Kendall Sprow scored half of her game-high 16 points in the second quarter, helping the Lady Panthers to a ten-point halftime lead as Delta went on to defeat the Swanton Lady Bulldogs 52-43 in Swanton’s Kevin J. McQuade Gymnasium on Thursday night. The Bulldogs rallied in the fourth quarter to pull within two points when Peighton Manning hit for eight straight points, including two shots from long range, but Delta sank five of seven free throws towards the end of the game to seal the victory. The Panthers also got 14 points from Kate Friess and Emma Crow led Swanton with 15 points.
Delta Lady Panthers: 11-18-10-13 = 52 Kendal Sprow (16), Kate Friess (14), Grace Munger (10), Emma Demaline (8), Olivia Smith (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 he fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Kendall Sprow battles inside for two points
We are one full month into the new year and a new Village Council has been seated, including the newest member, John Schmidt, who was elected this past November, fill the seat previously held by Dave Pilliod, who chose not to run for another term. Returning members are Dianne Westhoven who was reelected in November and Derek Kania, Samantha Disbrow and Mikey Disbrow, all who will be in third year of their four-year term. Mr. Kania will also be serving as President of the Council or Mayor Pro Tempore and will fill in for Mayor Neil Toeppe, who is starting his second term as mayor, when the mayor is absent.
As always, it is expected to be a busy and challenging year for the Village. Below, from the desk of Mayor Toeppe, are some of the major highlights the Village Administration and its service organizations will be dealing with in 2024.
Fire Division
We will be implementing the recommendations of the Organizational Assessment from the Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Association. Over the past several months we have significantly increased the staffing level of the division and expect to continue to grow. We are increasing the number of paramedics and are finding grant monies to help offset the cost of paramedic training, On the job training will increase for all positions. We are starting the year with two new lieutenants. We also will see a significant increase in fire inspections since we have a dedicated Fire Inspector.
Police Department
We continue to be fully staffed. The police department will continue to explore grant opportunities to help alleviate the burden on the general fund. We are in the process of getting a canine (K9) certified. We now have an officer qualified as a firearms instructor and he will be taking over the operations or management of the firearms range. We will be increasing enforcement of excessive speeds on village streets, especially Church, Dodge, Brookside, and Munson. The police department will continue to work with the Ohio Collaborative to ensure policies and procedures adhere to the standards of the State of Ohio. Continuing education for all members of the police department will be increased this year from years prior. The police department and other village departments will continue to work close to together in preparing for activities within the village, including Firework, Corn Festival, Halloween Hoopla and the Christmas parade.
Water and Sewer
We expect to complete the Storm and Sanitary Sewer separation projects this year. After having two big projects completed in 2023 (RO upgrade and Water Tower painting) the Water Plant will be looking to do some minor improvement/maintenance projects at the Water Plant. Water Distribution will be working on identifying lead service lines as the updated lead service line inventory is due October 16, 2024. New rules that were put in effect late 2022 have made this inventory a mandatory requirement.
Public Service
With the near completion of the Sewer separation projects we will renew our focus on street improvements. We will be assessing streets that need improvements and determining estimated cost and budget implications. We will be doing some crack sealing of the roads this year to prolong their lifetime. Due to EPA regulations, we will be inspecting water service lines to determine the materials used. This will take all summer. We also plan on retro fitting Christmas decorations to LED bulbs and getting the sequencers that make them move, repaired or replaced.
Administration and Finance
With the anticipated change in refuse service this April the office staff will be familiarizing themselves with the new company. Individual contracts will be between the residents and Klumm Brothers. Residents will be able to select the level of service that meets their needs. Current and proposed 2024 road projects will continue to keep the village staff busy. Annual water rates will reflect in the February billing. We will begin to prepare for the annual activities such as the Fireworks, Corn Festival and Christmas in Swanton events. The Fiscal Officer continues to research grant opportunities to help leverage your tax dollars.
Photo: Swanton Village Solicitor R. Kent Murphree swears in Councilwoman Dianne Westhoven and Councilman John Schmidt at the Village’s first meeting of the year on January 8, 2024.
Isaac Hansel and Michael Laver each topped the 200 mark with games of 239 and 203, respectively, to lead the Evergreen Vikings over the Wauseon Indians in a bowling match 2382-2116 at the Swanton Sports Center Tuesday night. Evan Stevens of Wauseon led all bowlers with a two-game series of 381, including a 214 game but the high balanced scoring of Evergreen was too much to overcome.
With the high school bowling season winding down, the Evergreen Vikings added another check mark in the win column with a 2178-1993 victory over the Patrick Henry Patriots. Viking junior Michael Laver topped all bowlers with a two-game series score of 372 in the match held at the Swanton Sports Center on Monday afternoon. The Patriots were led by Isaiah Geahlen who rolled a two-game series score of 335.
Evergreen Vikings: Michael Laver (187 + 185 = 372), Xaviar Robinette (172 + 180 = 352), Trevor Johnson (140 + 192 = 332), Layne Vance (162 + 156 = 318), Thomas Baker (136 + 145 = 381), Baker Games (213 + 127 + 183 = 523) Total = 2178
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: Michael Laver leads all Evergreen bowlers with a 194.25 average
In their final home match of the season, the Swanton Bowling Bulldogs celebrated Senior Night by recognizing Elias Eaton, the team’s only soon to be graduating senior. The Bulldogs went up against the Bryan Golden Bears and dropped a 2445-2160 to the second-place team in the Northwest Ohio High School Bowling League. Dakota Brandeberry rolled a two-game series score of 457 to lead Bryan and Conner Williams shot a two-game series score of 409 for Swanton.
Bryan Golden Bears: Dakota Brandenberry (245 + 212 = 457), Henry Burton (232 + 195 = 427), Trevor Graig (213 + 191 = 422) Justin Murphy (211 + 180 = 399), Oliver Proxmire (163 + 193 = 356), Baker Games (140 + 124 + 138 = 402) Total = 2445
Swanton Bulldogs: Conner Williams (232 + 177 = 409), Scott Lafferty-Reside (174 + 179 = 353), Emma Leonard (181 + 138 = 319), Elias Eaton (133 + 129 = 262), Conor Yates (183), Chase Rafferty-Reside (129), Baker Games (224 + 118 + 163 = 505) Total = 2160
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 Coach Stu Graf thanks Senior Elias Eaton for his contribution to the Bulldog bowling program
Prior to the Swanton Bulldogs boys’ varsity basketball game against the Wauseon Indians, Swanton residents and husband and wife, Derek and Cat Kania, were recognized and honored for their long and dedicated military service to America. They were brought out to center court and a brief synopsis of their amazing story was read to the crowd by Swanton High School students Marlee Purdy and Lila Walborn.
Below is the transcript from that special event.
Derek and Cat Kania have over 40 years of combined service in the United States Air Force. They both made the decision to enlist in the Air Force Reserve after the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001. Cat enlisted at the 914th Air Force Reserve Base in Niagara Falls, New York, while Derek enlisted at the 927th Air Force Base Reserve in Selfridge, Michigan, but he lived in Bowling Green, Ohio.
In late 2006, Derek was contacted by his supervisor to let him know he would be attached to another Security Forces Squadron in New York that was being activated. When the time came to be deployed in January of 2007, what he didn’t know, was that he would be teamed up with a group of people that would include his future wife.
Cat and Derek were both called to do over six months of active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployed to Kirkuk Regional Airbase, Iraq. They spent their days dodging mortar and rocket attacks, small arms fire, sandstorms and battling the searing 130⁰F heat. In this war-torn country is where their journey together began.
In August of 2007, their deployment came to an end. Derek went back home to Ohio and Cat went home to New York. Less than two weeks after returning from Iraq, Derek and Cat realized they were meant for each other. After a convincing phone call from Derek, Cat quickly packed up her car, moved to Ohio to live with him and she hasn’t left since. Over the years they have both been stationed at different Air Force bases and seized every opportunity to travel to different countries in support of numerous operations.
Derek and Cat eventually moved to New York where they were both members of the 914th Airlift Wing. They spent a few years there and then moved back to Ohio where Derek began his career with the 180th Fighter Wing. After another deployment with the 914th in 2016, Cat decided to transfer to the 180th as well. Throughout their careers they made time to raise their two amazing daughters, Ella and Kylie.
After moving way too many times, they finally decided to set their roots in Swanton in 2013. Here, Cat was able to see her dream of opening a coffee and bake shop come to fruition. She retired from the Air Force with over 20 years of dedicated service in October of 2022 with the rank of Master Sergeant. Derek continues his service as an active member of the 180th Fighter Wing, Security Forces Squadron working alongside Coach/Chief Master Sergeant Russell Bacon. He also serves the Village of Swanton as an elected member of the Swanton Village Council and as the Village’s Mayor Pro Tempore.
Cat and Derek have been to many countries such as Germany, Kuwait, Saudia Arabia, Iraq, Iceland, Ireland, France, Spain, Qatar and several other locations within the United States. The Kanias are proud to call Swanton their home and they thank everyone for all the support this town devotes to its military members past, present and future.
Photo (L to R): Ella Kania, Cat Kania, Marlee Purdy, Lila Walborn, Derek Kania, Kylie Kania
Entering the fourth quarter, the Wauseon Indians trailed the Evergreen Vikings on their home court by eight points, then staged a furious comeback by outscoring the visitors 19-4 to win going away 51-44 in a battle for the top spot in the NWOAL Boys Basketball standings. A Rliey Dunbar putback at the buzzer to end the third quarter gave the Vikings the eight-point lead and what appeared to be all the momentum heading into the final eight minutes. However, the Indians quickly flipped the script, getting scoring from five different players in the quarter, including six each from Riley Riegsecker and Tyson Rodriguez and blitzed past the Vikings to sit alone in first place in the league.
Connor Keefer led Wauseon and all players with 15 points. The victory improves their record to 3-0 in the NWOAL and 9-5 overall. Next on the Indian’s schedule is a trip to Patrick Henry on February 2nd to take on the Patriots. Eli Keifer scored 13 points to pace Evergreen. The Vikings drop to 2-1 in the league and 11-3 on the season. They will next travel to Fairview on January 29th to play the Apaches.
Click on the link above to access photos from the game. Photos are in th jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Connor Keefer scored a game-high 15 points in the win
The Delta Panthers Bowling team celebrated Senior Night by edging the Evergreen Vikings by the razor thin margin of four pins, 2049-2045 on Friday at the Swanton Sports Center. The Panthers jumped out to a commanding 122 pin lead after the two match-play games, but the Vikings roared back during the Baker games, falling just short. Delta senior Brody Waugh led all bowlers with a two-game series score of 388. Sophomore Xaviar Robinette rolled a two-game series score of 372 for Evergreen which included a match-high game of 221.
Panther seniors honored on the evening were McKenzie O’Neil, Ethan Cone and Brody Waugh. It was the final home match of the season for Delta who will finish their schedule next week on the road. Following the end of the regular season, the NWOAL Tournament will be held at River City Bowl-a-Way in Napoleon.
Evergreen Vikings: Xaviar Robinette (221 + 151 = 372), Michael Laver (149 + 202 = 351), Makayla McKenzie (144 + 158 = 302), Cohen Myers (134), Thomas Baker (123), Trevor Johnson (103), Layne Vance (102), Baker Games (197 + 162 + 199 = 558) Total = 2045
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 for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Delta Bowlers Senior Night – McKenzie O’Neil, Ethan Cone, Brody Waugh, Asst. Coach Jerry Donaldson, Head Coach Dave Kina, Asst. Coach Brock Waugh
Holding a tenuous two-point lead with under two seconds remaining in the game, the Archbold Lady Blue Streaks escaped with a 48-46 road victory when Delta’s three-point attempt from the right baseline just missed its mark as the buzzer sounded. The Lady Panthers actually had two shots from beyond the arc in the final seconds but could not find the bottom of the net in a heart-breaking loss. Delta had rallied from an early ten-point deficit and had pulled within one point several times in the fourth quarter but missed several chances to take the lead.
Sophomore Charlee Forward led the Lady Streaks and all the players in the game with 18 points. Senior Kate Friess scored 16 points to lead the Lady Panthers. The Archbold win moves their NWOAL record to 1-2 and 8-9 overall. They will next play at home against the Evergreen Lady Vikings on Thursday, February 1, 2024. Delta drops to 1-3 in the league and 8-8 on the season. Their next game is away on Monday, January 29, 2024 against the North Central Lady Eagles.
Archbold Lady Blue Streaks: 14-9-11-14 = 48 Charlee Forward (18), Alayna Perez (12), Norah Ruffer (9), Miley Gerike (3), Grace Meyer (2)
Click on the link above to access photos from the game. Photos are in th jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Charlee Forward drives in for two of her game-high 18 points
The Swanton Bulldogs defeated the Evergreen Vikings 57-13, Tuesday night in Swanton
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Photo: Brady Haselman goes off glass for two points
Fulton County Ohio Media 