By JOE SHOUSE • Correspondent

ANTWERP – The Antwerp Local School board met on Thursday, April 18. Superintendent Pat Ross updated board members on the budget bill and the facilities management program and middle school/high school principal Mike Bute announced the implementation of a Junior High National Honor Society next year.

Am. Sub. H.B. 59 increases funding for schools, cuts income taxes, and begins to transform health care in Ohio

COLUMBUS—State Representative Tony Burkley (R-Payne) has announced that the Ohio House of Representatives has passed a comprehensive state operating budget that provides crucial assistance to schools and community programs, while at the same time reducing the burden on Ohio’s taxpayers.

VAN WERT – The Van Wert Master Gardeners will host an herb and perennial plant sale at the Van Wert County Fair Grounds, Junior Fair Building on April 27 starting at 8 a.m. The building is located right inside the fairgrounds, just off US 127 on the south side of Van Wert.

Quality culinary and aromatic herbs, and colorful varieties of perennial plants will be available for sale as well as pre-grouped herbal combinations that are ready to plant. Recipes for the herbs will also accompany the combinations. Micro-Greens are new for 2013. There will be plenty of additional gardening items for purchase. Pricing is very reasonable and Master Gardeners will be available to answer any questions.

There will be a special appearance by local freelance garden writer & photographer Kylee Baumle, who will be available to sign her newly released book titled Indoor Plant Decor. Learn about the benefits of adding living plants to the décor and how it pays off in enjoyment, pride of living space, and an increased sense of well being.

Baumle is a Master Gardener, author of the award-winning blog, Our Little Acre, and is a book reviewer for the blog, Gardening by the Book. She publishes regularly in Horticulture and Ohio Gardener magazines, and is the book review editor for Horticulture. Baumle is a member of the Garden Writers of America.

All proceeds from the sale will be used for civic beautification projects at the Garden of the Senses in downtown Van Wert and the Children’s Garden located at Smiley Park on the west side of Van Wert across from the airport.

For further information contact Curtis Young at the Van Wert County Extension Office, 419-238-1214.

WASHINGTON D.C. – Small businesses in 39 Ohio counties, will now have access to federal resources to offset losses as a result severe storms and winds that occurred between June 29 and July 2, 2012. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) encourages eligible entities to apply for assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in advance of the May 20, 2013 deadline for federal economic injury disaster loans. The loans are available for small businesses in Adams, Allen, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Champaign, Clark, Coshocton, Fairfield, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Knox, Lawrence, Licking, Logan, Meigs, Miami, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Putnam, Shelby, Van Wert, Vinton, Washington and Wyandot counties that faced an adverse economic impact because of the storms and winds.

“Ohio small business owners can now access resources needed to recover from last summer’s severe storms — which may have impacted their business through no fault of their own,” Brown said. “These loans will help businesses rebuild and get back on their feet.”

Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm and nonfarm entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of the weather. The loan amount can be up to $2 million with a three percent interest rate for non-profit organizations, four percent for small businesses, and terms up to 30 years, according to the SBA.

Disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from www.sba.gov.

Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. The deadline for loan applications is May 20, 2013.

BOWLING GREEN – As The Beach Boys mark more than a half century of making music, the group continues to ride the crest of a wave unequaled in America’s musical history. The Beach Boys have become synonymous with the California lifestyle and have become an American icon to a worldwide audience.

The Beach Boys will perform at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3 at the Wood County Fair in Bowling Green.

Ticket are on sale at the Wood County Fair Office, 13800 West Poe Road in Bowling Green. On-line ticket sales are available. Grandstand seats are $25, and track seating is $30 and $45. All seats reserved.

Black Swamp Conservancy invites the public to experience springtime in the Great Black Swamp at one of their wildflower walks on April 27 and May 4. Taking place on Conservancy protected properties; both events are free and open to the public.

The April 27 walk is being held at Forrest Woods Nature Preserve in Paulding County. Situated along Marie DeLarme Creek, a tributary of the Maumee River, the preserve is one of the finest remnants of the historic Great Black Swamp. Owned by the Conservancy, the 292-acre preserve is home to more than 30 rare, threatened and endangered species of plants and animal.

John Jaeger, former director of natural resources for Toledo Metroparks and Lloyd Jones, a retired biology professor from the University of Toledo will serve as guides.

New to the Conservancy in 2013, Huber Woods is the site of the May 4th event. Located in rural Pemberville, Huber Woods also retains many qualities of the Great Black Swamp. The property boasts six state-listed species including the Three-birds Orchid and the Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

Guided by landowners Robert Huber and Moira Von Stadden, both biology professors at Bowling Green State University, this tour will include a visit to the great blue heron rookery located on the property.

Both walks embark at 10 a.m. and will take place rain or shine.

Those interested in attending may RSVP and obtain directions by contacting the Conservancy at 419-872-5263, or by emailing sbrokamp@blackswamp.org.