Talk About Woodville: Signs point to back to school time
Remember the days when school didn’t start until after Labor Day? It’s been many years since that has happened. It’s now mid-August, the Woodville pool has already closed for the summer, the Sandusky County Fair will start in just a few days, and then it’s back to school for kids all over the county.
So what is there to do when you can’t go swimming and it’s the final countdown to sitting in a classroom? How about a rousing game of kickball? Better yet, how about playing a game of kickball with cops? And then a cookout? If it’s been a few years since you’ve played kickball, then it’s time to brush up on the rules for the second year of “Cops, Kids, Kickball, and Cookout,” an event organized by Woodville Police Chief Roy Whitehead.
“We wanted to do a last bash before back to school,” said Whitehead. “A way to let the kids kick off some steam before school starts.”
The event will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 19, at Trail Marker Park on South Cherry Street. According to Whitehead, the department picked kickball because it is easy to play and does not require a lot of equipment. Kids of all ages, including parents, are welcome to join the fun.
Woodville Police will be joined by area departments in kickball
It will not be just the Woodville Police Department showing off their mad kickball skills. Officers from several other local departments also will be participating. This year they will even have “official” team T-shirts since their regular uniforms can get overly warm in the August heat when the game gets serious. Whether the game will be cops versus kids, or the teams will be a mix of both kids and cops, will be determined on Friday.
Because growing kids are always hungry, especially after an epic battle on the kickball field, there will be hot dogs, chips, and ice cream to munch on after the game. Lt. Tom Gearheart will handle grilling duties.
Police and Woodville Mutual to provide food for players
“No, I don’t have an old family hot dog recipe,” said Gearheart. ”Just come out and enjoy a hot dog fresh off the grill.” Food and beverages will be provided by the Woodville Police Department and Woodville Mutual Insurance Agency.
K-9 Officer Raider is not scheduled to play but you might want to keep an eye on him as he would happily chase the kickball in any direction given the chance. Even though Raider won't be playing, his partner, Sgt. Steve Gilkerson, will be on the field, so you just might catch Raider barking out instructions and “coaching” from the sidelines.
August Farmers Market
The next farmers market is 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 27 at Trail Marker Park. This month will include a “Kidz Market” with young entrepreneurs selling their homemade products.
First Day of School
The 2022-23 school year will soon begin for local students. Penta students are starting school this week. The first day at Solomon Lutheran School is Aug. 24. Woodmore students will start classes on Aug. 29. Use extra caution as everyone gets back into the routine of youngsters walking to and from school and/or boarding or exiting their buses.
Labor Day Picnic
Save the date for a Woodville Hometown Community Picnic on Labor Day from 3 to 6 p.m., Sept. 5 at the shelter house at Trail Marker Park. If it should rain, the picnic will be moved indoors to the Fellowship Hall at the Woodville United Methodist Church. More information about this event will be included in the next column.
Contact Rene Dix at 419-307-0914 or via email at rene.dix@email.com.