Mickey Disbrow, a Swanton Village Councilman elected in November of 2021, submitted a Letter of Resignation to Mayor Neil Toeppe which was read at the November 25, 2024 Council meeting. Mayor Toeppe read the letter aloud during the meeting. It reads as follows:
Dear Mayor Toeppe,
I am writing to inform you that I will be resigning from my position as Council Member for the Village of Swanton. I have been fortunate to be part of this amazing team and have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. I have learned a lot and have grown both personally and professionally from being on Council. I have also had the opportunity to work with some incredible individuals. I hope that my efforts have made a positive impact on the Village and its employees. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and guidance through my time as a Council Member. Please consider this my formal resignation notice.
Mayor Toeppe then informed the five remaining Council Members of the procedure stated in the Ohio Revised Code required to fill the vacancy. Council will have 30 days to elect a new Council Member which will serve the remaining one-year of Mr. Disbrow’s term. If they fail to do so, the responsibility will fall to the Mayor.
A vacancy has recently occurred on the Village Council, and it is up to the Council to fill the remaining one (1) year of the current term.
If you’re interested in being considered for this position, please submit a letter expressing your interest to the Village Administrator at the Municipal Building. The deadline to submit your letter is noon on December 6, 2024. The Village Council has 30 days to fill the vacancy, and it will likely be addressed at the December 9th Council meeting.
Eligibility: *Must be a resident of the Village of Swanton. *Must be a registered voter.
If the Council does not make a selection within 30 days, the Mayor will have the responsibility to make the appointment.
Late in the third quarter, the Swanton JV Bulldogs trailed the Lake Flyers by 17 points, but back-to-back three pointers by Owen Hurst and Drew Koder sparked a rally just before entering the fourth quarter in which Swanton pulled within three points. However, the scoring burst was just not enough to overcome the huge deficit and the Bulldogs fell 52-46 in their season opener Friday night at Kevin J. McQuade Gymnasium. Swanton sophomore Marquise Zalecki had a game-high 16 points, including all eight of the Bulldogs’ points in the first quarter.
Lake Flyers: 16-6-17-13 = 52 Brandon Foster (16), Daniel Perez (11), Michah Kinn (10), Jace Ayers (6), Kalen Magers (6), Mekhi Gilbert (2), Andrew Ramirez (1)
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.
Freshman Brady Haselman scored 13 of his game-high 19 points in the second half as the Swanton Bulldogs defeated the Lake Flyers 68-56 in the first game of the 2024-2025 boys’ basketball high school season in Swanton’s Kevin J. McQuade Gymnasium. Down 12-10 after the first quarter, the Bulldogs outscored the Flyers 18-10 and 19-13 in the next two quarters to take a 12-point lead heading into the final frame. Lake shot well in the fourth quarter in scoring 21 points, but Swanton was just as hot and matched the 21 points to win with the 12-point advantage.
The Bulldogs will now go on the road for the next four games beginning with a one-hour trip to Miller City, Ohio to take on the Miller City Wildcats. The JV game begins at 6:00 p.m. with the Varsity game to follow approximately 20 minutes after the conclusion of the JV game.
Lake Flyers: 12-10-13-21 = 56 Preston Snyder (12), Drew Tajbilk (11), Travis Merrill (9), Jay Blazevich (6), Carter Behimer (6), Xavier Scott (4), Jack Sobczak (4), Jaxon Rymers (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: Bulldog senior Charlie Wood dunks for two of his 18 points
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.
Photo: First Federal of Delta’s Swanton Branch Manager, Shelly Keifer, cuts the ribbon to officially open the new Swanton locationwith bank employees, Village of Swanton Officials, and members of the Swanton Chamber of Commerce in attendance.
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
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.
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 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.
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
Fulton County Ohio Media 