The heavy door closes with a clank, leaving freedom and creature comforts on the other side for 24 people chosen as practice inmates at the new Mercer County Adult Detention Center. "You come to jail with nothing we don't provid . . .

Ella Mae Gaier, 92, 6395 Barhorst Pleiman Road, Minster, died at 4:45 p.m. Feb. 5, 2010, at her residence. She was born April 20, 1917, in St. Henry to Anthony and Regina Stammen Bernard. She was first married in 1940 to Sylvest . . .

Robert Heinrichs, 81, 706 Eden Ave., Coldwater, died at midnight on Feb. 7, 2010, at his residence. He was born Dec. 30, 1928, in Burkettsville to William and Ida Kothman Heinrichs. On Nov. 15, 1952, he married Lucille Wenning, . . .

Roy L. Kantner, 89, Wapakoneta, died at 8:45 a.m. Feb. 7, 2010, at Wapakoneta Manor. He was born April 10, 1920, in Auglaize County to Louis and Ida Derringer Kantner. On Nov. 15, 1945, he married Lois M. Henderson, who survives . . .

Former New Bremen resident Louise M. J. Schwartz, 88, died at 3:05 p.m. Feb. 5, 2010, at Otterbein St. Marys Retirement Community. She was born Sept. 12, 1921, in Maria Stein, to Henry John and Magdalena F. Hoelscher Rutschillin . . .

Hilda M. Sommer, 93, 01229 Minster Fort Recovery Road, Minster, died at 3:45 p.m. Feb. 6, 2010, at Heritage Manor in Minster, following a lengthy illness. She was born April 9, 1916, in Celina, to Charles and Caroline Stukenborg . . .