Fulton County Ohio Media

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On Tuesday afternoon, the Fulton County Humane Society (FCHS) held a “Toys for Pets” workshop in the back room of the Swanton Public Library.  Members of the public, children and adults, were invited to craft pet toys for cats and dogs with various materials provided by the FCHS.  Lisa Burr, a volunteer with the “Cat Crew” of the FCHS, located in Archbold, brought along several cats that are currently up for adoption.

“Today we have two kittens.  They are approximately four months old, Jeffery and Joseph.  We suspect they are brothers.  We believe that somebody actually dumped them in the conservatory about a quarter mile west of my home.  So, I worked with the Humane Society to get hem neutered, their testing done.  They are ready and just need their families,” explained Ms. Burr.

There were two older cats that made the trip with Ms. Burr that could definitely use some TLC in a new home.   “And we also have two adults.  The orange one is named Spinner, he’s almost blind, but he can see shapes and movement.  We also have a gray kitty named Vienna who is a tripod due to accident.  One of the front legs had to be amputated.  But they still get around.  They’re very loving and just looking for their forever homes.”

At this writing, the FCHS has 12 cats up for adoption and many dogs as well.  For any pet owners looking to add to their family, the Humane Society recommends a “Blind Date” setup before taking an adoptee home.  “If you’re talking about a dog, you would schedule an appointment to bring in any animal that you have for the “Meet and Greet” with the potential canine of interest,” said Ms. Burr.  “There would be a meet-up in a neutral room.  It’s not your property, it’s not the property of the animal shelter dog.  So, it’s kind of a neutral territory they can kind of sniff each other out and you can gauge if there is a potential for them to be compatible.”  Obviously, placing a cat and a dog together is a very different situation, but Ms. Burr said the shelter tries to assess the dog’s cat tolerance.  “It depends on the dog,” she added.

The Fulton County Humane Society is located at 22450 County Road F in Archbold. Their hours are Tuesday thru Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or by appointment.  They can be contacted at 419-349-3841 or through their website at www.helpfchohio.org.

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

Photo: Kristina Stormer and her daughter “Izzy” with one of the potential feline adoptees

The Northwest Ohio Athletic League (NWOAL) is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Yunker as its new Athletic Commissioner, effective immediately.

A 1983 graduate of Swanton High School, and a 1989 graduate of Bowling Green State University, Yunker has been a prominent figure in Northwest Ohio athletics for over 30 years. His extensive experience includes serving as a head coach at multiple schools, including Bryan and Evergreen High School. 

“I am excited to return to the NWOAL, where I was a player and a coach,” said Yunker.

Currently, Yunker serves as the Athletic Director at Fairview High School, where he has gained valuable administrative experience in managing high school athletics.

“We are excited to welcome Paul to the NWOAL,” said Tony Menna, Swanton High School Principal. “His experience and dedication to the student-athletes and schools of Northwest Ohio will help lead the league to new heights.”

Yunker’s combination of coaching and administrative expertise provides him with a unique perspective and a deep understanding of the intricacies of high school sports, from officials to scheduling. His broad knowledge of the local athletic landscape will be a tremendous asset as he steps into this new role.

“I look forward to helping continue growing the league, promote sportsmanship and ensure the NWOAL remains competitive and well-organized,” said Yunker.

The NWOAL looks forward to Paul’s leadership and the continued success of its member schools under his guidance.

“I look forward to working with the Principals and Athletic Directors to ensure that the experience for the student-athlete is a positive one in the NWOAL,” he said.

Yunker replaces Ken Baumgartner, who served as the commissioner of the NWOAL since 1987.

The Swanton branch of First Federal of Delta, formerly located at 123 N. Main Street in Downtown Swanton, has relocated to 107 Airport Highway. The new site is in the recently completely renovated building that previously housed the optometrist business of Dr. Mark and Dr. Penny Jones, in front of the Swanton Kroger.

They can be contacted through their email address, http://www.firstfeddelta.bank or by phone at 419-825-1125.

Photo: First Federal of Delta’s Swanton Branch Manager, Shelly Keifer, cuts the ribbon to officially open the new Swanton location with bank employees, Village of Swanton Officials, and members of the Swanton Chamber of Commerce in attendance.

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Delta Lady Panther, Jocilyn Welch, is a runner, an avocation she picked up when she joined the Delta Middle School track team in the eighth grade, that quickly became a passion.  And now, after four years of running as a member of the Lady Panther Cross Country team in the Fall, as well as the high school track team in the Spring, Jocilyn is moving on the next level as she has decided to continue her athletic career and education at the University of Findlay.

“It’s a wonderful school.  She’s going to love it.  They have a great distance program there.  I think she’ll fit in really well there,” said Delta Cross Country Coach, Mary Tristan-Reihard.   “She moved up on the top leader board and she’s the best female runner we’ve ever had.”  Josilyn finished in Second Place out of 51 runners in the NWOAL Girls Cross Country Tournament held at Swanton High School in October.

“I’ve been doing cross since my freshman year.  I started doing track eight-grade year and I thought, ‘Oh, I kind of like running,’ and so I started loving it,” explained Josilyn of her introduction to the sport.  “I’m doing track as well, indoor and outdoor.”  Josilyn will definitely be a very busy student-athlete as a  Findlay Oiler, essentially being a three-sport athlete and taking on the very challenging major of Nursing.

“I’m very proud of her.  We really like the coaching staff and I think she’s going to do great.  Her teammates have already reached out to her and were very welcoming,” said Josilyn’s mother, Jill.  “It’s been a goal of hers to run at the collegiate level and she has met her goal.”  Her father, Andy, said Josilyn had some interest from a lot of MAC schools.  “But Findlay was the strongest.  She’s very excited about the running program and the nursing program,” he said

Click on the link above 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

Photo: Josilyn Welch signs National Letter of Intent with the University of Findlay with mother Jill and father Andy

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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.

Artisanal Creations:  Stunning epoxy designs, vibrant sublimation products, handcrafted wood-burned and engraved pieces, artisan-quality crochet items.

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 Information:  Address: 128 N Main Street, Swanton, OH   Phone: (567) 702-0852   Email:  BeyondGrateful03@gmail.com    Website: beyondgratefulcustoms.com

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.

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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

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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 22^nd 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.

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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.

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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 15^th 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

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This past Friday morning, ahead of the official Veterans Day on Monday, November 11^th, 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 108^th 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 927^th and 914^th 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 180^th 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 180^th 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.