12/20/17 – 5:34 P.M.
It’s not too late to spread holiday cheer to Hope House and help impoverished families in Hancock County. The agency is matching donors with clients who need Christmas assistance. The organization is also helping families with Walmart or Meijer gift cards. You can also find a list of items you can donate to the organization online.
If you’re interested in volunteering, contact Sierra Hutton at shutton@findlayhopehouse.com.
12/20/17 – 3:21 P.M.
Gardner Brothers earned state tax credits for historic rehabilitation of a 127-year-old building they own. The Courier reports the tax credits amount to $232,000. The renovation of the building at 317-319 South Main Street will cost $1.2 million. The improvements are scheduled to finish by September of 2019.
Awakening Minds Art could be joining the current tenant, Instrument Care Center, by this summer.
12/20/17 – 11:25 A.M.
A local man will be spending the holidays away from his family to help out in Puerto Rico. Ron Williams of Fostoria volunteered to head to the Hurricane ravaged country. American Red Cross North Central Ohio Chapter executive director Todd James said that the Red Cross needs volunteers like Williams.
Williams flew out yesterday to distribute emergency supplies. This is Williams’ second deployment for hurricane relief this year.
The Red Cross has been providing hurricane relief since late August after hurricanes ravaged 8 states, Peurto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
12/20/17 – 6:41 A.M.
Emergency medical service rates are going up in North Baltimore. The Courier reports village council approved the changes during their final meeting of the year.
A basic EMS run is moving from $525 to $550. Advanced Lifesaving 1 runs jump from $600 to $750, while Advanced Lifesaving 2 runs move from $800 to $875.
MORE: The Courier
12/20/17 – 5:30 A.M.
We continue our look back at 2017 today, recapping the top stories of the year as suggested by our listeners. Our third story in the series looks back at severe weather that rocked the area in November.
The first Sunday in November saw the largest severe weather outbreak in our area for the year. Straight-line winds moved through the region on November 5, leaving a large swath of damage in their wake.
Findlay High School arguably suffered the most damage from the high winds. The latest damage estimate for the school stands at more than $250,000 and Superintendent Ed Kurt expects the number to climb. The school still doesn’t have the use of its auxiliary gym.
The storm ripped the windows off the front of GER Mongolian Grill and tore down the facade on the front of Ralphies. Miller’s Meats is still recovering from the storm and hasn’t been able to open since suffering severe damage to their roof.
The storm also caused a gas leak at the Highland Estates Mobile Home Park, leading to a temporary evacuation.
BONUS MATERIAL:
12/20/17 – 5:28 A.M.
You’ll want to avoid part of Marion Township Road 227 for the rest of the week. Workers are installing a new waterline between Marion Township Road 204 and the Deer Landing Subdivision. The road closes between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day.
You should avoid the area if possible.
12/20/17 – 5:21 A.M.
Fire damaged a Findlay home Monday night. Firefighters responded to a home at 1812 Park Street around 11:10 p.m. to deal with an electrical fire. One person was home at the time and got out of the house safely.
The flames caused an estimated $13,500 in damages.
It took firefighters around 20 minutes to put out the blaze in the home’s attic.
12/20/17 – 5:16 A.M.
Several area governments and school districts are getting money back from Hancock County. Auditor Charity Rauschenberg says her office is returning $1.7 million from the real estate fund to entities that levy property taxes. Money in the fund comes from a small percentage of the county’s total real estate tax collections.
Rauschenberg believes it’s the first time the county has given money back to taxing entities in the county. She added that working with state contracts for services and other efficiencies led to the refund.
The Findlay City School District will see the largest return at more than $663,000.
12/20/17 – 5:06 A.M.
The Hancock County probation department is getting an extra officer to help deal with an increasing caseload. The Courier reports the commissioners voted to pay $20,000 toward the cost of the new officer during their Tuesday meeting. The money is coming from contingency funds. They’ll replace it when the county gets state funds in February.
The commissioners previously cut $75,000 from the court’s 2018 budget.
Kim Switzer is the director of court services and chief probation officer. She says the department will use part of the Targeted Community Alternative to Prison state grant funds to pay for the rest of the officer’s salary and benefits.
Representatives from the court say probation officers are handling 77 cases each. The standard load is 20 per officer.
MORE: The Courier
12/20/17 – 4:03 A.M.
Findlay will have a new public safety software after much research. Safety director Paul Schmelzer said that the new system from Tyler Technology will allow for quicker responses from police and fire departments. It will also help show what infrastructure is available to help the fire department.
The county can also get added onto the system to link information between the Sheriff’s Office and the police department. The Hancock County Commissioners wanted to get more details before committing to the system.
Schmelzer said that the new system will be fully implemented between 2018 and 2019.