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Who belongs on Toledo-area high school girls athlete Mount Rushmore?
There have been plenty of talented high school girls athletes in the Toledo area in recent years. Who are the most monumental figures? Here are picks for the Mount Rushmore of high school girls athletes from my time with The Blade's sports staff, 1987 to the present. Natasha Howard After bursting onto the basketball scene as a Waite freshman in 2006-07, Howard became the area's all-time most accomplished player — man or woman — excelling at each level along the way.
Lucas County commissioners approve levy for area office on aging
Lucas County commissioners on Tuesday approved a resolution in support of the renewal of the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio’s 0.75-mill levy and additional 0.25 mills for five years that will be on the ballot in November. Tom Susor, chairman of the Lucas County Citizen Levy Review Committee, said the levy is needed because of an increase of seniors in the community in need of services. “The senior population is growing, and the money doesn’t go as far anymore. Seniors are living longer and need more help,” he said. The levy would generate over $8 million annually if passed.
2 more people sentenced in killing of teen boys
A Lucas County judge Tuesday sentenced two more people for their roles in the 2022 murders of two teenage boys whose bodies were found in the basement of a burned out house in North Toledo. Judge Lori Olender sentenced Carrissa Eames, 24, to 12 to 15 years for two counts of complicity in felonious assault and two counts of complicity in the commission of kidnapping. Corbin Gingrich, 27, was sentenced to 20 to 25 years for two counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of kidnapping. They are the latest of a long line of involved parties to be sentenced to prison for their actions that led up to the murders of Ke’Marion Wilder, 16, and Kyshawn Pittman, 15. On the night of Dec. 3, 2022, the Wilder and Pittman youths were kicked out of a party at Maumee Bay State Park and took an Uber to Eames and Gingrich’s house in the 500 block of Maumee Avenue.
Maumee man pleads guilty to federal charges in child exploitation, porn case
A Maumee man charged federally with child exploitation and receiving and distributing child pornography has pleaded guilty to all charges as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. Jeremy Dean Chesser, 42, a former Springfield Township firefighter and adoptive father of at least four children, changed his not-guilty pleas during a rearraignment Tuesday in U.S. District Court. According to the plea agreement, if his guilty plea is accepted, he is looking at 30 years in prison. The sentencing guideline is life in prison, which is not mandatory. He was charged following his late August arrest during a search at his home in the 600 block of Midfield Drive. In its criminal complaint, the FBI said he described sexual contact with children and provided images during online communications with an undercover investigator. According to the criminal complaint, an FBI “online certified employee” in Connecticut began chatting with Chesser using the Kik messaging app starting Aug. 7. Chesser identified himself as “Jay” from Michigan and said he had engaged in sexual activities with children as young as 2 years old, the court documents say.
Sylvania parents raise funds for inclusive playground at elementary
The inclusive playground planned for Stranahan Elementary School will include all children in the Sylvania community — not just students. With its access to a nearby Metropark and being a draw for baseball games, Emily Earp, a reading specialist at the school, said the new playground at 3840 N. Holland-Sylvania Rd., will be a gathering point for families. “This isn’t just going to be just a Stranahan Elementary playground,” Mrs. Earp said. “It will be a great place for the community.” Playgrounds should be reflective of friendship, kindness, and acceptance, she said.
Man pleads not guilty in murder of 19-year-old
In a pre-trial hearing Tuesday morning, a North Toledo man pleaded not guilty to the May 5 murder of 19-year-old Najaye Owens. Treshaun Whitlock, 25, of East Weber Street, was found competent to stand trial for the murder of Mr. Owens. Mr. Owens was found dead in a garage on the 2100 block of Elm Street with gunshot wounds in his head and chest. The following day police arrested Mr. Whitlock, charging him with murder. He was later indicted by a Lucas County grand jury on two counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault, and one count of having weapons while under disability. In Tuesday’s pretrial hearing, Mr. Whitlock’s attorney, Jeffrey Crowther, said witness testimony suggested Mr. Whitlock was not responsible for the shooting, and that Mr. Owens might have shot himself.
Cloudiness in Grassy Creek water inside Perrysburg came from dust suppressant spill
A creek that flows in the Maumee River has been polluted by a suspected cancer-causing dust suppressant. Grassy Creek’s cloudy discoloration was reported to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s emergency response section on Monday morning by city of Perrysburg officials. The discolored area involves a two-mile stretch in the vicinity of Eckel Junction Road. The spill originated at the White Ford Kenworth — Perrysburg truck dealership at 12650 Eckel Junction Rd., Dina Pierce, Ohio EPA spokesman, said.
Toledo woman pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter in crash that killed 2
An East Toledo woman pleaded guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and admitted responsibility for a February crash that killed two people. Jasmine Pitts, 34, of the 400 block of Clark Street, pleaded guilty Tuesday morning in Lucas County Common Pleas Court. She also pleaded guilty to one count of felonious assault and one count of failure to stop. The plea finds Pitts responsible for the February car crash that killed Donta Marshall, 25, and Jasmine Gresham, 30. Around 5 a.m. on Feb. 25, Pitts rammed her car into a vehicle containing Mr. Marshall, Ms. Gresham, and Makala Jackson, 24, forcing the car into a utility pole. All three passengers were taken to Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center, where Mr. Marshall and Ms. Gresham were pronounced dead.
Metroparks poised to seek 1.4-mill replacement levy this fall
Metroparks Toledo appears likely to ask voters this fall to replace the park district’s 1.4-mill operating levy with an identical one four years ahead of its expiration date. It is interested in doing that to take advantage of stronger property values. The Board of Park Commissioners approved a resolution declaring a necessity by a 4-0 vote at its monthly meeting Tuesday. Commissioner Kevin Dalton was absent. Voters passed a 10-year, 1.4-mill operating levy on Nov. 7, 2017. It will expire in 2028. It generates money for normal park operations.
Toledo man gets 14 months for trafficking in counterfeit goods
A Toledo man who trafficked in counterfeit goods has been sentenced to 14 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary. Shane Burdue, 46, of the 800 block of Clark Street, was also ordered to serve two years of supervised release and pay $4,081.50 in restitution to the Coalition to Advance Protection of Sports Logos. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Burdue began receiving international shipments, which included counterfeit goods, in July, 2014. Over the next nine years, more than 800 international shipments, mostly from China, were sent to various Toledo addresses associated with Burdue. Several of these shipments, which contained counterfeit goods, were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. CAPS, an alliance that coordinates trademark protection and enforcement matters for collegiate and national sports teams, sent Burdue numerous cease-and-desist letters.
Deputy pulls man to safety following crash into pond
DEERFIELD, Mich. — A Monroe County sheriff’s deputy rescued a man from the backyard pond of a Summerfield Township home early Tuesday morning. According to authorities, Deputy Shawna Hester responded at 12:04 a.m. to a report from a resident on Lulu Road near County Line Highway that someone was yelling for help from the rear of the caller’s property. When the deputy arrived, she found an unidentified man in distress, struggling to stay afloat in about 20 feet of water. Deputy Hester entered the pond and pulled the man to safety. Crews then found fresh tire tracks coming from a field to the north of the property and into the pond. With the help of the Lenawee County sheriff’s dive team, the Monroe County sheriff’s dive team located and pulled a Jeep Wrangler out of the pond. The man who was pulled from the water gave conflicting information as to whether or not anyone else was in the vehicle. No one else was found. The man who was rescued was transported to ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital for treatment.
University of Toledo adding women's rowing in 2025-26
The University of Toledo is adding a 17th sport. In the fall of 2025, women’s rowing will join the Division I varsity ranks, UT athletic director Bryan Blair announced on Tuesday. The Rockets will practice and compete on the Maumee River and utilize the Philip LeBoutillier, Jr., Memorial Boathouse in International Park. The boathouse is owned by Metroparks Toledo and is operated by the Toledo Rowing Foundation. “Today is an exciting day for the University of Toledo, Toledo athletics, and the northwest Ohio community,” Blair said. “Women’s rowing will create new opportunities for female student-athletes, will bring a significant number of high achieving students from Ohio and around the country to our campus, and will be financially beneficial for the university. Moreover, women’s rowing will help grow and nurture new relationships within the Toledo community by enhancing the footprint of Toledo athletics in downtown Toledo.”
Record-setting forward Hawkins remains committed to Walleye title quest
No one has had a bigger impact and been more loyal to the Toledo Walleye franchise in recent seasons than forward Brandon Hawkins. Hawkins has etched his name all over the Walleye record book. The 30-year-old has already produced the second most goals (114) and points (238) in franchise history. Hawkins, known by many as “The Mayor,” recently re-signed to play his fourth season with the Walleye.. Last season, Hawkins led the ECHL in scoring with 93 points, including a league-high 40 goals. He earned the ECHL’s MVP honor and guided Toledo to the Western Conference finals.
Washington Local receives $500,000 in Safe Routes to School funding
Washington Local Schools will receive nearly $500,000 through the state’s Safe Routes to School Program to build sidewalks leading to Hiawatha Elementary School and to the district’s new middle school. A 1,500-foot-long sidewalk will be built on the south side of McGregor Lane from Secor Road to Hiawatha Elementary. The award will also fund a sidewalk on the north side of McGregor between Secor and Gay Street, one on the east side of Fairgreen Drive between Photos Drive and McGregor, and all of the necessary crosswalks and pedestrian ramps. The grant will also fund new sidewalks to the new middle school that is being built on Quast Lane, including a 1,350-foot sidewalk along the west side of Rambo Lane from Alexis Road to Quast and a sidewalk along Quast from Rambo to the school. The money is part of more than $8 million in awards announced Tuesday by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks. Safe Routes to School funding covers project development, right of way acquisition, construction, noninfrastructure programming, and school travel planning activities.
Toledo's Savage Park splash pad reopens
Smiles spread across the faces of about a dozen children as they played in the water of the Savage Park splash pad for the first time since the summer of 2023. The splash pad, which failed a health department inspection last spring, had been out of operation for the start of the 2024 season; Tuesday at noon it finally reopened. The city reported it had made “all of the necessary valve adjustments to the water system,” and the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department on Tuesday morning OK’d the opening. “It’s a great relief to see that the children in this community now can have a splash pad to go to, that’s workable, and they can cool off during the hot summer months,” said Earl Mack, a longtime resident of the neighborhood.
Cutting Edge Countertops acquires Bryan's L.E. Smith Co.
Perrysburg-based Cutting Edge Countertops Inc. has acquired L.E. Smith Co. of Bryan, Ohio, a third-generation, family-owned business known for being a laminate fabricator since 1950. “L.E. Smith appealed to Cutting Edge Countertops as part of our strategic growth plan, similar company values and deep roots in the commercial space,” said Brian Burns, co-owner and founding partner of Cutting Edge Countertops. The acquisition expands Cutting Edge’s ability to serve the commercial market through the fabrication and installation of hard surfaces, while also expanding the product offering with laminate and solid surface in multi-family commercial work. “Our current offerings of laminate and solid surface will be enhanced with hard-surface materials including granite and quartz to further serve our combined customers and their growing needs,” said Mari Ivan, CEO of L.E. Smith.
Stone: Local foods and happenings sprout homegrown
When we think of gardening or agriculture, fruits, and vegetables are often topics of interest. Whether you are a consumer, backyard gardener, or producer — growing, harvesting, preparing, serving and eating healthy and fresh foods is something we can strive for. Over my career as an agriculture and natural resources educator with Ohio State University, I can say that I have seen an incredible increase of interest in local foods over the years. I hope this week’s column will be inspiring and maybe a little thought provoking, ultimately giving readers a call to action including three food related opportunities. There isn’t anything better than watching someone young, or young at heart, grabbing the leaves of any root crop like a carrot, radish, or beet and with a pull, expose the edible underground portion of the plant that previously went unnoticed because it was growing underneath the soil. I have been blessed to see the eyes filled with excitement when new gardeners, of all ages, harvest their first root crop. And what is even better is the reaction of that first bite of the food that they grew.
Editorial: Court knocks down overheated case
The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on a First Amendment case last week correctly concludes that the courts can’t protect everyone from every disappointment. That’s not how Chief Justice Amy Coney Barrett put it exactly, but that’s the inescapable conclusion of this case. Overheated by political partisanship, the attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana abused their discretion by bringing a First Amendment lawsuit against the Biden Administration over its efforts to block the circulation of falsehoods on social media during the coronavirus pandemic. The ruling by Justice Barrett also adds weight to this Editorial Board’s view that social media companies are not neutral bystanders but are responsible for what they publish.
Mud Hens fall behind early in 5-3 loss to Columbus Clippers
The Toledo Mud Hens fell behind early and could not recover in a 5-3 loss to the Columbus Clippers on Monday night at Fifth Third Field. The Clippers took a 4-0 lead after three innings with one run in the second and three in the third. Bryan Lavastida notched an RBI double in the second and two-run single in the third for Columbus, while Angel Martinez also drove in a run on a single in the third. The Mud Hens got a run back in the fourth on an RBI double for Spencer Torkelson that scored Ryan Vilade and cut the deficit to 4-1.
Anthony Wayne boys golf 3rd after Day 1 at national tournament of state champs
MCKINNEY, Texas — The Anthony Wayne boys golf team is tied for third after collectively shooting 6-under on Monday after the first of three rounds at the PGA High School Golf National Invitational event. At the tournament, golfers are split up across three different courses in the Frisco, Texas, area, with Anthony Wayne’s boys competing at WestRidge Golf Course on Day 1. The invitation-only field consists of golfers who have won their respective state high school championships as a team or as an individual from small, large, public, or private schools.. The Generals are tied for third with Georgia (RVA). Tied for first after Day 1 is Georgia (MLT) and Texas (LKT), both at 12 under.
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