Last Friday, there was a national news story about a 20 year old autistic man who wandered off and survived three weeks in the in the Utah desert. Local officials and the Port Clinton Lions Club have begun a new program in Ottawa County to make certain that doesn’t happen here.
It’s called Project Lifesaver. In involves wearing a bracelet that contains a transmitter. The transmitter emits a signal that can be traced by local law enforcement agencies. It is targeted at people who may not be able to find their way home if they leave home. The average rescue time is 30 minutes instead of three weeks. However, with out it, almost 50% of the missing and wandering will perish if they are not located within 24 hours.

The Kelleys Island Landowners Association is hosting the 38th Homecoming festival on Saturday, Aug. 18, on Kelleys Island.
The theme this year is Celebrate Kelleys Island. How do you celebrate the island? It may be swimming or fishing, relaxing in the sun, maybe sampling the fine tastes of the pubs and restaurants or bird watching or hiking.
Festivities start at 11 a.m. with a parade along the south shore that ends at the picnic pavilion on Addison Street. Last year’s parade featured a collection of classic cars, hand-made floats and lots of unusual costumes and decorated golf carts and cars. The parade marshals this year are Vi Feyedelem and Tony Vacca (Vi’s Gift Shop and Papa T’s ice cream) for coming back after the fire of 2010 destroyed their businesses.

Gamma Phi Beta Sorority has elected Sandra Biegelman Burba, of Marblehead, to the position of Panhellenic Affairs Vice President.
With a broad resume of volunteerism and commitment to community, Burba has given more than 28 years to a variety of volunteer leadership positions for Gamma Phi Beta. Initiated at Beta Epsilon Chapter at Miami University (Ohio), Burba will serve on a board of seven, overseeing an international volunteer base of more than 120 and a membership exceeding 180,000.
“I am excited to once again serve on Gamma Phi Beta’s International Council and look forward to representing Gamma Phi Beta in the interfraternal community as the National Panhellenic Delegate,” said Burba.
Prior to moving into the role of Panhellenic Affairs Vice President, Burba served Gamma Phi Beta as sorority director-Panhellenic affairs. Burba served on International Council from 2002-06 in the role of Alumnae Vice President.

The Alzheimer’s Association, Northwest Ohio Chapter, is hosting Memory and Aging: What’s Normal, What’s Not? from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, July 19, at Danbury Senior Center, 8470 E. Harbor Road, Marblehead.
This family and community education program is for those who would like to learn more about memory changes or are concerned about someone else’s memory. The program includes discussions of factors that can affect memory, treatable causes of memory loss and techniques to maintain and improve memory.
For information and to register for the free program, call 1-800-272-3900.

Main Street Port Clinton’s Economic Restructuring Committee invites you to attend a free workshop focusing on creating a business plan and the resources available for information and assistance along the way. This workshop is scheduled for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 23, at the Ida Rupp Public Library located at 310 Madison St. Registration begins at 4 p.m.

Mayor Conley called the regular meeting of Council to order at 7:00 P.M. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was requested with the following members present: Don Douglas, Bill Eberle, Jon Fickert, Angela Petersen, Jim Seaman and Donna Wendt-Elliott.

Minutes of the June 4, 2012 meeting stand approved as written.

Grace Baptist Church is taking to the rails during the week of Vacation Bible School July 23-27. The church will host a train-themed week of games, songs, Bible lessons, crafts, contests and more each evening from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
The theme is “Sunlight Express: Jesus & Me.” Each day will represent a stop on a journey to discover what Jesus has done and continues to do for us.
This VBS is for any child between 3-14 years old. Children will be divided by age for various activities. There is no cost to attend, and transportation is available by calling 419-898-4002.
Grace Baptist Church is a local, independent and fundamental Baptist church located between Ohio 105 and 163 just past the Oak Harbor High School at 325 S. Toussaint-Portage Road.

Ottawa County Club Red's 2012 gala “Black and White with a Splash of Red” will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 20, in the Catawba Island Club Pavilion.
Hors d'oeuvres will be served while partygoers bid on this year’s expanded silent auction and purchase tickets for a chance to win prizes on themed sideboards. Guests will be entertained by vocal sensation, Carmen Miller, and our local piano man, Greg Fox, before being served a seated gourmet dinner followed by a limited live auction.
This year’s Grand Raffle Prize is $1,500 in gas cards generously provided by Friendship Food Stores.
Local businesses and generous private citizens have responded to the call to support the American Red Cross and the valuable programs and services it provides to the residents and visitors of Ottawa County.

Federal and state wildlife officials working in conjunction with academic researchers recently announced six water samples taken from Sandusky and north Maumee bays tested positive for the presence of Asian carp environmental DNA in Michigan and Ohio waters.
The positive samples were among 417 taken from Lake Erie in August 2011, and more than 2,000 samples taken from the Great Lakes Basin since 2010. The Lake Erie batch was recently analyzed and test results were confirmed by eDNA researchers last week. The six positive samples represent less than 1.5 percent of the Lake Erie samples.
Four samples from Sandusky Bay, in Ohio waters, tested positive for bighead carp eDNA, while two samples from north Maumee Bay, in Michigan waters, were positive for silver carp eDNA.
In response to these findings, electro-shocking and netting began Friday in Sandusky Bay with no evidence of Asian carp found. However, additional testing and monitoring are planned by the Ohio and Michigan Departments of Natural Resources in conjunction with partner agencies.

Students from two-year colleges across the state will be gathering at Terra State Community College later this month for a conference with their peers.
The Alpha Mu Epsilon chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Terra is hosting the Leadership in Action Conference, “The Culture of Competition,” on July 27-28.
Phi Theta Kappa is an international honor society for students in two-year schools. This is the first time Terra has hosted the annual event.
“For Terra to host the Ohio regional conference here on campus is something I never would have imagined,” said Seth Sholl, a PTK member from Tiffin. “It’s a big event with lots of two-year students. It will be great to talk to them and find out where they are from and where they are going.”
Fellow member Kenneth Gyan of Clyde agrees.