News Briefs Week Of 12/12/2022

Humane Society
Cookie Walk set
The Humane Society of Ottawa County is looking for volunteers to bake cookies for their upcoming Cookie Walk, which will be held Saturday Dec. 17 from 8-11 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, 900 Jefferson St., Port Clinton.
Anyone willing to help donate cookies, cookie bars, candies, or other baked goods can drop them off at the shelter, 2424 E. Sand Rd., Port Clinton during the week of Dec. 12 or at Peace Lutheran Church the morning of the Cookie Walk.
An assortment of homemade baked goods will be sold for $5 per pound at the event. There will be a 50/50 raffle and silent auction. All proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Ottawa County.
For more information call 419-734-5191 or email HSOCpets @gmail.com.

Toledo Police survey
The City of Toledo is inviting residents to complete a survey regarding the future of the Toledo Police Department and the hiring of the next chief.
The survey is designed to inspire an open conversation and to provide feedback on what is important to residents in hiring their next chief.
The survey is available online at surveymonkey.com/r/tpcomm2022. Survey responses will be accepted through Monday, Dec. 19.
The survey was developed by Ralph Andersen and Associates, the firm assisting the city with this search. Data from the community survey will be used in developing the profile for the police chief.

Eastwood community
plans Wreaths Across
America ceremony
The Eastwood Community Wreaths Across America ceremony and wreath placement will be held Saturday, Dec. 17.
A short ceremony will be held at Eastwood High School auditorium at 10 am. Following the ceremony, volunteers will split up and go to the respective cemeteries to place the wreaths.
Those who want to go directly to the cemetery, should be there by 10:30 a.m. Family members who attend will be asked to come forward at the cemetery and place their loved ones’ wreaths first. Then volunteers will place the rest of the wreaths. Volunteers are welcome.
For more information, call Anne Michel at 419-308-0142, Becky Dippman at 419-409-6032 or Chad Albright at 703-298-7435.

Camera Club meeting
TOPICS Camera Club, a non-profit organization open to everyone, will meet Wednesday, Dec. 14 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Monclova Community Center, located at 8115 Monclova Rd. Monclova.

Applications sought
The Lucas County Democratic Party is accepting applications for the vacancy of the Toledo City Council At-Large position that will be vacated by District 43 State Representative-Elect Michele Grim.
To apply, visit lucascountydemocraticparty.com/screening. Applications will be accepted through Dec. 30.

Meeting on crime
The Coalition for Peaceful Toledo Neighborhoods, lead by former Toledo Mayors Mike Bell, Carty Finkbeiner, Paula Hicks Hudson, and Donna Owens, is inviting the public to attend a meeting at St. Thomas Aquinas Rectory, 729 White St., on Thursday, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. to discuss the crime surge in East Toledo. The public can offer their opinions and suggestions on how to confront the rising crime wave.

Open House set
Genoa Classic Cars, located at 636 Main St in downtown Genoa, will host a Christmas Open House Thursday, Dec. 15 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
The free event will feature contests for children 12 and younger, Christmas cookies, ornament-making, and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Everything is free. Call 419-341-2759 for more information.

Tips sought on arson in Curtice

A structure fire in the Curtice area has been ruled an arson by the Division of State Fire Marshal’s Fire and Explosion Investigation Bureau.
Investigators are seeking tips from the public to help identify those responsible.
On Dec. 8, at approximately 6:15 a.m., the Jerusalem Township Fire Department along with other mutual aid departments were dispatched for a fire at 11755 Rachel Road. The structure was unoccupied and there were no injuries.
The Blue Ribbon Arson Committee is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for this fire.
Anyone who has information should contact the State Fire Marshal’s tip line at 800-589-2728.

Workers awarded
Two employees of the Northwestern Water and Sewer District have received awards from the Northwestern Chapter of the Ohio Water Environment Association.
District Senior Project Manager Mark Davis received the Moe Swaisgood Award, which is presented to an employee for excellence in wastewater collection system operation. Recently, he has been essential in improving water quality by reducing stormwater inflow in Millbury, Rossford, McComb, and Northwood.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Stace Dibling was recognized with the Max Phillips Award. The award is presented to an operator for excellence in wastewater treatment plant operation.

Water district hires project manager

The Northwestern Water and Sewer District has announced the addition of Amy Behrman as the new Project Manager. She will be responsible for plan reviews, oversight and monitoring of engineering and construction projects, and coordination with customers, consultants, contractors, and government agencies.
Before joining the district, Behrman served as a Project Manager and Estimator for Edward Kelley & Sons, Inc. for more than 20 years. Before that position, she worked at Graycor Industrial Constructors, Inc., as a Project Engineer and for Lewandowski Engineers as a Design Engineer.
Behrman received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Ohio Northern University.

Annexation to
be discussed
The Ottawa County commissioners have scheduled a hearing for Dec. 29 to discuss a petition to annex 2.9 acres from Harris Township to the Village of Elmore.
The village owns the parcel, which is located along Dischinger Road and is adjacent to a 52-acre parcel also owned by the village.
The commissioners have set a 9 a.m. hearing for the discussion in their meeting room.
The village completed the purchase of the smaller parcel earlier this year, according to records in the county auditor’s office.
Dave Hower, village administrator, said village council and administration are weighing options for residential development of the larger parcel. The 2.9-acre property provides better access to the site.
The village has been leasing the acreage as farmland.
In September of 2021, village council voted to retain the R-2 zoning classification of the larger parcel after some residents voiced objection to changing the zoning to R-3.
The village planning commission, by a 3-2 vote, had issued a non-binding recommendation for the R-3 classification.
Under the R-2 classification, only single-family housing is permitted and a conditional use permit would be required for condominiums.
Rezoning the property to R-3 would have allowed for the construction of multi-family units.