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DAVE MOSIER/
independent editor
LIMA Former Van Wert resident and businesswoman Donna Grimm has been named one of the 12 recipients of the Lima area’s 2021 Jefferson Award. The award is given to those whose volunteer work and public service are above and beyond the norm.
Donna Grimm
Now living in Wapakoneta, Grimm and her husband, W.W. “Wally” Grimm, came to Van Wert in the 1970s when Mr. Grimm was named principal of Van Wert High School.
For 35 years, Donna was employed by Community Health Professionals, first as a nurse and then helping lead the company as CEO to an expansion that now includes offices in nine northwest/west central Ohio counties, a hospice center in Defiance, and three senior day care facilities.
Jefferson Awards: Grimm cares for those in need
Grimm
JEFFERSON AWARDS
Twelve area volunteers won local Jefferson Awards. Local sponsors include Husky Energy, Your Hometown Stations, The Lima News and United Way of Greater Lima. One winner, announced April 22 during a virtual event online, will represent the region in the national awards event.
WAPAKONETA Donna Grimm has a knack for seeing people in need.
Whether it’s helping the working with Cooperative Ministries of Van Wert on food banks, helping the Salvation Army or working with senior citizens, she’s always had the ability to see a need and help fill it.
VW independent/submitted information
The Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce recently completed its 2021 Annual Chamber Awards to recognize businesses based on performance, events and milestones in 2020.
“We are extremely happy with the amount of people who followed, liked, and commented about our recipients on our social media platforms,” said Chamber President/CEO Mark Verville. “The heavy snow we received the week of February 15 affected some of our scheduled pictures, but maybe people had a little extra time to scroll through Facebook to find us.”
2021 Chamber Award Series
2021 Ray Miller Award
The recipient of this award (has shown a strong commitment to the community through volunteer work, participation in community organizations and outstanding service to our community):
Van Wert independent
Local businessman and former two-term Van Wert mayor Don Farmer died Tuesday at a Fort Wayne, Indiana, hospice center. He was 82.
Former mayor Don Farmer during a Van Wert City Council meeting.
VW independent file photo
Farmer, a Pennsylvania native, later moved to California, where he graduated from Fresno High School and earned a business degree from Los Angeles State College.
He later moved to Van Wert, where he owned and operated Mac’s Delicatessen and The Paint Bucket, as well as PAVE Communications.
Farmer served two non-consecutive four-year terms as mayor, from 2004-2007 and from 2012-2015. He also served several terms on Van Wert City Council, representing the First and Second Wards and as an at-large councilman.