DISTRICT CHAMPS 23-0 Redskins will face Defiance in first round of regional play SPORTS 1B
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Volume 28 Number 5
MAYOR’S REPORT
City gets ready for warmth By DEBBIE HYMORE-TESTER Port Clinton mayor It certainly has been a very long winter and everyone is looking forward to a good spring! The city has been busy with preparations for a change of season, and some of our initiatives are as follows: A stressful time is always putting together the year’s budget; Auditor Larry Hartlaub, former Auditor Nancy O’Neal, finance chairman John Fol- HYMORE-TESTER ger and the administration have been working tirelessly for the completion. Our street program is being revisited and the lists of concrete streets along with the curbs in distress will be determined first. We are reviewing the asphalts streets and will select as many as the budget will allow. The city of Port Clinton and Ohio Department of Transportation will finish up the Urban Repaving program for the completion of Perry Street with an 80/20 grant match. It will start where we left off and continue east to the city limits which will complete Ohio 163. Funding will then be looked into for Ohio 53 for next year’s project with the state. The Lakeview Park Restroom facilities are close to completion, after an extended period of work became necessary due to the weather. The roof is on, and the inside plumbing and electrical will follow, with
www.thebeacon.net
Thursday, March 18, 2010
A legislative legend passes Fred Deering, long-time Democratic state representative from rural Sandusky, passed away Monday evening following a long illness. Word of Deering’s passing was sent to The Beacon by his successor at the Statehouse, Darrell Opfer. Deering, a former Erie County Commissioner, was elected as state representative in the early 1970s, and remained in office through most of the 1980s. He was suc-
ceeded in that post by Opfer, Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern and Dennis Murray. Deering had a reputation of being able to work across party lines in Columbus. He was always able to free himself for personal appearances at local functions and was a regular guest on the old Sound Off program on WRWR, hosted by present Beacon publisher, John Schaffner.
Friends may call at the Groff Funeral Home, 1607 E. Perkins Ave. in Sandusky 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 19. Funeral Services will be held at St. John’s United Church of Christ at the corner of Mason and Thomas roads at 11 a.m. Saturday. Deering reportedly received a note from former Ohio Governor Richard Celeste which stated that he (Celeste) never knew a farmer DEERING not to outlast his John Deere!
DANBURY LOCAL SCHOOLS
Biggest loser? Staffers setting healthy example
See MAYOR 9A
Public welcome to hear mayor speak Port Clinton residents who are interested in learning more about the city’s operation and short- and long-term goals are invited to attend Port Clinton Rotary Club meeting at the Elks on Buckeye Boulevard at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 30. Mayor Debbie Hymore-Tester will be making an annual report of the happenings city-wide in the past 12 months and what we can expect in the coming months. The program will last approximately one half hour.
Standard Mail U.S. Postage Paid Port Clinton, Ohio Permit #80
PHOTO BY ROBERTA REDFERN
Danbury’s school nurse, Allison Holzaepfel, weighs teacher Geoff Halsey at the beginning of the staff’s weight loss contest modeled after the popular television show “The Biggest Loser.” The contest is meant to spark the student body’s interest in a healthful lifestyle.
By ROBERTA REDFERN In an effort to shed pounds and, more importantly, an increased overweight and obese rate among its elementary students, the Danbury School District staff is officially in competition. With School Nurse Allison Holzaepfel at the helm, 36 teachers and other staff members at the school have teamed up in a 10-week contest tailored after the popular television show “The Biggest Loser.” On the show, overweight contestants compete against each other by dieting and working out in an effort to lose unwanted pounds. Similarly, the Danbury staff is forgoing fattening goodies and sweating it out routinely. The team of three that has lost the largest percentage of weight at the end of the 10 weeks is the winner of a pot that was created by a $10 entry fee by each participant. “I thought it would be a good example of health if students saw their teachers exercising and drinking water instead of pop,”said Holzaepfel, who’s hoping for a fun, positive learning experience for both staff and students. According to national data from the Centers for Disease Control, 15.8 percent of youth ages 6-11 were obese (2003-2006 data — the most recent available). Locally, the Ottawa County Health Department recently released a health assessment in which children ages 12-18 were evaluated for trends in childhood obesity. The findings show that during the fall of 2009 when the study was done on 2,321
See DANBURY 9A
By JOHN SCHAFFNER
Tell Tales
Redskins show class in District victory
There is only one thing to think about … it is now late March, almost spring, and the Port Clinton Redskins boys basketball team is still playing! They make their first appearance in the Regionals at Bowling Green at 8 p.m. tonight (March 18). We printed a special spirit sign that you may place in your front window or take to the game that says “Go ’Skins!” We thank the sponsors who are excited about our 23-0 Redskins! I wrote a special story about the incredible gesture demonstrated by Coach Troy Diels and his team last Saturday, allowing Bellevue’s Cody Ruhlman to score his 1,000th point (Page B1). Not only have the Redskins won every game they have played this year, they have done it with consummate class!
INSIDE SOUND OFF 3A
Various Sizes Available
We had 72 correct entries in our Find Wylie contest last week. Our winner is Ken Goad, of Oak Harbor, who found Wylie in the Baumann’s Auto Center ad on page 4B. Ken wins a $20 gift card from Friendship Convenient Stores. We’ll hide Wylie again this week. If you find him, drop us a note at our office … or click on the Find Wylie icon online at www.thebeacon.net.
You won’t want to miss the 17th annual OSU Alumni Club of Ottawa County Scholarship Auction at Nick’s Road House Friday, March 19. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. A $10 donation is requested for the tailgate buffet. All proceeds benefit their Scholarship Fund. For information or to reserve a table for 2 or 200, call Mike Snider at 419-734-0515 or Mike Libben at 419-898-8400.
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Peace Lutheran Church and St. Thomas Episcopal will be serving up a free Community Meal from 5 to 6:30 p.m. today at the St. Thomas Guild Hall on East Second Street in Port Clinton. The dinner consists of beef stroganoff with homemade noodles, along with a beverage and dessert.
Chapel on the Lake will host a Seder meal, a traditional Jewish Passover, at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 21, at the church, 145 S. Bridge Road. For information, contact the church office at 419732-2028. The community is welcome. nnn
The Firelands Area Sea Cadets will host an open house at
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BEACON BITS 4A
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SPORTS 1B
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their facility located at 5225 W. Lakeshore Drive Building No. 650 this Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. The building is located in the Lake Erie Business Park off Ohio 2. nnn
Happy 95th Birthday wishes go out to Monie Griesser of Marblehead who celebrates next Thursday, March 25. nnn
Jack Smith, one of the two candidates in the May Republican Primary running for the 9th Congressional District seat will be the speaker at the Ottawa County Republican Fourth Thursday Lunch Bunch on March 25 at the Port Clinton Elk’s Lodge. No reservations are needed for the noon buffet luncheon. Smith is a former Toledo Chief of Police.
ENTERTAINMENT 2B
CATAWBA MINI STORAGE YOUR EXTRA ROOM!
Hours: 8:00 - 4:30 Monday - Friday • Heated Boat Storage • Mini-Storage • Business Units •
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Don’t forget the weekly Lenten Fish Fries at the Port Clinton Knights of Columbus Hall, 109 E. Perry St. (next to the Lakeland Hotel) and at St. Boniface Church in Oak Harbor. Eating fish on Fridays during lent used to be a sacrifice … not any more! nnn
Joe Hrupcho, the last surviving member of Tank Company C, which was virtually wiped out in the fall of Bataan, April 1942 by the Japanese, has made it to another birthday. Joe will be 96 on March 22. We as a community should shower him with birthday cards. Let’s get it done! Joe’s address is 13180 Dorman Rd., Apt. B105, Pineville, N.C., 28134. Happy Birthday Joe! nnn
Erin Go Braugh!!!
BUSINESS 3B
4789 E. Muggy Rd. Port Clinton, OH
www.catawbaministorage.com
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REAL ESTATE 6B