News Briefs: Week of 5/6/19

Penta to recognize seniors
The Class of 2019 at Penta Career Center will be honored during special Senior Recognition Ceremonies Tuesday, May 14; Wednesday, May 15 and Thursday, May 16.
The high school seniors, who will be completing career-technical programs at Penta, are from 16 area school districts, including Benton-Carroll-Salem, Eastwood, Genoa, Lake, Northwood and Woodmore.
All ceremonies will take place in the Susor Auditorium at Penta Career Center, 9301 Buck Rd. in Perrysburg Township. Students will receive a Career Passport, which contains their personalized Certificate of Completion. In addition, seniors will be recognized for career-technical student organization accomplishments and other school-related achievements. One of the highlights of each ceremony is the announcement of the recipients of the Outstanding Student Award for each career-technical program.
Participating in the ceremonies will be Ronald Matter, superintendent of Penta Career Center; Jeff Kurtz, career-technical director; Penta Career Center supervisors; and representatives of the Penta Board of Education.
For more information about the senior recognition events, contact the Penta Student Services and Admissions Office at 419-661-6480.

1st time Homebuyers
Saving Act introduced
State Senators Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) and Bob Peterson (R-Washington Court House) on April 30 introduced Senate Bill 139, also referred to as the “First-Time Home Buyer Savings Act."
The legislation will create a new type of savings account that future buyers can use for the purchase of their first home.
The law will first require a savings account be opened at any financial institution in the state. Once opened, the account holder(s) can begin contributing. Up to $5,000 for single tax filers and $10,000 for joint filers, plus accrued interest, will be tax deductible each year.
“With rising cost of rent and student loan debt, saving enough money for even a modest down payment is nearly impossible for many new home buyers,” Gavarone said. “Our legislation will give this, and future generations, a head start on saving enough money to make homeownership a reality instead of a dream.”
Modeled after legislation currently in law in at least eight states, the money deposited into the account can only be used for the down payment and allowable closing costs associated with the purchase of a home. The bill includes a 10% penalty, with some exceptions, including the death of the account holder, for money withdrawn for reasons besides the purchase of a home.
“I believe it is important to help Ohioans save to purchase their first home, starting them on a path of financial success,” Peterson said.

Volunteers sought
As part of his Eagle Scout Project, Eastwood High School student Jacob Stonerook, will lead a clean-up of Oberhouse Park, a 5-acre walking park along the Portage River in Pemberville.
Stonebrook, an Eastwood High School student, is seeking volunteers to help with the efforts on Saturday, May 5 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, May 5 from noon-5 p.m.
“The planned clean-up would be a great chance to give back to the community by helping clear the limbs, saplings, weed, scrubs or shrubs, and other assorted brush to turn this 5-acre stretch into a usable park,” Stonerook said.
The entrance of Oberhouse Park is located between two houses on Brierley Road 116 and 130. The path to the park is owned by the village of Pemberville, and will be clearly marked.
Volunteers should note there may be a chance of poison ivy exposure, so dress appropriately and bring a pair of gardening or work gloves. A few pairs will be available.
“If anyone has powered saws and would be willing to donate their time to helping remove the limbs of fallen trees and cutting bigger logs, it would be appreciated,” Stonerook said. “Also, anyone who has rakes and shovels to move leaves, small sticks, and mulch would be welcome.”
Volunteers will need to fill out a liability form stating that the village or the Boy Scouts of America cannot be held accountable for any injuries.
Oberhouse Park is a walk-in park, meaning that there is no parking for motorized vehicles. Parking will be available in the public lots on Memorial Drive near the Pemberville Legion Hall.
Oberhouse Park is located on a floodplain, so volunteers should be aware of the danger of the river. If on the scheduled dates, the river is too high or it is raining, the project will be rescheduled to May 18 and 19.

Stamp Out Hunger
With the help of sponsors, volunteer organizations and U.S. Postal Service employees in 10,000 communities nationwide, will conduct its 27th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday, May 11. Stamp Out Hunger is the nation’s largest single-day food drive.
Last year’s drive resulted in carriers collecting 71.6 million pounds of food from local communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Since the drive began in 1993, total donations have surpassed 1.6 billion pounds of food. The food drive has become the nation’s largest one-day campaign to collect food for distribution to needy families.
On May 11, customers should leave their non-perishable food donations in a bag near their mailbox before their letter carrier arrives. In the days leading up to the food drive, letter carriers will be delivering special bags along with mail that may be used to make donations. Food collected during the drive will be delivered to local community churches, food banks and food pantries for distribution.
While all non-perishable donations are welcome, foods that are high in protein such as canned tuna, salmon, beans and peanut butter are most needed. Canned fruits and vegetables, whole grain, low sugar cereals, macaroni and cheese dinners and 100% fruit juice also top the list of most needed items.
For additional information about this year’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, visit stampouthungerfooddrive.us.
• Most wanted donations include:
• Canned meats (tuna, chicken, salmon).
• Canned and boxed meals (soup, chili, stew, macaroni and cheese).
• Canned or dried beans and peas (black, pinto, lentils).
• Pasta, rice cereal.
• Canned fruits.
• 100 percent fruit juice (canned, plastic or boxed).
• Canned vegetables.
• Cooking oil.
• Boxed cooking mixes (pancake, breads).
What not to give:
• Rusty or unlabeled cans.
• Glass containers.
• Perishable items.
• Homemade items.
• No expired items
• Noncommercial canned or packaged items.
• Alcoholic beverages or mixes or soda.
• Open or used items.

Rail crossing to be closed
Norfolk and Southern has notified the Ottawa County Engineer’s Office that it plans to begin repairs on the rail crossing at Salem-Carroll Road, beginning May 6.
Work is expected to continue through May 15.
Traffic will not be permitted on the crossing during construction.

Court rules in
favor of store
The Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling that granted summary judgment in favor of a Dollar General store in Millbury after a customer claimed it was negligent and caused her to slip and fall while shopping.
Debra Isbell claimed in her lawsuit she fell while shopping in January 2016 at the store at 1470 Woodville Rd. after slipping on a substance later determined to be sour cream.
She was transported from the store by ambulance.
The Wood County Common Pleas Court ruled in October 2018 that her contention the store was negligent wasn’t supported by the evidence.
“The court finds that the sour cream spill was an open and obvious condition, thus acting as a complete bar to Isbell’s negligence claim. Further, the court notes that even if the spill was not open and obvious, there is no evidence that Dollar General had actual or…knowledge of the spill, or that the spill had been present for an unreasonable length of time,” the common pleas court ruled.
The appeals court agreed with the ruling.
Isbell contended she suffered physical injuries and that the substance was “concealed and not discernible to her as she walked the store.”