5/23/17 – 8:38 A.M.
Wood County will pay $32,000 to settle a case with a Risingsun police officer. Media partner WTOL-11 reports the settlement stems from a 2015 incident.
A Wood County deputy arrested Risingsun Police Sgt. Kevin Osborne for unlawful restraint, aggravated menacing and improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle. Prosecutors later dropped the charges, leading to a wrongful arrest lawsuit.
MORE: WTOL-11
5/23/17 – 7:39 A.M.
The Ohio EPA is giving Hancock Public Health money to deal with mosquitoes this summer. The agency says the $25,000 grant goes toward hiring a seasonal employee to identify and map potential breeding habitats. The employee will also educate homeowners about how to get rid of the mosquito habitats.
The money is also paying for IT equipment to improve the efficiency of mosquito spraying.
Hancock Public Health got $10,000 for the program last year. They used the money to buy a geographic information system to map mosquito problem areas in the community.
5/23/17 – 7:30 A.M.
The school year is rapidly winding down and that means more pools are opening up. The Courier reports the McComb pool is set to open Saturday. Village Administrator Kevin Siferd told council Monday that health officials are inspecting the pool Thursday.
In other McComb park matters, Council President Gordon Myers said he’d like to see more park benches added near the reservoir and more drinking fountains installed in the park.
MORE: The Courier
5/23/17 – 6:55 A.M.
Thieves broke into several cars in and around Findlay over the past weekend. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies investigated nine incidents between Friday and Sunday. Eight of the reports came from the Hillcrest neighborhood. At least three people in the subdivision say someone entered their cars and ransacked them.
One person reported someone egged their car around the same time the break-ins were happening.
Only one of the reports happened in Findlay. A Jennifer Lane resident says someone took a wallet from their unlocked car Sunday.
Investigators remind you to always take valuable items out of your car, and to always lock up.
5/23/17 – 5:40 A.M.
Another public information session about flood mitigation is coming up this week. The event is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday night at the Winebrenner Theological Seminary in Findlay. Project Manager Steve Wilson says the planned discussion centers on proposed improvements to the Blanchard River in Findlay.
The proposed plan call for removing some river bank in Findlay, widening the river beneath a railroad bridge, and removing or modifying low dams. The Maumee Watershed Conservancy Court approved the plan earlier this month. It could cost $20 million and take three years to complete.
5/23/17 – 5:33 A.M.
Findlay school officials want to boost enrollment as a way to shore up the bottom line. The Courier reports school board members talked about the issue during their Monday meeting. Board president Shane Pochard encouraged parents with children in charter schools or open-enrolled in other districts to visit Findlay facilities over the summer and then make a decision. Treasurer Mike Barnhart said the district need to “rescue” students from charter schools.
Tax dollars follow students to the district they attend, which can have an impact on school finances. As it stands now, Barnhart expects a deficit of more than $2.4 million for the 2017 fiscal year. That will leave the district with a cash balance of more than $9.9 million in its unreserved fund.
Going forward, the district projects spending more than $64.7 million while bringing in a little more than $61 million for fiscal 2018. Barnhart says the state hasn’t finalized its budget for 2018 and 2019, so the numbers are subject to change.
MORE: The Courier
5/22/17 – 10:24 P.M.
Millstream Career Center announced plans to offer new classes in the near future. Director David Danhoff said that he has been asked to add HVAC and plumbing programs to the curriculum. He said that he believes that there needs to be more professionals in the HVAC field. The classes will be installed in the 18-19 school year.
5/22/17 – 9:57 P.M.
Findlay City Schools is having positive experiences with the Leader In Me program. Superintendent Ed Kurt said that the schools that implemented the program have been doing well.
Kurt said that they want to provide kids with the skills to help them in life.
Kurt added that plans are in place to implement them into schools in the east side of the district as soon as possible.
05/22/17 – 5:31 P.M.
The Findlay Airport was built in the 1930’s by Ohio Oil Company, now Marathon Petroleum. Airport Manager Matt McVicker says that it’s usage has changed since then.
He added that business at the airport can vary day to day but it is generally good.
The airport also supports medevac, aerial spraying, and law enforcement activities.
05/22/17 – 3:25 P.M.
Partnership Coordinator Phil Martin said that one bushel of grass clippings can endanger the river.
He added that grass clippings can get into the storm sewers if they are on the street. This can block the storm sewer, forcing the city to clean it out.
There are ways to take care of those clippings, though.
He said that you can also pack it up and take it to the green waste site in Findlay