CAREY — Lois Kurtz recently celebrated 65 years of business at Kurtz Shoe Store. Kurtz’s father, Richard E. Kurtz, started the business in 1951, and Lois took over after his death in 1973.

Paul Wagner auctions off items for a crowd at the old M.J. Mugsy’s restaurant in downtown Upper Sandusky on Monday. The restaurant closed in January 2016 after 23 years in business.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Clouse Construction Corp., a general contractor in New Riegel, has reached the $35 million sales level with Butler Manufacturing, which provides design-build construction solutions and building technology to the nonresidential market.

A stretch of South Sandusky Avenue now is Bess Blvd. After 11 years with a license to sell, Monica Bess opened her own brokerage last year. The former Upper Sandusky Area Chamber of Commerce director celebrated her 40th birthday and the first spring in her new location at 233 S. Sandusky Ave. on Friday.

NEVADA — Bruce Samples, the owner of Nevada Country Market, is retiring after 48 years in the meat industry. The market is closing Friday. “The place is still for sale,” Samples said. Samples has owned the market on Nevada’s Main Street for the last eight years.

Pure Balance Massage and Nails offers the same services at big-city spas, with cozy comforts you can only find in a small town and prices to match. “The massages are wonderful. I’ve had manicures and pedicures and I was very pleased with those as well,” said Linda Smith of Upper Sandusky, who has been a regular customer at Pure Balance for nearly five years.

In nearly nine years, Brittiny Leeth has made an impression on her longtime employer. Now she’s stepping outside of Wyandot County.

The First Citizens National Bank has announced the addition of two employees. Tyler McEldowny has joined First Citizens Main Office’s banking team as assistant vice president/main office loan officer.

MOUNT BLANCHARD — The Riverdale Local School District Board of Education will meet in special session at 3 p.m. Wednesday for the selection of the superintendent. The meeting will be held in the high school cafeteria.

With a new production practice in place, Uni-Grip is eyeing improved future performance. The Upper Sandusky rubber and trim manufacturer unveiled its new salt bath rubber curing line during a meeting with several community members last week.