3/27/17 – 5:19 A.M.

Putnam County authorities can’t use a gun found during a traffic stop in the case against a man who wasn’t supposed to have a gun in the first place. The Lima News reports Judge Randall Basinger recently ruled prosecutors can’t use a gun found in Gregory Hister’s car during a traffic stop as evidence. Basinger ruled a search of Hister’s car was unlawful because the search came well after the length of time a normal traffic violation takes to complete.

Authorities charged Hister with having a weapon under disability. He’s not allowed to have a gun because of a previous felony arrest in Michigan. Deputy Jared West pulled Hister over for speeding north of Kalida in October. West said Hister acted agitated, and as a result West called for a K9 unit. When the dog arrived Hister allegedly told West he had a loaded gun under the driver’s seat.

Putnam County Prosecutor Gary Lammers told the newspaper it’s likely officials will dismiss the case since the gun is no longer admissible evidence.

MORE: Lima News

3/27/17 – 5:01 A.M.

A Findlay man charged with involuntary manslaughter for the overdose death of a Liberty Township man is set to go to trial today. The Courier reports jury selection starts this morning in the case against 28-year-old Nathan Brown. Authorities charged Brown with manslaughter and corrupting another with drugs in the death of 24-year-old Jarrod Barger.

Investigators say Brown gave Barger fentanyl in January 2016. Fentanyl is several times more powerful than morphine.

Hancock County Prosecutor Phil Riegle tells the newspaper he expects the trial to last two days.

Brown pleaded not guilty to the charges he’s facing in December. He faces up to 11 years in prison if convicted.

MORE: The Courier

03/27/17 – 5:30 A.M.

March has been gambling awareness month and gambling affects a small percentage of Ohioans. That’s the message from Responsible Gambling Program Coordinator Amanda Blackford.

Amanda Blackford

If you are concerned that you might have a gambling problem, Blackford said there is a test you can take.

Amanda Blackford

Blackford said that there are treatments available to those who need help.

Amanda Blackford

You can learn more about gambling addiction and services offered to those seeking recovery at casinocontrol.ohio.gov

03/24/17 – 3:44 P.M.

The University of Findlay’s Nursing Program received a $500,000 gift from alumna Helen Faye Newman. Program Chair Margie Walker said that this money will help students pay for their education.

Margie Walker

The money will be used over the course of 15 years to offer scholarships to nursing students.

Walker added that this isn’t the first time that Newman helped the program.

Margie Walker

They used the money to buy a defibrillator, a crash cart, and an EKG machine.

Newman graduated from the University of Findlay with a nursing arts degree and received her RN from the University of Toledo. She was an RN for 50 years.

03/24/17 – 1:33 P.M.

Local students are sponsoring two presentations to raise awareness of dating violence and sexual assault. Millstream Medical students John Ried, Ryan Shorter, and Caleb Wallace put together the “Stop the Silence” campaign. They held fundraisers to raise money for the event. They also worked with Open Arms Domestic Violence Center and Blanchard Valley hospital to bring awareness to the issue.

The presentations are both being held Wednesday in the Millstream Cafe. The first is at 3 p.m. and the second is at 5:30 p.m.

The three young men, Muriel Black from Open Arms, and SANE Nurse Michelle Stratton from Blanchard Valley Hospital are the presenters.

Refreshments will be served after each session. They made the presentation in conjunction with the upcoming Skills USA state competition.

03/24/17 – 1:15 P.M.

The U.S. 68/State Route 15 interchange with I-75 has all of its ramps open for now but that will change. ODOT reports that the exit ramp from I-75 northbound to U.S. 68/State Route 15 is expected to close this spring. It will remain closed for about three years.

Traffic will be detoured north to the State Route 12 interchange to I-75 southbound back to U.S. 68/State Route 15. This is part of the I-75 reconstruction and widening project through Hancock County.

03/24/17 – 12:44 P.M.

ODOT expects night work to begin on I-75 this Sunday. In a release, they said that I-75 north and south from near Findlay High School to County Road 99 will be reduced to one lane. This is only during the work hours of 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. each night. They will maintain two lanes during the day.

I-75 between County Road 99 and Oil Center Road is currently down to two lanes in each direction. Work is happening here between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. The work is expected to be done by the end of April.

03/24/17 – 12:07 P.M.

CedarCreek Church is partnering with Habitat for Humanity for a three county build. The church decided it is important to have an impact in all the counties they serve. They raised over $40,000 and recruited 300 volunteers for builds in Hancock, Lucas, and Wood Counties. The builds will take place from March 25 to April 8.

They will hold a blessing for the buildings tomorrow at 8 a.m. on all three build sites. You can join them at 1211 Blanchard Avenue in Findlay, 106 Poplar Street in North Baltimore, or 451 W. Capistrano in Toledo.