Area trapshooters excel at state event

How many events can you name that are celebrating a 131st anniversary? Not many, I would imagine. They have been playing for the Stanley Cup since 1893 (124 years). The World Series has been played since 1903 (114 years). The Indianapolis 500 began in 1911 (106 years). They started the Masters in 1934 (83 years). The first Super Bowl didn’t come along until 1967 (50 years).

Since 1886, the Ohio State Trapshooting Association has been holding its annual championship shoot. The event last month was the OSTA’s 131st. That’s quite an accomplishment, especially when you consider the Grand American is now 117 years old, starting in 1900.

The Ohio state shoot was held for many years at the ATA grounds in Vandalia but was forced to move when the ATA moved out of its “permanent home” in Vandalia in 2005 after 84 years. Although there was a bit of panic among the Ohio shooters for a short time, the Cardinal Center in Marengo came to the rescue. And now, some 11 years later, Cardinal Center has become one of the premium shooting centers in the world.

Two of the top winners in the June event were Xenia husband and wife shooters Roger and Betty Peterson.

By my count, Roger took home eight trophies and Betty won seven. They both won the High Over All and All-Around championships in their divisions.

Other multiple-event winners from this area include: Adam Bush, Xenia; Clifton Patten, Dayton; Bryce Havenar, Sidney; Dan Schock, Clayton; Rick Springer, Wapakoneta; and Andrew Bush, Xenia. Other area winners were: Dan Taviano, Sidney; William Monroe, Middletown; Britt Havenar, Sidney; Jared Meinzor, Hamilton; Gunnar Thompson, Middletown; Jim Harrod, New Knoxville; Ed Harruff, New Bremen; Randal Giessman, Troy; Garrett Schock, Riverside; and Dean Townsend, formerly of Eaton.

Upcoming trap events include the Mid-Summer Classic at Cardinal Center, Friday-July 23; Grand American in Sparta, Ill., Aug 2-12; Cardinal Classic, Aug. 15-20; Labor Day Invitational, Sept. 1-3 at Cardinal Center and Middletown Sportsmen’s Club Fall Festival, Sept. 21-24.

There

Safe boating:

were no Ohio boating fatalities over the busy July 4th weekend. Watercraft officers stopped 530 vessels for various violations of Ohio watercraft and local laws. They issued 51 citations and 370 boating safety warnings.

They also cited five boating under the influence (BUI) violations.

Ohio was part of Operation Dry Water, a national crackdown on people using alcohol while boating. Alcohol use while boating is the leading factor in boater deaths.

As part of an Eagle Scout project, new benches and tables have been built and installed at the Fallsville Wildlife Area archery range.

On target:

The upgrades to the range were completed by Eagle Scout candidate Clayton Snavely along with his troop and their families. The troop also stretched and tightened the existing burlap targets.

Additionally the flower beds were weeded and the split rail fence straightened. The troop finished by installing new bird houses on the split rail fence along the parking lot area.

Clayton is a student at Hillsboro High School and a member of Boy Scout Troop 6062.