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Severe weather throughout much of the eastern half of the United States has led to the lowest January blood supply in a decade, and the American Red Cross has issued a call for eligible donors to help replenish decreasing supply.
“We have not seen the January supply drop this dramatically in a decade and we need to reverse this now,” said Annie Marckel, communications manager for the local American Red Cross. “You don’t wait to refuel once you’ve run out of gas. Donating blood or platelets now helps ensure immediate and future patient needs will be met.”
Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment to donate. All blood types are needed, especially type O negative.
Online votes needed
Downtown Fremont is asking for help to win the “We Hear You America” Sweepstakes being sponsored by Reader’s Digest.
Go online to “cheer” for the city to win up to $40,000 in cash prizes. In addition to cash prizes, winning cities will be included in the May issue of Reader’s Digest and will also be a stop on the Reader’s Digest RV Tour.
“We already know what a great city Fremont is – now we have the chance to share that with the world through one of the most well-known publications on the market,” said Downtown Fremont Executive Director Angie Morelock.
Visit www.wehearyouamerica.readersdigest.com through Feb. 7 to vote. Individuals can vote up to 10 times per day.
For more information, call 419-332-8696.
Indicted
A Carroll Township man has been indicted by an Ottawa County grand jury for sexual activity involving a minor.
Jeffrey L. Gill, 49, was indicted on three rape counts and 11 counts of gross sexual imposition with a minor under the age of 13 from April 2010 until early January. A warrant was issued for Gill, who was being held in the Ottawa County Detention Facility. If convicted of the charges, all felonies, he could face a maximum term of life without parole.
Gill had a previous indictment in 2007 for rape, sexual battery and gross sexual imposition involving a 19-year-old woman.
In addition, the grand jury indicted a Washington, D.C., man on drug trafficking charges in connection with a traffic stop on the Ohio Turnpike.
Jomo P. Grady, 36, has been indicted on felony counts of possession of drugs and trafficking in drugs as well as one count of driving under suspension. The Ohio Highway Patrol stopped Grady on the Ohio Turnpike in December for a traffic violation.
An investigation found that he was in possession of more than 200 grams of marijuana and $4,000 in cash. The indictment includes a grand jury specification that the money be forfeited.
Women’s Connection
All area women are invited to attend a “Heart to Heart” luncheon and program sponsored by the Toledo East Women’s Connection Feb. 10 at the Bayside Boardwalk, 2759 Seaman St., Oregon.
Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. for the noon luncheon and program.
Dorothy Bryan, from Cake Art Supplies in Toledo, will present a program on making cakes and candies; Mackenzie Bensch, of Oregon, will entertain with vocal music and Amy Gardner, of Luna Pier, Mich., will speak about “Laughter to Joy.”
The price is $10.50, all inclusive. For reservations, call Dorothy at 419-691-9611 or Marilyn at 419-666-1633.
Adoption/foster care training
Lucas County Children Services (LCCS) will offer a series of free training classes for adults interested in becoming foster or adoptive parents.
LCCS is currently seeking adults and families who can provide loving and stable homes for youth with behavioral, developmental or physical challenges and groups of three or more brothers and sisters.
To qualify, applicants must be at least 18 years of age to adopt or 21 to become a foster parent; can be married or single; can own or rent a home; must agree to a background check and pass a home safety inspection.
An accelerated training session will be held on six consecutive Saturdays, from Feb. 19 through March 26. The classes, which will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will cover two topics each day.
To register for the classes, which are required for anyone seeking to become a foster or adoptive parent, or to get more information, call 419-213-3336 or visit www.lucaskids.net. Additional training sessions will be offered in June, September and October.
Wind turbine forum held
On Jan. 18, Black Swamp Bird Observatory hosted a meeting to discuss wind turbines in migratory bird stopover habitat along Lake Erie.
Taking part in the meeting were representatives from Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, The Nature Conservancy, the American Bird Conservancy, Long Point Waterfowl/Bird Studies Canada, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ohio Division of Wildlife, Bowling Green State University (BGSU), University of Toledo (UT), Ohio State University (OSU), Toledo and Erie Metroparks, Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, and Ottawa County Visitors’ Bureau. Ottawa County Commissioner Jim Sass also attended.
“When this many national organizations, universities, and state and federal agencies come together to discuss this issue, it sends a powerful message about the critical nature of the habitat along the Lake Erie shoreline, and the responsibility we have to be proper stewards of this precious resource,” said Kimberly Kaufman, the Observatory’s executive director. “It is time for the industry to realize that there are some areas where wind turbines just don’t make sense.”
Several working groups were formed to continue to move the effort forward. The Observatory’s research director, Mark Shieldcastle, said he was encouraged by the interest in the ongoing effort.
“Several outstanding biologists have agreed to participate in our efforts here in northwest Ohio,” Shieldcastle said. “I feel certain that with the combined knowledge and expertise of the Observatory, UT, BGSU, and OSU and the support of the stakeholder organizations and agencies that BSBO has brought to this issue, we can design and conduct the type of research project that is needed to look at the impacts of wind turbines in areas of migratory bird stopover habitat like that of the Lake Erie Marsh Region.”
The Observatory is calling for stricter regulations on all turbines in highly bird-sensitive areas and a three-year moratorium on any additional wind turbines along a three-mile buffer of the Lakeshore in Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Erie counties until comprehensive research can be conducted. Those who support the Observatory’s efforts can sign an online petition at www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/924/482/794/
For more information visit www.bsbobird.org.
The Great Kaplan
The Pemberville Opera House will present “The Great Kaplan” Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. as part of the ongoing “Live In The House” Concert Series.
The show, which promises to be entertaining for the whole family, will include illusion, music, juggling and deadpan comedy in a “Vaudevillesque Spectacle.”
Inspired by the antics of Keaton, Sellers, Victor Borge, the Smothers Brothers and the illustrious Wile E. Coyote, among others, the “Great” Kaplan’s notable shows include a recent performance as guest “balloonist” with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and network television appearances on ABC TV’s “The View,” “The Statler Brothers
Show” on TNN and “Le Plus Cabaret du Monde” in Paris.
View some of his antics at http://greatkaplan.com/moviesO.html.
Tickets are $12 and are available at Beeker’s General Store, by calling Carol at 419-287-4848 or e-mailing
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Ensemble to perform
The French Canadian ensemble Mauvais Sort will perform at Terra Community College Feb. 7 as part of the college’s Fourth Cultural Celebration.
The performance, sponsored by Arts Midwest World Fest and the Sandusky State Theatre, will be held at 7 p.m. in the Student Activities Center.
Using tunes and lyrics from bygone times, anecdotes, contemporary melodies and stories of yesteryear, Mauvais Sort creates a blissful mixture of rhythms from around the globe.
Other activities planned as part of the celebration include displays on French Canadian music and culture. For more information, call the Music Office at Terra at 419-559-2233.
Moment with the Mayor
Northwood Mayor Mark Stoner will hold a “Moment with the Mayor” Feb. 9 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Fire Station #1, 2100 Tracy Rd.
At the event, city residents will have the opportunity to voice their concerns, offer suggestions on city matters or just to meet and greet the mayor.
Those attending will meet the mayor on a first-come, first-served basis. Those requiring a specific meeting time may call City Clerk Lynn Goertz at 419-693-9327 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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