BELLEVUE — Martha Ann Weber, 86, of Bellevue, died Monday at The Bellevue Hospital.
She was born February 24, 1931 in Tiffin to Mildred (Tate) and Grover Cleveland Smith.
She graduated from Tiffin Columbian High School and Maumee Valley Nursing School. She had been a nurse for The Bellevue Hospital.
She Weber was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Bellevue. She enjoyed flowers and loved making crafts. She was very proud of providing private duty nursing care to patients.
On Oct. 5, 1952, she married William Henry Weber. He preceded her in death on March 20, 2017.
She is survived by her children, Cindy (Kevin) Riley of Norwalk and Mark Weber of Bellevue; grandchildren, Caleb Riley, Hannah (Andrew) Westphal, and Joshua Riley; great-grandson: Theophilos; and her sister, Betty Bowman of Tiffin.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Howard Smith, Art Smith, Gilbert Smith, Helena Hiser, Irene Loy.
Friends may call from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday at Auxter Funeral Home, 1105 Castalia St., Bellevue. A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 428 Kilbourne St., Bellevue with the Rev. Dr. Diane Carter officiating. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery in Tiffin.
VERMILION — William Dague Fenton, 80, of Vermilion, died Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at Mercy New Life Hospice after a brief illness.
He was born June 23, 1937 in Norwalk and had been a Vermilion resident for the past 31 years moving from Avon Lake.
He was a veteran of the US Air Force serving in Europe as a Copy Editor for the Stars and Stripes.
William worked as the Copy Editor for The Cleveland Plain Dealer for 30 years retiring in 1995.
He enjoyed boating, genealogy and traveling to different casinos.
He is survived by his sons, Christopher, Timothy (Tricia), and Douglas Fenton all of Vermilion; and his granddaughter, Tabatha Ivy Fenton of Vermilion.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Valerie B. Fenton; parents, Harold and Elizabeth (nee Dague) Fenton; brother, Richard Brewster Fenton; and sister, Pamela Henderson.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018 from 5:00 pm until the time of a funeral service at 6:00 pm at the Riddle Funeral Home, 5345 South Street, Vermilion, Ohio. The Reverend David Zerby will officiate. The Vermilion Veterans Council will conduct Military Honors just prior to the funeral service at 6:00 pm. Private interment will take place at Maple Grove Cemetery, Vermilion.
COLUMBUS – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting preliminary traffic fatality data from the 2017 Christmas and 2018 New Year reporting periods.
During the 2017 Christmas reporting period, beginning Dec. 22 and ending Dec. 25, five crashes resulted in five fatalities. This is a significant decrease from the 2016 Christmas reporting period when 14 individuals lost their lives in traffic crashes. Troopers also arrested 292 motorists for impaired driving.
During the 2018 New Year Holiday reporting period, beginning Dec. 29 and ending Jan. 1, two traffic crashes caused three people to lose their lives. This is a 50 percent decrease from last year, when six individuals lost their lives traffic crashes. Troopers also arrested 288 motorists for impaired driving.
The public is encouraged to continue using #677 to report dangerous or impaired drivers, as well as drug activity.
NEW LONDON — Nathan “Nate” Potts passed away Tuesday, January 2, 2018. He was surrounded by his loving family. Nathan was born in 1935 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Nathan was preceded in death by his loving wife – Sally ‘Sara Grace’. They were married for 62 years. Surviving children are Jill (Mike) Marsh of New London, Brad (Margo) Potts of Medina, Judy Carrocci of New London and Bender (Penny) Potts of Rochester; nine grandchildren, Derrick and Josh Marsh, Melissa Wilson, Benjamin and Mallory Potts, John and Alecia Carrocci, Holly Barker; ten great grandchildren; sisters, Joycee and Delores and sisters-in-laws, Connie Midolo and Wilma Frate. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bender and Velma; in-laws, William and Daisy, Son- law-saw Jay Carrocci and grandson, Jason Potts.
Nathan grew up in Cleveland and moved to New London in 1945. He worked on the family farm and later served in the United States Army. Upon his discharge, he entered the construction business. He later owned and operated Nate’s Earthmoving business for many years. He retired from the Lorain County Highway department and the “County boys”. Nathan and Sally spent many years on their boat at Catawba Island and their Condo in Fort Myers Florida. Nathan enjoyed sports, the great outdoors and spending time with his family.
A visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until the 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 6, 2018. The memorial service will immediately follow. Visitation and services will be held at Eastman Funeral Home in New London with Pastor Timothy McCollum officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Stein Hospice, 1200 Sycamore Line, Sandusky, Ohio 44870 or New London Athletic Booster Club, 29 South Main, New London Ohio. Online condolences to his family may be expressed at www.eastmanfuneralhome.com.
NORWALK — Robert Dean Price, Jr., 58, of Norwalk passed away Sunday, December 31, 2017 at Stein Hospice in Sandusky.
He was born August 5, 1959 in Norwalk to the late Robert D. and Lois (Mills) Price of rural Norwalk. He was a 1979 graduate of Western Reserve Schools.
Bob loved animals, especially cats. He owned a cat ever since he was three years old. He often regretted not become a veterinarian. He also showed rabbits for 4-H. He also enjoyed making his cars go fast and had some speeding tickets as a result. His favorite car was a GTO. Bob was also a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. On any given day in Norwalk you would have seen him dressed in support of his favorite team.
Bob's first job was a ticket taker at the now Summit Motorsports Park. Then he worked as a bartender at: the Showboat in Huron, Avalon in Port Clinton, Station 250 in Norwalk, Prime Cut in Monroeville, North Fairfield American Legion for four years, then finally the Moose Lodge in Norwalk.
He is survived by two sisters, Patricia Price of Chelsea, Michigan and Donna Harper (Dan) of Collins.
There will be no service. Later his ashes will be sprinkled over his cat's graves on Summit Street where he lived for more than 30 years.
RUGGLES — Florence “Tootie” Wagner, 51, of Ruggles, passed away on Sunday, December 31, 2017 after a long battle with diabetes at University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center.
She was born March 16, 1966 in Elyria. Florence worked for Firelands Ambulance Service in New London and had worked for Lifecare Ambulance Service in Elyria, the Grafton Prison and the Lorain Steel Mill.
Florence loved to go play Bingo with her aunt Chris and her cousins.
She is survived by her husband of over 35 years, Kenneth; children, Kevin, Jon, Doug, Kenny and Ryan; 5 grandchildren; siblings, Aleta, Leroy and Ron; sister-in-law, Jeannette Baer; brother-in-law, Robert and their children. She is also survived by her dog “Precious”, who she dearly loved.
Florence was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Jane.
Visitation will be held from 11 am Friday, January 5, 2017 until the 1 pm service at Eastman Funeral Home, 200 West Main Street, New London with Pastor Marty Daly officiating. Burial will follow in Ruggles Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions if desired may be made to the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland, 3601 Green Road, Suite 100, Cleveland, OH 44122. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting www.eastmanfuneralhome.com.
MONROEVILLE — Betty Jane (McCarty) Schoewe, 66, Monroeville, died Sunday evening, December 31, 2017, in Stein Hospice Care Center, Sandusky, following a brief illness.
Friends may call on Friday, January 5, 2018, from noon until 2 p.m. in Toft Funeral Home & Crematory, 2001 Columbus Ave., Sandusky. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery.
NORWALK — Linda S. Below, 69, of Norwalk, Ohio, passed away Saturday, December 30, 2017, in Firelands Regional Medical Center, Sandusky, Ohio.
She was born October 27, 1948 in Sandusky, Ohio, to the late Willard D. and Doris M. (Berger) Miller, and came to this area in 1962 from Vickery, Ohio.
Linda was a 1966 graduate of Western Reserve High School. She was a former employee of the Norwalk Bargain Center, Faulhaber’s, Target, Easter Seals, and was a private care giver. Linda was an avid crafter, collecting snowmen figurines and snow globes.
She is survived by her sons, Matthew L. Below of Norwalk, Ohio, and Harmon F. (Joy) Below of Norwalk, Ohio, and by her siblings, Gary D. Miller of Wakeman, Ohio, Dennis D. (Sylvia) Miller of Wakeman, Ohio, and Randy A. (Betty) Miller of Norwalk, Ohio.
Friends and family may call on Saturday, January 6, 2018 from 11:00 a.m. until the time of memorial service at 11:30 a.m. in St. Peter Lutheran Church, 243 Benedict Avenue, Norwalk, Ohio. Pastor Ann Marshall will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made to the Below family, or to Amazing Angels L.L.C., 1500 East Bogart Road, Sandusky, Ohio 44870. Walker Funeral Home, 98 West Main Street, Norwalk, Ohio, is in charge of arrangements.
NEW LONDON — Firelands Electric Cooperative’s power supplier, Buckeye Power, is forecasting high power loads throughout this week. Loads across the PJM region and Ohio are expected to the very high. Load management is necessary across the Buckeye State due to the extremely low temperatures, wind chills, and power loads. Firelands Electric Co-op has been forced to implement load control of electric water heaters and resistance heating Thursday and again this morning, between the hours of 6 and 10 a.m. Load control is expected to be necessary again this evening and Wednesday morning.
Winter load management efforts typically take place only on the coldest days of the year, between the hours of 6 to 10 a.m. and possibly 6 to 10 p.m. Load management efforts may be adjusted, based on weather conditions and power loads. Please help lower demand by reducing your use of electricity wherever you can. Avoid using major appliances during high demand times and lower your heating thermostat four degrees.
The cooperative’s load management program is completely voluntary, where member-consumers agree to have a PeakBuster device installed in their home or business. PeakBuster devices on electric water heaters and HVAC systems are only implemented during extreme weather conditions — on the hottest and coldest days of the year. Participating homeowners are rewarded for being a PeakBuster member and receive monthly bill credits.
WHY IS LOAD MANAGEMENT NECESSARY?
Extreme frigid temperatures are predicted to continue for several days, so load management efforts may occur throughout the week. When peak energy alerts are announced and energy conservation is critical, updates will be posted on Firelands’ Facebook page, www.facebook.com/FirelandsElectric, and Twitter newsfeed, twitter.com/Firelands. Firelands also provides alerts through the cooperative’s SmartHub application, which sends notifications to your mobile device or e-mail. For more information, visit www.firelandsec.com/content/payment-options and stay connected using the cooperative’s SmartHub system.
Because of the large geographic area served by the PJM Interconnection utility group, there is potential for wintertime demand peaks to occur involving Buckeye Power and Firelands Electric. Cooperative members may be affected by load management efforts in order to reduce high demand in the PJM Interconnection utility group and keep power costs as low as possible for all consumers in the group. Higher demand for electricity and higher peak electric loads means higher costs for all consumers. A peak of electrical demand is set when consumers of a particular electric utility use more electricity than at any other time in the past. When a new peak is set, each of the 25 distribution electric cooperatives in Ohio, including Firelands Electric, is assigned a new demand charge on their bill from Buckeye Power, Inc.
The consumer's power bill is directly affected by this demand charge. If a distribution cooperative is paying more for power, it's very likely that the cooperative will have to adjust its rates to cover increased costs at some point. Firelands Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Partner, is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric utility serving more than 9,130 homes and businesses in rural areas of Ashland, Huron, Lorain and Richland counties.
It might seem as cold as 24 below zero today in Norwalk, thanks to the arctic blast and harsh wind chill values.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t dream about swimming in the summer.
And for some, those dreams involve plunging into water without the hindrance of clothing.
The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) has officially designated the second Saturday in July as International Skinny Dip Day. This year, International Skinny Dip Day will be observed July 14.
According to the AANR, on International Skinny Dip Day, the textile world can join with naturists and free themselves of their clothes and inhibitions by taking a dip au natural in their backyard pool, a secluded spot on a river or lake, at a sanctioned nude beach or at one of the association’s 200 clubs and resorts throughout the U.S., Canada and internationally.
International Skinny Dip Day (ISDD) serves as the culminating event during National Nude Recreation Week, an AANR tradition for 43 years. This annual celebration is an opportunity for individuals and families to visit clothing-optional clubs affiliated with AANR or The Naturist Society (TNS), and experience firsthand one of the fastest growing trends in both travel and recreation – the Nakation.
Many AANR-affiliated clubs have activities and events planned throughout the week – such as open houses, dance parties, sports tournaments, chili cook-offs, “bare buns fun runs,” health screenings, art shows, and more.
Or, for those looking to try “Nakationing,” in the comfort of their own home, AANR recommends the following:
• Cool off: skinny-dip in your backyard pool
• Make housekeeping fun: shed those clothes, turn on some music, and get out the mop
• Get in touch with nature: garden nude in the privacy of your back yard
• Exercise in the buff: hit the treadmill or the yoga mat
• Telecommuting in the nude: working from home, in the nude, is increasing in popularity, according to the AANR.
But, given the current weather conditions here in Norwalk, dressing in layers is more appropriate for the time being.
Here is more information about the group, as provided in a press release: For 86 years, AANR has been the leading authority in North America on protecting the freedoms and rights of those who participate in wholesome, family-style nude recreation. Members of AANR recognize the wholesomeness of the human body and believe that life is enhanced by the naturalness of social nudity. From exercise to relaxation, a person’s physical, spiritual, and mental health is enriched through nude recreation. AANR supports over 200 chartered clubs, resorts, and campgrounds, and serves more than 52 million individuals throughout the U.S., Canada, and internationally. For more information about AANR and for facts related to nude recreation, visit www.aanr.com or call 1-800-TRY-NUDE (879-6833).
TNS -- Jack Montgomery is in jail on charges of murder in the first degree, aggravated child abuse, two counts of child abuse.(Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office/TNS)
By David J. Neal
MIAMI — Two of 6-year-old Brice Russell’s three brothers told police they saw their 6-2, 270-pound stepfather, Jack Montgomery, throw Brice around the Seffner hotel room; punch him in the stomach and mouth; rub his face into the carpet; and sling him by a leg so that his head hit a cabinet mounted high in a corner. During all this, Montgomery demanded they join in the Friday night violence.
The cabinet hit knocked out Brice. He never regained consciousness. His three brothers slept next to him. Hillsborough Fire Rescue found Brice cold and starting to suffer rigor mortis Saturday morning.
Montgomery, 31, sits in Hillsborough County jail on charges of murder in the first degree, aggravated child abuse, two counts of child abuse. Montgomery told police he only threw Brice onto a bed and the child hit his head on the headboard. Brice seemed OK afterward, said Montgomery, who denied beating the life out of the child or knowing that the child was dead before trying to wake him up Saturday morning.
He’d caught the child sneaking out of the bed to snag a cookie, Montgomery said.
The arrest report summarizes Hillsborough County assistant medical examiner Leszek Chrostowski’s autopsy findings thusly: “Dr. Chrostowski advised he observed multiple contusions on both left and right sides of the victim which were in vertical rows. These injuries are consistent with the victim being picked up by his sides, facing away from the individual lifting him. He further advised he observed subdural hemorrhaging and edema in the victim’s head which indicated cranial cerebral trauma.
“These injuries require a greater amount force than those that would be sustained during a fist fight regardless of whether or not the assailant was a juvenile or adult. He determined the victim’s death to be a homicide, caused by being beaten by another person.”
Montgomery’s past includes a conviction for battery and three other arrests for battery, one of which was for domestic violence battery. According to WFTS Action News, mother Donya Russell was at work. Montgomery was in charge of the four kids from 5:30 p.m. Friday in Room 205 at the Tampa East/Seffner Masters Inn, where the family lives.
One of Brice’s brothers, referred to on the arrest report as “J.R.,” told police he woke up the previous night to two sounds: Brice crying and thumping noises in the hotel. He described seeing the aforementioned beating being administered. He also said Montgomery told him to hit Brice and threatened to give J.R. some if he didn’t join the beating. J.R. said fear drove him to kick and punch Brice in the stomach and face. After Montgomery whipped Brice into the cabinet, J.R. said, Brice’s mouth and nose bled.
Brice’s twin brother, “B.R.,” backed up J.R.’s story, but said when Montgomery told him to beat his twin as the child lay on the floor, he refused. After the beating knocked Brice unconscious, J.R. and B.R. each told police, Montgomery washed his face and slapped him to bring him around. When that failed, he put Brice on the bed.
A hotel employee called police after midnight, alerted by a guest in Room 207 worried about the wife and children next door after hearing a man yelling things such as “beat the kid,” “push the kid over here,” and “get his ass up.” When a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputy went to Room 205, the arrest report said, Montgomery said the noise came from his music. He pushed the door open so the deputy could see children sleeping on the bed. The deputy left.
That was at 1 a.m. Saturday. At 10:57 a.m., Hillsborough Fire Rescue responded to a 911 call from a “Jack Montgomery” saying his 6-year-old son wouldn’t wake up and wasn’t breathing. Two minutes after arriving, fire rescue workers pronounced Brice dead.
Sthanlee B. Mirador/Sipa USA/TNS -- Logan Paul arrives at the KIISFM's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2017 held at The Forum in Inglewood, CA on Friday, December 1, 2017.
By Kate Feldman
YouTube star Logan Paul was blasted for an insensitive New Year’s Eve video that included footage of a suicide victim.
The 22-year-old vlogger posted a 15-minute video from Japan’s Aokigahara forest, known as the “Suicide Forest” for the number of suicides attempted and committed there.
About six minutes into the video, Paul and his crew came across the body of a young man who appeared to have hung himself from a tree.
“This is the most real vlog I’ve ever posted on this channel,” Paul said in the video. “I think this definitely marks a moment in YouTube history.”
Paul then proceeded to film closer to the body before apologizing to viewers for what was “supposed to be a fun vlog.”
He also said that the video was supposed to focus on the supernatural aspects of the Suicide Forest, not the suicides.
Paul ended the video by urging viewers to seek help if they are contemplating suicide.
But backlash hit almost immediately from people who blasted the YouTube star for filming the body.
“How dare you! You disgust me. I can’t believe that so many young people look up to you. So sad,” “Breaking Bad” alum Aaron Paul tweeted. “Hopefully this latest video woke them up. You are pure trash. Plain and simple. Suicide is not a joke. Go rot in hell.”
“The amount of personal + social unawareness Logan Paul has displayed in THAT video is mind blowing to me,” tweeted Rebecca Black. “How could one w such power and influence have the audacity to put something so thoughtless online? You have potentially intensified an entire family’s grief beyond measure.”
“You’re an idiot. You’re not raising awareness. You’re mocking. I can’t believe how self-praising your “apology” is. You don’t deserve the success (views) you have,” tweeted “Game of Thrones” star Sophie Turner. “I pray to God you never have to experience anything like that man did.”
Paul erased the video and apologized Monday night.
“This is a first for me. I’ve never faced criticism like this before, because I’ve never made a mistake like this before. I’m surrounded by good people and believe I make good decisions, but I’m still a human being. I can be wrong,” he wrote.
“I didn’t do it for views. I get views. I did it because I thought I could make a positive ripple on the internet, not cause a monsoon of negativity. That’s never the intention. I intended to raise awareness for suicide and suicide prevention and while I thought ‘if this video saves just ONE life, it’ll be worth it,’ I was misguided by shock and awe, as portrayed in the video. I still am.”
JOE CENTERS/REFLECTOR -- The 2018 Norwalk City Council, from left, Jordy Horowitz, Bryan Lamb, Deb Lucal, Steve Euton, Samantha Wilhelm, Dave Wallace and Chris Castle. Missing is Steve Schumm.
By JOE CENTERS
There were a couple of new faces in the crowd Tuesday night as Norwalk City Council held its first meeting of 2018.
Sworn in as first-time council members were Jordy Horowitz and Bryan Lamb, who replace Chris Mushett and Kelly Beck, who decided not to seek re-election (Beck’s term was completed by Dwight Tkach). Also sworn in was veteran council member Steve Euton, while Steve Schumm was away on a family vacation. He will be sworn in at a later date.
The first action taken by the new council was to elect a new president, which again will be Euton. Samantha Wilhelm was elected president pro tem, while Deb Lucal was elected president pro tem alternate.
Jaime Peiples was appointed clerk of council.
Council members doubled up with a work session and regular session, taking care of mostly housekeeping work.
Norwalk Mayor Rob Duncan thanked Joe Lindenberger and his staff at the parks and recreation department for another successful Family First Night to right in the new year. A total of 384 people attended the event Sunday night and it raised $1,900. It was announced the city has received a $34,000 grant which will be used to fund swimming lessons and repair the therapy pool.
Public Works Coordinator Josh Snyder talked briefly about all of the projects slated for 2018, from paving to curbing to sidewalks to sewer lining to waterlines. This year’s sidewalk project will be in the northeast quadrant.
He pointed out the work being done at Veterans Memorial Lake Park with new fencing around the spillway and paving to complete the Alex Waite Trail.
“Work has ceased on all projects due to the weather,” Snyder said. “We are getting ready for 2018 with estimating and bidding our projects.”
Because January is a five-Tuesday month, there will be no meeting Jan. 23 and a work session Jan. 30.
Council will meet in work session at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
“I feel real optimistic about 2018,” Duncan said. “I am so encouraged. ... The city is moving in the right direction.”
AccuWeather reports the harshest wave of cold so far this season will take hold of the northeastern United States by the first weekend of January.
In part of the mid-Atlantic coast and New England, the cold will follow a powerful snowstorm with blizzard conditions on Thursday and Thursday night.
Temperatures will be less harsh, relative to recent days, on Wednesday, generally around 10 degrees Fahrenheit below normal as opposed to 20 or more degrees below normal.
"After a brief moderation from the cold at midweek, more bitter cold and downright harsh air will return," AccuWeather Meteorologist Kyle Elliott said.
This air mass will be about 5 to 10 degrees lower than the one that froze the Northeast during the final few days of December and start of January, according to Elliott.
High temperatures will remain in the single digits F for the first time this season from Indianapolis to Detroit, Cleveland and Pittsburgh on Friday. For comparison, the lowest daytime temperature in these cities last winter was in the teens.
Temperatures in Syracuse and Buffalo, New York, will struggle to get above zero during the daylight hours late this week and into the weekend. Highs will stay in the teens from Baltimore to New York City.
On Saturday, Boston will challenge its lowest maximum temperature ever recorded for the date, which stands at 7 from 1896.
Low temperature records, some dating back to the late 1800s and early 1900s, will be challenged in Baltimore; Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; New York City, Buffalo and Syracuse, New York; Boston; Hartford, Connecticut; and Bangor and Portland, Maine, on Friday and/or Saturday night(s).
A frigid biting wind will make it even more uncomfortable and dangerous to be outside no matter the length time.
Subzero AccuWeather RealFeel temperatures will encompass the region.
"RealFeels will dip to over 30 degrees Fahrenheit below zero in the Green and White Mountains and upstate New York on Friday," Elliott said.
Skiers eager to take advantage of the fresh powder on the slopes from Thursday's storm will need to be thoroughly covered with layers of clothing.
If not adequately dressed in such conditions, the risk of frostbite is high, even if you spend less than 15 minutes outdoors.
"Be sure to check on young children and the elderly as they are more prone to having serious health issues in these conditions," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. "When traveling, be sure to bring along blankets, knitted hats and gloves in case your vehicle becomes disabled."
Allowing water to drip from faucets can help prevent pipes from freezing and bursting and causing costly damage.
The wind may be strong enough to trigger airline delays and even sporadic power outages in the region.
The lake-effect snow machine will be ramped up once again from Thursday to Friday, further burying communities that have been hit with significant snowfall this winter.
"For those who find the brutal cold unbearable and downright miserable, there is some hope on the horizon," Elliott said.
Early next week, an approaching storm will cause the bitter cold to retreat toward Canada, allowing temperatures to return to near-normal levels for a brief time, according to Elliott.
A bit of snow and ice is possible in parts of the region as the cold air retreats.
Another harsh cold blast is poised to return by the middle of next week.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Renee Duff is a meteorologist for AccuWeather.com.
WAUSEON — Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers filed felony drug charges against a California man after a traffic stop in Fulton County.
During the traffic stop, troopers seized 70 pounds of marijuana, which is valued at approximately $318,000.
On December 31, 2017, at 12:44 a.m., troopers stopped a rented 2017 Ford Expedition with California registration for a speed violation on Interstate 80 near milepost 28. Criminal indicators were observed and a Wauseon Police Department drug-sniffing canine alerted to the vehicle. A probable cause search revealed the contraband.
The suspect, Joseph Evans, 25, of Chula Vista, Calif., was incarcerated in the Correction Center of Northwest Ohio and charged with possession of marijuana, a second-degree felonies.
If convicted, he could face up to eight years in prison and up to a $15,000 fine.
Norwalk police arrested a woman at a local convenience store Saturday afternoon.
Police arrived at Dave’s Food Mart, 84 Benedict Ave., at 1:51 p.m. and arrested Tanya L. Bailey on a Norwalk Municipal Court warrant. That charge involved a misdemeanor offense.
Bailey, 41, of 520 Milan Ave., also was wanted by the Lorain Police Department for a violation of probation charge. The felony warrant involved a possession of dangerous drugs case, police said.
While searching her as part of the arrest, police found Bailey to be in possession of dangerous drugs. That charge also is a felony, as it involves schedule III, IV or V substances, police said. She also was charged with obstructing official business, a misdemeanor.
Bailey was transported to the Huron County Jail, where she remained as of Tuesday afternoon.
It was a rough start to the new year for at least five area residents.
At 12:19 a.m. Monday, Norwalk police initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of East League Street and Washington Avenue.
Matthew J. Goodsite, 29, of Milan, was charged with operating a vehicle while impaired (OVI). He was transported to the police station, where he gave a sample of breath resulting in a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .136 percent. The legal limit for Ohio drivers is .08 percent.
Goodsite was cited for OVI, OVI over .08 and driving under suspension, police said. He was also issued summonses for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Police also discovered Goodsite was wanted in Erie County for a contempt of court charge. He was transported to the Stone Church near Avery, where Norwalk police handed him over to Sandusky police.
Norwalk police handed three other cases that involved criminal charges within the first hour of the new year.
At 12:19 a.m., police responded to a report of a disturbance at 37-F Bouscay Ave. Upon arrival, Christina Jones, 25, of 37 Bouscay Ave., was charged with child endangerment. She was transported to the Huron County Jail.
At 12:44 a.m., police initiated a traffic stop at Dave’s Food Mart, 84 Benedict Ave. Gary Holland Jr., 28, of Norwalk, was charged with OVI. Holland provided a sample of his breath which resulted in a BAC of .086 — just a hair above the legal limit. After being cited, Holland later released to a sober family member.
At 12:45 a.m., deputies responded to the intersection of West League and Newton streets. After a brief investigation, Cassidy Verlie, 19, and Sydney Kraus, 18, both of Huron, were charged with underage alcohol consumption. They were issued summonses and released to a sober person.
