Members of the Lima Symphony Orchestra spent their day with LCC students to share their experiences as orchestral musicians and soloists. Students had the opportunity to ask the musicians questions and watch them perform as they learned about the realities and career opportunities inside the music industry.

Some local students took flight, as they learn a little more about drones thanks to Rhodes State College. The Rhodesology mini-camp Saturday morning focused on precision agriculture drones, similar to the ones that local professionals use in the fields.    The mini-camps are for kids second through seventh grade and are just a sample of the hands on activities that the students would do during the Rhodesology week long summer camps.  The students showed of their flying skills on drones that were more advanced than they are used to. 

Mayor Dean Meyer gave a state of the village address at the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce meeting. He talked about completing a strategic plan for Ottawa. The plan was put together by an outside company from recommendations from council members and residents. It will focus on public spaces, neighborhoods, streets, and trails for the next 5 to 10 years. He says it is good to have a plan moving forward.

It was distribution day at the Lima Salvation Army for its Christmas Assistance program. Bag after bag, actually more than 560 bags full of toys, being picked up to get wrapped and put under the tree for Christmas. The Salvation Army saw an increase in need this year and those getting the help are thankful.

ABATE is a biker organization dedicated to helping children in need. They teamed up with WOCAP to find families and distribute toys bought with the proceeds from their annual toy run back in September. P&G also donated cleaning supplies for parents to pick up along with the toys. While bikers were considered troublemakers a long time ago, nowadays many of them band together to support good causes.

There were more that presents being handed out at a Breakfast with Santa event Saturday morning.   The organization, Daddys at Work brought families over to their new home at Forest Park United Methodist Church. Thanks to a group of sponsors, the kids were able to have some pancakes and sausage, talk with Santa, and pick out a toy to take home. This is Daddys at Work first event at Forest Park, which shares the same mission of putting kids first.  But thanks to the collaboration with businesses, the kids were not the only ones to walk away with something new.

The Marine Corps Reserve, the Lima Salvation Army, and Tom Ahl Family of Dealerships loaded around $4,500 worth of donated toys that will reach approximately 1,300 local kids in time for Christmas morning. This is the 75th year that the Marine Corps Reserve has partnered with Toys for Tots and the 4th year they have partnered with Tom Ahl. Through each bicycle, teddy bear, or doll donated, all volunteers strive to give all kids a very, merry Christmas.

We want to thank everyone that stopped by the Allentown Rd. Wal-mart and donated to Truckload of Toys.  Because of your donations, we collected hundreds of toys that are going to help the Salvation Army give some area kids a better Christmas.   But if you would like to still donate to the Toys for Tots campaign, the drop off boxes around the area will be picked up the week of December 12th.  Last year, the Salvation Army gave presents to 1500 children and with every ones help we can make sure everyone has presents under the tree this year.  So, thanks again to Wal-mart and Kewpee Hamburgers for the coupons to help make our day a success.

This is the third year for the fairgrounds and Mercy Health to team up for the Bright Nights display. They have added about 40 new displays for people to check out, and half of them are thanks to small businesses and families in the area who put up $26,000 to include them on the drive-thru lights exhibit. With all the new displays, there is a revised route to make everything fit, and it will take about 25 minutes to see them all.

Naturalists from Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District had the children take on the role of being a deer or being a resource of water, food, or shelter. When there were not enough resources to sustain the deer - the deer perished and became resources.