09/22/17 – 2:23 A.M.
Findlay City Council passed a gas aggregation ordinance during their Tuesday meeting. Mayor Lydia Mihalik said that the program lets the city shop around for energy services. She added that this helps save on costs.
Residents will have the option to opt out of any new partnership. The current gas aggregation agreement ends this November.
09/19/17 – 8:47 P.M.
The Findlay Kiwanis is working to help make kids affected by the recent hurricanes feel better. Member Rick Kidwell said that they are raising funds for children books.
Kidwell said that the fundraiser will last until September 29. You can donate at Bindles on MainStreet or at the First Federal Branch on Patriot Avenue.
Scholastic Books is partnering with the club and will help figure out what books to get. The will ship them to Texas or Florida for free. Kidwell said that they hope to give the kids a sense
A Findlay man is going to prison on drug charges after being found guilty in August. The Courier’s Eileen McClory said that 47-year-old Darius Godley will also face a fine.
Godley was convicted of several possession and trafficking charges. This includes cocaine and heroin. He was given credit for 360 days served in prison and filed to waive the fine due to indigency.
9/19/17 – 12:02 P.M.
Unemployment rates fell all across the region in August. The latest numbers from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services show Hancock County had a 3.9 percent jobless rate last month, down from 4.1 percent the month before. While employment stayed steady at 39,900 people, 100 people dropped out of the labor force, causing the unemployment rate to decline.
Unemployment in Hancock County is slightly above where it was a year ago. In August of 2016 the unemployment rate was 3.7 percent.
Jobless rates are down in every area county. Putnam County has the lowest unemployment rate at 3.6 percent, followed by Wyandot County at 3.7 percent. Henry (4.7), Seneca (4.8), and Wood (4.8) counties all had unemployment rates below five percent. Allen County checked in at 5.1 percent and Hardin County stood at 5.3 percent unemployment in August.
9/19/17 – 5:33 A.M.
A two-car crash injured a Fostoria man Monday night. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office reports the crash happened around 7:10 p.m. on State Route 12 near Washington Township Road 261.
66-year-old Karen Helms of Fostoria was driving east on Route 12 when she hit the back of an SUV driven by 38-year-old Jason Harper. Hanco EMS took Harper to Fostoria Community Hospital for treatment.
The crash remains under investigation.
9/19/17 – 5:26 A.M.
Carey is applying for state funding for a sewer upgrade project. The Courier reports council approved applying for up to $420,000 in combined loans and grants from the Small Government Commission. The money would help replace the South Vance Street sanitary sewer lift station.
The village plans to pay for 40 percent of the project. Village Administrator Roy Johnson thinks the actual cost will be around $360,000, which would reduce the village’s share to about $144,000.
MORE: The Courier
9/19/17 – 5:17 A.M.
Arlington residents will pay more for water and sewer services starting in 2018. The Courier reports the village’s board of public affairs announced a 10 percent increase in rates during a Monday meeting. The board says revenue has declined since 2010. They said part of the reason for the decline is because people are using more water-efficient appliances and toilets.
Council also voted to increase sewer rates by 15 percent starting January 1.
MORE: The Courier
9/19/17 – 5:11 A.M.
A Hancock County judge has sentenced a McComb woman for running into the village’s water dispensary station with her SUV. The Courier reports 22-year-old Taylor Knopf faced a count of leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Findlay Municipal Court records show Knopf received a 30-day jail sentence with 25 days suspended. She’ll also have to pay a $400 fine.
McComb Police say Knopf ran into the Northwestern Water and Sewer District facility in the village. They were able to track down the SUV from markings and serial numbers on debris left at the scene of the crash. She admitted her involvement when interviewed by the police.
MORE: The Courier
9/19/17 – 4:59 A.M.
Voters in the Liberty-Benton school district will see two renewal levies on the ballot next spring. The Courier reports the LB school board passed two resolutions during their Monday meeting. One asks voters to renew a $724,000 levy for 10 years. The other levy is for $700,000 over 10 years.
Emergency levies generate a set dollar amount per year. The millage rate decreases if property values go up, but if property values go down the millage goes up so the district doesn’t lose money.
Voters first passed the $724,000 levy in 1994. They renewed it in 2004 and 2009. Voters passed the $700,000 levy by 100 votes when it first appeared on the ballot in 2009.
MORE: The Courier
09/18/17 – 6:42 P.M.
The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure event will start this Saturday in Findlay. Event Chair Sandy Franks said that they’ve already had plenty of people sign up.
The event will be celebrating its fifth anniversary in Findlay. Franks said that they will have plenty of new things to offer.
She said that they are expecting over 3,000 people to attend the event this year. The race will be at Blanchard Valley Hospital. The event will start off with a survivors march at 8 a.m. followed by the race at 9.
You can volunteer or sign up to race at komennwohio.org