06/09/17 – 11:12 A.M.

AEP Ohio will give refunds to customers as part of a major settlement with the Consumers’ Council. The electric company announced that they will refund $84 million. They will do this through a credit on customers’ 2017 electric bills. This settlement will resolve rate issues in lawsuits and legal challenges in 14 cases.

AEP will issue a one-time credit to customers that bought services through its Standard Service Offer from August of 2012 to May 2015. An average residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month will get about a $60 credit.

6/9/17 – 5:27 A.M.

The two Toledo Correctional Institution employees charged in connection with a shooting incident in Hancock County have pleaded not guilty. The Blade reports 44-year-old Bryan Jameson and 46-year-old Ricci Nolen entered their pleas this week. Authorities have charged Jameson with inducing panic and using a firearm under the influence of alcohol. Nolen faces an obstructing official business charge.

Jameson allegedly pointed a gun at campers at the Twin Lakes Park campground north of Bluffton over Memorial Day weekend. Investigators say Jameson also fired the weapon while intoxicated. They say Nolen was with Jameson and lied to deputies about her involvement in the incident.

Another hearing in the case is set for July 5.

6/9/17 – 5:18 A.M.

Findlay Mayor Lydia Mihalik talked about public-private partnerships while in Washington D.C. Thursday. Mihalik tells the Courier federal leaders are “very much interested in attracting private investors” when it comes to new infrastructure projects. The mayor took part in an infrastructure summit with elected officials from around the country. The group met with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.

Mihalik said she highlighted Findlay’s Community Reinvestment Area on the north side as an example of partnering with the private sector for long-term gain. The state, county, and city gave McLane several incentives to build a distribution center. In turn, McLane helped pay for infrastructure to the new industrial park.

MORE: The Courier

6/9/17 – 5:05 A.M.

Campbell Soup took another step toward building a distribution center in Findlay Thursday. The Courier reports the company bought land south of Hancock County Road 212 for a 741,000 square-foot, $37.5 million facility. The company plans to hire around 220 people when it opens next summer.

Campbell then leased the land to the Blanchard Valley Port Authority. That allows Campbell to avoid paying $1 million in sales taxes on construction materials. Campbell paid the port authority $87,500 on Thursday for their help.

The authority also issued up to $37.5 million in bonds to finance the construction. Campbell will pay off the bonds. The company will also pay the authority $10,000 for the building after completing a four-year lease.

MORE: The Courier

06/08/17 – 2:17 P.M.

Shirley’s Popcorn is having a birthday celebration and the money will be going to help literacy. Shirley’s Jennifer Swartzlander said that the celebration will have all sorts of fun.

Jennifer Swartzlander

There are buy one get one free deals for bags of popcorn all day as well as free theater popcorn. The event will be at their Findlay location and all of the sales will go to the University of Findlay’s Clubhouse literacy program.

06/08/17 – 1:52 P.M.

Rally in the Alley kicks off tomorrow for another season of concerts in downtown Findlay. Carla Benjamin from the Chamber of Commerce said that they are celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Carla Benjamin

Benjamin added that it has grown to include food along with the music.

Carla Benjamin

It is held every Friday starting at 5 p.m. in Latham Courtyard of Downtown Findlay. There is no cost to take part.

06/08/17 – 12:55 P.M.

The Blanchard Valley Center has been practicing Person Centered Planning to help people with disabilities. Community relations manager Cindy Maag said that this method looks at the person’s future by centering on their goals.

Cindy Maag

The service isn’t new but the BVC wants to spread awareness of this service.

Cindy Maag

The dinner will be held at BVC from 5-7:30 p.m. on June 20. It is to people and their families who receive support from Hancock County Board of DD. You can RSVP by emailing Denise Roush at droush@blanchardvalley.org.

6/8/17 – 11:55 A.M.

A warehouse in the Tall Timbers Industrial Park is expanding. The Findlay City Planning Commission approved plans for a more than 63,000 square foot addition at Creative Plastic Concepts.

The current facility at 2040 Production Drive already stands at 180,000 square feet and employs eight people. Plans call for hiring three more at the facility when construction finishes.

The Whittera Company of Fostoria owns the warehouse. President Dan Whittera says he expects construction to finish in January or February.

6/8/17 – 11:36 A.M.

Towns and villages in Hancock County have easier access to money in the event of a disaster thanks to an agreement signed by the county commissioners Thursday. Assistant Prosecutor Cindy Land says the agreement contracts every political subdivision with the Hancock County EMA…

Audio: Cindy Land

Land says the agreement costs political subdivisions between $150 and $200 each year.

6/8/17 – 11:15 A.M.

The Hancock County Courthouse has a unique foundation. Unfortunately, that means added costs for the ongoing courthouse drainage project…

Audio: Mark Gazarek

Commissioner Mark Gazarek says the foundation is “stair-stepped,” which makes it more difficult to waterproof. The commissioners approved a $25,000 change order to pay for the work during their Thursday meeting.

Gazarek says there are items in the original contract they didn’t need. That means they’ll get credits to help pay for Tuesday’s change order. Gazarek says they should have updated numbers in a few weeks.