01/03/17 – 3 A.M.
Findlay City Council started the new year off agreeing to fix a sinkhole caused by a collapsed sewer. The sinkhole is in the Hunter’s Creek subdivision and links ponds in the area to help with flooding. Service director Brian Thomas said there are other pipes but that they need to fix the collapsed one soon.
The project will cost $85,000. Council rushed the legislation through because they say the sinkhole poses a real and present danger.
01/03/17 – 2:51 A.M.
Findlay City Council approved plans to remove a combined sewer overflow system. Service director Brian Thomas explained that the system can cause backups when overflowed, such as in a flood scenario. He added that the EPA wants these systems removed.
Thomas said that removing a CSO can help separate sewer pipelines.
He also added that the city will be adding flap gates to close the sewers off from any flood waters. The project will cost over $100,000 total.
1/02/18 – 6:49 P.M.
United Way of Hancock County has finished another year of fundraising and looks towards the next. President and CEO John Urbanski said that it’s less about money and more about people volunteering time and resources.
Urbanski explained that the more people involved the easier it is to accomplish tasks and fundraise.
Urbanski added that volunteers will start fundraising with Celebrity Servers. United Way volunteers will work at local restaurants from 5-7 p.m. next week at various locations.
1/2/18 – 5:05 A.M.
UPDATE – 11:08 A.M.
An early morning fire in Findlay displaced a family of five. The Findlay Fire Department responded to a home near the Findlay Village Mall at 1804 Cherry Lane just after midnight. Two adults and three children managed to escape the home safely. The cause of the fire and damage estimates remain under investigation.
The American Red Cross helped the family find a place to stay following the blaze. They also helped get the victims food and clothing.
1/2/18 – 6:38 A.M.
If you want to brave the cold, you can get rid of your live Christmas trees in Findlay this week. The city says the Green Waste site is open from 7:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. today through Friday. The site is also open from January 8 through January 12 at the same times.
You should remove all decorations from the tree before dropping it off.
The Green Waste Site is at 250 West High Street. It is only for residential use.
1/2/17 – 5:34 A.M.
We’re starting the year with slightly lower gas prices than we ended 2017 with. OhioGasPrices.com reports the average price in Findlay is $2.49 per gallon today. That’s down a couple of cents from last Friday. We enter the new year with prices 18 cents higher than they were when we entered 2017.
Drivers in Ottawa report paying $2.49 per gallon as well.
Local prices are slightly above the state average, which stands at $2.48 per gallon today.
1/2/18 – 5:27 A.M.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is having some issues with 911 services today. The office reports they currently can’t receive calls from Glandorf’s 538 exchange through 911 or the sheriff’s non-emergency number. The problem might affect Vaughnsville residents as well.
If you need to call 911 from Glandorf or Vaughnsville you should use your cell phone until further notice.
1/2/18 – 5:21 A.M.
There were far fewer fatal crashes on Hancock County roads in 2017. The Courier reports only four people died in crashes in the county last year. That’s 14 fewer than in 2016 and the lowest number in ten years. Law enforcement stats show that none of the crashes listed alcohol as a factor.
Authorities listed failure to control as the primary factor for three of the fatal wrecks. Failure to maintain an assured clear distance was the factor in the other crash.
Local law enforcement agencies tell the newspaper they plan to continue high visibility enforcement efforts to try and keep the number of crashes low.
MORE: The Courier
1/2/18 – 5:11 A.M.
Five fire departments battled a fire west of Fostoria late Monday afternoon. The Review-Times reports firefighters responded to a blaze at 4588 Stearns Road around 5:45 p.m. They put the flames out by 9 p.m. but stayed at the scene to watch for flare-ups.
We’ll have more details on the fire as they become available.
1/2/18 – 4:59 A.M.
We rang in the new year with bitterly cold temperatures, and it appears they’ll be sticking around for a little while. Media partner WTOL 11 predicts highs below 20 degrees through at least Sunday. The lows drop below zero every night through at least Saturday. Those numbers aren’t factoring in wind chills.
It doesn’t look like we’ll see any new record temperatures this week. The Findlay Water Pollution Control Center says the records for this time of year are double digits below zero for the most part.
You’re advised to stay inside if possible. If you do have to wonder out, wear many layers, and cover up as much exposed skin as possible.