Home Care In Berkey, OH

A vintage Jeep fire truck is being auctioned off by the Richfield Twp. Fire Department to help buy new equipment.

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - You have a chance to own an important piece of local history and help a fire department at the same time. A Willys fire truck is being auctioned off by the Richfield Township Fire Department.

When it was first put into service, crews used it to fight all kinds of fires. In its later years, it was only used to battle brush fires. At more than 75 years old now, it will once again provide a valuable service to the community.

It originally cost about $500 and was paid for with donations from the community.

“You pulled up next to a lake, river, or pond and used the suction hose to pull out water,” explains Chief Keith Clonch, who says it was cutting-edge for its time. “Then you used the hoses in back to run up to the vehicle or structure, whatever was on fire.”

But the Jeep has been mostly idle for more than a decade and the department has a lot of older safety gear and vehicles in its fleet right now. The sale will help pay for some much-needed updates.

“We don’t have a lot of options right now when it comes to getting new safety gear and equipment, so our best option is to sell some vehicles like the Jeep,” says Chief Clonch. “Otherwise, we have to go to taxpayers. That doesn’t make sense to do that at this time.”

It’s a sealed bid auction with a minimum bid of $10,000.

“The estimated value as-is is about $15-16,000, says Clonch. “We’re hoping to bring in at least that amount. We’re told if it is fully restored it will have a value of about $30,000.”

People have come from all over the see the old workhorse.

“We’ve had people fly in from as far away as Las Vegas. Others have driven from Indiana and Kentucky to place bids on the vehicle. There is a GoFundMe account set up by a woman in New York, and I was among the first to donate to that effort. The goal is to raise enough to buy it and donate it to a museum.”

Chief Clonch understands that it’s hard for many to say goodbye to something that’s been a part of the community for decades, but the auction will help ensure the safety of this community for years to come.

Sealed bids need to be addressed to Chief Keith Clonch, and sent to the department. The address is 11450 Sylvania Avenue Berkey, OH 43504. They will be accepted until April 2nd. They’ll be opened at the Richfield Township Trustees meeting on April 5th. To learn more, get connected to richfieldtwp.com.

Copyright 2021 WTVG. All rights reserved.

The wetlands project is part of restoring the pivotal role that the historic Irwin Wet Prairie served for wildlife and reducing nutrient runoff in the area.

Credit: B Hillz Excavating Inc.

BERKEY, Ohio — A recent groundbreaking by a global conservation organization is providing a major boost to wetlands restoration efforts across the Western Lake Erie Basin.

The 280-acre Sandhill Crane Wetlands project will restore a portion of the historic Irwin Wet Prairie, which played a role in naturally treating nutrient runoff into nearby streams which led to Lake Erie. The Irwin Wet Prairie was once over 10 miles long and provided a habitat for songbirds, waterfowl, amphibians and reptiles.

“Today, less than 5% of all wetlands and marshes in the western Lake Erie basin remain, and their removal has resulted in profound impacts on water quality, most notably the annual harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie,” Alexis Sakas, natural infrastructure director for The Nature Conservancy in Ohio, said in a press release Tuesday.

RELATED: Ohio unveils action plan to fight Lake Erie algae

For over 40 years, The Nature Conservancy, Metroparks Toledo and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has worked to protect the Irwin Wet Prairie region of Oak Openings. The 280-acre area that will become the Sandhill Crane Wetlands was farmed for decades and frequently flooded.

“The Sandhill Crane Wetlands project will return much needed ‘natural infrastructure’ to the landscape, which provides long-term benefits of flood reduction, cleaner water, wildlife habitat and recreation and tourism opportunities," said Sakas. "Upon completion of the restoration, this site will provide an estimated 300 million gallons of additional stormwater storage capacity thereby reducing flood impacts and enabling replanted native vegetation to absorb nutrients that would otherwise be carried downstream to the lake."

The name of the project reflects optimism that sandhill cranes will once again nest in the Oak Openings region. The cranes have not successfully nested in the area in over 70 years.

Credit: Jackie Riley

The initial restoration phase will take place over the next year, providing research and education opportunities for landowners, students and partners according to The Natural Conservancy.

Because the location is within the Maumee Area of Concern, it is considered a priority project for wildlife habitat and funding was provided by the Maumee Area of Concern and Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Programs.

• Toledo, Ohio, Issue 24, City Funds for Street Improvements Charter Amendment (November 2023): ?

• Toledo, Ohio, Issue 25, Bayview Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Advisory Question (November 2023): ?

• Toledo City School District, Ohio, Issue 9, 6.5 Mill Property Tax Renewal Measure (November 2023): ?

• Toledo City School District, Ohio, Issue 10, 5.8 Mill Property Tax Renewal Measure (November 2023): ?

How does one succeed at being a fashion model and stepping out on the catwalk at 46 years old?

According to Carrie Berkey, it is by not trying too hard at all.

Ms Berkey has continued modelling after having five children, one of whom joined her on the catwalk at the iD International Emerging Designers Show this week.

The former New York-based model has been in the business since she was 18, living mainly in New York, but working full-time in Paris, Milan, Germany and Miami.

She moved to Wanaka 10 years ago, and is juggling about two modelling assignments a month with her other job of bringing up her children, who are aged between 10 and 18.

She said last night a modelling career working from Wanaka was, not surprisingly, different from modelling in New York.

There would be more work if she lived in a bigger centre.She had been asked to do the emerging designers show, which was the first time she had modelled in the same show as her daughter.

Asked if her daughter Lucy took her advice on modelling, she said: "She’s a teenager, you know".

"She’s so gorgeous, she’s so humble, she’d rather be at a party with her friends right now than being in a fashion show."

Ms Berkey had put together shows in Wanaka, where she trained models.

"My goal was to train them all how to walk.

"I didn’t want anyone to go on the runway unnoticed, I wanted them to feel confident, and just give them some experience that I have had in the past."

Asked how she kept herself in condition for modelling, Ms Berkey said she did not keep herself in trim "for that possible phone call".

Rather, she did not like to feel less than "somewhat fit".

"I’ve always had a sort of naturally fast metabolism, but I just go for walks up Mt Iron with my dogs and stuff. I don’t really like going to the gym."

On skin care she described herself as "really no fuss. I’m terrible".

"I think less of everything is probably better."

Her agent Andrea Basile, of Unique Model Management in Auckland, said older models had a wider market reach and were "just as beautiful as the younger girls".

"They know how to model ... they’ve got experience behind them, and they’ve got wisdom."

"There’s definitely a market for the slightly older model."

An early Sunday morning fire left behind a smoldering shell of the over 100-year-old hardware and carryout store Keeler's Korner in the small town of Berkey.

BERKEY, Ohio — Early Sunday morning, a fire ripped through the over 100-year-old hardware and carryout store Keeler's Korner in the small town of Berkey in Lucas County.

Although the owner Gary Keeler and his wife live in the building's upstairs loft, no one was home at the time of the fire at the historic community staple located at the intersection of Sylvania-Metamora and Berkey Southern roads.

This small community is glad no one was physically hurt, but emotionally, it appears that the town is devastated.

Loyal customer Joel Hudik stopped by with his young daughter Josie Hudik to see how bad the damage was.

He offered Keeler some words of encouragement and explained that this building was the go-to spot in Berkey.

"This was our carryout. This was where we stopped and got our coffee, got our candy, and you know, bought our beer," Hudlik explained. "It's where we... It was ours."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Berkey, OH (@theviewfromberkey)

Credit: WTOL 11

Keeler noted that the goal is to keep the frame, if it's not too badly damaged, and try to bring back the old building.

There are things that he's collected over the years from all over northwest Ohio that he'll never be able to replace.

"Beautiful wood, woodwork, doors that had stories. You can't replace that," Keeler said.

But just because some things are now gone forever, he's not giving up hope yet. As customers and community members stopped by, they offered words of encouragement.

"Thanks for everybody who has been giving us the support. Somehow, we want to try and save this place," Keeler added.

Credit: WTOL 11

Built in 1913, Keeler said the carryout has only changed owners a few times. He purchased the building back in 1992 and worked on it throughout the years. Keeler recently took ownership of the carryout in January of 2020.

He said the building was the heartbeat of the community for over a century.

But, what do you do when the beating stops?

"Can we bring this place back to life? I don't know," Keeler said. "But, we'd like to."

"I'd like to see it rebuilt exactly the way it was before," Hudik added. "Nobody wants to see a brand new building sitting there. This town doesn't look the same without that building on the corner."

Credit: WTOL 11

Hudik couldn't believe the shell of the building before his eyes; he'd just purchased candy for Josie the day before it caught fire.

"It was our stop, it was our carry out. Come in and talk to the farmers in the morning. Have a coffee and get all the gossip for the day," Hudik said. "It's a landmark."

Keeler said community members have stopped by with their shovels, pickup trucks, ladders and any other equipment to help him out in any way they can.

He said the reason is because it's more than just a building. It's more than just a store.

This is Berkey, Ohio.

Credit: WTOL 11

If you would like to help Keeler's Korner rebuild, here's a link to the verified GoFundMe in support.

Related Articles