Millersport news: Buckeye Lake Winterfest upcoming

Carol King
·4 min read

The eighth annual Buckeye Lake Region Chamber of Commerce Winterfest is being planned for Saturday, Jan. 28. Benny the Bass will make his annual prognostication of spring. Winterfest will begin at 6:30 a.m. at Buckeye Lake with pre-dawn fireworks. A whole weekend of fun activities is scheduled for the Buckeye Lake region. On Sunday, Jan. 29 the Polar Plunge will take place at the Buckeye Lake Winery beginning at 1 p.m. For more information visit Facebook.com/BuckeyeLakeWInterfest.

Dan Fahey, of Thornville, dressed as one of the members of Kiss, along with his friends, as the Kiss Plunger Team, comes out of the frigid waters with his hands raised holding an inflatable guitar after jumping off the boat docks at Buckeye Lake Winery during the Buckeye Lake Polar Plunge 2022 in in Thornville, Ohio. A record number of jumpers, over 130 people, cave out to participate in the annual event.

Senior citizens

Fairfield Beach Senior Citizens met Jan. 11, in the Millersport American Legion Hall on Canal Drive in Millersport. Eighteen members enjoyed the potluck lunch. Marty Holtz led the group in singing God Bless America. Prayer was offered by Ken Keener.

Following lunch President Carol Kitzmiller conducted the business meeting. She reminded members that the $3 dues can be paid. Those with January birthdays were Don Love and Evelyn Worrell. John and Ruthanne Hammel were congratulated on their wedding anniversary. The Committee sign-up sheet for 2023 was passed around for volunteers. The men will do the set up and clean up for the February meeting in honor of Valentine’s Day. Door prizes were won by Marty Holtz, Ken Keener, Drenille Keener, Nancy Davis, Debbie Gant, Dave Holtz, Ron Pairan and Richard Neff. The next meeting will be held at noon Wednesday, Feb. 8 at the American Legion Hall.

White Christmas Project

Thanks to all the donors and volunteers for a very successful Annual White Christmas Project. This year was a big year for donations allowing 30 families to be provided a Christmas meal and gifts. The students also partnered with the Lions Club to deliver over 200 fruit and candy baskets to community members. Thanks to the elementary students who decorated the bags for the fruit and candy. Congratulations to Mrs. Roark’s and Ms. Augsberger’s classes who donated the most canned foods district wide. A special thank you to Mrs. Yenni, Mrs. Heather Terry, Mrs. Beck, Mrs. Peters, Mrs. Randolph, Mrs. Hedges, Mrs. Mick, the High School Student Council, the Millersport Lions Club, the Government class and Yearbook students for all the hard work to make the event so successful.

Board of Education

The Walnut Township Local School District Board of Education met Jan. 9 in the Laker Learning Center for the their annual reorganizational meeting. Holly Armstrong was elected to be president for 2023. Mitchell Severance was elected vice president. Board Committee Liaison Assignments will remain the same for the five board committees. Karen Keller was appointed to serve as the Legislative Liaison to the Ohio School Boards Association. Mitchell Severance was appointed Student Achievement Liaison to the Ohio School Boards Association. Keller and Jennifer Levacy were appointed as delegates to the OSBA Small School District Advisory Network.

During calendar year 2023, the Board of Education will hold its regular meetings on the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. All board meetings will be held in the Laker Learning Center in the High School with the exception of the November meeting which will be held on the third Monday at 6:00 p.m. This change is due to the OSBA Capital Conference.

The Walnut Township Board of Education met in regular session following the reorganizational meeting. The board recognized the Fall Sports Central District D7 Honors athletes Andrew Kronenbitter, Bryce Forgette, Jason Wells and Nicholas Yingling. As January is Board of Education Recognition Month the Board members were given certificates and were recognized with thank-you cards and refreshments. Student Liaison Ryan Turner made his report to the board.

High School Principal Megan Terry reported on the Choir and Band performances, the Winter Art Show, the White Christmas Project and the high school students who will be representing the instrumental music department at the All-County Band Concert.

Kim Yenni, Elementary Principal, reported on the Biddy Basketball recognitions, the Mobile Dentist, the School Spelling Bee, Early Dismissal on January 25th and an evening dinner meeting for parents on dealing with common childhood problems.

Superintendent Radulovich reported on the Ohio Special Education Rating of 4-out-of-4, senior spotlight and gave a legislative update. She also thanked the maintenance and custodial staff on their work cleaning up after the water leak during the sub-zero temperatures.

Kyle Matthews, Transportation/Maintenance Supervisor, reported on the number of trips taken, routing software, district vehicles use and repairs, events, energy audit, boiler inspections, and project completions.

The board voted to proceed with the proposition of a renewal income tax.The board voted to enter into executive session to consider the employment and compensation of a public employee.

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Millersport news: Buckeye Lake Winterfest upcoming