By John Schaffner

Just got home from 10 days in Florida, visiting local friends in Clearwater, The Keys and Fort Myers. I apologize profusely to all for missing the “polar vortex” last week. One of the highlights was having lunch with PCHS Class of ’67 classmate Jane (Schwab) Cook while in Clearwater. She looks great!

Ottawa County CASA Program announces that a new class of CASA volunteers is being formed. CASA volunteers are the “voice of a child” in the courtroom. These trained volunteers research all aspects of the child’s life and make fact-based recommendations to the courts based on that research. As the number of children involved with the opiate crisis continues to rise the need for volunteers to advocate for their best interests has never been greater. If you think that you would like to make a difference in the life of a child, please contact the CASA office at 419-301-0225.

Perry Gellet, Jr., of Dundee, Mich., is our winner in this week’s “Find Wylie” contest. Garrett was chosen from among 75 contestants who found our friendly fish hiding in the ad for Oak Harbor Dental on Page 4 in last week’s Beacon. So Perry is the winner of a $25 gas card graciously donated by Friendship Stores. Each week we hide Wylie Walleye in an ad and our readers, when one of them finds him, can either bring in a contest entry cut out of the paper or log onto our website … www.thebeacon.net … and let us know where he is, thus entering, and possibly winning the contest.

Allyson Croy of Oak Harbor was among more than 1,000 students from Miami University who received degrees during fall commencement exercises on Dec. 14. Croy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Professional Writing.

Benton-Carroll-Salem School District citizens are invited to join B-C-S Superintendent Guy Parmigian and Treasurer Cajon Keeton to attend a district coffee. Coffees provide an informal opportunity to introduce yourself, chat, ask questions, and learn more about the B-C-S school system and where they are heading, especially since the B-C-S School Board there has made the decision to put the 1% income tax issue back on the ballot. All district citizens are invited to attend.

No reservations are needed, and there is no cost to attend. The next one is at Evolve on Feb. 12 at 8:30 a.m. Also, B-C-S schools are putting together an Alumni Hall of Fame. Check out the “very well done” Rocket Report online for more information.

Bataan School is ready to welcome a new kindergarten class for the 2019-2020 school year. Registration is now taking place for the Kindergarten Kick-off event on Thursday, March 7. Port Clinton Schools are looking for any child who will be five years old by Aug. 1, 2019 so they can be registered , which is required for any child attending kindergarten next year.

Magruder Hospital will host the monthly Alzheimer’s Support Group on Monday, Feb. 11, at 9 a.m. in the Conference Center. Meeting on the second Monday of each month, the group provides helpful tips, education, encouragement and resources to family, friends and caregivers of anyone dealing with dementia and memory loss. For more information about this program as well as other support groups, events and screenings, go to magruderhospital.com and click on the events calendar. Magruder Hospital will offer their monthly screening on the second Thursday of every month starting at 9 a.m. in the lab.  The test is a venipuncture/blood draw rather than a finger stick, and will include a Basic Metabolic Panel (glucose, BUN/Creatinine, calcium, potassium, sodium, chloride, CO2, etc.) and a Lipid profile (Total Cholesterol/LDL/HDL/Triglycerides), as well as a Blood Pressure check.  The cost is $16. The next screening will be Feb. 14. Appointments can be made at 419-734-3131 (Ext. 3420).

In cooperation with the Port Clinton Kiwanis Club, Port Clinton Schools recognize outstanding elementary students as “Terrific Kids.” Terrific Kids are selected from each class every month for working to the best of their ability to improve academic performance, behavior, relationships with peers, display honesty or attendance. The following have been honored as Terrific Kids in January 2019:  Bataan Memorial Primary – Sydnee Thompson, Kelsey Ward, Gabriel Fick, Kaitlyn Swanson,

Noah Adamcio, Jaxson Keller, Ava Chaffin, Silas Davis, Mason Marvicsin, Branson Kirk, Autumn Marez, Sophie Dingus, Matthu Brown, Parker Schimming, Arian Bower, Raegan Case, TJ Arnold, Tracianna Pollard, Alexandria Mitchell, Alyssa Fouts, Nevaeh Arnold, Dylan Reynolds, Hayden Spencer. Bataan Memorial Intermediate – Jaxon Klacik, Ella Carmon, Layla Garcia, Cohen Royster,

Jovany Lopez, RayLynn Stookey, Dylan Wheeler, Conner Cochran, Payton Meade, Carrie Candage,  Dylan Eber, Calliegh Pean, Wyatt Brand, Jessica Baxter, Caleb Armstrong, Lily Mincer,

Jackson Zunk, Alexis Stark, Brayden Hurst, Ella Schwable, Alexander Hill, Emma Knecht, Elyse Smith.