More than three tons of food have been collected for the Toledo Seagate Food Bank since Children’s Wonderland opened Dec. 11.

“It was a pleasant surprise. We would have been pleased if we received a couple -hundred pounds,” said Deb Vas, executive director of Toledo Seagate Food Bank. “It has been a very good response from the community. People are showing a caring spirit.”

A total of 6,300 pounds of food has been collected with more coming in each day, Vas said.

“I worked the Children’s Wonderland project last night [Dec.15], and the response was still good. Everyone brought in cans, not just one or two, but bags. People are not forgetting about those in need,” she said.

The food will help hundreds of families and is already being distributed to food pantries to supplement holiday request, Vas said.

Children’s Wonderland is located in the Erie Street Market.

The exhibit almost didn’t open this year due to budget cuts in the county. Volunteers from throughout the community have been working to get Children’s Wonderland up and running since Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop and radio personality Andrew “Z” Zepeda asked the community to come forward and save the display on Nov.23.

“Given the outpouring of support for Wonderland and the large quantities of food we’ve been able to raise already for the food bank, ?I’d say it’s easy to see that bringing Wonderland back was the right thing to do,” Konop said.

The cost for the exhibit is $5, children ages two and under are free, or $3 a person with a non-perishable food item to be donated to Toledo Seagate Food Bank.

Children’s Wonderland will be open Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. and on Dec. 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Volunteers are still needed to help run Children’s Wonderland and will be needed to help disassemble the displays starting Dec. 26. To volunteer e-mail savechristmasintoledo@gmail.com.

An Amtrak passenger train struck two high school students crossing a track on their way to school in Holland, killing one and critically injuring the other.

Authorities near Toledo say the students were trying to beat the train Wednesday morning at a crossing next to the school.

Several drivers who were stopped for the train saw the accident next to Springfield High School in Holland.

The Ohio Highway Patrol says 15-year-old Cody Brown was killed and 16-year-old Briana Mullinger suffered critical injuries.

The accident happened on a main rail line that connects Chicago and the East Coast.

The Amtrak train was on its way from Washington to Chicago. No one on board was injured.

The Toledo Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the land swap between TPS and the City of Toledo at its meeting Dec.15.

The land swap includes the land where Longfellow Elementary School currently stands and Bowman Park.

Citizens who have been wearing red shirts reading “Make the Right Move,” at meetings concerning the property swap said the decision was a “huge sigh of relief.”

“We’re just happy and excited that it’s done,” said Tracey Clark, Longfellow PTO president.

Clark said the swap provided a safer site for the students.

City Council voted to approve the swap on the Dec. 8.

Superintendent John Foley said the goal is to have the new school built by December 2011.

The land swap has been the center of debate for the neighborhood and parents of Longfellow students the past few weeks.

Paul Unger, executive vice president and provost of Owens Community College, announced his retirement Dec.15, effective Jan.1.

“I’m proud of the accomplishments I have made in my 30 years in the system. I wish the college well. Northwest Ohio has a bright future,” Unger told the Toledo Free Press

Unger has been serving as active president since Owen’s President Christa Adams announced her retirement.

“We tired to persuade Dr. Unger to change his mind and remain as executive vice president/provost but, unfortunately, his decision is firm,” said John Moore,Owens Community College Board of Trustees Chair, in a statement. “We are very grateful to him for his leadership over the years and especially during the past few months.”

Unger has served as executive vice president since 2006 and provost since 2002. Prior to working for Owens Community College Unger worked as Dean of Business at Lima Technical College.

Renay Scott, vice provost at Owens, will be named the interim provost effective Jan. 1.

The board of trustees will announce an interim president in time for spring semester and then focus on a national search for a new president, Moore said.

For more information visit www.owens.edu.

A female police officer shot a 62-year-old woman described by police as “schizophrenic” yesterday after she brandished a pair a sewing scissors and refused to cooperate, threatening to kill the officer.

Officer Diane Chandler, a 33-year-old patrol officer certified with crisis intervention training, shot Linda Hicks multiple times, killing her instantly, said Chief of Police Michael Navarre at a press conference today.

Four bullets were found in Hicks’ body, including two in her head. Navarre said he could not verify exactly how many times Chandler shot Hicks because one of the bullets struck the scissor blades and fragmented.

Chandler and Officer Rebecca Kenney rushed to the scene after the police station received a phone call at about 8 p.m. Monday concerning Hicks possessing a weapon, he said.

When the two arrived, Hicks lay on her bed and refused to remove her arms from beneath her pillow. Kenney attempted to deploy her Taser but the cartridge malfunctioned so she had to use the device in drive-stun mode by placing it against Hicks’ flesh, Navarre said.

Hicks got off the bed and said “I’m going to kill you or you’re going to have to kill me,” and raised her scissors. Chandler then fired her gun, Navarre said.

Hicks, diagnosed with schizophrenia, depression and hypertension, lived in a group home at 1321 Fernwood Ave. and had not taken her medication that day, Navarre said, quoting caretaker Tanya Murphy.

“(Chandler) thought her life was in danger,” Navarre said, adding that he could not comment as to whether he thought the shooting was justified.

Hicks’ death marks the fifth one this year caused by police action, Navarre said. Between this year’s lay-offs and a seemingly more “brazen” offender population, he added the police force has an increasingly more difficult duty.

“It’s a difficult job out there,” Navarre said. “Officers are being stretched to the limit.”

Chandler’s case will be brought before the Fire Arms Review Board for investigation, Navarre said. Prosecutor Julia Bates or an assistant prosecutor will also decide if the case needs a grand jury within a few weeks, he added.

Assist-2-Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty, of Waterville, finished 10th in sales out of hundreds of Assist-2-Sell offices for July, August and September of 2009.

“The Assist-2-Sell system works, and our consistent growth is proof. More and more homeowners in the Toledo area are discovering that we really do offer full service just like our competitors do,” said Tom Greive, owner of Assist-2-Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty.

The individually owned Assist-2-Sell Buyer & Sellers Realty is a member of the larger franchise Assist-2-Sell.

Assist-2-Sell offers home buyers and sellers with full brokerage services for a low flat fee. Agents are fully licensed members of the National Association of Realtors. Assist-2-Sell has offices located across the United States and Canada.

Assist-2-Sell Buyers & Sellers Realty is located at 18 N. Third St. in Waterville.

For more information about Assist-2-Sell in Toledo visit www.shop4toledohomes.com.

The South Toledo YMCA will close its doors on Dec.21.

“With a heavy heart we announce the closing of the South Toledo YMCA,” said Paul Schlatter, the YMCA board of trustees chair.

The campaign to save the South Toledo YMCA established a goal of 500 memberships, later reduced to 376 memberships, to be raised by Dec.12.

The equivalent of 118.3 memberships were raised during the campaign.

“While we know this is a sad day for many people in the neighborhood, the YMCA is committed to a strong presence in South Toledo,” Schlatter said.

Members of the Coalition of Concerned Citizens and Y Members were not in attendance for the public announcement of the South Y closing.

“The ones that have worked the hardest with them, felt the most betrayed. The feel we went through all this effort and all this good faith energy and in the end  [the YMCA] wouldn’t give anything of any substance back,” said Cooper Suter, member of Coalition of Concerned Citizens and Y members.

The coalition wanted the YMCA to commit the South Y branch to be the next major building project, put a coalition member on the board of trustees, to set a definite deadline for the use of the building or to start fundraising for the new South Y with a shovel in the ground date set, Suter said.

Currently, the YMCA is working with UT and the Margaret Hunt Senior Center on the MCO campus, on a concept for a new facility in South Toledo, Schlatter said.

The cost to run the South branch of the YMCA was costing $5,000 a week, said Schlatter. A loss of $150,000 a year for just the building alone said Todd Tibbits, senior vice president of operations for the YMCA.

The facility will be put on “mothballs” until the next step for the facility is decided, said Schlatter. The YMCA is conducting discussions with a few interested parties at this time, but would not release names.

“We will continue to keep the community involved in what is to become of the South Y facility,” Schlatter said.

CedarCreek Church who was originally rumored to want the property has since moved elsewhere.

It will cost the YMCA a projected $20,000 to keep the facility in mothballs for a year, Tibbits said.

Individuals who joined the campaign as a South branch only member will be offered a city-wide membership at their current monthly fee through Dec. 21, 2011, Schlatter said. All other South Y Max members will receive a reduction in their fees to $50 a month for a family and $40 for an individual.

Members may also choose to cancel their membership and the YMCA will stop all automatic payments. South YMCA members will be receiving a letter will full details soon.

“Robert Alexander has tried to base his legacy on the West Toledo Y. I think the more appropriate legacy is that he came in closing the Downtown Y and went out closing the South Y. He left a system already said will be millions of cuts,” Suter said. “He went after expansion and revenue stream at the expense of stability.”

The Coalition of Concerned Citizens and Y Members is hosting its last meeting Dec. 19. At the meeting Suter said he will be urging members to publicly cancel their memberships.

“I would revisit a being a member if I see a change down in corporate with trustees, and I think that’s going to happen next year,” Suter said. “For the greater system I think they’re going to have to change some stuff. Won’t be paying these types of salaries with this type of results in the future. I don’t’ think your going to see layers and layers of nepotism, and the rubber stamp approval. The change will come but it may be slow. If I see change, and firm plans for a South Y I would consider rejoining, supporting and re-pledging.”

Mayor-elect Mike Bell’s goal is to be transparent and one way to do that is by keeping the media informed, he said at the Toledo Press Club meeting Dec. 11.

Toledo area writers and editors expressed frustration they experience when working with the current administration uner Mayor Carty Finkbeiner. Bell assured the press he would not intentionally “step on the media’s toes” and would work to provide the public the truthful answer.

“I don’t want to be at war with the media,” Bell said.

Bell said if the city needs to update its Web site to make it more user friendly to provide timely informaiton, he will explore that, he said. Bell said he does not personally monitor blogs in the city, but has staff that does.

The Press Club event was moderated by Toledo Free Press Editor in Chief Michael S. Miller.

Toledo-Lucas County Public Library as well as other agencies through out the state will be impacted if the Ohio State Senate does not pass the bi-partisan House Bill 318 by Dec. 15.

“No action by the state senate is absolutely unacceptable,” said Clyde Scoles, director of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library. “Another cut would mean another look at the reduction of hours, staff and material the library provides.”

Schools K-12, higher education, social service agencies and local governments would also be affected if the bill did not pass.

The bill would provide enough money to balance the budget next year, Scoles said.

Libraries across the state are urging citizens to contact state senators to pass the bill. Telephone numbers and e-mails for senators can be found on library Web sites. Visit toledolibrary.org for more information.

The joy of watching a team stricken with underclassmen can be difficult to find, especially when youth shows itself during the most inopportune times. (Such as losing an exhibition game.)

But after nine games, the Toledo Rockets are 3-7, and after a wild win over IPFW, a few safe conclusions can be drawn:

• Jake Barnett is the closer. Before the season I imagined Justin Anyijong and/or Mouhamed Lo being the go-to players, since they were the only two juniors on a team with no seniors. But Barnett, a 6-5 true freshman, has become the guy the Rockets turn to whenever they need points. What more proof do you need: he scored the winning layup against IPFW Thursday night with seconds left on the clock. Along with Anyijong and sophomore point guard Larry Bastfield, Barnett was named a co-captain prior to the season, the first time in school history a freshman has been bestowed that title. He leads the team in points, steals, rebounds, 3-point accuracy, and free throw percentage. Yeah, I’d say he’s earned the captain badge.

• Jay Shunnar is the fan favorite. You don’t even need to measure decibels in the audience to know this. The story sells itself. Tried out for the team. Rode the pine as a walk-on. Overlooked to the point that he had his name misspelled on his video scoreboard player graphic (“Sunnar”). And finally … slowly worked himself into the rotation. Prior to this week’s games against Wright State and IPFW, Shunnar saw 28 total minutes in his career (24 this season, four last). In two games, he averaged 28 minutes, establishing himself as the current sixth man. Against IPFW, Shunnar tied the previously lauded Barnett with 16 points. To go along with five assists, a couple rebounds, and a key steal, the Ann Arbor native turned the ball over exactly zero times — which is as many times as he did Tuesday.

• I was absolutely wrong about Frosty coupons. It takes a big man to admit mistakes. Earlier I chided UT for giving away a coupon for a free small Wendy’s Frosty to everyone in attendance if the team scored at least 60 points. I was deathly afraid this young team would struggle to reach it with regularity. But only once in five regular season games have they fallen below the coupon line (only 56 points against Wright State). My punishment, sadly, has been free ice cream, something my gut is telling me I don’t really need. (Remind me to potentially rescind this mea culpa when MAC play begins and aggravating teams like Miami come in and slow the tempo down.)