We were sad to learn of the passing of Helen Nemecek, wife of local businessman, close friend and former business partner Rick Nemecek. Funeral services were Tuesday morning. Helen had been battling ALS throughout the pandemic. She was a secretary with the Port Clinton School District and Helen was always there to help Rick in every way she could. She was a genuinely nice lady.

Significant grants to bars, restaurants and the lodging industry due to financial burdens placed on them by the pandemic passed the Ohio House this week and heads to the Ohio Senate. The bill appropriates $125 million in federal Covid-19 relief aid to support Ohio bars, restaurants and the lodging industry. The bill appropriates $100 million in grants for bars and restaurants and $25 million in grants for the lodging industry. For bars, restaurants and the lodging industry, the grants will be awarded in the amounts of $10,000, $20,000 and $30,000 based on loss of revenue.

Elizabeth Stephens of Port Clinton was chosen from among 125 entries who found Wylie hiding in the ad for Genoa Bank on Page 3B in last week’s Beacon. So, congratulations Elizabeth. You are the winner of 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 Erie Shores Cruisers will hold their “Honk-About” mobile car show in Port Clinton on the first Sunday of each month May through October. They will start at Port Clinton City Hall promptly at 2 p.m. The caravan will head west on State Street, north on Maple, west on 3rd Street, south on McKinley, jog onto Fremont Raod, then south on Kaspar, north on Grant, east on Alice, north on Harrison, east on 6th, south on Madison, east on 11th, north on Fulton, west on 4th, north on Harrison, east on 2nd, north on Maple, east on Perry, then south on Buckeye Blvd. back to City Hall.

Not a member of Erie Shores Cruisers? No problem . . registration is free and open to anyone with a car, truck or motorcycle they’d like to show off. For more information, contact Kenny Holcomb at 419-573-2171.

The Progressive Catawba Island Boat Show will dock at the Catawba Island Club on the Catawba Peninsula on Friday through Sunday, April 30-May 2. Tickets ($8) are needed, but there is a $2 discount through Friday, April 23. Visit catawbaislandboatshow.com.

Show hours will be Friday from noon-7 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Entertainment includes Steve Brownell on Friday at noon; Miss Kitty and the Litter on Saturday at 3 p.m.; and The Island Doctor on Sunday at 11 a.m. Food trucks will make the scene.

As you know, there is a critical need for blood donors, and the American Red Cross Bloodmobile will be at the Catawba Community Hall this coming Saturday, April 24 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Port Clinton’s J.R. Majewski didn’t waste any time gearing up to run against long-time U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur of Toledo’s Ninth District. He recently announced his candidacy for the November 2022 election for the federal post that Kaptur has held for almost 40 years.

Port Clinton residents will remember Majewski’s political statement in November’s presidential election. A worker at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plant, Majewski painted a 19,000-square-foot Trump banner across his front yard.

Today (April 22) is Earth Day, and planting trees makes a big difference in improving the environment,. Ensuring new trees will be planted all around the county again this year, the Ottawa Soil & Water Conservation District had been gearing up for last week’s annual SWCD Tree Pickup Day.

A record number of trees were sold during the spring. The Ottawa SWCD staff packed, wrapped and watered almost 3,000 trees over the last few days to prepare for this week’s distribution.

The Oak Harbor Masonic Lodge #495 will be hosting a Chicken Barbecue this Sunday, April 25 at the Veterans Park Shelter House from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dinners are $10 each and are carryout only. For more information, contact Andy Haley at 419-707-4067.

Advance Ride Tickets for the Port Clinton Walleye Festival are now on sale.  Each ride ticket is $40 and good for the entire Walleye Festival weekend. The Walleye Festival will run from Thursday, May 27 to Monday, May 31. Quantities are limited so buy them early. Each Advance Ride Ticket enters you to win a $100 gift card. Two gift cards will be given away.

Deadline to purchase Advance Ride Tickets is Thursday, May 27 at 5 p.m. Make checks payable to Main Street Port Clinton. You can purchase the Advance Ride Tickets at the Port Clinton Chamber of Commerce office, 110 Madison St., Port Clinton.

Otterbein Senior Life residents, enjoy a little weekly competition with Wii bowling.