By Bob Strohm
bobstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Cold and rainy conditions couldn’t stop 250 people from taking a stand and marching in support of the local fight against drugs. In its third year, the Community Care March drew people from the different communities in Crawford County to Crestline.
The march began at the high school, and finished at the gazebo on North Seltzer Street where Crestline Mayor Dave Sharrock, Judge Sean Leuthold, Shawn Mills, Pastor Frank Bolden, and others spoke to the crowd.
New Washington United Methodist Church Reverend Scott Blevins talks about participating in his first Community Care March.
“I think the turnout was great today,” said Blevins, who also spoke. “It is wonderful to see this many people come out on a dreary Saturday morning to say we care enough, that we don’t mind being uncomfortable, in order to let folks know that we know there is a problem, we care about the folks that are struggling and we want to do something to help.”
Sharrock spoke to the crowd thanking them for coming to the march, gave an update of the new detective saying that he is working part time together with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, the Galion Police Department, and METRICH, and part-time on patrol.
Sharrock closed by telling people to call the Crestline police tip line if they see anything out of the ordinary.
Judge Sean Leuthold joked with the crowd.
“I have been keeping track of times, and this year we completed the march in our fastest time ever, so not only are we taking a stand against drugs, but we are getting in shape.”
Leuthold encouraged the crowd explained that progress is happening in the drug battle in Crawford County.
“As a judge I used to see 15-20 heroin cases a week, now it is down to handful,” Leuthold said. “We are winning this battle, now we just have to finish the job,” Judge Leuthold said, before thanking the law enforcement of Crestline, Galion, Bucyrus, and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.
Shawn Mills spoke to the crowd telling his story of addiction to redemption.
“If Judge Sean Leuthold would have let me out I had it already planned I was going to get my fix, I was going to get high, but he didn’t let me out,” Mills said. “So I thank him for not doing that.”
“I say salvation is through Christ,” Mills continued. “But in recovery God uses different ways.”
Mills thanked those who helped him along his way to recovery, and finished by praying for help with the battle of the drug addiction in the community.
Crestline First Baptist Church Pastor Frank Bolden, and New Washington United Methodist Church Reverend Scott Blevins finished by leading the crowd in prayer.
The Community Cares March was sponsored by Crawford: 20/20 Vision and Together We Hurt Together We Heal.
A photo gallery of the Community Care March is on the Photo page.