PEMBERVILLE – It’s official … It is now "The Wood County Fair" instead of simply Wood
County Fair. The change was made at Thursday night’s meeting of the Senior Fair Board as members voted to
change the name of the annual summer gala held at the Wood County Fairgrounds.The biggest discussion
centered around the pronunciation of the additional word as "Thuh" or "Thee." While not
all the directors voted, there was no opposition to adding the word with no conclusive decision on the way
to say it. There was no explanation offered as to why "The" need for "The" extra word in
"The" fair’s name.The meeting also included the annual Christmas dinner party, It was held for the
first time at the Riverview Banquet Center in Pemberville.It was a festive atmosphere including the
announcement by the three Wood County Commissioners that they approved $15,500 in finances to tile the main
south parking lot for the fairgrounds to improve drainage. Jim Carter made the announcement with Doris
Herringshaw and Joel Kuhlman by his side.Other good news included King’s announcement that the fair earned
first place in the state for its new tri-fold promotion for the 2013 event. The award will be presented at
the annual convention next year.Board member Mike Trout also announced that the Ohio Pullers Club, which
holds tractor and truck pulls in nearly two dozen fairs, named the county fair as its "Pull Venue of
the Year."King also moved and it was passed to reinstate the annual presentation of the
"Presidents Award." The reintroduction of the award will allow directors to be recognized for
their dedication and service to the fair.Entertainment director, Dave Nietz, indicated there was not any
significant progress toward obtaining a concert act for the 2014 fair.Acting in his role as secretary, King
also announced that Congressman Bob Latta is assisting the board in ironing out a problem with the Internal
Revenue Service involving a $13,000 tax levy filed against the board’s bottom line.No sooner the positive
report on the Catch-a-pig sale results was given, to when there was the announcement that the Market Steer
ID day was set for earlier this morning.