The Delphos Area Art Guild will present two musical camps in July.

There are only 15 spots available in each class.

Guitar camp will be held July 8-11 in morning and afternoon sessions.

This camp is for aspiring rockers and musicians who will work together in daily group lessons and workshops. Students will learn the basic fundamentals of the guitar. Campers will learn at least one song by weeks end.

Instructor Tim Zerkel began playing when he was 14 and studied at Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, W.Va.; studied under the late George Ogg and graduated from the Robert Venn School of Luthiery in Phoenix.

Vocal and Performance camp will be held July 15-18 in morning and afternoon sessions.

At DAAG, Aebker Summer will provide a positive, judgment free environment where kids can be with other peers with the same interests. She will work with your children building skills using songs they love and create a fun camp memory.

Aebker is a Lecturer of Music at Ohio Northern University. Currently based in her hometown of Lima, Aebker is also a highly sought-after private voice instructor and vocal coach.

Please register ahead by calling 419-741-4118 or visit delphosartguild.com.

By LISA CORNWELL

Associated Press

CINCINNATI — Time is running out for eligible military veterans to claim Ohio bonuses of up to $1,500, and officials are worried that thousands of veterans may miss out by not applying.

Navy veteran Robert Erb III describes his bonus for service in the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan war eras as a “real blessing” for him and his family.

“You don’t join for the benefits, but they can really help when you come back home,” said Erb, 41, of northeast Ohio’s Fairport Harbor.

Ohio voters in 2009 approved a $200 million bond issue to fund bonuses for veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq war eras, and the Persian Gulf-era application deadline is Dec. 31.

While over $55.7 million has been paid to more than 66,000 veterans or family members for all three bonus periods since August 2010, there could be as many as 90,000 who haven’t applied, including probably several thousand from the Persian Gulf era, according to the Ohio Department of Veterans Services.

“Our Persian Gulf-era veterans need to take action right away,” department Director Tom Moe said.

While about 10,000 veterans from that era have received bonuses, officials can’t say how many still need to apply, department spokesman Michael McKinney said.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates just over 100,000 Ohioans served during the Persian Gulf era. But the VA looks at a longer time period than the bonus period and state and county officials say they don’t get general information from the Department of Defense on returning veterans and when they served.

The VA estimates that 75,000 to 80,000 Ohioans have served since 9/11.

State officials and county veterans commissions that help with the applications have worked to provide bonus information through traditional media ads, social media, veterans events and other means. The state last week approved a direct mailing to Ohioans with birthdays from 1950 or later who identify themselves as veterans on driver’s license renewals, McKinney said.

But officials know they haven’t reached everyone.

The executive director of the Cuyahoga County Veterans Service Commission in northeast Ohio says veterans tend to put more weight on “what they hear from fellow veterans.”

“Despite all we do to get the word out, most tell us: ‘My buddy told me,”’ Robert Schloendorn said.

The executive director of the Butler County Veterans Service Commission in southwest Ohio believes some may be reluctant because “they think it’s a handout.”

“It’s not a handout,” Executive Director Curtis McPherson said. “It’s a thank you they earned for serving their country.”

Eligible veterans must have been Ohio residents when entering the service and when applying for bonuses. They also must have served at least 90 days of active duty — excluding training — in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Ohio National Guard or reserves.

Persian Gulf-era bonuses require service sometime from Aug. 2, 1990, through March 3, 1991. The Iraq-era time is March 19, 2003, through Dec. 31, 2011, with a Dec. 31, 2014, application deadline. The Afghanistan eligibility period covers Oct. 7, 2001, to an end time yet to be determined until the conflict’s official conclusion.

Bonuses are open to all eligible Ohio veterans for the compensated periods, regardless of where they served, though those serving in specified war zones would receive higher ones. Family members of those killed in action or who died from injuries or disease resulting from service in specified war zones could receive up to $6,500.

Army veteran Matt Jones, 31, of Hamilton in Butler County, says his bonus for serving in Iraq was a big help in paying bills and wants other veterans to know “it can only help.”

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VAN WERT — Recently nine athletes from the Van Wert County Special Olympics competed in Area 3 Bocce Tournament held on the Bocce court at the Thomas Edison Workshop. The coaches were Lisa Cox and Patti Cox.

The results are as follows: Gold medal - John Cox and Michele Lichtle, silver medal - Jill Krugh and Carolyn Hartmann, and bronze medal - Jackie Worthington and Laura Johnson, Nickie Recker and Niki Orskog and Eddie Sanderson.

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ARCHBOLD – Fiber artists from throughout the region will be gathering at Sauder Village on Saturday, June 22 to share with guests their love of turning fibers into finished products. Visitors can watch as craftsmen demonstrate spinning, weaving, knitting, basket making, rug hooking and even try some of these fiber art activities. Guests will also have an opportunity to purchase supplies or hand-made items during the “Focus on Fiber Arts” event at Sauder Village.

“From shearing the sheep in the spring to spinning the wool and weaving it into cloth, years ago the process of making rugs, yarn and clothing involved a lot of work,” shared Kim Krieger, PR/media relations specialist. “We are thrilled to have so many talented fiber artists and vendors joining us again this year to share their talents with our guests at this special event!”

The Focus on Fiber Arts event takes an in-depth look at the world of fiber arts as craftsmen come together to share with guests their love of turning wool, cotton and flax into finished products. Visitors can watch as guest fiber artists join with Sauder Village’s spinners and weavers to conduct demonstrations in spinning, knitting, rug hooking, basket making and card weaving. Guests can also watch demonstrations of weaving, bobbin lace making, yarn dyeing with natural dyes, tatting, processing and spinning flax and more!

Again this year, guests will have an opportunity to get involved with the fiber arts activities. Throughout the day guests can weave on a floor loom, try bobbin lace making, card wool, try drop spindle spinning and pet an Angora rabbit! Guests will also be given a “passport” that they can get stamped at select fiber art locations throughout the Historic Village to be entered in a drawing for Sauder Village door prizes.

Fiber arts vendors will also have many unique items for sale. Vendors will be selling wooden textile tools, raw fleece, handspun art yarns, hand-dyed yarns, batts, millspun yarns, spinning wheels and spindles. There will also be hand-woven scarves, knitting and crocheting yarns and supplies, handmade pottery yarn bowls, dyes, tatted doilies and other hand-knitted items for sale.

Other upcoming Sauder Village events include an Old-Fashioned Fourth of July event on July 4 featuring a U.S. District Court Naturalization Ceremony, Fiddle Contest and Summer on the Farm on July 6 and Preserving Our Memories on July 13.

Historic Sauder Village is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and each Sunday afternoon from noon-4 p.m. The village is closed on Mondays, except holidays. Admission is $15 for adults and $8 for students ages 6-16. Children 5 and under are free with family and Sauder Village members receive free admission to the village for an entire year. Senior, Military and AAA discounts are also available. And again this year, children 16 and under are free every Sunday this season – even for the concert!

For more information phone 1-800-590-9755, visit www.saudervillage.org, like Sauder Village on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @SauderVillage.

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The Friends of Camp Palmer are sponsoring a drawing for a new pool. Each 4-H camp week throughout the summer, there will be a drawing for a $500 winner at lunch time of the first full day of camp. The first drawing took place on June 13, during Fulton County 4-H Camp. Other drawing dates are noon on June 18, June 22, June 27, July 1, July 6, July 10, July 15, July 19. The drawings will be videotaped and the videos will be placed on the Camp Palmer Facebook page.

Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams and Wood County 4-H are selling tickets and Friends of Camp Palmer have extra to sell. You can also call 4-H Camp Palmer at (419) 237-2247 to buy tickets. You must be 18 years of age to participate and you do not need to be present to win.

Plans for state permit for the new camp pool are being finalized. The new pool will be built by 2014 or 2015.