1/24/18 – 5:34 A.M.

The cost of renovating the Seneca County Annex Building could be higher than initial estimates showed. The Review-Times reports County Commissioner Mike Kerschner announced last week that a revised estimate for the work came in at around $648,000. That’s up from last year’s $417,000 figure. Kerschner said none of the increases were a result of requests from Probate and Juvenile Court Judge Jay Meyer.

On Tuesday Commissioner Shayne Thomas said the $500,000 set aside for the project two years ago was never meant as a final figure for the project. He said they won’t have a final budget figure until the engineers give an estimate after the county makes a decision on all aspects of the project.

Much of the price increase comes as a result of switching to energy efficient LED lights in the building.

MORE: Review-Times

1/24/18 – 5:21 A.M.

The Ohio Department of Health has finished its investigation into the death of a 76-year-old woman at the Hilty Home in Pandora. The Lima News reports investigators found Phyllis Campbell spent nearly eight hours in a courtyard outside the nursing home in sub-zero temperatures on January 7. The reports says Campbell was a patient in the facility’s memory care unit, and tried many times to leave.

The investigation found Campbell left her bed around 12:35 a.m. and walked past a propped-open door to the dining room. She entered the courtyard through a door there. An alarm should have sounded for 90 seconds when the door opened. Campbell also wore a “wander guard” device, but it didn’t alert the staff that she had left the building.

Hilty Home has put three state-tested nurses aides and a licensed practical nurse on administrative leave. Two of the nurses aides admitted they didn’t do scheduled checks at 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. They did mark the checks as completed in their logs.

Putnam County Sheriff Brian Siefker tells the newspaper his office has also completed its investigation of the incident. They have forwarded their findings to the Putnam County Prosecutor’s Office.

MORE: Lima News

01/23/18 – 4:27 P.M.

Unemployment rates climbed in the area in December. In Hancock County, the rate increased to 3.4% at the end of the year from 3.1% in November. Despite the increase, it was still .2% lower than December of 2016.

Putnam County saw an increase of .5% from November. It went from 3% to 3.5% but was still lower than the 3.6% recorded at the same time in 2016.

Wood and Wyandot Counties saw slight increases to 3.8% and 3.5% respectively. Seneca, Hardin, and Allen Counties are all over 4.4% unemployment.

01/23/18 – 3:11 P.M.

A Norfolk Southern train derailed in Seneca County late last night. Media partner WTOL-11 reports that the train derailed around 10:45 p.m. east of Republic near Township Road 122. No injuries were reported but nine cars jumped the tracks and dozens of shipping containers were piled up on top of each other. Township Road 122 remains open.

01/23/18 – 2:44 P.M.

There were two reports of counterfeit money used in Findlay businesses last week. Crime Prevention Officer Brian White said that there are ways to spot fake bills.

Brian White

He said most fake bills will be made with Xerox paper. He said you will see red and blue fibers in real currency which are hard to replicate.

White added that he can teach employees what to look out for.

Brian White

White said you can contact him through the Findlay Police Department at 419-424-7150 to schedule a session.

01/23/18 – 2:30 P.M.

A Findlay street is under a boil water advisory due to water main repairs. The Findlay Water Distribution Department reports that parts of Washington Street are in the advisory. Affected addresses are in the 300, 400, 500, and 600 blocks of Washington Street.

You can find the full list of affected addresses below. If your address is listed then you should boil water for at least a minute before using it to cook, drink, or for oral hygiene.

300, 302, 303, 312, 3316, 318, 322, 323, 324, 326,

400, 401, 404, 407, 408, 409, 410, 412, 413, 414, 418, 419, 421, 422, 426, 427, 430, 431

500 BLOCK and 600 BLOCK

1/23/18 – 6:45 A.M.

A small fire temporarily drove a Fostoria family from their home Monday morning. The Advertiser-Tribune reports firefighters responded to 12400 West Axline Street, Lot 59 around 6:15 a.m.

Chief Mark DeVault of Bascom Joint Fire District tells the newspaper it looks like a rechargeable battery may have malfunctioned. He says a resident of the home was holding it when it heated up and exploded. The residents used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames, but they rekindled when firefighters arrived.

The fire temporarily displaced the family living in the mobile home while crews did clean up work.

MORE: Advertiser-Tribune

1/23/18 – 5:30 A.M.

A Findlay company is donating items to help keep kids in Fostoria warm this winter. The Review-Times reports Pukka Inc. donated hats and scarves to students at Longfellow and Riley schools.

In the past, the company has put the clothing items in protective bags on trees downtown for the “Warm Up Fostoria” event. This winter’s weather hasn’t cooperated, so the company donated the items directly to the schools.

MORE: Review-Times