Fulton County Ohio Media

Below is information released today concerning the upcoming intersection closing.  Village officials do not expect cutting off complete access to any of the businesses in close proximity to the project.

Village of Swanton Facebook Page Posting:  While we understand that this is not going to be a convenient 30 days, it is beyond our control. The construction schedule has already been pushed back further than it should be, due to the rainy Spring we had, and the construction company has deadlines to meet. These EPA required sewer separation projects have been happening for almost 10 years in phases throughout the Village, with this being the last major one.

As far as Fireworks go, which are set for Saturday, June 29th, there will be another press release later this afternoon or first thing tomorrow morning (06/18/24) from the Village of Swanton Police Department on the flow of traffic coming in/ and leaving.

Village of Swanton Press Release – Intersection of Airport Highway (US 20A/SR 2) & South Main Street (SR 64) Closure

The last phase of the Village of Swanton’s Sewer Separation Project 3, 11 & 12 is set to begin Monday, June 24, 2024.  Please be advised of what the Ohio department of Transportation (ODOT), Jones & Henry Engineers and Hillabrand & Sons Construction has notified the Village of Swanton as a suggested detour.

US 20A/SR 2 at SR 64 will be closed starting June 24th for 30 days.  Westbound traffic will detour North on SR 295 to US 20.  West on US 20 to SR 109 and the South to US 20A/SR 2.  East bound traffic will detour North on SR 109 to US 20.  East on US 20 to SR 295 and then South to US20A/SR 2.  SR 64 North bound detour will be East on US20A/SR 2 to Sr 295 then North to US 20 and West to SR 64.

There will be intermittent times when the intersection and sections of Airport Highway will be closed to local traffic as well.  Please plan accordingly.

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Yesterday was Flag Day, when our nation pays tribute the Stars and Stripes of Old Glory. For the Swanton area community, it was also an opportunity celebrate the 100th Birthday of the Pavilion at Memorial Park, a venue that has played host to thousands of reunions, graduation parties, birthday parties, banquets and countless other public gatherings over the past century.

Sponsored by the Swanton Corn Festival Committee with help from the Swanton Public Library, the Swanton Historical Society and others, the birthday bash featured live music, three food trucks, a beer tent, a popcorn stand, a kickball tournament and a fund-raising auction. The celebration was scheduled from 6:00pm to 9:00pm but many came early and even more stayed late. No word yet on when a committee will be formed for the 200th anniversary, but stay tuned.

Click on the link to access photos from the celebration. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

This Friday, June 14^th, a celebration will be held from 6:00 until 9:00 PM to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the Memorial Park Pavilion and to celebrate Memorial Park as well. 

Events will include children’s activities sponsored by the Swanton Public Library, live entertainment sponsored by Benfield Wines, food trucks and a beer tent featuring Oncore Brewing and Benfield Wine selections.

Below is an article from the Swanton Enterprise published around the time of the park’s opening.  You really must appreciate the writing style of the era:

MEMORIAL PARK:  IDEAL RECREATION CENTER    Worthy of Public Appreciation

One of the greatest forward movements for the benefit of Swanton, this entire community and the general public, that has ever been put across is Memorial Park.  It is YOUR park where you can assemble, hold your reunions, picnics and all outdoor meetings; in fact, it is the real ideal place, consisting of 15 acres of improved park land and athletic field combined.

Especially beneficial to the community would this park prove on band concert nights if it were fitted up properly for that purpose and that could be done with little exertion and expense.  It is the most logical and refreshing and, at the same time, the least hazardous spot, and in the spacious park the children can romp and play without danger.

Band stand and electric lights for the park have a most urgent call at this particular time for our up-town corner is entirely inadequate to handle the ever increasing crowds, clamoring for entertainment and the hand of welcome.  Not only is the space too small, but the musicians cannot do themselves justice penned in between business blocks, interurban and railroad tracks.

The public esteem of this newly acquired recreation center is very apparent.  The are bubbling over for a chance to show their appreciation.  Now they can congregate and have a real good old fashion time in a beautiful park if the band concerts will be held there every Thursday night.  This points the way and offers the wholesome presentation that every person needs.

And the suggestion in another column of our good citizen that we have a “Memorial Park Day” is an excellent one.  One day each year for beautifying the park, participated by one hundred or more men, would work wonderful changes without expense.  Let’s have Memorial Park Day.  Everybody would enjoy it, even the laborers.

Braylen Lederman, a soon-to-be third grader at Swanton Elementary, finished in second place in the Boys 7-9 Age Group of the Drive, Chip & Putt (DC&P) competition at Belmont Country Club in Perrysburg today, June 11^th.  In this field of 20 competitors, only the top three scores earned the right to move on to the next round.  By virtue of his outstanding placement, the eight-year-old, son of Derek and Tanya Lederman of Swan Creek Township, advances to the Sub Regional DC&P competition to be held at Westfield Country Club in Westfield Center, Ohio on August 25^th.

Drive, Chip & Putt is a free nationwide junior skills competition open to boys and girls ages 7-15.  It is an initiative created by the Masters Tournament Foundation, United States Gold Association and PGA of America.  The final Round of DC&P competition will be held in April of 2025 and will feature a field of 40 boys and 40 girls.

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This past Sunday, a Spring craft show was held at the Swanton Sports Center from 10:00am until 2:00pm.  The show was organized by Swanton resident and Swanton Schools parent, Renee Tufts.  It was the third craft show put on by Ms. Tufts, a highly successful craft creator in her own right, at the popular Swanton venue and, each time, a portion of the proceeds were donated to an extracurricular activity of Swanton Schools.  Sunday’s event helped raise money for the Swanton Lady Bulldogs golf program.

The Sports Center’s banquet hall was filled and the overflow craft booths were spread across the front lawn adjacent to Main Street.  There was live music and Naan Stop Kebap food truck was on hand to offer a delicious lunch menu and the Sports Center’s bar was open as well.   A Fall Craft Show will be held this year with the date yet to be determined

Click on the link above to access photos from the craft show. 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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The first of three Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce Block Parties was held tonight with local celebrity singer Chris Shutters providing the entertainment. There was plenty to eat with three food trucks on hand and plenty to drink with the doors open at Benfield Wines and Hub’s Bar.

There are two more block parties scheduled for this summer, one on July 13th and the other on August 5th.

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 for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

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Last Tuesday, May 29^th, the Swanton American Legion hosted a training session on how to administer naloxone, a drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose that is better known by its brand name, Narcan.  The session was sponsored by the Swanton Area Community Coalition (SACC) and its Director MacKenzie Roytek and the training was given collectively by Naloxone Health Educator Joseph Wood (woodj@co.lucas.oh.us) of the Toledo Lucas County Health Department and Public Health Nurse Kati Graham of the Fulton County Health Department.

Mr. Wood gave a brief history of the opioid epidemic we are now in by explaining how it has come in three waves.  The first wave was prescription medications that were given to the public in the late 1990’s without a strong enough warning as to the level of their potential addictive abilities.  The second wave came after successful lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies made it harder to obtain those medications and many users, struggling with opioid use addiction, turned to heroin.  “The third wave started in about 2012-2013 and that’s called the ‘Synthetic Wave’ or ‘Fentanyl Wave’.  This has been the most disastrous wave by far,” he said.

Overdose deaths from opioid use have risen every year since 1999 and reached approximately 112,000 in 2023.  Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is 50-100 times more potent than morphine and car fentanyl is even stronger.  Typically, fentanyl is a clear, tasteless and odorless liquid, but now it is being illegally mixed with other drugs and put into a pill form to look like prescription medicine.  Many users that overdosed from fentanyl were not aware it was contained in the pills they ingested.

Naloxone or Narcan was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1971.  Initially, it was only allowed to be administered by medical professionals.  In years recently, law enforcement officials have been trained in its use and will carry it in their vehicles.  Today, it is available to the general public and is suggested in be placed in businesses, schools and venues where there are large gatherings of people, any of which could suffer from opioid addiction.  Narcan comes as a nasal spray and is easy to administer by following the instructions on the container. 

There are several other brand-name Naloxone treatments available such as Evzio, LifEMS, Narcan Neonatal and Narcan Prefilled.  However, only Narcan is sold over the counter.  Narcan can be acquired for free from the Toledo Lucas County Health Department at 635 N. Erie St. in Toledo, Monday-Friday from 8:30am-4:00pm.  (419-213-4168).  Mail order naloxone is available for Lucas County residents at www.lucascountyhealth.com/narcan-training.   Fulton County residents may also obtain free Narcan at the Fulton County Health Department (419-337-0915) or katigraham@fultoncountyoh.com  Fentanyl testing strips are also available.

There are three major points to keep in mind if you find yourself in a situation where you have an opportunity to save a life.  Call 911 immediately.  Ohio’s Good Samaritan Law provides immunity for minor drug possession to people seeking help during a drug overdose.  Narcan has no known side effects and will not exacerbate the condition if administered to an individual suffering from something other than an opioid overdose.  However, it may trigger sudden and severe opioid withdrawal symptoms.

Click on the link above to access photos and copies of the slide show presentation. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: MacKenzie Roytek – Director of the Swanton Area Community Coalition

The Swanton Sports Center and Banquet Hall located at 610 N. Main Street in Swanton, is quickly becoming the “go to” venue for great craft shows in the area.  Long time craft creator and entrepreneur, Renee Tufts, is putting on another big show, her third at the SSC, that has vendors filling the large banquet hall and spilling out onto the front lawn with a wide variety of crafts and artwork.

The show will be on June 9^th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and will take place rain or shine.  There will be food & drink, a vendor item raffle and a 50/50 raffle with the proceeds going to benefit the Swanton Lady Bulldogs Golf Team.

There will also be live music, free popcorn and coffee while you shop and peruse the craft vendor’s offerings.