News Briefs Week of 2/17/20
Port grant
Rear Admiral Mark H. Buzby, with the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), presented the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority with a $16 million grant awarded through the MARAD Port Infrastructure Development Grant Program. The award was presented at the National Museum of the Great Lakes.
The MARAD grant funds will allow the Port Authority to reconstruct and upgrade the dockwall at the Port of Toledo’s General Cargo Facility, operated by Midwest Terminals, and will also be used to construct a liquid transloading facility at the site.
An additional $4 million local match will be added to the $16 million grant to fund both components of the $20 million project, which are part of a 10-year master plan to upgrade current connections from multi-modal to an integrated intermodal port transportation network.
The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System marine shipping industry supports nearly 238,000 jobs in the U.S. and Canada and generates $35 billion in economic activity. The System moves 143.5 million in metric tons of cargo annually. The Port of Toledo supports $669 million in economic activity and more than 7,000 jobs in our region.
Public hearing
Oregon City Council will hold a public hearing on a Special Use Exception (SUE) on Monday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. in council chambers at 5330 Seaman Rd.
The applicant/owner, Robert Taylor, is seeking the SUE in a C-1 Zoned District for the purpose of a single family residential use at 4135 Navarre Ave.
The Oregon Planning Commission recently voted 5-0 to allow the SUE.
James Gilmore, commissioner of building and zoning, said there presently is a building on the property that looks like a house but operates as a business in a C-1 Zoned District. The owner wants to sell the building and use it as residential for new buyers.
Smuggling goods
An indictment was filed against Eric Taylor, 44, of Northwood, charging him with smuggling goods, misbranded drugs and unapproved d rugs, according to the United States Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Ohio.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence would be determined by the court after reviewing factors to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The investigating agency is the United States Food and Drug Administration. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Freeman.
Meetings planned
The Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties will hold Combined Committee Meetings Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 4:30 p.m.
The Board will meet Thursday, Feb. 27 at 4:30 p.m.
Both meetings will be held in the Nancy A. Cochran Conference Room of the Board Office, 1200 N. SR 53, Tiffin.
PERI meeting
Chapter 82 of the Ottawa County Public Employee Retirees Inc. will meet for lunch on Monday, March 9, at 11:30 a.m. in the multi-purpose room of Riverview Health Care Campus, 8180 W. SR 163, Oak Harbor.
After lunch, the group will adjourn to the chapel for a program and business meeting. Jan Preston, vice president of the Ottawa County Community Foundation, will speak about scholarships offered to Ottawa County students.
To make dinner reservations, call Carolyn Nusbaum at 419-836-8926 by Tuesday, March 3.
Pheasants Forever
Fundraising Banquet
The Erie-Ottawa-Sandusky Chapter of Pheasants Forever invites individuals, couples, families and other supporters of wildlife habitat to attend their 29th Annual Fundraising Banquet on Saturday, March 14 at the Camp Perry Clubhouse, 1000 Lawrence Rd., Port Clinton.
Doors open at 5 p.m. A catered dinner will be served beginning at 6:45 p.m. Beer and soft drinks will be provided and a cash bar available.
The event will include live and silent auctions, ladies’ and men’s raffles, door prizes and chances to win some of the approximately 30 guns on hand. The auctions, raffles and door prizes will follow until they have all been awarded.
Admission is $60 for a single, which includes membership to Pheasants Forever for one year, and $30 for a spouse’s dinner. Youth admission is $25 and includes membership for a year with Pheasants Forever’s “Ringneck” youth organization.
The event is open to pre-sale ticket purchase holders only, with no ticket sales at the door.
Seating is limited to 350 people. For tickets and questions, call Joe Uhinck at 419-607-4053. More details are also available at www.ottawaswcd.com.
Foundation elects
officers for 2020
The Ottawa County Community Foundation began the year with its annual organizational meeting.
Officers elected for 2020 include Joy Roth – president; Jan Preston – vice president; Marcia Jess – secretary and John Madison – treasurer.
In addition, Jim Deer, Marcia Jess, Jan Preston, Joy Roth and Dave Slosser were re-elected to three-year terms on the board of directors. There are currently 14 members on the board, with three emeritus members. The nominating committee is seeking an additional board member from the Marblehead area.
“As we begin 2020, we are excited to build on our first 20 years of success,” Roth said. “From humble beginnings in 1999, we have grown to 90 funds, including two new funds established in 2019, which are invested for the future. Our assets are currently over $9 million which will allow us to continue our mission of ‘Doing Good. Forever.’
“In 2019, we awarded over $49,000 as grants to 29 local organizations to support projects and programs that address current and emerging needs throughout Ottawa County,” Roth said. “Our scholarship funds provided 119 scholarships for deserving students with a total of $141,993 given.”
Scholarship applications for graduating seniors can be obtained from the guidance office at high schools throughout Ottawa County. This is also the time when the Grants Committee accepts requests for funding for 2020-2021. Interested organizations should refer to the Grant Guidelines available on the Foundation’s website www.ottawaccf.org. The deadline for applications is Monday, March 16.
Questions regarding grants or scholarships may be directed to info@ottawaccf.org or visit the Foundation office, 306 Madison St. in Port Clinton on Wednesdays between noon and 3 p.m.
Roth expressed thanks to businesses and individuals for their generous response to the year-end fundraising campaign. This support enables the Ottawa County Community Foundation to continue its mission to serve as a mechanism for charitable giving and enrich the community by supporting local needs, she said.
The Ottawa County Community Foundation is a public charitable organization created by the citizens to improve the quality of life for those who live, work, and visit in the Ottawa County area.
To learn more, visit www.ottawaccf.org.
FIGHT Fentanyl Act
U.S. Representatives Bob Latta (R-OH5) and Steve Chabot (R-OH1) introduced legislation on Feb. 6 to provide the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) the ability to criminalize the manufacturing, distribution or possession of fentanyl-like drugs.
Specifically, H.R. 5771, the Federal Initiative to Guarantee Health by Targeting (FIGHT) Fentanyl Act, will permanently list all fentanyl analog drugs as schedule I controlled substances under the Controlled Substances Act. Two years ago, the DEA temporarily scheduled fentanyl analogs as controlled substances. However, that designation expired Feb. 6. Congress has passed a temporary extension that, once signed by President Trump, will continue to criminalize fentanyl analogs until May 6, 2021. By making this important designation permanent, the FIGHT Fentanyl Act will end the necessity to continue passing temporary extensions.
“According to the most recent data from the DEA, drug overdose deaths in 2017 reached the highest record in our history and were the leading cause of injury and death in our country,” said Latta. “Fentanyl is 80-100 times stronger than morphine. This powerful drug is highly addictive and is being abused not just in Ohio, but in every state in our country. If we do not take action to stop the spread of fentanyl in our communities, we will continue to see thousands of Americans lose their lives for years to come. While I am proud of the work Congress has already accomplished to combat drug abuse, the FIGHT Fentanyl Act takes our work to the next level by permanently listing fentanyl as a schedule I controlled substance so that we can better prevent fentanyl from destroying and taking American lives.”
“The opioid crisis facing our nation and devastating American families is far too severe for temporary measures that are not guaranteed to be renewed or extended,” said Chabot.
A companion to the House legislation (S. 2701) was introduced in the Senate on Oct. 24, 2019 by Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia).
One last walk
Elmore mayor Rick Claar last week said the village is organizing an event for residents to walk across the bridge over the Portage River one last time before the replacement project prohibits pedestrian traffic.
He said planners have set March 15 as the tentative date for the walk from 2-3 p.m.
The mayor said the police department will detour vehicular traffic on the span for the walk. Participants will be encouraged to take photos of the “Goodbye Bridge” walk, he said.
For information contact the mayor at 419-377-0700.