Wapakoneta Daily News
A Piece Of Fryburg History Comes Home
On Sunday, Sept. 6, visitors to the Fryburg Homecoming will have a rare opportunity to bid on a painting by a man whose life and legacy are woven deeply into the history of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and the Fryburg community, Father...
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More Than A Service Dog: A Lifeline On Four Paws
To most people, a dog walking quietly beside its owner may simply look like a faithful companion. But look a little closer. That dog may be watching for a change no one else can see. It may be ready to alert others to a seizure, help keep a child from...
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Two Local Students Win Scholarships
The Wapakoneta Education Association would like to congratulate Kyle Schneider, pictured on the left, for winning the WEA Scholarship of $1,000. Kyle will be attending the University of Cincinnati majoring in Secondary Education (Math) this fall. The...
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Dulebohn: A Legacy Of Service
For someone living with a disability or PTSD, independence can mean something very different than it does to everyone else. A trip to the store, a peaceful night’s sleep, or simply feeling secure in public can be life- changing. Sometimes, that...
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St. Marys Board Makes Last Minute Moves For New School Year
The St. Marys Board of Education came together on Wednesday in order to conduct some last-minute business before the start of the new school year. With the St. Marys City Schools district set to have their first day of school on Aug. 19, that means...
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Auglaize County Residents Encouraged To Watch Out For Flooding
The past week or so has been a rough one for many within Midwest Ohio and around the area due to consistent storms, with Auglaize County being included in the chaos as well. While many local towns have been spared from the worst of it, Ohio has been...
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Ribbon Cutting Held For GL Pediatric Rehab Sensory Garden
While there did have to be a change in plans due to the weather, an official ribbon- cutting was held for the Sensory Garden for the Grand Lake Pediatric Rehab center. For those who aren’t familiar, the Grand Lake Pediatric Rehab center is one of many...
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Craig Morgan Concert Draws Huge Crowd To Auglaize County Fair
The 174th Auglaize County Fair wrapped up Saturday night with a successful concert featuring country music artist Craig Morgan, drawing over 2,500 people to the Auglaize County Fairgrounds in Wapakoneta. The concert capped off a busy week at the fair...
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Community Invited To Help Fill Backpacks For Local Students
As another school year approaches, churches and community organizations across Wapakoneta are joining together with one mission: to ensure every child begins the school year prepared, confident, and ready to learn. The annual Backpack Giveaway will be...
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Local Schools To Hold Orientation, Welcoming Programs For New Students
School is starting soon, and that usually means a scramble is being made to prepare for the new year, both by parents and students. Of course, the local schools are also planning to do some preparations of their own, especially when it comes to...
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Bryson Cartwright And Sparkee Turn Special Invitation Into An Opportunity To Help Others
For Bryson Cartwright, raising and showing cattle has always been about more than ribbons and awards. It is about responsibility, family and the special bond that can form between a young exhibitor and an animal. Now, Bryson and his 1,469-pound Maine...
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Grand Lake St. Marys Conservation Efforts Take Different Turn
Grand Lake St. Marys is continuing to evolve, with State Park Manager Dave Faler reporting on some of the recent developments that have started in the local area. During a recent Lake Improvement Association meeting, Faler made sure to note some...
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New FLOCK Transparency Portal
Wapakoneta Police Lt. Pat Green presented a FLOCK transparency portal website to council monday and sought to dispel myths about the FLOCK camera system. Green explained how the police department has used flock to find vehicles in criminal justice...
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From The YMCA To The Mackinac Bridge: Ellen Hite Swims Her Way To A Life-changing Achievement
What began as a New Knoxville woman's decision to lose weight turned into an unforgettable journey across one of Michigan's most recognizable landmarks. For Ellen Hite, the annual Mackinac Bridge Swim wasn't even on her radar until July 2025. Just...
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Local students Discover History, Culture and Learning in New York City
For six WaynesfieldGoshen students, New York City became a classroom unlike any they had ever experienced. The sites and history behind the 911 attacks and the Statue of Liberty were all part of their tours. The four- day educational trip gave...
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August Features End-of-summer Events Before Fall Sets In
While the weather has yet to officially cool as of yet for Auglaize County, summer is coming to an end for many people as school is set to make a comeback and festivals are set to pause until fall foliage comes into play. Though that can mean fewer...
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Preparations Underway For The 174th Auglaize County Fair
As summer reaches its peak, excitement is building across Auglaize County as final preparations continue for the 174th Auglaize County Fair, set for August 2nd through the 8th. Fair Board members, volunteers, sponsors, exhibitors, and countless...
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Two More Must-see Shows Join the Niswonger’s Fall Lineup
The fall season at the Niswonger continues to grow with the addition of two exciting performances. From the timeless music of Fleetwood Mac to the honest, powerful storytelling of country star Ashley Mcbryde, these newly announced shows bring even more...
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Fair Board Meeting comes to a Decision
At the June Senior Fair Board meeting, a decision was made to utilize a portion of the north pony/ horse barn to house open cattle exhibitors during the 2026 Auglaize County Fair. This decision was made after reviewing exhibitor numbers and available...
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Levy Committee Prepares Talking Points
The Say Yes to Parks committee reviewed promotional materials and talking points as they pursue a levy Thursday as well as how to plan for pool needs which is not a part of levy asks. Two special Wapakoneta City Council meetings are planned for Monday...
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Veterans Banner Plan Approved By Council
At Wapakoneta city council on Monday, member Alex Greve reviewed a plan developed in a streets and alleys committee meeting outlining the process for the veteran banner project. The city will take on maintenance and installation of about 150 banners. A...
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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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