3/12/18 – 5:40 A.M.

The Old Fort Banking Company has named a new chairman. The company’s current CEO, Michael Spragg, will take over as chairman in April. Spragg joined Old Fort in 2007 as the bank’s president and chief executive officer. The company also named him president and CEO of Gillmor Financial Services in 2010.

Spragg takes the place of Dianne Gillmor Krumsee. She is retiring following the annual meeting of shareholders on April 13.

The banking company has locations in several cities including Findlay, Fostoria, and Lima.

3/12/18 – 5:30 A.M.

A one-car crash killed a man near Cygnet Sunday night. The Wood County Sheriff’s Office reports the crash happened around 9:30 p.m. on Bays Road near Solether Road.

34-year-old Nathan Lee of Portage drove off the road and his car rolled several times. He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and the crash ejected him from his car.

A medical Helicopter took Lee to Toledo Hospital, where he later died.

3/12/18 – 5:25 A.M.

Area seniors are getting safety information through a series of monthly meetings. The Triad is a collaboration between the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, Findlay Police Department, and local seniors. They meet at 50 North on the first Thursday every month to talk about crime issues that could affect the area’s older residents.

Sheriff’s office crime prevention officer Beth Baker told the group about a romance scam. The victim in that case lost nearly $75,000. Police crime prevention officer Brian White talked about a rental scam that had hit the area. They also talked about a rash of thefts from cars, reminding seniors to lock their vehicles.

Triad meets the first Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. at 50 North.

MORE: The Courier

3/12/18 – 5:16 A.M.

A former acting Findlay Police Chief has filed an appeal over his firing. The Courier reports Sean Young has also filed a case with the with the Ohio State Personnel Board of Review. That case claims the city fired Young because he was a whistleblower.

Findlay law director Don Rasmussen says the whistleblower claim comes from a 2016 incident. Former Police Chief Greg Horne and Young clashed with Mayor Lydia Mihalik about bypassing court security while carrying a concealed pistol. Rasmussen says the city fired Young well after the dispute, and after a domestic violence incident came to light.

Rasmussen also adds it wouldn’t have made sense for the city to name Young the acting police chief if anyone wanted to retaliate against him.

The whistleblower case is on hold while Young’s firing is appealed.

MORE: The Courier

3/12/18 – 4:34 A.M.

Wood County sheriff’s deputies are investigating a crash that sent one person to the hospital. A driver lost control of their vehicle near Bays and Solether roads in Cygnet last night and slammed into an embankment. The driver was ejected from the vehicle and had to be airlifted to a Toledo hospital.

03/09/18 – 4:13 P.M.

Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper was on WFIN to talk about the revitalization of the Democratic party. He said that in order to strengthen the party they had to start locally.

David Peppe

Pepper said that they rebuilt the party from the bottom up. This has lead to there being a candidate in every race on the state level this year.

Pepper also talked about big topics for the race for the governor’s seat. Pepper said that Ohio’s performance has been declining and change is needed.

David Pepper

He said that it will come to who can bring changes to unemployment and education, as well as to make Ohio a strong competitor in 21st-century jobs. He argued that the Democratic Candidates offer this level of change while Republican candidates stand for the status quo.

03/09/18 – 2:56 P.M.

ODOT is urging property owners to contact them before they do any work along state highways. District 1 Deputy director Kirk Slusher said it is easier to work with ODOT ahead of a project rather than create a problem that needs undone. They say that activities such as work on driveways, setting up mailboxes, ditch cleaning, and snow removal are all included.

Slusher said that you can contact ODOT if you have any questions as to what you’re allowed to do. You can call ahead at 419-999-6843.

03/09/18 – 2:25 P.M.

The American Red Cross Gala set a new fundraising record for the North Central Ohio Chapter. The gala raised $156,000 last Saturday. Executive Director Todd James said that the overwhelming support goes to show that the community appreciates the mission and work of the Red Cross.

The event was in the new Blanchard Ballroom of the Hancock Hotel. It featured live entertainment, live and silent auctions, and historic memorabilia from the Red Cross.

3/9/18 – 8:56 A.M.

The Bettsville Police Department has disbanded. Media partner WTOL-11 reports the village will rely on the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office for police protection from now on.

The cost of paying a deputy to patrol the village 40 hours a week is much less than paying for all the needs of the police department.

Bettsville was having trouble filling part-time police officer positions. Officials voted to phase out the department last June.

MORE: WTOL

3/9/18 – 8:45 A.M.

A Findlay man was involved in a fatal crash in Kentucky Thursday morning. SurfKY.com reports 63-year-old William Cornwell III of Findlay was driving a semi in Daviess County Kentucky when he ran into the back of a Dodge Neon. The crash took the life of the driver of the Neon. Cornwell wasn’t hurt.

The Daviess County Sheriff Office reports the collision happened on U.S. 431 south of Owensboro, Kentucky, around 7 a.m. They have not released the name of the driver killed in the crash.

MORE: SurfKY.com