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Medical professionals lament parental indifference to letting youngsters drink caffeine
Many kids and teens may be taking their Flintstones multivitamins, followed later by a caffeinated energy drink. And their parents know it, according to a National Poll on Children's Health published by C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in May. The Mott Poll reported that 57 percent of parents say they rarely look at caffeine amounts when buying beverages for their teen. Energy drinks are not just pumped full of caffeine, they are also high in sugar and many contain that controversial red dye No. 40, according to Lisa Andrews, a member of the Ohio Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “Children shouldn't drink caffeinated energy drinks, like Red Bull or Monster, for a few reasons,” Ms. Andrews said. “An 8.4-oz. can has as much caffeine as a cup of coffee.”
Editorial: Issue 1 ballot language biased
The Supreme Court’s 4-3 vote of approval for the disingenuous wording of the ballot description of the Issue 1 preserves Ballot Board language that was clearly intended to discourage voters from approving Issue 1. The Supreme Court’s excuse is that its job was not to wordsmith the ballot board but to correct any blatant inaccurate statement. The Ballot Board language was not the language the minority Democrats wanted, but they don’t have a majority vote. If Democrats could win some statewide and legislative elections in Ohio, they would be able to imprint their own language on the ballot questions that will come before voters. Issue 1 will help Democrats gain seats that they haven’t won through the normal political process. On Monday, the Supreme Court issued a 38-page ruling that upholds most of the description of the amendment that was created by the Republican-controlled Ohio Ballot Board. The language ordered by the ballot board — which is the wording that will appear on the ballot when voters go to the polls on and before Nov. 5 — is clearly designed to disparage the proposed amendment.
Sunday Chat with former Perrysburg standout, Ohio State baseball coach Griffin Parrill
Growing up in a baseball family has led Griffin Parrill into the coaching ranks — just like his father. Parrill, a former Perrysburg standout and Bowling Green State University pitcher, started his first post-collegiate coaching role last fall. This past summer, he joined Ohio State’s coaching staff as the director of pitching development/camp coordinator. He followed new head coach Jason Haire from Campbell University, where Parrill played in 2023 as a grad transfer and also served one year as a graduate assistant. The coaching blood has been in and around Parrill all his life. His father, Steve, was most recently the head coach at the University of Findlay (2014-2021) and was an assistant coach with BGSU (1989), Indiana (1990-1992), and the University of Toledo (2014-2021).
Best foot forward: Komen Northwest Ohio races for breast cancer awareness
Amid a sea of pink ribbons, three-year breast cancer survivor Emily Zarecki plans to celebrate her cancer-free life, surrounded by family and friends at the 2024 Komen Northwest Ohio Race for the Cure on Sept. 29. “We often say that it's the most wonderful, supportive community that no one wants to be a part of,” she said. The mother of three shared that her world felt like it came to a halt when she was diagnosed in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, but since those difficult moments she has become a regular at the Komen event. “To be downtown, surrounded by so many women that are in the pink shirts, you know who the survivors are, and to see them being celebrated by their friends and family, and by the Susan G. Komen team is so inspiring and really humbling,” Ms. Zarecki said.
Freeman's 5-hit, 4-RBI day propels Columbus Clippers past Mud Hens
The visiting Columbus Clippers had a pair of big innings en route to a 14-3 rout of the Toledo Mud Hens on Saturday in the penultimate game of the regular season at Fifth Third Field. Columbus’ Tyler Freeman finished 5 for 6 with four runs batted in and two runs scored. For Toledo (68-80), Eddys Leonard went 4 for 5 — including a pair of solo home runs — with three RBIs and two runs scored. Columbus (80-67) grabbed the lead with a four-spot in the top of the second inning. Estevan Florial hit his ninth home run of the season, a three-run shot, that put the Clippers ahead 3-0. Tyler Freeman added to it later in the frame as his RBI double scored Micael Ramirez. Freeman drove in another run and also scored in the top of the fourth, increasing the Clippers’ lead at 6-1.
Revisit how we analyzed Bowling Green’s loss at Texas A&M as it unfolded
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Here was our quarter-by-quarter analysis as the action happened in Saturday’s Bowling Green loss at Texas A&M. Real-time team stats can be found at the bottom of the article. FIRST QUARTER ■ What happened: Texas A&M struck first with an opening-possession touchdown in taking the lead over BGSU.
Revisit how we analyzed Toledo’s loss at Western Kentucky as it unfolded
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Here was our quarter-by-quarter analysis as the action happened in Saturday’s Toledo football loss to Western Kentucky. Team stats can be found at the bottom of the article. FIRST QUARTER ■ What happened: Remember that high-scoring game most people predicted? I guess they forgot to tell Toledo and Western Kentucky.
High school football: Montpelier falls to Ridgemont in Saturday action
MONTPELIER, Ohio — The host Locomotives (1-4) fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter in an eventual 53-28 nonleague defeat to Ridgemont (4-1) on Saturday. Montpelier got on the board with Griffin Cooley’s 85-yard kick return and made it as close as 27-14 in the second quarter. Hayden Sharps completed 8 of 22 passes for 147 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, and he added 80 yards and two scores on the ground. Kam Smith caught three passes for 98 yards and a TD for the Locomotives.
Outdoors: EHD outbreak affects deer in northwestern Ohio, elsewhere
Go away on vacation and everything goes crazy it seems. Well, maybe not completely. But connecting on a couple of social media sites I’m on I saw piles of spotted lantern flies in the streets of Toledo and carcasses of bucks — nice ones I should add — and other white-tailed deer in the fields and rivers of Paulding and Defiance counties and throughout Ohio. It appears as I surmised in a column two weeks ago that when Michigan deer in counties across the border came down with Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease, or EHD, it would likely make its way to Ohio. And it did.
Perrysburg's Zimmerly shines when opportunity knocks for Toledo football
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Grant Zimmerly and Connor Walendzak began playing tackle football for Maumee Youth Football in third grade. They have been teammates — and best friends — ever since. Last Saturday, in his first career start for the University of Toledo, Zimmerly was part of an assertive offensive line that made way for Walendzak’s second-quarter touchdown. Just two Perrysburg kids showing out in SEC country during one of the most consequential wins in Toledo football history. “I was talking to him after the game, I’ve been blocking for him since third grade,” Zimmerly said. “I’m just like, ‘Can you believe that we came from playing all the youth football together to SEC football?’ It’s just super special to share that with one of my best friends.”
New federal courthouse annex opens, with renovation of original building under way
Just over three years following a ceremonial groundbreaking, construction of an expansion of Toledo’s federal courthouse has progressed far enough that the 96,000-square-foot annex is now handling court proceedings. “It’s very nice. It’s been a long time coming,” Martin Mohler, a local lawyer, said Wednesday afternoon after visiting the new building for the first time to participate in several hearings. “The judges should be quite pleased with it — it’s a huge improvement,” Mr. Mohler said. The project still has a ways to go yet, though, with renovations to the existing James M. Ashley and Thomas W.L. Ashley Courthouse yet to be completed.
Week 4 game day preview: BGSU football at Texas AM
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — For the second straight game, Bowling Green State University will face a ranked opponent on the road as the Falcons take on No. 25 Texas A&M in the first meeting between the two schools. BASICS Who: BGSU (1-1) at Texas A&M (2-1) When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Week 4 game day preview: Toledo football at Western Kentucky
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The Toledo football team and Western Kentucky will meet for the first time on Saturday night, an under-the-radar Group of Five game that features two of the most consistent programs in the country. These are annual bowl teams that field high-powered offenses and conference championship contenders every year. The stakes are even higher for Toledo after a 41-17 win at Mississippi State last week. A loss to Western Kentucky would cause significant damage to UT's postseason aspirations. Toledo knows that, and they're traveling into the South again understanding the type of performance it will take to leave victoriously. "Western Kentucky is another great opponent," senior safety Maxen Hook said. "They played great last week. They have a really good quarterback, good defense. We just have to focus on practice and bring that intensity every week."
Rough road for Jeep — especially Gladiator — as sales hit the skids
In 2018, the Jeep Wrangler was riding higher than a Rubicon tricked out with TeraFlex suspension, Dana 44 axles, and Mickey Thompson Baja Boss tires. A whopping 240,032 of the iconic Toledo products were sold in the United States that year. By 2023, annual sales had fallen more than 35 percent to 155,491. Domestic sales of the Gladiator — the pickup sibling to the Wrangler — have fallen even more precipitously, dropping more than 38 percent from a high of 89,712 in 2021 to 55,187 in 2023.
Winning Drive Game of the Week candidates for Week 6
Which team do you think will “drive” home the victory for their school next weekend? Voting starts Sunday for The Blade's High School Football Winning Drive Game of the Week at: www.toledoblade.com/HSFBDrive. Here are the candidates for Week 6. ■ Rogers (2-3) at Start (2-3) ■ Whitmer (4-1) at Anthony Wayne (5-0)
Personalized, unhurried medical care available — for a price
Back in 2005, Dr. Ferd Crotte was a man ahead of his time. Or maybe he was just going back to an earlier time when doctors made house calls, spent a lot of time with their patients, and were reachable at all hours. It was early in that year when the board-certified internal medicine specialist converted his Toledo-area medical practice to a “concierge” model, a practice where doctors charge patients a significant fee over and above their regular medical charges and in return provide a more personalized style of care. Those concierge fees were not covered by medical insurance but were paid out of pocket by his patients.
Reaping rewards: Annual community event reinforces SAME Cafe's mission
As its menu shifts from ingredients like berries and tomatoes to apples and squash, SAME Cafe is bursting with both flavor and new energy. Chefs and volunteers are working together to build and feed community, as well as train others in the culinary craft. Its efforts are supported by the recently fund-raised $36,000 and a grant from the American Heart Association. The third annual SAME Table event was held Sept. 12 at One SeaGate, bringing together donors, volunteers, and friends. Alex Zappone, head chef of SAME Cafe Toledo, said everyone was welcome to experience the event, even if they didn't have the asking price for donations.
Hershey is turning its candy into energy drinks and protein powders
With its line-up of sweet snacks, Hershey isn’t known as a purveyor of diet foods. However, the company’s newest products are made specifically for those on a fitness kick. As the use of weight-loss drugs — notably Ozempic and Wegovy — grows, the 130-year-old confectionery company is adjusting to this new era by pushing further into the wellness category with protein powders and energy drinks in popular candy flavors. The Hershey Company (HSY) has struck a deal with C4 Energy, a top-selling supplement brand that has gained popularity as people have looked to build muscle and work out more following the pandemic. Hershey’s namesake milk chocolate and Reese’s peanut butter and chocolate will soon be sold as protein powders and its Jolly Rancher candies will be turned into bubbly energy drinks. “What’s great about this partnership is that we get to tap into these brands that are more than 125 years old and are very nostalgic,” said Doss Cunningham, CEO of C4’s parent company Nutrabolt. “On the flip side, this is a great opportunity for us to reach new audiences.”
Editorial: Put some detail on auto industry plan
In his “town hall” meeting Tuesday night in Michigan, Donald Trump engaged in his trademark hyperbolic approach to complicated issues, throwing cold water on Michiganders’ hopes that that state will have any role to play in future electric auto vehicle production. The gist of Trump’s thoughts was that electric vehicles is a bad business for Detroit to try to compete in. He appeared to suggest that the United States should cede the electric vehicle market to China. Read more Blade editorials He told the crowd of 6,000 at the Dort Financial Center hockey arena in Flint that the United States has gasoline, while China has the materials needed for EVs.
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