Friday, August 15th, 2014

County seeks to lend funds for new Celina restaurant, factory in St. Henry

By Shelley Grieshop
CELINA - Mercer County Commissioners on Thursday took action on proposed revolving loans to help establish a new restaurant in Celina and a manufacturing business in St. Henry.
Commissioners agreed to notify the public of their intent to request $100,000 in Community Development Block Grants to loan to Good Food Inc. for a fast-food style restaurant to be built at 911 E. Wayne St., the site of a former roller rink.
Public input is requested in writing by 4 p.m. Aug. 29 at the commissioner's office, 220 W. Livingston St., Room A201, Celina.
The loan will help Good Food Inc. buy the 2.3940-acre property, construct a building and buy equipment. The total project cost is $1.25 million. The company also will obtain $880,000 from a private lender and use $270,000 in equity, per the loan agreement.
Good Food Inc. is located at 1662 W. Breese Road, Lima, the site of a Happy Daz restaurant. The company also operates a Happy Daz in Wapakoneta, and several Beer Barrel Pizza & Grill restaurants in the area, including one in St. Marys.
Local officials could not confirm the name of the restaurant to be built in Celina.
Commissioners also on Thursday set 1:30 p.m. Aug. 26 to hear public input on a plan to loan $250,000 to CKRNB Holdings for the purchase of 1.8550 acres of land and a building at 782 Lachey Drive, St. Henry. 
The owner of the property, Homer Stachler, plans to sell it to CKRNB Holdings; the owner(s) of the company are not identified in loan documents.
According to the written proposal, CKRNB will continue leasing a portion of the building to Aramark Uniform Services, and lease the remaining area to ITR Manufacturing.
ITR must create 12 full-time equivalent manufacturing/assembly jobs under the loan's requirements.
CKRNB Holdings' total project cost is $865,000. The company will also obtain $439,000 from a private lender and $176,000 in equity, under the loan contract.
Additional online story on this date
FORT RECOVERY - Cooper Farms has completed its acquisition of Fort Recovery Equity Exchange, a member-owned cooperative that produces eggs and pullets (young chickens) in Fort Recovery. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Local farmers can apply for funds to begin conservation practices to reduce harmful algae blooms in Lake Erie.
The funds are available through the Lake Erie Nutrient Reduction Program that was signed into law this year by Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
CELINA - Cool temperatures and sunshine filled most days at this year's Mercer County Fair, resulting in near-record attendance.
The 162nd Mercer County Fair closed Thursday with attendance up every day except Monday, Tuesday and Saturday, fair director Cara Muhlenkamp said.
CELINA - Sources Community Network Services board members are tying up financial, legal and regulatory loose ends before handing power over to an outside agency.
The Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts has endorsed the Mercer County Soil and Water Conservation District's efforts to allow farmers to mow and/or harvest part of their filter strips as hay at a reduced soil rental rate.
NEW KNOXVILLE - Longtime Neil Armstrong Airport Manager Sean Stroh has resigned.
Auglaize County Commissioner Doug Spencer on Thursday said Stroh accepted a position at a private company and officially gave his notice late last week. Stroh has been with the county-owned airport for 15 years.
A Thursday morning ambulance call for a man who had reportedly overdosed led to a search warrant and the discovery of suspected heroin and marijuana.
CELINA - The 100 block of South Ash Street remained closed this morning as city officials dealt with additional gasoline seeping from the nearby Sunoco Gas Station.
Others not available for photos include:
  The reserve champion market dairy goat, shown by Washington Winners member Sam Phares, son of Kent and Barb, which sold for $350 to Woodlawn Rentals, LP Farms and State Rep. Jim Buchy.
Thursday's Area Roundup
Compiled by Colin Foster and Gary R. Rasberry
Fort Recovery had four strong rounds of golf in capturing the Lancer Boys Golf Invitational on Thursday at Hickory Sticks in Van Wert. The meet was postponed on Monday due to weather.