5/20/19 – 8:30 A.M.

David Spridgeon stepped down as the clerk of the Findlay Municipal Court last Friday. Deputy chief Heather Eigel moved into the clerk of courts role earlier today.

Spridgeon did not give a reason for his resignation. Director of court services Dave Beach did not connect the move to a case where police found Spridgeon engaging in sexual activity with an employee of the clerk of courts office in a car at Emory Adams Park last October.

Following the incident, Spridgeon had some of his job duties assigned to other staff members. His pay raise for this year was also canceled.

MORE: Details on the new clerk of courts.

5/20/19 – 8:06 A.M.

Local gas prices have come down from last week’s highest prices, but are still higher than they were a week ago. OhioGasPrices.com reports the average price for a gallon of regular in Findlay is $2.65 today. That’s six cents higher than last Monday, but down 22 cents from last Wednesday.

Drivers in Ottawa are still paying $2.65 per gallon. The average price hasn’t budged in Ottawa for weeks.

The statewide average stands at $2.73 per gallon. That up 11 cents from last week.

5/20/19 – 7:53 A.M.

Farmers in Putnam County are taking advantage of a program that encourages them to plant hay along waterways. The Putnam County Sentinel reports Ohio’s Working Lands Buffer program signed 36 contracts in the county. That accounts for 51 tracts of land and more than 700 acres.

The program pays farmers $120 per acre every year for a five-year period. Farmers can also sell the hay they grow on the land.

Another signup period starts on June 15th. You can get more information by calling 419-523-5159.

The program aims to reduce runoff into area waterways.

MORE: Putnam County Sentinel

5/20/19 – 7:39 A.M.

A one-car crash injured one person in Putnam County Sunday afternoon. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened around 3:45 p.m. on Road 2, just south of Road A.

A northbound driver lost control and hit a utility pole. Leipsic EMS had to extricate the driver from the car. They took him to St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima for treatment of his injuries.

The sheriff’s office has not publicly identified the driver.

Crash Location:

5/20/19 – 7:32 A.M.

ODOT has plenty of projects scheduled in Putnam County this week. Crews will restrict State Route 65 to one lane between Road M and 11th Street for pavement repair work in Ottawa. Crews are also repairing pavement on State Route 109 between State Route 613 and Ottawa, as well as on U.S. 224 all the way through the county.

5/20/19 – 7:18 A.M.

Curb work on West Sandusky Street has part of the road closed again this week. The Findlay engineering department says West Sandusky remains closed between Cory Street and Western Avenue in the eastbound direction. You can still use the road to drive west.

Curb replacement projects are also taking place on Summit Street between Lima Street and Lima Avenue, Hurd Avenue between Lima Avenue and Stadium Drive, and Woodworth Drive between Fostoria Avenue and the cul-de-sac.

Stanford Parkway remains closed for waterline replacement work between Westfield Drive and River Road.

5/20/19 – 7:12 A.M.

Appleseed IGA in Arlington is closing its doors next month. Manager Larry Lovell Jr. says the last day of operation will likely be June 22nd. Lovell says a real estate investment company is buying the building at 128 Vail Street. He says he’s not sure who the buyer is yet.

The grocery store has been open in the village since 1907. Lovell says as much as they want to continue, it’s not workable. He adds that many Arlington residents work in Findlay, and do their grocery shopping there too.

MORE: History of Appleseed IGA.

5/20/19 – 6:37 A.M.

A Saturday night motorcycle crash injured two Putnam County residents. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office says David Birkemeier and his wife Amy were riding westbound on Road M, west of County Road 6, around 8:30 p.m. when a deer ran out in front of them. David hit the brakes, causing the motorcycle to slide.

An ambulance took David Birkemeier to St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima for treatment of severe injuries. A medical helicopter took Amy to St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Toledo for treatment of critical injuries.

Both Birkemeier’s were wearing helmets.

Crash Location:

5/20/19 – 5:29 A.M.

A Friday night crash in Seneca County killed a Carey man and seriously injured another. The State Highway Patrol reports the crash threw 47-year-old Anthony Luzader and 22-year-old Nathanyal Griffin from the bed of a pickup truck. Luzader died at the scene of the crash. A medical helicopter took Griffin to St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo.

The patrol says 41-year-old Aaron Luzader of Carey was pulling out from a driveway onto Seneca County Road 59 when he accelerated and ejected three people from the bed of truck. 19-year-old Cody Luzader of Carey wasn’t hurt.

Investigators believe alcohol was a factor in the crash.