BY JOHN SCHAFFNER

The weather was about as perfect as it could be for the recent 4th of July weekend. I got to see the premier of the new music video “Port Clinton is Calling Me!”, a song written by local songwriter and entrepreneur Ron Miller of Our Guests Inn in downtown Port Clinton. It’s an excellent video, even the acting of Rachel and Bert Fall along with their family at the beginning of the video.

Speaking of Port Clinton, there are so many positive things happening here. The city beach was full of people just about all weekend, there were big crowds at MOM (Meals on Madison) and local venues were packed to capacity. A tip of the hat goes to Mayor Mike Snider and City Council for making this happen, because it’s not happening by itself!

Marlene Leib was selected from among 175 entries who found Wylie Walleye hiding in the ad for Bassett’s Market on Page 3A in last week’s Beacon. So, Marlene wins our weekly $25 gas card graciously donated by Friendship Stores.

Each week we hide Wylie in an ad for our readers to find. When one does, they can log onto our website, www.thebeacon.net and let us know where he is!

Also, Wylie Walleye is eager to answer our community’s questions, keep sending them in to P.O. Box 176 or emailing them to askwylie@thebeacon.net. He has a wonderful time swimming around Lake Erie Shores here in Ottawa County getting information for you all.

Don’t forget about Memory Lane, featuring historical photographs of our area. If you’d like to submit your own, please send them with a written explanation to memories@thebeacon.net or mail to P.O. Box 176.

The Beacon has always been residential delivery, with fuel prices as they are we are doing a research of the area on who wants the paper and who does not. Please take the time to cut out the subscription form on page 5A this week and mail it back to The Beacon, P.O. Box 176, Port Clintion, OH 43452. We would greatly appreciate it.

Even though the old Ford Tri-Motor visits our airport often, it’s still special when I hear the distinct sound of the Tin Goose when she flies overhead. Work is progressing well on the Tri-Motor rebuild project at the Liberty Aviation Museum.

Congratulations to Jen (1 “N”) Dackerman, recently appointed as the new Assistant Principal at the Port Clinton Middle School. She comes by her administrative skills honestly, as her parents are Janice and Jack Nitz. Jack was a long time administrator for Port Clinton Schools.

The American Red Cross is in need of blood and will have a blood drive at the Catawba Island Township Hall from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m today (Thursday, July 7) from 1 to 6 p.m. Nearby blood drives can always be found by going to reddcrossblood.org and entering your zip code.

Speaking of Catawba, the Volunteer Fire Dept. there will hold its annual Chicken Barbecue this Saturday, July 9 at the fire station on Cemetery Road. Prepare for long lines, because this is always a popular event and the chicken dinners are delicious!

What a joy and honor it was on Monday evening to participate with the Community Choir (Voices of Freedom) for their 10th annual patriotic concert. We must have been good because we got two standing ovations. Kudos for Director Greg Fox for organizing the group that now totals more than 50 singers.

Port Clinton native Alexander Sprenger, a graduate of Lawrence School, earned academic distinction for the most recent semester at Whitman College. This recognition is given to students who have completed a minimum of 12 credits, passed all credits attempted, and have earned a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher on no fewer than nine graded credits during the semester.