News Briefs Week of 11/4/19

Driver safety bill
The Ohio House Transportation Committee on Oct. 29 recommended the passage of Ohio House Bill 106, which would provide more training and experience to all young drivers in the state.
Under the bill, the driving age would increase to 16 1/2 and increase the minimum length of a teen’s temporary instruction permit from six months to 12 months. Additionally, teens with a probationary license would be unable to drive without a parent after 10 p.m., instead of midnight as in current law, with exceptions for work, school and religious functions.
The committee’s Ranking Member, Representative Michael Sheehy (D-Oregon), and Representative Gary Scherer (R-Circleville) sponsored the bipartisan bill.
“We live in an age full of distractions and new dangers, and a rapidly changing transportation system,” said Sheehy. “Ohio has certainly seen an uptick of injuries and deaths related to teen drivers, and this legislation will make sure that our drivers are fully prepared for the dangers of modern roadways.”

Women’s Connection
All area women are invited to attend the “Be Thankful” lunch and program sponsored by the Toledo East Women’s Connection Thursday, Nov. 14 at Bayside, 2759 Seaman St., Oregon.
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for the noon luncheon and program.
Jill Bench, from Bench’s Greenhouse in Elmore, will share fall planting ideas. Bonnie Mohon, of Oregon, will provide special music. Janis M. Buckingham, from Jackson, Michigan, will speak on, “Real Life Stories – A Celebration of Life: Miss Jolly or Miss Grumpy; Which am I Today? “
The price is $12.50, all inclusive. For reservations, call Dorothy at 419-691-9611 or Donna at 419-836-8990.

Permit modifications
sought on air permit
Ohio EPA (OEPA) will accept public comments at a Nov. 7 public meeting on modifications to an air permit for an iron briquette manufacturing facility in Toledo.
The IronUnits LLC plant is under construction at Front Street and Millard Avenue in East Toledo.
A public information session will begin at 6 p.m. in the Waite High School cafeteria, 301 Morrison Dr., Toledo. A hearing will immediately follow during which the public can submit comments for the record concerning the draft permit modifications.
The modifications include updates to project components, material handling equipment changes, updated carbon monoxide emissions rates, and changes to material handling operations.
If approved, the permit modifications would increase carbon monoxide emissions. However, public health and the environment will still be protected, according to OEPA. Written comments may be mailed to Matt Stanfield, Toledo Division of Environmental Services, 348 S. Erie ST., Toledo, OH 43604 by the close of business on Nov. 11. Or email to Matthew.Stanfield@toledo.oh.gov.

Waterkeeper meeting
Bill Wolf, retired president of the plant nutrient group for The Andersons, will speak at the Lake Erie Waterkeeper meeting Monday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Toledo Yacht Club, 3900 N. Summit St.
Wolf is regional vice president of Farmers Business Network, based in San Carlos, California, which provides agricultural items for purchase. He’ll speak about how farmers can get more out of fertilizers by using less.
“We need to make sure we’re thinking about what impact our decisions are having on people, animals, the planet,” he said, adding that he hears the word “sustainable” more frequently than he used to, but believes that waters such as Lake Erie won’t return to health until states regulate manure application on soil.
A roundtable discussion on the health of Lake Erie will follow the presentation. For more details, visit lakeeriewaterkeeper.org.

Samaritan’s Purse
Oak Harbor Alliance Chapel, 11805 W. SR 105 will serve as a drop-off location for Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child shoebox campaign.
Individuals and organizations may drop off filled shoeboxes Nov. 18-25. Call Mary Hill at 419-898-4048 for drop-off hours.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, a non-denominational Christian organization that collects shoeboxes filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items to deliver to children in need around the world. Each shoebox will also include literature introducing the child to Christ. For many of these children, this will be the first gift they have ever received.

Mercy College
plans open house
Mercy College of Ohio, 2200 Jefferson Ave., Toledo, will hold an open house Saturday Nov. 2, from 10 a.m.-noon. Faculty and the admissions team will be there to answer questions and help individuals find the best program for them.
Employment of healthcare occupations is projected to grow 14 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 1.9 million new jobs. Healthcare occupations are projected to add more jobs than any of the other occupational groups (bls.gov).
Mercy College of Ohio is meeting this demand with healthcare programs at the certificate, undergraduate and graduate level.
“Mercy College is best known for nursing but we offer a wide array of healthcare focused programs for those just getting started or looking to make a switch to a healthcare career as well as programs for those looking to advance in their professions,” said Lori Edgeworth, MEd, BA, Vice President of Strategic Planning and Enrollment Management for Mercy College of Ohio.
Nursing degree programs are offered at the master’s, bachelor’s and associate degree level and there is an evening and weekend program for those working who want to become a nurse.
For more information visit www.mercycollege.edu.

Holiday open house
A Holiday Open House will be held Friday, Nov. 8 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Magruder Hospital Auxiliary Gift Shop.
Refreshments will be served all day, and the store will have 20 percent off merchandise, including a variety of items for the household and entertaining, apparel, children’s gifts, jewelry and more.
Members of the community are invited to start holiday shopping early while helping the hospital auxiliary raise money for special projects.

Humane Society
record cat intake
The Toledo Area Humane Society is dealing with an influx of cats and kittens.
Since the beginning of September, TAHS has taken in more than 600 cats and kittens in need of help, and more are arriving through intake daily.
Pregnant, nursing, injured and even bottle-fed baby kittens have been brought to TAHS at record levels over the past month and a half.
“The weather staying warmer plays a part in the influx of pregnant cats and kittens,” said Kelly Sears, Vice President of Operations,
“With 235 cats and kitten currently being fostered, foster homes are maxed out and there is no more available space left in the shelter,” she said.
TAHS is asking for public assistance to help out, either by purchasing and donating canned cat food, catnip and cat toys or by making a donation online at https://www.toledohumane.org/donation/ to help with the purchase of these items as well as the cost of the medical care that each cat and kitten requires.
To learn more about becoming a foster, visit www.toledohumane.org/become-a-pet-foster-parent/.
The Toledo Area Humane Society is open Monday through Friday from 12-6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 12-5 p.m.
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, donations from local individuals, corporations and monies generated by fundraisers and earned revenue are a major source of funding for TAHS.
For more info, call 419-891-0705 or visit www.toledohumane.org, or visit the TAHS on Facebook at Facebook.com/ToledoHumane.

Oregon Christmas
Basket Program
Oregon Health and Welfare will be accepting applications for holiday food baskets each Monday in November from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Oregon Municipal Complex Community room, 5330 Seaman Rd., Road.
Applicants must live within the Oregon City School District. Those applying must bring and ID and proof of income for each person living within the household.
The Oregon Christmas Basket Program began in the 1960s when a few local school teachers noticed there was a need within their own classroom. The teachers became aware that some of their own students’ families were struggling to make ends meet and had a need for food and other necessities, and they began a holiday food drive which has now become the annual Oregon Health and Welfare Christmas Basket Program.
The program continues, executed by an army of volunteers from the schools, local business, fire departments, city administration, civic groups and members of the community.
Oregon schools remain the backbone of the program. The school administration sends information out about what the Christmas Food Basket Program is, what the students and families can do to help and how to register their family to
become recipients.
Volunteers place decorated boxes in the lobbies of community businesses seeking donations of toiletries, like paper towels, toilet tissue, hand soap, shampoo, bodywash and children’s toys.
A small group of volunteers serve as the Oregon Health and Welfare Committee. The committee meets monthly throughout the year; more frequently leading up to distribution day.
“We need to learn to help others how they want to be helped, not how we think they should receive assistance,” said chairperson, Yvonne Thoma Patton.
The Health and Welfare Committee is responsible for sending out letters to businesses seeking donations for the program. These donations help provide toiletries, personal care items along with fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs, milk and other groceries.
Some group members work to acquire toys for the young children. Other committee members garner the large number of volunteers needed to fully execute the large undertaking.
Last year, the organization provided food, toiletries and cleaning supplies to 232 households.
To learn more about how you to help, contact Oregon Health and Welfare at oregonhealthandwelfare@gmail.com or 419-836-0559.

Candidacy announced
Doug Cubberley has announced he will seek the position of Wood County Clerk of Courts in the 2020 election.
Incumbent Cindy Hofner announced earlier this year she would not seek re-election to the position. Cubberley filed his petitions for candidacy with the Wood County Board of Elections on Oct. 25.
He has served as the Court Administrator at the Bowling Green Municipal Court for the last nine years while serving as Bailiff and Chief Probation Officer since January 1996.
Cubberley presently serves as the treasurer for the Ohio Association for Court Administration and is the chairman of the Wood County Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Services Board. He is a founding member of the Wood County Opiate Taskforce and helped develop and implement Project Direct Link, the Vivitrol injection program presently in place at the Wood County Justice Center.

Chicken BBQ
St. Paul Lutheran Church will be hosting their annual chicken BBQ on Sunday, November 3 at the church at 9789 W. Oak Harbor Southeast Road. Serving time is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until sold out. Menu includes ½ chicken, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, bread, dessert, and beverage. Cost is $10 per meal. Dine in and carry out service will be available. For a ticket contact the church at 419-898-0908 or any church member. A limited amount of tickets will be available on the day of the event. Proceeds from the BBQ will be used to help continue the mission of the church.

AG says prosecutor
should resign
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost issued a statement last week calling for Tim Braun, Sandusky County prosecutor, to resign.
“It is my understanding that the grand jury has been cancelled and a negotiated plea has been reached. No further details are available. Mr. Braun should resign immediately. No victim of sexual assault, no victim of workplace harassment, could believe she would be treated fairly in an office he oversees,” the Yost statement says.
In May, Sandusky County sheriff Christopher Hilton asked the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to look into “possible criminal misconduct within a county office.”
The sheriff’s request said the matter was brought to his attention by Theresa Garcia, county administrator, who made the request on behalf of the county commissioners.
“I’m citing a potential conflict of interest as the reason for my request to have BCI investigate,” the sheriff wrote.