News Briefs

Fatal crash
investigated
The Fremont Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a two-vehicle fatal traffic crash that occurred March 11 on U.S. 6 at Township Road 26 in Madison Township. The crash occurred March 11 at approximately 6:00 am.
A Dodge Magnum, driven by Grace O. Molyet, 55, of Perrysburg, was northbound on TR 26. A Freightliner Cascadia, driven by Kent A. Blocher, 61, of Union City, Ohio, was eastbound on U.S. 6. Molyet ran the stop sign at the intersection and ran into the path of Blocher.
After impact both vehicles ran off the north side of the road and into a building. As a result of the crash approximately 100 gallons of diesel fuel were spilled in the immediate area and contained.
Molyet was pronounced deceased at the scene. She was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash. Blocher was also wearing his seatbelt and sustained minor injuries. He was transported to Fremont ProMedica Hospital where he was treated and released.
Alcohol and drug impairment are not factors in the crash, which remains under investigation at this time.

Road closed due to
waterline project
The Northwestern Water and Sewer District has announced the following updates to the Tracy Road waterline replacement project in Northwood.
The intersection of Tracy Road at Wales Road is now open. Through March, southbound Tracy Road, between Andrus Road and Wales Road, will be closed.
Additional lane restrictions on Tracy Road, from Florence Avenue to Wales Road, will be announced. Road closures on Florence Avenue and Andrus Road at Tracy Road, and service interruptions will be announced.
The $1.9 million project is expected to be complete January, 2024.

State of county
address March 22
The Wood County Commissioners will present the annual State of the County Address on March 22 in the Alvin L. Perkins Atrium at the Wood County Courthouse in Bowling Green.
Doors open at 7:30 a.m. and the speech will begin at 8 a.m. Joining with the commissioners for the speech will be Judge Dave Woessner and Prosecuting Attorney Paul Dobson.
The event is coordinated by the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce. For more information call 419-353-7945.

Man arrested
after woman
escapes house

A man was lodged in the Ottawa County Detention Facility March 13 after authorities received a call from a woman reporting she had been held captive at knife point by him at a house in Benton Township.
Deputies from the county sheriff’s office, with assistance from Clay Township and Genoa police departments, arrested the man, Randall Loeffler, 65, later that day at the house where the woman was allegedly held in the 15000 block of W. Toussaint North Rd. in Benton Township.
The sheriff’s office said the call came in at about 8:31 p.m. on March 12 and the woman said she had been held for several hours at the house but was able to leave and call from a safe location.
Loeffler has been charged with domestic violence, kidnapping, felonious assault, and disrupting public service.
An arraignment hearing in Ottawa County Municipal Court has been scheduled for March 22. Court records list a Grafton, Ohio address for Loeffler.

Ashford to
resign as
Dem chairman
Michael Ashford, chairman of the Lucas County Democratic Party, has announced he will resign as party chairman effective March 31.
Ashford, who also serves as Lucas County Recorder, says he will remain in that position and is expected to run for re-election in 2024.
He is the 10th party chair in 18 years.

Meeting change
The Northwestern Water and Sewer District has changed the scheduled meeting of the board of trustees. The board meeting scheduled for March 16 has been rescheduled to March 23 at 7:30 a.m.
The meetings are held at the district's offices at 12560 Middleton Pike, Bowling Green.

Recycling event
scheduled
The 2023 Clean Toledo Drop-Off Refuse and Recycling events schedule includes two dates in East Toledo.
On July 1, it will be held at Waite High School, 301 Morrison Dr., and on Oct. 14 at Oakdale Elementary School, 1620 E. Broadway St.
Both events are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Acceptable items include electronic waste, including TVs and CRT monitors; up to 10 tires on or off the rim, (excluding commercial tires), document shredding and recycling; bulk items, cardboard, and Styrofoam.
Large appliances and air conditioning units will be accepted as well as latex and oil-based paint.
To download the full schedule visit toledo.oh.gov/recycling-events.

Recorder urges
veterans to record
military forms
Michael Ashford, Lucas County Recorder is reminding military veterans of the importance of having their DD-214 military discharge paperwork and other military documentation recorded by the Lucas County Recorder’s office.
“March 29 is Vietnam War Veterans Day. I would like to join with everyone as we take this time to recognize, honor, and celebrate our service members for the sacrifices they made for our country,” Ashford said. “The service, commitment, and dedication put forth by these brave Americans helps ensure the safety of every individual here.”
The DD-214 can be helpful in assisting with military benefits that can include rent, mortgage, utility payments, food vouchers, prescriptions, transportation to VA medical facilities, and identifying eligibility and filing for Veteran Administration benefits.
“The Lucas County Recorder’s office wants to continue serving veterans by recording military discharges free of charge, as well as providing copies of DD-214’s that are already recorded within our county,” Ashford said.
In an effort to promote the importance of this service, Ashford is doing a print and radio broadcast ad campaign with Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient Robert Stewart, who is also Past President, Vietnam Veterans Chapter 35.
“The first thing we tell military veterans when they are discharged is to take your DD-214 and get it recorded with the recorder’s office. In case it is lost in a fire or some natural disaster, you and your family members still have access to it through the recorder’s office. If you do not do this and it is lost, the process of replacing it can be painful and time consuming,” Stewart said.
For more info, visit co.lucas.oh.us/Recorder or call the Lucas County Recorder’s office at 419-213-4400.

P.E.R.I. chapter to meet
P.E.R.I. Chapter #93, Lucas County District 1, will meet Thursday, March 23 from 1-2:15 p.m. at The Hungarian
Club, of Toledo, 224 Paine Ave. Overflow parking is available at the Birmingham Branch Library, 203 Paine Ave.
Guest speaker Trish Hausknecht, Metroparks Toledo marketing and event manager, will discuss Metroparks projects, including Glass City Metropark and The Riverwalk. Refreshments will be available, and after a break, any questions regarding O.P.E.R.S. benefits, medical and insurance, Medicare denials and the latest state legislative information will be addressed.
All chapter and P.E.R.I. members, guests and any new O.P.E.R.S. and P.E.R.I. and retirees are welcome.

Sacred Grounds workshop
Sacred Grounds Toledo will offer a free workshop for faith communities aspiring to beautify their neighborhoods, green their grounds and increase their environmental stewardship.
The workshop, set for March 26 at 1 p.m. Salem Lutheran Church, 1127 N. Huron St., Toledo, will encourage the use of native plants to create habitat for birds and butterflies, welcome pollinators, reduce water pollution from runoff, lessen the impacts from climate change and provide opportunities for adults and youth to spend time outdoors. Registration will begin at 1 p.m.
Light refreshments will be served. To register, visit https://bit.ly/sg1_reg23 or contact the Toledo Division of Environmental Services at 419-936-3015.
The program will offer an opportunity for interested faith communities and gardeners to learn more learn about the National Wildlife Federation’s Sacred Grounds certification and for already participating faith communities to educate more of their members about the value of native plants in the landscape.
Visit nwf.org/sacredgrounds and sacredgroundstoledo.org for details.