Monthly Archives: April 2018

University of Findlay Graduating Over 750 Students Saturday

Local News

04/30/18 – 6:32 P.M.

Over 750 students are getting their degrees this weekend at the University of Findlay. Doors will open at 8 a.m. Saturday with the formal procession starting an hour later. The commencement ceremonies will be at the Koehler Fitness and Recreation Complex and will be broadcasted live by UFTV.

Indiana University’s assistant professor of clinical neurology Dr. Jaison Grimes will address the graduate students. Undergrads will hear from Grammar Award-nominated musician Phil Reno.

Hydrant Flushing Continues In Findlay Tomorrow

Local News

04/30/18 – 6:18 P.M.

The Water Distribution department has started flushing fire hydrants in Findlay. According to a release, they will start flushing more hydrants on Tuesday. This will be done in the area of North Blanchard Street east to Bright Road from the Blanchard River north to Tiffin Avenue.

If you have any questions please contact the Water Distribution Department at 419-424-7192.

Marathon Reports $37 Million Earnings For First Quarter

Local News

04/30/18 – 5:46 P.M.

Marathon Petroleum Corporation reported higher earnings for the first quarter of 2018. The company posted earnings of $37 million for the first three months of the year. That’s compared to $30 million from last year.

 

The Midstream segment posted an income of $567 million, largely driven by MPLX. In 2017, the Midstream segment had an income of $309 million. The company reported that this increase is partially due to assets being moved from refining and marketing to MPLX. This also partially explain a loss in the refining and marketing segment. They posted $133 million losses this year compared to $70 million last year.

Speedway also saw a decrease in profit. They reported $95 million of income in 2018 compared to $135 in 2017 in the first quarter. The company reported that this is due to higher operating costs.

Despite the rising operating costs and moving assets, the company posted $440 million in income from operations. Up from the $291 million of income in 2017

Local Gas Prices Hit Two-Year High

Local News

4/30/18 – 10:00 A.M.

Local gas prices are as high as they’ve been in nearly two years. OhioGasPrices.com reports the average price for a gallon of regular in Findlay is $2.77 today. That’s up 12 cents from last Monday. Prices in Findlay haven’t been this high since June of 2016.

Drivers in Ottawa are paying less for the time being, at $2.59 per gallon. Prices have stayed stable for the last week.

The statewide average stands at $2.74 per gallon. That’s a six-cent increase over the last seven days.

UPDATE: Marathon To Buy Texas Refining Company For More Than $23 Billion

Local News, WFIN Top Story

4/30/18 – 5:02 A.M.
UPDATE – 8:51 A.M.

Marathon Petroleum has announced a merger with a San Antonio based refining company. A release from Marathon says the deal announced this (Monday) morning means Marathon will buy all of Andeavor’s outstanding shares of stock for more than $23 billion. The board of directors for both companies unanimously approved the deal. Regulators must sign off on the merger before it can close.

Once the government approves the deal, the combined company headquarters will stay in Findlay. It will also maintain an office in San Antonio.

Marathon CEO Gary Heminger issued a statement saying, “This transaction combines two strong, complementary companies to create a leading U.S. refining, marketing, and midstream company.” He added the move builds, “a platform that is well-positioned for long-term growth and shareholder value creation.”

Andeavor CEO Greg Goff will join Marathon as an executive vice chairman.

Vandals Hit Putnam County Church

Local News

4/30/18 – 7:39 A.M.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office wants your help in finding the people responsible for vandalizing a church over the weekend. A post on the offices’ page says someone spray painted graffiti on the Immaculate Conception Church in Ottoville on Saturday. The report says the vandal or vandals also spray painted a house on Road 27.

The vandalism included a swastika and the phrases, “God’s not real” and “Satan.”

The post says the vandals may have hit a Delphos church as well. Anyone with information should contact the sheriff’s office at (419)523-3208.

Lower Demand, High Raw Material Prices Pinch Cooper’s Q1 Numbers

Local News, WFIN Top Story

4/30/18 – 7:29 A.M.

Cooper Tire & Rubber’s sales and income slid in the first quarter of this year. The Findlay-based company reports $8 million in net income earned between January and the end of March. That’s down from $31 million during the first quarter of 2017.

Net sales fell from $643 million to $601 million. That’s a decline of 6.5 percent. Cooper’s operating profit also fell during the first three months of the year, from $58 million last year to $26 million this year.

CEO Brad Hughes says “the decrease in our first quarter operating profit, adjusted for one-time items, was more than explained by weaker volume and higher manufacturing costs as we made production adjustments to keep our inventories in line with current market conditions.” He added they tire business as a whole is experiencing weaker demand and higher raw material costs.

While overall numbers are down, the international tire operations are trending up. The international segment posted $161 million in net sales in the first quarter of this year, compared to $142 million last year. International tire operations operating profit rose to $7 million from $3 million. That’s a 145 percent increase.

Fostoria Fire Under Investigation

Local News

4/30/18 – 6:52 A.M.

Fire damaged a Fostoria home over the weekend. Firefighters responded to a home at 826 Cory Street around 9:10 a.m. Saturday. They found flames in the back room of the house when they arrived.

A press release from the Fostoria Police Department says investigators found “suspicious findings at the scene of the fire.” Witnesses tell the Review-Times that they saw police remove several plants from the home after the blaze.

The case remains under investigation.

North Baltimore Teen Injured In Findlay Crash

Local News

4/30/18 – 6:43 A.M.

A one-car crash injured a North Baltimore teenager in Findlay over the weekend. The Findlay Police Department says the crash happened just before 10 p.m. Saturday in the 2500 block of North Main Street.

18-year-old Isaiah Brooker-Reinhart was driving north on the road when he drove across the southbound lanes for unknown reasons and hit a tree. Hanco EMS took the teen to Blanchard Valley Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Officers cited Brooker-Reinhart for reckless operation.

Berm Work Projects Underway In Putnam County

Local News

4/30/18 – 5:31 A.M.

ODOT crews are set to work on the berms of several highways in Putnam County this week. You’ll see lane restrictions on U.S. 224 between Glandorf and Kalida, State Route 115 between Kalida and State Route 15, and State Route 696 between State Route 12 and Allen County.

Crews are also performing berm work on State Route 613 in the western part of the county, State Route 634, and State Route 694.