01/31/18 – 10:14 P.M.
The Findlay City School Board heard about their 6-month interest earnings during their Wednesday meeting. Treasurer Mike Barnhart said that they did better than last year.
Barnhart said they will take that money and put it back into the schools.
He added that the increase is due to the growing economy.
01/31/18 – 5:08 P.M.
The Hancock County Humane Society is having a fundraiser and annual meeting this February. Executive director Paula Krugh said that it will be a fun event with wine.
Tickets are $10 and include at least 4 wine samples and food. The proceeds will go to the shelter and 10% of any sales in the store will also go to the shelter. The event will be from 5-8 p.m. on February 15.
01/31/18 – 5:06 P.M.
Ohio state U.S. Representative Bob Latta was on the train that struck a truck Wednesday. Latta tweeted that he and his wife are both okay. Several doctors that are also House members went to help out at the scene of the accident.
The train was taking GOP members to the Republican House meeting in West Virginia. According to Latta there were some people seriously injured in the accident and he offers his prayers for them and their families.
1/31/18 – 5:33 A.M.
A program that helps families in need get cribs has expanded into Putnam County. The Courier reports the Help Me Grow Office in Ottawa is now a site for the Cribs for Kids program. Previously, qualified families had to make a trip to Lima to pick up a free crib.
Barb Duling is the home visitor/service coordinator for Putnam County Help Me Grow. She tells the newspaper, “some of our families did not have the transportation to do so, so we’re kind of taking away that roadblock.”
The Ohio Department of Health and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau runs the Cribs for Kids program.
MORE: The Courier
1/31/18 – 5:23 A.M.
The Putnam County Commissioners have questions about proposed changes to wind turbine regulations in Ohio. WLIO-TV reports the commissioners recently met with State Senator Rob McColley about the issue. Commissioner John Love tells the TV station they want more specifics about setbacks. He added they also want to know more about “local control” and if it includes township trustees or just the commissioners.
The Putnam County Commissioners had worked with a company to place around 75 turbines near Leipsic a few years ago. The deal fell through when Ohio changed rules governing how far wind turbines have to sit back from a roadway.
MORE: WLIO-TV
1/31/18 – 5:15 A.M.
Marathon Petroleum’s board of directors declared a dividend of 46 cents per common share of stock this week. The company says the dividend is payable on March 12 to shareholders of record on February 21.
CEO Gary Heminger says the dividend is a 15 percent increase “to our regular dividend under an accelerated timeline.”
Marathon will report fourth-quarter and full year financial results Thursday morning.
Everyone living in a South Blanchard Street duplex in Findlay reportedly got out of the home safely during an early morning fire. Firefighters responded to a blaze at 716 South Blanchard Street around 4 a.m.
Firefighters reported there was “heavy fire” on the first floor of the home and the second floor had filled with smoke. Scanner traffic indicated the fire department took a defensive posture just before 4:40 a.m.
We’ll have more details as they become available.
1/31/18 – 4:30 A.M.
Seneca County is joining other northwest Ohio communities in suing opioid drug producers. The county commissioners voted yesterday to join the lawsuit against five drug makers and three drug wholesalers. They want to be reimbursed for the costs of handling the opioid epidemic, claiming the drug companies failed to warn the public about the addictive nature of the drugs.
1/31/18 – 4:28 A.M.
The urgent push to get more blood donations in northwest Ohio continues. Red Cross officials say the holidays, severe winter weather and the flu outbreak have conspired to cause dangerously low supplies of all blood types and platelets. People interested in donating blood can call 1-800 RED CROSS to get more information or make an appointment.
01/30/18 – 5:55 P.M.
Hancock County Jobs and Family Services will have a levy on the May ballot for child and adult protection services. Director Diana Hoover explained that costs are going up while funding is going down.
Hoover said foster care costs have increased 56% and adult protection costs have doubled in the past two years. She added that the opioid epidemic has played a significant role in this increase. There’s no word yet on how much the levy will be for.
Hancock JFS supervisor Karmen Lauth said they will be holding a fundraising and awareness event at the Wine Merchant.
Lauth said that JFS tries to let people know about the services they offer but aren’t always successful. This event will help to raise money as well as show people what JFS does to help families.
It will be from 5-7 p.m. at the Wine Merchant. The event costs $10 and includes wine samples and a silent auction.