Fulton County Ohio Media

The Village of Swanton posted this note on their website on February 6, 2023.  It was a wrap-up of 2022 with a cursory look at what may be in store for 2023.

Let’s take a quick look at what your Village Council accomplished in 2022.

First of all, you elected 4 brand new individuals to Village Council. They all expressed a desire for transparency and growth. And they hit the ground running with their colleagues.

One of the very first actions they took was to establish a Live Streaming Policy that promotes greater access and awareness of the issues before the village and how they approach decision making. Now anyone may watch a Council, Commission, or Committee meeting on their computer in real time or at their leisure. And, by the way, a new microphone has been installed so meetings can be more clearly heard. It will be in operation at the next Council meeting.

The next action council took was to establish an Economic Development Commission. That happened last September. An introduction and orientation of the new Economic Development Commissioners will take place on February 8^th. The new commissioners will be announced at the next Council meeting on February13th. The purpose of this commission will be to work to develop a plan for economic growth. Someone once said that the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The person who plants the tree likely will never sit under the shade it offers nor enjoy the fruit that it bears. Similarly, the establishment of an Economic Development Commission is that seed that is being planted. It is a beginning, albeit long overdue.

Council also approved the establishment of a Dedicated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA). Council held three reading of this ordinance and listened to the input from many community members. They modified the original proposal in response to residents’ input and concerns. The DORA has been approved by the State of Ohio, signage has been ordered and the establishments have been given state approval.

This past year we also saw several businesses give their buildings a much-appreciated face lift. We are looking forward to even more improvements this spring and summer.

You also may have noticed that the village contracted to have about 600 sidewalk sections ground down. This was much needed and appreciated. Sidewalks sections that protruded less than two inches were ground flat.

Memorial Park has a brand-new fantastic playground area.

The brush pick-up policy has been changed to better accommodate the needs of the residents

Sewer separation and road repaving projects were completed.

We hired a new Fire Chief, Village Administrator, and Billing Clerk. Several firefighters, EMTs and Paramedics were also added to the village roster.

And get ready for a new pizza shop to open on Airport Highway and a new retail shop to open in the space left vacant by Younique Boutique. A child day care will also be opening next to the Board of Education.

These are exciting times for Swanton. Watch us grow!

Yours Truly,
Mayor Neil Toeppe

https://photos.app.goo.gl/d6rkGqA3E3gzduCB7

Last Wednesday night in the first game of the Dlll District Semi-Final game at Napoleon High School, the Archbold Blue Streaks took on the #3-State Ranked Toledo Emmanuel Christian Warriors and their highly touted sophomore Jerry Easter ll.  Seeded #8, the Streaks battled the #1 seeded Warriors throughout the contest and trail by only four points with just over a minute left before giving up the final three points of the game to lose 58-51.  Entering the game as heavy underdogs to the 20-3 Warriors, the 13-11 Blue Streaks had to contend with a major height disadvantage, with their tallest player, 6’3” Micah Nofziger and the rest of the team going up against a very quick line-up featuring players of 6’8”, 6’6”, 6’5”, 6’5” and 6’3”.

As expected, the Warriors started fast and took nine-point lead before the Streaks came back to trail 13-7 after one.  It was obvious Archbold would have to rely on their outside shooting and did so in the second quarter with three of their eight triples to pull within 24-21 by halftime.  Emmanuel Christian pulled away again in the third quarter, taking 45-36 lead into the final period where they would hold on to advance to the District Finals against the Wayne Trace Raiders.

Archbold:  7-14-15-15 = 51   Jayden Seiler (16), Cade Brenner (15), Sonny Phillips (7), Evan Wendt (6), Chase Miller (3), Stephen Diller (2), Micah Nofziger (2)

Emmanuel Christian 13-11-21-13 = 58   Jerry Easter (24), Jalen Brown (13), Nate Miles (11), Jamie Rivers (6), Tylin Patterson-Davis (4)

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: Jayden Seiler drives around Jamie Rivers

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2PBvb2g9H4pySj3a7

Neither the Swanton Bulldogs, nor their opponent, the Wayne Trace Raiders were honed in on the basket on Wednesday night at Napoleon High School, but the fourth-seeded Raiders had just enough offense to upset the second-seeded Bulldogs 41-29 to advance to the Dlll District Finals against the Emmanuel Christian Warriors, a 58-51 winner over the Archbold Blue Streaks in the early game.  Wayne Trace held a 6-5 advantage after the low-scoring first quarter, but were able find the range in the second, racking up 15 points as Swanton continued to struggle from the field, failing to reach double digits and trailed 21-9 at the half.

The Bulldogs found their offense in the third quarter, scoring 14 points and pulling within five at 28-23.  However, their shots, for the most part, could not find the bottom of the net and the Raiders sealed the win by hitting five of five free throws down the stretch.

It was a disappointing end to another very successful season for Swanton boys’ basketball team and for the six seniors who played their final basketball game in a Bulldog uniform.  All were an integral part of a two-year run that saw them win 38 games, have an undefeated NWOAL Championship and capture a Sectional Title against only nine loses.

Wayne Trace:  6-15-7-13 = 41  Brooks Laukhuf (21), Kyle Stoller (15), Tanner Laukhuf (2), Tyler Davis (2), Cale Winans (1)

Swanton:  5-4-14-6 = 29   Luc Borojevich (7), Charlie Wood (6), Drew Smigelski (5), Hayden Callicotte (5), Cole Mitchey (4), Keyon Johnson (2)

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: Luc Borojevich hits for two.

At last evening’s Swanton Lions Club meeting, Lions District OH-1 Governor Dave Stockum presented Ten Year Milestone Chevron Awards to David “Jeff” and Dawn Patch.  Both award certificates read:

Congratulations on completing ten years as a Lion.  To commemorate and recognize your years of service I am presenting you with the enclosed Milestone Chevron Award.  Presented by Lions Clubs International, the Chevron Award is aptly named after the chevron symbol in reference to a badge or insignia indicating rank or length of service.  Your commitment to providing many years of service as a member of our association is honorable and commendable, as you have touched the lives of many. 

From the smallest project to the largest undertaking, your years of service have made an impact in your community.  Lions Clubs International recognizes the anniversaries of members like you because they are a reminder of the milestones in our lives.  The ripple effect of your service has touched the lives of many, and given us the opportunity to celebrate, commemorate and carry our long legacy of kindness forward into the future.  You understand that Together We Can achieve greater things.  And thanks to you we will.

Congratulations once again on your milestone.  I wish you many more healthy and happy years to continue your personnel commitment to service.  Continue to make a great day for you and others by being a great Lion.

The certificate was signed by Lions International President Brian E. Sheehan.

The Lions Milestone Chevron Award for Service is an impressive and well-deserved honor but for the Patches, it goes much deeper than that.  Jeff and Dawn, are two dedicated individuals who embody the spirit of community service through their work with the Swanton Lions Club.  You will see them at every Lions-Sponsored event such as the Halloween Hoopla, Easter Egg Hunt, Giving Tree, Adopt-A-Highway, the American Flag Program, Blood Drives and more.  Jeff and Dawn work diligently behind the scenes to raise funding and awareness for many worthy causes such as vision-related disorders, diabetes, heart disease and others.  Their children, David and Hannah, were taught the importance of giving back to your community as members of the Club’s youth affiliate, the Swanton Leos.  For them, community service in Swanton was, and still is, a family mission.  We are very fortunate to have them and the Lions Club in our town.

Photo: Jeff & Dawn Patch, Dave Stockum

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FxGko2feZVhgUZ1X7

The end of a great season for the Delta Panthers Boys basketball team came last Friday night at Wauseon High School where they lost to a very talented Wayne Trace Raiders team 63-40.  Delta struggled to find an answer to the Wayne Trace scoring duo of Kyle Stoller and Brodks Lankanf who combined to score 49 of the Raiders’ points and also controlled the boards at both ends of the court.  The Raiders broke on top immediately and led 20-8 after the first quarter and 33-18 at the half.  Both teams scored 11 points in the third before Wayne Trace put the game away with a 19-11 scoring advantage in the final quarter.  The Panthers finished the season with a very impressive 17-6 record.

Wayne Trace:  20-13-11-19 = 63   Kyle Stoller (29), Brodks Lankanf (19), Tanner Lankanf (6), Hudson Myers (4), Caden Stein (3), Tyler Davis (2)

Delta:  8-10-11-11 = 40   James Ruple (12), Nolan Risner (12), Bryar Knapp (5), Bryce Gillen (5), Justin Ruple (2), Luke Reinhard (2), John Brasher (2)

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: Delta Senior Nolan Risner at the line.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/c34xgQo7J2NJvXXv6

Meeting for the second time this season, this time at the neutral site of Wauseon High School, the Swanton Bulldogs defeated fellow NWOAL foe Liberty Center Tigers 60-51 to capture the Dlll Boys Sectional Championship last Friday night.  In addition to moving on, the victory gained a large measure of redemption for Swanton after suffering a home loss to Liberty Center 45-34 a month earlier.  Many of those who witnessed that first matchup described it as “brutally” physical.  The second game proved to be no different as the Tigers employed at tight full court defense for most of the contest.

“We were prepared for that,” said Bulldog senior guard Hayden Callicotte who was named ‘Hardwood Hero’ by the local television station covering the contest.  “We knew it was going to be really physical and we had to play through that.”  The hard play resulted in 60 trips to the free throw line for the two teams including 27 for Swanton where they sank 22 of the attempts for 81.5%.  “Free throws win basketball games.  So, we had to knock them down tonight,” added Callicotte, who went six for six at the line himself.  Liberty Center hit 78.3% on 18 of 23 free throws.

The first half was relatively low scoring as the Bulldogs took a six-point lead, 24-18, at halftime.  The Tigers were able to shave one point from the deficit entering the fourth quarter but Swanton scored the first seven points and shot 9 of 10 from the line in that frame to clinch the win.  “We got off to a good start, unlike the first time we played them when we got down by 11 early.  It was too much of a hole to climb out of,” said Swanton head coach Bruce Smith.  “They’re very tough.  If we’re going to war, I’m stopping in Liberty Center and picking those guys up,” added Coach Smith, borrowing a quote from a Big Ten basketball coach.

The win advances the Bulldogs to the District Semi-Finals at Napoleon High School this Wednesday at 7:30 PM to face the Wayne Trace Raiders who beat the Delta Panthers 63-40 earlier that same evening.  “They’re really good.  They have some guys that can really play,” said Coach Smith of his upcoming opponent.

Liberty Center:  8-10-16-17 = 51   Landon Kruse (10), Landon Bockelman (10), Colton Chamber (9), Colton Kruse (8), Gavin Greahlen (8), Riley Chapa (3), Zane Zeiter (3)

Swanton:  14-10-15-21 = 60   Hayden Callicotte (14), Cole Mitchey (11), Luc Borojevich (11), Charlie Wood (9), Drew Smigelski (8), Kayden Davis (7)

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.

Team Photo Credit: Callicotte Photography

https://photos.app.goo.gl/6fYtRJ1xtKj8og5x7

The Liberty Center Lady Tigers found the Delta Lady Panthers to be a much stronger opponent than the team they easily defeated 53-32 earlier in the season. However, they were able to break open a tight game in the third quarter, outscoring Delta 15-8, and go on to win 41-31 in a Dlll District Semi-Final game at Lake High School on Wednesday night. The Lady Panthers used a tight defense to hold the Lady Tigers to just 16 first-half points and only trailed by three, 16-13, heading into the decisive third frame. Both teams scored 10 points in the fourth quarter as Liberty Center held on for the victory.

The Lady Tigers improved their record to 21-3 and advance to play the Van Buren Lady Black Knights, a 58-38 winner over Evergreen in the first game, for the Dlll District Championship and a trip to the Dlll Regional Tournament. The game will be played on Saturday 2/25 at 1:00 PM, also at Lake High School. Delta finishes the season with an 11-13 record.

Delta: 8-5-8-10 = 31 Kendall Sprow (10), Khloe Weber (6), Grace Munger (6), Sophia Buress (3), Ashlyn Lamb (3), Olivia Smith (2), Kate Friess (1)

Liberty Center: 13-3-15-10 = 41 Emerson Gray (11), Paton Armey (10), Kailey Blanton (5), Alyssa Giesige (3), Haley Mohler (3), Gracie Miller (3), Bea Barrett (2)

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: Kendall Sprow led the Lady Panthers with 10 points.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/NNkMtt38jykjVAFt8

In the first game of the OHSAA Dlll District Semi-Finals held at Lake High School Wednesday night, the Evergreen Lady Vikings lost 58-38 to the Van Buren Lady Black Knight of the Blanchard Valley Conference. Early in the second quarter, Evergreen was hanging close, trailing by a single point at 14-13. However, Van Buren outscored the Lady Vikings 20-5 over the rest of the period to take a commanding 34-18 lead at halftime. Evergreen finishes the season with a 14-10 record.

Evergreen: 89-10-10-10 = 38 Brooklyn Gleckler (8), Addison Richer (8), Macy Chamberlin (8), Brooke Sintobin (7), Emmitt Kennedy (4), Lucy Serna (3)

Van Buren: 12-22-11-13 = 58 Zoe Fruth (22), Sasha Busey (19), Brylee Ponn (8), Anna Durliat (3), Bailey Lance (2), Kami Bowman (2), Paige Bowman (2)

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: Addison Richer scores on a short jumper from the baseline.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/D2MH65EL2dsq8dy8A

Eli Kiefer rolled in one of two foul shot attempts with 2.3 seconds remaining in the contest, giving Evergreen a 51-50 lead, then survived a last second Fairview 12-foot jumper, to beat the Apaches in an OHSAA Boys Sectional Semi-Final game played last night at Springfield High School in Holland.  Prior to the final two free throw attempts, Kiefer and fellow guard Tyson Woodring had struggled from the line in the fourth quarter, combining to make just one shot out of a dozen tries.  Fortunately, their accuracy from the field was much better with Kiefer scoring six of his 11 points in the final frame and Woodring netting a team-high 14 points to help give the Vikings a five-point cushion after the third quarter.  Drew Gillen scored 12 points including 8 of 9 from the foul line.  Walker Lumbrezer hit two big three-point shots in the second half and he and Riley Lumbar pulled down critical rebounds late in the game to hold off the hard-charging Apaches. 

The victory, Evergreen’s 13^th of the season, sends the Vikings to the Sectional Finals against the top-seeded Emmanuel Christian Warriors out of the Toledo Area Athletic Conference (TAAC).  The game will be played at Springfield on Friday, February 24^th, at 6:00 PM.

Fairview:  9-11-14-16 = 50   Adam Lashaway (15), Brody Retcher (12), Kasen Kauffman (9), Eli Shininger (7), D’Andre Hastings (2), William Zeedyk (2)

Evergreen:  13-14-12-12 = 51    Tyson Woodring (14), Drew Gillen (12), Eli Kiefer (11), Walker Lumbrezer (6), Riley Dunbar (6), Colton Robertson (2)

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

Photo: Viking Tyson Woodring scores two of his 14 points over a tight Fairview defense.

For those of you who have not been informed or have noticed, the Swanton Enterprise, along with the Fulton County Expositor, has been absorbed by the Northwest Signal, a five-day a week newspaper.  All three publications are owned by AIM Media Midwest and, I assume, a business decision was made to merge the three into one, under the Northwest Signal banner.  The first issue was published today, Tuesday, February 21, 2023.  A boxed announcement was printed on the right side of the first page above the fold.

It read:  Changes announced.  Exciting changesare coming to the Northwest Signal today.  Three AIM Media Midwest newspapers — the Northwest Signal in Henry County and the Fulton County Expositor and Swanton Enterprise in Fulton and Lucas counties — are now combined to serve our local communities with the area’s most comprehensive local news and sports coverage.  The Northwest Signal will now cover local news and sports throughout Fulton, Henry, Lucas and surrounding counties and will be delivered in print and online five days a week — Monday through Thursday and Saturday — to more than 4,000 subscribers, racks and dealers beginning today.  Our offices in Napoleon and Wauseon will be open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. to better serve our customers.

Given the downward spiral of the printed newspaper industry for the past two decades, this announcement should come as no surprise.  Many newspapers around the country, large and small, have shuttered their doors and many more, such as the Toledo Blade, have scaled back printed issues or publish only online.  Advances in technology now deliver news and other information, virtually at the speed of light, right into the palm of our hand, no matter where we happen to be.  It is difficult to compete with that and media companies that offer printed newspapers have had to pool their resources to stay afloat.

While the same information will be available in a similar format, I will still miss the Swanton Enterprise.  There is a special feeling when your town has its own newspaper, especially when the name of the town is part of the paper’s banner.  The Swanton Enterprise was a source of pride and an integral part of the village’s identity.  First published in 1886, the Enterprise is almost as old as Swanton itself which was founded in 1883. 

And it was more than just a newspaper.  It was familiar and personal, like an old friend.  You knew the names in the bylines between the headlines and the articles.  They were your neighbors or former classmates or your kids went to school with their kids.  You saw them at Kroger or Memorial Park or in church.  It was a small-town paper with content that made you feel thankful to be part of the community. 

I am not as old school and nostalgic as I sound in this piece.  I look forward to reading the Northwest Signal and am glad the Enterprise employees will be a part of it.  Still, I will miss the Swanton Enterprise and the anticipation of its weekly arrival.  As a long-time resident of the Swanton area, it feels like a part of our community has been taken away.  I understand why and do not disagree with it.  So, thank you to the many people that worked very hard over the many years to bring us the Enterprise and to the paper itself.  It was good to know you.