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Mud Hens fall to St. Paul in first game back from break
Four late runs for the Toledo Mud Hens were not enough to erase a big deficit from the middle innings as the visiting St. Paul Saints earned an 8-6 win at Fifth Third Field on Friday. The Mud Hens returned from the All-Star break for the opener of a three-game series against the Saints, taking narrow leads in the third and fourth innings before St. Paul pulled ahead. The Saints’ Chris Williams had a game-high three hits and three RBIs, plus a run scored. Jace Jung opened the scoring with an RBI double that brought home Akil Baddoo for a 1-0 Toledo lead in the bottom of the third. Williams led off the fourth with a solo home run, but Justice Bigbie singled home Bligh Madris to make it 2-1 Toledo in the bottom half.
Here’s what MAC commissioner Steinbrecher had to say at football media day
CANTON — Mid-American Conference commissioner Jon Steinbrecher made the opening remarks at the football media day news conference on Friday at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Here are some highlights from Steinbrecher’s address: On MAC players selected in April’s NFL Draft: “As I think back over the last year, a handful of things jump off the page at me. Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell becoming the 14th first-round NFL draft pick from the Mid-American Conference since 1998 when he was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles. Or Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland selected in the second round by the Dallas Cowboys. The message should be evident: come to the Mid-American Conference, develop and excel, and you will get your chance in the NFL. You can be as good as you want to be right here.”
Chanettee Wannasaen eagles 18th to lead after 2nd round of Dana Open
Chanettee Wannasaen stepped onto the 18th tee during her second round Friday at the Dana Open trailing Linn Grant and Xiyu Lin by one stroke. She walked off the 18th green at Highland Meadows in sole possession of first place at 11-under for the tournament. In between, she sent a sparkling 261-yard second shot onto the green on the par-5 with a 3-wood. Her made eagle putt sent her into the solo lead which held up following the completion of Friday’s second round. “Today, I think on front nine I played like not good either, but it's like birdie and then bogey and then like par, par, and then birdie again,” Wannasaen said. “So I think today is just like 4-under par for the day is enough. On the back nine, I played really good. The putter is really good on the back nine.”
Block Communications Inc. responds to amended complaint
Referring to the suit brought against the company he once led as CEO, attorneys for Block Communications Inc. described Allan Block’s lawsuit as a “conflict between Ohio corporate law ... and Allan’s desire to impose his will regardless of what the majority of shareholders want.” Attorneys for BCI this week filed a response to the amended complaint Allan Block’s attorneys filed May 28 claiming breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duties. BCI’s lawyers argued Ohio law permits the company’s board of directors to “evaluate strategic alternatives, which range from continuing forward under management’s current plan to refinancing to a potential sale of all or parts of the business.” They go on to argue Allan Block was removed as CEO when “he acted to imperil and impair the exploratory strategic committee’s work and to publicly disparage the company.”
Sen. Sherrod Brown calls on Biden to end campaign
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) on Friday called on President Biden to drop out of the presidential race. “Over the last few weeks, I’ve heard from Ohioans on important issues, such as how to continue to grow jobs in our state, give law enforcement the resources to crack down on fentanyl, protect Social Security and Medicare from cuts, and prevent the ongoing efforts to impose a national abortion ban,” Senator Brown wrote in a prepared statement. “These are the issues Ohioans care about and it is my job to keep fighting for them. “I agree with the many Ohioans who have reached out to me. At this critical time, our full attention must return to these important issues. I think the president should end his campaign.” After Senator Brown called for President Biden to step aside, Bernie Moreno, a Cleveland businessman seeking to unseat the three-term senator, also released a statement.
Man found guilty in death of girlfriend's 3-year-old son
After hearing witnesses’ final testimony and closing arguments on the fourth day of trial on Friday, a jury found Michael Kitto guilty of aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, and child endangerment for the Oct. 7, 2022, death of 3-year-old Declan Hill. The verdict was read by Judge Linda Jennings as multiple people in the gallery of her courtroom broke down in tears. On Oct. 6, 2022, Kitto was watching Declan, his girlfriend’s son, while she was at work. Kitto subsequently called 911 and reported the child had run into a door and fallen to the floor. First responders arrived to find Declan unconscious, unresponsive, not breathing, and without a pulse. He was declared dead a day later. Kitto was arrested in Michigan after the Lucas County Coroner’s Office deemed the child’s death a homicide caused by blunt force head and neck trauma
MAC football media day: Toledo's culture has Rockets poised for another run at MAC title
CANTON — Culture, according to Toledo head coach Jason Candle, is what you tolerate and what you celebrate. For the Rockets, that means avoiding off-field transgressions, building a passionate locker room environment, and winning frequently. Talent and coaching get most of the credit after victories, but the truth is that UT’s wins are manufactured in the months before August. “It starts with the guys up top, and they have to invest in the younger guys,” senior safety Maxen Hook said. “And when you have people that learn that at a young age, they usually try to carry it on and pass it along.” Quinyon Mitchell lived, breathed, and espoused the Toledo culture. A constant theme in conversations with recruits is relationships. Staff continuity has allowed the program ethos that Candle preaches to flourish.
Waiting for a partner, Northwood fire will hire three full-time employees
For the first time in the Northwood Fire Department’s 70-year history, full-time firefighters/paramedics will be hired. The process has started, with an application deadline of Friday, and the three new employees are expected to be working by September, said Fire Chief Joel Whitmore. “We want to get out the word to the citizens,” he said. “We’ve been talking about doing it for years.” Northwood Administrator Kevin Laughlin said hiring the full-time employees doesn’t mean the whole department is going full time.
State issues first algae advisory of 2024 at Maumee Bay State Park
Maumee Bay State Park’s Lake Erie Beach got its first state health advisory for algae a little after 4 p.m. on Friday. The warning was issued by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The toxin concentration was not disclosed, but swimmers are advised to stay out of the lake and be careful around the shoreline because of a new recreational public health advisory. It is especially important to keep dogs and young children out of the water. A scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told The Blade on Thursday that Lake Erie’s Summer 2024 algal bloom began south of Monroe and in north Maumee Bay during the first of July, earlier than normal. It is expanding, last known to cover 180 square miles of the lake, and is becoming stronger along familiar territory in the warm, shallow water along the Toledo-to-Monroe shoreline.
Toledo youths recognized as future leaders at summer program graduation
About 39 young people between the ages of 6 and 17 spent the last seven weeks in training to become the leaders of tomorrow. From the proud smiles both they and their parents had during graduation from the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio’s Empowering Future Leaders program, it was clear the lessons they learned during the summer break from school will last them a lifetime. Marvin Whitfield, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Ohio, said 73 students were originally registered for the program. There were 39 who graduated Thursday. “We have to earn the right to stand among leaders, and 39 of you made it,” Mr. Whitfield told the group during graduation. “Being a leader is a choice. You have to earn it. The world owes you nothing.”
MAC football media day: BGSU's large group of seniors determined to leave legacy
CANTON — Jordan Oladokun returned to Bowling Green State University’s football team this year for a reason. So did a lot of his other senior teammates, and that reason has a realistic opportunity of coming to fruition in a handful of months. “To be honest, it’s the reason I came back to Bowling Green — to leave a legacy and win a (Mid-American Conference) championship,” Oladokun said during Friday’s MAC media day at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. “We haven’t done it since 2015. We’ve seen a lot of bad days here, so really turning that page around for Bowling Green, we’ve done that already. Now, it’s time to win the MAC championship. We’re ready and we have 30-plus seniors to do it. We’re ready. We’re ready to do it this year.”
Global technology outage affecting some Lucas County services
Friday’s global technology outage is having ripple effects in Lucas County; transit services, health-care organizations, and social services are among the businesses affected. The international outage was connected to CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm used by a multitude of global industries. After CrowdStrike issued a software update, machines running the Microsoft Windows operating system began to crash, explained Ahmad Javaid, associate professor in the department of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Toledo. According to Mr. Javaid, while there have been similar outages from a technical standpoint, this is the largest of its kind. Any local businesses using CrowdStrike services would have been affected, he said. Lucas County Job and Family Services and Lucas County Child Support Enforcement Agency services may be unavailable Friday because of the global outage, said Sarah Elms, the communications director for the Board of Lucas County Commissioners.
Kayaking concert takes to the water
Shamarr Allen, a trumpeter from New Orleans, will take the stage, sort of, in Toledo on Wednesday night. Mr. Allen is set to be the first of three performances this summer on the Maumee River as part of Black Swamp Conservancy’s Paddle and Groove series. He will play on a pontoon boat as listeners kayak around him. Attendees will launch in their kayaks from International Park at 5:30 p.m. and then kayak downstream toward the sunflower murals on the Glass City River Wall. The goal of the event is both to provide listeners with a unique concert experience and increase awareness of the conservancy’s work both upstream and in the downtown area.
Future manufacturers and marshmallows: Sherrod Brown visits engineering camp for kids
Twelve-year-old Matthew Ward likes to work with his hands and said he’s interested in going into a career where he gets to build things. This week, Matthew got to weld metal flowers, construct pens, and engineer a marshmallow gun all while learning about careers in manufacturing. The weeklong camp was a part of the Wood County Advanced Manufacturing Camp, an initiative spearheaded by the office of U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s (D., Ohio) to give students in fourth through eighth grade the chance to learn about career opportunities and hear from local experts. “I love what this community does in manufacturing, and I know if these kids get more interested in manufacturing, their parents, grandchildren are more likely to live in northwest Ohio,” Mr. Brown said.
Clyde man faces multiple drug trafficking charges
TIFFIN — Following a three-month-long investigation into a Columbus-based drug trafficking ring with ties to Seneca and Sandusky counties, the Seneca County Sheriff’s office arrested a Clyde, Ohio, man on multiple counts of trafficking in drugs. Justice A. Slane, 26, was arrested Wednesday following the extensive investigation by the Seneca County Drug Task Force-METRICH Enforcement Unit into the trafficking of methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl. That agency was assisted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Columbus and the Ottawa County Major Crimes Task Force. Over the course of the investigation, authorities confiscated approximately 11 pounds of methamphetamine, two kilograms of cocaine, four ounces of fentanyl, four ounces of crack cocaine, and three firearms. “The collaboration between all the local and federal agencies was instrumental to the success of this investigation. It’s always considered a ‘good day’ and a success when that many firearms and that amount of drugs were prevented from reaching the streets in our community,” said Chief Deputy Charles W. Boyer, unit coordinator.
TAPA family fun days bring music to local parks
The Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts will be hosting summer family fun days packed with music and movement. The series of afternoon events will include live performances by musicians from the Toledo Symphony, music enrichment classes, dance classes, and instrument demonstrations. The next family fun day will take place at Ottawa Park from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday. There will be two additional family fun days on July 28 and Aug. 4 at Danny Thomas Park; they will also take place between 2 and 5 p.m.
In town for the Dana Open? Here's what locals recommend beyond the golf course
As golfers flock to Sylvania for the 40th Dana Open golf tournament, they will have plenty to keep them occupied when they’re finished on the green each day. “The city of Sylvania is a small but mighty city,” said Lexi Burton, a leisure sales marketing specialist at Destination Toledo. “Inside the Five is a really good option if people are looking to grab some dinner and good beer while they're at it,” Ms. Burton said. She also suggested visitors looking to further explore the beer scene check out Upside Brewing, which is right across the street from Inside the Five.
Leyland greatest moments countdown No. 2: Pausing argument for 'God Bless America'
Leading up to Sunday’s Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Perrysburg native Jim Leyland, we’re counting down our five favorite Leyland moments. No. 2: Patriotic pause “ … my home sweet home.” Now where the bleep were we?! In a delightful quarrel in two acts, you probably remember the time in 2006 at Yankee Stadium when Jim Leyland got tossed for arguing balls and strikes in the middle of the seventh inning. He began to light into plate umpire James Hoy, paused to pay respect during the playing of “God Bless America,” then immediately picked up where he left the disagreement off.
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