Another new business, Beyond Grateful Tumblers, Tees, & Custom Things, celebrated their opening with a ribbon cutting on Saturday morning, November 16 at 11 a.m. Located at 128 N Main Street, Swanton, this unique boutique offers an array of thoughtfully crafted, custom-made items perfect for gifting, home décor, and personal use.
Beyond Grateful invites the Swanton community and surrounding areas to explore a diverse collection of high-quality, handcrafted items that showcase artistic skill and creative flair. Discover their unique items including:
Gifts and Accessories: Stylish tumblers (for both hot and cold drinks), trendy and cozy clothing items, novelty and handmade gifts, personalized embroidered pieces, and custom keychains.
Home and Office Items: Elegant home goods, custom ink pens and stationery sets.
“We’re excited to welcome Beyond Grateful to Swanton’s bustling downtown,” said Delray E Busch, Executive Director of the Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce. “Their creativity and dedication to quality are sure to bring something special to our community. Customers will have the chance to shop for truly one-of-a-kind items while celebrating the newest addition to Swanton’s vibrant local business community.”
Store Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Sunday: Closed
Click on the link to access photos from the ribbon cutting. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Adam Mattin, the last of four boys from the Mattin family wrestling dynasty, has chosen Stanford University to continue his education and wrestling career beginning in the 2024-2025 academic school year. Adam, a two-time and current defending OHSAA State Champion, signed his National Letter of Intent last Friday afternoon in front of family, friends, current and formers coaches, and fellow students.
“We were very lucky to have Adam over the past three years. He’s done a lot of great things for the program. Obviously, a great wrestler and a great all-around kid to have. Stanford is getting the total package. They’re getting a great kid who is going to be good in the classroom and on the mat,” commented Delta wrestling coach Mark Nagel. “One of the things that is most impressive with Adam is, like last year, when we won our State Dual Championship, he’s a great leader for the team. It’s never been about all his individual success; it’s been about the team’s success as well.”
It always helps to have great DNA and wonderful role models that came before you. Not only did Adam have three brothers who, collectively brought home five state titles, his father, Dr. Michael Mattin, wrestled for the University of Toledo. “I’m happy for him. He visited a bunch of schools but was really impressed with their culture and their coaches. It’s a wonderful combination of academics and athletics,” said Dr. Mattin on Adam’s choice to join the Cardinal wrestling program.
For the Mattin family, attending home matches next year will involve a lot of travel miles. Ironically, in this crazy climate of college athletics and recent changes in conference affiliations, Stanford, despite being on the west coast, is now a member of the Atlantic Athletic Conference (ACC). Many away matches will be much closer.
“I have three brothers that all went to Michigan, so obviously, it was appealing to me to go there for a while. After visiting and talking and weighing my options, I realized the best place for me was Stanford. I really liked the culture, the coaches, all the resources available. It’s nothing against Michigan. I felt personality wise it was the best place for me,” explained Adam
The selection of Stanford completes the process which began last November. The signing also happened to be on the first official day of wrestling practice for Adam and the rest of the Panther wrestlers. This season he will compete in the 126-pound weight class as he shoots for his third title and helps the Panthers defend their OHSAA DIII State Dual Championship.
Click on the link to access photos from the signing. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Adam Mattin signs NIL to wrestle for Stanford University with mother Leigh and father Dr. Michael Mattin
The general consensus, prior to the OHSAA Division V Region 18 Semi-Final rematch between Liberty Center and Oak Harbor, was the game would be very close, and in no way would resemble last year’s 45-14 Tiger blowout win. That is what most expected and that is what two great teams, both again at 12-0, delivered as the game was not decided until a Liberty Center interception deep in their territory with less than a minute remaining sealed the Tigers’ 24-21 over the Rockets on Friday night at Maumee High School.
For most of the contest both offenses had to grind it out with long clock-eating drives, Liberty Center almost exclusively on the ground and Oak Harbor mixing in runs with short passes. The Tigers took the opening kickoff and drove down for a 7-0 lead with 4:40 remaining in the first quarter. The Rockets responded with a drive of their own and tied the game at 7-7 with a touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter. It was the only time the game was tied and from there the teams began exchanging leads.
Ian Rosebrook booted a short field with 0:05 left on the clock goal to put LC up 10-7 at halftime, then Rocket QB Mike LaLonde plunged in from the one-yard line with 8:57 in the third and OH took a 14-10 lead heading into the final quarter. The Tigers put together a 13-play 80-yard drive and regained the lead 17-14 when Waylon Rentz went in from a yard out at the 10:51 mark of the fourth. However, the advantage only lasted 16 second as Tyler Thompson returned the kickoff 93 yards and the Rockets were back in command at 21-17.
Liberty Center returned the ensuing kickoff to their 45-yard line and began to pound the Oak Harbor defensive line with short gains, squeezing out first downs to stay alive. With 6:43 left, the Tigers season hung in the balance as they faced a fourth down with three yards to go. Quarterback Grady Miller ran around the right side and was knocked out of bounds close to the first down marker. The referees called for a measurement which showed the tip of the ball about two inches over the line.
The drive continued and Liberty Center went back on top with 3:03 remaining with another Rentz one-yard plunge. Oak Harbor put together one last drive, advancing the ball down to the Tigers’ 26-yard line, but a LaLonde threw a pass into the waiting arms of linebacker Stephen Brogan with less than a minute to go, essentially ending the game as Liberty Center was able to run out the clock from there.
For the second consecutive season, the Oak Harbor Rockets end their season with a 12-1 record with a loss to Liberty Center. The Tigers stay unbeaten at 13-0 and will now face the top-seeded Milan Edison Chargers (13-0) on Friday, November 22nd at 7:00 pm at Lake High School in Milbury.
Click on the link above to access photos from the game. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
This past Friday afternoon, on the turf at Pifer Field, the Evergreen Local School District held their inaugural “Passing of the School Spirit” event, explained as “From the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2037, we pass our Viking Pride to you.” Evergreen Kindergarten teacher, Amber Hansel, organized the event after seeing a Facebook video of a school in Texas that had a similar event.
“I shared it on Facebook to see what kind of response I would get from the staff and community members I am friends with. They loved it so I brought the idea to the kindergarten team. They were on board and the event took off from there! It was a team effort for sure,” she explained. “A group that included the kindergarten team, Mrs. Brown, Mr. Ruffer, Mr. Smola, Mr. Hendricks, MVP, and Amber Mossing (Athletic Boosters) collaborated through email to hammer out details. Mr. Ruffer put me in touch with Brynn Trumbull, a senior representative of the Spirit Squad to work with. She helped with choosing the song we played and deciding what ‘gift’ they would give to the kindergarteners. She also created the flyer we shared on social media and Parent Square, met with the seniors during enrichment to tell them about the event, and with the help of Addison Kiefer coordinated a group of, I think 23 seniors, to paint the spirit rocks before the event.”
The kindergarteners walked over to Pifer Stadium from the elementary school and lined up along the goal line on the East end of the field. The seniors entered the stadium from the high school parking lot and lined up on the goal line on the West end of the field. After the newest Vikings were asked several spirit-related questions to test their Evergreen Viking knowledge, both groups walked toward each other, hand in hand, and met at the 50-yard line. There the seniors passed a spirit rock to each of the kindergarten students and got to know a little bit about them.
“I feel this event really helped spark pride and excitement in being a Viking for our kindergarteners.,” said Ms. Hansel. “It helped give them a glimpse of what they will be able to experience in the future and a connection to the older students. I know it was extra special for one of my students because he has a brother that is a senior this year. Seeing them together on the field was something I won’t forget!”
Click on the link above to access photos from the event. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncoluntymedia.com website.
The undefeated (11-0) Liberty Center Tigers went up against a strong one-loss (10-1) Liberty-Benton Eagles team and stifled the L-B offense in key situations in an OHSAA Division V football playoff game on Kip Kern Field at Rex Lingruen Stadium for a 35-0 victory on Friday night. The visiting eagles were able to move the ball in between the 20-yard lines, mainly with their passing game, but were stopped twice on interceptions close to the Liberty Center goal line and turned the ball over five times in the contest.
On offense, the Tigers stuck to what they do best, run the ball. They scored two rushing touchdowns in the first half, both by sophomore Garrison Kruse, a 58-yard run around the right side in the first quarter and a 15-yard scamper around the left side in the second quarter to give LC a 14-0 halftime lead. In the second half, the Tigers recovered a fumble on the Eagle’s 37-yard line and extended their advantage to 21-0 when quarterback Grady Miller later scored from 19-yards out. Waylon Rentz sealed the win in the final quarter with scoring runs of 42 and 43 yards.
Liberty Center totaled 414 yards of offense with 411 coming on the ground. Rentz picked up 230 yards of that total and Kruse ran for 151 yards. Ian Rosebrook converted all five PAT attempts. Liberty-Benton had 241 yards of total offense and even had more than double the time of possession in the first half but self-destructed with too many turnovers.
The Tigers (12-0) will now go on the road for the rest of the playoffs with all remaining games to be played at neutral sites. The next game will be a third-round rematch against the Oak Harbor Rockets. Last year Liberty Center defeated the 12-0 Rockets 45-14 at Clay High School. This year the game will be played at Maumee High School on Friday, November 15th at 7:00 pm.
Click on the link above to access photos from the game and halftime band performance. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Quarterback Grady Miller celebrates his 19-yard touchdown run
This past Friday morning, ahead of the official Veterans Day on Monday, November 11th, the Swanton Local School District honored local military veterans with a celebration held at the high school. Swanton educator, Joe Nye, served as Master of Ceremonies and introduced the keynote speakers, Swanton residents Senior Master Sergeant (SMSGT) Derek Kania and retired Master Sergeant (MSGT) Cathleen Kania. Derek and Cathleen (Cat) are husband and wife, having met while both were deployed in Iraq from different military units, and reside in Swanton.
Below are their bios that were contained in the event’s program:
Derek Kania (SMSGT) – Senior Master Sergeant Kania is a highly experienced and dedicated leader currently serving as Operations Superintendent of the 108th Security Forces Squadron. With a team of 75 personnel under his charge, he expertly manages the operations of three shifts, totaling 39 individuals assigned to the full-time force. He has also been assigned to the 927th and 914th Security Forces Squadron, providing him with a unique perspective and understanding of how other operations operate and achieve their goals. SMSgt Kania’s extensive knowledge and expertise in the field are the result of his diverse background, which includes serving as a Combat Arms instructor and program manager, as well as the Unit Deployment Manager and Supply NCO.
Additionally, he has served as a pre-deployment instructor at Fort Bliss (El Paso), Texas, training individuals to go overseas. SMSgt Kania’s experience also includes numerous deployments to locations such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, as well as time spent at the MAJCOM level as a member of the Future operations Cell in Ramstein, Germany. His dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence make him an invaluable asset to the 180th Security Forces Squadron and the United Staes Air Force. Derek is also serving as member of the Village Council in Swanton, currently as President of the Council.
Cathleen Kania (Retired MSGT) – Retired Master Sergeant Cathleen Kania enlisted in the Air Force Reserves on April 5, 2002. Earlyin her career, Cathleen played pivotal roles in various significant operations, including Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In Iraq, she worked as a Tactical Automated Security System Operator. While there she monitored a 16-kilometer perimeter with over 190 sensors, ensuring the security of $16 million in equipment and the safety of 5,000 Coalition Forces. Throughout her career, Cathleen exhibited exceptional leadership and organizational acumen. In January of 2016, MSgt Kania deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. In Kuwait, she was assigned to review and completely rewrite the Installation Defense Plan, a critical document which outlined the security protection operations to ensure the safety and security of over 2,100 Coalition personnel on the installation.
Cathleen’s commitment to her peers continued at the 180th Fighter Wing, where she excelled as a Unit Training Manager for the Maintenance Squadron and then a Unit Career Advisor for the Security Forces Squadron, providing guidance on re-enlistments and career development. Retiring after a remarkable tenure, Cathleen leaves a legacy of service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to her fellow Airmen, community and the mission of the Air Force. “Cat” also owns and operates CK Sweets, a Coffee and Bake Shop on Main Street in Swanton.
Click on the link above to access photos from the event. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: SMSgt Derek Kania addresses the crowd as his wife, retired MSgt Cathleen “Cat” Kania waits to speak next.
A ribbon cutting was held at Oncore Brewing, a craft brewery located at 14249 Airport Highway in Swanton in the small strip mall just west of McDonalds last Saturday to introduce a major addition to their beverage menu. Oncore Brewing opened its doors in the Summer of 2022 and quickly became a “go to” destination for beer lovers in the area. Owner and Master Brewer Kieth Baker and his wife Sheena turned a long-time vacant space into a warm and welcoming place for area residents to stop in alone or with friends and quench their thirst from a large selection of great-tasting craft beers brewed right on the site. And now, there is more.
Keith has created a drink menu filled with deliciously unique ales, lagers, stouts and porters, each with a distinctive flavor and a very creative name that will not let you forget it the next time you come in. For example, you can sample Coffee, Stills and Mash, a blonde ale infused with coffee, chocolate and vanilla. Or The Dark Order: Porter, an American porter. Maybe the Swantucky Slammer, an American lager. Perhaps the Nitro Stout, an Irish dry stout. Possibly, if you have a good lawyer, Smells Like Divorce Papers, a sweet apple ale infused with honey, cherry and grape might be more to your liking.
However, after two years of a relatively steady business, Keith decided it was time to offer adult beverages for the non-beer drinker. “Times are changing. The craft beer industry has, at the very least peaked and has started to trend down in the other direction. You can only hear so much of your customers coming in here and saying, ‘Hey. It’s six o’clock. We’re going to meet our friends somewhere,’ and we could keep those customers if we had something other than beer,” he explained.
With this concept in mind, Keith worked with the Toledo Spirits Company, which manufactures craft spirits, for about five months and developed a Signature Cocktail Menu which included Margaritas, Martinis, Mimosas, Manhattans and much more. Oncore uses approximately 90% of Toledo Spirits liquor in their cocktails and the early reviews have been very positive. “You can see it in their face,” said Keith. “You say to someone, ‘Try this,’ and when you see their face light up and you see how fast they drink, you know you are doing some good things.” The reaction has been very similar to what he sees from his beer-drinking clients. There are also five “Mocktails” as well.
Mr. Baker also has expansion plans that extend far beyond offering cocktails to growing clientele. Somewhere in the near future he wants add a kitchen to cook and serve food, which will require additional space. Currently, for customers that would enjoy food with their drinks, one of many local food trucks is parked out behind the business every night they are open. Customers are also allowed to bring in their own food, whether it be from home or from the Subway next door or anywhere else.
Oncore Brewing has one major advantage over other bars and restaurants with respect to their beer sales. They can sell their products, in kegs of course, to other establishments that serve alcohol such as the Swanton Sports Center and Benfield Wines. Outside sales is a significant part of their revenue. Live entertainment is also offered on many evenings.
For those curious about the business’s unique name, Oncore Brewing, it is a tribute to Keith’s late father, Kenny, who was a drummer in local bands around the Rising Sun, Ohio area. Both Keith and Kenny shared a passion for music and beer. At the end of a gig, Kenny’s band would play an encore after he would announce, “One More N We’re Goin!” The “E” in encore is replaced by an “O” which represents the power button on the sound equipment used by the band members. You can see more of the tribute reflected in the interior design and their outside marquee and with their beer tap handles, which are all drum sticks.
Oncore Brewing is open on Wednesday and Thursday from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Friday from 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm, Saturday from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, and Sunday from Noon to 8:30 pm. They are closed on Monday and Tuesday. Check out their website at oncorebrewing.com for their beverage menus, food truck schedule and special events.
Click on the link above to access photos from the event. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO Charge courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Keith and Sheena cut the ribbon for their Grand Re-Opening
Click on the link above to access photos. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
For a moment. A very brief moment. It appeared that the 15th seed Utica Redskins would provide some competition for the heavily favored Liberty Center Tigers in their first round OHSAA Division VI Football match-up at Rex Lingruen Stadium on Friday night. The visiting Redskins took the opening kickoff, picked up two first downs then buried the Tigers down at their six-yard line on a punt when their drive stalled.
However, reality struck, and struck hard, in the form of a Thomas Mohler 94-yard touchdown run on Liberty’s first play from scrimmage and the Tigers would blitz the Redskins for 34 first quarter points on their way to a 58-6 lopsided victory. The Liberty Center offense was so dominant they would only need three more plays to score their next two touchdowns. A dropped pass on an attempted two-point conversion was their only mistake after a Waylon Rentz 18-yard score. Utica had no answer for the unstoppable Tiger running attack. Garrison Kruse had a 3-yard touchdown run and Rentz ran 33-yards into the end zone for the final first half offensive score. Another major factor in LC scoring was the many failed fourth down attempts by the Redskins, several in their own territory, giving the high-powered Tiger offense short fields to work on.
Adding to the LC offense on the scoreboard were two pick-six scores, the first by Cam Kahl from 38 yards out for the 34-0 lead, and the second by Jackson Bartels who went the distance from 43 yards out and sent the Tigers into the locker room with a 51-0 halftime lead.
Due to Liberty Center’s lead of 30 or more points, the second half was played with a running clock. In the third quarter, Max Perry hit Tyler Rohrs with a 4-yard scoring pass to complete the Tigers’ scoring with 58 points. Utica finally got on the board when quarterback Hayden Piper ran the ball in from four yards out to cap an 11-play 79-yard touchdown drive.
Liberty Center had 410 yards of total offense with 361 yards coming on the ground. Mohler had 150 yards on just six carries and Rentz added 114 on five attempts. Ian Rosebrook was a perfect 8 for 8 on PATs and booted a 34-yard field goal for a total of 11 points. Utica totaled 179 yards of total offense, led by Piper’s 157 yards through the air.
The playoff victory places the #2-seeded Tigers’ record on the year at 11-0. They will next welcome in the #6-seeded Liberty Benton Eagles next Friday at 7:00 pm. The Eagles defeated Fairview Park Fairview 37-0 to advance to the next round.
Click on the link above to access photos from the game. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Waylon Rentz breaks away from the Utica defense for a 33-yard touchdown
On a sunny Fall afternoon, just a few days before the official Halloween date and Trick-or-Treat in the Village of Swanton, the Swanton Lions Club presented the Halloween Hoopla for residents and visitors from all around Northwest Ohio. The Halloween Hoopla has long been the family social event of the Fall season, packing Main Street with bouncy houses, pedal carts, dancers and, of course, children, as well as adults, dressed for the festive occasion.
Everyone was treated to free hot dogs from Benfield Wines, doughnuts and cider from the Swanton Fire and Rescue Department, popcorn from the Lions Club, and candy from the many downtown businesses that lined up on the sidewalks. You could also step into the Swanton Board of Education building and decorate your own delicious sugar cookies. A disc jockey filled the area with great music and the dance troupe performed their traditional version of the classic Michael Jackson video “Thriller”.
The Swanton Lions would like to thank all who were involved in creating and organize this great event, including the local businesses, the Swanton Police Department, the Swanton Village Public Works Department and the Village of Swanton Administration. The Club will now turn their attention to their Giving Tree Program for the upcoming holidays.
Click on the link above to access phots from the Halloween Hoopla . Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website and the Swanton Lions Club.
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