House Fire Leaves Local Family Looking For Home
BY NANCY GAGNET — MIRROR REPORTER
On June 4 around midnight, Patsy Grant awoke to hear that a fire had started in her kitchen.
Her 16-year-old son Dominic alerted his mother and siblings, while her 15-year-old son C.J. doused the flames with water.
Patsy and her six children managed to escape from the home, which sustained smoke damage.
“I was boiling bottles on the stove and I thought I turned it off before going to bed,” she said.
The single mother said she was renting the home when the incident occurred and had renter’s insurance.
Since four of her children have asthma, she didn’t return to the home, spending several weeks at a local hotel instead.
While she anticipated returning to the home, she failed to properly notify the Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority – which provided her with housing assistance – and her assistance was terminated.
She has appealed that decision and is waiting for a hearing, which is scheduled to take place this week.
In the meantime, she and her children have moved into her grandparents’ small three-bedroom home in Maumee, where she says things are cramped.
“We need a home,” she said.
A 1996 graduate of Maumee High School, Grant who is 33, said she was working as a nursing assistant and was one semester away from receiving her nursing license when her Crohn’s disease caused her to seek disability. She also has a central line port and migraine headaches.
Now, out of work and caring for her children, ages 6 months to 16 years, Patsy is distraught.
“I’m overwhelmed in a small space with a lot of kids and nowhere to go,” she said.
Her friend Devoren Garn has reached out to help, and, while she acknowledged that Grant bears responsibility for her situation, she believes it’s important to help for the sake of the children.
“Patsy is a wonderful mom who does all she can. How can she get out of this and get to the next level without help?” she asked.
Garn sent a plea for support on Facebook, but thus far has received little response.
Grant said her possessions are being cleaned, but she isn’t sure what will be salvaged from the fire. Dominic and C.J. will receive a special award on July 30 from the state fire marshal for their work in putting out the flames and getting the family safely out of the house.
For those interested in helping financially, the Grant Family Fire Fund has been established at Key Bank.
To find out more, contact Grant at (419) 705-0281.

Benefit For Kalub Motter Set At Timbers Bowling Lanes
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
Since he could utter the words “Go Bucks,” Kalub Motter has wanted to attend The Ohio State University.
On Saturday, August 7, a fund-raiser at Timbers Bowling Lanes should kick-start the college fund his father Brett never had a chance to open.
Brett, a 29-year-old from Whitehouse, was killed in a motorcycle accident on June 12.
“Kalub dreams of attending The Ohio State University and becoming professional soccer player,” said his aunt Kim Jarzeboski, who is organizing the event for her 11-year-old nephew.
Kalub, who will be entering the sixth grade, enjoys soccer, golf and baseball, and played on an all-star team a few weeks ago.
“He’s a very adventurous kid, and very loveable,” Jarzeboski said.
Pre-registration is open for the event, which takes place from 5:00 p.m. to midnight at Timbers, located at 1246 Conant St. in Maumee.
Tickets are $15.00 each or $10.00 each for families of four or more. The price includes two games of bowling, shoe rental, two slices of pizza, a beverage and desserts.
All donations will be deposited into the Kalub Motter Benefit Fund at Huntington Bank.
The family-friendly event will also include many raffle items donated from area business, Jarzeboski said.
Brett, a Maumee High School graduate, was a locksmith for the family business, Horn Lock and Key.
“A lot of people knew him,” Jarzeboski said.
The family will gather outside at 8:00 p.m. and release balloons filled with messages to Brett.
To pre-register a lane at Timbers, call (419) 376-6721.

Golf Outing And Bike Run Planned To Raise Funds For Bri Mullinger
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
With over $70,000 in medical bills, Bri Mullinger’s family could use some help.
So when family friend Alyson Blair Binkley, a 2008 Springfield High School graduate, began working as an intern with the Toledo Children’s Hospital Foundation, one of her first assignments became to help organize a fund-raiser for the SHS student who was seriously injured in a train accident last December.
Binkley, Molly Long and several area parents are working with Jed’s Barbeque and Brew on Holland-Sylvania to host two events for Bri on Sunday, August 15: a golf outing and a motorcycle run.
The golf outing, held at Spuyten Duyvel Golf Club, includes 18 holes of golf with a cart, food and drink. The day begins with a shotgun start at 8:00 a.m. A dinner and parking lot party with $1.00 drafts for golfers will follow at Jed’s. The entry fee for foursomes is $240. Hole sponsorships are also available.
Prizes include longest drive and closest to the pin, as well as $400 first place, $200 second place and $100 third place team prizes. The deadline for sign-up is Saturday, August 7.
A day-long Ride For Bri Mullinger will begin with registration from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Village Inn, with an optional breakfast buffet. Stops include Skeeter’s in Whitehouse, Margaritaville in Sandusky and Dos Harmanos Oregon on Wheeling Road.
The last stop is Jed’s for a parking lot party with $1.00 Miller Lite drafts and lots of door prizes.
The cost is $25.00 per rider and $15.00 per passenger, with all money going to help Bri.
Checks should be made payable to Toledo Children’s Hospital Foundation, which will ensure all proceeds go toward Bri’s medical bills.
“The Springfield Township community is so close. Everyone has gotten together to help,” Binkley said.
Jed’s is located at 855 S. Holland-Sylvania Rd. near Angola. For information, visit www.jedstoledo.com for a link to the Jed’s Facebook page or call (419) 868-6666.