9/18/17 – 5:01 A.M.
A phone scam targeted Findlay residents over the weekend. The Findlay Police Department reports people received calls from someone claiming to be with the department. The scammer would tell the person there was a warrant out for their arrest for missing jury duty. They would then demand payment and threaten the scam’s target with arrest.
The Findlay Police Department says it does not call to collect payments. The court would send any legitimate fine through the mail.
9/18/17 – 4:28 A.M.
Scam artists are apparently taking aim at Wood County residents. The sheriff’s office says someone is calling residents with a script that tricks them into thinking they owe money on outstanding warrants. Would-be victims are being told they can go to Walmart to buy a debit card to make the warrant go away. Deputies say, however, they don’t collect debts of any kind and don’t call people asking for money. Anyone who gets such a call is asked to hang up and call the Wood County Sheriff’s Office.
09/15/17 – 3:40 P.M.
The Reaching Women 2017 Women’s Conference is coming up next Saturday in Findlay. The event will feature door prizes and two speakers. One is Broadway performer Allison Allen from Grease and the other is best-selling author Vicki Courtney. The doors open at 8:15 a.m. at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts. It will end at 3:30 p.m. with a 1.5-hour break for lunch.
Tickets are $45 with a processing fee of $5 from the performing arts center. You can buy tickets online at reachingwomen.org.
09/15/17 – 3:17 P.M.
The American Red Cross is hard at work after two hurricanes hit the U.S. in recent weeks. North Central Ohio Chapter executive director Todd James says that they’ve had to shelter thousands.
James said that volunteers are still on scene to help provide as much relief as they can.
James added that the work is far from over. The flooding in Texas after Hurricane Harvey continues to keep much of the sate unavailable for relief and recovery efforts. He said that south-east coastal states are still receiving heavy rains after Irma made landfall.
09/15/17 – 1:15 P.M.
It’s around that time of year when you can go and get a flu vaccine. Immunization coordinator for Hancock Public Health Fara Heinze said that some people are more at risk.
She added that vaccines are safe and won’t make you sick. There will be 8 clinics throughout September and October to get your shots. You can find the list of clinic dates here. No appointment is necessary but you are asked to bring a photo ID and your insurance cards.
For more information, you can call Hancock Public Health at 419-424-7441.
9/15/17 – 6:47 A.M.
A two car crash injured two people in Hancock County Thursday afternoon. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office reports the crash happened at the intersections of Allen Township Roads 215 and 230 just before 2 p.m.
19-year-old Thomas Westrick of Findlay stopped at the intersection with Road 215, but then pulled into the path of a car driven by 51-year-old James Kearns of Forest. Hanco Ambulance took both drivers to Blanchard Valley Hospital for treatment of their injuries.
Deputies cited Westrick for failure to yield.
9/15/17 – 5:32 A.M.
Columbus Grove will have a new police chief soon. The Putnam County Sentinel reports the village has named current Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Hiler to the post. Village council members expect Hiler to start in his new role in the near future.
9/15/17 – 5:26 A.M.
Hancock County is lobbying the state for funding for paving projects next year. The Courier reports the county commissioners submitted applications for funding during their Thursday meeting. The county wants to pave County Road 12 from Rawson to Benton Ridge.
Other repaving projects slated for 2018 include County Road 252 from Big Lick Township Road 174 to State Route 568 and County Road 84 from State Route 12 to County Road 9.
The county will submit a separate application to get funding for repaving County Road 26 from State Route 37 to Amanda Township Road 190.
MORE: The Courier
9/15/17 – 5:17 A.M.
Hancock County school districts all made strides in teaching their youngest students how to read. That was one of the takeaways from the latest round of school report cards from the state. Each district in the county improved at least one letter grade according to state evaluations.
Van Buren earned an A in the K-3 literacy category. Liberty-Benton and Riverdale scored B’s. Arcadia, Arlington, Cory-Rawson, Findlay, and McComb all earned C’s. The grade card gave Vanlue a D in K-3 literacy.
In the achievement category, most schools stayed steady with their 2016 grades. Van Buren improved, scoring a B over last year’s C. Arcadia, Arlington, and Liberty-Benton scored B’s in achievement. Cory-Rawson, Findlay, McComb, Riverdale, and Vanlue all scored D grades in the achievement metric.
Progress from one year to another was a mixed bag for Hancock County schools. Arlington moved from a B to an A this year. Findlay, McComb, Van Buren, and Vanlue all stayed steady with D’s. Arcadia, Cory-Rawson, and Liberty-Benton slid back a letter grade to a D, while Riverdale fell from a D to an F.
Several superintendents tell the Courier the grade cards don’t tell the whole story. For instance, Findlay Superintendent says ACT scores for the district continue to rise.
09/14/17 – 6:33 P.M.
A two-car crash at the intersection of Main and Sandusky Streets injured a Findlay man Thursday afternoon. The Courier reports that 69-year-old James Hayslip was driving west on Sandusky Street around 3:30 p.m. He stopped at the intersection with Main Street where a traffic light wasn’t working. A pickup truck driven by 66-year-old Richard Williams drove through the intersection at the same time. Williams struck Hayslip’s vehicle
Hayslip suffered minor injuries and Hanco Ambulance took him to Blanchard Valley Hospital. Police charged Williams with failure to stop at a nonworking traffic signal.