News Briefs

Holiday closure
The Ottawa County Board of Elections office will be closed on Wednesday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth Day.
Normal office hours will resume on Thursday, June 20. For more information, call 419-898-3071.

Safety Services
Day June 22
The Lake Township police and fire departments are sponsoring a Safety Services Day June 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The event will take place at the parking lot of the township administration building, 27975 Cummings Rd.
Police and fire vehicles will be on display and safety tips will be discussed.
There will be a bike parade and bike helmets will be distributed while supplies last. Helmets are being provided by the Put A Lid On It Campaign.
Wood County Chapter 109 of the Fraternal Order of Police will be grilling hot dogs.
Police Chief Mark Hummer said the event is an opportunity for the community to meet safety service personnel and learn more about the operations of the departments.
“They can go through the safety trailer operated by the fire department and see the fire trucks and ambulance as well as the police cruisers,” he said. “We’ll have most of our equipment on display.”
It’s the first time the township has conducted a safety event, he said, adding it may become an annual event if it’s received well by township residents.

K-9 joins prosecutor’s staff
A new staff member has joined the Wood County prosecutor’s office.
Norene, a 2-year-old Labrador retriever, has been specifically trained to work with crime victims in the office and courtroom.
Prosecutor Paul Dobson introduced the dog to the public during a recent press conference. He said Norene will be the first courthouse facility dog ever utilized in Wood County.
Her trainer and staff from the Ability Center of Northwest Greater Toledo attended the conference and Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn deputized Norene.

Treasurer of Ottawa Co.
nonprofit charged
with stealing $60,000
An Ottawa County man has been indicted on theft charges after an investigation discovered he embezzled more than $60,000 from the Danbury Township Fire Fighters Association, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced on June 13.
Trevor Ross, 40, was indicted in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court on June 12 on three counts of grand theft, each a fourth-degree felony.
Ross was treasurer of the Danbury Township Fire Fighters Association, a nonprofit that supports the Danbury Township Fire Department.
An investigation by the attorney general’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation discovered that over the course of approximately six years, Ross used the association’s credit card and checking account to make personal purchases that were delivered to his home. The indictment alleges that purchases were made for boat equipment, firearms, collectables and other items.
Attorneys from Yost’s Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case.
Indictments merely contain allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proved guilty in a court of law.

Genealogical group
meeting June 18
The Ottawa County Genealogical Society will meet June 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Oak Harbor Public Library. The program will be a discussion by Christie Weininger on Rutherford B Hayes and the contested election of 1876. The public is invited to attend. There is an elevator available.

Anti-SLAPP bill
passes in senate
The Ohio Senate recently passed Senate Bill 237, which its sponsors say protects the First Amendment rights of Ohioans. The bill, sponsored by Senator Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) and State Senator Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville), creates a judicial process to prevent meritless lawsuits that attempt to intimidate individuals for exercising their Constitutional rights.
The bill tries to prevent Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP), which aim to stop a person or group from using their First Amendment rights when discussing public issues. SLAPP lawsuits are often time-consuming and expensive for the person or organization being sued. The average cost of defending one of these cases is $39,000, but can increase into the six figures or millions.
The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Water district receives Pay It Forward grant

The Northwestern Water and Sewer District has announced the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation recently awarded the district $20,000 in grant funding to support the Pay It Forward Program.
The grant will provide $5,000 per year over the next four years.
The district’s Pay It Forward Program is a partnership between the district and the Salvation Army designed to assist homeowners pay their water and sewer bills during times of financial hardship, with a focus on helping community members recover from crisis.
To fund the program, Pay It Forward uses donations from customers and other community members to assist with water and sewer bills during financial emergencies. These donations are forwarded to the Salvation Army to assist people struggling to pay the cost of keeping their utilities on.
The John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation Award is the most significant contribution to the Pay It Forward program to date.
“We are deeply grateful for the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation's support, which is a testament to the power of community and the impact of collective generosity. This award will enable us to continue supporting our customers facing financial difficulties, making a real difference in their lives,” said Jerry Greiner, district president.
The foundation recently awarded $1.3 million in grants to 62 nonprofit organizations in the northwest Ohio region. The grants are intended to support the foundation's three giving areas - food security, housing stability, and youth education through various activities, including capital projects, program expenses, general operating costs, and new project development.
For more on how to get assistance or to give to the Pay It Forward Program, visit www.nwwsd.org/payitforward/ or call 419-354-9090, option 2.