Ownership change

Brian Mercer has been coming to work at Lee’s Ace Hardware since he was 17 — 27 years ago — but Monday was special because that’s the day Mercer, who has managed the store for the past eight years, became the official owner of the business. Here, former owner Lee Krendl (in bright blue shirt) congratulates Mercer, while family, friends, and store employees look on. Mercer said he doesn’t plan to change the name of the 35-year-old business, which has been in its present location since 1995. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)