02/28/17 – 5:07 P.M.

The winners were announced for Rain Barrel Decorating Contest by the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership. Nine schools entered 24 decorated rain barrels for this year’s contest. Riverdale High School won the People’s Choice Award as well as first place in the general theme category. Hardin Northern took first place in the watershed theme category. First place went to Arlington High School in the agriculture theme category.

You can view pictures of the rain barrels at blanchardriver.org.

The Agri-Business Committee will honor inductees of the Hancock County Agricultural Hall of Fame with a breakfast. The Annual Farmers’ Share Breakfast will feature the winner of the local FFA public speaking contest. Then the 2017 inductees of the Hall of Fame will be recognized.

The event will be at the Brugeman Lodge in Riverbend Park at 7:30 a.m. March 9. Tickets are $3 and can be bough at the chamber of commerce.

02/28/17 – 3:15 P.M.

A rollover crash sent a Bryan man to the hospital this morning. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office reports that 88-year-old William Ruffer of Bryan was driving south on Ohio 15 around 7 a.m. He went off the right side of the road heading through the Norfolk Southern railroad crossing. He struck a log which then caused his vehicle to flip.

Putnam County EMS took Ruffer to ProMedica Defiance Regional Hospital for his injuries.

2/28/17 – 5:33 A.M.

The Vanlue school district is upgrading the sign outside its school building. The Courier reports Vanlue is getting a digital sign. Superintendent Traci Conley says she and district technology coordinator Andrew Groman can change its messaging through their phones. Groman says the feature will be useful when school delays or closes for snow.

The district is getting estimates on the cost to remove the old sign and installation of the new sign. The $18,000 price tag is partially covered by donations.

The sign should arrive by March 24.

MORE: The Courier

Here’s a list of the coming events.

March: Operations department serving coffee at Coffee Amici from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

March 6: Jeanne Hewell-Chambers will present a quilt in the BVC Gymnasium at 2 p.m. Students will also be visiting Findlay Mayor Lydia Mihalik

March 8: It is Legislative Advocacy Day at the Ohio Statehouse and several individuals from Speaks Out will attend the meeting.

March 9: An all-inclusive walk will begin and end at Blanchard Calley School at 10 a.m. Community participation is encouraged.

March 21: The 2nd annual Celebrity Basketball Game will be held at the University of Findlay’s Croy Gymnasium. Doors open at 7 p.m. and game time is 7 p.m.

March 31: Miss Ohio, Alice Magoto, will host the 6th annual coloring contest

2/28/17 – 11:09 A.M.

The renovation of Dorney Plaza in downtown Findlay could start in less than a month. Hancock County Commissioner Brian Robertson says the tentative demolition date is March 27. Before work starts, officials must accept a bid for the project.

Robertson says he expects the Hancock County Engineer’s office to handle some of the upgrades.

2/28/17 – 6:45 A.M.

Authorities arrested four people on drug charges in Tiffin Monday. The Review-Times reports officers served a search warrant at 22 Tiffin Street. Investigators say they found suspected methamphetamine, cash, drug paraphernalia and criminal tools inside.

35-year-old Nicholas Vassar, 53-year-old Joellen Harshman, 28-year-old Billy Bright, and 29-year-old Haley Martin are all potentially facing drug charges following a lab analysis of the items found in the home.

MORE: Review-Times

2/28/17 – 5:33 A.M.

The Vanlue school district is upgrading the sign outside its school building. The Courier reports Vanlue is getting a digital sign. Superintendent Traci Conley says she and district technology coordinator Andrew Groman can change its messaging through their phones. Groman says the feature will be useful when school delays or closes for snow.

The district is getting estimates on the cost to remove the old sign and installation of the new sign. The $18,000 price tag is partially covered by donations.

The sign should arrive by March 24.

2/28/17 – 5:12 A.M.

Fire damaged a mobile home in Liberty Township Monday night. Firefighters responded to a blaze at 8222 Hazelwood Drive just after 10 p.m. The residents of the home reportedly escaped without injury.

Hazelwood Drive is in the Riverview Terrace Trailer Park, off County Road 140 on Findlay’s west side.

No other details were immediately available.

2/28/17 – 5:06 A.M.

The Hancock County Farm Bureau is in favor of at least one new flood reduction measure. Gary Wilson tells the Courier he likes the idea of improving the river channel through Findlay. Wilson is the former president of the Bureau and is a current board member. Improvement in Findlay could include widening part of the river, replacing the the Norfolk Southern railroad bridge, and removing dams.

Wilson says he doesn’t believe the board will support Stantec Engineering’s call for dry storage basins. Wilson said that option will cost people their homes.

Stantec’s plan could cost $160 million if officials adopt all options. The engineering firm says their proposal would drop the 100-year flood by more than three-and-a-half feet.

MORE: The Courier

02/27/17 – 5:53 P.M.

Charges were filed today against the man arrested after a shooting at a Findlay Motel earlier this month. The Courier reports that the Hancock County grand jury gave a three-count indictment to 36-year-old Husam Coleman. He is accused of killing 31-year-old Marcus Alexander of Toledo at the Econo Lodge Motel on February 17.

He faces two counts of murder and having weapons under disability. Bond was set for $1 million.

One murder count alleges that he had a firearm in possession when he killed Alexander. The other count alleges that he caused the death while committing felonious assault.

Hancock County Prosecutor Phil Riegle said that the two charges represent alternative theories that are under investigation. If charged the counts will be merged and Coleman will face one murder charge. He is expected to be arraigned next week.