Monthly Archives: June 2018

Plans Approved For Spirit of 1776 Event In Findlay

6/1/18 – 7:09 A.M.

The Hancock County Commissioners signed off on updated plans for an Independence Day presentation during their Thursday meeting. Spirit of 1776 organizer Don VanRenterghem gave updated plans to the commissioners. The new plans removed exhibits from the grass in Dorney Plaza.

Earlier this week the commissioners told VanRenterghem the event had to stay off the grass. That’s because the contractor on the Dorney Plaza upgrade said the grass needed a year to grow strong roots.

The Spirit of 1776 program will feature re-enactors of historical figures will be on the sidewalk in front of the courthouse, with other displays of Hancock County’s history.

MORE: The Courier

Fostoria Robbery Suspect Surrenders To Police

6/1/18 – 6:56 A.M.

The man who robbed a Dollar Tree store in Fostoria Wednesday has turned himself into the police. Police Chief Keith Loreno says 31-year-old Donald Hummer of Oregon, Ohio walked into the police station around 1 a.m. Thursday and admitted to robbing the business on East Lytle Street.

Loreno says a family member convinced Hummer to turn himself in.

The robbery happened around 7 p.m. Wednesday. Hummer allegedly threatened an employee with a knife and forced the clerk to open the cash register. He left the store with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Hummer faces charges of kidnapping and aggravated robbery.

Summer Lunch Program Starts At Glenwood Next Week

6/1/18 – 5:29 A.M.

The Findlay City School District and Hancock County Family First Council are working to help kids in the city this summer. The two have partnered to launch a summer lunch program at Glenwood Middle School.

The free lunches are available starting Monday. The program runs Monday through Friday until July 27. The lunches are available for all children ages 1 to 18. It is also available for adults that a state or local public educational agency deems to have a mental or physical disability, and who take part during the school year in a public or private nonprofit school program.

Any adult can buy a meal for $3.20.

Thursday Morning Crash Kills One, Impacts Traffic For Majority Of The Day

6/1/18 – 5:20 A.M.

Four trucks collided on I-75 south of Findlay early Thursday morning. The crash killed one person and caused traffic issues in the area for the majority of the day.

The State Highway Patrol says northbound traffic had stopped for construction at the I-75 interchange with U.S. 68 and State Route 15. A semi driven by 58-year-old Mark Moore of Goshen, Ohio failed to stop and slammed into the back of a semi driven by 47-year-old Leroy Bennett of Canada around 12:45 a.m. That caused a chain reaction crash involving two other semis. Moore’s truck caught fire, and the flames spread to Bennett’s truck.

Investigators pronounced Moore dead at the scene of the crash. Hanco EMS took Bennett and one of the other drivers, 58-year-old Wiliam Tucker of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, to Blanchard Valley Hospital.

The crash remains under investigation.

Marion Township Trustees Vote Against Rezoning For Wind Turbines

6/1/18 – 5:08 A.M.

The Marion Township trustees voted against a bid to rezone land to make way for wind turbines during a Thursday meeting. The land in question sits southeast of the intersection of Crystal and Bigelow avenues. It’s currently zoned R-2 residential. One Energy would like it rezoned as industrial.

Jereme Kent of One Energy says he believes the company will still build one or two turbines in that area. He added that there are several paths forward, including applying for a zoning variance from the Marion Township zoning appeals board.

While residents in the area had concerns about the construction of wind turbines, they were also worried about Findlay annexing the land into the city. Trustee Jim Gosche says it makes more sense to build homes there since the city already lacks affordable housing.

Others on hand had concerns about low-income housing going up on the land if the city annexes it. Goshe said if the city annexes the land, the township doesn’t have any control over what happens there.

MORE: The Courier