SHELBY — Steve Schag said the 2025 Shelby Whippet football team provided him with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as mayor.
“Thank you for a season that I’ll never forget,” he told this year’s seniors, along with members of the coaching staff, during Monday’s council meeting.
Schag delivered a proclamation congratulating the Whippets on their historic run this season — the best in program history. Each senior and staff member were sent home with their own copy.
Shelby coach Rob Mahaney said his team was very thankful to receive the proclamation Monday evening. He gave special kudos to the 18 seniors of the 2025 team.
“They (seniors) gave a lot to our program and to this community. To have this tonight, I think it is pretty cool for them,” Mahaney said.
Support for Shelby strong all season long
Shelby’s memorable run to the Division IV state championship game can’t be summed up in one contest. The reason is the Whippets’ 45-7 loss to Cleveland Glenville was not indicative of their 2025 campaign.
Shelby won the Division IV state poll championship while ripping off 14 consecutive wins heading into the state finals. It was a show conducted by Mr. Football runner-up Brayden DeVito.
After traveling to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton for the Dec. 5 state title game, fans in red and gray piled on to the bleachers of the high school gymnasium later that night to cheer for this year’s varsity football team one last time.
It was a warmhearted ending to the best season Shelby has ever produced on a football field.
In other action Monday, City Council:
— amended the annual appropriations for 2025 by approving increases in expenditures to 32 line items using previously unappropriated monies.
— approved transferring appropriations for 2025 in order to balance the books for the calendar year and to fund necessary expenditures and/or projects.
— approved temporary appropriations for 2026 in order to provide funding for the operation of the city government prior to the passage of the final appropriations.
— authorized the mayor to acquire the rights of easement for the construction of a storm sewer line with Arm Realty, LLC.
— authorized the mayor to enter into a contract change order with Kokosing Construction Company, Inc. for the 2025 paving and curb ramp installation project in the total amount of $6,137.18 as an increase.
