0/10/17 – 4:50 A.M.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a Sunday car accident that sent one man to the hospital. The accident happened around 7:15 p.m. near the intersection of County Roads 220 and 216. 40-year-old Douglas Norfleet of Van Buren was heading south on 220 when he was struck by 44-year-old Zachary Swing of Findlay as he pulled out of a parking lot.

Hanco EMS took Norfleet to Blanchard Valley Hospital for treatment of possible injuries. The crash remains under investigation.

07/07/17 – 1:38 P.M.

The Rawson Proud Town Festival will be held on July 15 in Rawson and in the village park. The festivities will start at 2 p.m. with a craft show and the fireman games. The event will end at 10 p.m. with a 7 gun drawing. During the event, there will be food and games while you listen to the live music. There will be a k-9 demonstration at 3 p.m. followed by the Cory-Rawson FFA Alumni BBQ at 4 p.m.

The parade will come through town at 6 p.m. and afterward, the Cory-Rawson Band will open the celebration at the park.

07/07/17 – 12:18 P.M.

The Children’s Museum of Findlay has some July programs happening. Executive Director Linnea DiBearardino said that the children can take a look at the stars.

Linnea DiBearardino

She said this will help teach kids about astrology. There will be one showing at 10:30 a.m. and another at 11:15 a.m. The events and exhibits are all designed to teach kids.

Linnea DiBearardino

DiBearardino added that they will be celebrating the museum’s birthday on July 14th from 5-7 p.m. The party is for members only.

You can learn more online at cmfindlay.com

07/07/17 – 5:25 A.M.

The driver in a rollover crash south of McComb fled the scene on Thursday. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office reports that the crash happened around 10 p.m. on State Route 235. The driver was heading north on 235 when he lost control. He went off the right side of the road and overturned one and a half times before coming to a stop. The driver then ran off before emergency responders arrived.

07/07/17 – 5:13 A.M.

The Huntington Bank on North Main Street in Findlay will be closing its doors on September 29. The Courier reports that this branch is one of 38 in the midwest to be shutting down. It is based on a review of customer traffic, transaction patterns and trends, as well as proximity to other branches. That’s according to retail communications manager Nicholas Pavlik.

Pavlik said that affected employees will be considered for other job opportunities within the company. Huntington has over 1,000 branches in 8 states.

07/07/17 – 5:05 A.M.

The Hancock County Commissioners approved two grants from the Public Works Commission Thursday. The Courier reports that the grants will help cover the costs of bridge rehabilitation and road resurfacing.

The bridge project will be on Hancock 139 and the cost is estimated at almost $400,000. The county will be paying $80,000 of the amount. That project should finish up in late November.

The resurfacing project will cover about 15 miles on 14 township and county roads. The cost of this project is about $1 million and the county is expected to pay about half of the cost. It should also be finished in late November.

07/07/17 – 4:55 A.M.

The Hancock County Commissioners approved two hearing dates for the three-quarter percent sales tax. The first hearing is set for July 25 at 6 p.m. in the county engineer’s building. The second meeting will be at 2 p.m. on August 1 in the conference room of the County Agricultural Service Center.

The increased tax will be put before voters on the November 7 ballot. It is on-quarter percent more than the county is collecting now, which is expiring at year-end 2018.

the tax will be used for the jail expansion project and to construct a county administration building. Currently, the commissioners are leasing space after the 2007 flood displaced several departments.

The tax will go into effect January 1, 2019 and continue for 20 years if approved.

07/06/17 – 2:30 P.M.

The Ohio State Budget has been passed and it has some negative repercussions on the adult probation court. Commissioner Mark Gazarek said that grant reductions cost the county greatly but it could have been worse.

Mark Gazarek

Gazarek also explained that the indictments are up 20% compared to last year. The state budget also makes it so that more felons will be serving their time at the Hancock County Jail. Gazarek said this will make costs go up.

Mark Gazarek

He said that the proposed sales tax increase will be helpful in making up the difference if it passes.