Fulton County Ohio Media

Last Wednesday, Natural Resources Management (NRM) held a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening of their new location at 13923 Sherman White Road, formerly the Jehovah Witness Hall, in Swanton, Ohio.

Founded in 2007, NRM is a leading full-service geological and environmental consulting company serving various sectors including the mining industry, site-development businesses, and private residential, commercial, and industrial entities. NRM is also a licensed distributer of various water and wastewater treatment products including SludgeHammer residential and commercial Wastewater Management System.  With a commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction, NRM works closely with local, state, and federal agencies to provide top-notch services.

NRM boasts an experienced team with over 50 years of combined expertise in environmental, mining, and construction services across North America. Their primary project area spans the midwestern US region, including Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.

From project design and permitting to installation and evaluation, NRM is dedicated to achieving optimal results for every client. As part of their expansion, NRM is also excited to announce job opportunities available at their new location. Interested candidates can find more information about available positions at https://nrmsolution.com/careers/.

About Natural Resources Management:

Natural Resources Management (NRM) is a full-service geological and environmental consulting company founded in 2007. With expertise in environmental, mining, and construction services, NRM serves clients across various industries, striving for excellence in every project.

Photo: NRM owner Chuck Tokar cuts the ribbon with administrative staff, employees, Swanton Chamber of Commerce Board members, Village of Swanton and Swanton Township officials.

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This past Friday and Saturday the Delta Panthers Archery Club held its annual tournament in the gymnasium at Delta High School.  Below are the final results.

In the Elementary Division (4 & 5th grade) 

    1st Place Team – Fairview Elementary Score 2940

    2nd Place Team – Delta Elementary Score 2840

    3rd Place Team – Montpelier Score 2777

Top 5 Elementary Girls 

       1st Place Sophia Bussing from Tinora Score 264

       2nd Place Evalyn Maddock from Ayersville Score 260

       3rd Place Emma Lane from Montpelier Score 255

      4th Place Cassandra Clark from Montpelier Score 253

      5th Place Emilee Gray from Fairview Score 248

Top 5 Elementary Boys

      1st Place Wyatt Sailer from Fairview Score 276

      2nd Place Bryson Shook from Ayersville Score 269

      3rd Place Archer Samson from Delta Score 263

      4th Place Jackson Schaadt from Fairview Score 263

       5th Place Dylan Miller from Fairview Score 262

In the Middle School Division (6, 7, 8th grade)

       1st Place Team – Fairview Middle School Score 3281

       2nd Place Team – Fayette Local School Score 3232

       3rd Place Team – Delta Middle School Score 3126

Top 5 Middle School Girls

       1st Place Abby Cousino from Delta Score 292

       2nd Place Ashlyn Harter from Montpelier Score 284

       3rd Place Brooklyn Gault from Millcreek West Unity Score 283

       4th Place Shelby Phillips from Fayette Score 282

       5th Place Rachel Ward from Fairview Score 280

Top 5 Middle School Boys 

        1st Place Layne Ford from Fairview Score 290

        2nd Place Tyler Hellemn from Fairview Score 286

        3rd Place Gentry Valentine from Fayette Score 285

        4th Place Liahm Kimpel from Fairview Score 285

        5th Place Cameron Marvin from MillCreek West Unity Score 284

In the High School Division (9-12th grade)

         1st Place Team – Tinora High School Score 3189

         2nd Place Team – Fairview High School Score 3149

         3rd Place Team – Delta High School Score 3124

Top 5 High School Girls

        1st Place Hailey Schultz from Tinora Score 288

        2nd Place Tara Noble from Stryker Score 287

        3rd Place Izabelle Ladd from Fairview Score 280

        4th Place Althea Spangler from Fairview Score 279

         5th Place Kaelie Hagerman from Holgate Score 277

Top 5 High School Boys

        1st Place Richard Noonan from Wauseon Score 289

        2nd Place Xander Brown (also known as Pebbles) from Delta Score 288

        3rd Place Braxton John from Stryker Score 286

        4th Place Emerson Moor from Montpelier Score 282

        5th Place Wyatt Bieber from Fayette Score 282

The individual scores are out of 300. 

The team scores are the top 12 kids from each team with at least 4 boys and 4 girls out of the 12. 

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 for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Delta’s Xander Brown finished in 2nd place in the Boys High School Division with a score of 288, one point behind Richard Noonan of Wauseon

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When it came time for to begin making plans for this year’s Swanton High School’s annual Snowball Dance, Spanish teacher Christine Curtis-McCormack, who had chaired the effort many times in the past, was unavailable to help due to a serious health issue.  Without her involvement, the school decided to cancel the dance shortly before the scheduled date.  Despite their obvious disappointment, the students took matters into their own hands and worked to, not only put the dance on, but to use it for a fund raiser to help Ms. Curtis-McCormack with her medical bills.  During her time at Swanton High School, Senora, as she is also known by, has been a very popular and highly respected educator, serving as the advisor for the National Honor Society and the Student Council in addition to her Spanish classes.

Swanton senior Marlee Purdy and her mother Crystal, along with help from many of the other students and Swanton community members, organized the event which was held Friday evening in the banquet hall of the Bunker Bar on Eber Road, just off Airport Highway.  The venue was generously donated by owner Wes Frazier and food was also donated by Tano’s Pizza (Selena Stultz), LuLu Fare (Heather Williams), CK Sweets (Cat Kania).  John LaPrarie donated his DJ services, Swanton Area Community Coalition (Mackenzie Roytek) donated gift bags, off-duty Swanton Police Officer Troy Stewart was on hand and Fulton County Media provide the photographer (Bill O’Connell).  Parents and other volunteers served as chaperones as the event was not school sanctioned.

It’s been humbling,” said Crystal Purdy commenting on the turnout on the evening and the support from the community to make it all happen.  “We had so much help.  I am beyond thankful.  We had a community that stepped up and said ‘Hey, we want to do this for you’. This community is beyond special.”

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

Photo: Crystal and Marlee Purdy

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The Archbold Blue Streaks defeated the Paulding Panthers 48-34 Wednesday night at Napoleon High School to advance to the OHSAA DIII Boys Basketball District Championship on Saturday.  Taking a 23-8 lead into halftime, the Streaks scored the first five points of the third quarter to extend their advantage to 20 before the Panthers were able to mount a comeback and go on a 12-0 run to pull within 28-20.  Archbold regrouped and pushed the lead back to double digits and claimed the 14-point victory.  Cade Brenner topped the Blue Streaks and all players with 21 points and Sony Phillips added 11.  Casey Agler scored 16 points for the Panthers.

The win raises the Blue Streak record to 22-2 on the season and sends them to face the #1 seed Emmanuel Christian Warriors on Saturday night in the “Canyon” at Napoleon High School with a 6:00 PM tip-off.  The Warriors reached the finals with a 62-55 overtime victory against the Liberty Center Tigers.

Paulding Panthers:  4-4-13-13 = 34    Casey Agler (16), Blake Rhonehouse (10), Grady Barton (6), Kane Jones (2)

Archbold Blue Streaks:  9-14-9-16 = 48    Cade Brenner (21), Sonny Phillips (11), Micah Nofziger (8), Chase Miller (5), Broden Piercefield (2), Jayden Seiler (1)

Click mon 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 the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Micah Nofziger goes off glass for two points

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Lady Panther point guard Alani Haas has decided to continue her education and basketball career at Owens Community College (OCC) and play for Women’s Basketball Head Coach Stephen Perry and the perennial power Lady Express basketball program.

“I’ve watched their basketball program play and I really liked it.  I liked the energy they brought and how excited the coaches got,” said Alani, explaining her reasons for choosing OCC.  “We met with the coaches and talked to them on a personal level and I really appreciated them and how committed they seem to be.”  Prior to making the commitment, Alani sought input from former Lady Panther and OCC player Brooklyn Green who, in her two years with the Express, went to two Final Fours and brought home one national championship and gave her endorsement to the coaches and the program.

“She’s been a great ball handler for us.  She comes in and gives the team confidence,” said Delta Girls Basketball Head Coach, Kelsey Gillen.  She has a real ‘go-get-em’ attitude and mentality and is not afraid get in there and battle with everyone else.”

In the classroom, Alani will be majoring in Psychology.

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

Photo: Alani signs with parents Bryan and Angel Hollingsworth and Owens Coach Stephen Perry

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With the help of a large number of volunteer judges, many from the local business, academic and professional community, the Swanton Seven Initiative (SSI) Program held the first round of the Amazing Shake Competition for all of its seventh-grade students this past Wednesday morning.  The SSI Program, now in its sixth year, was inspired by the National Amazing Shake Competition that is held every year at the acclaimed Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia.  It was introduced to the Swanton Middle School (SMS) by then principal Matt Smith and implemented by Mr. Smith, Assistant Principal Leigh Pancoast (current principal) and the rest of the faculty at SMS.  It proved to be so successful, the Ohio Middle Level Association (OMLA) selected, for its two most prestigious annual awards, Swanton Middle School (SMS) as the 2020 Team of the Year and SMS Principal Matt Smith as the 2020 Educator of the Year. 

The Amazing Shake is a competition that focuses on building soft skills in students, placing strong emphasis on manners, discipline, respect, and professional behavior. To demonstrate these skills, students worked their way through “The Gauntlet.” There were seven stations in “The Gauntlet” and each put students’ abilities to the test. Each student had to show great poise and confidence in personal interactions as well as exhibit effective management skills.

The Gauntlet stations included a “Dining Drive,” which required students to be able to courteously place an order, interact appropriately with a waiter, and use proper dining etiquette.  The “Interview Alley” and “Conversation Circle” tested the students’ communication skills as they answered questions in an interview setting and engaged others in conversation.  In the “Know the News” and “Faces in the News” stations, students were assessed on their knowledge of important world events and their ability to recognize influential people in the world.  “Appointment Alley” judged the students communication skills in three real life situations that he or she may encounter over the phone.  Lastly, “Dress to Impress” the students focused on professional attire and presenting themselves in a positive light as well as tying a dress tie around their neck.  As each student approached a judge at every station, they were expected to deliver a “winning” handshake.

Scores were totaled and 20 students were chosen to move on to the next round which will take place later this month at the Anderson’s Corporate Headquarters in Maumee.  Eventually, one winner will be selected and will be sent to Atlanta to compete in the national competition at the Ron Clark Academy next year.  The Ron Clark Academy is a highly-acclaimed, non-profit middle school that has received both national and international recognition for its success in creating a loving, dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence and leadership.

The top 20 students this year are, Dixie Anderson, Ariana Jacomet, Layla Carver, Dylan Haselman, Weston Weber, Colton Aytes, Gavin McFarland, Alex Smith, Lukas Mendenhall, Kylie Kania, Sofia Aguirre, Lily Foster, Makennah Schuchman, Raegan Rominski, Gracelyn Peebles, Kaylie Graham, Skye Rosebrock, Gabe Haselman, Michael Massey, and Lathan Wilson.

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

Photo: Credit SMS. Top 20 moving on

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On Saturday night, the Swanton Rotary held a “Name That Tune” event at the Swanton Sports Center to help raise funds for Swanton Local School’s Backpack Buddies Program.  Backpack Buddies is a program found in school districts and communities nationwide that supplies nutritious meals to disadvantage students over weekends when school breakfasts and lunches are not available.  The nutrition provided by these meals, allow the students to return to school on Monday mornings well fed and ready to learn.

The event was sponsored by the local PizzAroma on Airport Highway in Swanton and by the Swanton Sports Center.  A great job of organizing was accomplished by several volunteers and chaired by Stephanie Fessenden and Pat Pilliod.  The funds raised is expected to help more than 40 students in the Swanton Local School District.

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

https://photos.app.goo.gl/aEAPLCazd5TxQ2Pd6

Blue Streak senior Cade Brenner, playing in the final home game of his high school basketball career, scorched the nets and the Knights of Otsego for 36 points to lead Archbold to a 68-47 win, capturing the DIII Sectional Championship Friday evening in the Thunderdome.  The 2024 NWOAL Basketball Player of the Year wasted no time in showing the crowd and the opponent what they were in for as he scored 11 points in the first quarter and 19 for the half with five baskets coming from beyond the arc.

To their credit, the visiting Knights played well and remained relatively close, trailing 51-40 entering the final quarter, but ran out of gas towards the end as both teams emptied their bench in the final minutes.  In addition to Brenner’s 36 points, Micah Nofziger scored 13 for the Streaks.  Jack Simpson led Otsego with 14 points and Devin Silva added 10.

Archbold (21-2) moves on to play in the District Semi-Finals on Wednesday, March 6^th, at Napoleon High School where they will play the Paulding Panthers, a 56-36 winner over the Evergreen Vikings in another Sectional battle.  The game is scheduled for approximately 7:30 PM with the start time contingent on the ending of the first game of the night, Liberty Center versus Emmanuel Christian.

Otsego Knights:  11-12-17-7 = 47     Jack Simpson (14), Devin Silva (10), Kaidyn Hutton (7), Drew Gase (9), Carter Lampe (5), Owen Atkinson (2)

Archbold Blue Streaks:  16-18-17-19 = 68    Cade Brenner (36), Micah Nofziger (13), Sonny Phillips (7), Jayden Zeiler (5), Broden Piercefield (4), Evan Wendt (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 for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Cade Brenner drives in for two of his game-high 36 points.

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The visiting Stryker Panthers overcame a five-point halftime deficit and outscored the Pettisville Blackbirds 27-9 in the second half to win the opening round of the OHSAA DIV Boys Basketball Sectional Tournament 42-29 on Wednesday night at Pettisville High School.  Tied at 24 all midway through the third quarter, a holding call on the Blackbirds was immediately followed by a technical foul call.  Panther senior Michael Donovan made three of the resulting free throws to put Stryker up 27-24 and Pettisville could not recover and did not score again until late in the fourth quarter.  Meanwhile, the Panthers took a 28-24 lead after three and never looked back, outscoring the Blackbirds 14-5 in the final frame to advance in the tournament.  Daniel Donovan led Stryker with 15 points and Joey Ripke had 10 for Pettisville.

Stryker Panthers:  11-4-13-14 = 42    Daniel Donovan (15), William Donovan (13), Michael Donovan (8), Gavin LaBo (4), Jacob Caldwell (2)

Pettisville Blackbirds:  12-8-4-5 = 29    Joey Ripke (10), Jack Leppelmeier (8), Kaleb Wyse (6), Johnny Fenton (3), Creighton Aeschliman (2)

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

Photo: Blackbird Jack Leppelmeier flies toward the basket.