It was in 1978, the Johnny Appleseed Park District only had two parks under their belt, Heritage and McLean Teddy Bear. The park district grew into a metropolitan district and now has 16 parks and is still growing. Park Director Kevin Haver was instrumental in the development and growth of the district over the last 4-decades. He has now decided to retire after 42 years and says he is leaving the park district in capable hands as the growth is not over and additional projects are on the horizon.

Tuesday evening the Ohio General Assembly passed a gas tax increase. Approved in the two-year transportation bill was a 10.5 cents a gallon gas tax increase and a 19 cents increase for diesel. The bill is estimated to generate about $865 million more a year. Included in the bill is that 55 percent will go to the state and 45 percent will go to local governments. Allen County Engineer, Brion Rhodes, said this is a great start for the state.