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Linn Grant back at Highland Meadows ready to defend Dana Open title
A masterful third-round 62 during last year’s Dana Open put Linn Grant in position to win her first LPGA Tour title. It also created a situation golfers covet and loathe: a sizable lead. Grant was six shots clear of second place, a seemingly insurmountable advantage. But ask Greg Norman, Rory McIlroy, and Jordan Speith about lapping the field. Mentally, the finish is taxing. “I had played very well all week and had a great feeling about the course,” Grant said. “My thoughts were just to go out on Sunday with the same feeling and enjoy my round, not try to force any results and just try to tell myself that if I play the way I have played things should go my way.”
Coroner's office seeking family of recently deceased man
The Lucas County Coroner’s Office is asking for the public’s help in finding relatives of a West Toledo man who died July 8. Thomas Brown, 74, was found dead in his home. Anyone who can connect officials with his relatives is asked to call the coroner’s office at 419-213-3900.
5K walk to kick off city's annual Let's Get Moving wellness campaign
The city of Toledo will kick off its annual Let’s Get Moving wellness campaign with a 5K walk at 11 a.m. Saturday starting at the Liz Pierson Shelter House in Ottawa Park. The event, organized by the city’s Department of Parks and Youth Services, and presented in partnership with Mercy Health System and the Area Office on Aging, will also include a variety of activities and free health screenings. The Neighborhood Health Association and Community of Hope Free Clinic will also be on hand to share information on resources that available for residents. The city of Toledo Parks and Youth Services will provide water and light refreshments throughout the event. There will also be giveaways and a raffle.
Kentucky man dies in motorcycle crash on turnpike
STONY RIDGE, Ohio — A Kentucky motorcyclist was killed Tuesday afternoon in a crash on the Ohio Turnpike in Lake Township and a passenger was seriously injured, the Ohio State Highway Patrol reported. At 4 p.m. Tuesday, Kenny L. Robinson, 58, of Mount Sterling, Ky., was westbound near the I-280 interchange when a tire on his motorcycle blew out, causing him to lose control, troopers from the patrol’s Swanton post said. Mr. Robinson died at the scene. Passenger Barbara J. Rowland 58, of Winchester, Ky., suffered serious injuries and was flown to Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center, troopers said. The incident, including helmet usage, remained under investigation Wednesday.
Rep. Jordan: Trump is 'literally leadership under fire'
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. — When U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan watched footage with his wife of the FBI raiding former President Donald Trump’s Florida home two years ago in what became the classified documents case, the Urbana Republican picked up the phone to call him. “I call him up,” he told the Ohio delegation Wednesday. “When he answered, he didn’t even say hello. He just goes, ‘Jim, this is the best thing that’s ever happened to our party.’ He goes, ‘My numbers are going to go up.’” The highly conservative Trump ally in the U.S. House of Representatives has sat with Trump this week on the convention floor and has spearheaded investigations into the Biden Administration in Congress. He spoke with the Ohio delegation at its hotel in Lake Geneva, Wis., an hour from the Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee where the convention is being held. “The tragedy of Saturday, what you saw is what is best about this country,” Mr. Jordan said, describing the final moments of firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was killed as he shielded his family from bullets, one of which grazed Trump’s right ear at a rally in Butler, Pa.
Neighbors skeptical of proposed Kenwood roundabout
Neighbors have expressed skepticism about a proposed roundabout at Kenwood Boulevard and Secor Road and the city of Toledo offered an alternative option as part of a $5 million redesign of Secor between Kenwood and Central Avenue in West Toledo. “My position is, do nothing. Period. ... It is just not needed. It works well” as is, Dan Strohmeier, a neighbor, said in an interview during a meeting Tuesday at Old Orchard Elementary School. More than 120 people attended the meeting hosted by the Toledo Department of Transportation and City Councilman Sam Melden, whose district encompasses Westgate and Old Orchard and includes Secor. A few other attendees said they’d rather choose the newly-proposed alternative — a three-lane roadway, with a U-turn and center lane as a turn lane — to the roundabout.
Habitat for Humanity of Wood County dedicates Northwood residence
Habitat for Humanity of Wood County will hold a dedication and community celebration for a new home that has been built for a Northwood family. The event, at 5 p.m. July 24, will be at 1943 Owens St., off West Andrus Road. It will include a home tour and refreshments. Northwood Mayor Edward Schimmel will speak. Project sponsors included First Solar, FedEx, Northwind Group, Rosenboom, D.S. Brown, and Adient. More than volunteers donated more than 2,000 hours of labor to complete the project. The home is Habitat for Humanity of Wood County’s 54th project. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.
Leyland greatest moments countdown No. 4: Dance moves after 2013 division title
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. 4: Walking on the moon Leyland could be gruff, of course, but his joy and humanity were defining traits, too. And was anything more perfect than his celebration after the Tigers clinched their third straight AL Central championship in 2013? In tears one moment, moonwalking the next, it was classic Leyland.
Perrysburg Schools listening tour continues
Community members are invited to attend an informal gathering with Perrysburg Schools Superintendent Tom Hosler, Treasurer Randy Drewyor, and board of education members. This “listening tour” will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday by the tent on the Commodore Lawn near the corner of Indiana and Louisiana avenues during the Perrysburg farmers market. Anyone with a question or who would like more information about the school district should stop by the tent.
Flights of fancy: The Mazza Museum delves into the world of unearthly monsters
FINDLAY — For Dan Chudzinski, a bison jaw and moose cranium are artistic treasures; they are materials that can help an audience transcend into the fantastical world. That is just the objective at the 10th annual Enchanted Brush exhibit at the University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum, where visitors can peer into the worlds of unearthly monsters and fairytale characters. The Mazza Museum is showcasing a selection of fantasy artworks from across the world. The exhibition, which opened June 21 and will run through Aug. 30, is free and open to the public. This year’s theme is Heroes Welcome. “The idea for Heroes Welcome was that every great story has a hero,” said Chudzinski, director of curation and exhibitions at Mazza and founder of the Enchanted Brush exhibit. “Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and so, if you ask an artist to interpret that theme, I knew that we would be guaranteed to find a few surprises, which is precisely what inspired the exhibition.”
Editorial: Political ad-Vance
Donald Trump’s selection of Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate has the potential to bode well for Midwestern states — including Ohio. It also has the potential to bode ill for the country if Mr. Vance deepens the isolationism and fealty to Trumpism that has characterized his political career so far. Read more Blade editorials Senator Vance, who is only 39, was brought up in dysfunctional circumstances in southwest Ohio, which he chronicled in his bestseller, Hillbilly Elegy. He achieved wealth and status through his own ambitious determination, beginning with honorable service in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Iraq War, followed by success at Ohio State University and Yale University. He is an intellectual who graduated from OSU summa cum laude — Latin for “with the highest distinction” — in political science and philosophy.
'We must comply': Maumee mayor tells crowd options are limited to deal with EPA issues
Maumee Mayor Jim MacDonald is caught between the state and his constituents. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has issued several findings and mandates after the city dumped millions of gallons of illegal raw sewage into the Maumee River for 25 years, he said. One of the solutions is a recently enacted sewer inspection ordinance that has been hugely expensive for some Maumee residents selling their homes. “To be clear, the choices for us are limited. I have to be brutally honest,” Mayor MacDonald said at a Tuesday informational meeting. “We must comply with what's being asked of us, and try to fix what we can.” The mayor held the community meeting to discuss the ordinance, which requires a sanitary sewer inspection on private properties listed for sale. About 150 people filled the council chamber, with the overflow crowd watching the live stream at the adjacent police station.
Former political foes urge Trump election on Day 2 of Republican convention
MILWAUKEE — Trying to demonstrate a Republican Party united behind Donald Trump, former political rivals took to the convention stage Tuesday to urge Americans to support the man they once criticized. The entrance of Nikki Haley — former South Carolina governor, former United Nations ambassador, and the last standing GOP challenger to Trump — was met with both cheers and boos. “President Trump asked me to speak at this convention in the name of unity,” she said. “It was a gracious invitation, and I was happy to accept. I’ll start by making one thing perfectly clear. Donald Trump has my strong endorsement, period.” Ms. Haley walked into the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee with 97 delegates. All were cast for Trump on Monday.
Toledo council committee recommends approval for Gary's Automotive
A Toledo City Council committee has overruled an earlier decision and recommend that a Point Place auto repair shop damaged in a tornado can go ahead with reconstruction plans. Gary’s Automotive at 4505 N. Summit St. was severely damaged during the June 15, 2023, tornado that hit Point Place and other areas of Toledo. The owner, Dave Thomas, had submitted a site plan review to the Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commission to reconstruct the building, but the commission recommended last month that it not be approved because the materials were not in compliance with the zoning code. “We were turned down because of a material we wanted to use on our building,” Mr. Thomas said Tuesday during a meeting of council’s Zoning and Planning Committee. “It’s more of a cosmetic use rather than a strength issue.” Half of his brick shop is still standing, he said. The cost to rebuild is more than $600,000, using a “pole metal” type of material, which is not on the plan commission’s approved list of materials. The cost would balloon to $900,000 to use bricks — money he said he doesn’t have because the building is underinsured.
Trial starts for man charged with death of girlfriend's toddler son
Police and rescue officers who responded to a Sylvania Township home where a dying 3-year-old child was found after his mother’s boyfriend called 911 were immediately skeptical of the boyfriend’s explanation for the child’s condition, testimony Tuesday at the start of the boyfriend’s murder trial showed. But Kurt Bruderly, the lawyer for defendant Michael Kitto, said his client is unwavering in his assertion that the death of Declan Hill, 3, was indeed the result of the boy hitting his head on the floor after crashing into the end of a door while running through the house. Mr. Kitto could be heard giving that explanation several times to police in a distraught voice on body camera video recorded by Kevin Pelwecki, a Sylvania Township police officer who was the second officer to arrive at the Oct. 6, 2022 scene in the 3400 block of King Road. But Officer Pelwecki was then recorded as telling arriving detectives “it wasn’t a great explanation” because “kids are more resilient than that.”
Stone: Seeing spots
I would like to begin by thanking everyone who has taken an interest in learning more about the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) and being one more set of eyes in the field looking for the invasive species. I have been inundated in recent days with emails, calls, text messages, photographs, and even an occasional specimen of what residents are finding — and yes many are seeing spots — the spotted lanternfly. I am grateful for everyone who has reached out or reported finds on the Great Lakes Early Detection Network (GLEDN) app or through the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Plant...
Kaptur, Brown outpace opponents in fund-raising
U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) is trying to hold on to her congressional seat, and new filings show that Ms. Kaptur is outpacing her opponent, state Rep. Derek Merrin (R. Monclova Township), in fund-raising. In the District 9 race, Ms. Kaptur’s campaign Kaptur for Congress has raised more than $950,000 in the second quarter, bringing her total raised to nearly $3 million. She is ending quarter two with $2.6 million on hand, having spent a little more than $699,000. “Our campaign has seen a groundswell of support from Republicans, Democrats, and Independents across the district who know that Marcy Kaptur is on the frontlines fighting for seniors and working families,” Alexandra Wilcox, Ms. Kaptur’s campaign manager, said. Her opponent’s campaign, Merrin for Congress, has raised more than $412,000 in the second quarter, bringing his total raised to nearly $669,000. He is ending quarter two with just over $408,000, which is a significant jump for Mr. Merrin since he ended the first quarter with a little more than $88,000 on hand. Mr. Merrin has spent just over $260,000. The Blade reached out to Mr. Merrin’s campaign, who did not have any additional comments.
Walleye re-sign forward Kruse for 2024-25 season
Forward Brandon Kruse, who scored 18 goals and added 36 assists for the Toledo Walleye in 2023-24, will return to the team for the coming season, the Walleye announced Tuesday. Toledo re-signed the Saline, Mich., native and former Bowling Green State University player for a second season at the Huntington Center. Kruse joined the Walleye in 2023 after finishing his first full professional season with the ECHL’s Newfoundland Growlers. Kruse, 25, played more than 150 games for BGSU from 2017-21, scoring 38 goals with 104 assists. He was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the fifth round of the 2018 NHL draft. After a graduate transfer season with national power Boston College, he joined Vegas’ AHL affiliate for three games before moving on to the ECHL in 2022-23. Kruse tallied four goals and seven assists for the Walleye during this past spring’s playoff run, where the team fell in the Western Conference finals for the second straight season.
City council to act on settlement of brutality suit arising from traffic stop
Toledo City Council is poised to approve Wednesday a $50,000 settlement with one of two women who sued the city and two police officers alleging brutality and false arrest during a traffic stop on New Year’s Day, 2023. Kaylynn Smart was a passenger in a car that police pulled over at Central and Maplewood avenues after it passed close to a vehicle involved in the response to an accident several blocks west of there on Central Avenue. In the lawsuit she filed Dec. 22 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio in Toledo, Ms. Smart claimed false arrest, unlawful imprisonment, unreasonable and excessive force, assault and battery, and related mistreatment by the two officers who performed the traffic stop, as well as seeking undisclosed punitive damages. Police officers Adam Hobbs and Ashlynn Pluff were disciplined for their conduct during the encounter, which was recorded on their cruiser’s dashboard camera.
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