Expect Single-Lane Delays on Route 224 Starting Monday
Kalida, OH · September 13, 2026
Lawn chairs are already claiming prime curbside spots ahead of this afternoon’s parade. Once the morning fog lifts, expect an unhurried, comfortable finish to the festival weekend.
The Lead
Drivers heading east toward Ottawa should build extra time into tomorrow morning’s commute as resurfacing crews take to U.S. Route 224. The Ohio Department of Transportation has scheduled the primary cross-county corridor for active daytime milling and paving Monday through Saturday, restricting traffic flow to alternating single-lane patterns directed by flaggers.
Because Route 224 serves as the main commuter spine linking both communities, queues are likely to stack up quickly during early morning and late afternoon drive times. State contractors plan to maintain one open lane at all times, but highway officials urge motorists to cut speeds and stay alert for paving equipment alongside live traffic. Additional road repairs kick off simultaneously along Route 65 near Road M and Route 224 near Gilboa. Flaggers take up their stations first thing Monday morning to steer eastbound and westbound travelers through the work zone.
Local Pulse
Grand Parade Steps Off This Afternoon Downtown Marching bands and community floats close out the annual weekend festival starting at 1:30 p.m. along Broad Street.
Wildcats Varsity Soccer Battles Rival Bluffton Pirates Kalida’s boys squad picked up early momentum with hard-fought tournament play before heading into this week’s conference slate.
Today's Outlook
- High 83°F · Low 65°F — Fog
- Early fog clears into a warm afternoon, perfect for watching the parade outdoors.
What's On Around Town
Findlay: Fall Model Train Show Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation (12505 County Road 99), 10:00 AM–3:00 PM Quarter-scale train rides and vintage railroad displays for all ages.
Pioneer Days Grand Parade Downtown Kalida, 1:30 PM Hundreds of marching units, floats, and bands line Broad Street.
RedFeather Live in Concert Pioneer Park, 6:00 PM High-energy rock and country covers wrap up the festival weekend.
Spotlight & Story
- Abraham Sarber
- Before the village had a courthouse, county government ran entirely out of Abraham Sarber’s frontier cabin. Appointed town director on May 5, 1834, Sarber platted the original 160-acre settlement and hosted Putnam County’s very first court sessions right by his family hearth.
Kalida Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.
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