Whether you're rooting for the Colts or the Saints tonight, every good game needs great snacks. Lots of people disagree on who's going to win, but everyone agrees that the best way to celebrate the game is with lots of good food. Snacks and beer sales go up around the Super Bowl according to progressivegrocer.com. During the weeks surrounding the game, snack sales are expected to reach $595 million in the U.S. 52 million cases of beer will be sold. Chips will have the largest sales with around 8.3 million pounds of tortillas alone sold. It's not just snack sales that are go up. Wit people eating so much junk, antacid sales also increase by 20% on Super Bowl weekend.
The TV commercials during the Super Bowl are always a big draw. Last year, advertisers weren't quite so splashy while the recession was in full swing. This year, advertisers boosted the amount of money spent and ads for products like beer and snacks and services should be more humorous. The ads are definitely expensive. A 30 second ad costs about two and a half million dollars.
It's been a little more than a week since dozens of horses were rescued by the Ottawa County Humane Society. Tonight, volunteers caring for the malnourished animals say they're starting to recover. The horses are said to be perking up. However, they remain thin and continue to rely on blankets to keep them warm. Until their stomachs are stronger, they'll remain on a hay-only diet. The owner of the animals, Robin Vess, faces 42 counts of cruelty to animals.
The Village of Waterville faces cuts as it tries balancing the 2010 budget. The village is facing a $200,000 budget deficit which could cost residents more money. The village is looking at several ways to balance the budget, such as charging residents a $4 trash fee, reducing the income tax credit by 0.25% for residents who work outside the city, or cancelling 4th of July fireworks and the annual Easter egg hunt. Those changes could save thousands of dollars, but Waterville Mayor Derek Merrin opposes some of the fee and tax hikes. Instead of tax hikes, the mayor believes staff layoffs and changing village employee health plans are better ways to close the budget gap. The village must have a general fund budget in place by March 1. Council meets tomorrow night to discuss some of the suggested changes.
Four area Catholic schools will essentially merge into one campus by the time next school year comes around. It is all going to happen in Fremont. The Toledo Blade says Saint Joseph High School will be renamed Bishop Hoffman High School in honor of the late bishop James Hoffman. Sacred Heart Parish School will become Bishop Hoffman School-East Campus for grades pre-kindergarten through 3rd. Saint Joseph Parish School will become Bishop Hoffman School-West Campus with grades 4th through 8th. Saint Ann Parish will be closed.
It was one year ago today, a massive ice rescue took place on Lake Erie. 134 fisherman became stranded when the ice cracked on the lake. No one was injured as a result of the ice chunk breaking away, but recovery efforts by the Coast Guard and local agencies cost more than $250,000.
A Toledo man will be sentenced tomorrow for his role in a hostage standoff. Last month, a Lucas County jury found Michael Swiergosz guilty on eight felony counts after he held his estranged wife hostage for hours. He now faces up to 76 years in prison.
Officials say several people are dead and at least 14 injured after the blast in Middletown, Connecticut. Fire officials say 50 construction workers were purging natural gas lines when the explosion hit. An exact cause of the blast is still unknown at this hour. Dogs are currently searching for victims in the rubble and crews are sorting through the collapsed building piece-by-piece. The blast rattled homes that were miles away.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger toured the foothills north of Los Angeles today, one day after a mudslide buried houses, swept cars away, and forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents. 43 homes where damaged when a catch basin overflowed, following a couple days of heavy rain. A river of mud cascaded down streets and into homes sweeping concrete barriers and cars along with it. A mandatory evacuation remains in effect for about 70 homes. Meanwhile, heavy machines are being used to clean-up the muddy mess.
It's no surprise that the Toledo-area has some young, talented individuals. This afternoon, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur helped recognize some of them. The winners of this year's 27th Annual Congressional Arts Competition were honored in downtown Toledo. A special congratulations goes out to Whitmer's Jamie Scherer who was this year's overall winner.
Steve Evert has always wanted to be a millionaire. Tomorrow, his wish may come true. The 30-year-old father of 2 taped an episode of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" last October. He's a BGSU grad, originally from Bellevue, and now living and working in Toledo. How did he get into the hot seat? Evert put together a 2-minute audition video, answered trivia online, then got the call. Evert paid his own way to New York City and does not get a check until 30 days after the show airs. You can root for him tomorrow afternoon at 12:30 in the afternoon on 13abc.
