8/25/17 – 9:13 A.M.
The American Red Cross North Central Ohio chapter is heading to Texas to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey. The group will help set up shelters throughout the state. Holly Blaine of Findlay is one of the people who will be heading to Texas with the organization. She says “Obviously it makes me feel good, but I don’t do it for that. It’s a side benefit. You get blessed if you bless others.”
8/25/17 – 5:10 A.M.
An effort to combat racism is set for this weekend in Findlay. The Courier reports the Findlay Civil Rights Alliance will hold a “Findlay Against White Supremacy” rally at the Riverside Park band shell. Organizers say they decided to hold the event after someone spray painted racist graffiti at the at the Riverside pool last weekend.
The event starts at 4 p.m. and features speakers and small-group discussions. The speakers include organizers Mallie Grim and Katie Finneran. It also features the Reverend Jack Sullivan of First Christian Church and a representative of the Black Heritage Library and Multicultural Center.
MORE: The Courier
8/25/17 – 4:57 A.M.
In the years since the 2007 Blanchard River flood the county has demolished several buildings in the floodplain to prevent future damage. However, not everyone wants to move. The Courier profiles some of these residents in today’s edition.
Brian Snyder is one of those who has no desire to leave. He owns Snyder’s Auto Mart on North Main Street, and says he’s not going anywhere. Snyder says aside from occasional floods, the business has a great location. He says they’ve gotten really good at moving cars off the lot when flooding is in the forecast.
Snyder adds they’ve turned a stressful event into a gathering of friends. He says they’ll get pizza while they’re moving the cars and have a few beers afterward.
MORE: The Courier
08/24/17 – 4:37 P.M.
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a breaking and entering that happened in late June. In a Facebook post, the sheriff’s office reports that three individuals broke into a storage/shop area of Hillcrest Golf Course. They removed several pieces of equipment and damaged them. They also damaged some playing surfaces of the golf course.
All the suspects are male and one has a tattoo on his right shoulder. They left the property going north and left a piece of equipment near County Road 99. If you have any information, you’re asked to call Detective Fred Smith.
08/24/17 – 4:21 P.M.
The University of Findlay and Winebrenner Theological Seminary have announced a new partnership. The university will buy the facility now owned and operated by Winebrenner. The two organizations will remain separate in identity and institutional governance.
Winebrenner will continue to use the building for classes and maintain office space. Meanwhile, the university will have more opportunities for new uses of the building. The Higher Learning Commission must first approve the purchase agreement for both the University and Winebrenner.
08/24/17 – 2:04 P.M.
The Hancock County Fair starts soon and prep is almost done. Operations manager Dave Thomas said that they are putting up some final touches.
He said that they are also working on sanitizing stations outside of the animal barns. This will allow people to clean their hands before moving on to new exhibits.
He also shared what the fair is doing about people voicing their concern with the selling of the confederate flags at the fair. Thomas said that they are waiting to make a decision in the matter.
He added that he understands why people are concerned but doesn’t think a decision should be made without a legal opinion.
08/24/17 – 1:54 P.M.
Hancock Public Health wants you to avoid any chance of catching the Swine Flu at the Hancock County Fair this year. Epidemiologist Chad Masters said that you’ll want to keep clean.
Masters said that the fair board will have stations available to clean your hands. He added that this stems from reports of the Swine Flu being present in northwest Ohio
Masters added that there were reports of the Swine Flu in Henry County as well. Four pigs tested positive for the virus but there were no human cases.
8/24/17 – 10:47 A.M.
Hancock County is getting more time to negotiate for a flood-prone building in Findlay. Project manager Steve Wilson says Ohio has granted the county a one-year extension on using a $180,000 grant. The money is set aside to try and buy Nicki’s Bar on North Main Street.
The state granted the extension because the owner of the bar, Nyoka Decker, passed away in June.
The commissioners also approved buying another flood-prone home for demolition during their Thursday meeting. The county will use $41,500 from the flood mitigation account to buy a property at 439 Davis Street.
8/24/17 – 7:23 A.M.
A teenager reported missing in Vermont turned up in Bowling Green this week. The Valley News reports authorities found 17-year-old Killian O’Reilly in Wood County Wednesday after he and two other teens went missing from an overnight camping trip in Thetford, Vermont Sunday.
Police say O’Reilly, 16-year-old Liam MacLeod, and 17-year-old Kyle Casey are members of a short term residential program in Pike, New Hampshire. Investigators believe MacLeod and Casey are still traveling together.
We have pictures of the teens on our website.
MORE: Valley News
8/24/17 – 5:31 A.M.
Officials at the St. Wendelin Catholic School in Fostoria are working to deal with a budget shortfall. The Review-Times reports the K-8 school is looking at a $330,000 deficit for next year. An email from Reverend Todd Dominique to parishioners says lower enrollment numbers and a decline in weekly offerings are contributing to the problem.
School administrators thought they would have around 145 students this year. The actual number ended up at 91. Jon Hay is the parish director for St. Wendelin. He says the decision to close the high school caused some uncertainty in the school community, leading to a drop in enrollment.
MORE: Review-Times