Colleges and universities throughout the Midwest will converge in Perrysburg Township to test their mental capacity and intellectual skills as Owens Community College hosts the second annual academic Quiz Bowl Invitational Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Audio/Visual Classroom Center rooms121-128.

Competing quiz bowl programs will include Owens, Michigan State University, Bowling Green State University, Miami University (two teams), Ohio University Southern, Rochester College and the University of Pittsburgh.

The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

Teams, comprised of three to six students, will compete against each other in a round-robin format invitational. At the conclusion of round-robin matches, each group will compete in two additional quiz bowl playoff matches to determine the champion. Awards will be presented to the top three participating teams.

For more information, call 567-661-2075 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, ext 2075.

Preschools enrolling
WSOS child development centers in Bowling Green, Pemberville, Perrysburg and Rossford are still accepting applications for preschool and childcare.

The centers will enroll income-eligible children who are between ages birth and 5 years old. Services provided include comprehensive early childhood and family programs that provide children with age-appropriate educational services in addition to health and nutrition services. Social services for the entire family are also provided.

Options for families include full and half-day classes for the child and/or home visitation services. Eligible families are those whose total annual income does not exceed 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines ($22,050 for a family of four) for Early Head Start/Head Start and 200 percent for public school preschool. Children with special needs are also eligible for these services. Call to verify the income levels.

For more information, call WSOS at 1-800-775-9767 or visit www.wsos.org.

Brown Bag Lunch Series
The Kern Center of Community and Industrial Development at Terra Community College offers a variety of non-credit classes and seminars for individuals and businesses.  This fall, the college is offering a free Brown Bag Lunch Series. The schedule includes:
• Oct. 16 – Wind Energy in Northwest Ohio with John Fellhauer.
• Oct. 23 – All About LEEDS Certification with Bill Hotz, Associate Professor at Terra.
• Oct. 30 – Office Ergonomics with Julie Reynolds, Bureau of Workers Compensation.
• Nov. 6 – Alternative Energy Choices with Donald Scherer, professor emeritus at Bowling Green State University.
• Nov. 13 – Recycling Revisited with Tim Wasserman.

Each seminar runs from noon to 1 p.m. and is free and open to the public. For more information, call Marsha at 419-559-2255.

Haul-Out collection
The United Way in Ottawa County is holding its first collection for local food pantries during marina and campground “haul out” season.

Marina users and campground residents begin to empty and close up their units during the month of October. This year, United Way is encouraging users and residents to contribute to local pantries by donating their left over non-perishable food items, paper, and cleaning products.

According to Feeding America’s 2009 survey of Ohio Regional Food Banks, more than half of the food banks reported they, or the agencies that help distribute food, have had to turn people away in the last year.

“Food pantries in our community experience an increase in requests for food as seasonal employment dwindles each year,” said Christine Galvin, director of United Way of Ottawa County. “This food drive is a great way for those who enjoyed Ottawa County in the summer to help the permanent residents. Ottawa County pantries depend upon the generous donations of community members to help keep their supplies high for those in need.”

Participants in the food drive are Catawba Island Club, Foxhaven Marina, The Moorings, Catawba Landing Marina, Gem Beach Marina, Anchors Away, Bay Point Marina, Lakefront Marina, Port Clinton Yacht Club and Brands Marina. To contribute to the effort, contact marina or campground offices.

Police academy enrolling
The Basic Peace Officer Academy Training Program at the Owens Community College Toledo-area campus is currently enrolling.

During the seven-month program, students will take courses in patrol operations, firearms, defensive tactics, criminal investigation, constitutional law and physical conditioning using modern, high-tech police equipment. Classes will be conducted by local police officers, sheriff’s deputies and corrections officers, as well as state and federal agents. In addition, coursework earned by police academy graduates will apply toward an associate degree at Owens in law enforcement.

Upon completion of the program, each student will receive a certificate. The academy curriculum is approved by the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission. All requirements of the Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission must be met for certification.

Applications for academy classes should be completed and returned to the College by Nov.13. Classes begin in January. For more information or to obtain an application packet, call 567-661-7439 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, ext. 7439.

New eligibility guidelines set
Lisa Patt-McDaniel, director of the Ohio Department of Development, has announced that the state has increased the income eligibility guidelines for the federally funded Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) for the 2010 fiscal year.

Households are eligible for HEAP assistance if their income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, an increase from the previous level of 175 percent.

“This important change aligns with the Governor’s Anti-Poverty Task Force recommendation to raise income guidelines for programs that assist Ohio’s unemployed and underemployed population,” said Patt-McDaniel. “By increasing the income levels, we will be able to assist more eligible households through HEAP benefits.”

The state is expecting to receive approximately $220 million in Home Energy Assistance Program funds for the upcoming program year to assist eligible low-income Ohioans meet the cost of home energy bills. The program, administered by the department’s Office of Community Services, pays a one-time payment for the current winter heating season. Households with elderly or disabled members may qualify for a larger amount of assistance. A special component of HEAP, the Winter Crisis Program, is administered by Community Action agencies throughout Ohio.

The Winter Crisis Program provides assistance once per heating season to eligible households that are disconnected, threatened with disconnection, or have less than a 10-day supply of bulk fuel.

To be eligible for home energy assistance, the total household income of an applicant must be at or below 200 percent of the 2009 federal poverty guidelines that include:

(Size of household/total household income (12 months).

One – up to $ 21,660; two – up to $ 29,140; three – up to $ 36,620; four – up to $ 44,100; five – up to $ 51,5800;
Six – up to $ 59,060; seven – up to $ 66,5400; eight – up to $ 74,020.

For households with more than eight members, add $7,480 per member to the yearly income. Applications for the 2009-2010 Home Energy Assistance Program are now being accepted.

Qualified Ohioans can seek assistance at any of Ohio’s 53 local service providers. For more information about HEAP or to apply for assistance, call the toll-free HEAP hotline at 1-800-282-0880 Monday through Friday or visit energyhelp.ohio.gov.

Pie-baking contest
The Elmore Fall Pie-baking contest will be held Oct. 24 in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce Tombstone Derby at Fellowship Hall, Elmore Fire Station.

Pies are to be delivered to the fire station on Rice Street between 9 and 10:30 a.m. Judging will be held from noon until completed. Winners will be displayed at the Historical Society Barn at approximately 2 p.m.

After judging, pies will be sold by the piece. First-, second- and third-place prizes will be awarded in three categories – fruit, pumpkin and nut pies. All proceeds will benefit the Harris-Elmore Library.

No cream pies, no hot pies, no meringue and no custard will be accepted and pies must be cooled.

A pie-baking contest also will be held for children ages 5-14, with first-, second- and third-place awards in same three categories as adults. Young entrants are expected to do 80 percent of the work and the same requirements apply to them.

All pies entered need two three by five inch cards, one including the name, address and phone number of the baker (and for children, their age), along with the kind of pie it is. On the second card put the kind of pie and what ingredients were used. If using glass pie plates, please put name on bottom, not sides. Dishes can be picked up at the Historical Society Barn after contest.

To register call Renee Thomas 419-574-1559 or Winnie Chasteen 419-707-7972 by Oct. 23 with the amount of pies you will be entering or if you have any questions.

2010 Elmore calendar
The inaugural 2009 Elmore community calendar was a big success, and village council and the Elmore Board of Public Affairs are looking forward to an exciting, colorful and informative calendar for 2010.

Anyone who would like to submit Elmore-area photos, community event schedules or personals, such as birthdays or anniversaries, may contact Gail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by Nov. 2. Those submitting photos should not the photographer’s name and location of the photo for a photo credit.

Indictments returned
After a recent session of the Ottawa County Grand Jury, indictments have been returned against the following individuals, according to Prosecuting Attorney Mark Mulligan:

• Adam C. Knieriem, 25, of Graytown, has been indicted on charges of Aggravated Vehicular Assault, a felony of the third degree, along with misdemeanor charges of Possession of Drugs and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. According to Ohio Highway Patrol, Knieriem was intoxicated when he crashed his car in Portage Township on March 23, causing serious head injuries to his passenger.
• Eric M. Ross, 36, who is currently being held in the Ottawa County Detention Facility, has been charged with one count of Domestic Violence after he was arrested by officers of the Oak Harbor Police Department Sept. 20 for reportedly causing physical harm to a family member. The charge is a felony of the third degree, due to Ross’s two prior domestic violence convictions.
• Tyler J. Rohloff, 24, who is also being held in the Ottawa County Detention Facility, was indicted on one count of Theft, a felony of the fifth degree, after he allegedly stole checks from an Allen Township residence in August.
• John W. Ishmael, 43, 144 W. Main St., Oak Harbor, has been charged with one count of Gross Sexual Imposition, a felony of the third degree, after he allegedly engaged in sexual contact with a minor under the age of 13 last summer.
• Terra R. Buhro, 37, 12785 W. Portage River South Rd., Oak Harbor, was indicted on one count each of arson and aggravated arson, felonies of the third and first degrees, respectively. According to allegations contained in reports of the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office, Buhro intentionally set fires in her home on two dates in November 2008.

Summonses have been issued for Knieriem, Ishmael and Buhro, Mulligan said. All three are scheduled to make their initial appearances in the Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas on Oct. 22. Warrants have been issued for all other defendants.

Mulligan noted that an indictment is merely a formal charge in the Common Pleas Court and does not denote guilt or innocence.

Political forum set
The Clay High School AP Government class will hold a political forum Oct.15 at 7 p.m. in the school library. Clay High School is located at 5665 Seaman Rd., Oregon.

Oregon School board candidates will be there to answer any questions about their views and what they would do for Oregon City Schools. For more information, call Mr. Kwiatkowski at 419-693-0665.

Grants awarded
The Center for Nonprofit Resources (The Center), a collaboration of The Community Partnership, Toledo Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Toledo, has awarded capacity building grants totaling $151,610 to 13 area nonprofits.

The Center is administering a grant on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Compassion Capital Fund Demonstration Program, which is funding these awards.

The grants awarded ultimately allow these organizations to increase their ability to continue to provide essential social services in their struggling communities.

The third round of grants since The Center’s inception in April 2008 were recently awarded to: Adopt America Network - $9,900;  Aurora Project, Inc. - $9,880; Beach House Family Shelter - $16,399; Diabetes Youth Services - $14,025;  Food For Thought - $10,722;  Greater Toledo Urban League, Inc. - $10,000; Hannah’s Socks - $11,000; Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio - $9,676;  Mary Immaculate School - $3,773; Northwest Ohio Scholarship Fund - $15,300; Ottawa Residential Services, Inc. - $12,235; Providence Center for Social & Economic Empowerment (in honor of Aurora Gonzalez) - $8,700; Toledo-Lucas County CareNet, Inc. - $20,000.

For more information contact the Center for Nonprofit Resources, 419-241-9513, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.C4NPR.org.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed