Home Columns Tell Tales Tell Tales May 8, 2008

Tell Tales May 8, 2008

Tuesday, 06 May 2008

Despite the little April Fool's Joke I played on you a month ago, The Beacon's website really has taken off quite nicely. But the nice thing about a community website, the space and ability to make YOU the stars of our website (just like you have been for 25 years in YOUR weekly newspaper) is virtually unlimited. So, with that in mind, we are again taking it to the next level. I have been meeting with our webmaster, Paul Wallen about new ideas I have learned while attending a flurry of newspaper conferences in recent months, and enhancements are on the way. One of them is our "Kid's Fishing Day" Photo Contest. This Sunday is officially "Kid's Free Fishing Day" in Ohio. So, first, be sure to take a kid fishing with you, even though it's Mother's Day. Take along a digital camera, and snap a shot. It's that easy. We will post them ALL online starting next week. We also want you to serve as our Community Photographers. Take pictures and send them to us...pictures of sons and daughters dressed up for the Prom; Cute Pet Photos; Cute Baby Pictures; scanned drawings from your little darlings; or pictures of your most spectacular flowers. The Beacon has always been YOUR paper, now www.thebeacon.net is YOUR website. We hit 500 over entries this week in our Where's Wylie Contest. Actually, 505 of you found Wylie Walleye in the ad for Choice Lawn Care on page 3B in last week's Beacon. Our "Where's Wylie" winner this week is Pat Horn of Catawba of Port Clinton, who wins a $20 gift certificate from Fishtales Diner on Catawba. We'll be hiding Wylie Walleye again this week in one of our ads. If you find him, register to win by mailing the form in the paper; by dropping it off at our office next to Goodwill Industries in the Beacon Place Shopping Center; e-mail your entry to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; or click on the Wylie icon on our home page at www.thebeacon.net. ATTENTION GOLFERS: Three Tournaments for you to know about...the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce will hold their 1st ever outing at the Islander Club on Friday, May 16, sponsored by Lafarge Aggregates. . Just $75 per golfer gets you18 holes, lunch, dinner and raffles. Call 419-734-9777 to register. A week later, the 6th Annual Friends of Camp Perry Open will be held at the Oak Harbor Golf Course. $75 is also the Entry Fee and registration begins at 7:45 a.m. with an 8:30 shotgun start. The entry fee gets you 18 holes of golf, a hot dog at the turn, a beverage ticket and a steak dinner following. Finally, Monday, June 23 is the date for the 19th Annual Chick Schaffner Memorial Charity Golf Classic at CIC. $125 per golfer gets you 18 holes on the new Arthur Hills layout (including the two new holes for 2008, both par 5s) plus lunch at the course plus dinner at the Club afterward. This year's event benefits the American Heart Association and Stein Hospice, a new beneficiary this year. The Port Clinton Kiwanis Club and Magruder Hospital will host their annual Health Screening this Saturday morning beginning at 6:30 a.m. Call Magruder at 419-734-3131 for more information. Also Magruder is hosting its first Diabetic Support Group Meeting today (Thursday, May 8) from Noon to 1 p.m. in the Conference Center. The support group is open to anyone affected by diabetes. Participants can bring their own lunch or purchase one in the Fulton St. Café prior to the meeting. No RSVP required. The Marblehead Peninsula Lions Club will host a Pancake Breakfast this Saturday, May 10 from 8 a.m. to Noon at the Marblehead Fire station. Adults can enjoy breakfast for just $5 and youngsters under 12 can eat for just $3.50. There will be free blood pressures and diabetes screening. Proceed go to benefit the John Seamon family. The next Ottawa County Retired Teachers Association meeting will be held on Thursday, May 22 at Trinity Methodist Church in Port Clinton. The program for the Noon meeting will be Ceinwen Price of "Home Instead" a senior homecare program designed to keep folks at home and comfortable for less. Any retired teacher who lives or worked in Ottawa County is eligible for membership. Meal reservations may be made by leaving a message with Membership Chairman, Joyce Doust at 419-635-2446. Margaret Phillips is president of the group. The Ottawa County Genealogical Society will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20 in the Community Room of the Ida Rupp Public Library in Port Clinton. They will be welcoming two new members into the First Families of Ottawa County and take a look at the Graytown One-Room School publication. The Port Clinton Arts Council announces that their website is now up and running. It can be found at www.portclintonarts.org. Amy Hefflinger, formerly of Port Clinton, did the work setting up the new site. Mark May 18 down on your calendar for a very special Sousa Concert presented by the Port Clinton High School Band Department at the PCHS Performing Arts Center. The concert starts at 3 p.m. Ok, It is almost New Years, so it is time once again to tell you what Ottawa County will look like in the year 2018, 10 years hence. It is a job for The Great Swami (otherwise known as your slightly cynical editor of The Beacon).     January 2018 - The 23rd Annual Walleye Drop takes place in the giant community plaza in front of the Grand Marriott Hotel, Waterpark and Casino. Hundreds of Thousands welcome the New Year from their gaming tables inside the Casino. Ohio State football wins its 10th consecutive National Championship lopsided win over Appalachian State, who defeated Michigan in the first round of the prelims. Brady Quinn throws a 50 yard "Hail Mary" to Brian Robiskie to help the Cleveland Browns defeat the Chicago Bears 17-16 to win their 6th straight Super Bowl. The Cleveland Law Firm of Dewey, Cheatam & Howe announces the development of Port Clinton's old Standard Products property for a new MGM Hotel and Casino on the site. A local group opposes the development and files a petition for referendum.   February 2018 - The combined Rotary Clubs of Port Clinton and Oak Harbor revive the Chili Open, this time at the massive 18-hole Championship indoor golf course complex located between the two communities on the property that used to be the Port Clinton Golf Course (Marinewood). Governor Chris Redfern bans smoking and consumption of alcoholic beverages in Ohio, bringing back the rum-running business to and from Michigan and Ontario shores. Port Clinton Mayor, Jimmie "The Hammer" Siciliano has no problem with it. With the resignation of Frankie "The Hose" DiPasqualli as Fire Chief, Mayor Siciliano names Kassie Anderson the first woman Fire Chief in Port Clinton. A local group opposes the appointment and files a petition for referendum.   March 2018 - State Representative Antonio Mascalone announces that he will resign his post to enter the private sector. He will become President and CEO of the new MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. Meanwhile, State Championships are won by the following: Danbury boys and girls in Division VI; Oak Harbor boys and girls basketball in Division III as well as wrestling in Division II; and Port Clinton boys and girls basketball, and swimming in Division I (due to the rapid population growth of the Port Clinton school district in the previous 10 years, Port Clinton athletics has jumped from Division IV to Division I. Port Clinton School Board President, Mac Gilliland is quoted as saying, "I think that's a good thing, don't you?" He then introduces Port Clinton's new School Superintendent, Giovanni Carscatelli. A local group opposes the appointment and files a petition for referendum.     April 2018 - Just as the one millionth customer steps onboard Port Clinton's floating museum, the former Aircraft Carrier mysteriously sinks, clogging the harbor entrance and shutting down all shipping and commerce. The Jet Express begins operating out of the Transient Marina. ODOT announces a new study to widen State Route 2. The annual "Whiskey Light" ceremony comes off without a hitch.   May 2018 - Carroll Township becomes the newest development target in Ottawa County. In fact, so many condominiums are being built there, the area officially becomes the County's newest City that is formally named Brule City for French explorer Etienne Brule, who first came ashore in 1616. The new city becomes the official home for the Walleye Festival that was formerly held in Port Clinton. The new Toussaint Shopping Center officially opens on May 1. A local Group opposes the development and files petitions for a referendum. Viet Nam War Veterans are honored at Memorial Day Services in recognition of their service and in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the TET Offensive.        June 2018 - Construction of Hotels and Casinos on Rattlesnake Island is halted when the Island tips over and capsizes. Jeremy Sowers and Fausto Carmona throw the first back-to-back no-hitters in baseball history against the Detroit Tigers. 742 students graduate from Port Clinton High School in ceremonies held at the new football stadium located behind the old Bataan Elementary School. The building of the new stadium was held up by a referendum. The stadium holds 25,000.   July 2018 - A confirmed 27 lb 4 oz. walleye is caught on Fish Ohio Day by Governor Redfern's top aid and former Port Clinton Mayor, Debbie Hymore-Tester. Walleye fever once again takes hold of the area, thanks to the tremendous publicity surrounding Hymore-Tester's catch. To further demonstrate the renewed popularity of walleye fishing, Hymore-Tester walks from Brule City to Leamington, Ontario, just by walking from one fishing boat to another.   August 2018 - Andy Benko, owner of Andy's Party Mart, proposes to draw thousands to Port Clinton City Beach for the First Annual Cookie Skipping Contest. However, the idea is scrapped when local citizens file a petition to referendum the event.     September 2018 - Beyonce is the headline act for the Perch, Pirogue, Peach, Pasta, Pepperoni and more Pasta Festival over Labor Day Weekend in downtown Port Clinton. Mayor Siciliano opens the event by eating 10 plates of spaghetti. Former Vice President Al Gore's speech on global warming is cancelled due to a freak snow storm. Activities on Monday are cancelled due to a referendum petition brought by a number of local residents.   October 2018 - The Oak Harbor Apple Festival draws thousands of visitors, once again. Oak Harbor Mayor, Erin Flower can hardly contain her enthusiasm and leads the grand parade twirling 5 fire batons. The Indians, behind a game seven, 9th inning Grand Slam by Grady Sizemore, beat the San Francisco Giants in the World Series. After 10 years of negotiations, Major League Baseball announces that it will allow for unlimited steroid and HGH use because it is just too hard to track everybody down. However, that decision is challenged by a group of people who petition the Major Leagues with a referendum.   November 2018 - The Aircraft Carrier that was sunk while docked next to the Hotel/Convention/Waterpark Resort in April is brought to the surface. Investigators find a large stash of referendum petitions in one of the ship's holding areas that must have exploded.  Ohio State Beats Michigan for the 14th consecutive season. Jim Tressel retires at the end of the season as the winningest coach in NCAA history.   December 2018 - Thanks in large measure to "aggressive" interrogation techniques following his capture, Osama Bin Laden finally surrenders and instructs all of his followers to lay down their arms. Democracy reigns supreme around the world and there is truly Peace on Earth. President Obama announces that there will be moment of silence across America to observe the world's first truly "Silent Night". However, the Silent Night ceremony had to be cancelled when a group petitioned it with a referendum. We'll see everybody again next year when we'll do this again, unless I am stopped by referendum! Email This Hits: 199 0 Comments Write comment Show/Hide comment form Name     Comment smaller | bigger   I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage. Write the displayed characters Add Comment