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Police: Teen shot while riding bike in South Toledo
A 16-year-old boy riding his bike in the area of Orchard and Stebbins streets in South Toledo was shot Thursday evening, police said. The teen, who met with police at ProMedica Toledo Hospital, where he was seeking treatment for his injuries, said he was riding his bike around 7:30 p.m. when three unknown individuals started shooting at him, striking him in the knee.
Metroparks Toledo gives update on riverfront projects
A year after the grand opening of Glass City Metropark, the western shore of the Maumee River has quickly become off limits for anyone without a hard hat and a construction vest. “We are halfway through construction,” Jennifer Van Horn, chief of planning and chief construction officer for Metroparks Toledo, said during an open house at the site Thursday. Construction for the the next phase of the Metroparks’ $250 million master plan to revitalize the downtown area of Toledo is set to open to the public in the spring of 2026, but in the meantime the Metroparks hopes to keep a buzz around its continued project. “We were using our riverfront in some of the worst ways possible,” Dave Zenk, executive director of Metroparks Toledo, said about the downtown area before the plan, drafted in 2018, was implemented.
Dollar Tree owners ordered to clear weeds, brush at Sylvania Twp. property
Owners of a Dollar Tree property in Sylvania Township have been ordered to clean up overgrown brush that has encroached on sidewalks at a busy intersection. Township trustees at their meeting Tuesday declared the vegetation and debris at 7464 W. Sylvania Ave. a nuisance. The property is owned by DT Retail Properties LLC. “I’ll be happy to approve that one,” said Trustee Neal Mahoney. After the meeting, Daryl Graus, township planning and zoning manager, said the Dollar Tree owns the parcel adjacent to the store and it is overgrown with weeds.
Going strong: Organizers continue legacies at German-American Festival
Fifty-eight years is a long time for most, but not for Mike Willinger. “I have been involved for a very, very long time,” said Willinger, the chairman of the 58th German-American Festival, which begins Friday. “I was actually at the first [Festival], I was 13 years old.” “Don’t do the math,” he added with a chuckle. Willinger has been chairman of the last four German-American Festivals, the celebration of all things Deutschland that will take place once again at Oak Shade Grove in Oregon.
Editorial: Turnpike safety first
The Ohio Turnpike has multiple problems to fix centering around the open tolling system built around the E-ZPass. The continuing scam where drivers are randomly texted with the claim they have a small unpaid amount owed to the Turnpike Commission is a minor irritant. The 250,000-plus drivers billed based on license plate readers at open tolling stations are a bigger problem. Read more Blade editorials But by far the biggest problem is that the apparent confusion over procedure at the Swanton toll plaza in western Lucas County is a deadly safety threat. The plaza configuration must be re-examined and likely redesigned.
V.P. Kamala Harris accepts Democratic nomination for president
CHICAGO — With 75 days until the Nov. 5 general election, Vice President Kamala Harris officially accepted her nomination as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in an arena filled with supporters holding up “Kamala” signs. “My entire career, I’ve only had one client: the people,” Ms. Harris said after talking about her former career as a prosecutor. “And so, on behalf of the people … I accept your nomination.” “I promise to be a president for all Americans,” she added. For many Democrats, this was not the Democratic National Convention they expected. After President Biden stepped down as the nominee one month ago, the party quickly rallied around Ms. Harris. In turn, she hit the campaign trail, later with her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in battleground states against her opponent former President Donald Trump.
Mud Hens suffer 5-3 loss to Iowa Cubs in extra innings
The Iowa Cubs pushed three runs across in the top of the 11th inning off Toledo relief pitcher Chase Lee, securing a 5-3 extra-innings victory over the Mud Hens on Thursday at Fifth Third Field. Iowa (53-70) clinged to a 1-0 lead for much of the game. In fact, Toledo (58-64) was limited to just one hit over the first three innings. The Mud Hens knotted the game at 1 in the bottom of the seventh inning on Drew Maggi’s solo homer, his third of the season. The score stayed 1-1 into the ninth and Toledo put the winning run on second after a pair of two-out singles from Anthony Bemboom and Justice Bigbie. However, Maggi grounded into a force out to end the threat.
Roundabout construction to close Bancroft, McCord
Following a one-month partial closing for preparatory work, the intersection of Bancroft Street and McCord Road will close fully on Friday for roundabout construction, the Lucas County Engineer’s Office announced. The two roads will be closed for about 70 days, or until around Halloween, while the new intersection is built. Through traffic on Bancroft will be detoured to Dorr Street between Holland-Sylvania and King roads, while McCord traffic will be directed to King between Central Avenue and Dorr. The project is the last of four new roundabouts to be built this year by the county engineer’s office. A new circle at Salisbury and Holloway roads opened Wednesday evening.
Toledo's finances in good condition
Toledo’s finances so far this year are in good shape, according to city finance officials who appeared before Toledo city council’s finance, debt, and budget oversight committee on Thursday. Melanie Campbell, interim finance director, and John Zawisza, commissioner of taxation, provided a report to the committee on the city’s finances through the month of July. Income tax collections for 2024 through the month of July total approximately $120.5 million for the general fund, compared to $116.6 million through the same period last year. For the road improvement fund, income tax collections total approximately $13.2 million through July, 2024, compared to $12.7 million through July, 2023. Total collections through July are approximately $133.7 million.
City uses U.S. entitlement grants to help fight blight
Toledo officials Thursday lauded the city’s focus in the past few years on using the Community Development Block Grants to fight blight and called on residents to participate in planning the funds’ future use. “October would make it five years that I've been up here,” Rosalyn Clemens, the city’s housing and community development director, said. “We looked at what the city had been spending CDBG on, and we started looking at the needs of the community, and with the support of the mayor and council, what we[‘ve been] trying to do is to pivot the use of CDBG to invest...
Port authority approves $11M in bonds for $25M project at art museum
A “sustainability” project at the Toledo Museum of Art got an $11 million financing boost Thursday morning from the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. The agency’s board of directors approved a loan of up to that amount from the Northwest Ohio Bond Fund that, along with funding from two other Ohio economic-development programs, is expected to cover the project’s $24.89 million cost. The port authority funding will be used to replace the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system in the historic Edward Green beaux-arts building, Doreen Cutway, the art museum’s spokesman, said Thursday afternoon. “When installed, the new HVAC system will ensure stable climate control to protect the museum’s collection and reduce the museum’s energy usage,” Ms. Cutway said. “Although we are still in the planning process, we anticipate the project will be completed in 2027.”
2024 local SBC football team previews: Gibsonburg looking to return to playoffs, win league title
Gibsonburg just missed out on making the playoffs last fall and the Golden Bears hope to earn a berth while contending for a title in the Sandusky Bay Conference. Gibsonburg went 5-5 overall, finishing one spot out of playoff contention in Division VII. The Golden Bears finished with a 4-3 record in the SBC River Division. “For us to [qualify for the playoffs] or compete for a league title, we must be more consistent blocking, tackling, and reading our keys against the bigger teams,” Gibsonburg coach Joe Wyant said. Woodmore left the Northern Buckeye Conference and played in the SBC River Division for the first time last season, joining Gibsonburg and Lakota. Fremont St. Joseph has left the SBC River and is playing eight-man football this season.
Committee kicks off campaign to renew 0.4-mill port levy
Citing estimates that the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority’s airport and seaport operations support 11,000 jobs and have an economic impact of $1.5 billion, while its financing arm has promoted more than 100 development projects, a committee kicked off a campaign Thursday for renewal of its 0.4-mill operating levy. “A yes vote will have such a positive impact for Lucas County and the residents,” Robin Whitney, chairman of both the port’s governing board of directors and the Committee for Jobs levy campaign committee, said during a noontime news conference at the port-owned Ironville Dock in East Toledo. “It really does help to make this place attractive, not only to employers, but to employees,” said Wendy Gramza, president and chief executive officer of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, which has endorsed the levy renewal. Ms. Gramza said it would be difficult to find anyone in Toledo who does not benefit in some way from the port authority’s operations.
Family of slain woman thanks community, prepares for next steps
TIPTON, Mich. — Gregg Hardy, the brother of Dee Ann Warner, didn’t mince his words Thursday afternoon, describing Mrs. Warner’s husband, Dale, as “a very evil piece of human debris.” His remarks came less than 24 hours after Mrs. Warner’s relatives received confirmation she was indeed dead and her body had been found. They were told her remains had been positively identified with the help of dental records. Speaking to the media Thursday, Mr. Hardy urged people who may be in a violent relationship to get out of it, no matter what. He pointed to his sister as an example. “She thought she could deal with it. She didn’t want to face the social embarrassment,” he said. “All of those things contributed to her standing there fighting with this piece of trash. If you’re in that situation, don’t be afraid to leave it.”
Office dedicated to helping businesses secure government contracts opens at UT
With the cutting of a ceremonial ribbon in front of the University of Toledo’s Nitschke Technology Commercialization Complex, university and state officials opened an office on Thursday that’s dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes compete for federal, state, and local government contracts. The Ohio APEX Accelerator, as the office is known, will provide guidance, education, and training to assist local businesses in entering and participating in supply chains for the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal, state, and local agencies. The program is part of a nationwide network created by the U.S. Department of Defense. In Ohio, the Ohio Department of Development hosts the program, supported by community-based organizations serving local businesses. Pamela Moore, the director of the University of Toledo Business Incubator, said she was thrilled by the opening of the APEX Accelerator because it will help local businesses compete in government contracting.
Lourdes University welcomes incoming students during move-in day
For the 100 or so students moving into the dorms of Lourdes University on Thursday, the cooler weather helped while they were unpacking their lives into their home away from home for the upcoming academic year. “I can’t wait to get started studying to be a nurse,” freshman Karlee Maier of Maumee said. “I want to get my bachelor of science in nursing. Meeting new people will also be fun.” Callie Zake, director of undergraduate admissions and financial aid, said the university had an enrollment of 1,110 for the 2023-24 academic year. “We have over 150 incoming students this year,” Ms. Zake said. “Classes start Monday, so we don't have a final number yet. Sixty percent of our undergrads are Ohio residents, and the rest are out of state and international students.”
Women's Equality Day encourages women to use their voice
For the 6th annual Northwest Ohio Women’s Equality Day, the local community and leaders are set to discuss the status of women and girls in the region. With a focus on human rights as women’s rights, the discussion will include areas of inclusion and access, justice, and security (health, safety, and economic empowerment of women and their families), organizers reported. Presented by Women of Toledo, the event takes place at 2 p.m. Monday at the Glass City Center. The event will also serve to encourage women and girls to “galvanize the voices into action” with a listening session and participates can also expect networking, appetizers and a women’s town hall.
Motorcyclist killed in West Toledo crash
A motorcyclist was killed in a two-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon in West Toledo, Toledo police reported. Thomas Karnowski, 51, was operating a motorcycle approaching Custer Drive on westbound Laskey Road about 10:45 a.m. when he was struck by an eastbound vehicle driven by Louise Grubinski, 76, who was attempting to turn left. Mr. Karnowski later died at Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center, while Ms. Grubinski was injured and treated at the scene by the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department. The crash remained under investigation later Thursday.
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