Fulton County Ohio Media

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As stated in their literature, “Habitat builds and repairs homes for those in need of affordable housing who have little means to better their circumstances through conventional avenues.  Projects require payback of the home build at an affordable price because no interest is charged.  Mortgage payments are used to fund projects and operations but aren’t enough, so, Habitat relies on donations, grants, and fundraising.  One of the ways we fundraise is Playhouse Projects.  Sponsors pay for, design and build a playhouse to give away to children in the community.”

About two weeks ago, Heidi Kern, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County, its Board of Directors and other volunteers, got together in the parking lot of Ace Hardware in Wauseon to build two 4’x5’x6’ playhouses.  But not your everyday standard playhouses would these be.  Dividing the “builders” into two construction teams, one house would be decorated in the theme of The Ohio State University (OSU) Buckeyes and the other in the theme of their fiercest rival, the University of Michigan (UM) Wolverines. 

“I’ve got my OSU (Scarlet & Gray) team over here working hard and my Michigan (Maize & Blue) team over there working hard and, in the end, we’re going to raffle these off in the community and it is a fundraiser for Habitat,” said Ms. Kern.  “People can vote in this competition between these two teams.  People can vote at our website (www.habitatfco.org) and it’s $5.00 per vote or five votes for $20.00 and you choose which playhouse you want to win.  On Game Day (November 25^th) someone will win the Michigan playhouse and someone will win the OSU playhouse.  They don’t have to be present to win.  We will do it through Facebook Live and will contact the winners right away.”

Photos of the playhouses are on the organization’s website and Facebook page and will also be displayed in their booth at the Fulton County Fair which runs from September 1st through the 7th.  “Our booth will be in the Merchant Building just north of the grandstand and will be there all week.  We will also be building additional playhouses at the fair over where the horseshoes used to be.  We have six to seven sponsors that are going to be building and those playhouses will be given away to families in the community with no raffle,” explained Ms. Kern.  “That’s what our Playhouse Project is all about.  We have sponsors fund them, build them, decorate them and give them away to families in the community that can really use them.  It’s a fund raiser for Habitat, a team-building experience for those sponsors and someone in the community gets a playhouse.  We consider that a win win win.”

One of the sponsors this year, as they have been in years past, is North Star Bluescope Steel of Delta.  The company will have a large presence at the 2023 Fulton County Fair and had volunteers working on the OSU/UM Playhouse Project that Saturday morning.  “Our team enjoys the seeing the excitement of the kids every time.  It’s priceless just to be part of that,” exclaimed Kirsten Fruchey, one of North Star’s volunteers.  “The organization, Habitat, just does so much for our community and to be a part of that is just amazing.”

The competition to be chosen as the winning playhouse, much like the OSU/UM rivalry, will be intense.  Does either side have an edge?  Fulton County is in the Buckeye State but also borders the Wolverine State on the north.  It lies within the hotbed of the biggest rivalry in all of college football.  Vote early and vote often.  It is all for a great cause.

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

Photo: Team Habitat

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Adam Lemon fired a nine-hole round of 37 and Mazin Rukieh shot a 41 to lead the Swanton Bulldogs Boys golf team over the Lake Flyers 172-188 at Valleywood Golf Club on Monday afternoon. Lemon’s 37 earned him medalist honors and Rukieh’s 41 was tied for second place with a Lake golfer.

Also figuring in the team scoring total were Brady O’Shea and Dylan Smigelski who both finished with a round of 47. Carson Lemons shot a 53 and Grady Tipton had a 57.

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 fultoncouintymedia.com website.

Photo: Rukieh walks off the fifth green as Lemon lines up his putt.

August 29, 2023 DELTA, OH – North Star BlueScope Steel (NSBSL) is the Grand Champion Sponsor of the 2023 Fulton County Fair, one of the largest county fairs in Ohio. The event draws over 100,000 people every year.  That’s more than double the county’s population.  Key attractions include country and classic rock concerts, harness racing, horse shows, derbies, motorcycle racing and auctions for baked goods and livestock. The 2023 Fulton County Fair will run September 1st through the 7th. North Star President Conrad Winkler said, “We’re excited to sponsor the Fulton County Fair this year.  Being involved in our community is very important to the North Star team.  It’s one of the pillars of our company.  We’re very passionate about supporting and strengthening our communities to build a brighter future.” “We’re so pleased to have North Star’s continued support of the fair,” said Ron Rice, President of the Board of Directors for the Fulton County Fair. “We wouldn’t be able to host this event and bring the community together without the help of every one of our sponsors. We’re so grateful.”

North Star is sponsoring four events: Junior Fair Day, the Labor Day Country Concert, the Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County Playhouse Build and Triangular Processing Day. At the Junior Fair, local youth and young adults can participate in a variety of competitions, from woodworking to showing dresses and dairy cows. Junior Fair Day takes place on Tuesday, September 5th.  On that day, all school-aged children can enter the fair for free until 6pm.  The Labor Day Country Concert stars Josh Turner and special guest Emily Ann Roberts. Some of Turner’s most popular hits include “Long Black Train,” “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” “Your Man” and “Hometown Girl.”  The concert is on Monday, September 4th at 7pm.

On September 2nd and 5th, Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County will be at the fair to build playhouses with help from North Star and other businesses. Those playhouses will be gifted to local families in need.  NSBSL hopes to raise awareness of Habitat for Humanity and encourages attendees to support the organization however they can.  Triangular Processing (TPI) is a non-profit recycling company that provides jobs and recreation to local citizens with disabilities.  Triangular Processing Day is on September 2nd. On that day, TPI members can enjoy the rides and walk through the exhibits and animal barns. They can also volunteer to help with the playhouse project. “If anyone would like to learn more about North Star, they’re welcome to stop by our booth,” said Winkler. “We’ll have our team onsite and we’ll be giving away fun swag gear.” You can buy fair and event tickets at FultonCountyFair.com

News Release North Star Contact: Gwen Hagen 419.724.7323 Gwen.Hagen@MadAveGroup.com Fulton County Fair Contact: Anna Conklin 419.357.6604 pr@fultoncountyfair.com

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After spotting the Hicksville Aces a 13-0 lead in the second quarter, the Swanton Bulldogs put together a strong offensive drive to score and pull within seven points. However, Hicksville responded with a quick scoring drive of their own just before the half and led 20-7 at halftime. Swanton was unable to put any points on the board in the second half and fell to the Aces 28-6.

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: Swanton’s Trent Eitniear about to enter the end zone.

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Click on the link above to access photos from the Swanton and Hicksville bans and cheer squads and other pre-game activities. 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 Lady Bulldogs swept past the Delta Lady Panthers three games to none in a home NWOAL volleyball match in the Kevin J. McQuade Gymnasium on Thursday evening. Delta fought hard in the first game before losing 28-26. Swanton then took control of the next two games winning 25-26 and 25-13.

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.

Photo: Lady Bulldog Maddie Smith gets ready to defend the net as Lillyanna Valderas prepares to serve.

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The Swanton Lady Bulldogs survived a tight battle in the first game of the match against the Delta Lady Panther, winning 25-23 and then won the next game 25-15 to complete the 2-0 sweep on their home court.

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’s Zara Wylie rejects a spike attempt by Delta’s Maya Grant.

It has been almost two weeks since the 2023 Swanton Corn Festival (SCF) filled a beautiful August Saturday with a great parade followed by all kinds of family fun activities, sports competitions, delicious food choices, arts and crafts vendors and hours of wonderful entertainment from bands and solo artists.  Hopefully, there has been enough time for the SCF Committee chairs and their dozens of hard-working volunteers to decompress and return to a “normal” life.  However, given the tremendous number of hours they all put in, the stress and anxiety levels they experienced that come with putting together the Village’s biggest celebration of the year, and all the time knowing they would be at the mercy of Mother Nature, it may take a little bit longer.

The enormous scope of the Corn Festival requires the planning and organizing to begin months before the actual event.  Meetings are scheduled, roles and responsibilities are established and a time table is put together.  The closer to the date, the more hours are required as the coordination with the Village, local businesses, Swanton schools, vendors and parade participants becomes finely tuned.  For the volunteer committee members, the entire process culminates with a 16-hour day of organized chaos.  Last minute changes are implemented and decisions are made on the fly to deal with inevitable unexpected.  Oh, yes.  Then on Sunday there is dealing with the aftermath, the cleanup.

It makes you wonder what kind of individual would put forth this type of effort and, step up year after year with a repeat performance.  It is somebody with a fulltime job, family commitments and other things they could be doing. Yet, it is also someone that cares about their community, cares about their family, friends and neighbors and wants their town to shine in a positive light. 

Shortly before the big day they receive a payout for their efforts.  A t-shirt.  Typically, a nice looking brightly-colored t-shirt with Swanton Corn Festival theme-inspired artwork along with the date for a precise reference.  And they are proud to wear them.  The Village of Swanton is very fortunate to have a lot of long-time residents that could fill a closet with their well-earned t-shirts.  If there is one thing every volunteer would covet more than that t-shirt, it would be a “Thank you.” from anyone who enjoyed themselves during the Swanton Corn Festival.  Do not be shy.  Appreciation is the best gift one can give.

Photo: Swanton Corn Festival Chair People in the T-Shirts of course, Alyssa Walberg, Alan Robasser and Stephanie Fessenden

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The Pettisville Blackbirds scored two early unanswered goals and went on to defeat the Swanton Bulldogs 5-1 in a non-league match at Swanton. The Bulldogs pulled within one in the second half with a goal from Isaiah Bolyard, but the Blackbirds responded with two more quick scores to seal the victory.

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: Pettisville’s Mason Wyse (8) and Swanton’s Owen Hansen (14) battle for control of the ball.

The 2023-2024 academic school year has begun at Swanton Middle School (SMS) and it comes, as always, with a lot of noticeable changes.  A quarter of the student body has turned over as last year’s eight-grade class has begun their new journey at Swanton High School and this year’s fifth-grade class is fresh out of Swanton Elementary School, ready to start a new and exciting chapter in their academic careers.

There are also some new faces in the ranks of the faculty and administration, but the most significant change has a very familiar face in a new position.  Mrs. Leigh Pancoast, the SMS Assistant Principal for the past six years, has stepped up into the role of SMS Principal, replacing Mr. Matt Smith, who accepted the position of principal at Fallen Timbers Middle School in the Anthony Wayne Local School District.  Replacing Mr. Smith, who affected so much positive academic and cultural change with his Swanton 7 Initiative program, will be no easy task, but when considering Ms. Pancoast’s impressive credentials, it would be almost impossible to find a more suitable or qualified candidate.

Leigh (Remer) Pancoast grew up in Swanton Ohio, graduated as a Swanton Bulldog and headed off to the University of Toledo where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education and a Master’s Degree in Administration.  Eventually, she added her principals license from the University of Findlay.  Ms. Pancoast has been an educator at Swanton schools for 18 years, teaching math and social studies in the middle school before becoming the dean of students and eventually the SMS assistant principal. 

Mr. Chris Lake, Swanton School Superintendent, who brought Ms. Pancoast’s promotion to the Swanton Board of Education, had this to say.  “I am very confident that Mrs. Pancoast will continue the tradition of success that SMS has enjoyed over the last six years. She has been one of the creative minds behind the incredible transformation of Swanton Middle School since the Swanton 7 initiative was dreamt up back in 2017. You would be hard pressed to find someone who is better prepared to step into a head principal role than Mrs. Pancoast.” 

What is also important to understand with respect to this transition and the future of the Swanton 7 Initiative is that Ms. Pancoast worked side by side with Mr. Smith and the SMS staff from day one in creating, developing and shaping the program to where it is today.

As she explains, “About six years ago we started a distinguished house system.  We have four houses with all grade levels dispersed equally among the houses therefore creating a culture where all students feel welcome and like a family. With that we set forth seven essential principles that drive our Swanton 7 Initiative. The seven principles all relate back to what the business leaders in our area told us they need from our students, better communication and motivation to be the best, essentially.  This lead us to adopt many intriguing activities such as the Amazing Shake, which includes improving students communication/business skills at a young age being judged by over 60 of our local businesses, the Swanton 7 Manners Luncheon, which allows our students to experience a fine dining meal during school and network with local businesses, we started a career academy within the school day for all 7th and 8th graders, this is where our students learn all about the 4 E’s and develop a start to their resumes and learn from people in all fields and walks of life, and we have fun, our kids work hard and with that they have a lot of fun to look forward too, these are middle schoolers after all. We have won many awards including Ohio Middle Level Team of the Year 2020 and Excellence in Industry from the Fulton County Economic Development Cooperation in 2022. We were the first school to ever be awarded this honor.”

Ms. Pancoast lives in Swanton with her husband and three boys.  She is anxious and ready for this and it seems she has been working for this her entire adult life.  “As a new principal, I can’t wait to lead the students and staff as I already know how amazing they are and how much farther we can grow together.  This is an awesome opportunity that I am thankful to have received, she exclaimed.  “GO BULLDOGS!”

Photo: Leigh Pancoast explaining the Amazing Shake competition to Toledo 13abc.