12/27/17 – 4:47 A.M.

The State Auditor’s Office issued a critical report of Liberty Township officials in Hardin County. The Courier reports that the report comes after officials failed to detect two years’ worth of suspicious monthly credit card charges. The charges added up to a loss of $1,100.

The report shows the township was hit with two charges of $14.95 every month during 2014 and all but one month in 2015 from “SB*PLANPLUS” and “SB*SAVINGS 2 GO.” Another charge of $16.95 appeared every month from “EASY SAVER”.

Township officials were issued a finding for recovery totaling $1,092 because they had approved these charges.

12/26/17 – 8 A.M.

There will be some money coming back to local businesses in Hanock County for safety rebates. Over $66,000 is coming back to the business community through those taking part in the Hancock County Safety Council. The Safety Council is a program of the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce. There are 85 businesses that take part in Hancock County Safety Council.

Across the state, thousands of Ohio employers shared more than $6.7 million in savings through the rebate program.

12/26/17 – 7:23 A.M.

An Ada man is spending the rest of his life in prison. WKTN Radio reports that Albert Mast Sr. was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 12 years. Mast was indicted on multiple sex-related charges. He was sentenced on one count of rape, 3 counts of sexual battery, and one count of sexual imposition.

Mast is classified as a Tier III sex offender.

12/26/17 – 7:12 A.M.

A Sylvania man was charged with fleeing and eluding and theft after leading police on a high-speed chase last Wednesday. The Sentinel-Tribune reports that 27-year-old Jacob Graves allegedly stole merchandise from a Rossford business. Officers chased Graves through Rossford, Perrysburg Township, and the city of Perrysburg.

Graves parked his vehicle and ran away. Police found Graves by the river bank after calling in the Perrysburg Township’s K-9 Unit. The item Graves reportedly stole costs $100. The chase reached speeds of over 90 mph.

12/26/17 – 5:13 A.M.

A two-car crash in Findlay sent three people to the hospital with minor injuries last Friday. The Courier reports that the accident happened around 9 p.m. at the intersection of Sixth and Park Streets. 16-year-old Adriana Stewart failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection. 48-year-old Joshua Hamlin struck Stewart’s vehicle.

Hanco EMS took Joshua, his passenger 18-year-old Zachary Hamlin, and 15-year-old Alyssa Hoodlebrink of Bowling Green to Blanchard Valley Hospital. Hoodlebrink was a passenger in Stewart’s vehicle. Stewart was cited for failure to stop at a stop sign.

12/26/17 – 5:00 A.M.

An area business is facing over half a million dollars of penalties for safety violations. The Courier reports that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed fining NOX US in Fostoria over $514,000. The company had two separate reports of employee injuries in June, prompting a series of inspections. The inspections led to the discovery of eight machine safety violations.

According to the Ohio Department of Labor, one employee required surgery after his hand was crushed in a tile machine. Two weeks later, another employee suffered partial amputation of two fingers while working on a recycle material system.

12/26/17 – 4:44 A.M.

Findlay Fire Department put out a fire on Sandusky Street last over the weekend. The Courier reports that the fire was reported in an apartment complex at 1314 West Sandusky Street. Firefighters had the flames under control by 9:20 p.m.

The fire caused around $18,500 of damages, which was contained in one apartment. The occupant of the apartment was not home when the fire department was called in.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

12/22/17 – 2:47 P.M.

Ohio’s unemployment rate went down in November when compared to October. Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services reports that the state’s unemployment rate was at 4.8% in November. In October, the rate was at 5.1%. The number of unemployed workers decreased by 17,000 from October to November. There were 296,000 unemployed people in October and 279,000 in November.

Unemployment is down 2% from the same time last year.

12/22/17 – 1:53 P.M.

Gifting lottery tickets and scratch-off tickets can be a bad idea for the holidays, especially for young adults. Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services’ Stacey Frohnapfel-Hasson explained that a small win could be huge for a young adult.

Stacey Frohnapfel-Hasson

Frohnapfel-Hasson explained that younger brains aren’t fully developed making a win imprint on the brain. This will make it more likely to develop a gambling problem.

If you have a gambling problem, you can call their helpline at 1-800-589-9966