Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik announced more than $258,000 in tax credits to help Ohio employers train and upskill commercial driver’s license (CDL) employees across the state.

Thus, after a lot of buzz on the topic since the last meeting, council members continued discussion on the topic at the village’s latest meeting on Dec. 15.

Council members in Gibsonburg welcomed Maria Kisha as the village’s newest full-time police officer to highlight the final regular meeting of the year on Dec. 18.

The third annual Christmas Big Band Gala, which raised money to benefit Isaiah 117 House, was sold out on Dec. 13.

Walbridge council members approved a new police chief on Dec. 17, highlighting the village’s final meeting of the 2025 calendar year.

According to the Gibsonburg event coordinators, Peggy Tornow and George Shreffler, this is the first year that American Legion Post 17 has participated in the national event. After an opening ceremony at Gibsonburg’s Veterans Memorial, volunteers laid 875 wreaths at five cemeteries including West Union, St. Michael's, North Union, and Quinshan cemeteries in Gibsonburg, and Metzger in Helena.

Oregon’s proposed data center project took a bit of a back seat at the Dec. 15 city council meeting as councilman Steve Hornyak responded to citizens who were concerned over his motion at the Dec. 8 meeting to appoint David Andrus to the vacant council seat.

Habitat for Humanity of Wood County officials were back in Walbridge on Dec. 16, presenting the Harder family with a ceremonial key as part of a home dedication ceremony for their new home on W. Perry Street.

Eastwood superintendent Brian Hughes, who officially took over in August, shared some important changes with the school’s community via email on Dec. 17.

Over 120 runners braved the cold windy conditions for the 12th annual Gibsonburg Ugly Sweater Run and Walk on Dec. 13.

Gibsonburg councilman Jeff Herman will vacate his seat on Dec. 31 due to personal reasons, and his unexpired term lasts the next two years. With that, village council is accepting resumes and letters of interest to fill the vacancy.

In the final minutes of the city of Oregon’s latest regular council meeting on Dec. 8, councilman Steve Hornyak made a motion to appoint David Andrus to fill the unexpired term created by the vacated council seat of new mayor Steven Salander.

Maggie Emlinger (right) and Derek Bailey stand with a large display of toys at Jack's Superette in Curtice.

The Eastern Maumee Bay Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Maumee Bay Lodge and Mercy Health, will present the fifth annual Cookies with Santa event on Dec. 12-13 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. each day.

Oak Harbor village council members, following a third reading, passed ordinance 15-2025 at its latest meeting on Dec. 1, which creates a civil, photo-based enforcement tool for speeding violations in school zones.

Village council members in Walbridge approved a resolution adopting the 2026 budget as part of a brief, but busy regular meeting on Dec. 3.

Austin Sabo, a former police officer who was most recently employed in Walbridge, pleaded guilty in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court to charges of a slew of sex-related crimes.

Construction of the first Isaiah House 117 home in Oregon is now finished just five months after work started, and keys were handed over on Nov. 23. It is also the first location in Ohio.

Oregon’s city administrator Joel Mazur, who has served the city since Oct. 10, 2022, tendered his notice of resignation at the Nov. 24 council meeting. He will serve in the role through Jan. 31.

Jason Klatt, a graduate of Clay High School, has been named the visiting clubhouse manager of the year by Minor League Baseball (MiLB).