Fulton County Ohio Media

During this past winter, the Swanton Sports Center (SSC), Fulton County’s only bowling center, entered into a joint venture with Delta resident and avid bowler Jerry Donaldson, to construct and operate a Pro Shop inside the SSC adjacent to the concourse on the southeast side of the building.  The new shop is now open and is selling bowling balls, shoes, bags and various bowling related items and also offers drilling services for newly purchased balls or balls that require modification.  Mr. Donaldson, who also donates his time to serve as one of Delta High School’s bowling coaches, had been in discussions with SSC ownership regarding the viability of a pro shop for several years, ever since the Panthers Bowling program signed on to use the SSC as their home bowling center.

“We have quite a few leagues now plus two or three high school teams in here every year.  The kids and the adult league bowlers have to go to Southwyck (Maumee) or Juggs (Toledo) or Napoleon for pro shop service,” he said, explaining why the time was right to go ahead with the project.  Currently, the SSC hosts four different leagues with a fifth league to begin next Fall, along with high school teams from Swanton and Delta for practices and NWOAL matches.  Open bowling times generally experience high demand and casual bowlers will also be able to take advantage of Mr. Donaldson’s services. 

Jerry, who has a high degree of knowledge within the bowling industry and has rolled six perfect 300 games in his career, bowls in three of the SSC’s leagues and can often be found there on many “off” nights as well.  “I bowl enough and I’ve spent enough money so I know what it costs.  So, if I can help people out with a good deal when they stop in here and make things right, it all works,” he explained.  Mr. Donaldson, a Delta High School alum, bowled in a high school league in Swanton when it was then known as KC Lanes.  He has coached the Panthers along with Dave Kina since 2010 when his children first joined the team. 

The SSC is only 11 minutes from his home in Delta and just five minutes his job at Tri-County Block and Brick in Swanton so he has just a short distance to travel to meet clients when he is not there.  The new shop plans to maintain a small inventory and has items on display and will place orders on-line with very short delivery times of 2-3 business days.  Appointments can be made by calling or texting Jerry at 419-583-7427.  You can also call the Swanton Sports Center during business hours at 419-402-4102 or leave a message when they are closed.  The SSC is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and opens at 4:00 PM Wednesday through Sunday.  Please check the SSC Facebook page as hours and availability are subject to change.

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The visiting Genoa Comets scored twice in the first inning and four more time in the second on their way to a 9-2 victory over the Delta Panthers in a non-league baseball game.

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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It was a cold rainy and very windy April 1st, no foolin’, but it did not stop the Swanton Lions Club from hosting their 9th Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Memorial Park in Swanton. Children ages two to ten, in four separate age groups, shook off the elements in search of eggs they could cash in for candy and one Golden Egg that would earn a big sweet Easter Egg Basket. Before and after each egg hunt, the kids were able to participate in several games to win prizes.

Also, for the ninth time, Dawn Patch chaired the committee that plan and organize the popular event. “We have the Lions community and all the members come out and help man the games. It’s a great cause and the kids love it,” said Ms. Patch. Attendance was down from previous years due to the inclement weather, but the families that showed up had a great time.

Click on the link 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.

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Click on the link above to access photos from Delta High School’s presentation of The Addams Family Musical. 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 Evergreen Vikings rallied from a 3-2 fifth inning deficit and defeated the Swanton Bulldogs 9-4 in an early non-league game at Memorial Park in Swanton.

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.

A Ribbon Cutting was held today by the Swanton Chamber of Commerce to officially open Ash + Grace, a gift shop located at 117 N. Main Street and previously occupied by Younique Boutique.  The owner is a life-long resident of Swanton and relates her story below:

My name is Ashlie Harmon, my husband Brian and I have five children. Brian is a Navy Veteran.  Our children are Jaden, Dylan, Briar, Christian and Ava.  I was born and raised in Swanton.  I have always wanted to own my own business; I just never really knew what I wanted to do.  After working in the medical field as a Registered Medical Assistant for over 20 years, I became a stay-at-home mom in July 2019 after we had our daughter six weeks premature.

Then COVID happened and we were locked down.  My husband went to work out of town. I needed to find something to keep me busy, so I started playing around with making handmade crafts and bath & body products.  Soon after I started selling my items in nine locally owned shops.  I finally figured out what I wanted to do.  Something I have a passion for, so I decided to open my own shop, while still selling my items in other shops and now my own!  We also have 40+ local, creative and talented makers selling their items in our shop!  Our products are changing all the time as makers bring in new items.  Please stop in and help support all of our makers and small businesses! Shop Small, Shop Local!

Ash + Grace is a small, local woman and veteran owned handmade gift shop. We are a place that you can come and shop from multiple handmade items from local talented makers. You can find anything from handmade bath & body products, candles, home decor, women’s boutique clothing and so much more!

Ash + Grace Business Hours:

Tuesday – Friday 11am-5pm

Saturday 10am-3pm

*Subject to change

Photo: Ashlie Harmon cuts the ribbon for her newest business venture.

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When Swanton High School puts on their musical every Spring, it signals the beginning of the end of another academic school year with a three-month break before the next one starts with many of the same faces returning. This year, however, the vibe surrounding the annual musical is very different. There have been two constants for Swanton’s musicals for the past 30 years. The first, Ms. Julie Zedlitz would be “sitting” in the director’s chair. The second, and because of the first, the shows were always guaranteed to be well worth the price of admission.

After 33 years of teaching, directing 30 musicals and one play, encouraging thousands of students to showcase their talents and abilities on stage, Julie will be retiring at the end of the year. She made the announcement quite some time ago so, all of fans in the Swanton community that have watched her do her magic year after year, knew this time was coming. For them, it will be bittersweet. Happy for Julie, of course, but sad there will be no more Julie Zedlitz musicals.

Her last show, Little Mermaid Jr, is very much like her others. She has put the right talent in the right roles, on stage and back stage, to deliver another wonderful performance. Three more shows remain. The final curtain comes down this Sunday afternoon. Bring plenty of tissues.

Click on the link above to access the more than 400 photos from the performance. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tqpGX8fww6BkLTiK6

Along with family, friends, employees and Swanton Chamber of Commerce members, Angela and Le Nuhfer cut the ribbon to their newest PizzAroma location at 133 E. Airport Highway in Swanton.  The Nuhfers, along with their son Austin, moved into the space formerly occupied by Pisanello’s Pizza several months ago and began renovations.  Officially, the Swanton PizzAroma will be having their Grand Opening on Thursday, March 30, 2023.  Below is their story as they like to tell it:

PizzAroma’s Story:

Angela, Lee and Austin Nuhfer.  Wife, Husband, and Son! Just us three!  No business partners, no investors.  JUST US. A small family business living out her dream. We have been in the Pizza Industry for over 30 years.  February 2012 changed our lives forever!  We became owners of PizzAroma in Maumee.  We have owned this location for 11 years.  

On March 30, 2020 (Yes, right when the Pandemic started), we opened up our second location in Holland/Toledo.  We had been working on getting our second location open since September 2019….

So, needless to say, we had no other choice but to keep moving forward with our second location as we had put all of our blood, sweat, tears into it, with many emotional breakdowns. 

Three weeks after opening our second location and the start of Covid, I (Angela) was diagnosed with breast cancer!  To say we were devastated was an understatement!  2020 was a Nightmare! 

Fast forward to 2023.  NOW OPENING OUR 3RD LOCATION PizzAroma Swanton!  I (Angela) started at Marco’s Pizza when I was 14 making $4.25 an hour.  My life is Pizza 🍕 Lol.  Our local small family business is passionate about our product, service and image while loving what we do!  We are very excited to build relationships and help other local small family businesses strive!  We are thrilled and eager to help build and be a part of Swanton families along with our schools and communities. 

PizzAroma Offers:  Fundraisers – School Pizza Nights – Catering – Concessions – Benefits – Organization Events – Athletic Boosters – Team Dinners – All Communications with Schools – All Communications with Summer Fairs – Donations – Etc…..

Our Family is here to help with anything we can!  Thank you for giving us this opportunity to give a little story about our family PizzAroma 🍕

We look Forward to our GRAND OPENING IN SWANTON!!!! 

Hours are as follows: Mon-Thus (11am-9pm) * Fri-Sat (11am-10pm) * Sunday (12pm-9pm) Phone: 419-704-5945

Click on the link above to view photos and menus

The 2023 General Election, which will take place on November 7, 2023, may seem a long time from today and not worthy of much thought or consideration.  However, depending on your chosen level of political involvement in your community, the time to act could be fast approaching.  You may decide to run for political office or encourage someone else to step forward to serve their community while you support their effort.  If so, there is important work to be done to place your name, or any name, on a ballot.

A petition must be filled out and endorsed by a predetermined number of signatures by valid registered voters in the appropriate jurisdiction.  Every petition must be notarized and submitted to the Fulton County Board of Elections (FCBE) by 4:00 p.m. on August 9, 2023.  The petitions will then be reviewed by FCBE staff personnel to ensure compliance with Ohio Election Law.  If any petition is rejected for errors, such as an invalid signature, the process will be allowed to start again but the deadline will remain the same.

If the deadline is missed, an individual is allowed to file with the FCBE to be a write-in candidate.  The deadline for write-in candidates is 4:00 p.m. August 28, 2023.  A blank line will appear on the ballot for voters wishing to write in one of those candidates.  By the way, spelling counts.

I will always encourage everyone of legal age and qualified to register and vote to ensure their voice will be heard.  To have a stronger voice to help enact change or shape how you and your fellow citizens are governed, you will need to become more involved.  In smaller communities, such as we have here in Fulton County, filling ballots and making them competitive can be a struggle, leading to individuals to run unopposed or being appointed.  This essentially, denies the voters a true say in who runs their community.   Finding quality candidates is an even greater challenge but so vital to the welfare of every community.

To begin the process, if you are interested, I would recommend you visit the FCBE, located in Wauseon at 135 Courthouse Plaza just behind the Sheriff’s Office on the west side of Fulton Street.  Their hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday.  Their phone number is 419-335-6841 and their email is fulton@ohiosos.gov.

For information purposes, below is a list of seats that will be contested this November. Listing the incumbents in this editorial is not meant to be, in any way, a reflection on their performance while in office.

Fulton County Ohio Open Election Seats
Position	Jurisdiction	Incumbent	Petition Signatures	Filing Fee
Mayor	Archbold	Bradley Grime	50	$    30.00
Mayor	Delta	Frank Wilton	50	$    30.00
Mayor	Fayette	David Borer	10	$    30.00
Mayor	Lyons	Andrea Gleckler	10	$    30.00
Mayor	Metamora	Richard Sauerlender	10	$    30.00
Mayor	Swanton	Neil Toeppe	50	$    30.00
Mayor	Wauseon	Katherine Huner	50	$    45.00
Council	Archbold	Karla Ball	50	$    30.00
Council	Archbold	Kevin Eicher	50	$    30.00
Council	Archbold	Kevin Morton	50	$    30.00
Council	Delta	Anthony Dawson	50	$    30.00
Council	Delta	Lynn Frank	50	$    30.00
Council	Delta	Chad Johnson	50	$    30.00
Council	Fayette	Suzette Boesger	10	$    30.00
Council	Fayette	David Wheeler	10	$    30.00
Council	Lyons	Nelson Ebarnhiser	10	$    30.00
Council	Lyons	John Good	10	$    30.00
Council	Metamora	John Hudik	10	$    30.00
Council	Metamora	Karon Lane	10	$    30.00
Council	Swanton	David Pilliod	50	$    30.00
Council	Swanton	Dianne Westhoven	50	$    30.00
Council	Wauseon	Shane Chamberlin	50	$    45.00
Council	Wauseon	Scott Stiriz	50	$    45.00
Council	Wauseon	Brandon Tijerina	50	$    45.00
TWP Trustee	Amboy	Thomas Herr	25	$    30.00
TWP Trustee	Chesterfield	Clark Emmons	25	$    30.00
TWP Trustee	Clinton	Larry Neuenschwander	25	$    30.00
TWP Trustee	Dover	Larry Burkholder	25	$    30.00
TWP Trustee	Franklin	Michael Kinsman	25	$    30.00
TWP Trustee	Fulton	Scott Gillen	25	$    30.00
TWP Trustee	German	Kennet Leupp	25	$    30.00
TWP Trustee	Gorham	Eliot Richardson	25	$    30.00
TWP Trustee	Pike	Jon Ehrsam	25	$    30.00
TWP Trustee	Royalton	Neil Shaw	25	$    30.00
TWP Trustee	Swancreek	Gene Wilson	25	$    30.00
TWP Trustee	York	Mark Jones	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	Anthony Wayne	Jeffrey Baden	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	Anthony Wayne	Pam Brint	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	Anthony Wayne	Jayna Reagan	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	Archbold	Jeremy Hurst	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	Archbold	Tyson Stuckey	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	Evergreen	Nora Kiefer	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	Evergreen	Zachary Murry	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	Fayette	Ryan Eberly	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	Fayette	Kirk Keiser	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	Fayette	Jason Kessler	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	Liberty Center	Jeff Benson	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	Liberty Center	Todd Spangler	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	PDY	James Bower	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	PDY	Alice Simon	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	PDY	Tamara Sprow	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	Pettisville	Brent King	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	Pettisville	Scott Rupp	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	Swanton	Benjamin Remer	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	Swanton	David Smith	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	Wauseon	Larry Fruth	25	$    30.00
BOE Member	Wauseon	Stacia Radabaugh	25	$    30.00

In November of 2021, a representative of Delta’s North Star BlueScope Steel facility, Kirsten Fruchey, contacted Swanton resident and well-known local artist Nannette Sturtevant for help with a major art project.  The company, which is based in Australia, had contracted for Ms. Sturtevant’s talents many times in the past, when they had her paint landscape portraits of the front of the Delta plant for executives located at their Australian headquarters.  While she had completed a total of 30 portraits over many of the 25 years since the facility was constructed, this new request would prove to be an undertaking like nothing she had ever even attempted before.

North Star asked Nannette to produce 33 10”x20” acrylic framed portraits similar to the ones she had created in the past and complete the project by June of 2022.  The portraits were to be given as gifts during the company’s holiday party in December to all the employees who had worked there all of the 25 years of the facilities existence.  Nannette, a graduate of Ringling College of Art & Design in Sarasota, Florida, was chosen to create these unique works of art because of her skill, talent and well-known reputation as an artist in Northwest Ohio.  Her works can be found in many homes and businesses in the area and at the Fulton County Museum in Wauseon as well.

Ironically, Ms. Sturtevant also had several connections to the steel plant long before she provided that first portrait.  At the time, she was living in Delta when construction began and, as a member of the Delta Chamber of Commerce, had an opportunity to meet some of the North Star executives involved in the construction project.  Her husband Scott helped build the plant while working for Rudolph Libbe Inc. who had been contracted to build the facility and the property on which the plant sits, was purchased from one of Scott’s cousins.

With 33 portraits to complete in just a relatively short time, Nannette had to try a very different strategy to meet the deadline.  Essentially, she employed an “assembly line” method to the process which drastically reduced the set up and prep time for the labor-intensive endeavor.  “I painted the sky, sky, sky, sky and so on,” she said.  “I had enough mixed up and used that color up and then I did the grass and the grass and the grass.  The last part was the steel mill and their sign.  Those tiny letters had to be perfect.”

Because it is impossible to duplicate each brush stroke from one painting to the next, every portrait is different from all the others and all are uniquely special.  Nannette was able to complete the project by the end of May, well ahead of the deadline, allowing several portraits to be given out right away and the rest in December.  Ms. Sturtevant is also a member of the Swanton Fine Arts Committee and enters pieces every year in the Swanton Chamber of Commerce’s Fine Arts Exhibit held at Valleywood Golf Club in October.

Pictured: Nannette Sturtevant with North Star BlueScope Portrait