The Van Wert County Courthouse

Tuesday, Mar. 19, 2024

The Van Wert High School Class of 1963 continues to have monthly get togethers. They recently met for lunch at Beer Barrel Pizza and Grill. Those attending were: Lois Harrow, Mike Long, Denny and Joan Wilhelm, Dave and Angie Watkins, Karen Gilliland, Karen Madison, Jim Brickner, Carol and Gary Mohr, and Bev and Gary Profit. The next gathering will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 8, at Pizza Hut in Van Wert. All classmates are welcome. Photo submitted

POSTED: 01/24/24 at 4:38 am. FILED UNDER: Lifestyles

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The Van Wert Area Retired Teachers Association will meet for a holiday luncheon program at 12 p.m. Friday, December 8, at Willow Bend Country Club.

The festive luncheon menu will include roast turkey with dressing, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, gelatin salad, dinner roll with butter, and a peppermint mousse dessert, along with coffee and tea. The meal cost is $11 per person and a reservation is required by 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 6. Meal reservations can be made by calling Jean Minnig at 419.203.0642 or by email, jaminnig@hotmail.com.

A Christmas message will be shared, followed by a brief business session. VWARTA dues of $10 can be paid at this meeting, if not already submitted. VWARTA members are requested to submit their volunteer hours total to this meeting for collection. STRS pension news will be shared along with other ORTA updates/business.

For more information on membership in the Ohio Retirement for Teachers (ORTA), or the local Van Wert Area Retired Teachers Association, contact Acting President Deb Kleinhenz at 419.203.2283.

POSTED: 12/02/23 at 12:04 am. FILED UNDER: Lifestyles, News

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Van Wert Area Retired Teachers Association (VWARTA) will host a fall luncheon and program at 12 p.m. Friday, October 20, at Willow Bend Country Club. Members are encouraged to attend as the group will welcome newly retired educators to the event. Local VWARTA dues of $10 for 2024 will be accepted at this meeting.

The luncheon menu includes meatloaf, potatoes, broccoli, Jello salad, dinner roll, and apple crisp, along with coffee or tea. The meal cost remains at $11 per person. Meal reservations can be made to Jean Minnig by 6 p.m. October 18, by calling 419.203.0642 or by email, jaminnig@hotmail.com.

The program topic will be alternative educational programs used by local educators as they strive to meet the needs of nontraditional learners. The featured speakers will be Rhonda Cunningham, Director of the Van Wert School at The Goedde, along with Van Wert City Schools Assistant Superintendent Bob Priest. They will share the school mission and some of the strategies applied to helping their students to be successful learners.

A brief business session will follow the presentation including STRS pension updates and STRS board concerns.

For more information about the local Van Wert ORTA chapter (Ohio Retirement for Teachers Association), contact Deb Kleinhenz, Acting Van Wert President at 419.203.2283.

POSTED: 10/16/23 at 10:32 am. FILED UNDER: Lifestyles, News

VW independent staff/submitted information

Members of the Van Wert High School Class of 1963 met on Saturday, August 26, to celebrate their 60th reunion. The gathering was held at Willow Bend Country Club and 28 members and guests were able to attend.

Classmate Reverend Jim McDowell offered prayer which was followed by the evening meal. After dinner, sharing time started off with singing of the alma mater and the fight song led by Larry Schaufelberger.

Members of the VWHS Class of 1963 recently met at Willow Bend. Photo submitted

Information covering the outstanding life achievements of classmate Gary (Gerhardt) Zimmermann (who passed away June 10, 2023) was shared by Beverlee Profit.

Following his courageous comeback from polio at the age of seven, which caused paralyzation from the neck down, and through being involved with band in high school and college, Gary achieved his dream of becoming a symphony orchestra director. As Maestro Gerhardt Zimmermann, he directed symphony orchestras around the USA and the world. At the time of his death, he was the director of the Canton Symphony Orchestra where he had directed for over 20 years. He’d brought them to the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in 2017.

Upon his death, the Gerhardt Zimmermann Endowment Fund was set up by the Canton Symphony Orchestra. It will be used to support their MasterWorks Series. Class members and guests attending were given the opportunity to donate to this fund and they raised $650. Information on how to donate can be found at cantonsymphony.org.

Dave Watkins presented awards to Paul Herring who was the first to send in a reservation (and also, unfortunately the last to cancel) and to Linda Shimp who traveled the furthest (coming from Rio Vista, California). He also presented a floral arrangement he had brought for the memorial table to Beverlee Profit who headed up reunion planning. She extended her thanks to the monthly meeting group for their input and support.

Members in attendance spent the rest of the evening reliving special moments from school and catching up on years since.

POSTED: 09/10/23 at 9:39 am. FILED UNDER: Lifestyles

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ROCKFORD — The Parkway High School Class of 1966 is hosting an informal reunion from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, September 16, in the Community Room at Parkway High School. All class members are encouraged to attend. Refreshments will include finger foods and soft drinks.

Registration is $10 per person and checks should be sent to Dennis Hinkle, 9360 U.S. 127, Celina, 45822. The registration deadline is August 1.

For more information or any questions, contact Dennis or Lynn Hinkle at dlynnhinkle11@gmail.com, or Steve Graham at SGraham925@aol.com.

POSTED: 07/24/23 at 3:41 am. FILED UNDER: Lifestyles, News

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The Van Wert Area Retired Teachers Association (VWARTA) will meet for their summer luncheon program at 12 p.m. Friday, July 14, at Willow Bend Country Club.

Dr. Robin Rayfield, Executive Director of the Ohio Retirement for Teachers Association (ORTA), will be the featured speaker. He will share his candid perspective on some recent decisions and policies of the STRS Board, which manages the pension program for retired public school educators in Ohio. ORTA has concerns with several of the STRS Board practices and has been active in campaigning for reform-minded candidates for the STRS Board seats when open for election. Attendance at this luncheon meeting and program is encouraged for local ORTA members and for those yet-to-be members who are interested in the welfare of their pension program.

The summer luncheon meal cost is $11 per person. A meal reservation is needed by Wednesday, July 12. Reservations may be made with Deb Kleinhenz at 419.203.2283. The menu includes: BBQ chicken breast, redskin potatoes, apple coleslaw, Jello salad, ice cream sundae, plus iced tea or coffee.

A VWARTA business meeting will follow the speaker presentation. Members are asked to keep track of their ongoing volunteer hours.

POSTED: 07/07/23 at 8:28 pm. FILED UNDER: Lifestyles, News

VW independent staff/submitted information

ROCKFORD — The Parkway High School Class of 1968 will celebrate 55 years during a class reunion scheduled for Saturday, September 16. The reunion will be held at the building owned by the Jane (Stephenson) Suzuki family at 4301 U.S. 33, just outside Rockford.

Social time will start at 2 p.m., followed by a buffet dinner at 5 p.m. Rockford Carryout will cater the meal. A short business meeting will be held at 6 p.m., followed by more fellowship until 9 p.m.

The cost is $20 per person, which covers expenses for the meal, stamps, paper, event space, and memorial cardsvfor when a classmate passes on.
Reservations are due by July 1, and should be sent to: Sherry Adler, 310 Frank Road, Willshire, 45898. In addition, donations will be accepted for the Carey, Benny, and Bill Scholarship Fund.

POSTED: 05/30/23 at 3:44 am. FILED UNDER: Lifestyles, News

VW independent staff/submitted information

The Van Wert Area Retired Teachers Association (VWARTA) will meet for their spring luncheon program on Friday, April 14, at Willow Bend Country Club.

The luncheon includes chicken breast supreme, redskin potatoes, green beans, Jello salad, dinner roll and dessert, along with coffee/ice tea. The meal cost is $11 per person with a reservation needed by Wednesday, April 12, to Jean Minnig (please leave a message, if no answer, at 419.203.0642, or via email at jaminnig@hotmail.com).

Dr. Jon Tomlinson, Van Wert Campus Dean of Northwest State Community College, will be the featured speaker. He will share the NSCC mission and the educational programs being offered by Northwest State Community College for what is currently needed/desired in the local area.

A business session will follow the speaker’s presentation. Pension updates and STRS news will be shared as well as local concerns including officer positions. Invite other retired educators to join the luncheon program.

For more information about the Van Wert Area Retired Teachers Association (VWARTA) or the Ohio Retirement for Teachers Association (ORTA), please contact VWARTA Acting President Deb Kleinhenz at 419.203.2283.

POSTED: 04/05/23 at 3:40 am. FILED UNDER: Lifestyles, News

VW independent staff/submitted information

OHIO CITY — The 127th annual Ohio City-Liberty Alumni meeting will be held on Saturday, May 20, at the Ohio City Community Building at Fireman’s Park on Ohio 118. The doors will open for sign-in at 3 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 3:30 p.m. There will be a business meeting, entertainment and meal.

All Ohio City-Liberty graduates will receive an invitation in the mail in early April. The committee also extends an invitation to those who attended Ohio City-Liberty but did not graduate from there plus any former administrators or teachers.

Reservations of $20 per person must be sent by May 10, along with the name, year of graduation and e-mail address to Mary Johns-Guthrie, 509 S. Tyler St, Van Wert, 45891.

POSTED: 03/27/23 at 3:38 am. FILED UNDER: Lifestyles, News

Submitted information

The Van Wert Area Retired Teachers Association (VWARTA) will meet for a holiday luncheon and program at 12 p.m. Friday, December 9, at Willow Bend Country Club.

Holiday music will fill the air in the lovely dining room. The festive meal menu includes lasagna, tossed salad, dinner roll, rosy applesauce, and assorted cheesecakes, plus coffee and tea. The meal cost is $11 per person with a reservation requested by 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 7, to Jean Minnig at 419.203.0642, or via email, jaminnig@hotmail.com.

Kevin Morrison and staff of the Van Wert County YMCA will speak on the new after school mentoring program to begin in 2023 as they continue the Y’s mission of assisting today’s youth with various life needs.

A business session will follow the speakers’ presentation. An election for new officers for 2023 will be held. VWARTA local dues for 2023 of $10 may also be paid at this meeting. Pension updates and STRS news will be shared. Invite other retired educators or persons interested in public education to join you for this holiday gathering.

For more information about the Van Wert Area Retired Teachers Association (VWARTA) or the Ohio Retired Teachers Association (ORTA), please contact VWARTA President Deb Kleinhenz at 419.203.2283.

POSTED: 12/02/22 at 11:20 pm. FILED UNDER: Lifestyles, News