12/8/17 – 5:19 A.M.

The company building the Rover natural gas pipeline in northwest Ohio has donated to area emergency response agencies. Energy Transfer Partners gave $10,000 each to agencies in Hancock, Wood, and Seneca counties this week. The company says it is donating $180,000 to the 18 counties in Ohio the pipeline crosses through.

Hancock County EMA director Lee Swisher says they could use the money for a drone project. He adds the money could also pay for additional equipment.

The pipeline goes through the northeastern part of Hancock County as well as portions of Wood and Seneca counties.

12/8/17 – 5:13 A.M.

A Fostoria manufacturer has plans to hire 50 additional workers in 2018. The Review-Times reports NOX US announced plans to invest millions of dollars in its Fostoria location. The company will invest in machinery, building renovations, and personnel next year.

Dan Koh is the president and CEO of the NOX Corporation. He says “We are actually growing a lot faster than our original plan and sales will continue to grow next year.”

The company opened its Fostoria plant in November of 2015 in the former Atlas Crankshaft facility on U.S. 23.

12/8/17 – 5:03 A.M.

An event in downtown Findlay this evening will attempt to raise awareness about violence against women. The Zonta Club of Findlay is holding a “Community Glow Walk to Break the Silence.” Club and community members will meet at Coffee Amici at 5 p.m. Walkers will have glow sticks and are wearing orange to support the cause.

The event is part of Zonta’s annual 10 days of activism.

12/8/17 – 4:56 A.M.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is continuing an investigation into a Putnam County Sheriff’s deputy. The Lima News Reports Ohio BCI has completed its investigation into Deputy Tony Recker. Putnam County Prosecuting Attorney Gary Lammers tells the newspaper BCI has turned its findings over the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Recker allegedly improperly used the state’s motor vehicle registration database and related computer programs.

Lammers says he asked for a special prosecutor in the case to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.

MORE: Lima News

12/8/17 – 4:24 A.M.

A Wood County man is behind bars, accused of stealing underwear from college girls’ homes. Bowling Green police say Bradley Feasel has been caught at least twice since September taking bras and panties from women’s homes. Feasel was charged this week with burglary and attempted burglary. He’s in jail under a 75-thousand-dollar bond.

12/07/17 – 12:17 P.M.

The Hancock County Commissioners are hard at work to make sure the county operates within its means. Commissioner Brian Robertson said that 15 departments won’t get the funds they’ve requested.

Brian Robertson

Robertson said that the justice system and related departments took the biggest hit.

Brian Robertson

The total cost of the reductions in the 2018 budget comes to over $812,000 across 15 departments. Robertson said that the community should to come together to discuss how they can raise funds.

12/07/17 – 8:28 A.M.

A Wood County grand jury indicted a Bowling Green man accused of choking another man in a car. The Sentinel-Tribune reports that 41-year-old Michael Acosta was indicted on a count of felonious assault. He was riding with another man when he allegedly grabbed him by the throat and started choking him in Jerry City.

Acosta was dropped off at a residence and arrested.

12/07/17 – 5:25 A.M.

A Fostoria man pleaded guilty to four drug counts Wednesday afternoon. The Advertiser-Tribune reports 36-year-old Tyree Carpenter pleaded guilty to trafficking of heroin. He is due to be sentenced on March 7.

In the meantime, he is awaiting a separate trial for another drug-related case. Carpenter is accused of causing the death of Steffen Yarris as a proximate result of committing or attempting to commit a charge of aggravated trafficking in drugs. The Seneca County Drug Task Force – METRICH Enforcement believe Carpenter provided the drugs that Yarris overdosed on.

12/07/17 – 5:10 A.M.

Whirlpool Corporation started using wind as a source of power for its Ottawa location. WLIO reports that the company has a 25-foot wind turbine to partially power the plant. Plant leader Jenni Hanna told WLIO that it will provide roughly 31% of the energy for their utilities. One Energy CEO Jereme Kent said that the wind turbines show that Whirpool wants to be profitable and sustainable. They also want to make sure they are good corporate citizens.

The turbine will be turned on in the next couple of weeks.