Rossford Library digital collection of historic photos debuts on Web
The Rossford Public Library has begun displaying its on-line digital collection with nearly 100 historical photos pertaining to the Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company.
Due to the age of many of the images, some specific details are unknown.
Library officials are asking anyone who is able to provide names, dates, machinery details or locations for incomplete descriptions, so that they can accurately update the catalog.
The collection may be viewed on the library’s Web site at www.rossford library.org by selecting the “Digital Collection” tab near the top of the page.
To see a photo more closely, patrons may double click on the zoom icon or on the image itself to enlarge details which may assist in identification.
Rossford is one of 12 regional libraries participating in this project as part of a statewide grant.
Residents are encouraged to visit the library’s local history room to view the hundreds of photos in the collection.

Lessons for downtown revitalization discussed by RBA
By Beth Church
An inspirational story on downtown revitalization was the focus of the Rossford Business Association luncheon meeting on January 27.
Wood County Commissioner Jim Carter, former mayor of Grand Rapids, shared his advice on “how to get a renaissance started in downtown Rossford.”
Between 1975 and 1993, he served for five years on Grand Rapids village council and 16 years as mayor.
“It was not always as you see it today,” he told more than 50 local business and community officials attending the RBA meeting, hosted at Bass Pro Shops.
When he served as mayor, “they didn’t even have the word ‘economic development’ then.”
Mr. Carter returned to his hometown of Grand Rapids after serving in the U.S. Army, and thought, “how did all of this happen in three years?”
Seeing more bars than churches, boarded-up stores, abandoned and crumbling buildings, he was concerned about his community.
“If I’m going to stay here, what can I do to help?” he recalled thinking.
Grand Rapids had no sewer system, deteriorating streets and no funding.
At a retirement party for the village’s water superintendent, he gathered business owners to rally interest in revitalization.
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School district continues to look for budget reductions
By Ryan McCarthy
Rossford Schools administrators have been directed to continue to look for possible budget reductions to help keep the district in the black for the rest of the decade.
Board of Education President Brian Hughes told board members at their January 28 meeting that the district’s finance committee asked Superintendent Dr. Susan Lang and Treasurer James Rossler Jr. to identify reductions of $370,000 to $600,000 each year through the 2018-19 school year.
The reduction targets were established based on the district’s 10-year forecast. Mr. Hughes said reductions of $370,000 per year would “barely” maintain a surplus, while reductions of $600,000 per year would maintain the current surplus.
The district has made reductions of several hundred thousand dollars over the past few years to deal with declining revenue.
Mr. Hughes stressed that any reductions would have to come before the board before taking effect, and acknowledged that reductions that harm students will be avoided.
“Each year, it’s going to get tougher to find reductions, and we wanted to give [administrators] some latitude without harming the progress that we’re making, to come back and say look, $400,000 is all we can do.”
He added that there are a number of variables in the 10-year forecast that the finance committee will continue to evaluate.

Todd Drusback selected as new RHS football coach
By Kevin Cummings
Fremont St. Joseph Central Catholic’s loss is certainly Rossford’s gain as Todd Drusback has been named Bulldog head football coach for the 2010 season.
Drusback was recently tabbed head mentor by the Rossford Board of Education following a unanimous 5-0 vote.
Before his time at St. Joseph, he was head football coach at Edgerton and Genoa and assistant coach at Heidelberg College and Vanlue.
“I am sad to leave St. Joe but extremely excited about coaching at Rossford,” Coach Drusback said. “It was a tough decision, but one I made for my family. With the state of the Catholic schools financially it was getting tougher to survive.
“It was just time to better provide for my family and I felt good about Rossford, the administration, the new league, the athletic complex. There are so many things that made this position attractive.”
Last season at St. Joseph, Coach Drusback led the Streaks to a 9-2 overall record, a Midland Athletic League (MAL) championship, and a berth in the Division VI playoffs–their first in more than a decade. During his four-year stint in Fremont, his teams compiled a 23-18 record.
The 1990 graduate of Fremont St. Joseph was named MAL Coach of the Year and District Coach of the Year in 2009.
While at Edgerton (2002-2005), he led the Bulldogs to a 7-3 mark in 2003 and a state playoff berth.
In addition to those accolades, he coached in the Fostoria All-Star game in 2008 and the Northwest Regional All-Star game in Perrysburg in 2005.

Council supports used fire truck purchase
By Beth Church
Fire Chief Jim Verbosky traveled to Clayton, Missouri last week to look over an aerial fire engine to replace Rossford’s ailing 33-year-old truck.
At the January 25 Rossford City Council meeting, Councilman Jim Richards said the public safety committee is recommending that the chief explore the option of purchasing the used truck from the Clayton Fire Department for a cost of about $250,000.
“We’ve come to the conclusion that there’s no future in maintaining the current truck,” Mr. Richards said.
Andy Herb of the Sutphen Corp., which manufactures fire engines, told council that the city’s current aerial truck has “a very rough body and a lot of rough components.”
“What outdates a fire truck is age, components and safety factors,” he explained, adding that many components of the city’s truck do not meet National Fire Protection Association standards.
Mayor Bill Verbosky noted that refurbishing the current 85-foot ladder truck would cost about $600,000.
After the meeting, Chief Verbosky said the Clayton Fire Department has a full-time fleet maintenance mechanic who has taken care of the truck. All maintenance records for it also will be provided.
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RBA Business Fair seeks participants
The Rossford Business Association is inviting all area businesses to participate in the annual community event showcasing local companies.
The fifth annual Business Fair will take place on Saturday, April 10, in the Rossford High School and Junior High School gyms, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This Friday, February 5 is the “early-bird” deadline for businesses to pay a registration fee of $75 for RBA members and $125 for non-members.
After Friday, the participation fees will increase to $100 for members and $150 for non-members. All registrations are due by February 26.
See page 3 of today’s Journal for a registration form or visit the RBA Web site at www.rossfordba.com.
The executive committee planning the event includes chairwoman Brenda Schwind of Directions Credit Union, Rossford dentist Dr. Bill Zouhary, Chrissa Liskai of First Federal Bank and Justin Knierim of Edward Jones Investments.
New this year will be a vendor preview reception on Friday, April 9, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
“This event will serve as an excellent opportunity to network with other vendors, and give you a sneak preview of the business fair,” she said.
For more information, call Mrs. Schwind at 419-720-4701.
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