Sunday ceremony to honor 2010's outstanding citizens of Wood County

6/9/2010
BLADE STAFF

BOWLING GREEN - Spirit of Wood County Awards will be presented by Wood County Commissioners Jim Carter, Tim Brown, and Alvin Perkins to the 2010 recipients during a special ceremony at 2 p.m. Sunday.

The ceremony, which is open to the public, will be at the Wood County Historical Center, 13660 County Home Rd. in Center Township.

Spirit of Wood County Awards, presented in conjunction with Wood County Heritage Days, recognize citizens who show outstanding qualities in bettering the county as a whole.

The 2010 Spirit of Wood County award recipients, by category, are:

•Jayne Roth of Plain Township, Agricultural Leadership.

•Harold Bower of North Baltimore, Education for Civic Responsibility.

•Bernard Murphy of Perrysburg, Industrial/Economic Development.

•Raymond Fischer, formerly of Bowling Green, Liberty Through Law/Human Freedom.

•Mary K. Williams of Liberty Township, Religion and Liberty.

•Richard Edwards of Bowling Green, Self-Government.

•Edie Olds of Center Township, the Lyle R. Fletcher Good Citizenship Award.

County commissioners have been honoring outstanding citizens since 1987.

The presentations will be during Wood County Heritage Days, an event which celebrates the county's rich farm history.

Heritage Days will be at the Wood County Historical Museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There is no admission fee.

Attractions will include the Power of Yesteryear Club's Antique Farm & Tractor Show, featuring restored and unrestored tractors, gas engines, and farm equipment; a kiddie pedal pull and a tractor parade; swap meet, farm toy show, and tractor games for adults.

Life at the Home demonstrations will give visitors the chance to try their hand at daily chores, such as cultivating fields and cooking over an open fire.

Skilled demonstrations will include rope making, quilting, spinning, and corn milling.

Live animals, local music, and children's games also are included in the lineup.

Visitors can see a working oil derrick and blacksmith shop, and the museum will be open for tours.

On Saturday afternoon visitors can take lawn chairs and sit and listen to the Bowling Green Area Community Band with special guest Phil Cartwright on banjo at 3 p.m.

Highlights Sunday include the annual Wood County Historical Society barbecue fund-raiser starting at 11 a.m. featuring Harlan's barbecue chicken or pork chop meals served by county officials.

The barbecue will be in the pole barn near the tractor show until 2 p.m. or until sold out.

For more information, see woodcountyhistory.org or call 419-352-0967.

- Janet Romaker