News Brief

Firefighter nominations
The Ohio State Fire Marshal’s office is seeking firefighter nominations for its 2025 Ohio Fire Service Hall of Fame and Fire Awards ceremony.
Nominations are due by Dec. 20 and the ceremony will be held at COSI in Columbus on May 14, 2025. Nominations may be made online at bit.ly/4fPENmY.
“This annual ceremony recognizes the bravery, commitment, and sacrifice those men and women make on behalf of their communities at great personal risk to themselves, and who are credited with directly saving or attempting to save a life or lives during an extreme fire or other emergency rescue situation,” according to a news release. “During the ceremony, members of the fire services killed in the line of duty also will be honored.”
Awards will be given in categories including Fire Service Citizen’s Award, Fire Service Valor Award, Fire Service Distinguished Service Award, Fire Department of the Year Award, Fire Service Instructor of the Year Award, Fire Officer of the Year Award, Fire Prevention Educator of the Year Award and Fire Educator Lifetime Achievement Award.

Grant awarded to Gap Ministry

With a grant from the Portage Resale Center, the Fill the Gap Ministry at St. John Lutheran Church in Port Clinton will continue to provide personal care items to locals in need.
Fill the Gap is a partnership between St. John Lutheran and United Way of Ottawa County. The $1,000 grant from Portage Resale Center is expected to be the major source of funding for this ministry for the next two years.
St. John volunteers purchase items that are not available at food banks and not covered by the SNAP card, such as deodorant, shampoo, diapers and soap, and keep them in storage for those who cannot afford to buy them. Those in need request the items from United Way, who in turn gets them from St. John.
St. John Lutheran Church is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. For information, call 419-734-5548, visit stjohnlutheranpc.com and follow on Facebook at @saintjohnlutheranpc.

Sewer installation closing road
The Northwestern Water and Sewer District said Mercer Road, just south of State Route 582, will close Dec. 9 for sewer pipe installation.
The alternate route is Route 582 to State Route 25 to Devils Hole Road.
Through December 2025, shoulder restrictions are possible along Dunbridge Road from Route 582 to Poe Road for clearing work.
The projected completion date is December 2025.

Access change
The access drive to the Northwestern Water and Sewer District’s main office, 12560 Middleton Pike, is now located north of the roundabout on State Route 582.
Visitors using The WaterShed and after-hours drop box at the main office will now have 24/7 availability.

Meeting cancelled
A previously scheduled meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Elections for Dec. 12 has been cancelled.
The board met after the Dec. 5 election audit and no further discussion of business is needed, Wendy Millinger, deputy director of the board, said.