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Since 1972
Genoa history See page 8
Eddie Money headlines
RESS June 20, 2016
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All-Press Softball See page 18 M
By Kelly J. Kaczala Press News Editor kkaczala@presspublications.com
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Had it not been for his vote, we wouldn’t have this historic building. Eric Hise See page 8
Curtice Kidz day
Top photo, the Genoa High School Marching Band provided music. Bottom left, WWII veteran Gerald “Jeff” Dreier was presented the Outstanding Citizen Award from the Curtice Community Club, and served as Grand Marshal. Bottom right, Boy Scouts and neighborhood children enjoy the parade. (Press photos by Ken Grosjean)
A mother’s thoughts on son’s tragic death By Larry Limpf News Editor news@presspublications.com Nearly a year after Sean Lutzmann was killed in a car crash on Woodville Road in Oregon, his family awaits a decision by the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals whether or not the man convicted for Sean’s death will receive a reduced prison sentence. Jacob Greer, of Fremont, was sentenced to 54 months in prison. His license was suspended for 27 years and he was ordered to pay $18,843 in restitution to the family of Lutzmann. Investigators calculate Greer’s vehicle may have been traveling as fast as 78 miles per hour the morning of July 2 when it slammed into the rear of Lutzmann’s car, which was stopped for a red light. Lucas County prosecutors argued Greer had marijuana in his system; however, investigators were unable to secure a search warrant for a blood test within three hours of the accident. Had a blood test been completed in the three-hour window with positive results, Greer could have been charged with a second degree felony for aggravated vehicular homicide, which carries a minimum sentence of eight years. Because of the test delay and other legalities, prosecutors charged Greer with a third degree felony and on Dec. 14 he entered a plea of no contest. His attorney asked the court to have Greer placed on community control instead of prison but Common Pleas Court Judge Ruth Ann Franks noted that Greer
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The people peddling drugs to our children, our siblings, our neighbors, do not care about the pain that follows.
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Live entertainment, food, drinks, a car show and a fireworks display will be featured at the 7th annual “Boomfest at the Grove” from noon until midnight on July 2 at the Oak Shade Grove, 3624 Seaman Rd., home of the German American Festival (GAF) in Oregon. Singer songwriter Eddie Money, who had a string of hits in the 1970s and 80s, will headline the event, which is free. The “Cruisin’ the Grove Car Show” will run from noon until 6 p.m. and will feature “The Jimmy & Bob Show,” DJ’s who will spin 50’s and 60’s music. Live entertainment will start at 5:30 p.m. with the “10 From 6,” a Bad Company tribute band followed by the popular Toledo band “Arctic Clam” at 7:15 p.m., who will also perform after the fireworks until midnight. At 8:45 p.m., Money will perform several of his top 40 hit singles, including “Two Tickets to Paradise, “Shakin,” “Baby Hold On,” “Think I’m in Love,” “I Want to Go Back,” and “Take me Home Tonight. The fireworks display, sponsored by BP/Husky Refinery, is scheduled at dusk. “Our local business community has really stepped up to help make sure that both Oregon residents and people from the broader region could enjoy a traditional celebration of community and our nation’s birthday,” said Seferian. Other sponsors include Toledo Refinery, Toledo Edison, Mercy St. Charles Hospital and Bay Park Hospital, and the Oregon Clean Energy project, according to Oregon Mayor Mike Seferian. “We are excited to once again partner with the local business community and the GAF to present a fun event for Oregon area families,” said Seferian, who coordinates the event each year. “This event has grown over the last few years and we hope to continue building on this new tradition.” Seferian said he negotiates personally with entertainers to headline Boomfest each year, picking bands he thinks would appeal to the area.
Sean Lutzmann had tested positive for using cocaine while free on bond. An appeal was recently filed. In this interview, Sean’s mother, Jackie KiddLutzmann, of Gibsonburg, discusses the loss of her son and the impact it’s had on his family and friends. Q. Sean’s 28th birthday was in May. Do you let yourself wonder about what might have been; marriage, his own possible family, or do you try to block such thoughts? A. I absolutely think about what could have been. I think everybody who loses a child feels that way. Our oldest son and his wife had their second son two weeks following Sean’s death. We kept waiting for Sean to walk through the door. I real-
ized then, looking at my grandson, commenting on how he had his dad’s eyes and chin, I won’t ever get to do that with Sean’s child. We won’t get to tease him about how he proposed, no wedding photos or indulgent smiles about how protective he is of his wife and newborn. No chubby blondhaired, blue-eyed toddlers running up the walk to granny’s house. These are things you don’t think about, until the opportunity to do them is lost. Last year Sean’s birthday was on Mother’s Day, I think about that a lot. We had a great day – family dinner at Ol’ Zim’s, which means phenomenal pie, lots of laughs and a wonderful picture. But I didn’t make him a cake. It was his last birthday and I didn’t make him a cake. I think that will always bother me. Continued on page 6
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