By JOE GILROY

CLYDE — Thanks to the massive expansion in the Sandusky Bay Conference, unfamiliar teams are getting acquainted and reacquainting themselves with one another

Such was the case Friday night, when Norwalk visited Bob Bishop Stadium in Clyde in an SBC Lake division game.

It marked the third time in 40 years that the two teams have met. The most recent of which saw the Fliers best Norwalk, 35-24, in the second round of the Division III playoffs in 2014.

One has to go all the way back to the 1978 season opener, a 26-6 Norwalk win, to find the last time the two teams met in the regular season prior to Friday’s game.

A lot has chanced since then, but it was the heavy underdog Truckers giving the Fliers a game for much of the night, but eventually the Fliers pulled away for a 24-7 win.

The Fliers (8-1, 3-1) all but locked down a first round home playoff game with the win, while the Truckers fell to 2-7, 0-4.

Norwalk had outgained Clyde in the first half, though they trailed 14-7 as the teams headed to the locker rooms to make their adjustments.

“They did a few things differently on defense to us tonight that worked very effectively,“ Clyde coach Ryan Carter said. “We knew they weren’t going to be an easy win, they hung with Sandusky and Edison, so we knew we were in for a game.

“They packed the line of scrimmage and forced us to throw in the first half,” he added. “We may have missed a few balls, but their secondary made it hard on Trevor [Burtch].”

It was a tale of two halves for Clyde’s Braydi Clark, who finished with 100 yards and a touchdown on the ground after gaining only nine yards on seven carries in the first half. Thanks to Clark’s big second half he topped the 1,000-yard mark for the season, as it stands now he has 1,021 yards and 13 touchdowns heading into next week’s rivalry game with Bellevue.

“I thought we came out and did a nice job in the second half in all facets of the game,” Carter said. “Like most weeks, our defense played lights out and minimized their mistakes. Trevor threw the ball well, but they defended us so good down the field that it was hard to put up a lot of yards on them.”

Norwalk put some drives together, but was unable to finish them in the end zone. They missed a pair of field goals in the first half and turned it over on downs deep in the Fliers end of the field.

Norwalk’s lone score of the night came on a 38-yard TD pass from Andrew Ehrenberg to Josh Welfle with 2:30 left in the first quarter. Garrison Smith added the PAT.

“There are no moral victories in our program, we don’t accept that mentality,“ Norwalk coach Chris MacFarland said. “But, I am proud of the guys in that locker room, the final score was not a true reflection of this game. We knew Clyde was a good team and we hung with them and had chances, but we just didn’t finish drives off and made too many mistakes.

“We are a young team and once we break through and get one of these games, I think we will start winning more of them,” he added. “We have good senior leaders, but there’s a lot of sophomores on this team.”

Trevon Raymore ran 22 times for 102 yards to pace the Truckers, while Ehrenberg was 12-of-26 passing for 116 yards with a TD and an interception. Welfle caught four passes for 68 yards.

Ohio producers are reminded that the acreage reporting deadline for perennial forage crop is Nov. 15 for crop year 2018 and subsequent years.

Producers must still visit the local FSA office to validate and sign acreage reports, complete maps or provide program-specific information. The common data from the first-filed acreage report will now be available to pre-populate and accelerate completion of the second report.

In order to comply with FSA program eligibility requirements, all producers are encouraged to visit their County FSA office to file an accurate perennial forage crop certification report by the Nov. 15 deadline.

For questions regarding crop certification, please contact your Huron/Erie FSA office.

In other business: 

Filing CCC-941 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) certifications: Producers are reminded to complete and file form CCC-941, Adjusted Gross Income Certification to receive Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) payments, Loan Deficiency Payments (LDPs) and Market Gains on Marketing Assistance Loans (MALs). LDPs will not be paid until all eligible producers, including landowners who share in the crop, have filed a valid CCC-941.

Producers without a valid CCC-941 certifying their compliance with the average adjusted gross income provisions will not receive payments that have been processed. All farm operator/tenants/owners who have not filed a CCC-941 and have pending payments should IMMEDIATELY file the form with their recording county FSA office. Farm operators and tenants are encouraged to ensure that their landowners have filed the form. FSA can accept the CCC-941 for 2015, 2016 and 2017. Unlike the past, producers must have the CCC-941 certifying their AGI compliance before any payments can be issued.

* * *

USDA offers land enrollment: USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will process many pending eligible offers for land enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and will temporarily suspend accepting most new offers until later in the 2018 fiscal year.

All current, eligible CRP continuous enrollment offers made through Sept. 30, except for those made under the Pollinator Habitat Initiative (CP42), will be approved, Additionally, FSA is temporarily suspending acceptance of most offers going forward to provide time to review CRP allocation levels, and to avoid exceeding the statutory cap of 24 million acres. The CRP acreage cap is a provision of the 2014 Farm Bill. Current enrollment is about 23.5 million acres nationwide. USDA is accepting all pending continuous enrollment offers that were made beginning on May 4, and extending through Sept. 30, except Pollinator Habitat Initiative offers. Pollinator acreage offers are being declined because the program has met its acreage enrollment goal.

Effective immediately, USDA is suspending acceptance of all new CRP continuous offers received or submitted after Sept. 30. The suspension will continue until later in the 2018 fiscal year. However, FSA will continue to accept eligible offers for state-specific Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and CRP Grasslands enrollment.

Offers received on or after Oct. 1, are subject to fiscal year 2018 rental rates which have been adjusted to reflect current market conditions and were established after careful review of the latest USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) cash rent data. In return for enrolling in CRP, USDA, through FSA, provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance.

Landowners enter into contracts that last between 10 and 15 years. CRP pays farmers and ranchers who remove sensitive lands from production and plant certain grasses, shrubs and trees that improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and increase wildlife habitat. Payment totals for 2017 were announced earlier this week totaling over $1.6 billion.

* * *

Dates to remember:

Nov. 6 — County committee ballots mailed to voters.

Nov. 10 — Veterans Day Holiday. FSA Offices Closed.

Nov. 15 — The final acreage reporting deadline for hay, forage, pasture & grasses.

Nov. 23 — Thanksgiving Day holiday. FSA Offices Closed.

Dec. 4 — Last day to return voted Ballots in county committee election.

Dec. 15 — The final acreage reporting deadline for wheat and all other small grains.

For more information, call the Huron and Erie County Farm Service Agency at 419-668-4113.

By DICK MARTIN

Come November, nearly all area outdoorsmen will be thinking hunting.

They're working the rut for big deer, chasing rabbits and late season squirrels, looking for ducks, trapping, and more, but few are thinking largemouth bass. Still, bass can be caught 12 months of any year, as I've found out repeatedly while ice fishing, and if you're just not a hunter or a nice day comes along that has you fondling your fishing rods, you can catch some nice bass. Even in November.

But the average basser is likely to do poorly this month because their quarry's habits change, and they try to pursue them using the same tactics that worked in far warmer water. Such might take a fish or two, but they'll miss out on heavy catches most times.

It's important to keep in mind that cold water bass aren't as interested in cruising fair distances as they are in summer. Their metabolism is lower, serious activity is anathema, and most want their meal close by. So, during this month seek out places where there's good cover on the shoreline, whether it be riprap or half drowned trees and stumps, and deep water very close by. Such places let a hungry bass feed, then with a few flips of its tail, be back in deep water seclusion.

Actually, if that water is very cold and the deeper water has good bottom cover, they might not come shallow at all on many days, but forage for panfish and insects right at home. On one of my favorite lakes I've found a place like that, a spot where the bottom drops off to eight feet within a yard or two of dry land and there's dead timber on the bottom.

Many a time I've tied my small canoe right up to shore there, cast a six-inch black or purple worm with twister tail well out, then retrieved at a slow crawl, feeling the worm climb up sunken limbs then fall down the opposite side. On one red letter morning I took 10 bass, the smallest a pound and a half and the largest over four, releasing them all, but having a great time basking in weak sunlight and enjoying passing flights of ducks and geese while I netted fish after fish.

On a trip to Charles Mill Lake last late fall, I did almost as well with little effort. This time I drove down to the end of the campground at the cut, and bottom fished two rods with nightcrawlers. There's a quick dropoff there and bass like to patrol the shelf, enough of them that I caught six fish, and bagged a carp or two in process.

You might keep in mind that on the ever more rare warm and sunny days, shallow water will warm up quickly, especially if it has a dark mud bottom. At such times, a late afternoon trip to a good lake and a session of working those same shorelines with a quick dropoff using a pig and jig combination or plastic worms can be productive. They might be holding in four or five feet instead of one or two, but often enough they'll be there.

Farm ponds can be nearly sure fire now, simply because they're small and can be covered thoroughly. The bass just can't hide. Walk around the shores of your favorite, again cast plastic worms into deeper water, and crawl them back. You're very likely to feel a soft tap, tap before pitching that worm too often.

And if even that doesn't soothe your urge for rest and relaxation, seine or purchase some larger minnows, lip hook them with a No. 4 hook, add a thin float above, and let the minnow swim. Start at four feet, and if nothing happens, go to five or even six, using a slip float. Cold water bass can't pass up a slow moving and obviously tasty morsel, so when you find the right depth, that float should sink again and again while you loaf along shore and enjoy the day.

* * *

HOOKS & BULLETS

• Huron County and thereabouts anglers looking for a good bass lake that's not a long drive away will find one in Knox Lake. According to the Division of Wildlife, it's fifth in the state for largemouths over 20 inches, No. 2 in central Ohio for numbers of bass, and No. 1 for fish over 20 inches. Not a big lake, but worth the drive for a fine mornings fishing.

• The Division of Wildlife is hosting a one time drawing Saturday, Oct. 28 at noon for trapping in the Mercer Wildlife Area, St. Marys State Fish Hatchery, Coldwater Creek Treatment Train, and Prairie Creek Treatment Train. Participants must register prior to 12 p.m. and show a valid 2017 Fur Takers Permit. Participants should arrive at the Mercer Wildlife Area headquarters at 11:45 a.m. to allow time to register. No beaver trapping will be permitted this season and traps will be restricted to body gripping and box traps at the treatment trains. The refuge is 1/3 mile east of Ohio 127 in Mercer County. For more information, call 937-372-9261.

• The latest special exhibit at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museum, "Ice for Everybody", Lake Erie and America's Ice Harvesting Industry" will explain the story of how the Sandusky area became the center of a century long mammoth industry that changed the way Americans lived. The exhibit will be open Nov. 3 through Feb. 25. The Museum is located at the corner of Hayes and Buckland Avenues in Fremont, and tells about one of the biggest ice producers in America, Lake Erie and Sandusky Bay. For more details, visit RBHayes.org.

Dick Martin is a free-lance writer from Shelby. Reach him at richmart@neo.rr.com. You can also visit his blog at outdoorswithmartin.com.

Oct. 21, 1961

The top stories in the Reflector-Herald on this date in 1961:

Queen and her court

(Photo caption) Reigning over Friday night’s Homecoming Game was Queen Lee Cook. The Queen, who will also reign at tonight’s “Camelot Ball,” sat with her court on the sidelines as Norwalk dropped the grid battle to Galion 27-12. Flanking the queen are attendant Jinny Johnson and last year’s queen Sharon Burras. In the foreground are attendants Lydia Koslow and Dorothy Saladin. Queen Lee was crowned by Queen Sharon at the 50-yard line prior to the ball game.

Unwanted passenger

(Photo caption) An unidentified Galion tackler rides herd on Norwalk’s Harry Meagrow in the second quarter of last night’s Homecoming Game at Whitney Field. Meagrow was blasted out of bounds on the play after a 17-yard gain, which failed to offset a 15-yard penalty on the previous play. Doug Levers stands by helplessly watching his teammate being brought down. Galion spoiled the Norwalk Homecoming by taking a 27-12 victory.

Mrs. Hipp is new Farm Club member

Mrs. Virginia Hipp was welcomed as a new member of the Townsend Road Farm Women’s Club at a recent meeting at the home of Mrs. Ira Dolbee.

Prizes went to Mrs. Clifford Silcox and Mrs. Arthur Smith, and Halloween refreshments were served by the hostess.

Turkey dinner was planned for Nov. 16 at the home of Mrs. Earl Schamp, Collins, with Mrs. Ed Manhart assisting.

Flyers come from behind for fifth win, 32-6

Trailing 6-0 at halftime, the Norwalk St. Paul Flyers came on strong in the final 24 minutes of play and blitzed the Lakeside Lakers by a 32-6 score for their fifth victory of the season.

The Big Red, inspired by a halftime talk in the dressing room by their coach Bob Irvin, tied the game in the third quarter and then went on in the final canto to take advantage of breaks and score 26 points.

For the Flyers, it was a “nightmare” in the first half. Seemingly everything they tried was stopped cold by the Lakers, who were high as sky for the game. It was almost unbelievable how the powerful Flyer ground attack could be halted for a mere 34 yards in 24 minutes of play...

...It didn’t take the Saints long in the third period to get back into the game. Although they were stopped after the kickoff, their defense also held and the Big Red took over the ball on their own 23-yard-line after guard Jack Rospert blocked an attempted punt...

...The Flyers started off the final period with a bang. Three plays after the final canto started, fullback Terry Ackerman blasted for 46 yards up the middle to put the ball on the 14 yard line. 

Coming Monday — Oct. 23, 1902:  Under new management

— Compiled by Andy Prutsok

Melissa Maryalice Fries, of Monroeville, and Travis Christopher Seip, of Norwalk, are announcing their engagement.

The bride-elect, daughter of Raymond and the late Janet Fries of Norwalk, is a graduate of St. Paul High School. She received her bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Defiance College and received master degrees from Bowling Green State University in curriculum and teaching and administration. Melissa is the mayor of the Village of Monroeville, teaches kindergarten at Monroeville Elementary School and is a seasonal associate in the live entertainment department of Cedar Point.

The groom-elect, son of the late Mike and Carol Seip of Norwalk and Cheryl and Rusty Hrabe of Stockton, Kan., is a graduate of Stockton High School in Kansas. Travis is a driver for A1 Transport Company of Toledo.

The couple is planning a December 2017 wedding at St. Paul Catholic Church in Norwalk.

HURON — Christopher Mruk, professor of psychology at Bowling Green State University Firelands College, was granted the status of fellow by the American Psychological Association this summer in its Division 32, Humanistic Psychology.

Fellows are nominated by peers in the organization and must pass review by the Fellows Committee of the American Psychological Association. Fellow status is an “honor bestowed upon APA members who have shown evidence of unusual and outstanding contributions or performance in the field of psychology and requires that a person's work has had a national impact on the field of psychology beyond a local, state or regional level.”

“Dr. Mruk’s contributions to the college and the professional community are considerable and this nomination is validation of his efforts. He is an outstanding example of the quality of educators we have at BGSU Firelands,” dean Andy Kurtz said.

During his tenure with BGSU Firelands, Mruk has contributed more than 20 articles in professional journals, eight chapters in academic publications and three books, one of which is in its fourth edition. He has also provided clinical continuing education programs in the areas of the DSM, self-esteem and positive psychology to universities and professional bodies in psychology, social work, and counseling in Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Mruk’s most recent book is “Feeling Good by Doing Good: A Guide to Authentic Self-Esteem and Well-Being,” and will be published by Oxford University Press. The book aims at “translating” research-based scholarly concepts from the fields of self-esteem and positive psychology into language that is more useful for mental health clinicians, their clients, and the general public.

Before becoming a professor at BGSU, Mruk worked as a clinical psychologist in mental health centers and directing the counseling center at St. Francis University in Pennsylvania. He is currently a consulting psychologist for Firelands Regional Medical Center in Sandusky.

Mruk has taught at BGSU for more than 34 years and received the BGSU Professorship of Teaching Excellence award in 2017. He teaches undergraduate classes at BGSU Firelands and graduate classes for the BGSU department of psychology.

Cary Ashby

Valerie French has been called back to the classroom.

And in returning to teach theology to freshmen and juniors at St. Paul High School, her local educational career has come fill circle. French is teaching what she she was hired to do in 1996.

“Denny Doughty hired me,” said French, who recently stepped away from her recent position as the elementary principal at Norwalk Catholic School. 

“He hired me to teach religion to freshmen and juniors,” she added. “Father (Ron) Brickner had just left to go to Africa … to serve the mission at Zimbabwe. He (Doughty) hired Mary Krystowski and me at the same time.”

Krystowski continues to teach theology to sophomores and seniors. Melissa Englert is now the NCS principal. She has been overseeing first through sixth grades since July 6. 

The reports of French retiring aren’t accurate; she is switching her focus in education.

“I have received many wonderful cards wishing me well on my retirement. I have put them away to look at again when I actually do retire,” she said. 

French said she had prayed about returning to teaching for a couple years, with God having given her a “feeling of discontent.” When the job came open, she checked with Doughty and St. Paul High School Principal Jim Tokarsky if it was OK if she applied. She said she was “very pleased” when they approved. 

Doughty said he and French had talked about her interest in returning to the classroom “for multiple years.”

“I think people reach a saturation point as educators and I think she reached that point and she wasn’t ready to give up her educational career,” Doughty said. “It’s neat she wanted to get back in the classroom.”

Doughty is pleased to have French teaching again.

“She’s a very good teacher,” said the NCS president, who was the St. Paul principal when he hired French in 1996. “She can enjoy education from a different perspective.”

French and her husband of 40 years, Larry, have three adult children — Hilary, Barrett and Justin — and nine grandchildren.

“Larry and I have three children who all are married to wonderful people and now we are enjoying nine grandchildren. This was one of the reasons I choose to make a change in my career. A grandma has to have time to bake a few cookies,” French said.

Her education career

French started her career in South Amherst, where she taught art for kindergartners through seniors. She also was a cheerleading adviser and softball coach.

“Then I took nine years off to have a family,” said French, a Western Reserve High School graduate.

Born in Pennsylvania, French has lived in Wakeman since the seventh grade. 

While away from education for nine years, she worked on the family farm, French’s Hybrids in Wakeman.

“There was a drought in 1988 and I had to go back to work,” she said.

Before coming to NCS, French was the art teacher in Oberlin. For seven years, she taught art to elementary and gifted students. 

‘Learning curve,’ coming ‘full circle’

French was asked how she made the transition from art to theology teacher.

“How did that happen? I don’t know,” she said with a big smile accompanied by an equally hearty laugh. “Denny knew I was active in my church and taught in the Parish School of Religion.”

Doughty filled in the gaps. He said the school was looking for first and foremost for “an outstanding teacher” and he knew French had a strong faith, so he figured getting the hang of teaching religion and theology would come eventually.

“We helped her learn to be a good theology teacher,” he said.

French credits quite a bit of discreet observation of other teachers and having educational mentors.

“That first year I had a huge learning curve. Luckily I had great mentors in my first year. Mary Krystowski also taught me a lot,” she said.

French shared a classroom with Tom McQuillen. She said she used the time when he thought she was grading papers to observe what he did.

“Tom McQuillen didn’t know I was taking notes,” French added.

After teaching theology for two years, she was the interim high-school principal. French interviewed for the full-time job in 1998. She held that position for eight years.

In 2006, the St. Paul and St. Mary schools formed Norwalk Catholic School. The school hired French, who has two master’s degrees — in curriculum and instruction and another in elementary administration — as the elementary school principal, a position she had for 11 years.

French fittingly used an art reference to describe what it takes to be a good administrator.

“It’s a composition,” she said, meaning the students, parents, parent groups, Diocese, curriculum and staff have to work together.

The highlight of her career is when the NCS elementary program was named a Blue Ribbon School, a national education award, in 2014. Only 337 schools in the country earned the honor at the time.

“It was more than just test scores; you had to be in the top 15 percent in the nation in test scores in reading and math,” French said.

Now she’s back in the classroom.

“This is where the magic happens,” said French, who enjoys “connecting the dots” for students between the Old Testament and the New Testament. “I have come full circle.”

Changes to traffic patterns around Main Street School have been made.

The changes, made in conjunction with city and the school district, are designed to help alleviate traffic issues around the school before and after school.

Here are the changes:

• South Foster Street is now a permanent one-way street north from Seminary Street to Main Street.

• A “no turn on red” rule will be in effect from 8 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 4 p.m.

• The intersection of South Foster and Main Streets will have two turn lanes — left turn and right turn or straight

• The building side curb along South Foster will become a drop off and pick up lane in which vehicles must be attended.

The city lot is still available for pick up and drop off.

Cary Ashby

EDITOR’S NOTE: The five candidates for three spots on the Norwalk school board share their experience with large budgets in the second part of this three-part series.

Incumbent Steve Linder is running against Julie Castle, Eric Gonzales, Ralph Ritzenthaler and Beth Schnellinger. They shared why they want to be a school board member in Part 1.

The candidates have experience handling budgets in a variety of settings, ranging from schools to therapy centers, church, Veterans Affairs, a construction company and small business.

Also, the candidates share how they plan to devote the necessary time to serve Norwalk City Schools and its constituents.

What kind of experience do you have with big budgets?

Castle: My experience with “big budgets” has stemmed primarily from my work as a behavior specialist for both schools and behavior therapy centers as well as from my time as an instructional coach. While serving in these positions, budgeting involved a needs-analysis as well as (an) expense comparison for the cost of new curriculum materials (and) related services for students, school equipment, etc.

Gonzales: As a human resources manager at the Cleveland department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VA), I have direct responsibility for a budget aimed at recruiting and retaining the very best talent in positions across the medical center, from administrators to physicians. The annual budget is in excess of $700,000.

Additionally, as a church elder, I am entrusted with stewarding the financial gifts of the congregation. This is role and a responsibility I approach with the utmost reverence. Lastly, as the vice president of the Norwalk board of park commissioners, I am keenly aware of the implications of levies and the obligations inherent with spending tax payer dollars.

Linder: I have been employed by (the) Kokosing Construction Co. for the past 13 years as a bridge superintendent. I have been in charge of projects ranging from $5 million to $140 million. I have been on the school board for the last eight years and this past fiscal year our general fund-revenue was $28 million.

Ritzenthaler: My first term (2012-2015) was a great learning experience with a budget the size of the Norwalk school district. I learned a board member must have an open line of communication with the treasurer. The treasurer will keep a member informed with the information they need for decision making, such as a five-year forecast, daily operational costs, medical benefit expenses, etc.

Schnellinger: (As a) past member and PTO president, (I) am financially aware of some of the needs facing today's school systems. As a small business owner, I understand the value of the dollar and will ensure that the money is spent wisely. (I was) recognized in 2010-11 by the Norwalk Teachers Association as a “Friend of Education.”

How will you devote the necessary time needed to do this job and properly represent your constituents?

Castle: It is my opinion that there is never a “cap” on the amount of time that one will spend serving as an elected official. I will devote whatever amount of time is necessary to make certain that this board of education is making the most educated and sound decisions for this extremely important component of our community. Serving within the field of education has conditioned me to put in the “extra” time that is sometimes required to get things where they need to be.

Gonzales: It has been said that “you make time for things that are important.” Accordingly, I can think of no more important cause than the education of young people. I recognize that all the ideas and initiatives that are needed for the district to achieve its mission will not and cannot be originated by me. Consequently, I am committed to creating forums where I can listen to the thoughts, ideas, concerns and desires of the community. To put it succinctly, we are better together.

Linder: I have been on the board for eight years and have always taken the time to return phone calls and have had no problems doing what is expected.

Ritzenthaler: I feel board members should attend as many student and staff activities as possible. This will keep a board member updated in many areas, thus the member can pass information to his or her constituents.

Schnellinger: My husband and daughters are very supportive and (I will give) all the time needed to ensure this position is represented properly.

EDITOR’S NOTE: In Part 3, the candidates will share what issues concern them the most about Norwalk City Schools and if they believe being a board member is a political job.

Mark Hazelwood

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the final installment of a five-part series featuring each of the five people who will be inducted into the St. Paul Hall of Fame on Sunday.

Mark Schaffer is often a man of few words — just hard work.

But when asked why he and his businesses have volunteered countless hours of labor, equipment and materials to benefit the City of Norwalk and the St. Paul community, there is no hesitation.

Just conviction. These convictions were learned during his years of Catholic education at St. Paul High School — a school that continues to be at the forefront of Schaffer’s mind.

“You can’t outgive God,” said Schaffer, who is a distinguished inductee of the 2017 St. Paul Hall of Fame class, to be held Sunday. “You can’t outgive the Lord on anything that has to do with kids and the development of young people. I think that’s an investment to the community — and I enjoy being a part of that.”

The others being inducted are Tom Bellamy, Mary Carabin, Charles Mack and John “Jack” Rospert.

The oldest of 12 children to John and the late Doris Schaffer, Mark was an All-Ohio football player for St. Paul (1973) — but has distinguished himself in both the Norwalk and parish community as a businessman.

Three years after graduating from St. Paul in 1974, Schaffer started a heavy construction company. Mark Schaffer Excavating & Trucking has grown from a one-man operation to a well-reputable company working on large projects throughout several states.

Mark began working under John, who encouraged him to start his own business.

“This is our 40th year, and I started right out of high school with a couple of years in construction,” Schaffer said. “My dad had started his own self-employed business about 10 years prior, and he really encouraged me to go into business, and that’s kind of how I got started.”

John Schaffer proved to be a teacher and mentor to a young Mark.

“He exposed me to both agriculture and construction,” Mark said. “At a very young age, I was exposed to all of that and fell in love with it. That’s been my passion.”

In 2018, Mark Schaffer will mark year No. 25 in agriculture. He and his wife, Diane, have three children. His son, Jason (SPH ‘95) currently manages the excavating company, while youngest daughter, Julie (SPH ‘02), helps him on the family farm — and oldest daughter Amy (SPH ‘97) lives in Medina.

Involved in many facets of the St. Paul parish, Schaffer has been long associated with volunteering labor, equipment and materials for Whitney Field improvements.

Schaffer Excavating most recently donated the manpower and time to remove the old Home Lumber building to make way for the new fire station in the City of Norwalk.

Just a few of his volunteer efforts at St. Paul include school bus repairs, industrial-sized air conditioners to the church, and fundraising efforts with numerous events — including helping tuition for students who would otherwise be unable to attend Norwalk Catholic School. He was also on the building committee for the junior high school addition and the parish office and gathering space.

On top of active roles in numerous fundraisers and councils at both St. Paul and in the city, Schaffer has also given his time and resources to numerous Huron County groups, including 4-H groups and the Huron County Fair.

He is the co-founder of Contractors Design Engineering, and the owner and operator of Mark Schaffer Rentals and Mark Schaffer Farms.

Schaffer may not be able to outgive God, but he has spent a lifetime trying to do so.

Mark Hazelwood

The Norwalk volleyball team is back to full strength.

Or close enough, anyway.

Senior captain Aimee Smith returned to significant floor time on Saturday after missing two matches and being limited in Wednesday’s Division II sectional win over Mansfield Madison.

With its attack leader back at the net, Norwalk (16-8) had no trouble sweeping Sandusky for a third time this season in a Div. II sectional championship match at NHS on Saturday, 25-10, 25-14, 25-11.

It’s the 11th straight sectional title for Norwalk, which advances to a third meeting with Sandusky Bay Conference Lake division member — and former longtime Northern Ohio League rival — Bellevue (12-12), a five-game upset winner at Willard.

The Ladies in Blue and Lady Red will meet at 8 p.m. Tuesday in a district semifinal at Seneca East High School.

Claire Kelley had 13 kills (27-of-30) for Norwalk, while Smith was 24-of-30 with nine kills and two blocks.

“It’s definitely nice to have us back full go for the most part,” Norwalk coach Angie Kalizewski said. “We’re still struggling a little because it’s been a while — but overall it makes a huge difference when you can get back to being comfortable and have Aimee on the floor and control that pace and dominate that front line. It makes a big difference for us.”

Norwalk was never threatened in Game 1, racing out to a 20-9 lead before scoring five of the last six points in the 25-10 win.

Sandusky (4-19) kept it close for a small period of Game 2, as it was an 8-5 deficit until a Carly Bilton kill sparked six straight points for Norwalk. Leading 20-12, the hosts then scored five of the last seven points in a 25-14 win.

The third game played out similarly to Game 1, as Norwalk again threaten to keep the Blue Streaks under single digits. It was 22-9 when Norwalk closed with three of the last four points.

“I would say a B-plus or A-minus, just because that was one of our better consistent performances and we got back in a flow,” she said. “That’s just because I know how much is in there still. We’re getting closer to what we’re able to do — and that’s good, because it’s the right time to do that.”

Bilton had seven kills in the win, and Olivia Ward had six. Alaina Kelley was 84-of-84 setting with 33 assists, and Ann Davidson had 23 digs.

In the regular season, Norwalk won at Bellevue in three (25-6, 25-21, 25-21) on Sept. 19, while the Lady Red won at Norwalk in four on Oct. 12 (25-19, 21-25, 25-18, 25-18). That was one of the two matches played without Smith.

Also of note, the last time Norwalk didn’t reach a district semifinal was in 2006 — when it was Bellevue eliminating it in four games in a sectional championship.

“They are always scrappy, and we’re going to have to run a quick offense to keep it spread out and stay very aggressive,” Kalizewski said of a third match vs. the Lady Red. “Bellevue took one from us here a couple weeks ago.

“Yes, we weren’t full health — but you still have to play and that doesn’t matter,” she added. “They came in here and beat us, so that makes it interesting for us.”

Mark Hazelwood

It was a crisp, sharp performance.

After 11 days off, the Norwalk girls soccer team played strong in every phase of Saturday’s 6-0 win vs. Perkins in a Division II sectional championship match at the Norwalk Soccer Complex.

And it’s going to take an even better performance on Tuesday.

“We’re excited to get another opportunity,” Norwalk coach Michelle Sandor said. “Our district no matter who you face, it’s a tough team.”

With its seventh straight sectional title, Norwalk (13-4) has a tall task awaiting in Tuesday’s 7 p.m. district semifinal at Lexington. The Truckers face Mansfield Madison (17-1) — ranked No. 6 in the state coaches poll — which already has a 10-1 win over Norwalk on Aug. 21.

“The last time we played them, we weren’t half the team we are today,” Sandor said. “We have Coley (Branum) in the lineup now and our confidence is much higher. We’re playing a completely different game.

“We know Madison is a tough, elite team,” she added. “We’re going to give our best, and I think we can give them a much better run for their money than we did last time. I’m excited to see how we match up against them now.”

Saturday’s win had a formality feel to it. Norwalk had already shut out Perkins (5-9-3) twice by scores of 2-0 and 7-0 en route to the Sandusky Bay Conference Lake division title.

The shutout on Saturday was the 12th of Norwalk’s 13 victories this season.

Knowing his team was a bit overmatches, Perkins coach Steve Schuster employed a defensive approach.

But that didn’t work, either.

“We had a different game plan — and they defeated our different game plan,” Schuster said. “To show the greatness of Kaelyn Harkness, we man-marked her for 74 minutes — and she still scored three goals and had another one go off the post.

“So great girls who played a great game for a great coach — give them all the credit you can for tonight and this season,” he added. “It’s the third time we’ve faced them and we have the upmost respect for their program and how they play. Their girls played classy and they are very disciplined.”

In Saturday’s win, Harkness had a hat trick — and became the second player in program history to score 30 goals in a single season. Her 31 goals trails only Brooke Seitz’s 32 in 2006.

Maddie Deiderick, Michaela Rush and Joci Leto each scored once, with Jasmine Thomas and Branum each adding an assist. Norwalk scored three goals in each half.

“It was a good win for us, and I thought we played really well,” Sandor said. “It’s hard to beat a team three times, so I think we went out and just played a controlled and disciplined game and were able to get off enough good shots. We’ll take the victory and we’re excited to move on.”

Sandor noted the Truckers had to change their attack to counter the Perkins approach.

“We moved the ball around and attacked with different players,” she said. “We changed — obviously we still use Kaelyn and Kendall (Bigler) a lot — but we had to change and attack a little more from the midfield because they had six or seven on the defensive line and had two players on Kaelyn at all times.

“She was still able to get through on some, but it’s because we were able to attack from the midfield instead of just with our forwards,” Sandor added. “So I think it was just changing our point of attack a little bit.”

Monroeville FFA

MONROEVILLE — On Saturday, Oct. 14, Monroeville FFA participated in the Ohio State FFA Soil Judging Contest. Monroeville had a Rural and Urban Team competing in each contest. The contest took place in London, Ohio at the Farm Science Review grain bin set up. Contestants spent the morning in soil pits. The FFA Soil Judging Contest educates students how to evaluate the soil and land use for both rural and urban purposes. Four soil pits were dug as members went into the pit to judge the soil profile. Rural teams are required to evaluate each pit site for agricultural purposes and determine slope, erosion, soil texture, depth, and drainage. The urban teams evaluate the site according to their slope, land from, flooding hazard, soil stability, soil texture, depth to seasonal high water table and depth to bedrock.

Members took a Soil Survey Book Test to test their knowledge on the types of soil in a specific area, along with how to read a soil survey map. Members also took General Knowledge Test to test how much they knew about judging soil. After the two teams were finished judging they went and enjoyed a very enormous and delicious burger at “Son Of Thurman” burger joint in Delaware, Oh. The The Urban Team placed 13th out of 46 teams, with Theo Latteman placing 26th, Macy Schafer 36th, Lexy Schafer 78th and Millie Dalton 81st out of 165 contestants. Rural Team placed 17th out of 85 teams, with Amelia Ruggles placing 47th, Amelia Opper 49th, Mason Kluding 57th and Hogan Scheid 72nd out of 169 contestants.

Macy Schafer, reporter

Western Reserve FFA

COLLINS — Saturday, Oct. 14 members from the Western Reserve FFA volunteered at the Fall Fun Fest held at the Huron County Fairgrounds. Fall Fun Fest is an activity day for kids where they rotate through different stations consisting of crafts, a petting zoo, snacks, pumpkin painting, a maze, and many more fun activities. The Western Reserve FFA members who attended were Jasmine Edwards, Colton White, Tara Adkins, Xamara Woodford and Shalyn Stewart. They led around different groups of kids taking them through each station. 

Member Jasmine Edwards said “I enjoyed helping out and watching the kids have a fun time.” 

The chapter members who attend enjoyed a fun morning helping out.

McKenna Woodruff, reporter