A look back at 2021 in Huron

January 1, 2022 Huron Insider

HURON – Remember when we thought 2021 was going to be so much better than 2020 – well that didn’t happen. But as we welcome in 2022, here’s a look back at 2021 in Huron.

COVID-19 Vaccine

The year started off with many being hopeful that the recently approved COVID-19 vaccine would end the pandemic. The year began with Ohioans 80 and over getting vaccinated. Tens of thousands of Ohioans began to get vaccinated daily. By March, Ohioans 16 and over were eligible to get vaccinated. The rate of vaccinations led to a lowering of COVID-19 cases. As a result, on June 2, most COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in Ohio. However, the days of thousands of Ohioans getting vaccinated daily would soon be over, even with multiple COVID-19 incentive programs. By the end of the year, COVID-19 would be spreading again throughout Ohio. Many Ohioans, mostly unvaccinated, were being hospitalized and dying from COVID-19.

Sexual Harassment Lawsuits

By far, the most viewed Huron Insider article of the year was about the first Title IX lawsuit that claimed Huron City Schools failed to protect female students. A second lawsuit would soon follow. Both lawsuits were filed by families of former female Huron City Schools students. They claimed that their daughters were sexually harassed by a male student and school officials did little to nothing to stop the harassment. The lawsuits led to backlash from the Huron community against Huron City Schools. Hundreds of individuals made comments about the lawsuit on Facebook and Twitter. A petition was also created in response to the lawsuit.

There was a twist in the case later in the year. The family of the accused male student filed a lawsuit against the plaintiffs in the first case, the Sandusky Register, and various individuals who commented about the situation. That lawsuit claimed that the male student was defamed by the defendants.

No action has been taken on any of the lawsuits by the end of the year.

Failures of School Levies

In May, 73% Huron voters voted no against a levy for Huron City Schools. The levy was sought “for the purpose of avoiding an operating deficit of the school district in the sum of $2,100,000 per year.” It asked taxpayers for an additional $192 per year for each $100,000 of property valuation. A survey found that most voters voted no because they believed that the levy asked for too much money, the district was trying to pass the levy without the community knowing about it, the district wasn’t taking bulling and harassment seriously, and had concerns about the behavior of district officials. Before the May election, Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber sent a cease and desist letter to Huron City Schools regarding concerns about the use of district resources and time for activities supporting the levy. After the levy failed, Huron City Schools announced multiple cuts for the 2021-22 school year.

In July, the Huron Board of Education voted to put the same levy that failed in May back on the ballot in November. At that same meeting, the board voted to waive all new taxes on Sawmill Creek Resort in exchange for a service payment. This levy was also voted down.

Huron Board of Education Election

With all of the issues mentioned above, eight individuals decided to run for the three open Huron Board of Education spots. At some points the race became very contentious. Stacey Hartley, Stacy Hinners, and Elizabeth Laffay ended up winning the election.

Enderle Arrest

Unlike the Huron Board of Education race, the Huron Township Board of Trustees race was pretty quiet – at least until the end. With just a little over a week left in the race, candidate and current trustee Ed Enderle was charged with Receiving Stolen Property, after an Erie County sheriff’s deputy found that Enderle had taken multiple political signs that were not his, including those of competing candidate Edward Wimmer. Enderle eventually plead no contest and was sentenced to probation. He also lost the election to Wimmer and Mary K. Schlessman.

Gone Too Soon

The Huron community lost many people in 2021. The most notable were the tragic deaths of Chris and Owen Kedas and Laurel Cooley.

In June, 45-year-old Chris Kedas and 11-year-old Owen Kedas were killed in a boating incident on Lake Erie. Following their deaths, the community came together to remember Chris and Owen. A fundraiser created by South Shore Marine raised $241,280 for Chris and Owen’s family. A ceremony was also held to remember Chris and Owen. At the ceremony, Owen’s coaches and teammates remembered the two and a tree was also dedicated to the two. After the ceremony, Owen’s team won their game, 12-3.