Ottawa County is still at Level 3 (Red) for Covid 19 cases. Please do your part to quiet this thing . . . wash your hands, wear a mask in public places, maintain 6-foot spacing, especially indoors, and avoid hanging with a large grouping of people (10 or more).

We can beat this thing.

Congratulations to Port Clinton City Schools Superintendent, Pat Adkins for receiving the Exemplary Leadership Award from the Buckeye Association of School Administrators.

Billy Market of the Miller Ferry Line had to shut down his ferries on Sunday morning after just one trip as gale force winds, hail and rains arrived to strafe Lake Erie. Market noted water levels around South Bass Island were the lowest he had seen since December 2015. Speaking of the Miller Boat Line, long-time Catawba Dock operations manager Matt Parker retired as of last week.

Alberta Seymour of Oak Harbor was chosen from among 120 entries who found Wylie hiding in the ad for Ala Carte Cafe in last week’s Beacon. So, Alberta wins our weekly $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 our weekly contest.

The Ottawa County Family Advocacy Center is in desperate need of CASA volunteers. They are trained community volunteers appointed by a judge or magistrate to advocate for the best interests of abused, neglected or dependent children in court proceedings. Advocates do not provide social services or legal advice but is an advocate to maintain the child as the focus of the case.

A volunteer for CASA needs to be 21 years of age, agree to a criminal background check, complete 30 hours of pre-service training and an on-going 12 hours of continuing education each year. CASA volunteers come from all walks of life, with a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds.

They may be employed, retired, stay at home parents or full-time volunteers searching the child’s circumstances to determine relevant facts in a child’s case, and report that information to the court. The current Pandemic has created a significant need for new volunteers.

The agency is looking to recruit at least 10 new volunteers and to start the initial training immediately. The children of Ottawa County need a voice in the court system, so please contact the center at 419-301-0225 or OCFamilyAdvocacy.org.

The local Salvation Army unit is in desperate need of bell ringers this year. Many of their bell ringers come from churches and organizations that are not at full capacity just yet, due to COVID-19. Some of the churches that customarily Adopt A Kettle for 3 to 5 days are not even ringing this year. The 2020 Red Kettle Campaign is already underway with the goal set at $69,000.

Downtown merchants in Port Clinton have cancelled the 5th annual Sip & Shop event on Saturday, Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The coronavirus surge in Ottawa County and around Ohio is the culprit, but Port Clinton shops and restaurants hope some folks will still visit the downtown area and check out the Christmas sales.

The free ELMS Community Thanksgiving Meal will be served on Thursday, Nov. 19 (this evening) at 5 p.m. Hosted by St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Second Street in Port Clinton, it is a mutual effort by parishioners of St. Thomas and Peace Lutheran Church. This year the hot turkey dinner with all of the fixings will be take out only.

Mike Libben of Oak Harbor, the district administrator of the Ottawa Soil & Water Conservation District and a long-time farmer in Ottawa County, said he had mixed results from his fields this year.

“The crops looked beautiful, but the overall yield was below average to well below average,” said Libben. “The July heat during pollinations did in our crops, as well as where heavy rains fell.”

Drew Kopchak of Port Clinton was among 680 students who earned named scholarships at Baldwin Wallace University this fall. Kopchak, a graduate of Port Clinton High School majoring in physics, earned the O.L. Dustheimer Astronomy Prize.

To help the American Red Cross continue to have a stable supply of blood or platelets, blood drives will be held around Ottawa County this week. To donate blood in Port Clinton, visit Magruder Hospital, 615 Fulton St., on Friday, Nov. 20 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Blood drives are also scheduled at the Jerusalem Township Fire Department, 9501 Jerusalem Rd., Curtice from Noon -5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25; and at the Oak Harbor VFW, 251 W. Main St., Oak Harbor from Noon-6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 30.

The Port Clinton Lions Club will be holding a Poinsettia Sale until Tuesday, Dec.1. The 6-1/2 inch pots in red, white, pink or marbled will go for $8.50. The 8-1/2 inch pots will sell for $16.50 in red, white or pink. Order from any Lions Club member or call Lorna Garber at 630-881-8230.

Drew Kopchak of Port Clinton was among 680 students who earned named scholarships at Baldwin Wallace University this fall. Kopchak, a graduate of Port Clinton High School majoring in physics, earned the O.L. Dustheimer Astronomy Prize.

Otterbein Senior Life resident Dave Huffnagle enjoys a beautiful Fall day.