More infrastructure work is being done in Port Clinton. Waterline replacement work on Maple Street started on Monday. Ed Burdue is the subcontractor for this work. Due to the age of the water-main infrastructure in the area, it is possible for sudden water loss due to depressurization of the water mains as crews connect existing lines to the new water mains being installed. The City may have to issue boil water advisories to the homes and businesses affected. They will be lifted as soon as testing results allow. Questions can be directed to City Hall at 419-734-5522.
There are a few ladies of our area I call “Mom”, and Lillian Hanes was one of them. That’s because she was Nadine and Anita’s mom (Nadine Hanes Jensen was a classmate and former staffer at The Beacon) and because she was such an incredibly sweet lady. She was a long and faithful member of Faith United Methodist Church in Port Clinton and used to head up the 4th Friday lunches at the Church. She made sure that they got a blurb in Telltales. She will be missed.
Our Find Wylie winner for this week is Richard McCloy of Oak Harbor. He was one of 32 entries who found that our friendly fish wasn’t hiding anywhere in last week’s Beacon. Richard wins our weekly $20 gift card from Friendship Food Stores. We’ll be hiding Wylie again this week. If you find him, drop off an entry form at our office in the Beacon Place Business Center or click on the Find Wylie Icon at our website, www.thebeacon.net.
Congratulations to Luke Cramer, the 22nd Oak Harbor High School wrestler to win a state championship. Luke jumped from the 138 lb. weigh class to 170 lbs. this year, but just got stronger and stronger as the season wore on. He won both of his first round matches to qualify for the semi-finals. He defeated a wrestler from St. Paris Graham, perhaps Ohio’s most dominant wrestling program, in the semi-finals by a 6-1 count and then won his finals match 16-4. Oak Harbor finished 7th overall as a team in Division II. So congratulations to George Bergman and his staff at Oak Harbor on another fine season.
Also congratulations to Toby Bickel and his staff along with the players of the 2012-13 Port Clinton Lady Redskin basketball team. They fell to state ranked Toledo Rogers last Saturday, but had a heckuva season. They were the first PCHS girls’ basketball team to win over 20 games in a season. Unfortunately, they are in the same conference with another state ranked team, the Clyde Lady Fliers, who moved on to the Regionals. Welcome to March Madness!
Your prayers are requested for a couple of local folks who have made a big impact on our community. Former Port Clinton Mayor Tom Brown has had some serious heart issues recently, but is up and around. We spoke briefly on Monday evening and he told me his issues are probably not over. Also, Dave Audiano, a Past Commodore of Port Clinton Yacht Club, is a real fighter, according to Lock Zeis. He was moved to Hospice of Northwest Ohio last Friday, but is starting to respond to treatments.
Speaking of prayers, Devin Kohlman, the Port Clinton Middle School Student diagnosed with metatistatic medulloblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, underwent another surgery last Friday, his third. He has been through radiation therapy and chemotherapy and is started a second regime of chemotherapy. A benefit is being planned for Wednesday, March 27 from 6-9 p.m. at Rosie’s Bar and Grill located at the Old Island House at the corner of Second and Madison Streets in downtown Port Clinton. There will be entertainment by Corduroy Road, food and refreshments will be served. They are asking a donation of $20 per person with 100% of the proceeds going to Devin and his mother.
On a cheerier note, congratulations Ottawa County! You did it! Tom Bohlander $7,500 community challenge was met, and then some. United Way of Ottawa County raised over $9,500 to match Tom’s challenge when the campaign fell $15,000 short this year.
It’s Port Clinton Youth Baseball and Softball signup time. Registrations have been sent home via the schools. If your child would like to play baseball or softball this spring and summer, you are asked to visit their Facebook page or their website at www.pcybsa.org to print a registration form. The league is also looking for volunteers. For further information contact Melissa Hanson at 440-315-0747. The signup deadline is March 11.
Don’t forget the Friday night fish-lovers meals during Lent. The Port Clinton Knights of Columbus and the folks at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Oak Harbor will be hosting fish fries every Friday during Lent. The Port Clinton K of C holds theirs from 5 to 7:30 at Denny Bergeman Hall, 109 E Perry Street featuring Lake Erie Perch, shrimp and ALL YOU CAN EAT Pollock Dinners with all the fixings. Desserts are also available. At St. Boniface, the dinners will be from 4-7 p.m. featuring fried or baked fish, and all the fixings. Price for adults is $8, children ages 6-12 are $5, and kids under 5 eat free! Carryouts are available. The St. Joseph/Marblehead Knights of Columbus will have Perch and Pierogis on Fridays March 8 and March 22 from 5-7 p.m. at the St. Joseph Church Hall, 822 Barclay Street. Dinners are $11 and sandwiches are $6.
State Representative Chris Redfern has scheduled a Town Hall meeting for 5 p.m. on Monday, March 18 at the Ida Rupp Public Library. The public is invited to attend.
The Port Clinton Women’s Club is once again hosting a free-to-the-public library event for children preschool to first grade. It will be held on Sunday, March 17. For more information, e-mail Julie McDonald at juliemcd74@live.com.