Monthly Archives: March 2017

Text Messages Play Key Role In Hancock County Overdose Death Trial

Local News

3/28/17 – 5:00 A.M.

The trial of a Findlay man charged in an overdose death could hinge on text messages. The Courier reports Nathan Brown’s lawyer filed a motion Monday asking Judge Reginald Routson to exclude a log of text messages between his client and Jarrod Barger. Merle Dech questioned the authenticity of the log during Monday’s proceedings. Routson will consider the motion before the trial resumes today.

Authorities charged Brown with involuntary manslaughter and corrupting another with drugs following Barger’s 2016 death. Prosecutors say Barger texted Brown several times the day he died, asking Brown to deliver heroin to his home. Assistant Prosecutor Steve Powell said the heroin Barger took contained fentanyl, a powerful painkiller.

The prosecution also called Barger’s mother and sister to the stand Monday. They both testified about Jarrod Barger’s struggles with addiction.

The trial continues today.

MORE: The Courier

Hancock County Residents Talk About Opioid Issues In The Community

Local News, WFIN Top Story

03/27/17 – 9:11 P.M.

The ADAMHS Board and the Opiate Task Force held a town hall meeting to get community input. ADAMHS Board chair John Kissh says that one of the things mentioned was that they need to get the word out.

John Kissh

Kissh said that another major point of discussion was building a detox center.

John Kissh

Kissh added that the board and the opiate task force are looking into the possibility of getting a detox center.

John Kissh

The town hall meeting filled the Great Room at the First Presbyterian Church in Findlay. All the ideas brought to the ADAMHS Board and the task force will be put up for consideration and reviewed.

Ohio Means Jobs Wants To Help Get People Hired By Removing Barriers

Local News

03/27/17 – 5:12 P.M.

Ohio Means Jobs Hancock County is holding a job fair Friday to help connect employers with employees. Ohio Means Jobs’ Jill Stonebraker said that it is a good place to see what is available.

Jill Stonebraker

The job fair will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Owens Community College’s Wellness Center.

 

Jill Stonebraker

She added that they also have a clothing bank that they can use to get you clothes for an interview. Their goal is to remove barriers to help people find jobs.

Putnam County Putting Reflective Strips On Some Traffic Signs

Local News
03/27/17 – 4:21 P.M.
The Putnam County Engineer Highway Department will use a grant to install reflective strips to traffic signs. The Putnam County Engineer’s Office reports that they received a $4,000 Highway Safety Improvement Program grant. The money will help with a $5,000 project to install almost 700 extra reflective strips.
 
Eleven Townships and eight Villages are taking part in the effort as well. They will add over 800 new strips, giving the county over 1,500 reflective strips to improve traffic safety.
 
The Engineer’s Office said that they will hopefully continue adding more strips throughout the county in future years.

UPDATE: Findlay Parents Accused Of Defying Custody Order, Taking 3-Year-Old To Arizona

Local News, WFIN Top Story

3/27/17 – 9:58 A.M.
Update – 11:42 A.M.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children lists a Findlay 3-year-old on their website. However, local authorities don’t believe the girl is in any immediate danger. Findlay Police Lt. Robert Ring says investigators are working to locate 3-year-old Mila Ochoa. Ring says 24-year-old Cheyanne Harris and 39-year-old Rudy Ochoa fled Findlay with their daughter before officials could serve a custody order for the girl.

He adds investigators believe Harris and Ochoa took the girl to Arizona. Ring says local officials entered Ochoa into the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children database to help assist in locating and recovering her.

The Hancock County Juvenile Court ruled earlier this month that Children’s Services should remove the girl from the care of her parents.


Cheyanne Harris

Weapons Stash Found During Seneca County Traffic Stop

Local News

3/27/17 – 7:30 A.M.

A Bellevue man is facing felony firearms charges following a weekend traffic stop. The Review-Times reports a Seneca County sheriff’s deputy found several guns inside 32-year-old Jordan Mellon’s car after he pulled Mellon over around 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

Authorities charged Mellon with a count of improper handling of firearms. Deputies took Mellon into custody at the scene of the traffic stop.

MORE: Review-Times

Upper Sandusky Bar Owner Facing Gambling Charges

Local News

3/27/17 – 7:17 A.M.

An Upper Sandusky bar owner is facing gambling charges. The Daily Chief-Union reports the Department of Public Safety’s Ohio Investigative Unit recently served a search warrant at T&T Sports Lounge. Investigators say they removed several illegal gambling devices and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Authorities cited Everett Taylor for gambling and operating a gambling house.

Alcohol Suspected In Friday Crash Near Findlay

Local News

3/27/17 – 6:58 A.M.

A two-car crash sent a Mount Cory man to the hospital Friday night. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office reports the incident happened on State Route 568 near County Road 180 around 9:10 p.m.

44-year-old Kirt Decker was driving east on Route 568 when he drove left of center and hit a westbound car driven by 58-year-old Dreema Sharp of Findlay. Decker’s car went off the road and overturned.

Hanco Ambulance took Decker to Blanchard Valley Hospital for treatment of his injuries. The collision didn’t injure Sharp or her passengers.

The crash remains under investigation. The sheriff’s office says alcohol is a possible factor.

Local Gas Prices Down As New Work Week Begins

Local News

3/27/17 – 6:48 A.M.

Local gas prices have fallen over the last seven days. OhioGasPrices.com reports the average price in Findlay is $2.06 for a gallon of regular today. That’s down 13 cents from last Monday. Prices are roughly the same as they were a month ago.

The average price in Ottawa today is $2.09 per gallon. That’s down 10 cents over the last week.

The statewide average is $2.12. That’s on par with the state average from one month ago.

Two Injured In Saturday Night Crash West Of Findlay

Local News

3/27/17 – 5:38 A.M.

A two-car crash west of Findlay sent three people to the hospital Saturday night. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened at the intersection of State Route 12 and County Road 88 around 8 p.m.

19-year-old Kailtin Roeder of Findlay was driving west on Route 12 when she hit the back of a car driven by 19-year-old Samantha Dalton of Findlay. Dalton had stopped to turn left onto Road 88.

EMS Crews took Roeder, Dalton, and Dalton’s passenger, 41-year-old Jason Foster, to Blanchard Valley Hospital for treatment of their injuries.