Fostoria officers, prosecutor lauded

FOSTORIA — Fostoria Police Chief Gabe Wedge feted two of his officers and the city's law director and received recognition of his own during Tuesday night's city council meeting.In addition to recognizing Cole Noftz as Officer of the Year in light of his many traffic stops, citations and warnings written and arrests achieved, Wedge presented Distinguished Service Awards to Det. Kyle Reinbolt and Stephanie Kiser, the city's law director and an assistant Seneca County prosecutor, in connection with the 2024 conviction of a Cleveland man who gave a fentanyl-laced medication to a Fostoria woman, which subsequently resulted in her death by toxicity.Marla Ayres, of Fostoria, talked about her daughter, Angela Clemons, who was 27 years old when she died in 2018, and presented Wedge with a certificate with the heading "Angie's Hero," in recognition of his willingness to have the police division take on the case and his assignment of Reinbolt to it.Michael Toney was convicted in Seneca County Common Pleas Court of involuntary manslaughter, trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound and corrupting another with drugs and sentenced to eight to 12 years in prison.Also Tuesday night, council passed measures appropriating funds for payment of: two "then and now" purchases from the past; the airport co-op program; and the sewer and storm water management funds to account for a new loan amortization schedule.Mayor Don Mennel said repairs of the drains and manhole covers on Lytle Street have been completed and crosswalks on the street are now being replaced. He added that paving of Lytle Street is expected in August to complete the project.Mennel also announced the appointments of five people to the newly created parks board, which is scheduled to begin work Aug. 1: Sarah Betts, executive director of the Seneca County Park District; Brooke Downing, a teacher at Fostoria Elementary School; Shilo Frankart, a school resource officer in the Fostoria Police Division; Ellen Gatrell, secretary/treasurer of the Fostoria Rail Preservation Society board; and Kristin VanCuren Koester, preschool coordinator for Perrysburg schools and a member of the Wood County Plays board of directors.Safety Service Director Eric Keckler said the city's street sweeper needs to be replaced after 10 years and legislation to purchase a new one is in the works. He said the price for a new sweeper and parts will be about $350,000.