BY JOHN SCHAFFNER

It was 39 years ago on Dec. 9, 1983 when Sergeant Bob Rigoni of the Port Clinton Police Department was the pilot of an airplane that crashed into Lake Erie. On board were Deputy Bruce E. Mettler of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, Dispatcher Michael L. Sweeney of the Put-In-Bay Police Department and EMT/Firefighter Duane Dress of the Put-In-Bay Volunteer Fire Department.

The three officers and Dress were on an emergency flight during bad weather to Kelleys Island to assist the Kelleys Island Police Chief, who was suffering a heart attack. All four men on board lost their lives when the plane went down.

Also, in case you missed it, last month was the 20th anniversary of the tornado that ripped through Port Clinton, wreaking havoc at Magruder Hospital along with taking down a few houses and several condominiums on East Perry Street.

I attended a very interesting annual meeting of the Ottawa County Improvement Corporation last week. Executive Director Chris Singlerling updated board members and associates on the Five Pillars of what they are trying to accomplish.

They are: Retention and Expansion; Business Attraction; Workforce Development and Attraction; Communication and Marketing and Comprehensive Community Development. We wish them well in their efforts.

Don’t forget, our friend Wylie Walleye is on vacation for the rest of the year. I hope he doesn’t get a sunburn!

Ottawa County is back on an alert status for Covid-19. The staff, contractors and volunteers of Riverview Nursing home are back wearing goggles for their protection.

Port Clinton Middle School is respected on both the state and national level. In November, the Middle School staff shared their expertise at the Ohio Middle Leaders Association Middle School State Conference in Columbus. Language Arts teachers Jennifer Amos and Kerry Fial presented a session titled 20-plus Golden Nuggets and Ryan Evarts, Math teacher, presented Tech Tips. Language Arts Teacher Grace Mutti attended the conference along with proud Middle School Principal Denny Antonelli.

Port Clinton Middle School has a unique daily schedule and philosophy for the middle school level that has been the focus of national attention. Port Clinton Middle School has been recognized as a State and National Forum School to Watch and Model School by the International Center for Leadership in Education.

One of The Beacon’s annual Christmas traditions had to be curtailed this year when we went remote. We no longer had The Mitten Tree in our front foyer. I know there are many of you who spend a lot of time during the year knitting caps, scarves and mittens to hang on our tree. If you have anything to donate, please take your items directly to Kami at the Salvation Army office on Perry Street, just east of Buckeye Boulevard. Thanks.

The Journey’s End walk will be held again this year in downtown Port Clinton this Sunday from 6-7:30 p.m. It is a reenactment of the Biblical story of Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem as they go from inn to inn seeking lodging until they get to the final inn that welcomes them in and celebrates their arrival.

The inns are the local downtown Port Clinton churches and the innkeepers are the local church choirs. The Journey begins in the parking lot of Trinity United Methodist Church at the corner of Adams and Second Streets. They will proceed with candles glowing and participants singing traditional Christmas songs accompanied by local guitarists.

Immaculate Conception Church’s amazing Music Director Molly Ryan has is moving on to take a position with the Hospice of the Western Reserve (formerly Stein Hospice). We wish her all the best.

Don’t miss Playmakers Civic Theatre’s production of “Rented: Christmas:The Musical!” The show will be running for one more weekend, Friday through Sunday, Dec. 16,17 and 18. Get tickets at www.pcplaymakers.org.

Congratulations to the new Flag Officers of Port Clinton Yacht Club, who were formally installed last Saturday. They are, left to right, Jim Recker, Vice Commodore; Todd Puckett, Commodore; and Doug Blackburn, Rear Commodore.

Sorry to report the passing of Kathy Spangler, Second Grade teacher at R.C. Waters School. According to BCS School Superintendent Guy Parmegian, “Kathy’s kind and loving nature and deep passion for her students will endure in all our hearts.”

The Port Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Port Clinton will celebrate the Grand Opening of Lola’s Vintage Lakehouse, 221 Buckeye Blvd. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held Friday, Dec. 16 at noon. Lola’s will be a 5,000-square foot vintage shopping experience opened by Lisa Smith.