7/12/18 – 12:06 A.M.

The owners of Vapor Emporium have their eyes on a new business. The Findlay City Planning Commission approved a zoning matter for the owners of CRAFTed during their Thursday meeting. The business will be in the Carriage House Plaza on Tiffin Avenue.

Co-owner Yvette Mundy says they plan to sell their own small-batch beers at first and eventually feature the beers of other craft brewers. They also plan to have a food truck on hand in the parking lot of the business.

Mundy says they are still in the process of getting the proper licenses.

Plans for the business include seating for 45 to 50 people.

7/12/18 – 5:29 A.M.

A Putnam County manufacturer plans to expand its operations. The Putnam County Sentinel reports Columbus Grove officials approved an application for a Community Reinvestment Area designation at a recent meeting. It’s designed to help the expansion of Grove Engineering Products. The Columbus Grove school board also has to approve the CRA.

The project will generate between two and 10 new jobs in the village.

Community Reinvestment Areas allow property owners to get tax incentives for building new facilities or renovating existing buildings.

MORE: Putnam County Sentinel

7/12/18 – 5:18 A.M.

Several area school districts have a policy in place when it comes to crowdfunding projects. That lines up with new suggestions from State Auditor Dave Yost about the practice. Yost suggests administrative approval for crowdfunding campaigns, among other guidelines.

Findlay City Schools Treasurer Mike Barnhart says the district has an informal procedure when it comes to the practice. He tells the Courier that building principals have to approve the narrative written for donation sites. Barnhart says if it’s a legitimate need they try to include it in the budget or find a local funding source.

Arcadia, Van Buren, and Liberty-Benton all allow for crowdfunding with the approval of the superintendent. Riverdale does not permit crowdfunding projects.

MORE: The Courier

7/12/18 – 5:05 A.M.

A Columbus roofer is facing a large fine for apparently failing to protect workers on a job in Findlay. OSHA has levied a more than $61,000 fine against Juve Guzman. The agency says Guzman didn’t set up safety measures to protect employees from a potential 10-foot fall at a Findlay house.

The fine for the May violation totaled more than $51,000. OSHA tacked on extra fines for a “repeat” violation. The agency says Guzman failed to train workers to minimize following hazards at a Findlay location in 2016.

MORE: The Courier

07/11/18 – 5:55 P.M.

Stantec released an updated review of Blanchard River flood mitigation which included dry storage basins. Findlay Safety Director Paul Schmelzer said that they are heading in a more agreeable direction by making the basins smaller.

Paul Schmelzer

Schmelzer added that they will continue to focus on the flooding as a Blanchard River issue and not just a Findlay issue.

Paul Schmelzer

Hancock United for a Better Blanchard does not have any formal opinion on the review yet. HUBB’s Gary Wilson said that they will meet soon to discuss the recommended plans.

07/11/18 – 12:28 P.M.

The Findlay man wanted in connection to a double shooting in Tazewell County, Virginia was captured last Friday. The Bluefield Daily Telegraph reports that 34-year-old Terry James Bandy of Findlay and 29-year-old Ashley Mayfield of North Carolina were captured around 2:30 a.m. near Vallscreek, West Virginia. Officers received tips that lead to the arrests. People were holding the fugitives in the area until law enforcement arrived.

Bandy and Mayfield were wanted in connection to a shooting that happened July 1. A woman was shot in the neck and a man was shot in the wrist and the abdomen. Both victims were airlifted to trauma centers for their injuries.