Monthly Archives: July 2017

Ditch Maintenance Project Goes Back To The Drawing Board

July 26, 2017Local NewsMatt Demczyk

7/26/17 – 11:45 A.M.

It’s back to the drawing board for an area ditch maintenance project. The Hancock County Commissioners rejected a petition for the A.J Smith ditch during their Tuesday meeting. Commissioner Mark Gazarek says the petition wasn’t fair to all the landowners involved…

Audio: Mark Gazarek

The area in question sits along Hancock County Road 97. Gazarek says a farmer with 190 acres of land tied his fields into the ditch. Other property owners assessed for maintenance want to make sure the county assess everyone using the ditch.

Need For Help Persists Two Weeks After Most Recent Flooding

July 26, 2017Local News, WFIN Top StoryMatt Demczyk

7/26/17 – 10:23 A.M.

The most recent round of flooding in Findlay is well past us, but the recovery effort is ongoing. That’s according to United Way of Hancock County executive director John Urbanski…

Audio: John Urbanski

Urbanski says the flash flooding affected many people who hadn’t had water problems before. He says because of this, many people may not know the scope of people who need help.

Urbanski adds that in the nearly 10 years since the 2007 flood, Hancock County has torn down several flood prone properties. The effort has reduced damage from other floods, including this month’s high water. It’s also had an interesting side effect…

Audio: John Urbanski

Urbanski says reduced damage from floods makes it harder to get FEMA money. He adds that means local cleanup efforts are even more important.

The United Way is currently asking for volunteers to help local residents remove flood debris from their homes. If you would like to help you can call (419)423-1432. The United Way website is also collecting money to help flood victims.

North Baltimore School District Avoids State Cuts

July 26, 2017Local NewsMatt Demczyk

7/26/17 – 7:51 A.M.

The North Baltimore school district has dodged a funding cut from the state. The Courier reports the school board learned the news Tuesday. They had been expecting a cut of around $150,000.

District Treasurer Steven Stewart noted the district was fortunate as other area schools did see reductions in state money.

MORE: The Courier

Fostoria Schools Name New Elementary Assistant Principal

July 26, 2017Local NewsMatt Demczyk

7/26/17 – 6:52 A.M.

The Fostoria City School district continues to reorganize its administrative team. The Review-Times reports the school board hired Jerome Haupert as the elementary assistant principal/dean of students. Superintendent Andrew Sprang tells the newspaper, “He already has leadership roles within the district.” Sprang said examples include working with the “Leader in Me” program and participating on the district leadership team.

Haupert was formerly an elementary physical education teacher.

The move is part of an effort by the district to realign administrators to better serve one central campus.

MORE: Review-Times

Two Injured In Crash Late Tuesday Night

July 26, 2017Local NewsMatt Demczyk

7/26/17 – 6:41 A.M.

A two-car crash injured two people in Hancock County late Tuesday night. The Hancock County Sheriff’s office says the collision happened on County Road 180 near State Route 37 around 11:40 p.m.

33-year-old Natalie Golich of Findlay was driving a pickup truck south on Road 180 when she went left of center and hit a car driven by 33-year-old Curtis Sirmons of Fostoria. The impact of the crash caused the pickup to roll onto its side.

Hanco EMS took Golich and Sirmons to Blanchard Valley Hospital for treatment of their injuries.

Former Fostoria Schools Staff Member Fired

July 26, 2017Local NewsMatt Demczyk

7/26/17 – 5:27 A.M.

A former staff member in the Fostoria City School district is facing charges for allegedly engaging in inappropriate conduct with female students. The Review-Times reports the school board fired 28-year-old Nelson Cousin during a Tuesday meeting. Authorities have accused Cousin of asking female students to send him sexually explicit pictures. He faces three counts of contributing to the unruliness of a minor, four counts of child endangerment and one count of prohibitions concerning companion animals.

Investigators say Cousin sent nude pictures of himself to three teenage girls. He also allegedly asked them to send pictures back to him. The incidents date back to March of 2016. When Fostoria Police served a search warrant at Cousin’s home on April 4 of this year they found deplorable conditions, including the decaying body of a dead dog in a bedroom.

Cousin had served as an assistant track and cross country coach for the district.

MORE: Review-Times

Author Of “Hillbilly Elegy” Coming To Findlay

July 26, 2017Local NewsMatt Demczyk

7/26/17 – 5:13 A.M.

The author of a New York Times bestseller is coming to Findlay to speak next year. The Courier reports “Hillbilly Elegy” author J.D. Vance is coming to the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts on March 22. The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library has picked the book for it’s 2018 CommunityREAD project.

Library director Jeff Winkle says “Hillbilly Elegy” examines the decline of the working middle class. Winkle adds that Vance experienced the issue first hand while growing up in Middletown. Vance also served in the military before earning a law degree.

Copies of “Hillbilly Elegy” are available at the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library. The program is also providing the book to local school libraries.

MORE: The Courier

United Way Looking For Flood Cleanup Volunteers

July 26, 2017Local News, WFIN Top StoryMatt Demczyk

7/26/17 – 5:01 A.M.

The United Way of Hancock County needs your help in cleaning up after this month’s flood. The agency is asking for anyone with spare time to pitch in the rest of this week and into the weekend. They’re looking for people to help remove flood-soaked items including paneling and drywall from homes. The work also includes washing and sanitizing basements and moving furniture.

The United Way will organize volunteers into groups of four or five people to make jobs go quickly. If you’re interested you should call (419)423-1432. You don’t need any special skills to help out.

The United Way is still collecting flood relief funds. You can donate at LiveUnitedHancockCounty.org/give.

Hancock County Officials Discuss Proposed Sales Tax Increase At Public Meeting

July 25, 2017Local NewsMatt Demczyk

07/25/17 – 9:08 P.M.

Hancock County Officials held a public meeting to discuss the proposed sales tax increase. Commissioner Brian Robertson said that they have looked at what their needs are and where they can save money.

Brian Robertson

Robertson said that the court needs more security and the jail isn’t big enough to house the felons in Hancock County.

Many of the members of the public questioned why the capital improvements seemed to be lumped with flood mitigation. Commissioner Brian Robertson said that they can’t be separate legislations.

Brian Robertson

The proposed levy will increase the sales tax to three-quarter percent for the next two decades.

You can watch the full meeting below.

National Hire A Veteran Day Promotes Skills Learned In The Military

July 25, 2017Local NewsMatt Demczyk

07/25/17 – 5:11 P.M.

Today is national Hire a Veteran Day and veterans have a lot of experience. Veterans Service Office executive director Nicole Coleman said that many veterans have leadership and time management skills. She added that this could get missed by employers though.

Nicole Coleman

Coleman said that there are resources to help veterans though. She said there are tools on veterans.gov and the Ohio Department of Veteran’s Services has programs to teach both veterans and employers to communicate with each other.