Summer Block Parties, organized and sponsored by the Swanton Chamber of Commerce, have become a very popular “Can’t Miss” event in the DORA of Downtown Swanton. This past Saturday, Zeiter Way was rocking to the music of Renegade Lemonade as party goers, adults and children alike, filled the street to enjoy the summer evening fun with a Christmas in July theme. The next Block Party will be Saturday, August 15th, from 6:00-9:00 PM.
Click on the link above to access photos from the night. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded and shared for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website and the Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce.
At the regularly scheduled Swanton Village Council meeting on Monday night, three individuals addressed the Council with their concerns regarding what they believe to be the inability of Council members to work together in the best interest of the Village of Swanton to the point of being borderline dysfunctional. What prompted these citizens to speak up was the resignation of Village Administrator Shannon Shulters during a Special Council meeting last Monday and the reasons she gave for her decision, and the March resignation of Fiscal Officer Holden Benfield which was thought to be for similar reasons. The three speakers were, in order, Holden Benfield (former Fiscal Officer, 2023-2026), Samantha Disbrow (former Swanton Councilwoman, 2022-2025) and Delray Busch (Executive Director of the Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce).
In order to give the readers, the best understanding and intent of the speakers from what was said to Council members Dave Pilliod, John Schmidt, Deacon Dzierzawski, Dianne Westhoven, Pat Pilliod and Noah Kreuz, I have decided to publish their addresses in their entirety. While this may be very lengthy, it is important to establish the proper context.
Holden Benfield: Good evening, Council,
It’s good to see everyone again, even if the circumstances aren’t the best at the moment.
I came down today to voice my concerns over the continuation of council’s problems since the start of the year. I still find myself worried about how council is operating. Yet, by advent of Shannon’s resignation and the news, I don’t feel it has truly improved. I want to offer my opinion as firstly a concerned resident, and secondly a former employee.
I’m disappointed. I started in 2023 and came into a fiscal nightmare, over ten thousand dollars had been improperly recorded and work left undone by the former fiscal officer. Yet with the patience of the council at the time, and the support of the administration, it was corrected. It took months to resolve even January. Then came a mad dash to catch up, and after working until 1:00am one night in late November, everything was balanced and restored to order. It was resultant of that support that when the audit came, we were marked as an unmodified opinion, this is the best outcome we could have hoped for.
I hope that will never happen again, but I cannot believe that if it did, that that support would exist with the current council. Both in my own experience and in my opinion, if you found yourself in the same situation, pressure would mount, the Fiscal Officer wouldn’t have the time needed to learn the context of the job, and they would quit to seek a less stressful environment. This, then, becomes a cycle. This isn’t something predictable, you can’t forecast how long it will take to fill a role. But you can estimate how attractive you are to incoming staff. If it were me, you are not.
The way I see council now is… I think ‘defunct’ is the best word. I did not leave because of the fire, it had very little bearing on that decision. I had to leave because I could see the downward spiral for what it was. Shannon’s departure, the mayor’s comments, the reporting done by the village reporter. It’s all indicative of a larger issue.
Councilman Dzierzawski has preached many times that discourse is good and that these deliberations are meant to be lengthy discussions. I agree on the idea, but not the execution. The current council is struggling to show meaningful pursuit of a holistic, ideological goal. As mentioned in the Administrator’s resignation letter.
Additionally, something that Shannon always said, and something that was echoed by the Fulton County Leadership university I attended while with Swanton, was if you come to a table with only problems and no attempt at a solution, you are only shifting the onus of your issues elsewhere. So as a resident now with more context than most, let me present my thoughts on solutions.
Councilwoman Pilliod, and Councilwoman Westhoven, I think you are far too silent. I think you should speak and voice your opinions more; elaborate and throw your hats into the ring when things are brought up. It seems as though in the past months council has been governed by two or three people. I hope the both of you can remedy that.
Councilman Pilliod; in sessions you have repeatedly, and unbendingly related situations to policies from the first half of the 1900’s, the Reagan administration, and tried to advocate for reinstating council authority over things that are in direct contest with the ORC due to it being ‘how it was always done in the past’. Namely the purview of council over the decisions of hiring and firing by the administration. I suggest considering the ideas of the more modernist concepts of legislation in combination with your experience. I also suggest you study other municipalities current policies and their approaches when new legislation is being proposed.
Councilman Dzierzawski, there was a news report from the council session where this year’s budget was approved, and you and I had our long back-and-forth on the topic. The reporter stated the following: Quote “Dzierzawski repeatedly cut off Fiscal Officer Holden Benfield, including while Benfield was attempting to answer questions Dzierzawski had asked.” End quote It was even visible to the reporter that you could not stop yourself from talking over me. I have also seen you do this with others. I have experienced your communications with department heads relating to budgetary and other matters firsthand. I will not call it unprofessional in terms of writing. I do feel it was burdensome. In the midst of recovery from a fire, was burdensome the amount that was requested. I understand the timely nature of the requests, but context of what that puts on the recipients was lacking. It does not matter if you do, or do not, request the information be prioritized, the default onus is there. If you do not understand that, then you fail to understand your position.
Additionally, even when I had answered all of those questions, you repeated the requests asking for the same things in different ways. The most glaring example of this was in our budget discussion in session, where you asked after the “budget vs actual”, and it stunned me briefly because that information was one of the first things I had ever sent to you. It is in the reconciliation report every month, and the basis of most of the documentation I had supplied to you. Which made me feel as though you had not even read the things I had sent, except to find talking points for the next meeting.
Mr. Dzierzawski, my suggestion is to put more weight on your own words. You throw them out casually, but often seemingly before they’ve fully formed. Either just “throwing out ideas” or “asking questions” as you’re fond of saying. I think if you curtailed even half of your topics by slowing yourself down to fully understand what you’ve been provided, the conversation would be more productive.
Councilmen Schmidt and Kreuz, I think laying out a plan of action for the village is in order. I think, as Shannon has put it, that the village has lost its sense of direction. I think it’s time to create a compromise, and write it down. The talk has been continuing, but administration needs something to walk, otherwise the village of Swanton will continue to stagnate. Only fighting won’t lead anywhere, compromise has to be made even if it amounts to a ‘ceasefire’.
I worry for the ability of the village to bring in economic development to the newly annexed land with how council has been. I worry for the continued growth of the town, and the property values of the resident’s land. I don’t want to see us slide back into how we were in 2020, or even further before that.
Thank you for your time, I wish you all the best and hope to see change for the town.
Delray Busch: To the Mayor and Members of Swanton Village Council,
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce and the businesses we represent, I want to respectfully share our concern regarding the continuity and stability of Village leadership. First, we want to thank each of you for stepping forward to serve our community. Public service requires time, patience, and difficult decision making, and we recognize that it can often be a thankless role.
The recent resignation of Village Administrator Shannon Shulters follows the departure of Holden Benfield within the first six months of the new Council taking office. The loss of two experienced employees in key leadership and financial positions within a short period raises understandable concerns about communication, internal support, continuity, and the future direction of Village operations.
The Chamber is not here to assign blame or question any one individual. We understand personnel matters are complex and that the public does not always see the full picture. Our concern is the impact continued turnover could have on businesses, residents, Village employees, community partners, and future development.
Businesses look for stability when deciding where to invest and grow. They need confidence in consistent administration, responsible financial oversight, and dependable leadership. Swanton has built positive momentum through infrastructure improvements, grant funding, redevelopment, and community partnerships. Protecting that progress requires strong communication, leadership continuity, and the preservation of institutional knowledge.
Gaps in those areas can lead to delayed projects, missed opportunities, increased costs, and uncertainty. We are not suggesting those outcomes have already occurred. We are asking Council to take this moment seriously and consider what steps are needed to strengthen communication, working relationships, and organizational support.
The Chamber respectfully encourages Council to act thoughtfully, promptly, and transparently in the best interests of Swanton’s businesses and residents. We value our relationship with the Village, appreciate your service, and remain committed to working together to support the continued growth and success of Swanton. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Samantha Disbrow: Good evening. My name is Sam Disbrow, and I’m here tonight as a resident who cares deeply about the future of our Village. Over the past several months, I’ve become increasingly concerned about the relationship between this Council and Village staff. It’s my understanding, from what I’ve heard from employees, that staff members are spending an excessive amount of time responding to the demands of an individual council member instead of focusing on serving the residents of Swanton.
Oversight is an important responsibility of Council. Asking questions is appropriate. Transparency is important. But there is a point where oversight becomes micromanagement, and when that happens, it affects the ability of employees to do their jobs efficiently and with confidence. Specifically, I believe Council Member Deacon D’s approach has become counterproductive. In my opinion, the constant demands for information and involvement in administrative matters have created unnecessary strain on Village operations.
Whether you agree with his intentions or not, the results should concern everyone. If experienced employees are leaving or considering leaving because the work environment has become difficult, that should be a wake-up call for this Council. Recruiting and retaining qualified staff is difficult enough without adding unnecessary obstacles. This isn’t about personalities or politics. It’s about making sure the Village is governed effectively.
Council should be focused on setting policy and establishing priorities, not managing day-to-day operations. I hope this Council takes an honest look at how it functions, because the residents deserve a Village government that is focused on moving Swanton forward not micromanaging staff. We simply cannot afford the lose Shannon. Shannon and Holden were the best additions to the Village staff in years, maybe decades…and we already lost one of them. Thank you.
The entire Council meeting may be viewed on the Village’s Facebook page
On Friday evening, the Swanton Village Council held a special meeting inside the Fire Department Building to discuss ways to relieve the Village Administrator, Shannon Shulters, from the burden of having to fulfill the responsibilities of the Fiscal Officer position while simultaneously doing her own job. The reason for the meeting arose when Ms. Shulters announced her resignation, effective September 14th, 2026, at another special Council meeting the previous Monday. In that Monday meeting, Ms. Shulters informed the Council she could no longer do both jobs as she had been doing for approximately four months following the resignation of then Fiscal Officer, Holden Benfield.
Present at the Friday meeting were two representatives from the Robert Half Human Resource Consulting Firm, Talent Manager Ryan Larzelere and Senior Accountant Joyce Marie Elmore. The company offered to contract out Ms. Elmore at a rate of $91.00 per hour with a minimum of 37.5 hours per week and a contract of no less than six weeks or a total of $20,475. Her qualifications provided by Robert Half were as follows:
Joyce Marie is a highly skilled Senior Accountant with a strong knowledge of full-cycle accounting. She has experience with AP/AR, general ledger, journal entries, month-end & year-end close reconciliations, fixed assets, payroll, financial analysis, Sales & Use Tax, reconciliations and creating SOPs. Joyce Marie is a hard worker with an incredible drive and a wonderful personality!
Proficiencies – AP/AR, Cash applications, Collections (consumer & B2B), Journal Entries, Reconciliations, General Ledger, Sales & Use Tax, Payroll, Creating SOPs, Month-end Journal Entries Industry Experience – Manufacturing, Non-Profit, Automotive, Restaurant, Agriculture Software Knowledge – SAP, QuickBooks, Excel, Great Plains, JD Edwards, Kronos, AS400, Adobe, QAD, Atlas, CorelDraw, Publisher Education: BA in Accounting, University of Toledo
The two representatives fielded a number of questions from the Mayor and the Council members and also offered to help train any incoming individuals hired for the Fiscal Officer position. Robert Half does conduct employee searches with a one-time charge of 25% of the offered salary.
Following the question-and-answer period, the representatives left the room and Council members discussed a variety of options including the Robert Hall offer. Councilwoman Diane Westhoven related her conversation with another temporary agency, explaining she was told there were far less expensive alternatives that would come with far less, if any, experience. Ms. Westhoven was also informed that the salary range being offered by the Village would be an entry-level salary and would only attract recent college graduates or those with little experience.
Another option that was discussed was the raising of the offered salary range. Mayor Neil Toeppe mentioned that strategy had been successful before. Since the departure of Mr. Benfield, applicants for the position were determined not to be qualified or offers that were made were rejected. Councilman Noah Kreuz suggested the investigation of more information along with further discussion before making any decisions. Councilman Deacon Dzierzawski reminded everyone that a State of Ohio audit on Village finances was coming very soon. All Council members agreed to prioritize getting Ms. Shulters help as soon as possible. Currently, there is one active application.
The next Village Council meeting is tonight at 7:00 PM in the Beauty Salon on Main Street.
Photo: Talent Manager Ryan Larzelere and Senior Accountant Joyce Marie Elmore of Robert Half Consulting
The Lassus Handy Dandy convenience store Fulton County locations in Swanton and Delta have been sold to S&G and Ridi respectively, along with locations in Napoleon and Van Wert. Lassus credit card holders were notified by email of the sale and how it would affect their card. The letter read, in part:
Thank you for your loyalty and support over the years. It has been our privilege to serve you, and we truly appreciate you choosing Lassus. As part of the sale of our Ohio store locations, the stores listed below will no longer accept Lassus Credit Card on the following dates:
Delta, OH: Effective July 20, 2026 Napoleon, OH: Effective July 20,2026 Van Wert, OH: Effective July 21, 2026 Swanton, OH: Effective July 29, 2026
Your Lassus Credit account will remain active and can continue to be used at all participating Lassus locations. We are still proud to serve our customers at nearby locations, including Montpelier, OH, New Haven IN, and our Maplecrest Road location in Fort Wayne IN, along with all other participating Lassus locations.
If you have any questions or if you no longer wish to maintain your Lassus Credit account due to these changes, you may contact our Accounts Receivable team at 260-436-1415 X228 or accountsreceivable@lassus.com for assistance with closing your account.
We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have served these communities over the years. Thank you for your business, your loyalty, and for allowing us to be part of your daily routine.
On Monday evening, the Swanton Village Council held a special meeting at 7:00 PM with an immediate executive session. Upon reconvening at 8:34 PM, Shannon Shulters, Village Administrator, read a letter, informing the Mayor and Council members of her Formal Notice of Resignation. The letter, in its entirety, is below.
Dear Mayor Toeppe and Members of Council. Please accept this letter as my formal notice of resignation from my position as Village Administrator for the Village of Swanton. Unless significant and meaningful changes are made regarding the expectations, authority, organizational support, and respect afforded to this position, my final day of employment will be September 14th, 2026.
First and foremost, I would like to thank Mayor Neil Toeppe for the opportunity to serve the Village of Swanton over the past four years. It has been one of the greatest honors of my professional career. When I accepted this position, I did so because I believed in this community and its future. Every decision I have made has been guided by what I believed was in the best interest of the Village, its employees, and its residents.
Over the last four years, I have given this position everything I had. I have worked early mornings, late nights, weekends, holidays, and remained available whenever the Village needed me because I understood that leadership in local government does not end when the office closes. I accepted those sacrifices because I believed in the work we were doing.
Looking back, I am proud of what we accomplished together. We successfully managed millions of dollars in infrastructure improvements, secured and administered grant funding, completed significant road, water, sewer, and wastewater projects, guided the Village through operational and financial challenges, responded to emergencies—including the Municipal Building fire—and continued moving Swanton forward despite numerous obstacles. Those accomplishments required commitment, perseverance, and an unwavering dedication to this community.
I leave knowing I have always done the very best job I was capable of doing for the Village of Swanton. Unfortunately, dedication without boundaries eventually becomes exhaustion.
Over the past several months, I have reached a level of burnout that I can no longer ignore. Time is the one thing none of us ever gets back, and this position has required me to sacrifice an extraordinary amount of mine. I have missed time with my family, evenings, weekends, holidays, and countless personal moments because I believed the Village came first. While I accepted those sacrifices for a season, they cannot become a permanent expectation.
One of the greatest challenges facing the Village today is not a lack of qualified professionals willing to serve, but rather our inability to remain competitive in today’s employment market. We Page | 1 continue attempting to recruit executive-level talent using compensation structures that no longer reflect the realities of 2026. We are attempting to fill 2026 positions with 2019 wages. Until the Village is willing to invest in attracting and retaining qualified professionals, vacancies in key leadership positions will continue to be difficult to fill.
When the Fiscal Officer position became vacant, I willingly stepped in because the Village needed someone to ensure operations continued uninterrupted. I never hesitated to do what was necessary. However, what began as a temporary necessity has become an ongoing expectation. Even with the additional compensation approved by Council, I am not compensated to perform two executive-level positions.
More importantly, no amount of temporary compensation justifies asking one individual to indefinitely carry the responsibilities of two full-time executive offices. Equally challenging has been the environment in which I have been expected to lead. Throughout my tenure, I have faithfully carried out the direction provided by Council while managing the daily operations of the Village. Yet too often I have found myself navigating conflicting direction, changing priorities, and contradictory expectations. I have been expected to implement decisions only to later be criticized for following those same directives. It is incredibly difficult to effectively manage an organization when expectations continually shift and accountability is expected without consistently providing the authority and trust necessary to lead.
Leadership requires consistency. It requires trust. Most importantly, it requires allowing your Administrator to administer.
Perhaps the most disappointing realization throughout this process is that it has taken my resignation for the seriousness of this situation to be fully recognized. The long hours, the increasing workload, the responsibility of carrying multiple executive functions, and the obvious signs of exhaustion did not develop overnight. They existed for months. I wish meaningful conversations about sustainability, support, staffing, and workload had taken place before I reached the point where resignation became the only responsible decision, I felt I could make.
No employee should have to reach the point of complete burnout before their workload and struggles are acknowledged.
This decision has not been made impulsively, nor has it been made out of anger. It has been made because I have reached my limit. I have given this Village every ounce of my energy, professionalism, commitment, and heart. I simply have nothing left to give under the current circumstances.
If the Mayor and Council genuinely wish for me to remain as Village Administrator beyond August 31, those discussions must result in meaningful, measurable, and lasting changes, including: • Compensation that allows the Village to recruit and retain qualified executive staff. • The successful hiring of a permanent Fiscal Officer so the responsibilities of two executive offices are no longer placed upon one individual. • Clear and consistent direction from Council. • Respect for my personal time and reasonable work-life boundaries. • The trust and authority necessary for the Village Administrator to effectively manage the daily operations of the Village without constant contradiction or second-guessing.
These changes must be genuine organizational commitments—not temporary assurances made simply to postpone my departure.
Until August 31, I will continue serving the Village with the same professionalism and dedication that I have demonstrated over the past four years. I will do everything within my ability to ensure a successful transition and leave this organization positioned for continued success.
To the employees of the Village, thank you for your dedication, resilience, and friendship. Serving alongside each of you has been an honor. Mayor Toeppe, thank you for believing in me four years ago and entrusting me with the opportunity to lead this organization. To the residents of Swanton, thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving your community. It has been an honor that I will always be proud of.
I sincerely hope the Village continues to succeed. I also hope that future Village leadership is provided with the support, trust, resources, and respect necessary to successfully lead this organization.
Respectfully, Shannon Shulters Village Administrator Village of Swanton
As is evidenced in the letter, Ms. Shulters does leave open the possibility of withdrawing her resignation. Mayor Toeppe voiced his support for Council to give strong consideration for the changes recommended by Ms. Shulters.
This meeting can be viewed on the Village’s Facebook page. The next Village Council meeting will take place at 7:00 PM on Monday, July 20, 2026.
Despite the brutal heat of approximately 98 degrees along with high humidity, the Swanton fireworks attracted a large crowd to watch one of the best pyrotechnic displays in the area.
Click on the link above to access photos of some of the faces in the crowd before the bombs started bursting in air. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded and shared for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
The Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to celebrate a new chapter for a long-standing Swanton dealership with a ribbon cutting for Ballas Chevrolet. Ballas Buick GMC has expanded into Swanton with the acquisition of McNeill Chevrolet, now operating as Ballas Chevrolet.
The Ballas family has built a strong reputation throughout the region for service, community involvement, and integrity, guided by their longtime principle of “Doing Business With Character.” McNeill Chevrolet has been a respected part of the Swanton community for many years, and Ballas Chevrolet is looking forward to building on that legacy while bringing additional resources, support, and opportunities to local customers.
Ballas Chevrolet offers new Chevrolet models, certified pre-owned vehicles, repair services, a full-service department, and a dedicated parts department. Customers can expect trusted sales, service, parts, and support with the added strength of the Ballas family network.
Location: Ballas Chevrolet Address: 220 W Airport Hwy, Swanton, OH 43558 Phone: 419-826-3701
We are grateful for their investment in Swanton and excited to celebrate this milestone with the Ballas family, their team, local leaders, Chamber members, and the community.
I am old enough to have a vivid recollection of America’s Bicentennial celebration that culminated in the biggest national party our country has ever seen on July Fourth 1976. At the time, I was serving in the United States Air Force on a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base outside Great Falls, Montana. The base was one of several in the country that housed readied missiles armed with nuclear war heads in defense of possible attacks from the Soviet Union and China.
However, the ever-present tension from the on-going Cold War did little to distract from the enthusiasm and Patriotic Vibe Americans were feeling and the energy they poured into celebrations all across the country for the 200th anniversary of the founding of not just the United States of America but of a form of government the world had never truly experienced. Technically, we are a Federal Republic, but we use the term “Democracy” interchangeably with the understanding that “We the People” elect our leaders and have the constitutional right to hold them accountable.
Ironically, that accountability was on full display as the country was led by unelected President Gerald Ford and his unelected Vice-President Nelson Rockerfeller. When Vice-President Spiro Agnew shamefully resigned in 1973 after pleading guilty to tax evasion, GOP Congressman Ford, was selected by the Senate to fill the void. In August of 1974, President Richard Nixon resigned under pressure stemming from his coverup of the Watergate Scandal during the 1972 Presidential Election. The country along with both the Republican and Democratic parties worked in a bipartisan effort to oust two men who had broken the law and violated our Constitution. The system had worked like the Founding Fathers had intended. Nobody would be above the law. America would not be a monarchy. Ford used his authority to pardon Nixon and it cost him the election later that year.
During all of 1976, the colors Red, White and Blue were awash throughout America, finding their way on wearing apparel, vehicles, houses, barns, buildings and into virtually every marketing campaign for both foreign and domestic products. Of course, Old Glory, the American flag, now with 50 stars instead of the original 13, was proudly unfurled and displayed outside millions of homes and private businesses as well as all government facilities and by Veterans’ organizations around the nation. The Federal Government doled out grants to villages, towns and cities in every state to help restore and refurbish historical sites that identified a moment or event or an era in that community’s past and that served as a patch in the quilt that was America. In bringing us together in 1976, the Bicentennial was also instrumental in helping us heal from the tragedy that was the Vietnam War and the misguided battle against the Civil Rights Movement fought mainly in the American South.
Today, 50 years removed from that unified national celebration, the once vibrant colors of the American Flag have faded in the eyes of millions of our citizens and much more so as we are viewed by the rest of the world, even by our closest allies. Sadly, our flag no longer stimulates the same level of pride and patriotism that it did when it united us so closely in 1976. No longer do our allies see our flag at our embassies and feel they that have a trusted partner in the leader of the free world. No longer do our enemies take pause before triggering conflicts and even wars at the risk of seeing the American Flag crossing their borders to protect friendly but vulnerable nations.
The Red, White and Blue began to fade when Donald John Trump announced his intent to run for the office of the President of the United States, then easily defeated all comers for the Republican nomination and, subsequently and shockingly, accumulated more electoral votes than Hilary Rodham Clinton to become our 45th President. The optimists among us hoped and prayed we were not getting the Donald we knew, but a man who would shed his inglorious past and actually Make America Great Again. Unfortunately, Donald 45 came as advertised and was able to enact enough damaging policies that led to his defeat in the 2020 election. As a parting shot, he incited a riotous insurrection on our nation’s Capital in an attempt to stay in power.
It was here that America lost its collective mind. We had the perfect opportunity to impeach and convict Mr. Trump, ensuring he would never be able to hold office again in this country. Trump was impeached, for the second time, but Senate Majority Leader Republican Mitch McConnell refused to hold a vote to convict and Trump escaped justice. Despite his destructive tariff-induced economic policies, despite his 34 felony convictions for campaign violations and despite his civil conviction for sexual assault, Trump maintained his incomprehensible grip on the Republican party.
When President Joe Biden made the ill-advised decision to run for a second term and his White House kept his failing health under wraps until it became too obvious, the Democratic Party had no time to come up with a viable alternative for 2024 and Trump was voted back into office with the support voters with short memories of his first term and far too many Evangelical Christians who had forgotten or even forsaken their religion. With the continued capitulation of the Republican Party, which controls the House and the Senate, the most successful con man in our history has returned on a mission of revenge to punish anyone who stood in opposition to him or his policies and a goal to acquire as much wealth as possible for himself, his family and his friends. Much like the monarchs and ruthless dictators of the past and today’s despot rulers of North Korea, the megalomaniac Trump is intent on placing his name and image on everything he can until he is out of office.
Trump learned from his Cabinet decisions in his first term to appoint only those individuals fiercely loyal to him and, with the help of the U.S. Supreme Court, expand his Presidential powers beyond any of those who came before him. He has rendered both the foreign and domestic Emolument Clauses of the Constitution meaningless as he has accepted billions of dollars’ worth in gifts, all defended by the GOP Congress. More billions have been raked in by the Trump family through stock transactions in companies made before he announced the awarding of major government contracts to those companies without a word from his weaponized Department of Justice.
Our current President guaranteed “No more wars,” a promise that evaporated after he went to war with Iran without the approval of Congress or the support of the American people. The Iranians showed little fear of the American Flag and watched the Red, White and Blue quickly fade to virtually the white of surrender. Billions more spent with little or nothing to show for it. All as American families struggle to put food on the table and fuel in their vehicles.
There is no reason to go on explaining my position on Donald Trump and what has become of the Republican Party. I have definitely said enough. However, I will add that we only have ourselves to blame. We the people put Donald and his friends in power. There is still some color left in Old Glory. It will be up to us in the next and future elections to see it is restored to its full Glory.
On Friday at Valleywood Golf Club, the Swanton Athletic Boosters held their first ever split-session golf outing. With the number of teams expected to be very high, it was decided to have one flight in the morning with an 8:00 AM tee-time and a second flight in the afternoon with a tee-time of 1:30 PM. The format was a four-person team scramble on the par 71 course.
The morning flight had 15 teams and was won by Team Oaks (Joe Oakes, Eric Oakes, Gunnar Oakes, Ben Burke) with a score of 54 (-17). Score for other categories was unavailable.
In the afternoon flight, the winning Men’s team was Team Rukieh (Sy Rukieh, Mazin Rukieh, Garret Swank, Riley Hensley) with a score of 53 (-18). The Ladies team champion was Team RBPN (Renee Bardwell, Brittany Dickerson, Paige Mangotic, Nicole Mason) with a score of 67 (-4). The Co-ed team winners was the Swanton Sports Center (Kevin Ford, Lindsay King, Brandon Walberg, Alyssa Walberg) with a score of 60 (-11).
Click on the link above to access photos from the golf outing. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded and shared for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
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