Swanton police officer, Sergeant Lee Kusz, recently resigned his position with the Swanton Police Department (SPD) and has assumed the duties and responsibilities of the Swanton Local School District Resource Officer. Sergeant Kusz graduated from Swanton High School in 2007 and attended the University of Toledo, earning a Bachelor’s Degree. He later attended and graduated from the Owens Community College Police Academy before joining the SPD.
Click on the link above to access photos from the night. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Hailey Frosch conducts the Swanton Marching Bulldogs
The Swanton Bulldogs took the opening kickoff and drove down the field and into the end zone to take an early 6-0 lead over the visiting Hicksville Aces. However, despite several opportunities, the offense was unable to score the rest of the game. Hicksville rallied to grab an 8-6 advantage at halftime and went on to beat Swanton 22-6 in a non-lrague contest.
The Bulldogs fall to 0-2 on the season and will remain at home next week to face the 0-2 Ottawa Hills Green Bears.
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: Bulldog QB Dennis Robinson launches a pass towards the end zone.
Five sponsor teams to build six Habitat Playhouses on August 30th and September 2nd during the Fulton County Fair
For the third year, Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County is teaming up with the Fulton County Fair to build six playhouses for local families through Habitat’s Playhouse Project program. On August 30th, members of New Horizon Academy and North Star BlueScope Steel will paint, assemble, and decorate two playhouses in roughly six hours in the grassy area at the north end of the fairgrounds, where horseshoes used to be played. The New Horizon’s playhouse is financially sponsored by State Farm Insurance. Then, on September 2nd, North Star BlueScope Steel will build 2 more playhouses. Another 2 playhouses, one sponsored by Woodforest Bank and the other sponsored by Nature Fresh Farms, will also be built on Tuesday. The recipient families will arrive mid-afternoon each day to see their playhouses for the first time and meet the sponsors who financially made it possible.
Habitat for Humanity’s Playhouse Project connects sponsors with families who would not be able to afford a playhouse without assistance. With Habitat’s guidance, sponsors fund, design and build each playhouse, presenting it to the children they are partnered with and experiencing the joy that such a tremendous gift brings.
“Playing house” is often the first-time kids think about what it means to have their own home, inspiring homeownership at an early age. Families apply to receive a playhouse, with the program being need based, not income-based. In today’s world, there is much need created by short term and unforeseen issues that put families in situations where “extras” just can’t be a priority. Children feel the stress their parents are under; in fact, it can affect them deeply.
Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County started Playhouse Project in 2021 to raise much-needed funds for Habitat’s local affordable housing mission. Playhouse Projects are a win-win-win in that each sponsor supports its community through a team bonding event; a local family gets a free playhouse and Habitat’s mission gets much-needed funding to build affordable homes and repair existing homes.
The Habitat program gives a hand up, not a handout to those it partners with – families work hard to become homeowners, paying back the cost of their homes with a no-interest mortgage. Habitat must pay for the construction upfront, so it fundraises, solicits donations, and applies for grant funding. Ultimately, a family is served, a community has a new homeowner who is invested in that neighborhood, and children have hope for a bright future. Habitat’s repair program assists existing homeowners with minor repair needs and mobility ramps for elderly and disabled neighbors-in-need.
North Star BlueScope Steel will be sponsoring its 10th, 11th and 12th playhouses during this year’s Fair Build. Woodforest Bank and Nature Fresh Farms are both returning to sponsor their 3rd playhouses with State Farm Insurance sponsoring its 1st playhouse in collaboration with New Horizon Academy. NHA volunteers will be building that playhouse for one of their own student families.
Playhouse Project is Habitat’s way of helping children understand the value of “home” and provides a catalyst for creativity and imagination at a young age. These Playhouse Project sponsorships will put smiles on children’s faces now and serve local housing and repair needs in the future. Stop out on Saturday, August 30th or Tuesday, September 2nd between 9AM and approximately 3PM to watch these Playhouse Projects come to life.
Habitat of Fulton County serves Fulton, Henry & Defiance Counties with Playhouse Projects, Repairs, & Mobility Ramps – we continue to build new homes in Fulton County. For more information on Playhouse Project sponsorship, contact Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County. http://www.habitatfco.org
Landon Hendricks stopped all 12 shots on goal, many from point blank range, and Eli Bolyard sored twice to carry the Swanton Bulldogs over the Toledo Start Spartans 3-0 at Thomas Krupitzer Soccer Field Monday afternoon. The Spartans, a team with speed and excellent ball handling skills, put a lot of pressure on the Bulldog defense and Hendricks throughout the game. “My defense was really helping me out there. We really worked together in this game,” explained the sophomore goal keeper. Not only did the Swanton goalie keep the ball out of the net to record his second consecutive shutout, he cutoff multiple cross-crease passes and saved several defensive deflections from crossing the outside goal lines and giving the Start offense corner kick opportunities. “Ronnie (Coach Rico) tells me to keep those in bounds so we don’t have to worry about any more kicks coming at us.”
The Spartans may have controlled the ball more often in the early going, but it was Swanton who scored first when Eli Bolyard took a pass from Coby Sharrit and drilled a shot past Start goalie Parker Robedeau at the 32:18 mark of the first half for a 1-0 lead. With 11:34 to go before halftime, Bolyard fed Seth Tedrow deep in the Spartan crease for another score to put the Bulldogs up 2-0 heading into the break. Bolyard scored again, his sixth goal in the past two games, to give Swanton a somewhat comfortable 3-0 cushion but there was still 27:26 remaining in the contest. Start ratcheted up their offense the rest of the way, but the Bulldog defense was able to keep them off the scoreboard.
The Bulldogs record moves to 3-1-1 with the win. Swanton goes on the road for the next two matches, first to Emmanual Christian to take on the Warriors on Thursday, then to Maumee on Saturday to face the Panthers.
Click on the link above to access photos from the match. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Swanton sophomore goalie Landon Hendricks earns the shutout against Toledo Start
Click on the link above to access photos from the night. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website
The Evergreen Vikings jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead at home on its way to a 41-7 victory over the Delphous Jefferson Wildcats in the first football game of the 2025 season.
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Photo: Senior quarterback Bryce Bolger looks for an open receiver
Almost one year after the closing of Heavy Brewery at the Wheelhouse in Oak Openings Metro Park in Swanton, the Toledo-based Earnest Brew Works has stepped in to fill the vacancy and offer a large variety of craft beers for park goers. They will also have a food truck on location during their hours of operation. The Wheelhouse is located in the Beach Ridge area of the park with the entrance at 3520 Waterville-Swanton Road (State Route 64).
This past Thursday afternoon they held their official ribbon cutting and keg tapping to celebrate what is now the fourth location of Earnest Brew Works. Other locations can be found in Toledo at 4243 S. Detroit Ave., 25 S. St. Clair and 3142 W. Central Ave.
Photo: Oak Openings Metro Park Director Matt (Left) and Earnest Brew Works owner Scot Yarnell hold the ribbon on the keg they are about to tap to officially open the new brewery in Oak Openings.
The Delta Lady Panthers scored early and often in a home match against the Swanton Lady Bulldogs on their way to a 12-0 victory in the first NWOAL match of the season for both teams. Senior forward Adrianna Dunning scored the first two goals of the game, sophomore Josie Maurer then found the back of the net followed by senior Abby Todd’s score for a 4-0 Panther lead with 17:51 left in the first half. At the 2:11 mark, senior McKenzie Kruger closed out the scoring in the half to stake Delta to a 5-0 lead at halftime. Not long after the second half began, the Panther offense scored to send the contest to a running clock, and added six more goals for the win.
The Lady Bulldogs gave great effort throughout the match, however, the program is just starting to make its way back after having to cancel last season due to a lack of participation. Swanton has a young roster with only three seniors and is short on experience because of missing last season.
Click on the link above to access photos from the match. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fuiltoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Delta’s Josie Maurer (0) and Swanton’s Mandy Pelland battle for control of the ball
If you like craft shops with a heavy mix of nostalgia, then you will want to travel to 109 South Main Street in Swanton to pay a visit to the newest local business, “The Good Vibe Guild.” Renee Tufts, a name well known in the craft show world of Northwest Ohio, realized a long-held dream and opened a shop with handmade crafts from 12 different “Makers”, along with her own creations.
“A dream come true. A long-time goal and I’m really really happy,” said a very excited Renee during a ribbon cutting to officially open the doors to her new venture. “It started with the idea of creating a different market. All the items here are designed and made by hand by many of the same makers you will see at local craft shows, the Bulldog Market and the Swanton Corn Festival.”
Renee, by her own admission, was born a quarter century too late and loves the artistic expression that grew out of the 1960’s and 1970’s. She is seen with her creations, in her many appearances at area craft shows under the name “A little Bit Retro.” As for her fellow craft makers in the shop, those she has met over her years being part of show, “They have fully embraced my idea of a 60’s and 70’s vibe,” explained the Flower Child who bloomed decades afterward.
If there was ever a generation that had its own set-apart “vibe” it was the Baby Boomers who were born between 1945 and 1960. They created a counter culture through music, art and lifestyle that has left an indelible mark on society that still resonates today. At The Good Vide Guild you will find an abundance of items that will take you back to those days if you happened to be alive and aware then, or it will give you an eye-opening look into early lives of your grandparents. And yes, your grandparents were really cool then.
To begin, The Good Vibe Guild will be open on Tuesdays from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Visit them on Facebook for more information.
Click on the link above to access photos from the ribbon cutting.
Photo: Owner Renee Tufts cuts the ribbon on her new shop alongside husband Kevin and with family, friends and members of the Swanton Chamber of Commerce
Fulton County Ohio Media 