Fulton County Ohio Media

Editor’s Note : The following is copied from a public Facebook posting by Swanton Village Councilman Noah Kreuz.  The format has been altered for better readability. Mr. Kreuz’s opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Fulton County Media.

Speak NO on Dividing Council into Standing Committees – A major change to how Swanton Village Council operates is up for a vote Monday night.  The proposal would divide council into committees where only two members oversee each department instead of the full council discussing issues together.  Residents should understand what this could mean for transparency and representation.

This Monday, Village Council will vote on returning to a four-committee structure:

• Finance • Public Safety (Police & Fire) • Water & Sewer • Public Service

Each committee would have only two council members overseeing that division of village administration.

While this may sound efficient, it creates serious concerns for transparency, unity, and accountability.

WHY THIS IS A STEP BACKWARD

1. It Divides Council – Currently, the full council discusses departmental issues together during regular meetings. This allows all six elected members to hear the same information and ask questions directly.  If this proposal passes:  Only two members oversee each department.  Four members are left out of deeper discussions.  Council becomes fragmented instead of working as one team.  Strong communities require unified leadership — not solos.

2. Information Could Be Limited – Under the proposed structure:  Two members could determine what the other four members hear

When only two members review an issue, the rest of council must rely on second-hand summaries rather than participating directly.

This could lead to:  Unequal access to information.  Less transparency.  Reduced collaboration.  Every elected council member should have equal access to information.

3. Committee Meetings Do Not Require Official Minutes – Under Ohio law, council committee meetings are generally considered public meetings and must be open to the public.  However:  Formal meeting minutes are not required.  Without minutes, residents and other council members may have no permanent record of discussions that shaped decisions before they reach full council.

4. No Requirement for Department Heads to Attend – Village departments already provide written reports to the full council.  Under this proposal:  Committees may meet without department heads present.  Discussions may rely only on summaries.  The full council loses the opportunity to ask direct questions.  If we want to dive deeper into issues, we should do it together and publicly.

A BETTER SOLUTION

Option 1: Committee of the Whole (Quarterly).  All six council members meet together.  Department heads attend in person.  In-depth discussion with full transparency.

Option 2: Department Heads Present at Regular Meetings.  Require in-person reports.  Allow full council discussion.  Keep decision-making unified and transparent.

THIS IS ABOUT GOOD GOVERNMENT

This is not about personalities. This is about:  Transparency.  Equal representation.  Open communication.  Unified leadership.  Swanton deserves a council that works together — not divided into small groups.

Attend the Meeting:  Monday – 6:00 PM in Ritter Hall at 124 N. Main Street, Swanton, Ohio

Come speak out against dividing council into committees.

Photo:  Councilman Noah Kreuz during Swanton Village Council townhall event

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2WfWhmVCVDxncoHn6

On Saturday night in the banquet hall of the Swanton Sports Center, a “Name That Tune” event was held as a fundraiser for the Swanton Local Schools Backpack Buddies Program. The event was put together by a large group of volunteers and their efforts were rewarded with a record attendance.

Backpack Buddies is a community-based initiative designed to combat childhood hunger by supplying children with food and essential items when school meals are unavailable, such as over weekends or during school breaks.  The program targets children who rely on school meal programs during the week, ensuring they do not hungry outside of school hours.  By providing consistent access to food, the program supports better academic performance, health outcomes, and overall well-being for children and families in need.

The event and the program were supported by a long list of generous sponsors:

Jim Pant – Lou Luce – Luce’s Chimney – Fortmeyer – Melanie Galvin – Key Realty – Garrick Gray – APC – Asset Protection Corp Rebecca Taylor – Equity Planning Group – Jay’s Snacks – Russ Foksa – White Pines Valleywood – Chick Fil A – Green Bubble Gorgeous – Toledo Port Authority – Toledo Express Airport – Poshe’d Apparel – PizzAroma – Tony Tribble at Swanton Ballas Chevrolet – Marsha Nelson – Toledo Mud Hens – Swanton Sports Center – DJ Adam – Tano’s Pizza – KH Photography – First Federal – DeEtee’s Dream Diner Swanton Library – Brandon Johnson Memorial/Team Johnson – Cassie Kline Haller’s Mail Pouch – Swanton Alumni Foundation – Erin H Cassie Kline – Swanton Corn Festival -Tony Geftos 13abc

Click on the link above to access photos from the event. 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.

Photo: Organizers Kris Elliot, Pat Pilliod, Tara Shaver, Stephanie Fessenden

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rk4qcJJrfdwXZJgz8

Holding on to a fragile two-point lead with 2.4 second remaining in the game, the Swanton Bulldogs missed two free throws and had to survive a long three-point shot attempt to beat the visiting Delta Panthers 47-45 in an OHSAA Division V Boys Sectional Basketball game at Kevin J. McQuade Gymnasium Wednesday night.

The Bulldogs led the Panthers 11-9 after the first quarter and maintained the two-point advantage after the end of each of the next three quarters despite there being more than a half dozen lead changes, including four in the final frame.  Evan Reinhard led all players with 18 points and Brady O’Shea had 13 including three treys for Swanton.  Victor Martinez scored 11 points for Delta and Ashton Alig added eight.

Delta finished the season with a 5-18 record.  With the win, Swanton improves to 8-15 on the year and advances to the District Semifinal game tonight at 7:00 PM against the Paulding Panthers (18-4) at Paulding High School.

Delta Panthers:  9-8-13-15 = 45   Victor Martinez (11), Ashton Alig (8), Alex York (7), Kade Lintermoot (6), Gary Valentine (4), Gunnar Avery (4), Jack Mazurowski (3), Jadon Lohnman (2)

Swanton Bulldogs:  11-8-13-15 = 47   Evan Reinhard (18), Brady O’Shea (13), Brady Haselman (9), Gio Ruiz (4), Dylan Smigelski (3)

Click on the link to access photos from the game. 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.

Photo: Bulldog senior Brady O’Shea drains a three-pointer in his final home game

https://photos.app.goo.gl/5Sep3j9qLMsTSErX7

With just 70 fourth quarter seconds remaining on the clock and the Archbold Lady Blue Streaks holding a seven-point lead, 44-37, over the Delta Lady Panthers, this OHSAA Girls District V Semi-Final game at Defiance High School on Tuesday night, was essentially over.  Until it wasn’t.  An Archbold foul on Keagyn Gillen while receiving an inbound pass sent the Lady Panther to the free throw line, and what transpired from there will forever be etched into Delta High School girls’ basketball lore.

Gillen drained both of her shots, reigniting Delta’s offense.  The Panther defense forced a couple of turnovers and did not allow another Blue Streak basket the rest of the way.  Abby Todd scored from the inside and Anna Lohnman sank three foul shots and a layup to give Delta their first lead since halftime.

“Our girls showed true grit, they showed the reason you say ‘never give up.’  Archbold came in and played tough, they gave our girls a real challenge but thankfully our girls pulled through in the end,” said Delta Head Coch Kelsey Gillen.   From that point the game was all about free throws.  The Lady Panthers were deadly accurate in the game, making 19 of 24 shots from the stripe and in final quarter, hitting 9 of 10 attempts while the Lady Blue Streaks went ice cold, missing all six of their attempts.  Archbold got the ball back with 4.2 seconds left in the game, but their long three-point attempt fell short and Delta had its 47-44 victory.

“We have had trouble with free throws all season, we changed up a pressure free throw drill over the last week in practice.  The girls weren’t thrilled about the drill but they battled through it.  Our free throws saved us in the end.  We made 9 of 10 free throws in the 4th quarter- that was a huge reason we were able to pull off the win,” Coach Gillen explained.

Lohnman led Delta and all players with 21 points.  Gillen scored 12 points and Todd added 10.  Reagan Wendt had 13 points for Archbold.  Molly Harris scored 11 points and Charlee Forward finished with 10.

The win improves the Delta Lady Panthers’ record to 20-4 on the season and sends them to Lakota High School this coming Saturday at 3:00 PM to face the Willard Lady Crimson Flashes for the District Championship.  The Archbold Lady Blue Streaks conclude another successful season with a record of 18 wins against six losses.

Archbold Lady Blue Streaks:  13-9-14-6 = 44   Reagan Wendt (13), Molly Harris (11), Charlee Forward (10), Miley Gericke (8), Klaire Kean (2)

Delta Lady Panthers:  12-13-9-13 = 47   Anna Lohnman (21), Keagyn Gillen (12), Abby Todd (10), Olivia Mohring (2), Addison Wyse (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 and shared for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Delta Lady Panthers and their fans

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZNkgB1Tt9Jb6PDK3A

The Archbold Blue Streaks dominated the early rounds of the 2026 NWOAL Wrestling Tournament, sending 10 wrestlers to the championship round and went on to claim the title on Saturday at Swanton High School.  The Defending Champion Delta Panthers tied with the Liberty Center Tigers for the most individual champions with four each.  Archbold and Wauseon had two individuals stand on top of the podium and the Swanton Bulldogs and Patrick Henrty Patriots each had one champion.

Team Scores

Archbold (197.5), Liberty Center (174), Delta (170), Wauseon (126), Swanton (67), Patrick Henry (51), Evergreen (50.5), Bryan (19)

First Place

106 – Brenden Bosco (A) dec. Braxton Tammarine (LC), 13-9.  113 – Brooks Miller (A) p. Kendall Pontious (W), 2:57.  120 – Braedyn Tammarine (LC) dec. Ty Bosco (A), 7-2.  126 – Tyler Barnes (D) p. Lars Soles (A), 3:45. 132 – Carter Stuckey p. Isaac Brown (A), 1:05.  138 – Daine Bayer (LC) MD Thomas Hernandez (D), 15-3. 144 – Joseph Lugabihl MD Kayden Wellman (A), 9-1. 150 – Chase Godwin (S) SV Layne Miller (A), 4-1. 157 – Lane Lopez (D) won by default over Brady Badenhop (LC). 165 – Gunnar Taylor (D) dec. Ashton Stuckey (A), 1-0. 175 – Marcus Nagel (D) TF Ethan Bowman (A), 17-1. 190 – Trent Johnson (PH) MD Wyatt Flickinger (D), 20-7. 215 – Kolton Wymer (LC) MD Isidro Hernandez (A), 11-0. 285 – Logan Sifuentes (LC) p. Brady Smith (D), 2:42.

Third Place

106 – Exzander Borstelman (S) dec. Brian Camacho (W), 5-3.  113 – Lindley Crow (LC) idle. 120 – Gabe Stevens (S) dec. Braxton Pennington (D), 11-8. 126 – Jeff Smith p. Terner Vitek (B), 3:45. 132 – Luke Spiess (D) dec. John Haury (B), 5-1.  138 – AJ Gleckler (E) p. Dylan Velazquez (S), 2:41. 144 – Brody Jaqua (LC) p. Jaidan Rutter (PH), 1:37. 150 – Jackson Zeiter (LC) tech fall over Wade Stubleski (E). 157 – Hayes Studenka (E) p. Camdyn Keith (PH), 4:38. 165 – A’Zarrion Hicks p. Tyce Westhoven (LC), 2:59. 175 – Kahle Albright p. Brady Kimple (E), :26. 190 – Hunter Warner (A) dec. Degan Schwaiger (LC), 9-7. 215 – Malacaih Ambriz (D) p. Zander Lowe (W), 2:15. 285 – Parker Bixler (A) p. Logan Secory (S), :31

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

Photo: Archbold Blue Streaks Wrestling Team

https://photos.app.goo.gl/NbkTMqNbpAMyMJen6

Senior Brady O’Shea scored 18 points in the first half, including five three-pointers and the Swanton Bulldogs held off the Toledo Christian Eagles 61-53 on Tuesday’s Senior Night Celebration at Swanton’s McQuade Gymnasium.  The Bulldogs held a very tenuous 43-41 lead entering the fourth quarter but built an eight-point cushion on the strength of two baskets from behind the arc by Brady Haselman and four consecutive high-pressure free throws by Owen Hurst to seal the victory.

O’Shea led Swanton and all players with 21 points.  Haselman scored 12 points and Evan Reinhard add 10.  Josiah Hillrich topped the Eagles, out of the Toledo Area Athletic Conference, with 18 points and Josiah Michalski added 12.

The win improves the Bulldogs’ record to 7-14 on the season.  Sitting at 0-6 in the NWOAL, they will be at home tonight hoping to pick up their first league win against the (17-4/5-1) Patrick Henry Patriots.  This coming Wednesday, Swanton will be at home to face the Delta Panthers at 6:00 PM in an OHSAA Division V Sectional Semi-Final Playoff contest.

Toledo Christian Eagles: 11- 17-13-12 = 53 Josiah Hillrich (18), Josiah Michalski (12), Peter French (8), Josiah Winkler (5), Mak Koralewski (3), Jake Bade (3), Micalah Mickel (2)

Swanton Bulldogs: 18-15-10-18 = 61 Brady O’Shea (21), Brady Haselman (12), Evan Reinhard (10), Owen Hurst (6), Gio Ruiz (5),Connor Mitchey (4), Drew Koder (3)

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 and shared for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Brady O’Shea about to score his 21st point

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UCvRvBiD2sFuJo9g8

Inspired by the unlikely return of senior standout Troy Manz from what was initially believed to be a season-ending knee injury, the Evergreen Vikings exploded out of the gate and steamrolled the visiting Swanton Bulldogs 84-48 at the “Big House” on Friday night in NWOAL basketball action.  Manz and fellow senior Quinten Eisel combined for 21 first half points in staking Evergreen to a 42-22 lead as the teams went to the locker room.

In the third quarter the Vikings continued their scoring blitz putting up 32 points to the Bulldogs’ 20 and eventually triggered a running clock in the fourth quarter when the advantage hit the 35-pont mark.  With just over five minutes remaining in the game, Evergreen coach Kyle Bostater emptied his bench to finish out the contest.

Manz and Eisel tied for game-high scoring honors with 21 points each, Manz draining shots from the outside including three from beyond the arc and Eisel dominating inside with most of his baskets coming off the glass.  Goerge Allendorf tossed in 18 points in the win.  Brady O’Shea and Brady Haselman both scored 11 points to lead the Bulldogs and Owen Hurst had six.

The Evergreen victory moves their record in the NWOAL to 2-4 and they are 12-9 on the season.  They will next play at home against the Delta Panthers on Friday night to finish league play.  Swanton is 0-6 in the league and 6-13 overall.  They will play the Toledo Christian Eagles on Wednesday at home on Senior Night.

Swanton Bulldogs:  12-10-20-6 = 48    Brady O’Shea (11), Brady Haselman (11), Owen Hurst (6), Gio Ruiz (5), Drew Koder (5), Evan Reinhard (5), Landon Hendricks (3), Connor Mitchey (2)

Evergreen Vikings:  26-16-32-10 = 84   Troy Manz (21), Quinten Eisel (21), Goerge Allendorf (18), Will Ruetz (9), Chris Shrader (7), Brycen Bolger (4), Blake Fisher (2), Austin Gillen (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 and shared for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Troy Manz is introduced before his first game back from injury

This past Tuesday (Boys) and Thursday (Girls) at River City Bowl-A-Way in Napoleon, an OHSAA Division II Sectional Bowling Tournament was held with the top four teams and top four non-team qualifiers advancing to the District Tournament next week.  Four schools from Fulton County, Delta, Evergreen, Swanton and Wauseon, entered a boys’ and a girls’ team, but none were able to crack the top four.  Coach Chuck Carr’s Wauseon Lady Indians squad came as close as possible without qualifying, finishing in 5^th place, just a single pin behind the Patrick Henry Lady Patriots, 3064-3063.

However, Wauseon will be sending senior Kymberlee Yocom who rolled a three-game (169 + 147 + 192 = 508) series.  Also advancing to Districts is Swanton junior Emma Leonard with her three-game (176 + 140 + 160 = 478) series.

On the boys’ side, Wauseon freshman Jacob Yocom, brother of Kymberlee, fired a three-game (224 + 211 + 213 = 648) series, finishing in third place overall.  Joining Jacob at the District Tournament will be Evergreen senior Xavier Robinette who bowled a three-game (218 + 156 + 219 = 593) series.

The OHSAA Division II District Bowling Tournament will be held at Interstate Lanes at 819 Lime City Road in Rossford.  The girls will be bowling on Tuesday at 10:00 AM and the boys will be bowling on Thursday at 10:00 AM.

Photo: Kymberlee Yocom and Emma Leonard

Photo: Xaviar Robinette and Jacob Yocom

https://photos.app.goo.gl/EsgodEfPe38CGGMn9

The Evergreen Lady Vikings quickly erased an early 6-3 deficit by closing out the first quarter with a 13-0 run and went on to defeat the Swanton Lady Bulldogs 57-25 on Thursday night at Kevin J. McQuade Gymnasium in Swanton.  Lanae Manz powered the route by scoring 24 points and Avery Emmitt added 10.  Lauren Bettinger led Swanton with 12 points and Carli LaGrange had eight.

The Evergreen victory places their final regular season record at 12-10 and 2-5 in the NWOAL.  The Lady Vikings will next return home to face the Liberty Center Tigers on Thursday at 6:00 PM in the first round of the OHSAA DVI Girls Basketball Playoffs.

With the loss, Swanton finishes their league record at 0-7 and puts their mark overall at 4-17 with an afternoon home game at 1:00 PM today against the Montpelier Lady Locomotives.  They will travel to Elmwood High School on Saturday at 2:00 PM to take on the Lady Royals in the first game of the OHSAA DV Girls Basketball Playoffs.

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 and shared for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Lanae Manz goes up for two of her game-high 24 points

https://photos.app.goo.gl/MXZitvjShvWJH52g9

Entering the NWOAL Bowling Tournament held Saturday at the Swanton Sports Center, Wauseon held first place with (10) points, one more than Liberty Center (9) and two more than Bryan (8) in the race for the Boys’ title.  At the end of the day, the Golden Bears won the tournament with a pin count of 3527, edging out the Tigers by 13 pins at 3514 and the Indians by 15 pins at 3512.  When the awarded tournament points were combined with the regular season points, the three top teams totaled 15 points, resulting in a three-way tie for the 2026 Championship.  Rounding out the rest of the field was the Evergreen Vikings (3477), Patrick Henry Patriots (3283), Swanton Bulldogs (2570) and Delta Panthers (2373).

Bryan’s Noah Mills won the individual Tournament Championship with a three-game series of 682.  Wesley Wilhelm of Liberty Center finished second with a 659, Thomas Baker of Evergreen was third at 588, Evan Stevens of Wauseon came in fourth at 564 and Stone Roth of Liberty Center completed the top five at 550.

First Team All NWOAL Honors, determined by a bowler’s regular season, went to Wesly Wilhelm (221.04) of Liberty Center, Jacob Yocom (203.04) of Wauseon, Quinton Colburn (201.61) of Patrick Henry, Kolton Barnhisel (201.05) of Patrick Henry, and Stone Roth (195.71) of Liberty Center.

Second Team:  Noah Mills (195.00) of Bryan, Evan Stevens (192.07) of Wauseon, Michah Smith (188.26) of Bryan, Noha Geren (187.35) of Bryan, Maddox Oyer (183.67) of Liberty Center.

Honorable Mention:  Thomas Baker (183.65) of Evergreen, Owen Gebers (179.50) of Liberty Center, Marcello Miracola (178.52) of Delta, Xaviar Robinette (176.65) of Evergreen, Derek Munding (176.32) of Patrick Henry.

Boys Coach of the Year: Kody Moden – Wauseon

There was no such drama on the girls’ side with Bryan winning the regular season and the Tournament Championship with (12 + 7 = 19 points) over Wauseon (9 + 6 = 15) and Liberty Center (8 + 5 = 13).  The final Tournament pin count was the Bryan Lady Golden Bears (3414), Wauseon Lady Indians (3227), Liberty Center Lady Tigers (3074), Patrick Henry Lady Patriots (2879), Evergreen Lady Vikings (2678), Delta Lady Panthers (2653) and Swanton Lady Bulldogs (2485).

Bryan’s Zoey Gillett fired a three-game series 699 to win the individual Tournament Championship and out shoot all bowlers, boys or girls, on the day.  Kymberlee Yocom of Wauseon finished second with a 598, Ruth Shelt of Wauseon was third with a 576, Annaliese Keene of Liberty Center came in fourth at 562 and Emma Leonard of Swanton rounded out the top five with a 538.

First Team All NWOAL Honors, determined by a bowler’s regular season went to Zoey Gillett (203.46) of Bryan, Kimberlee Yocom (200.96) of Wauseon, Cheyenne Miller (189.57), Ruth Shelt (186.07) of Wauseon, Meadow Goebel (181.78) of Bryan.

Second Team:  Polly Sleesman (173.96) of Bryan, Emma Leonard (173.74) of Swanton, Paige White (169.50) of Liberty Center, Mya Federspiel (165.19) of Bryan, Leah Geahlen (164.58) of Patrick Henry.

Honorable Mention:  Claire Piercefield (159.16) of Patrick Henry, Annaliese Keene (159.14) of Liberty Center, Lana Breece (154.62) of Patrick Henry, Josie Spires (153.85) of Wauseon, Natalie Cavanaugh (151.58) of Patrick Henry.

Girls Coach of the Year: Ron Leonard – Swanton

Click on the link above to access photos from the tournament. 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.

Photo: Wauseon Boys tied Bryan and Liberty Center for the title