7/20/17 – 12:18 P.M.

Residents of the Forest Lake subdivision talked to the County Commissioners about drainage issues Thursday. Residents said a private pond north of the division overflows its southern banks, which leads to water in their homes. Deputy Engineer Doug Cade says the pond acts as natural drainage for areas north of Forest Lake…

Audio: Doug Cade

Residents in the area of the pond want the southern edge of the property built up so that water doesn’t spill over. The Commissioners say that’s only an option if it won’t cause more flooding elsewhere.

They plan to meet with the owner of the pond to see what options they can work out.

07/20/17 – 12:07 P.M.

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown was on WFIN this morning to talk about health care reform. He said that he disagrees with President Trump’s plan to let the Affordable Care Act fail.

Sherrod Brown

He added that Washington needs to stabilize the insurance market to keep insurance companies on board. The reason many have left ACA is that there is an uncertainty of what will be happening in Washington. Brown said that they need to get focus on the issues in health care.

Sherrod Brown

Brown said that the main reason costs are going up is because drug comapnies make prescription drugs expensive. He added that Washington needs to lessen the power drug comapanies have to influence legislation.

7/20/17 – 6:40 A.M.

You’ll want to avoid the area around the Osborn Avenue bridge in Findlay today. While the bridge hasn’t been open for weeks, a contractor working on the project says major work is taking place in the area. Crews will remove the old bridge beams, meaning many semi trucks will be in and out of the Osborn Avenue and East Main Cross Street areas.

7/20/17 – 5:23 A.M.

A North Baltimore man will serve as Congressman Bob Latta’s new district director. David Wirt is taking the place of Andy Lorenz. Wirt will work out the Bowling Green office. He’ll also oversee operations in the Findlay and Defiance offices for Latta.

Wirt served in the U.S. Navy for 30 years.

Lorenz recently took a position with the Regional Growth Partnership in Toledo.

7/20/17 – 5:12 A.M.

A Bluffton doctor facing sexual imposition charges is now also facing civil lawsuits. The Courier reports four former patients of Dr. James Gideon filed suit in the Allen County Common Pleas Court in Lima on Monday. The filings allege that Gideon asked the women to remove their bras at his office because he claimed the bras were causing them pain. The suits also claim Gideon removed the women’s pants and underwear to administer shots, groped them, and kissed two of the women.

In a written statement to the Courier, Gideon said, “I have not yet had a trial on the criminal charges nor a hearing regarding the medical board’s action. When I do get an opportunity to fully respond to the patients’ complaints, I believe that I will be fully exonerated. Until that time, I hope that people will reserve judgment regarding what happened.”

The State Medical Board suspended Gideon’s medical license on June 14. He has pleaded not guilty to seven misdemeanor sexual imposition charges. A pretrial hearing is set for August 22.

MORE: The Courier

07/19/17 – 10:50 A.M.

Hancock Soil &Water Conservation District will be holding it 71st Annual Meeting and Supervisor Election early next month. The meeting will be August 1 at the Brugeman Lodge in Riverbend Recreation Area. Social hour and voting for two Hancock SWCD supervisors will be from 5 – 6:15 pm. That will be followed from 6-7 pm by a BBQ rib and baked chicken dinner by Kathy’s Korner. Tickets for the meal are pre-sale only and costs $10 for adults, $5 for children 4-12, and free for children 3 and under.

For more information, you can call the Hancock SWCD at 419-422-6569