02/07/18 – 7:18 P.M.

There will be one contested race coming up in Hancock County. County Commissioner Tim Bechtol is looking for reelection while Paul Craun looks to unseat him. Both men are Republicans.

Robert Sprague’s former seat in the 83rd House District has plenty of contenders. Jon Cross and Cheryl Buckland are Republican candidates for the seat. Democrat Ashley Philipps is also running.

A Findlay man is looking to unseat Bob Latta. Barrett Brooks Jr. is looking to run for U.S. Representative but there was confusion surrounding his petition. He checked names at the Hancock County Board of Elections but was supposed to file in Lucas County. He is currently waiting to see if the mistake can be remedied.

02/07/18 – 7:05 P.M.

Findlay’s Income Tax Board meeting had tempers flared as city council members questioned the estimated tax payment process again. Councilwoman Holly Frische brought the topic again during the meeting. She said the process is unclear and isn’t fair.

Holly Frische

Holly Frische

Mayor Lydia Mihalik grew frustrated…

Lydia Mihalik

Lydia Mihalik

Mihalik explained that the process protects the city from having to give large refunds to companies. She said companies can pay their taxes with more accurate numbers rather than overpay.

02/07/18 – 12:25 P.M.

Gubernatorial candidate Mary Taylor was on WFIN to talk about her position on state issues. She said that she is disappointed in Medicaid and wants to make changes.

Mary Taylor

Taylor said that she would like to implement a direct care model. This kind of model will allow people to make monthly payments directly to their doctor outside of health insurance.

She added that she would also like to make changes to the education system. She explained that she thinks education needs to be more focused on the student’s future.

Mary Taylor

Taylor added that she is in support of bringing charter schools to Ohio. She said this will give parents more options in the type of education their children will have.

2/7/18 – 7:19 A.M.

Break-ins and burglaries are on the decline in North Baltimore. That’s according to Police Chief Allan Baer, who talked about the subject during Tuesday’s council meeting. The Courier reports Baer attributes the drop to more drug arrests. He added that people getting treatment for drug abuse is also helping.

The village’s annual crime report shows 13 burglaries or break-ins in 2017. That’s down from 26 the previous year.

MORE: The Courier

2/7/18 – 7:00 A.M.

Fostoria is closer to filling a vacant city council seat. The Review-Times reports council members recommended 49-year-old Mike Hopple fill the open third ward seat. Hopple has lived in Fostoria since 1993. He told council members that Fostoria, “just needs time and encouragement to get it to the point where its thriving. With my kids in Fostoria City Schools, I feel like we need to do something to give them something to grow into.”

Mayor Eric Keckler has to approve Hoppler’s appointment to make it official.

20-year-old Logan Shackleford expressed interest in the position.

MORE: Review-Times

2/7/18 – 6:44 A.M.

State Representative Robert Sprague of Findlay is officially a candidate for state treasurer. Sprague submitted petitions to run for office Tuesday. He collected more than 2,600 signatures from residents in 71 counties.

Sprague announced his intent to run last March. This is is first attempt to run for statewide office.

Sprague says, “I look forward to continuing to spend the next nine months on the campaign trail, getting back out to all of our 88 counties and earning the trust of voters in every corner of our state.”

Today is the filing deadline to appear on the May primary ballot.

2/7/18 – 5:35 A.M.

The legal saga stemming from the widening of Road 5 in Putnam County in 2012 shows no sign of slowing down in 2018. The Lima News reports the Putnam County Commissioners filed new cases against 13 Road 5 residents Tuesday.

Prosecutor Gary Lammers has filed a new application for appropriations against the defendants. The appropriations include offers for the land used in the project.

The county originally used eminent domain to take possession of the land for the widening of the road. The property owners say the commissioners didn’t have a right to use eminent domain because they didn’t vote unanimously to do so. A lawyer for the property owners tells the newspaper, “what they are doing is illegal.”

Attorney Lindie Webb says the commissioners are improperly applying a statute from the early 1900s to get around the need for a unanimous vote.

MORE: Lima News

2/7/18 – 5:18 A.M.

A Tuesday night fire drove five people from their home in Findlay. Firefighters responded to a home at 831 Putnam Street around 8:30 p.m. The American Red Cross is helping the residents with temporary housing, food, and clothing.

So far no other details about the fire are available.

2/7/18 – 5:13 A.M.

Residents in the Ottawa-Glandorf school district will see a levy on the ballot this spring. The Lima News reports the school board has voted to place a 1 percent income tax levy in front of voters. They expect the levy could generate around $2.5 million per year for the district.

The district is facing declining revenues. A financial analyst told the school board part of the reason for that is increasing home values in the district. The higher the home values, the less state money a school receives.

2/7/18 – 5:05 A.M.

The investigation continues into the discovery of a body along a rural Hancock County road over the past weekend. The Courier reports several people have contacted the sheriff’s office about the death of 28-year-old Danielle Rice of Findlay. Deputies found her body along Cass Township Road 215 between County Roads 18 and 236 early Sunday afternoon.

Sheriff Mike Heldman tells the newspaper they want to hear from anyone who might have information on the case. He asks anyone with information to call (419)424-7097.

Heldman says preliminary autopsy results could come out later this week.

MORE: The Courier