The Bay Township Fire Department deserves a lot of credit for a rescuing a man from his burning automobile after a crash just south of Port Clinton recently. Fire Chief Dave Regal reported that his hardy crew responded to the crash scene and did the heavy lifting in rolling the car over and using the Jaws of Life to cut the victim from the burning vehicle.

Having watched the Bay Township crews in action at their public demonstrations, they are experts at quickly taking off the doors — and more — when dismantling a vehicle during an emergency.

Joyful Connections does a wonderful job of providing a healthy, safe, and homelike environment where children of divorced or separated parents can interact with family members in a non-judgmental setting throughout the year. This year has been very troublesome, with the Oak Harbor agency’s popular fundraisers — The Amazing Island Raise and Family Frenzy — cancelled because of COVID- 19.

To help fund Joyful Connections, officials will have virtual party on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. featuring Miss Kitty and the Litter, and buoyed by Joyful Connections stalwarts Shanna Strouse, Tami Matthews, Judge Kathleen Giesler and Jim Sass. For more details visit joyfulconnections.com , or call 1-567-262-3181, and help Joyful Connections say “sayonara” to 2020.

Teri Tooman of Oak Harbor was chosen from among 137 entries who found Wylie hiding in the ad for Wreaths Across America on Page 3A in last week’s Beacon.

So, Teri 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.

With Ottawa County at a “Level 3” for COVID-19, both the Oak Harbor and Port Clinton Area Chambers of Commerce have been provided face masks to provide to local businesses. They can be picked up at their respective offices.

The Ottawa County Family Advocacy Center prepared over 400 bags of food to be distributed in the county schools for the Thanksgiving Break.  These bags of food are meant to help provide food to those children that rely on the schools for breakfast and lunch each day.  The Center will also be providing these meals over the Christmas break from school.  For more information, or if you would like to help or donate, please contact the center at 419-301-0225.

Oak Harbor soccer star Madisson Adams has been honored by St. Ursula Academy in Toledo. Madison was named to the Three Rivers Athletic Conference Soccer All-Academic Team for the second year in a row for her prowess on the soccer field last fall and in the classroom at St. Ursula Academy.

The Salvation Army’s Tree A Rama Charity Auction, a fundraiser that has become a local favorite over the years, will have to be held as a virtual event this year. Decorative Christmas Trees and other special auction items are still needed. They can be delivered to the Salvation Army Distribution Center, 1854 E. Perry St., Port Clinton.

Donations will be accepted through Dec. 6. The virtual auction will be held Dec. 3-5 by appointment only, and on Facebook or by phone (419-732-2769) on Sunday, Dec. 6 from Noon-4 p.m.

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 who is majoring in physics, earned the O.L. Dustheimer Astronomy Prize.

Otterbein Senior Life partner Stacy McMurray gives an enthusiastic thumbs up to her work day at Otterbein.