Thursday, September 14th, 2006

Volunteers will seek funding for Bremen fitness center for public

By William Kincaid
NEW BREMEN - The New Bremen Vision Committee received a green light from the board of education Wednesday night to begin fund-raising for a proposed fitness center on school property.
Athletic Director Gary Jones and a group of interested citizens who organized the Vision Committee have said they want to raise funds to create an athletic facility that could be utilized by both students and the community.
After discussions with the board's attorney, a resolution was presented to the board to permit the construction of such a facility if funding is adequate. The resolution was passed unanimously Wednesday night.
Design plans for the proposed fitness center are being prepared by Freytag & Associates, Sidney. All construction funds raised by the committee will be turned over to the non-profit Cardinal Community Foundation, which will handle the construction.
The proposed 13,700-square-foot athletic training, office and storage facility must be built on school property, according to the resolution. Board members said there are a greater numbers of students participating in intramurals and interscholastic athletics, in addition to an increased emphasis on the school's physical education program.
There is no space currently available at the existing school to accommodate a fitness center, board members said.
Once the total projected cost of the fitness center - which was not stated by either the board, administration or Vision Committee - is pledged and confirmed, the Cardinal Community Foundation will be permitted access to the school's property for construction. Both the board and school, at that time, would be held harmless from any injuries or loss of property during the construction.
"They certainly have our blessing," Superintendent Ann Harvey said. "It will be an exciting project."
Bert Fiser, a member of the Vision Committee, has said the facility will be entirely financed through donations. He added that many of the individuals who worked on the football field project would be involved again on this project.
Fiser said the facility would be located on the east parking lot of the high school. He added the committee - which has been organizing the project for a year-and-a-half - spent four months evaluating and eliminating possible sites.
Though the preliminary plans are still quite tentative, he said the proposal now includes a 50-by-60-foot weight room and a 50-by-100-foot multi-space athletic room. The current weight room, according to Jones, is only 22-by-45 square feet. The building also would include a 180-foot-long hallway for sprint runners.
As the school athletic programs have attracted more students over the years, Jones said the current weight room has become inadequate for proper training and increasingly dangerous.
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Last week, the Celina football team got a break in the schedule and picked up its first win of the season in convincing fashion over Van Wert, 32-0.
Celina head coach Jerry Harris warns that the opponents facing his Bulldogs this week will certainly have a different look and feel to them. [More]
With the season roughly a third of the way through, conference chases begin to get revved up.
The featured game on the Midwest Athletic Conference schedule features Coldwater playing host to the Anna Rockets for the first-time in history. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
ST. MARYS - High school students may get more than a strike for their efforts this year if board members recognize bowling as a school sport.
Carl
Dean Jons, who admitted to breaking into four local businesses, received more than a sentence during a Wednesday morning appearance in Mercer County Common Pleas Court.
MARIA STEIN - Marion Local Schools board of education Monday night awarded bids to three area businesses to repair damage from an August storm.
Lightning scored a direct hit on the high school chimney Aug. 3, knocking a 20-foot crack in the structure and sending bricks flying against the roof.
A Celina man avoided prison but will spend up to six months at a community-based rehabilitation program.
Harrison Paul, 19, 2191/2 S. Ash St., stood before Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey Ingraham on Wednesday morning and stated his intention to lead a law-abiding life.
Both Fort Recovery Local Schools and Coldwater Exempted Village Schools are preparing to send some of their students to the National FFA Convention.
CHICKASAW - Village council in special session Wednesday night passed an emergency ordinance putting up for sale a 2.4-acre parcel of village land.
The land, on the northern tip of the village along Chickasaw Creek, has been a topic of discussion at several council meetings.
WAPAKONETA - Auglaize County election board office staff received 1.5 percent pay increases following an executive session at this week's regular board meeting.
Celina native performs with Boston-based metal-outfit
Laying down a pulsating base line with the Boston-based metal-outfit Cerebral, Celina-native Matt Speca performed before thousands of headbangers at the fifteenth annual Locobazzoka in Mansfield, Mass. last month.
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
St. Henry set a new record low for team scores on Wednesday as the Redskins shot a 211 against Minster at Arrowhead
7:30 p.m. Friday Skip Baughman Stadium
Highlights: The Auglaize County War has a battle to be reckoned with this season as both teams started strong out the gate.
Kevin Fell's Redskins are 3-0 and leading the WBL, although it was a defensive struggle last week with a 7-0 over Ottawa-Glandorf, the 200th win for Fell in his career.
7:30 p.m. Friday Barrenbrugge Athletic Complex
Highlights: After a stunning loss to Anna last week in which the Versailles defense gave up 500 yards of offense to the Rockets, the Tigers travel to Fort Recovery, a team Versailles has shut out the last two years by a margin of 102-0.
7:30 p.m. Friday Booster Field
Highlights: Both teams had nights they would rather forget a week ago. Parkway scored the first touchdown to take an early lead, but then gave up 43 straight points to lose to the Blue Jays.
7:30 p.m. Friday Cardinal Stadium
Highlights: St. Henry, the top team in The Associated Press state poll this week, shut out Marion Local last week 31-0 thanks to a potent passing attack to go with gripping defense.
7:30 p.m. Saturday Stadium Park, Delphos
Highlights: Both teams rebounded from tough week-two losses to get big wins. The Wildcats beat Fort Recovery 28-6 to go to 2-1 as the Blue Jays did likewise at Rockford in winning 43-7 over Parkway.