Business

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Citizens National Bank (CNB) has named Kathi Amstutz as AVP/Branch Operations Coordinator. She replaces Margaret Thompson who recently retired. In this role Kathi works with the offices and operations department to bridge communication and make workflows easier for the customers and employees. Amy Yochum, VP Operations, states, “The level of experience and knowledge of operations Kathi brought to the bank made it an easy transition. I’m excited to see how Kathi will increase efficiencies through her new role.”

Kathi has dedicated 25 years to the banking industry, beginning as a teller and taking on new roles through the years. “I believe this position is what I have been training for. I’ve had guidance and leadership from some amazing coworkers, supervisors and mentors and now I’m able to apply that to my role in training, making our employees more confident so they’re prepared to serve our customers.”

Kathi believes in community involvement and is currently the Treasurer for the Putnam County Cancer Assistance Program, Treasurer for the Pandora-Gilboa School Boosters, Secretary for the Challenged Champions Equestrian Center Board, President for the ADAMS Board of Putnam County, and a member of the Pandora-Gilboa School Board. She resides outside of Gilboa with her husband, Ryan, on their family farm. She has two children, Mikaylie and Brennen. She’s excited to be part of the Bluffton community and looks forward to enhancing the customer experience people expect from CNB.

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Everyone in Bluffton surely knows where the Bluffton Dari Freeze is (at the corner of Bentley and Main). Now travelers across the state have a handy map pointing them to the seasonal ice cream and food stand. 

On the State of Ohio Ice Cream Trail map, you’ll find the shop in the #7 slot – counterclockwise, it’s just next to Dietsch Brothers of Findlay. If you’re on I-75, you find the stand within view of exit 140.

Owner Kevin Tuttle says he has no idea how many out-of-towners are among his customers. But he is honored to be on the Ice Cream Trail and says it’s “cool” to be among the ice cream makers and retailers on the map.

Tuttle notes people are surprised that the small walk-up shop with outdoor tables provides an extensive menu of tenderloins, wraps and burgers, giving them a chance to have lunch or dinner with dessert.

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Northwest Ohio – Wildlife District Two 
In May and June, wildlife investigators and wildlife officers worked with K-9 units from across the state to enforce walleye regulations on Lake Erie. Investigators and officers made close to 800 compliance checks, looking for valid fishing licenses and ensuring harvested walleye fell within size and bag limits. K-9 units inspected vessels to check bag limits.

Over three days, officers detected numerous violations, including people fishing without a license and taking more than the legal bag limit of six walleye. K-9 units also spoke with hundreds of sportsmen and women to share information about the Ohio Division of Wildlife’s K-9 officer program. State Wildlife Officer Nathan Kaufmann, assigned to Richland County, and K-9 Officer May demonstrated how the canines work and find hidden fish.  

During the white bass run, State Wildlife Officer Charles McMullen, assigned to Sandusky County, and State Wildlife Officer Ryan Burke, assigned to Hancock County, discovered a boat experiencing motor failure on the Sandusky River. The officers towed the four stranded anglers to Riverfront Marina in Fremont where the vessel had put in. The fishermen were happy to be safely assisted to shore.  

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By Nic Baumer, OSU Extension-Allen County

The Ohio State University at Lima will host a Drainage Installation Field Day on the campus farm on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Field demonstrations by the Ohio Land Improvement Contractors of America, or OLICA, will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will continue in an open-house-style format throughout the day. The event is free and open to the public. Parking will be available off Thayer Road. Maps of the campus with parking and registration areas marked are available as part of the registration process.

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Ohio’s 2023 winter wheat production is forecast at 41.8 million bushels, according to Ben Torrance, State Statistician, USDA NASS, Ohio Field Office. This report is based on conditions as of July 1, 2023. Some highlights of the Crop  Production Report follow:

The Ohio winter wheat yield is forecast at 76 bushels per acre, down 3 bushels from last year and unchanged from last  month’s forecast. As of July 2, five percent of the crop was harvested. The crop condition was rated 63 percent good to  excellent, compared with 57 percent at the same time last year.  

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The 2023 planting season in Ohio began slowly due to  cold, wet conditions in early April, but dryer conditions  later in the month allowed producers to proceed with  plantings. May followed a similar story, with bleak  conditions early in the month giving way to more favorable  ones. By late May, crop emergence was ahead of the 5-year average, although abnormally dry conditions presented  potential difficulties for growers in much of the state. 

Ohio field crop producers planted more acres of corn in 2023 than they did in 2022. Highlights of the 2023 June  Acreage report follow: 

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