News from BG: August 25, 2021
Rally BG Event: Saturday, August 28th

The City of Bowling Green and Bowling Green State University (BGSU) invite you to a fun event for people of all ages to gather, explore Downtown BG, welcome the return of BGSU students, eat, and be entertained. Rally BG on Main will take place on Saturday, August 28, 2021 in historic Downtown Bowling Green. Main Street will be closed to vehicular traffic for the duration of the event, allowing for a day packed full of fun activities in the heart of Bowling Green.

A Rally BG on Main event website has been created. Be sure to review the full schedule of events and plan your day around your favorite activities!
Boy Scout Half Marathon and 5k – August 28

The Boy Scouts annual half marathon and 5k run will take place in Bowling Green on August 28. The run will begin at 7:30 am from the Wood County Fairgrounds. The route will be as follows:

  • West on Poe Rd
  • North on Haskins Rd
  • East on W. Newton Rd.
  • South on Fairview Ave.
  • East on Conneaut Ave.
  • South on Main Street through the downtown
  • West on Sand Ridge Rd.
  • South on the Slippery Elm Trail
  • West on Gypsy Lane Rd.
  • West on Sand Ridge Rd.
  • North on Wintergarden Rd.
  • West into the Stone Ridge subdivision via Pine Valley Drive.
  • North on Mitchell Rd.
  • East on Conneaut Ave.
  • North on Fairview Ave.
  • West on Poe Rd.
  • North on Village Dr. through the Village subdivision
  • North on Brim Rd. exiting into the Fairgrounds

While runners are present on each road, traffic will be affected and traffic patterns may be altered.
Volunteer Energy Services
Refund Checks

If you received notice from Volunteer Energy Services that you were being refunded for natural gas costs, the refund is legitimate. 

Volunteer Energy Services is the natural gas aggregation provider for those receiving service from Columbia Gas. 

Volunteer Energy Gas Aggregation customers are receiving refund checks from Volunteer Energy Services, Inc. due to a pass-through charge they added to participant bills when they had to pay higher prices in March 2021. It was determined by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio this was to be reimbursed to the participants.

If you have questions, please contact the Utilities Director Office at 419-354-6246.
Splash Pad Open
Wednesday through Friday 

The Parks and Recreation Department will be opening the Splash Pad connected to the pool Wednesday through Friday (August 25-27) from noon to 5 pm. This will be free of charge to the community on a first come, first serve basis.

The pool complex was scheduled to be closed these days due to the start of BG City Schools classes. With the postponement of the start of classes and the anticipated hot weather and high heat indexes the department is able to provide access to the Splash Pad for these days. The whole pool complex will be open on the weekends only now through Labor Day.

For questions or more information call 419-354-6223.
Main Street Closed to Vehicular Traffic
Saturday, August 28th
5:00 AM - 11:00 PM

Due to the Boy Scout Half Marathon and 5k and the Rally BG event taking place on Saturday, August 28th, Main St. will be closed from Clay St. to Washington St. from 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM.

Wooster Street will remain open and detours will be posted.
Columbia Gas Line Replacement Project Update

Hi everyone:

Ben Cutler here from Columbia Gas. Want to provide a quick update on our ongoing Haskins Replacement Project in Bowling Green...

  • All of the new mainline has been installed. 
  • Service line replacements are about 70% complete. Crews are working this week on Wallace and the other side streets off of Haskins. If you haven't heard from us to schedule the appointment, expect that we will be in touch soon. 
  • Permanent restoration will follow once installs are complete. Thanks for being patient with us on that front...we'll be sure to fully restore all impacted property.

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. Contact info below.

Best,

Ben Cutler, MBA | Public Affairs Specialist | Columbia Gas of Ohio
Cell: 216.215.4103 (call/text)
Bcutler@nisource.com
www.facebook.com/bencutler.coh
Natural Gas Emergency: 1-800-344-4077
WOOD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Wood County Health Department has received confirmation that the Delta variant is in Wood County. This was anticipated, given its transmissibility and rapid spread across Ohio and the nation.

Wood County Health Department recommends all individuals wear masks indoors, including people who are fully vaccinated.
  • This change is because the Delta variant can be spread by fully vaccinated people if they contract it. Previous variants did not demonstrate the same transmission risk among those who are fully vaccinated.  
  • Adding mask-wearing along with vaccinations best limits the spread of COVID-19 and protects against the development of future variants.
  • Vaccination is key as it both reduces a person’s risk of becoming sick and protects from severe disease, including hospitalization and death.
  • The Delta is spreading faster than any previous COVID-19 variant.
  • To help prevent spread, it is vital that all individuals, including those who are fully vaccinated, contact their doctor about being tested if they have symptoms that could be caused by COVID.

COVID was associated with an increase in the death rate in 2020.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has caused approximately 615,000 deaths in the United States to date, according to national statistics.
  • According to provisional fatality data, 3,358,814 deaths occurred in 2020, up from approximately 2.8 million in each of the previous three years.  

As we continue to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines, it is being consistently confirmed they are safe and effective.
  • These vaccines have undergone and will continue to undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. 
  • Over 338 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been given in the United States. 162 million Americans are fully vaccinated. 
  • Serious side effects are rare and much less common than severe or lingering outcomes from contracting COVID. 
  • According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 96 percent of doctors have been vaccinated. 

Wood County Health Department will continue to make vaccine clinics available this summer to anyone who hasn’t yet been vaccinated for COVID-19. Several options will be available on a recurring basis, and other times and locations will be scheduled on a weekly basis.