BY JOHN SCHAFFNER

It has been a tough week losing close friends. Dr. Bob Geiger, local veterinarian and activist passed away last week after a long and gallant battle with cancer. He took care of most of our pets over the years.

He was a “Happy Evangelist” to those who knew him.

Barb (Weirzba) Drusbacky also passed away from a long battle with cancer Saturday morning. Barb was my first girlfriend when I came to Port Clinton in 1962, a classmate of the PCHS Class of 1967, and next door neighbor in Bowling Green during college days. I used to have to stop by her house on the way to 8 o’clock classes to wake her up! She was a longtime member on the Port Clinton Board of Education.

Finally, Phil Gravengard, a golfing buddy from Catawba, passed away unexpectedly Monday morning. He taught me not to hold the club so tight, which helped a lot. All three of these people were good friends and good people.

We need to make a big correction from last week. Our local Walmart (Port Clinton) is partnering with the local SALVATION ARMY office (not United Way as reported last week) to “STUFF THE BUS!” On Friday through Sunday, Aug. 6-8. They will have a Port Clinton School Bus located at Walmart from the hours of 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily to Stuff the Bus with school supplies and book bags for local Ottawa County Students.

Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted will appear at a fundraising event this evening (Thursday, July 29) in the Harbor Room at the Catawba Island Club in Port Clinton. For more information contact Blake McNamara, 513-258-8134. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $150, $200 per couple.

Sara Powers of Port Clinton was selected from among 167 entries who found Wylie hiding in the ad for Bolte Real Estate on Page 6B in last week’s Beacon. So, congratulations Sara, 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.

I was surprised and somewhat saddened to learn this week that Port Clinton High School Director of Bands Rod Miller will be retiring at the end of the upcoming school year. Rod established what has become a fabulous tradition with his Sousa Concerts that recognize not only John Phillip Sousa, but each year honors local veterans for their service with very special patriotic themes mostly based on their military experiences.

He also revitalized the PCHS band program, returning to the glory days of Earl Warnke. Rod was a tuba player for four years with THE Ohio State University Marching Band and dotted the “i” three times.

Be sure to wish Port Clinton Mayor Mike Snyder a Happy Birthday. He turned 50 on Tuesday!

What a difference a year makes … and give the Ottawa County Fair Board lots of credit, too.

This year’s 57th annual Ottawa County Fair was an explosion of fun events and new attractions. The Six-Horse Hitch competition was certainly a feather in their cap, bringing the massive steeds to perform. The autocross was new, and fun to watch.

The Junior Fair is the heart and soul of the annual exposition, and the kids and their goats, horses, chickens and pigs were a return to the good old days. Congratulations to all for making this year’s fair one of the very best.

Twisted Shears Hair Studio 212 W. Water Street, Oak Harbor, announces the grand opening of their new business. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Thursday, Aug. 5, at 11 a.m.

Miami University awarded degrees to two local students during spring commencement on May 14-16. Sarah Redett of Marblehead, graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in Education in Integrated Mathematics Education. Amelia Morrow of Port Clinton graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communication, Classical Humanities.

The United States Coast Guard Reserve Port Security Unit 309 located at Camp Perry is holding an Open House on Friday, Aug. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It should make for a very interesting event. If interested, RSVP to Chief Health Specialist Cuchala at Nathaniel.j.puchala@usch.mil.