Vermilion Photojournal

01/15/2026

THREE CHEERS FOR SAILORS SWIM!! Vermilion City School's has a lot to offer in this week's edition, some fantastic showcases on stellar student's! Wes Weaver's column provides insight on school funding with a plan for transparency. City Council received some possible updates on the ever-looming wastewater situation, and an alleged township tiff has resurfaced once more. Vermilion City could be looking into a road surfacing survey, but the Township is holding off on a pricey excavator purchase. A townhome development is just a little closer to fruition and Zack Dolyk tally's up 18 years of service as Vermilion Municipal Court Judge. Catch up on your community news on this snow day, Subscribe today! Call Circulation at 888-860-2177 or subscribe online at www.vermilionphotojournal.com under Subscription Services on the bottom of the page.

01/12/2026

Thank you Cpl. Brian Beckwith and Ofc. Marissa Demuth!! Amazing work VPD! 🚓💜

On 01/11/26 at 4:01 PM, the VPD Dispatch Center received a 911 call for a medical emergency at a residence on Driftwood Dr. VPD Road Patrol Officers, Cpl. Brian Beckwith and Ofc. Marissa Demuth, immediately responded to the location to assist. Upon arrival, Officers found that an elderly female resident was actively choking on a piece of food. The resident was barely able to breathe and was turning blue, but was still conscious. Both Officers then began life saving efforts and the Heimlich maneuver was used to successfully dislodge the piece of stuck food. VFD and Life Care then arrived on scene to evaluate the patient, who was eventually medically cleared.

All VPD employees conduct bi-annual training and are trained and certified in adult and child CPR, choking response including the Heimlich maneuver, AED usage, basic first aid, tourniquet useage, etc.

The VPD encourages everyone to be trained and certified in CPR. AED, first aid and the Heimlich maneuver. This training is readily available, including through the American Red Cross.

The VPD is very proud of our Dispatcher and Cpl. Beckwith and Ofc. Demuth. These Officers responded to the call for help and utilyzed their training to save a life. WELL DONE !

01/08/2026

SEICHES AND SWEAR IN'S.....is what's ringing in the year of 2026. City Council continues the search for the elusive Ward 1 representative, and a former Township trustee makes a return to local government. VPJ bids "adjo" to one of our own, and a thank you to another. Don't miss the opportunity to meet with Mayor Russell Owens during his extended office hours every Thursday, and be sure to congratulate former Finance Director Amy Hendricks on her way out for her proven track record of success. Make the resolution to stay engaged with community news this year. Subscribe today! Call Circulation at 888-860-2177 or subscribe online at www.vermilionphotojournal.com under Subscription Services on the bottom of the page.

01/05/2026

Public Notice - Vermilion City Council Vacancy

12/24/2025

SPREADING JOY...That's our theme going into the holiday season as we feature our own Operation Christmas Joy on the front page, and last week's mission to provide food and toys for local families who need help. And deliver they did - read all about it. Then, the city holds a special ceremony for the new police station as construction is 3/4 completed...and, love it or hate it, we have the final installment of Mayor Jim Forthofer's column as he ends his eight years at the helm of the V-town ship. Council gets some good news about funding some city projects, and in V-township, the proposed purchase of an excavator of more than $200,000 has some residents questioning if it is really needed. Just a note - there will be no Vermilion Photojournal on Jan. 1. The next edition will come out Jan. 8, 2026. Start the year off right with your community news. Subscribe today! Call Circulation at 888-860-2177 or subscribe online at www.vermilionphotojournal.com under Subscription Services on the bottom of the page.

12/18/2025

SILENT (SNOWY) NIGHT...That's our featured front-page photo from VPJ photographer Scott Dommin to bring you a little bit of quiet during the frenetic holiday season. This week's VPJ catches up with Vermilion City Council/Committees. First, get ready for "The Fish" in Showse Park in spring 2026 as council approves Public Art Vermilion's latest installation...then, remember talk of a crosswalk at Toledo and Liberty? Well, it's still just that after council debates costs, and the number of crosswalks downtown...the charter amendment is now in Erie County Common Pleas Court, and the law director gives an update, and there's a lot going on at Planning Commission. Don't forget Operation Christmas Joy sorting and packing Thursday, Dec. 18 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Vermilion Schools Athletic Field House. Wrap up the perfect gift for the holidays - your community news. Subscribe today! Call Circulation at 888-860-2177 or subscribe online at www.vermilionphotojournal.com under Subscription Services on the bottom of the page.

12/11/2025

DOWNTOWN LIGHTS UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS...Our photographers, once again, capture the Hallmark moments of V-town history at this past Friday's Light Up Vermilion, which is our front page feature. Then, we switch back to news, as no action has been taken by V-Township Trustees following an altercation between its zoning inspector/administrator and its prosecutor...and we introduce a new column from Vermilion Local School District Supt. Wes Weaver, and BTW, he's asking you for ideas...and from Planning Commission, the proposed Yves Development gets tabled after issues come up about rezoning and density. And just a reminder, food sorting and packing for Operation Christmas Joy will take place Thursday, Dec. 18 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Vermilion Schools Athletic Field House. Delivery is on Saturday Dec. 20 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Bundle up with your community news. Subscribe today! Call Circulation at 888-860-2177 or subscribe online at www.vermilionphotojournal.com under Subscription Services on the bottom of the page.

12/04/2025

12/04/2025

THE HOLIDAYS SAIL IN WITH SANTA...That's our front page theme for this week's VPJ...we've got a little bit of everything in this week's paper, including some exciting additions to the swim program and movies in the park return to two different areas...then we've got the latest city council meeting, where the mayor swears in a new council member a few weeks early, and legal counsel explains the fight concerning the charter amendment...then we switch to civil service, where the VPD is looking for a few good men and women...and we can't forget another weekend of holiday activities, including Light Up Vermilion on Friday, and Santa in the House on Saturday. And there's a reception for Mayor Forthofer on Sunday. Don't get frozen out of your community news. Subscribe today! Call Circulation at 888-860-2177 or subscribe online at www.vermilionphotojournal.com under Subscription Services on the bottom of the page.

11/26/2025

TALKING TURKEY...That's theme of this week's VPJ as we head into the kickoff of the holiday season - Operation Christmas Joy, Santa By Boat, Shop Small Saturday, Brownhelm Tree Lighting - we've got all the info. And there was an exchange between the V-township administrator and the asst. county prosecutor after an executive session last week - we've got the story and video...and the township votes to take its building department back - but will permits from two developments be enough to sustain it? Then we go back to the city and catch up about the charter amendment, the new fire truck, as well as action by council to keep sewer rates as is for another quarter as members wait for solid info about the proposed sewer improvements...Don't let your goose get cooked before catching up on your community news - subscribe today! Call Circulation at 888-860-2177 or subscribe online at www.vermilionphotojournal.com under Subscription Services on the bottom of the page.

11/20/2025

PARKING PITCH...That's the top story in this week's VPJ as the mayor brings a plan to council that, if approved, could possibly bring 59 parking spaces to the downtown...then, a long-time councilman resigns just shy of 10 years serving the community (Thank you, Brian Holmes)...and it may be next week, but we've got a running list of all holiday activities downtown...then we switch to Planning Commission approves a pump station for the 119 acres off Baumhart; and Port Authority prioritizes its major projects for 2026. Like your turkey, don't let your community news get cold. Warm it up and subscribe today! Call Circulation at 888-860-2177 or subscribe online at www.vermilionphotojournal.com under Subscription Services on the bottom of the page.