Augusta Strawberry Festival parade winners announced

Thirty-six units took part June 12 as the Augusta Volunteer Fire Department hosted the two-day festival in Augusta

Workers ride on a flatbed trailer being towed along a street past houses and parked vehicles.

Members of the 2026 Carroll County Junior Fair royalty ride through Augusta during the Augusta Strawberry Festival parade Friday evening. A total of 36 units participated in the parade.

Don Rutledge

Published June 13, 2026 - 12:08 p.m.

A total of 36 units took part in the Augusta Strawberry Festival parade June 12.

Balmy June weather prevailed for the two-day event, which included tractor pulls, games, food and strawberries. The event was sponsored by the Augusta Volunteer Fire Department.

Winners in the nine parade judging categories were:

Best appearing antique vehicle: Rick McNinch

Best appearing tractor: Linda Massay and Shadow

Best appearing engine: Hanover Township Fire Department

Best appearing equine unit: Bobbi Jo and Bella Lovejoy

Best appearing float: Augusta Community Church

Judges’ choice: 2026 Carroll County Junior Fair royalty

Oldest fire truck: Minerva Fire Department

Longest distance traveled: Scio Fire Department

Best appearing 4x4 grass unit: Hanover Township Fire Department

A green vintage tractor with red wheels passes people standing along a street during a community parade. — Augusta Township resident Linda Massay and her dog, Shadow, make their annual appearance in the Augusta Strawberry Festival parade on a tractor.

Orange tractor grading a dirt track with people watching from the sides. — One of the competitors in the June 12 tractor pull was Gage Thompson of Carrollton, who competed in the 4,000-pound weight class.

Judges included James Wolford of the Dellroy Volunteer Fire Department and Tonya Hawk, representing the Augusta Township trustees. Mike Schnell served as announcer.

Stone statue of a football player on a brick pedestal in a park near trees and buildings.

Statue honors Magnolia native and NFL champion Vincent Costello

New memorial recognizes Costello's athletic achievements and lifelong ties to Magnolia

Carroll County offices move to annex

Board of Elections, Job and Family Services, child support and EMA are now at 207 Moody Ave. SW as two former office buildings head to auction July 29

Minerva golfer qualifies for U.S. Senior Open

Carroll Meadows pro Paul Wackerly earned one of 156 spots in the July 2-5 championship at Scioto Country Club in Columbus

Smiling woman seated at a table with papers in front of a wooden wall.

Leesville council completes sinkhole repair

Mayor Mara Malterer said the West Green Street project came in under budget as council also backed cameras for recycling bin violations

View Community Calendar

Find us on Facebook

The Free Press Standard

THE LATEST

Local

Brick entrance sign reading Welcome to Minerva Est. 1833 beside a road.

Minerva launches village emergency alert system

Residents can sign up for text and email notices about severe weather, road closures and utility issues

Small building with a mural, fenced yard, red fire hydrant, and American flag on a pole.

Carroll County gets $63,000 for dog park

State capital budget funds a new park behind the county dog pound with separate fenced areas, shelters and ADA-accessible features

Close-up of a printed map showing Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

Ohio House advances river restoration resolution

The measure urges Congress to create a federal Ohio River Basin program affecting Carroll County and now heads to the Ohio Senate

4-way stop goes into effect June 15 at state Route 171-Avalon Road

The new four-way stop is part of the Ohio Department of Transportation's effort to improve safety at select intersections statewide

Three officials seated at a conference table reviewing documents in a meeting room.

Carroll commissioners discuss cybersecurity planning for annex building

New quick-action guides will include cyber incident response and evacuation procedures

Covered front porch with chairs, tables, and wooden flower planters; a person stands near the doorway.

Commissioners rescind county home levy resolution

Board seeks alternatives before asking voters for additional funding

Covered outdoor seating area in a courtyard with people seated, green grass, and brick buildings in the background.

Commissioners receive monthly updates from county departments

Faulk announces activity department changes; transit continues seeking drivers

Sports

Baseball pitcher in a red jersey winds up and throws from the mound on a field.

Minerva’s magical run ends at regional semis

While the baseball team was wrapping up a historic season, Minerva's track and field athletes were busy competing against the best athletes in Ohio

Malvern Hornets wrestling team in black uniforms posing together.

Malvern athletes compete at OHSAA state track and field meet

While no gold medals made the trip back to Malvern, the Hornets still turned in a strong showing against the best athletes Ohio had to offer

Baseball team in uniforms on red bleachers.

Minerva baseball wins first district title, track athletes qualify for state

The Lions brought home the first district baseball championship in program history and sent a caravan of athletes to the state track meet

Baseball batter swinging as catcher crouches behind home plate in a stadium.

Carrollton baseball falls in pitchers’ duel

Warriors track athletes posted strong regional performances

Track athletes sprinting from the starting line during a relay race.

Malvern track team rewrites record book

It is safe to say the Hornets earned that extra week

Minerva packs big week into baseball, track postseason

Hoffee sets oval ablaze as Minerva wins district title, Lions savage Panthers in tourney play

A baseball player in blue slides into second base while a player in white tags him out.

Malvern baseball captures first sectional title since 2009

Malvern traveled to Zanesville as the road dog May 20 and knocked off No. 2 seed Bishop Rosecrans 4-2 in a Division VII East 1 sectional final

Public Record

Two people standing side by side in front of a blue Southern Local backdrop with repeated logos.

Southern Local appoints Mary Alice Sigler

The board named the former Southern Local administrator interim superintendent Tuesday before her three-year contract begins in August

Barnett completes Army War College seminar

Carroll County prosecutor Steven D. Barnett joined about 160 civilian leaders at the invitation-only program June 4 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Red barn-style building behind a chain-link fence with a gravel lot and an orange vehicle at right.

Carrollton council authorizes purchase agreement for school bus garage

Village solicitor directed to prepare $300,000 agreement for former school property

Judge’s gavel on books next to scales of justice.

Indictments returned by Carroll grand jury

Arraignments for those indicted are scheduled for June 18 beginning at 8:30 a.m. before Carroll County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael V. Repella II

Carroll Board of Elections reorganizes

A new member has joined the Carroll County Board of Elections, and a new chairman has been elected

New chairman leads Carroll County Democratic Party

Dave Devey of Carrollton succeeds Tom Postlethwait, who served as party chairman since 2022

Students seated in an auditorium during a public forum.

Supreme Court of Ohio visits Carrollton schools for off-site session

Students from area districts observe oral arguments during off-site visit

Life and Learning

Augusta Strawberry Festival parade winners announced

Thirty-six units took part June 12 as the Augusta Volunteer Fire Department hosted the two-day festival in Augusta

Smiling woman in a hospital bed holds up her hand with blue nail polish.

Benefit set June 20 for Tiffany Crable

The Carrollton Eagles event will raise money for the Carroll County Auditor’s Office employee as she continues breast cancer treatment

Several people drive go-karts down a brick street past crowds sitting and standing along the sidewalk.

Minerva homecoming opens with parade, festival

The 103rd annual event was June 10-13 at Municipal Park with entertainment, contests, rides and vendors

Carroll County Fair presale ends July 19

Tickets cost $12.50 and include admission, most rides and grandstand entertainment for the July 20-26 fair

Three people standing together indoors, smiling at the camera.

Carrollton Rotary hears overseas work experiences

Blake Porterfield spoke June 9 about teaching in Vietnam and working in Mexico and Jordan while St. Clairsville Rotarians visited the club

Smiling woman standing in front of a bookshelf filled with books.

Clever Quill plans Carrollton summer book events

The bookstore will host an audiobook crawl June 27 and a fantasy-themed festival July 11 to promote reading and support local businesses

Round hay bales in a green field with trees and hills behind them.

OSU Extension sets hay testing deadline

Ohio producers can submit dry hay or baleage samples by July 30 as wet weather continues to challenge forage quality

Columns and Opinion

Obituaries

Portrait of an older woman wearing glasses and hoop earrings indoors.

Augusta Strawberry Festival parade winners announced

Statue honors Magnolia native and NFL champion Vincent Costello

Carroll County offices move to annex

Minerva golfer qualifies for U.S. Senior Open

Leesville council completes sinkhole repair

THE LATEST

Augusta Strawberry Festival parade winners announced

Benefit set June 20 for Tiffany Crable

Minerva launches village emergency alert system

Minerva homecoming opens with parade, festival

Statue honors Magnolia native and NFL champion Vincent Costello

Minerva launches village emergency alert system

Carroll County gets $63,000 for dog park

Ohio House advances river restoration resolution

4-way stop goes into effect June 15 at state Route 171-Avalon Road

Carroll commissioners discuss cybersecurity planning for annex building

Commissioners rescind county home levy resolution

Commissioners receive monthly updates from county departments

Minerva’s magical run ends at regional semis

Malvern athletes compete at OHSAA state track and field meet

Minerva baseball wins first district title, track athletes qualify for state

Carrollton baseball falls in pitchers’ duel

Malvern track team rewrites record book

Minerva packs big week into baseball, track postseason

Malvern baseball captures first sectional title since 2009

Southern Local appoints Mary Alice Sigler

Barnett completes Army War College seminar

Carrollton council authorizes purchase agreement for school bus garage

Indictments returned by Carroll grand jury

Carroll Board of Elections reorganizes

New chairman leads Carroll County Democratic Party

Supreme Court of Ohio visits Carrollton schools for off-site session

Augusta Strawberry Festival parade winners announced

Benefit set June 20 for Tiffany Crable

Minerva homecoming opens with parade, festival

Carroll County Fair presale ends July 19

Carrollton Rotary hears overseas work experiences

Clever Quill plans Carrollton summer book events

OSU Extension sets hay testing deadline

Pastor's Pen

Decision begins discipleship with Jesus

Look at the Past

Main Street building anchored Holloway commerce

Good News

Fight the good fight in faith

Savvy Senior

Senior travel discounts: How to save on your next trip

Life Lines

It's not too late to make a patriotic suggestion

Off the Top of My Head

Corn on the cob: The great equalizer

Drawing Laughter

Love is patient and wears spring colors

Rep. Hiner champions regional projects, votes in support of capital budget bill

Housebroken

New homes come with plenty of boxes

Your OSU Extension Edge

Producers urged to watch livestock for ticks

Paula M. Brown

Mary Jo Hardman

Dana Sue Yoder

Rita Kay Roach

Richard Niemiec

Mike Thurston

Driver ed scholarships open in East Ohio

Carroll lodge sets youth fishing derby

Minerva school plans 60th anniversary worship

Minerva Chamber honors businesses, community leader at annual awards dinner

Minerva Chamber to host stargazing night at Great Trail Golf Course

MWCD offers cover crop assistance to Carroll farmers

Carroll County Chamber of Commerce honors businesses, organizations at annual banquet

Carrollton graduate retires after Denison career

Malvern Historical Society hosts local historian Doug Angeloni

Road will be open for Fox Twp. homecoming

Carroll County Republican Party officers remain the same

SR 39 between Mechanicstown and Salineville closed for 75 days

Carrollton Civic Club planning July 4th parade for America 250