WIMA NEWS COPY THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2020

>>TEEN KILLED IN LIMA

(LIMA, OH) -- LAST NIGHT ABOUT 7:30 PM, LIMA POLICE RESPONDED TO A SHOOTING IN THE 300 BLOCK OF SOUTH SCOTT STREET. UPON THEIR ARRIVAL, OFFICERS FOUND A 16 YEAR OLD MALE HAD BEEN SHOT. THE VICTIM WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED BY MEDICAL PERSONNEL AT THE SCENE. SEVERAL WITNESSES WERE INTERVIEWED AND A PERSON OF INTEREST WAS LOCATED. AT THIS TIME, DETECTIVES ARE FOLLOWING UP LEADS AND REVIEWING EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THIS INCIDENT IS ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT CRIME STOPPERS AT 419-229-STOP OR THE LIMA POLICE DEPARTMENT AT 419-227-4444.

>>TREGLIA REMINDS CITIZENS THEY’RE NOT CURFEW POLICE

(LIMA, OH) -- THE ALLEN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE WILL NOT BE ENFORCING THE CURFEW MANDATE FROM GOVERNOR DEWINE. PLEASE DO NOT CALL 911 TO REPORT A CURFEW VIOLATION. IT IS VITAL THAT ALLEN COUNTY’S 911 LINES BE KEPT FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY.

>>CUPP RE-ELECTED TO OHIO’S SPEAKER OF HOUSE

(COLUMBUS, OH) -- LIMA’S STATE REPRESENTATIVE, BOB CUPP, HAS BEEN RE-ELECTED AS SPEAKER OF THE OHIO HOUSE BY HIS REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES.

CUPP WAS ELEVATED TO THE SPEAKERSHIP IN JULY FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF FEDERAL RACKETEERING CHARGES AGAINST THEN-SPEAKER LARRY HOUSEHOLDER, WHO WAS OUSTED FROM THE ROLE.

CUPP WILL CONTINUE AS SPEAKER IN THE UPCOMING 134TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY AFTER BEING SELECTED UNANIMOUSLY BY HIS FELLOW REPUBLICANS YESTERDAY.

LAST WEEK, STATE SENATOR MATT HUFFMAN, OF LIMA WAS UNANIMOUSLY ELECTED AS OHIO SENATE PRESIDENT.

>>BLOCKING ORDERS

(COLUMBUS, OH) -- GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE SAID YESTERDAY THAT HE WILL VETO A BILL, SPONSORED BY REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS, TO STRIP HIM AND HIS HEALTH DIRECTOR OF THE POWER TO ISSUE HEALTH ORDERS DURING A PANDEMIC.

PASSAGE OF HB 621 FURTHER ILLUSTRATES HOW DEWINE'S OWN PARTY IS TURNING AGAINST HIM WHEN IT COMES TO HOW HE IS DEALING WITH COVID-19. ANOTHER BILL TARGETING HEALTH ORDERS WILL GET CONSIDERATION NEXT WEEK. HOUSE BILL 618 WOULD REQUIRE THAT HEALTH ORDERS ISSUED BY THE GOVERNOR AND STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT BE APPROVED BY LAWMAKERS IN ORDER TO TAKE EFFECT.

STATE REPRESENTATIVES JON CROSS OF KENTON AND SHANE WILKIN OF HILLSBORO, BOTH REPUBLICANS, ARE THE CO-SPONSORS OF THE "BUSINESS FAIRNESS ACT." THE BILL PASSED THE OHIO HOUSE BY A 75-TO-11 VOTE.

>>HUFFMAN’S REVAMPED SCHOOL-VOUCHER PROGRAM PASSES STATE SENATE

(COLUMBUS, OH) -- CLEVELAND.COM REPORTS THAT REVISED LEGISLATION TO OVERHAUL OHIO’S EDCHOICE PRIVATE-SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM PASSED THE OHIO SENATE ON WEDNESDAY.

SENATE BILL 89, SPONSORED BY STATE SENATOR MATT HUFFMAN (R-LIMA) WILL NOW HEAD TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE REPORTS SAYS THE BILL AIMS TO HEAD OFF AN UNINTENTIONAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHERE VOUCHERS ARE AVAILABLE FROM ABOUT 500 TO MORE THAN 1,200. THE REASON IS THAT EDCHOICE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY HAS BEEN DETERMINED BASED ON SCHOOL REPORT CARD RANKINGS, AND AN INCREASING NUMBER OF SCHOOLS HAVE FAILED STATE PERFORMANCE REVIEWS — INCLUDING MANY IN AFFLUENT AREAS.

THE MEASURE PASSED THE SENATE 23-8.

>>LOWE'S REACHING OUT TO HELP OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY

(LIMA, OH) -- WITH THE RISE IN COVID CASES IN THE AREA AND IN OHIO, ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR'S MANDATES, THE LOWE'S STORE IN LIMA IS IN A POSITION TO HELP THEIR FELLOW LOCAL BUSINESSES MORE THAN EVER BEFORE. THEY HAVE A LARGE EXCESS OF CLEANING/SANITIZING PRODUCTS AS WELL AS AN EXCESS OF MASKS THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO DONATE TO BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY. WHILE SUPPLIES LAST, THEY ARE WILLING TO HELP ALL BUSINESSES IN THE AREA THAT MAY BE STRUGGLING TO ACQUIRE THESE PRODUCTS. THEY KNOW THAT THE MASK MANDATE IS GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT ONE FOR SOME BUSINESSES. LOWE'S WILL ALSO BE PROVIDING THEIR PATRONS WITH MASKS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE STORE MANAGER: KEVIN VERBRYKE AT 419-331-3598

WIMA SPORTS COPY THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2020

>>TOLEDO ROCKETS USE QUARTERBACK TANDEM TO DEMOLISH EASTERN MICHIGAN ON THE ROAD

(YPSILANTI, MI) -- THE TOLEDO ROCKETS BLASTED OFF TO A HOT START IN THE FIRST-HALF ON THE WAY TO A 45-28 VICTORY OVER EASTERN MICHIGAN. THE ROCKETS TOOK A 17-POINT LEAD INTO THE BREAK AND THEN STORMED OUT FOR 14 UNANSWERED POINTS TO BEGIN THE SECOND-HALF. TOLEDO STARTING QUARTERBACK ELI PETERS THREW FOR 190-YARDS AND TWO TOUCHDOWNS WITH BACKUP CARTER BRADLEY CONNECTING ON TWO SCORES IN RELIEF WHILE BRYANT KOBACK RUSHED FOR 149-YARDS AND A TOUCHDOWN. TOLEDO (2-1) WILL NOW TAKE A FEW DAYS OFF TO PREPARE FOR THEIR NEXT GAME ON NOVEMBER 28TH AGAINST BALL STATE.

>>THOMAS HELPS BALL STATE TO WIN OVER NIU

(MUNCIE, IN) -- LIMA SENIOR GRAD JAYLIN THOMAS RECORDED 13 TACKLES FOR BALL STATE AS THE CARDINALS DOWNED NORTHERN ILLINOIS, 31-25, LAST NIGHT AT SCHUEMANN STADIUM. TWO OF THOSE TACLES WERE FOR LOSS AND THOMAS ALSO RECORDED A SACK AS THE CARDS IMPROVED TO 2-1. NIU FELL TO 0-3.

>>DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH STAY-AT-HOME ADVISORY MEANS NO MORE FANS AT OHIO STADIUM

(COLUMBUS, OH) -- FAMILY MEMBERS OF OHIO STATE FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND THEIR OPPONENTS ARE NOW PROHIBITED AT OHIO STADIUM. THE UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED THE NEW RULE YESTERDAY TO MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE WITH THE COLUMBUS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S NEW STAY-AT-HOME ADVISORY. THE STAY-AT-HOME ORDER WILL ALSO MEAN NO ATTENDANCE AT UPCOMING OSU MEN'S AND WOMEN'S HOCKEY OR BASKETBALL GAMES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR. OFFICIALS SAY THEY PLAN TO RE-EVALUATE THE ORDER BEFORE THE OHIO STATE GAME AGAINST MICHIGAN ON DECEMBER 12TH.

>>CAVALIERS SELECT ISAAC OKORO WITH THE FIFTH PICK IN THE 2020 NBA DRAFT

(BRISTOL, CT) -- THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS USED THE FIFTH PICK IN THE 2020 NBA DRAFT TO SELECT AUBURN FRESHMAN SMALL FORWARD ISAAC OKORO. THE 19-YEAR-OLD, SIX-FOOT-SIX DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST PLAYED IN 28-GAMES WITH THE TIGERS LAST SEASON AND AVERAGED 12-POINT-NINE-POINTS, FOUR-POINT-FOUR REBOUNDS, AND TWO ASSISTS PER CONTEST. A FIRST-GENERATION AMERICAN CHILD OF NIGERIAN IMMIGRANTS, OKORO IS THE FIRST ONE-AND-DONE PLAYER EVER TO COME OUT OF AUBURN. OKORO WILL JOIN A YOUNG NUCLEUS OF RISING STARS IN CLEVELAND, INCLUDING COLLIN SEXTON AND DARIUS GARLAND.

>>DAYTON FLYERS OBI TOPPIN DRAFTED AT NUMBER EIGHT BY THE NEW YORK KNICKS

(BRISTOL, CT) -- DAYTON FLYERS FORWARD OBI TOPPIN IS NOW A MEMBER OF THE NEW YORK KNICKS. TOPPIN WAS SELECTED BY THE KNICKS AT NUMBER EIGHT DURING THE NBA VIRTUAL DRAFT LAST NIGHT. A NATIVE OF BROOKLYN, TOPPIN HAD A BREAKOUT SEASON LAST YEAR IN DAYTON, WHERE HE WON THE WOODEN AWARD AS THE NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR. TOPPIN PLAYED IN 64 CAREER GAMES WITH FLYERS AND AVERAGED 17-POINTS, SIX REBOUNDS, AND TWO ASSISTS. DURING HIS POST-SELECTION INTERVIEW, TOPPIN THANKED HIS PARENTS, TEAMMATE JALEN CRUTCHER AND DAYTON HEAD COACH ANTHONY GRANT.

>>OHIO STATE'S KALEB WESSON GOES UNDRAFTED IN 2020 NBA VIRTUAL DRAFT

(COLUMBUS, OH) -- OHIO STATE FORWARD KALEB WESSON IS NOW WORKING TO JOIN AN NBA TEAM AS A FREE AGENT AFTER GOING UNDRAFTED ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. WESSON HAD BEEN PROJECTED AS A LATE SECOND-ROUND PICK BUT WAS PASSED OVER DURING THE DRAFT, WHICH WAS HELD VIRTUALLY DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

>>T'WOLVES TAKE UGA'S EDWARDS WITH TOP PICK IN NBA DRAFT

(BRISTOL, CT) -- THE 2020 VIRTUAL NBA DRAFT IS IN THE BOOKS. THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES MADE GEORGIA GUARD ANTHONY EDWARDS THE TOP PICK. THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS THEN SELECTED MEMPHIS CENTER JAMES WISEMAN SECOND. THE CHARLOTTE HORNETS SCOOPED UP GUARD LAMELO BALL WITH THE THIRD PICK. THE YOUNGER BROTHER OF NEW ORLEANS PELICANS GUARD LONZO BALL PLAYED IN AUSTRALIA LAST SEASON.

>>OHIO STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL UNVEILS 2020-2021 SEASON SCHEDULE

(COLUMBUS, OH) -- THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY IS UNVEILING THE 26-GAMES IT WILL PLAY AS PART OF ITS 2020-2021 MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE. OSU ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT THE BUCKEYES WILL PLAY SIX NON-CONFERENCE GAMES AND 20 GAMES AGAINST BIG TEN OPPONENTS. OHIO STATE BEGINS BIG TEN PLAY ON DECEMBER 16TH AGAINST PURDUE AND WILL HAVE TWO SETS OF COLLAPSIBLE DATES IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY TO ADJUST TO ANY INTERRUPTIONS FROM COVID-19. THE BUCKEYES OPEN THE SEASON ON NOVEMBER 26TH AGAINST ILLINOIS STATE, FOLLOWED BY GAMES AGAINST UMASS-LOWELL, MOREHEAD STATE, ALABAMA A&M, NOTRE DAME, AND NORTH CAROLINA BEFORE OPENING CONFERENCE PLAY.