12/22/17 – 11:14 A.M.

An 18-year-old from Wharton is in the hospital after a one-car crash in Delaware Township. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office reports that Mason Pickett was heading north on Township Road 191 around 7 a.m. Pickett drove off the east side of the road and hit a tree while trying to regain control.

The Delaware Township Volunteer Fire Department removed Pickett from the vehicle by mechanical means. Hanco EMS took him to the Blanchard Valley Hospital with unknown injuries. He was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.

The crash remains under investigation.

12/22/17 – 5:34 A.M.

A rape conviction has landed an Ada man in prison for the rest of his life. WKTN radio reports a judge recently sentenced Albert Mast Sr.

Earlier this year the Hardin County grand jury indicted Mast on a count of rape, three counts of sexual battery, and a count of sexual imposition.

MORE: WKTN Radio

12/22/17 – 5:30 A.M.

A Findlay teen has been hard at work to show off his Christmas lights to the community. The Courier’s Brenna Griteman reports that Blake Hamlin has made a tradition of putting up elaborate Christmas light displays.

Brenna Griteman

This year Hamlin will be showcasing his display with the help of Santa Claus and some elves. They will be passing out candy canes to people that drive by his house on Imperial Lane This Saturday. The displays are in the evenings from 6-6:15, 7-7:15, and 8-8:15.

You can find more information at Hamlin’s Christmas Lights on Facebook.

12/22/17 – 5:28 A.M.

The Seneca County Commissioners approved the 2018 budget during a special meeting Thursday afternoon. The Review-Times reports the commissioners expect to see $17.5 million in revenues. The spending budget is $16.8 million.

The commissioners plan to use the $600,000 remaining balance for a rainy day fund. Commissioner Mike Kerschner says having contingency funds gives the county a hedge against the unknown.

MORE: Review-Times

12/22/17 – 5:18 A.M.

A drug bust led to one arrest in Forest this week. WKTN radio reports the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office raided a home at 501 West Zimmerman Street Wednesday. Deputies found a large number of prescription pills and more than $3,700 in cash in the house.

Authorities took Minor Curl into custody following the search. He faces drug trafficking charges.

MORE: WKTN Radio

12/22/17 – 5:13 A.M.

A Fostoria manufacturer is facing more than $500,000 in fines. The Review-Times reports the Occupational Safety and Health Administration levied the fine against NOX US Thursday. The agency inspected the plant after a pair of injuries in June.

The Ohio Department of Labor says one employee required surgery after a tile machine crushed his hand. Less than two weeks later, another employee suffered partial amputations of two fingers while working on a recycle material system.

OSHA found said NOX failed to use adequate lockout devices to prevent unintentional machine movement. The report also said the company didn’t properly train employees and exposed them to fall hazards.

NOX has 14 days to respond to the findings.

MORE: Review-Times

12/22/17 – 5:01 A.M.

Fire damaged a home near McComb Thursday afternoon. Northwest Hancock Fire District Chief Anthony Stateler says firefighters responded to a house at 3912 Hancock County Road 203 around 1:40 p.m.

No one was home when the fire started. The fire department says the blaze caused heavy damage on the first floor of the home. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Courier reports the owner didn’t have insurance on the house.

12/22/17 – 4:21 A.M.

A Bowling Green State University fraternity is being kicked off campus for hazing its members. University officials say Phi Kappa Psi was suspended until 2020 yesterday after an investigation found two violations of the student code of conduct. Individual members of the fraternity are also facing discipline.

12/21/17 – 5:50 P.M.

With the spirit of generosity at a high this time of year, you want to watch out for people that want to take advantage of it. Toledo Better Business Bureau president Dick Epstein said that there are fake charities trying to scam people.

Dick Epstein

Epstein said that many of these scams are people working on commission and will keep most of the money you donate.

Dick Epstein

You can avoid this by researching any charities that call you asking for donations.