Deputy Sheriff Sonya Randall receives the award for employee of the year from Lucas County Sheriff John Tharp, right, during the 2014 Lucas County sheriff's office awards ceremony at One Government Center in Toledo, Ohio on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014. Dozens of officers as well as civilians were praised for their community involvement and service from the past year.
The Blade/Justin Wan
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Carreon Hairston, a freshman in Colleen McGurk's intervention class at Bowsher High School, writes a letter to a military member as part of Operation Gratitude, Wednesday, December 10, 2014.
The Blade/Andy Morrison
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Rick Pawloski, the head baker at Michael's Cafe and Bakery, works on pastries in the back room of the shop, located at 101 Main St. in East Toledo.
The Blade/Katie Rausch
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Caramel apple Latkes is an idea for a Hanukkah latke.
Toledo Blade / Amy E. Voigt
The Martin Luther King bridge in downtown Toledo, Ohio is in the up position on December 8, 2014 in Toledo, Ohio. Due to a malfunctioning lift system, the bridge remained unusable for a week.
The Blade/Jetta Fraser
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Berkey, Ohio resident Leonard Bullard, 2, is coaxed by Santa to get on his lap during an afternoon with Santa, St. Francis and the Animals at Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio. The event is sponsored by the Science Alliance for Valuing the Environment.
The Blade/Lori King
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Michaela Baker, 11, from Whitehouse, cuddles a chicken on the Wheeler Farm on December 14, 2014.
Toledo Blade / Amy E. Voigt
Salt is loaded into a truck at the City salt dock as the Algomarine is docked in the background, Thursday, December 11, 2014.
The Blade/Andy Morrison
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Walleye fan and Toledoan Mary Lou Steele cheers after the Walleye makes their first goal in the 2nd period during the hockey game against Gwinnett at the Huntington Center in Toledo.
The Blade/Lori King
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Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins delivers a state of the city address Tuesday, December 9, 2014, in the McMaster Auditorium of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library's main location in downtown Toledo. In the address, open the public, the mayor discussed the city's response to the events of 2014, including the Level 3 Snow Emergencies and the blight issue.
The Blade/Katie Rausch
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