Wapakoneta High School on Wednesday. The Ohio Educational Service Center Association...
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Proposed Parks Levy Would Fund Improvement of Wapakoneta’s Parks and Recreation Facilities
Wapakoneta Recreation Advisory Commission member Ross Kantner and Director of Public Service and Safety Tyler Price presented Wapakoneta Rotary members with information on the proposed park levy at its meeting on Monday. The levy, which is on the...
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Wapa Theatre Celebrates America 250 With Screening of “Bringing Up Baby”
The Wapa Theatre highlighted local history with a free screening of “Bringing Up Baby” Monday evening as part of the “Ohio Goes to the Movies” series celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. The screening of the 1938 comedy honored Academy...
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The Mason Jar Celebrates Grand Opening
The Mason Jar Steakhouse in Wapakoneta celebrated its opening with its full menu with a ribbon- cutting on Saturday. The restaurant, located in the former Marley’s Downtown building at 15 Perry St., is a sports bar that specializes in steaks and smash...
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United Way Helps Fund irteen Area Agencies
Thirteen Wapakoneta area non-profit agencies will receive funding from the United Way of Auglaize County’s 2025 Support Campaign, with funding distribution beginning in July – and this year the agencies will receive what they asked for. Grant...
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Armstrong Museum Celebrates Successful Artemis II Launch With Launch Party
The Armstrong Air and Space Museum celebrated the successful liftoff of NASA’S Artemis II mission with a launch party on Wednesday evening. The museum stayed open after hours to livestream the launch and allow people to learn from experts about how the...
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