GROUP … Representatives for our local area stand with Assistant Event Director Trenton Coleman during Operation Homecoming The Village Reporter's website offers a mix of free and paid content This news story is a paid subscriber feature Subscribers receive full website access once successfully logged in please consider supporting our local small business for a minimal weekly fee that costs less than a cup of coffee readers have supported our newspaper operation by purchasing news copies since the 1870’s Little has changed beyond we now offer your Hometown News online Like your other small-town LOCAL businesses we charge a minimal fee to access LOCAL news stories We cannot be expected to give our product away any more than the coffee shop We feel an average of 350 weekly LOCAL hours of effort made to publish LOCAL news by LOCAL employees for a small fee is the best deal around PRESS RELEASE – The City of Wauseon was recognized as a Tree City USA today in the Northwest Ohio awards ceremony hosted by the City of Bowling Green and the Bowling Green Tree Commission This is the 32nd time our community has been honored with this nationally recognized award The awards were presented to the Tree City USA and Tree Campus communities by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources The City of Bowling Green rolled out the red carpet at their Veterans Building at City Park Senior Water Resources Engineer with GEI shared insight into optimizing climate resiliency and stormwater management with nature-based solutions The title of Tree City USA was bestowed upon our community for its ongoing efforts to maintain and improve quality of life through a comprehensive tree management program The program is guided by the Tree Commission and the municipal government Division of Forestry’s Urban Forestry Assistance Program acts as a guiding hand in helping a community be recognized as a Tree City USA The Regional Urban Forester recommends a community to the Arbor Day Foundation for this standing •An active Tree Commission or forestry department •A comprehensive urban forestry program supported by a minimum of two dollars per capita •An annual Arbor Day proclamation and public observance Ohio boasts the greatest number of Tree Cities in the country and marks Ohio’s 47th consecutive year as the top Tree City USA state according to the Ohio Division of Forestry Fifty Northwest Ohio’s communities are Tree Cities and five universities are honored as Tree Campuses All were recognized for their achievements at the awards ceremony in Bowling Green For additional information about the Tree City USA program or the Arbor Day Foundation NWOAL SOFTBALL … Swanton’s Kinley Curtis advances to second base Curtis went 3-3 on the night and had two stolen bases 2025) … Aubrianna Everly catches a pop fly in the seventh inning of a 4-2 win at Delta 2025) … Delta’s Gary Valentine sizes up a pitch during Delta’s 4-2 NWOAL win over Wauseon The male Athlete of the Week is Wauseon baseball player Camden Sherman Sherman went the distance and allowed just five hits as the Indians blanked Archbold 2-0 handing the Bluestreaks their first loss in the NWOAL where over 100 individuals gathered to oppose government efficiency measures led by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk another demonstration is set for this Saturday While not all the prior protestors were local residents they chose Wauseon as a central gathering point to amplify their message citing its accessibility and significance in Northwest Ohio featured chants of “Hands off the government it belongs to us!” and highlighted concerns over cuts to public services and programs like Medicare including former Wauseon Mayor Jerry Dehnbostel arguing for the need to eliminate waste and fraud the event remained largely peaceful under the supervision of local law enforcement scheduled to take place at the corner of Airport Highway and Shoop Avenue aims to continue the message of opposing what organizers describe as an unconstitutional attack on democracy See prior newspaper coverage: https://thevillagereporter.com/wauseon-protesters-brave-weather-to-oppose-government-efficiency-measures/ Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" (PRESS RELEASE) – The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a two-vehicle crash that occurred at the intersection of SH 108 and Co A dark blue 2008 Chevy Impala was traveling eastbound on Co A 2023 Kenworth W9 semi-truck was traveling northbound on SH 108 approaching Co The Chevy Impala failed to yield for oncoming traffic OH was transported to the Fulton County Health Center and was later transported by air ambulance to St The semi was being operated by Daniel Langenderfer Langenderfer was stated to have been uninjured from the crash The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by the Wauseon Fire Department Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash the Fulton County Grand Jury considered indictments charging individuals with Fulton County crimes according to the Fulton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office who was indicted on one count of Attempted Aggravated Murder one count of Attempted Involuntary Manslaughter cause the death of Victim; he allegedly did knowingly cause serious physical harm to a family or household member; he allegedly did attempt to cause the death of another and such death was the proximate result of Joseph James Mulinix committing or attempting to commit the felony offense of Menacing by Stalking; he allegedly by engaging in a pattern of conduct did knowingly cause Victim to believe that Joseph James Mulinix would cause physical harm to Victim or a family or household member of Victim or cause mental distress to Victim or a family or household member of Victim; and he allegedly did knowingly cause another person to commit or attempt to commit suicide by providing the physical means and by participating in a physical act by which the other person attempted to commit suicide was indicted on one count of Felonious Assault he allegedly did knowingly cause serious physical harm to another was indicted on one count of Aggravated Possession of Drugs was indicted on one count of Domestic Violence she allegedly did knowingly cause or create a substantial risk of physical harm to a family or household member by means of strangulation or suffocation and she allegedly did knowingly cause serious physical harm to a family or household member was indicted on one count of Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle he allegedly stole a motor vehicle from another was indicted on two counts of Strangulation and one count of Domestic Violence he allegedly did knowingly cause serious physical harm to a family or household member by means of strangulation or suffocation was indicted on one count of Failure to Appear as Required by Recognizance he allegedly did fail to appear for a Bond Hearing as required after having been released on his own recognizance in connection to a felony offense he allegedly did knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to a family or household member It should be noted that an indictment is merely an accusation and that all criminal defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty Wauseon will come alive with the celebration of “419 Day,” an unofficial holiday dedicated to honoring the region’s area code and the unique character of Northwest Ohio The event will feature community-focused activities bringing residents and visitors together to celebrate local pride -Outlaw Smokehouse: Serving up delicious smoked dishes from 11 a.m -Maria’s Sunnyside Café: A local favorite offering specials throughout the day -Black Swamp Boots: A creative “4+1+9 = 14%” discount on orders (some exclusions apply) -Passion 4 Fashion: Easter Egg Sale with discounts of up to 20% off (excludes Brighton products) -Bargain Bin: Featuring exclusive $4.19 deals for the day “419 Day” is a reflection of Wauseon’s commitment to celebrating its heritage and fostering a sense of unity among its residents the event serves as a reminder of the strong local pride that defines Northwest Ohio Mark your calendars and join the celebration this Saturday Wauseon Machine achieved a number of certifications and recertifications from Association for Advancing Automation (A3) Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) The company says that it also prioritizes employing TUV certified engineers The A3 certification is recognized as a standard in the robotics industry and involves an on-site audit of processes systems and personnel to ensure companies meet the highest standards or safety and quality in robotics automation It is a technical benchmark for robotics safety acumen and overall business excellence Wauseon Machine's team underwent comprehensive on-site auditing including practical assessments of key personnel only 42 integrators have earned the distinction of being A3 certified robotic integrators Wauseon Machine says that the UL certification is crucial for larger customers who require assurance of properly wired safe and high-quality electrical components within Wauseon Machine's assemblies focuses on safety aspects related to shock Wauseon Machine demonstrates its commitment to producing control panels that meet the highest industry standards for safety and quality Wauseon Machine also emphasizes its commitment to quality through ISO recertification ISO certification signifies that Wauseon Machine adheres to a documented process that includes standard practices Wauseon Machine ensures predictable outcomes and effective risk management for its customers Wauseon Machine not only differentiates itself from competitors but also demonstrates its commitment to delivering high-quality and safe solutions to its customers worldwide Wauseon Machine is also committed to employing TUV certified engineers and technicians ensures safety and quality assurance beyond standard safety panels it allows Wauseon Machine to reach into EU and international companies and is strongly recognized in Europe and Asia within machinery Wauseon Machine can design intrinsically safer and superior systems while shortening lead times through internal certification management FULTON COUNTY RIVALS … Wauseon’s Madison Lane reaches base with an infield single in the second inning off of Archbold pitcher Makena Thiel VISITING FOOD TRUCKS: Two food trucks came to the 419 Day event in Wauseon TWO BAGGER … Wyatt Cline rips a double to center to leadoff the fourth inning for Archbold This photo shows the old Wauseon fire station and city hall before a fire Thank you to the Fulton County Historical Society for the use of this photo Do you have a Fulton County historic photo you would like to share? Email: publisher@thevillagereporter.com GAME OPENING BUCKET … Wauseon’s scores on spin move for the game’s first points 2025) – For the second time in the last four seasons the Wauseon Indians are headed to the regionals as they used a fast start and a dominating performance on the boards for a 48-42 win The Indians came out of the locker room like a ball of fire as Aunali Reyes scored down low Mackenzie Stasa was 1/2 at the line before Sophia Rupp hit a three from the right wing to make it 6-0 Wauseon would then begin pounding the boards with Stasa getting a three-point play off an offensive rebound and Johanna Tester had a stick back to make it 11-0 just four minutes into the game “We talked before the game about winning the first four minutes of the game” said Wauseon head coach Shelly Borton when talking about the Indians fast start and they did not fall but we crashed the offensive boards and capitalized that way.” Saddie Larrabee got the Wildcats on the board but Stasa canned a triple from the left corner to make it 14-2 Kenton increased their defensive pressure at that point which spurred an 11-4 run to end the quarter Two free throws from Larrabee started it off for the Cats Brylee Bostelman drilled a pair of triples and Larrabee turned in a and ‘one to give her seven points in the quarter and trim the Wauseon lead to 18-13 after the first Both teams went ice cold from the field as the one and only field goal of the quarter came from Larrabee at the 3:55 mark and Wauseon’s only points of the frame came from the foul line as they clung to a 20-17 lead at the break but Kenton was unable to take advantage as they were just 1/5 with five turnovers A Macee Heckathorn bucket brought the Wildcats to within one at 20-19 to start the second half before Reyes scored inside to end the field goal drought for Wauseon and Aizlynn Coronado scored on a rebound for a 24-19 advantage Rupp found Marin Leatherman underneath for two and then Rupp knocked a three from the left wing to push the lead to 29-22 but Leatherman answered back with a triple of her own from the left side to keep the lead at seven going to the final stanza A 2/2 trip to the line by Tester made it 36-27 early in the fourth Kenton wouldn’t go away with Heckathorn going 3/4 at the stripe followed by buckets from Larrabee and Sidney Payne to bring the Wildcats back to within two at 36-34 after the 7-0 run Rupp would swing the momentum back to Wauseon with a trey from the wing and Stasa added two free throws for a 41-34 lead as they would go 11/14 in the fourth quarter Wauseon was 19/25 and owned a 38-17 advantage on the glass “Rebounding and free throws were the difference for us It was a team effort on the rebounding and different people stepped up and hit some key shots or got key rebounds that kept the momentum for us” 13 in the second half and eight in the fourth quarter Larrabee had 14 to lead Kenton while Heckathorn added 11 and Payne had 10 “I am incredibly proud of everyone single one of them super grateful for my coaching staff and all they do to help get them prepared and ready to go each game.” Wauseon (21-4) will take on Warrensville Heights (21-4) the No.3 seed in the North Ridgeville District in a Division IV regional semifinal at Norwalk High School on February 26 at 8 p.m the Executive Director for the Wauseon Chamber of Commerce has announced he will be stepping down from his position that I have chosen to resign as the Executive Director of the Wauseon Chamber “I have thoroughly enjoyed helping all of you these last ten plus years 2025 at Sullivan’s Restaurant back room from 3:00 – 5:00 pm Drummer served as the Wauseon Chamber of Commerce’s Director for some time and led the way forward for the organization Numerous community members have expressed their support as he has battles through his health concerns and have recognized the substantial positive impact he has had on the community Wauseon Machine added a new product: its electric end former This machine is engineered to deliver powerful precise end-forming capabilities while improving operational efficiency workplace noise levels and sustainability in the manufacturing industry Wauseon Machine provides automation products The company started as a small contract machine shop in 1983 and has celebrated its 40th year in business Get your subscription to Control Design’s daily newsletter. The end former operates entirely on electricity This is designed to enhance the machine’s cleanliness by preventing leaks as Wauseon indicates electricity is generally cheaper than hydraulic fluid One of the standout features of the electric end former is its quiet operation the machine helps to create a quieter factory environment which can improve the overall experience for employees and reduce noise-related health issues The end former is also designed with a smaller footprint offering flexibility in manufacturing setups without compromising on power The machine can handle tubing up to 2 inches in diameter and exert forces around 15 to 20 tons the end former aligns with Wauseon Machine’s commitment to sustainable manufacturing practices The transition to electric-powered systems reduces environmental impact and helps manufacturers meet sustainability goals PRESS RELEASE – Mark your calendars for an unforgettable evening at “The Taste of Wauseon” Gala This highly anticipated event promises an array of food and drink stations alongside captivating entertainment throughout the evening Maxell Smith from WMTR and The Buck will serve as the Master of Ceremonies guiding guests through a night filled with enjoyment and community spirit A highlight of the evening will be the annual Heart Beat Awards celebrating local businesses and individuals who have made significant contributions to the community A portion of the proceeds from the gala will benefit the Heart Radiothon supporting vital heart health initiatives in Fulton County Don’t miss this opportunity to indulge in delightful culinary offerings Join us in making “The Taste of Wauseon” Gala a night to remember Click below to view a photo album of this event for free A new World War II event will be coming to Wauseon this coming May Operation Homecoming: A World War II Exhibition is scheduled to take place on May 2nd The event is being put on by the non-profit organization Lauer Farms 1944 The organization began its journey back in 2017 when founder Matt Martini approached the Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Parks District in Lima with an idea That ideas led to years of living history being brought to life at the historic Lauer Farm and other areas throughout Ohio and Indiana his family history sparked the motivation he used to start this event His paternal great-grandfather served in the Pacific and is maternal great-uncle was killed in action just outside Saint-Lô Ohio had a wealth of WWII history that had never really been discussed he set out with a goal to educate the public the organization seeks to engage citizens and preserve the history of the Second World War through educational hands-on living history experiences “We aim to collect the stories of veterans of the Second World War to keep their history alive and provide records to the public for future use.” our goal is to engage school children in interactive and exciting ways in order for them to appreciate the history of the Second World War.” Operation Homecoming will welcome students from throughout Fulton County on Friday There students will be welcomed with a living history camp Reenactors spanning several different nationalities from the war will speak to the students about what life Local historical societies are also scheduled to attend in order to present stories of what life was like during WWII here in our local areas Some of these nationalities include American Infantry Opportunities to portray the Homefront are also taking place The reenactors dressing for this event are held to strict authenticity standards with each nationality reporting to a commander the free to attend event will be open to the public and a potential vendors market will be available for all those that come out to experience the event including the opportunity or a Lantern Tour where those interested can sign up and attend a walk through the park to learn about WWII history through the reenactors Those interested in the event can find the events Facebook page by searching Operation Homecoming: A WWII Exhibition CentralToLife // CentralToArts // CentralToAthletics // CentralToCommunity // CentralToFaith // CentralToFamily // CentralToFuture // CentralToRelationships // CentralToSuccess followed closely by classmate Manny Johnson and senior Isaiah Brenneman with 16 and 10 points respectively.Tyson Rodriguez paced the Indians (13-10) with a game-high 20 points Central Catholic High School2550 Cherry StreetToledo OH 43608Phone: (419) 255-2280Attendance Extension: x1357 - 4 p.m.Saturday & Sunday.………………….Closed Safe Environment Compliance Audit Results Central Catholic High School admits students of any race and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school It does not discriminate on the basis of race national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies and athletic and other school-administered programs REBOUND … Quinten Eisel grabs a rebound for the Vikings during last week’s NWOAL game with Wauseon they did very well and what Evergreen does well Nick and Nate Stinner combined for 35 points and Evergreen missed 16 of their last 18 three-pointers in a very heated contest before a very large throng at Evergreen “I thought defensively we did a really good job defending the arc,” longtime Indian coach Chad Burt said postgame I thought we defended the rim pretty well too We did a good job defending the drive and made them take tough shots.” “They have guys that are so dang athletic and can make those shots and again they got us out of whack with some transition situations.” “This was honestly just a great high school basketball game with two good teams going at it The ebbs and flows of this game were pretty wild and again we are very very fortunate to get out of here with a win.” George Allendorf canned two from deep and Wil Ruetz added the third at the 4:25 mark of the first as Evergreen took an early 9-7 lead the Vikings were as frigid as the early week forecast the rest of the night from behind the arc combining for the last nine points of the quarter to give the Indians a 16-15 lead Back-to-back triples from Ryan Neff and Carter Gype gave the Indians their biggest lead at 26-18 with 3:41 left in the half by forcing four Indian turnovers that fueled a 10-0 burst to give the Vikes a 28-26 halftime lead playing his first game since suffering a stroke nearly a month ago was the main contributor as he began the rally with a steal and score Colton Robertson’s steal and dish to Allendorf then Eisel’s stick back at the buzzer sent the Vikes into the locker room up a deuce “That’s how they play and that’s what they do,” Burt said of the Vikings burst to end the half “We said all week at practice it’s going to feel like they have six or seven guys out there Nick Stinner’s pair from the line with 5:36 left in the third knotted the game at 32-32 then Nate Stinner got inside and Gype hit a baseline jumper to make it 36-32 That’s when the night that had the officiating drawing the ire of both sides boiled over Ruetz was sent to the floor with a blow to the head scoring a reverse layup and when Viking coach Kyle Bostater argued the non-call Gype hit 3/4 from the line and Seth Richer scored on the ensuing inbounds to push the Indians up 41-34 The Stinner twin brothers scored the first seven Indian points of the fourth but Allendorf and Eisel ignited a Viking charge that brought Evergreen from seven down to even at 50-50 on Allendorf’s swipe and score with 2:15 left who got 2/2 from the line and a putback with just over a minute left to give Wauseon a 54-50 advantage “Both of those guys were very solid,” Burt expressed of his twin bigs I thought they made some plays late and to their credit they are good free throw shooters and they knocked some down that were big.” Richer’s 2/2 with 23 ticks left sent the lead to six but Allendorf stuck the Vikings only second-half triple with 7.2 to go to slice the deficit to one possession Gype went to the line with 5.4 left and missed the first before lacing the second to put the Indians up a much needed two possessions to close it Evergreen was guilty of just seven turnovers on the night but shot just 42 percent from the field Wauseon had 16 turnovers but overcame that with 6/7 from the foul stripe in the last stretch of the fourth Nick Stinner had 19 and Nate Stinner 16 for Wauseon The Wauseon High School Hall of Fame was established in order to recognize and honor those athletes and others that have made outstanding and major contributions to the success and integrity of the Wauseon athletic program The Hall of Fame committee has been meeting since the fall of 2006 with the commitment to enshrine those deserving members The formal induction is scheduled for Saturday prior to the varsity boys basketball game with Napoleon An informal reception will follow the varsity game with a duplicate to be displayed prominently in the high school Holly Baird (2009) earned 8 varsity letters in cross country and track She was a 3-time NWOAL individual champion in cross country and a earned one runner-up finish Holly was a 4-time state qualifier with her team and a 2-time state placer with a 3rd place finish and an 11th place finish 9th and 11th with a 3rd place team finish in 2006 member of four championship 4x800m relay teams Holly was a 3-time state placer at the state championships and earned several regional and district championships Kyle Borton (2007) was a stand out in both football and track and field for the Indians He earned 8 varsity letters in those sports He was named District Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2006 Kyle made 3 trips to state in the shot and discus He is still one of the top 5 record holders at WHS throwing 55’11” in the shot put He later went on to throw for the University of Cincinnati During his two years competing at the college level and placed 6th at the Big East Indoor Conference Championships in shot put in 2009 Kyle chose to come back to Wauseon to teach and coach Kyle is currently on the football staff and also is the throwing coach for track and field Jacob Ramos (1996) earned 4 varsity letters in wrestling He was a 3-time NWOAL individual champion in wrestling and earned three sectional championships and 1 district title Jacob was also a 3-time Division II State Placer finishing 3rd two times He was a 4-time WHS MVP and accumulated a record of 143-7 during his four year career He continued his wrestling career where he wrestled at Augustana University in South Dakpta He was a national qualifier and an All-American He returned to Augustana University to coach as an assistant for several years and currently helps out with the Wauseon Wrestling program when possible Karen (Lammon) Moden (1960) was a trailblazer for female athletics Karen was the first person to receive a medal at Wauseon High School for the Most Outstanding Female Athlete even though there were no GAA girls’ sports at Wauseon until 1972 Karen tried out and was selected to play for Hazel Walker’s Arkansas Travelers Professional Women’s Basketball team making her the first professional athlete from Wauseon She played professionally for one season and her team traveled around the country playing against all men’s teams The Arkansas Travelers played 220 games that season and won 85% of their games Karen was asked to come back and play the next season but chose to come home and marry her husband Mark Emans was the head coach for the Wauseon Indians football team for 21 seasons and taught physical education and health at Wauseon for 23 years he became Wauseon’s 2nd winningest football coach with 118 wins the WHS Football teams won 4 NWOAL championships and had 3 playoff appearances where his teams claimed 1 regional runner-up title and 1 Division 3 State Championship in 1993 He was also the JV Baseball coach at Wauseon for 18 seasons CONTESTED SHOT … Sophia Rupp gets off a shot in the first half of the Indians’ Division IV regional semifinal at Norwalk High School 2025) – Entering Wednesday night’s Division IV regional semifinal at Norwalk High School the Warrensville Heights Tigers had been putting up some staggering numbers Their 18 regular season wins were by an average of 37 points per game and they had won their three tournament games by a combined score of 231-70 A scrappy bunch of Wauseon Indians went toe-to-toe with the Tigers but a third quarter surge by Warrensville Heights proved too much to overcome as Wauseon fell A layup by Tigers’ freshman Skyler Ballard opened the scoring but Wauseon quickly responded with 6-0 run as Sophia Rupp scored on a rebound and Mackenzie Stasa added two buckets to make it 6-2 Stasa later hit from deep and had a three-point play off a curl move in the lane as a first quarter that saw six lead changes would end tied at 15 Warrensville Heights quickly went to work in the second as Wauseon would come out in a zone with a corner triple from Adriana Moses and then a bucket inside by Taniyah Lewis-Gaines to make it 20-15 Stasa’s big first half continued as she connected on a three-ball from the top of the key before Tamara Thomas matched her for the Tigers to push the lead back to five at 23-18 The back and forth first half continued with Wauseon drawing to within one point on three occasions and a Johanna Tester score in the lane just before the horn The Indians were 12/19 from the field in the first half The game would turn in third quarter as a Reyes free throw gave Wauseon their last lead of the night at 31-30 before the Tigers used a combination of Wauseon turnovers and their own three-point shooting to stretch the lead Katherine McKormick started the aerial assault with triples from each wing to give the Tigers a 36-31 advantage A Reyes put back and a Rupp trey sandwiched around a score from Demarionna Branch for Warrensville Heights kept the Indians close at 38-36 The Tigers closed the decisive quarter with a 10-0 run to take a 48-36 lead to the fourth as Branch was 2/2 at the line Thomas and McKormick hit consecutive triples and Mariah Paris-Grant had a layup The Tigers were 6/11 shooting in the third with four triples while Wauseon cooled off “They hit some key shots on back to back possessions to swing the momentum,” said Wauseon head coach Shelly Borton when talking about the pivotal third frame Warrensville Heights started the final stanza content to bleed the clock by spreading the floor on offense The Indians capitalized with Aizlynn Coronado getting a layup off a Stasa theft and Reyes scored down low to make it 48-40 The Tigers shooting went cold as they returned to being aggressive missing several shots at the rim and Tester got a steal and bucket and then a short jumper to trim the Tigers lead to 49-44 with 49.1 remaining The Tigers then sealed the win with their only basket of the fourth on a Paris-Grant lay in after beating the Indians’ full court press to put the final margin at 51-44 Stasa finished with 16 to lead all scorers while Tester added 10 The Tigers (22-4) had two in doubles figures with McKormick tallying 12 and Paris-Grant had 10 They accomplished so many of their goals and I couldn’t be prouder of them,” said Borton when commenting on Wauseon’s season coming to an end at 21-5 “I can’t say enough about our senior class and the mark they have left on our program We will miss them tremendously and wish them the best of luck in all they do!” DISTRICT SEMIFINAL … Bryan’s Piper Hanna (#11) drives the lane for a shot with Marin Leatherman (#5) of Wauseon looking to turn her away 2025) – Wauseon battled foul trouble and cold shooting all night but hit clutch free throws in overtime to deny Bryan a third straight trip to the district finals 46-45 in the Division IV district semifinals at Miller City High School jumped out to a 5-0 lead after a left-wing triple by Piper Hanna before Aunali Reyes would get a layup off a loose ball to get the Indians on the board Mylie Vollmer later hit Bryan’s second three ball of the quarter to make it 9-2 and Averyann Fisher got a layup to answer a bucket by Johanna Tester for Wauseon as it was now 11-4 Bryan The quarter ended with Wauseon’s Abby Kissel coming off the bench to get a bucket and Marin Leatherman canned a trey to cut the Bryan lead to 13-9 after the first An Arnold triple from deep on the left wing extended the Golden Bear lead to 16-9 before a 13-2 Indian run gave them their first lead of the night Wauseon junior Sophia Rupp scored twice inside against smaller Bryan defenders and Tester was 2/2 at the line to cut the Indian deficit to one at 16-15 Leatherman kept things going with a bucket inside Reyes was 2/2 at the line and Aizlynn Coronado drilled a triple to give the Indians a 22-18 advantage Amiyah Langham scored on a drive to stop the run but it was followed by a three from Tegan Hamilton and Rupp hit a 15-footer off glass to push the Indians to a 27-22 lead at the break the Indians bounced back to shoot 6/10 in the second and held a 16-10 advantage on the boards at halftime Bryan opened the third with a 9-2 spurt as Langham scored twice and Hanna sunk a triple off an Indian turnover to put Bryan ahead 31-29 at the 2:50 mark of the third A putback by Reyes and a free throw by Mackenzie Stasa who battled foul trouble most of the night put Wauseon back ahead at 32-31 but Ava Zimmerman splashed a three to give the Bears a 34-32 lead heading to the fourth Rupp connected on a short jumper to tie the game early in the fourth but Arnold’s two free throws and a baseline drive for a layup by Langham gave Bryan a 38-34 lead Wauseon clawed back thanks to a Tester free throw and a field goal inside from Rupp to trim the lead for Bryan to one The back-and-forth battle continued as Arnold scored on a drive to the hoop and Leatherman drilled a triple from the top of the key to tie the game at 40-40 with 1:04 to go in regulation Both teams had a chance to win it in the final minute as Bryan missed two free throws and Coronado’s jumper in the lane at the buzzer was off the mark to send the game to overtime The overtime was a free throw contest between the NWOAL rivals with neither team hitting a shot from the floor Zimmerman went 2/2 to give Bryan a 42-40 lead but Tester and Rupp responded to go a combined 4/4 as the Indians retook the lead Langham would then go 1/2 and then at the 26.4 mark she went 2/2 to give Bryan the lead back at 45-44 Stasa found Tester on a baseline inbounds play cutting to the basket and Tester was fouled going up The senior calmly buried both to give the Indians the lead and Wauseon turned away the Bears in the final 1.3 for the win They executed on both ends of the floor tonight I felt like we did a much better job one on one and forced them into tough shots and we rebounded well Different people stepped up and hit some big shots and gave us an opportunity to finish the game.” Rupp was the lone Indian in double figures with 12 and Leatherman had eight off the Wauseon bench Arnold and Langham paced a very young Bryan squad (13-11) with 11 each 1 seed Kenton (20-3) on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m back in Miller city with a trip to the regionals on the line THOMAS … High school science teacher and varsity baseball coach Trent Thomas was selected by the Wauseon Board of Education to fill the role of Assistant High School Principal SUPPLIES … Operations Supervisor Eric Sauber speaks to Wauseon School Board members regarding the cost of custodial supplies throughout the district The Wauseon Board of Education met in regular session on Monday with the Pledge of Allegiance before moving on to hear from Food Service Supervisor Laurel Frank Frank informed board members of an upcoming food service audit Qualified auditors will be sent to the school to check and ensure food safety standards and requirements are being met Auditors will look over food preparation procedures with it being stated that the last one took place around ten years ago Board members were shown an overview of what will be audited before moving on to hear from Operations Supervisor Eric Sauber Sauber was present to speak with the board regarding custodial supplies The top four consumables were highlighted and are as follows Total expenses for the district stand at $104,900.00 for consumable supplies cost cutting methods are being looked into One of those methods involves switching towel dispensers over to hand dryers in elementary and middle school Doing so could potentially cut the cost of paper towels in half Wiring to install all of the dryers would sit at around $40,000 Work has been done to apply for a grant that would help for the dryers the board moved to approve the treasurer’s report that included a consent agenda for the following items Approval of the September 2024 monthly bills and financial reports a list of donations made for various school items and a list of appropriations for fiscal year 2025 The following items were approved by the board which included a three-year limited administrative contract for Trent Thomas as the WHS Assistant Principal Thomas stated that he is excited and “blessed to be a part of Wauseon Schools.” approval was granted by the board for tax incentive agreement amendment with Rama Tika Management a crowd funding fundraiser for grades 3-8 to be held from February 24th the 2025-2026 school calendar as presented and a NEOLA Policy Revision it was explained by Fulton County Economic Development Executive Director Matt Gilroy that the tax agreement had already been approved but needed to be amended The construction of the new Tru by Hilton Hotel on 108 has hit some supply chain issues This CRA Tax Abatement slated construction to be finished by the end of December This amendment would effectively move the CRA Tax Abatement agreement one more year out allowing for building construction to finish and operations to begin the hotel is slated to be open around the end of January/beginning of February board members moved to enter into executive session at 5:39 p.m board members moved to adjourn for the evening ON THE MOVE … Seth Richer takes the ball down the left side of Archbold defense in Friday night’s game at Wauseon 2025) — In a game filled with shifts in momentum it was a dominant third-quarter performance from the Wauseon Indians that lifted them over the Archbold Bluestreaks The first quarter demonstrated a balanced effort from both teams Wauseon’s Nicholas Stinner started the scoring off with a free throw within the first minute of the game A field goal from the Bluestreaks gave Archbold an edge early in the game 2-3 NWOAL) kept pace with crucial plays from Seth Richer and continuous effort from Stinner Archbold held a narrow 10-9 lead at the end of the first Archbold’s Evan Wendt provided a spark almost immediately Wauseon countered back with strong free throwing The third quarter proved to be the turning point in the game putting points on the board within minutes The Indians were fueled by the sharp shooting of Riley Riegsecker who put seven points on the board during the period The Bluestreaks put up a fight throughout the quarter but multiple fouls gave Wauseon plenty of chances to get ahead Wauseon had built a 36-30 lead over Archbold but it wasn’t enough to surpass the Indians draining three crucial free throws in the final moments of the game to seal the win The Wauseon Board of Education held a meeting on Monday after roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance Pennington explained that through an Ohio Department of Health grant she is able to work with the students to learn how tobacco impacts the environment the students shared why they were interested in joining the project and their poster boards which included the effects of tobacco on people Pennington then asked the board for permission to conduct a science experiment that requires tobacco on the school grounds The experiment includes a pop bottle full of cotton balls and a lit cigarette “to show the tar and how bad it effects the lungs.” The test will be done outside Superintendent Troy Armstrong approved the science experiment she added that they are also continuing tobacco compliance checks in the community underage purchasers attempt to buy tobacco at local stores There are still two more communities left to test 100 percent not selling to underage purchasers,” Pennington said “We want to keep our youth safe that way.” Two additional drivers just completed training and the other planning to take the test on Tuesday The past two weeks have been “rough,” she shared One Sunday night three drivers called off sick within 15 minutes and getting this job done…they do an awesome job.” Shehorn also shared a transportation “bucket list” includes a bus garage and replacing two vans “that are pretty old.” The bus garages would include 14 bays on each side that would be open for buses and vans as well as a washing bay and room for offices who also works in the transportation department then joined the presentation to discuss the possibility of redoing the bus routes and the options available A recent transportation audit from the Ohio School Boards Association found that the current bus route models are “efficient and effective,” said Superintendent Armstrong but they are reviewing the current suggestions to either continue as they are now or make some changes to how the students are grouped together during pick-up/drop-off “We did build some routes showing primary school and elementary school together [and] middle school and high school together,” Duncan said She then stated that they were not able to reduce the number of buses used with the potential route changes noting that bell times and the number of students on the bus play a role in the routes as well The board then continued to discuss the pros and cons of the possible change with Duncan and Shehorn we’re really doing our due diligence to look at that audit and see if there are some things that would make sense or would not,” Armstrong added Chittenden explained that the SRO program partnership between the Wauseon Police Department and Wauseon Exempted Schools began around 1999 to 2000 and “was the first of its kind in Fulton County…and is used on a near-daily basis by school administration and staff.” The collaboration is also used for security at school extracurriculars and sporting events and training staff and students on how to handle emergencies Chittenden noted that the number of school incidents has “been steadily on the rise.” six of the seven school districts in Fulton County have an SRO program but the Wauseon program is the only one fully-funded by the police department The other school districts that have a program pay between 50 and 100 percent of the wages of the SRO He continued to add that the Wauseon SRO program/Wauseon Police Department collaboration was initially paid with grant money for the first few years but then the funding came completely from the city and the police department budget Chittenden then proposed funding in the amount of $35,000 from the board to the City of Wauseon for the SRO program “As a 20-plus year resident and parent of children in the school district I understand the school district’s financial situation…therefore which would be approximately 32 percent of the SRO’s total wages paid out would still be the lowest of any of the school districts in Fulton County,” he said the goal would be able to help with the increasing cost of the program as well as adding a part-time SRO for the schools focusing on building relationships with students and staff and providing an additional security presence in the buildings The board then discussed the request with the chief who also took questions about the proposition Weekley gave a history of the existing bonds that were approved by voters in 2006 in the amount of $18.8 million dollars They were refunded in 2015 for interest rate savings meaning they can be paid off and refinanced for interest rate savings The tax-exempt status of the bonds would remain to get an even lower interest rate and the bonds would have the same maturity length a bond rating for the district would be necessary The current bond rating of the district is A-1 “a very strong” rating that most districts probably in the state fall under “Think of it like going out to get a mortgage or a loan,” Weekley said the lower interest rate the investor will charge you.” “It’s our goal to try to help work with you guys to get the best rating possible to help get the lowest interest rate and therefore maximize the savings.” Weekley also discussed the current bond market He explained that the next steps to continue with a September close and bond pricing in late July a resolution would need to be drafted for the next meeting to pursue the refunding opportunity but would not require any financial commitment at the time in case interest rates rocket near the time of pricing the company would then begin working on a rating presentation over the next few months a large document of approximately 100 pages The board then engaged in questions with Weekley “The savings would roll back to the taxpayers,” said Armstrong “We’re regularly looking at how we can roll back any kind of tax for our taxpayers.” provided a review of the monthly bills and financial reports as well as the general fund comparison report Kahman pointed out that an endowed scholarship has been created for Wauseon High School students looking to continue their post-secondary education through college provided by Suzanne and Rodney Rupp of Wauseon will provide $50,000 each year for 10 years – for a total of $500,000 Preference will be given to students going to Bowling Green State University The Ohio State University or Northwest State Community College although the application will be open to all students attending college after graduation amended appropriations for the FY 2025 – which included an adjustment to the special trust due to the new scholarship endowment – as well the estimates for real estate tax amounts and rates from the Fulton County Auditors were reviewed The treasurer’s report was unanimously approved by the board will be moving to the position of school counselor starting in the following school year “The team has challenged her not to do what we’ve always been done because we’ve always done it and to bring some new ideas,” Armstrong added An administrative salary schedule grid revision was also reviewed The student service director and instructional service director positions will be “more accurately placed” in the same column the student service director position was placed in the same column as the psychologist NEOLA policy revisions/deletions/additions were reviewed Armstrong explained that “a majority” of the edits were due to legislative changes The board also approved a list of College Credit Plus institutions for the following school year Added to the list this year was Mount Vernon Nazarene University non-profit university located in Mount Vernon the special education model policies and procedures resolution – which was approved last month – was rescinded and an updated version then re-approved by the board legal and the policy company had clarified discrepancies in the newer version of the resolution Also approved by the board in the superintendent’s report: -A Memorandum of Understanding between the Wauseon Exempted Village Board of Education and the Wauseon Education Association which allows for a retiring employee’s severance to be placed and tax-sheltered in an account similar to a health savings account (HSA) or a 403b -A special education transportation agreement which will provide IRS mileage for a parent transporting their student to Holland -An agreement between the Wauseon Exempted Village School District and Grow Your Mind a contracted provider who provides speech and language pathology services Services in the next school year will also include occupational therapy -An agreement between the Wauseon Exempted Village School District and A which serves students diagnosed with autism and in which a Wauseon student will be attending in executive session for consideration of the purchase of property for public purposes or the sale of property at competitive bidding