I wrote a special editorial last week regarding winter distribution of The Beacon and I wanted to mention it again here. Because of market changes, we decided to distribute our paper weekly, but only in local stores and restaurants this winter.

We are suspending home delivery to take some time to reevaluate our delivery system. Thank you for your patience, and please feel free to pick up The Beacon where you shop.

The Ottawa County Family Advocacy Center prepared over 700 bags of food to be distributed county wide to school children for the Christmas Break. Volunteers assisted with assembling and distributing the bags that are meant to help kids that depend on free and reduced lunches at school.

These food bags help to prevent food insecurity during school closings.  For more information or to help, please contact 419-301-0225.

Having survived the recent “winter blast” over Christmas weekend, it’s time to move on to New Year’s weekend, with the weather forecast much warmer. That should be a good thing for the annual Walleye Drop in downtown Port Clinton.

There are a bunch of activities scheduled prior to midnight on Saturday. I’m reminded of Tom Brown who was Mayor of Port Clinton and really promoted this event, which has now become such a big one.

Don’t forget, our friend Wylie Walleye is on vacation for the rest of the year. I hope he doesn’t get a sunburn! We’ll resume hiding Wylie again next week.

The Ottawa County Skilled Trades Academy is coming up this spring. It is open to all Ottawa County high school seniors. Registration opens Monday, Jan. 9 and ends March 31. Interested students should contact their school counselor for more information.

The Benton-Carroll-Salem school district recently accepted a donation of $500 in cash and approximately $1,000 in clothing and other supplies from the Ottawa County Community Foundation for the benefit of B-C-S students in need. These funds were raised through the Bundle Up Ottawa County Clothing Drive! Superintendent Guy Parmigian expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming generosity of community members in this clothing drive.

Benton-Carroll-Salem Local School District recently held a student council exchange with Toledo Woodward High School on Thursday, Dec. 8. This exchange was designed to help students cultivate relationship-building and problem-solving skills to become successful citizens, workers, learners, and community members.

On Friday, Jan. 6, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. the Port Clinton Knights of Columbus will again partner with the American Red Cross to conduct a Blood Drive at the Denny Bergeman Hall, 109 E. Perry St., Port Clinton. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733- 2767), or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter the sponsor code PCKOC. Walk-ins are also welcome but those with appointments will be served first.