The Toledo Blade

The Arbors at Toledo nursing home, 2920 Cherry St., told residents Tuesday they have until Feb. 2 to vacate the premises. The 100-bed facility has a new owner and will be closing, they were told. A woman answering the phone at Arbors last night said she was not at liberty to give details. Arbors is owned by Extendicare, a Canadian real estate investment trust. Full Story »

LAMBERTVILLE — An Ottawa Lake man was hurt seriously yesterday when his vehicle went through a guardrail on U.S. 23 and dropped into a partly filled ditch, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said. James Hagen, 52, was flown to the University of Toledo Medical Center, formerly the Medical College of Ohio, where he was in serious condition. Deputies said Mr. Hagen was northbound on U.S. 23 south ... Full Story »

After a brief crime spree that involved breaking into one home and trying to break into two others, three juveniles were arrested by Toledo police. Two 15-year-old boys and a 16-year-old were arrested yesterday as suspects in burglary-related charges. They were interviewed by detectives and were to be booked at the Juvenile Justice Center last night. Police said the juveniles were seen breaking ... Full Story »

Highway crews were braced for the first significant winter storm of the season Tuesday night, though a period of rain was expected to limit accumulation. The National Weather Service in Cleveland predicted a slushy accumulation of 1 to 3 inches of snow, sleet, or both before warm air changed the precipitation to rain. The rain was forecast to change back to snow this afternoon. The biggest ... Full Story »

By TOM HENRY BLADE STAFF WRITER Penn National Gaming Inc. officials say nothing has changed since the Nov. 3 election, and they intend to have the company's Toledo-area casino operating on 44 acres along the Maumee River by the latter half of 2012. "All of the things we promised during the election are going to be fulfilled," Timothy J. Wilmott, Penn National president and chief operating ... Full Story »

By BRIDGET THARP BLADE STAFF WRITER There was a distinct tone to the questions posed by the Monclova Township Police Safety Study Commission to Lucas County Sheriff Jim Telb last night: If the township can't pay the estimated $500,000 per year for sheriff's patrols, what protection must the county provide. Monclova Township's 15-member safety commission met with Sheriff Telb to discuss options ... Full Story »

BLADE STAFF MONROE - An Ottawa Lake man was seriously injured Tuesday when he drove his vehicle through a guard rail on U.S. 23 and dropped more than 10 feet into a partly filled ditch, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. James Hagen, 52, was taken by air ambulance to the University of Toledo Medical Center, formerly the Medical College of Ohio, where he was listed in serious ... Full Story »

BLADE STAFF Toledo Mayor-Elect Mike Bell on Tuesday named a 31-member transition team to help ease him into his new role at the helm of city government on Jan. 4. The team includes a cross-section of business and labor leaders, as well as representatives from the education, religious, social services, neighborhood, and regional sectors. Mr. Bell, who was elected as an Independent, plans to meet ... Full Story »

BLADE STAFF A man was shot Monday night in a liquor store parking lot in South Toledo, authorities said. Dustin Lawler, 27, of Dubois Street, drove to the University of Toledo Medical Center, the former Medical College of Ohio Hospital, where he was treated, Toledo police said. Lawler was leaving a liquor store in the 5300 block of Dorr Street about 10 p.m. when he was accosted and shot by ... Full Story »

BLADE STAFF The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for northwest Ohio and parts of southeast Michigan. An inch of snow could fall this evening before changing to all rain after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 100%. A high wind watch is in effect for Wednesday. Strong, damaging winds between 25-40 mph are likely. Full Story »

By ERICA BLAKE BLADE STAFF WRITER The professional fate of four Toledo police officers who have been charged internally for misconduct related to drugs and alcohol will be decided at departmental hearings Monday, Chief Mike Navarre said Monday. Officers Curtis Jewell and Karon Gallup, both uniformed patrol officers, face charges related to their failure of a random drug test, which indicated ... Full Story »

A 15-year-old boy missing since Sunday was found safe Monday night by Walbridge police after a community-wide search involving 30 to 40 volunteers plus law enforcement and firefighters. Police located Jacob Hatfield about 7:30 p.m. in Walbridge, police Officer Jason Harden said. Police declined to release additional details of his discovery. The boy is the son of Doug and Becky Hatfield of ... Full Story »

By ERICA BLAKE BLADE STAFF WRITER Family members can't forget the image of Flemming Williamson as he lay lifeless in the street last January - the victim of a hit-skip driver - or the pain of not being able to touch him in his final moments. "It's devastating to find out that you're never going to see your loved one again, that he's never going to see his children, or that he's never going to be ... Full Story »

BLADE STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES Two Michigan men have been arrested in connection with at least one burglary in Sylvania and dozens more in the Detroit area in which they used global-positioning devices obtained in car break-ins to choose their targets, authorities said. During October and November, the two 23-year-old suspects stole GPS devices and garage-door remote control units from vehicles ... Full Story »

By ERICA BLAKE BLADE STAFF WRITER Calling it a "nuisance" and a "danger to the public," the City of Toledo asked a municipal court judge yesterday to keep the Route 66 Bar and Grill shuttered - at least until the end of the year. The site of an Oct. 8 shootout that was captured on video and broadcast nationally, the bar at 406 North Westwood Ave. was the subject of a hearing held before Judge C ... Full Story »

Santa makes an appearance during a news conference at Erie Street Market announcing the schedule for the Lucas County Children's Wonderland. The event will open at 4 p.m. Friday at the market. Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop, local radio personality ‘Andrew Z' Zepeda, several dozen volunteers, and donations from some area businesses are credited with rescuing the popular holiday display ... Full Story »

Police investigate a crash backing up traffi c on I-475 near Douglas Road after the fi rst snowfall of the season. Accidents were reported on I-75, I-280, and I-475 early Monday. Ed Moore, Toledo commissioner of streets, bridges, and harbor, said a dozen salt trucks were out by 7 a.m., and the entire fleet of 32 had hit the roads by midmorning. VIDEO Full Story »

A Toledo father charged with felonious assault for injuries police allege he caused to his infant son was arraigned Monday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court yesterday on additional charges. Shawn Smith, Sr., 21, of 2912 Champlain St. pleaded not guilty to two counts of child endangering. Judge Linda Jennings set a Jan. 19 trial date for all three charges. Police were called Aug. 24 to Mercy St ... Full Story »

ARCHBOLD — Northwest State Community College is expanding its Friday tuition discounts to Saturdays. The discount of $29 per credit hour, offered for students who enroll in the “off peak” three-credit-hour courses offered Fridays, also will be given to students taking courses Saturdays. The expansion, approved recently by the college’s board of trustees, will begin in the summer. The discounted ... Full Story »

The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce is taking applications for its 2010 Leadership Academy Toledo. The 10-week course will begin Jan. 11, with graduation scheduled for March 29. Classes will be from 6 to 8 p.m. every Monday in the chamber building, 300 Madison Ave. The academy is the longest- running of its kind in Toledo, public affairs manager Kendal Piel said. The chamber invites those ... Full Story »

A Toledo lawyer has been honored by a national migrant farm workers’ advocacy group for his volunteer service. Jack Gallon, a founding member of Gallon, Takacs, Boissoneault & Schaffer Co., LPA, was among those honored at a reception last week in Washington by Farmworker Justice. For 40 years, Mr. Gallon has volunteered as general counsel to the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, a labor union ... Full Story »

Food For Thought in Oregon is collecting donations of new toys for a Christmas Shoppe expected to help up to 500 needy children. Last year, toys were provided to 225 children through the volunteer effort, but the demand is expected to be higher this year. The Christmas Shoppe will be held Dec. 19 at New Harvest Christian Church, 3540 Seaman Rd., Oregon. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 14 ... Full Story »

BLADE STAFF WASHINGTON - As representatives from 192 countries began the world's most historic climate talks in Copenhagen yesterday, Lisa Jackson, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator, stole the show on the west side of the Atlantic Ocean when she declared greenhouse gases a threat to "the public health and welfare of the American people" at a news conference in Washington. The ... Full Story »

By IGNAZIO MESSINA BLADE STAFF WRITER Charlotte Marshall is anxiously waiting to see in person her two new refuse containers that are identical to the ones that the city of Toledo has already delivered to 7,000 households. Like many retirees living in Toledo, Ms. Marshall is skeptical about the city's switch to automated garbage pickup, but she's willing to give it a try - if for no other reason ... Full Story »

By DAVID YONKE BLADE RELIGION EDITOR A local Lutheran congregation has taken the first step toward leaving the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America over the denomination's decision to ordain gay clergy and support same-sex unions. Members of St. Paul's Church in Maumee voted 87 percent to 13 percent Sunday to quit the denomination, the first church in the Northwest Ohio Synod to conduct such a ... Full Story »