🌱 Toledo Trooper Injured In Hit & Run + Glass City Center Now Open

Hello, everybody. I'm back in your inbox this morning with everything you need to know about what's happening these days in town.

• Phony funeral director Shawnte Hardin sentenced to 11 years in prison by Judge Michael Goulding
• Ohio State Trooper Nicholas J. Konrad was injured in a hit & run at the U.S. 23/I-475 split
• Toledo's famous German-American Festival is this weekend
• City officials celebrate the opening of the Glass City Center
• Vanessa Hutchen posts $25,000 bond after firing a gun near Arlington Elementary School

---

📣 Our readers love to celebrate good news! You can now shout out your big announcement at the top of the Toledo Daily newsletter. Whether it's a grand opening, new product for sale, birthday, anniversary, engagement, wedding or new baby, let everyone celebrate alongside you! Submit your announcement here.

---

First, today's weather:

Nice with plenty of sunshine. High: 79 Low: 59.

---

Here are the top five stories today in Toledo:

1. Shawnte Hardin, convicted of running phony funeral homes throughout Ohio, has been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison by Lucas County Judge Michael Goulding. Hardin has maintained his innocence, though more than 50 witnesses testified about unreturned cremated remains or bodies not being cremated at all. (WTOL)
2. Ohio State Trooper Nicholas J. Konrad of the Toledo Post was struck in a hit-and-skip accident while tending to a separate car accident on the U.S. 23 southbound to eastbound ramp at I-475. The suspect was driving a dark pickup truck and Trooper Konrad was injured as a result. (The Courier)
3. Officials from Lucas County and the City of Toledo gathered to celebrate the opening of the Glass City Center at the site of the former SeaGate Center on Thursday. The Glass City Center features a 16,000 square-foot ballroom, large outdoor terrace with views of Fifth Third Field, and $1.5 million artwork through a collaboration with The Arts Commission. (WTVG)
4. UPDATE: Vanessa Hutchen, 34, has posted the $25,000 bond she received for firing a gun into the air outside of Arlington Elementary in South Toledo. Hutchen appeared in the Toledo Municipal Court Friday morning on charges of possession of a deadly weapon on school grounds and improperly discharging a firearm n a school zone. (WTOL)
5. The Toledo Police are warning residents of a scam after a group of males have been stealing phones by pretending they need to call a parent. The group is allegedly using the phones to access cash apps to pay for the scooters and mopeds around town. (WTVG)

---

Today in Toledo:

• Fall Warbler Workshop - Toledo Zoo & Aquarium (7 p.m.)
• German-American Festival - Oak Shade Grove (2 p.m.)
• Dog-Friendly Canoe Rentals at Side Cut Metropark (10 a.m.)
• Peace, Love and Happiness Block Rockn Street Fair Bash - 300 N. Superior St. (10 a.m.)
• A Clean Sweep-Interactive Murder Mystery Party at the Spaghetti Warehouse (6:30 p.m.)

---

From my notebook:

• The German-American Festival runs all weekend celebrating traditional German culture and cuisine at Oak Shade Grove in Oregon. Stop by to try some authentic German beer and food such as schnitzel, bratwurst, potato pancakes, and pommes frites. (WTOL)
• Cardinal Stritch Catholic High School & Academy already offers foreign language classes beginning as early as kindergarten. Now, families of students have the option to learn a foreign language online. (WTOL)
• Though Toledo Firefighter Myles Copeland has gained some well-earned notoriety after helping to save referee John Sculli during a game, he has been able to stay humble through it all. Mr. Copeland, a graduate of St. Johns high school and Trine University, has been given a key to the city by Toledo Mayor Kapszukiewicz and met with Cleveland Browns cornerback and founder of the Make Them Know Your Name Foundation Denzel Ward. (WTOL)
• Lutheran Social Services of Northwest Ohio hosted a drive-thru pantry donation Friday morning. Known as the Emergency Choice Food Pantry, the donations help serve the community, including 521 people just in the month of June. (WNWO NBC 24)
• The Maumee Senior Center is hosting its free Health and Wellness Fair Friday, September 9 from 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at 2430 S. Detroit Ave. The event will feature free health screenings including blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, balance/fall, vascular health and also offer free food and a cash prize. (WTVG)

---

Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you around!

— Brad King

About me: I have been a lifelong Northwest Ohio native and University of Toledo grad (Go Rockets!). I'm old enough to remember when the Mud Hens were still playing in Maumee. The Glass City has seen some amazing revitalization and I am so excited to share every update with you!

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Toledo Daily? Contact me at toledo@patch.com