6/27/18 – 5:11 A.M.
The Findlay Police Department is looking for your help in finding a break-in suspect. Investigators say the man broke into the Smoke-N-Stuff Store on North Main Street on June 5. The man used a brick to break the glass door and then stole items inside.
We have a picture of the suspect on our website. If you have any information on the case, investigators ask you to call the Findlay Police at 419-424-7150. Tips can remain anonymous.
The case number is 18-05787.
6/27/18 – 5:05 A.M.
The Ohio EPA took questions and comments about the Blanchard River widening project during a Tuesday night meeting. The Courier reports around 10 people showed up for the public hearing. Blanchard River Watershed Partnership member Richard Kozlowski was the only person to ask questions. Kozlowski mentioned plans to remove four low-head dams from the river. He asked if the river would run dry in the summer without them.
Kozlowski also asked about the impact of the project on wetlands near the Swale Park area.
EPA officials didn’t have answers to the questions but said they would look into them. They said they would answer them all before approving permits for the river widening.
MORE: The Courier
06/25/18 – 11 P.M.
Democratic U.S. Congressional candidate Michael Galbraith made a stop in Findlay Tuesday. He said that the government unfairly uses social security funds.
Galbraith said that this is wrong and that the money comes straight out of the pockets of taxpayers. He added that congress aims to take more money out of social security.
He also talked about the potential trade war. He said that it needs to be resolved because it will affect several areas of American industry.
He said that you can expect prices to rise which will also increase interest rates. Galbraith said that there needs to be serious changes in congress.
06/25/28 – 11 P.M.
The Hancock County Commissioners met to discuss options in updating the Probate Juvenile Court. Commissioner Mark Gazarek said that they may need to rethink trying to fix the over 150-year-old building.
Gazarek said they have the option to build a new building.
Commissioner Brian Robertson said that after contingencies and moving costs, the renovations could costs around $2.2 million. Gazarek said they can build a new building for $2.7 million.
The group decided to wait and do more research before making any decisions.
06/26/18 – 2:40 P.M.
The University of Findlay has started a new Bachelors of Arts in International Studies degree. The new program will prepare students for widely varied career opportunities based throughout the nation and world. Students will gain transferrable skills in areas like intercultural and international engagement, language proficiency and competency in a specific region’s culture.
Students will pick a focus in intercultural studies or global relations. They will also choose Asia, Europe, or Latin America as a regional area to study. This will prepare them for jobs in international business, service organizations, and federal service employment and non-governmental organizations abroad.
06/26/18 – 12:35 P.M.
A Bluffton man pleaded guilty to raping then-four-year-old child today. The Courier reports that 37-year-old Jonathon Lamb pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree rape. Prosecutors dropped a specification that the victim was under 10 years old as part of a plea deal. The specification could have led to a life sentence for Lamb.
Lamb faces 3 to 11 years in prison. He will be sentenced on August 24.
The incidents happened in February of 2017.
6/26/18 – 12:35 P.M.
The Hancock County Commissioners saw plans for a possible wetlands restoration project along the Blanchard River today. The Nature Conservancy’s Amy Brennan says the roughly 200-yard project along County Road 89 would keep nutrients from getting into the river…
Audio: Amy Brennan
Brennan says that in turn keeps harmful nutrients from making it to Lake Erie…
Audio: Amy Brennan
She adds restored wetlands would also store some water during floods.
The Ohio Division of Wildlife paid to create the plans. Brennan says if the county moved forward with the project, there would likely be several funding sources to tap into. The commissioners are not obligated to use the plan.
Commissioner Mark Gazarek said he was hesitant to move forward with anything until the Maumee Watershed Conservancy and Stantec Engineering looked at the plans. That’s because construction would require moving around 6,700 cubic feet of dirt.
The commissioners also had concerns about planting trees in the wetland area, since trees can fall into the river and create blockages.
The commissioners didn’t take action on the proposal today.
Proposed area for Wetlands Restoration:
6/26/18 – 8:41 A.M.
UPDATE – 9:42 A.M.
ODOT has reopened a rest area near Findlay. ODOT says the rest stop along I-75 northbound, south of the city, was having an issue with water pressure earlier today. It reopened around 9:30 a.m.
6/26/18 – 7:26 A.M.
The investigation continues into a Monday night crash in Fostoria. The Review-Times reports a van hit a utility pole on South Poplar Street. The driver hit a speed limit sign, some gas line markers, and took out a fire hydrant before hitting the pole.
Bascom EMS took the driver to Fostoria Community Hospital for treatment. A passenger in the van ran away from the scene of the crash. The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office and Fostoria Police Department are still looking for the person.
MORE: Review-Times
6/26/18 – 7:19 A.M.
Carey is changing the agency that handles its income taxes. Village council voted to end a contract with the Central Collection Agency, Division of Taxation of Cleveland during their Monday meeting. Earlier in the month residents spoke about issues with the service. They said they didn’t like the Cleveland department’s tactics, had payments lost, and had received extra bills.
Carey may contract with the city of Findlay income tax department to administer taxes. Income tax administrator Andrew Thomas said Findlay could do it for between $24,000 and $26,000 per year. That’s about half of what Carey was paying the Cleveland department.
Carey council expects to vote on the issue at their next meeting.
MORE: The Courier