Fulton County Ohio Media

Ten days ago, I buried Rick Claar, my best friend of over 50 years.  I am sure we can all relate, on some level, to how painfully difficult that can be to do.   He was not supposed to die.  Not just yet, anyway.  I did not want to go to the showing.  I did not want to go to the funeral.  I did not want to deliver the eulogy.  But I did.  With the support of my wife and my siblings I was able make it through all three.

The shock and denial of his passing seemed to fade very quickly.  But only because my anger with his death and the main reason for it was banging at my emotional door to let it in.  And now that it’s in, I don’t know when it will be leaving so I can begin to accept it and heal.

Sometime before my friend’s death, he was diagnosed with COVID-19.  He was not vaccinated.  He had made that choice not to be vaccinated.  I knew Rick’s politics, at least on a national level, were conservative.  I knew he voted for and supported Donald Trump. 

But I also knew how much he cared for others and how much he did for so many people.  Rick worked for the Woodmore Local School District for many years and the students and administration loved him.  He was also the Mayor of Elmore and an Elmore Councilman for 18 years prior to that.  Everything he did was for the students, staff and faculty at Woodmore and for the citizens of the Village of Elmore.  They were his life and he loved being there and working for them.

Rick had so much more to do, so much more to give, and more great plans to make Elmore a great place to live and raise a family and Woodmore a school to receive a great education.  That is why it is so hard to understand why he chose not to protect himself, to stay healthy so he could continue to serve his school and his community.  It does not make sense to me and makes me very angry.  Very sad, of course, but still so angry.

I live in Fulton County which is a heavily leaning conservative/Republican/red county in the red state of Ohio.  The latest statistics show Fulton County approximately 50% of the population having received the first dose of the COVID vaccine.  This is over 10% less than the state average and over 20% less than the national average.

The unvaccinated justify their choice in many ways.  The vaccines are unproven, it violates my freedom of choice, it goes against my religion, I’ve already been infected and survived, I don ‘t have time.  And the more outlandish reasons/excuses.  It’s all about government control, it contains a tracking chip, it doesn’t align with my politics. it’s all just a big hoax pushed mainly by big pharma.  The list goes on and on.

As we head into the holiday season and get together with friends and loved ones, I ask all that are unvaccinated to please reconsider your choice.  The pandemic is far from over. Look at those friends and family members when you are with them and imagine you not being there for them.  I know you do not want contract this virus and you do not want to infect anyone else.  You do not want to get sick.  You do not want to die too young.  You do not want to burden your family with having to arrange your funeral.  And trust me on this.  You do not want your best friend to give your eulogy too soon.

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The Swanton Bulldogs roared out to a 20-4 lead after the first quarter then watched the visiting Edgerton Bulldogs whittle that gap down to five points with just over two minutes remaining in the game before holding off the visitors at the free throw line to win 57-45.  Nic Borojevich, who led all scorers with 27 points on the night, sank 9 of 10 foul shots in the fourth quarter to spoil the Edgerton upset bid as Swanton won their sixth game in as many tries this season

Edgerton stayed within 16 points at the end of the half, 30-14, and managed to pull within 12 entering the fourth quarter.  The “other” Bulldog team kept the pressure on throughout the fourth, slowly chipping away at the Swanton lead until they were down just 46-41 with 2:16 left on the clock.

Needing to foul to get the ball back, Edgerton sent the hometown Bulldogs to the line 19 times in the final quarter where Swanton converted 15 of those opportunities to keep their perfect record intact.

Also scoring for Swanton was Kayden Davis with seven points.  Sam Betz and Lathan Pawlowicz had six points each.  Cole Mitchey added five points while Luc Borojevich scored four and Drew Smigelski had two.

Click on the link above to access all 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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Wauseon senior Marisa Seiler scored a game high 29 points, 19 in the second half, as the Lady Indians used a big second quarter to defeat the Archbold Lady Blue Streaks 65-50 to open the NWOAL girls’ basketball season.

The game was tight after the first quarter with the Streaks holding a slim 17-16 lead.  However, the Indians broke the game open in the second quarter, outscoring Archbold 20-8, despite losing starting center Hayley Meyer for the rest of the contest to an injury early in the frame.

Wauseon maintained a double-digit advantage throughout the second half and pushed the lead to 22 points in the fourth quarter before settling for 15-point victory.

Backing up Seiler offensively for the Lady Indians was Autumn Pelok with 13 points and Kadence Carroll with 10.  Meyer had nine points before leaving the game.

Addie Ziegler and Harley Phillips each scored 11 points for the Lady Blue Streaks and Leah McQuade added 10.

The win keeps Wauseon undefeated with a 6-0 overall record while Archbold falls to 4-5 with the loss.

Click on the link above to access all photos from the game. Photos are in the jpeg format and can be downloaded for FREE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

At the final Swanton Board of Education (BOE) meeting of 2021, Board members approved a resolution to place the renewal of an existing tax levy on May 3, 2022 election ballot.  The resolution was made in response to the substitute levy that failed by two votes in the November 2021 election.

The Resolution title language read as follows: A RESOLUTION DETERMINING TO SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS OF THE SWANTON LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT THE QUESTION OF THE RENEWAL OF AN EXISTING TAX LEVY, PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 5705.194 TO 5705.197 OF THE REVISED CODE.

The explanation of the Resolution read as follows: This is the first resolution to submit to the electors of the School District at an election on May 3, 2022, the question of the renewal of the School District’s existing in the $825,000 emergency tax levy.  If approved, that tax would be first levied in tax year 2022 (and first collected in calendar year 2023) and would run for a period of five years. 

If approved, a certified copy of the resolution will need to be delivered to the Fulton County Auditor. Mr. Kolb, the Fulton County Auditor, will have five days after that delivery in which to certify to the Board to calculate the estimated millage required to raise the annual amount set forth in the resolution and certify that calculation and the School District’s total current tax valuation to the Board of Education.  

“It raises $825,000 a year, a fixed sum,” explained District Treasurer Joyce Kinseman.  “Back when this was first done, back in the 90’s (1996), it was at 7.4 mils.  Now it’s at 3.4 mils.  It has not, honestly, kept up with inflation but it is still a significant and critical piece of our revenue stream.  That’s what I’m asking the Board to approve.”  A motion was made to approve, seconded and passed unanimously.

Once the Resolution is returned by the Fulton County Auditor, another Resolution will be voted on at the January 2022 BOE meeting and sent to the Fulton County Board of Elections to be placed on the ballot if approved.

Pictured:  Swanton High School (South Side)

Last night, at the banquet hall of the Swanton Sports Center, members of the Swanton Lions Club handed out Christmas gifts, gathered and purchased from their annual Giving Tree program, to families that needed some help for their children this holiday season.

This year, the program staged Christmas stockings which contained a list of clothing needs of a child along with some of their toy and game likes, at several Swanton business locations including the American Legion, Benfield Wines, CK Sweets, Club Salon, First Federal Savings & Loan and Younique Boutique.  Many generous individuals took those lists and either shopped for the items or donated money to the cause and allowed Lions Club members to shop for the rest.

The Swanton Sports Center donated the space to store, sort, package and distribute all the gifts while Club members contacted all the families with pick up information.  Like every year, and not at all surprising, the generosity and support of people in the Swanton community was overwhelming.

Pictured: (L to R) Swanton Lions Club Members Holly Lawson, Dick Notestine, Jerry Salyers and Matt Fetterman

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The Swanton Bulldog bowlers held a 110-pin lead after the first two games then tacked on another 82 pins to the lead during the Baker Games round and defeated the visiting Evergreen Vikings 2198-2056 on Monday at the Swanton Sports Center

Seth Sweet (pictured) bowled games of 185 and 205 for a 390 series to lead the Bulldogs. Marty Mosher had a 364 series which included a 203 game.  Other series scores were Carson Santchi with a 347 and Scott Reside with a 312.  Makayla Balonek (113) and Mate Bates combined for a 266 series.

Evergreen’s Derek Cobb shot games of 210 and 223 for a 433 series to lead all bowlers.  Other series scores were Mason Luttrel with a 311, Michael Laver with a 288, Mitchell Gillen with a 269 and Zachary Laver with a 268.

Swanton’s victory brings their record on the season to 3-1 while Evergreen falls to 0-4.

Click on the link above to access all photos from the match.  Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

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The Delta Panthers Bowlers hosted the Tinora Rams at the Swanton Sports Center Monday night and took both matches from the visitors with the boys winning 222-2190 and the girls winning 1710-1397.

Brody Waugh (pictured) fired games of 215 and 208 for a 423 series to pace all bowlers. Other series scores were Gabe Syverson with a 375, Kaden Hawkins with a 349 and Dylan Stricker with a 298. Ethan Cone (112) and Paul McQueen (139) combined for a 251 series.

Ciarra Fleckinger rolled games of 176 and 148 for a 324 series to lead the Lady Panthers. Other series scores were Lexi Brown with a 273, Maddy Johnston with a 268 and Karyn Gillen with a 210. Serena Shelhart (98) and Mariss DeSantos (117) combined for 215 series.

Click on the link above to access all photos. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded free of charge courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

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Plagued by ice-cold shooting from the outside in the first half, the Swanton Bulldogs had to rally from a nine-point deficit in the second half to get past the visiting North Central Eagles 53-44 in a non-league boys basketball game.  The Bulldogs only made two shots from the field in the first quarter and had to rely on their inside game and free throws to stay close to the Eagles who led 28-19 at halftime.

Senior Nic Borojevich scored nine of Swanton’s 19 points in the third quarter and junior Luc Borojevich added seven more as the Bulldogs cut the deficit to two points, 40-38, entering the final frame.  Nic Borojevich scored six more points in the fourth, all on foul shots, as Swanton completed the comeback to remain undefeated with a 5-0 record.

The brothers Borojevich, Nic with 24 points and Luc with 14, led the Bulldogs in scoring.  Sam Betz had five points and Hayden Callicotte had four.

Click on the link above to access all 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.

At the final Village Council meeting of 2021 this Monday, December 13, Mayor Neil Toeppe, Administrator Rosanna Hoelzle and all six Council members listened to a presentation regarding the construction of an event venue on 26 acres of property in the Turtle Creek Circle area on Airport Highway in Swanton.

The presentation was given by Dave and Pam Mills, a married couple who will be the proprietors of the venue, which is expected to break ground in Spring of 2022.  The structure will a long barn style building with an A-shaped roof with the primary purpose of hosting weddings, banquets, trade shows and other large gatherings with a capacity of 300.

The name of the new venue will be Birchwood Meadow and will also have business meeting rooms separate from the main hall and there will be a large kitchen available for outside caterers to use during events.  Other plans include the having six to eight “tiny” houses on the property for guests attending the events to stay in.  Long range plans include a cabin lodge, also for event guests.

The estimated opening date for Birchwood Meadow is sometime in November of 2022.  Tours for the public and event-related vendors will be scheduled.

Picture:  Architect rendering of a similar model. Not the actual structure.

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The 5-0 Stryker Lady Panthers came into Swanton’s McQuade Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon and used hot long-range shooting to battle the Lady Bulldogs to a 23-23 tie after the first half.  However, it was the Swanton offense that caught fire in the third quarter, outscoring Stryker 23-8 as the Bulldogs went on to a 61-50 victory over the visitors.

The Panther offense reignited in the fourth quarter, draining five three-point shots and hitting four of five free throws, but the Bulldogs kept pace with six two-pointers and three of four foul shots for the 11-point win.

Senior Frankie Nelson was the game-high scorer with 21 points.  She got balanced scoring help from Katie Floyd with 11 points, Emma Crow with 10 points and Trista Eitniear with eight.

The win moves Swanton’s record to 4-2 while Stryker drops to 5-1.

Click on the link above to access all photos. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for no charge courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.