07/25/17 – 3:39 P.M.

Hancock Public Health has scheduled spraying for mosquitoes in Hancock County this week and next week. Epidemiologist Chad Masters said that they are starting earlier this year due to the standing water left from the flood.

Chad Masters

Masters added that they are offering free mosquito control kits with tablets for standing water.

Chad Masters

The spray is only meant for adult mosquitos and won’t have any effect on the larva. You can get the free kit at the Hancock Public Health Office.

If you do not want your property sprayed then you can call 419-424-7869 to be added to the No Spray list.

7/25/17 – 11:52 A.M.

ODOT has reduced northbound I-75 to one lane at Sandusky Street today. Crews are performing an emergency pothole repair in the construction zone there. You can expect delays until around 1:30 p.m. on that area of the interstate as a result.

You’re asked to give yourself extra distance between cars and to slow down while the work takes place.

Be sure to check out the Buffalo Trading Company / Flag City Furniture Traffic Center for up to date traffic levels.

7/25/17 – 8:55 A.M.

Unemployment was up in the region last month. Numbers released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services show Hancock County had a 3.9 percent jobless rate last month, up from 3.2 percent in May. Last month’s unemployment rate is up slightly from June of 2016, which was 3.7 percent.

Putnam County has the lowest unemployment rate in the region at 3.7 percent. That’s up from 3.1 percent in May. It’s also slightly higher than the June 2016 figure of 3.5 percent.

Elsewhere in the area, Wyandot County was at 3.9 percent unemployment. Wood and Seneca counties were both at 5 percent, Henry and Allen counties were at 5.3, and Hardin County was at 5.7 percent.

7/25/17 – 5:32 A.M.

North Baltimore is preparing for its annual summertime festival this weekend. The “Good Ole Summertime Festival” is set for this Saturday. The event features four country music acts performing in downtown starting at 1 p.m.

The festival also will feature a charity car show, golf tournament, 5K race, cornhole tournament, flea market, military vehicle display and big wheel race. Other features will include the North Baltimore High School Band, pet show, beer tent and food vendors.

Fireworks at the park start around 10 p.m.

7/25/17 – 5:15 A.M.

Police in McComb have talked to a suspect in a rash of car break-ins. The Courier reports Chief Greg Smith updated village council on the investigation Monday. Smith said officers are working to see if more than one person took part in the incidents.

Several people contacted the police department last Thursday about the break-ins. Smith says the department received several calls once people started talking about the incidents on social media. He adds the department continues to get reports about break-ins.

Smith reminded residents to lock their cars and to take anything valuable out of them.

MORE: The Courier

7/25/17 – 5:03 A.M.
Update – 8:59 A.M.

A public hearing addressing Hancock County’s sales tax is set for tonight. The meeting takes place in the county engineer’s building at 1900 Lima Avenue at 6 p.m. The county commissioners will explain the tax request during the meeting.

The commissioners are proposing a three-quarter percent sales tax to Hancock County voters. They would dedicate a third of that tax revenue to county operations, and another third on flood reduction expenses. The final third of the tax would pay to expand the county jail and build a county administrative building for the probate/juvenile court.

A half percent of the current sales tax expires at the end of next year. The proposed three-quarter percent sales tax would replace the half-percent.