Fulton County Ohio Media

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Fulton County, Ohio is Small Town America.  It has a population of just under 43,000 (2020 Census) that resides in one very small city (Wauseon), six villages, three Census-designated places and 11 unincorporated communities.  Situated within America’s heartland, sharing a border with the state of Michigan and a short drive from Indiana, Fulton County is mostly rural with an agricultural-heavy economy.  Many of the families have been here for generations and hold traditional and conservative viewpoints and know the importance and value of hard work.

Each of these communities, regardless of their size, have something special and unique about them. And once a year a group of dedicated volunteers from each community will organize, plan and produce a celebration of their town and invite the whole world to stop in and celebrate that uniqueness along with them.  Nobody does it better than small towns because of the deep and life-long connections that area residents have with each other and the love they share and the pride they feel for their community.  These volunteers, and I need to emphasize they are all unpaid hard-working individuals who have gladly stepped up for the cause, want their community to shine in the best possible light for all the visitors to see and to show the local citizenry what can be achieved with great effort.  These volunteers are role models for the next generation and a gift to their communities.

The Fulton County Fair aside, it’s hard to beat the smaller annual festivals we have.  For example, Archbold has the Route 66 Bash, Delta Has the Chicken Festival, Fayette has the Bull Thistle Festival, Lyons has the Chicken Barbeque, Swanton has the Corn Festival, Metamora has the Parkorama, Pettisville has its Friendship Days and Wauseon has its Homecoming.  The one thing these celebrations have in common is that they employ an all-hands-on-deck philosophy to ensure everyone has a great time and stays safe.  This approach requires a coordinated effort among the festival committees, chambers of commerce, police departments, fire & rescue departments and village services.

Obviously, all this comes at a cost, some of it borne by the taxpayers.  However, more often than not, the municipality recoups those expenses in several ways, some quantifiable, some not.  Many times, festival committees will pay for certain village expenses, donate to or supplement various village funds or help pay for special village projects.  Here is just one example. A number of years ago the Swanton Corn Fest Committee purchased approximately four acres of property inside the village limits hoping to create a paved walking path on the north side of town then donated it to the Village.  While the project never came to fruition, the Village sold the property for just over $31,000, with the expressed understanding the money would be used for Memorial Park expenses.

Overall, a community will benefit in other ways that you cannot put a price tag on.  Several local businesses will have booths on the grounds generating exposure to visitors outside of town.  Community service organizations such as the Lions Club or the Rotary will be selling raffle tickets or running a food booth to help fund their benevolent local projects.  Local churches, school organizations and the American Legion or VFW will do the same.  The money raised by these groups will be injected into and ripple through the local economy, making that town a better place to live and raise a family.

Another economic boost to the town comes by way of visitors stopping to fill their gas tanks or do some grocery shopping as a matter of convenience, before or after the event.  It may be hard to fully quantify, but an increase in local shopping means an increase in local business tax revenue and lessens the tax burden on the village’s residents.

Not only do these great events create long-lasting memories for local citizens, especially the children, they offer an opportunity for all those former residents who have relocated around the country to return, reunite and reminisce with old friends and relatives.  Annual festivals bring out the best in Small Town America and the return on the investment is priceless.

Click on the link to access photos from the 2017 Swanton Corn Festival parade and Memorial Park activities. The photos will show the mix of attendees from all around Northwest Ohio which always determines the financial success of the Corn Fest itself and the economic impact on the Swanton economy. Take a look and see how many familiar faces you can spot and see how they have changed from eight years ago. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

As he will sometimes jokingly brag, Swanton High School’s head baseball coach, Josh Siewert, will tell others that he did not lose a single game in his first year at the helm of the Bulldogs.  It is an undisputable fact. However, he did not win a single game either.  Coach Siewert assumed the head coaching position prior to the 2020 baseball season which, as we all painfully remember, was cancelled by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Starting with the 2021 season, Siewert, a Swanton High School alum, began to rebuild the program.  Like most rebuilds, it took several years and this past season, the hard work and effort of Coach Siewert and his staff paid off as the Bulldogs broke the school record for wins in a single season with 19, two more than the previous mark of 17.  Because of this unprecedented achievement, he was selected as District I Coach of the Year for the OHSAA Division V level.

“It’s an honor to be given that award,” said a humble Coach Siewert.  “It shows that my hard work and our coaches’ hard work is paying off.  People are noticing and it feels good to be honored for that and get the recognition.” Working with Siewert was an experienced and very knowledgeable assistant coaching staff that included Matt O’Shea, Craig Chonko, Jon Lemon, Joe Bolyard and Todd Geahlen.

“If you look at some of our league losses, we had one in the bottom of the seventh and one in the ninth so, it’s kind of skewed a little bit but we took care of business outside of the league,” explained Siewert of the Bulldogs’ 3-4 record in the NWOAL.  “The boys kept plugging along even though one of our goals could not be reached and we won a Sectional Championship which is like only the third one in the past 43 years.”

Swanton graduated five very talented seniors this Spring in Adam Lemon, Drake Harris, Isaiah Bolyard, Evan Smigelski and Vinnie Fanelli but it also returns a lot of talent and experience in 2026, headed by District I Baseball Player of the Year, Luke Marlow and OHSAA Division V First-Team All-Ohio Carson Lemons.

PHOTO: Coach Siewert goes over ground rules at a game against Wauseon

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This past Saturday, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., the Downtown Swanton DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area), was filled to near capacity as the Swanton Chamber of Commerce hosted its first Block Party of 2025 sponsored by Benfield Wines and Hub’s Swantucky Pub.  Entertaining the record crowd with a mix of rock, soul and blues music was Shane Piasecki and the Lone Wolf Hippies, performing from the open garage doors of Benfield’s banquet room.

With moderate temperatures and no threat of rain, it was fun-filled evening for adults as well as children.  Benfield’s and Hub’s were serving adult beverages and there were three food trucks (Hot Dogs 2 Go, Benny’s Lonchaeria, Cheat Day) to satisfy anyone’s appetite.  There was a giant bouncy house, corn hole games and footballs and rubber balls being tossed around in the grassy areas.  The big scoop of the evening was soft opening of Swanton’s newest ice cream shop, The Spot-Swanton, located on the corner of N. Main Street and Zeiter Way.

There are three more Block Parties scheduled this summer (Saturday – July 19, Saturday – August 16, Friday – September 12).  If you would like more information on the events, please contact Delray Busch, Executive Director, Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce swantoncc@gmail.com | 419-265-0102/419-826-1941 or visit swantonareacoc.com.

Click on the link above to access photos from the event. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow fort editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

A Special Ribbon Cutting was held to celebrate the 80^th Anniversary of Hub’s Swantucky Pub, a major milestone for one of Swanton’s most iconic businesses located at 109 Zeiter Way in Swanton.  Moreover, Mike Westmeyer, a proud veteran and dedicated local business owner, is celebrating 10 years of owning the bar that’s become a true gathering place for the community.  The ceremony, was organized by Delray E Busch Executive Director, Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce, on June 7th during Swanton’s First Block Party of the year.

Hub’s, has been a local favorite since 1945—known not just for cold drinks and good times, but for giving back. Under Mike’s leadership, Hub’s has sponsored school events, supported athletic programs, hosted fundraisers, and helped make our downtown block parties something to look forward to all summer long. We hope you’ll join us in recognizing this milestone and raising a toast to one of Swanton’s best.

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The Evergreen Vikings baseball team ran up against a very talented Elmwood Royals squad and lost 8-1 in the OHSAA Division VI Baseball Regional Finals held at Patrick Henry High School on Saturday afternoon.  The loss ended a Cinderella run the Vikings went on once they finished the regular season with a record of 11-10 and a Co-Championship of the NWOAL with the Archbold Blue Streaks.  

Great pitching and defense carried Evergreen through the first four games of the State Playoffs.  Chris Owens’ boys defeated the Northwood Rangers 10-0 to win a Sectional Title then blew through the next level, beating the Huron Chiefs 9-0 and the Gibsonburg Golden Bears 10-6 to capture the District Championship.  The Vikings easily handled the Colonel Crawford Eagles 6-0 in the Reginal Semi-Finals before meeting the Royals for a chance to compete in the Division VI State Baseball tournament.  However, Elmwood banged out nine hits and took advantage of five Viking errors to get past Evergreen. 

The Regional Finals was the furthest any Evergreen Viking baseball teams had ever gone since the 1975 Vikings who lost to the Bryan Golden Bears in what was then the Class AA Regional Final.  The 2025 Vikings finished the season with a 15-11 record and three overall championships.

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.

Swanton High School’s Luke Marlow has been named the 2025 Player of the Year by baseball coaches from Northwest Ohio District 1.  Marlow, a five-tool player, filled up the stat sheet for a Bulldog team that broke the school record for wins in a season with 19.  Hitting from the leadoff position, Marlow batted .429 on the year and had a remarkable .582 on-base percentage.  Once on base, he took advantage of his speed, stealing 25 bases and scoring 44 runs in 28 games, both school records.  Luke, Swanton’s starting shortstop since his freshman year, also pitched for the Bulldogs, compiling a 6-4 record with a 1.87 Earned Run Average while striking out 56 and walking 16 in 52.1 innings of work.

“It really did surprise me,” said Luke while mentioning how stiff the competition was District-wise, including his teammate and fellow junior Carson Lemons who led the District with seven triples.  “I think he drove me in 30 times of the 44 runs I scored,” he added.  Both Luke and Carson were First-Team All-District Infielders and First Team All-NWOAL Selections as well.

With his senior year still ahead of him, Luke will be honing his skills while playing on a travel baseball team out of Toledo and working to get in top physical condition.  “Get in the weight room and stay in the weight room.  I wasn’t in the weight room before and I wasn’t eating good.  I got to stick to a diet and stay bulked up,” he said of his off-season conditioning plans.

“I’m so happy for him.  He had so much potential coming off his freshman year two years ago that this is definitely is something I saw in his future,” commented Swanton head coach and District Coach of the Year, Josh Siewert.  “Last year he got hurt and missed three-quarters of the season plus summer ball and he overcame that.  It was just amazing.  He’s a great kid.  A very team-oriented player, dirt ball, loves getting dirty.  He loves making plays and you’ll always see a big smile on his face.”

Next year will bring a set of “What will you do for an encore?” challenges for Luke and his teammates after their individual and record-setting accomplishments of this past season.  And, for the first time in school history, the Swanton Bulldogs will be playing on a brand-new field on their own campus.

Photo: Luke fires a fastball during the Division V District game at Defiance High School

PRESS RELEASE:  The Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce has officially launched a Community Event Calendar aimed at promoting local events and strengthening community engagement. Available now at swantonohiochamber.com/community-events, the calendar is open to submissions from businesses, schools, nonprofits, and community groups across the Swanton area.

This new initiative is designed to highlight the wide range of events happening locally and to make it easier for residents and visitors to stay connected to what’s going on in and around Swanton. “We wanted to create a centralized place where the entire community could share and discover local events,” said Delray Busch, Executive Director of the Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce. “Whether it’s a fundraiser, festival, workshop, or open house, this calendar helps amplify the great work happening in our community.”

How it Works: ● Anyone hosting a local event can submit their details through the online form. ● Submissions are reviewed by the Chamber for approval. ● Once approved, events are published on the public-facing calendar. All submissions must be appropriate for a general audience. The Chamber reserves the right to edit or decline listings based on content and relevance. The calendar is part of the Chamber’s ongoing efforts to support local organizations and encourage collaboration and visibility throughout the region. For more information or to submit an event, visit swantonohiochamber.com/community-events. PO Box 116 Swanton, OH 43558 | Facebook | SwantonCC@gmail.com | 419.826.1941

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On Wednesday afternoon, on the campus of Swanton High School, a large crowd gathered to witness a groundbreaking ceremony to begin the construction of a new baseball/softball sports complex.  Years in the planning, the new facilities will allow the Swanton School District to relocate their softball and baseball playing fields from the Village of Swanton-owned Memorial Park onto school grounds.  Chris Lake, Swanton Superintendent, opened the ceremony with the following words:

“Good afternoon, everyone.  Thank you all for being here to celebrate this historic moment for Swanton High School.  This groundbreaking marks more than just the start of construction—it marks the beginning of a new chapter for our student-athletes, our school and our community.  For the first time in school history, our baseball and softball teams will be able to play on fields right here at their own high school.  That’s something we can all be proud of.

This project wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of the Swanton community.  Your belief in our students and your willingness to invest in their opportunities have brought us to this moment.  I want to thank our dedicated project committees for their countless hours of hard work, vision, and persistence in making this dream a reality.  I want to give a very big shoutout to the students who helped present our donation request to business all around the area.  They did an amazing job and impressed everyone they spoke to.  And I want to thank our school board for their support and willingness to fund this important project.

Finally, I want to thank the following generous donors who contributed to this project:  Top Donor:  No Hitter Tier – (Swanton Athletic Boosters), Grand Slam Tier – (North Star BlueScope Steel, Soaring Software Solutions, The McQuade Family), Home Run Tier – (F&M Bank, Roof Ohio, Swanton Welding & Machining Company, Steve Hurst & Family, Kevin Thornton), Triple Tier – (Sunny Day In-Home Care LLC, Worthington Industries), Double Tier – (Tri County Block & Brick, Liquid Lumination Irrigation & Lighting LLC), Single Tier – (Brett McClure & family, McNeill Chevrolet, Rotary Club of Swanton, Sandman Sales Yard, Swanton Cornfest Committee, Ballas Buick GMC), Plus several anonymous donors and numerous donors at the Bulldog Tier, Block S Tier, Purple Tier and White Tier.

We’re proud to announce that the new complex will be ready for play in the Spring of 2026.  Both the baseball and softball teams recently concluded successful seasons which resulted in sectional titles.  I can’t wait to see them build on that success while playing on their own fields.”

Click on the link above to access photos from the ceremony. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

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The Swanton Bulldogs scored single runs in the top of the first and third innings to lead 2-0 over the Eastwood Eagles in the OHSAA Division V District Semi-Final game held at Defiance High School. However, the higher-seeded Eagles, champions of the Northern Buckeye Conference, exploded for 12 runs over the next four innings to defeat the Bulldogs 12-2and move on to the District Finals.

Despite the loss, the 2025 Swanton Bulldogs’ baseball team broke the school record for wins on the season with 19, two more than the previous record of 17. Included in the 19 wins was an 8-2 road victory over the Tinora Rams that captured a Sectional Championship.

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: Isaiah Bolyard scores on a single by Drake Harris as Adam lemon looks on.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Delray E Busch Executive Director, Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce 419-826-1941 | swantoncc@gmail.com

Swanton Kicks Off First Summer Block Party of 2025 on June 7 – The Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to launch the 2025 Swanton Summer Block Party series on Saturday, June 7, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at Zeiter Way in downtown Swanton. This beloved community tradition is proudly presented in partnership with Benfield Wines, Hub’s Swantucky Bar, and the Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce. Held in the heart of Swanton’s DORA district, this series is all about celebrating local pride, good food, and great company with live music and family-friendly fun.

June 7 Event Highlights: ● Live Music: Shane Piasecki and the Lone Wolves ● Food & Drink: ○ Hot Dogs 2 Go ○ Benny’s Loncheria ○ Cheat Day (desserts) ○ Tano’s on Main (pizza by the slice) ○ Drinks available for purchase at Hub’s Swantucky Bar and Benfield Wines ○ The Spot, located at 100 Zeiter Way, will open for the first time with a limited menu featuring ice cream and Red Bull Refreshers

● Family Activities: ○ Bounce house provided by Fancy Fun Inflatables (sponsored by Skye Heating & Cooling) ○ Hair tinsel station by the Swanton Area Community Coalition ○ Yard games and hands-on activities from the Swanton Public Library

● Special Feature: ○ Ribbon cutting at 7:00 PM celebrating 80 years of Hub’s Swantucky Bar and 10 years of ownership by Mike Westmeyer PO Box 116 Swanton, OH 43558 | Facebook | SwantonCC@gmail.com | 419.826.1941 Remaining 2025 Block Party Dates All events run from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Zeiter Way: ● Saturday, July 19 ● Saturday, August 16 ● Friday, September 12.

In addition to this exciting summer series, the Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the launch of the Swanton Community Calendar—a shared space where local residents, businesses, and organizations can add events at no cost. Submit and explore events anytime at http://www.swantonohiochamber.com/community-events/ For more updates and upcoming event details, visit http://www.swantonareacoc.com or follow the Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce on Facebook. PO Box 116 Swanton, OH 43558 | Facebook | SwantonCC@gmail.com | 419.826.1941