8/20/18 – 6:38 A.M.
You have two more chances to safely get rid of household hazardous waste in Hancock County this year. You can take materials like paints, stains, thinners, aerosols, and propane cylinders to Litter Landing today and on August 27. The collection hours are from 10 a.m until 1 p.m. both days.
8/20/18 – 5:29 A.M.
Around 100 people took part in a triathlon in Putnam County over the weekend. WLIO-TV reports the third annual “Run with the Law” event raised money for the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office to use for community projects and training programs.
The event featured a lap around the pond at Four Seasons Park in Kalida, a twelve-mile bike ride, and a 5K. Participants could also compete in one or two legs of the event.
Sheriff Brian Siefker tells WLIO that the money from the race helps out with things like “Shop with a Cop” at Christmas and “Coats for Kids.”
MORE: WLIO-TV
8/20/18 – 5:23 A.M.
Road work continues in several different areas of Putnam County this week. ODOT is restricting State Route 634 in Continental to one lane for the installation of curb ramps and sidewalks.
You’ll also see crews on State Route 65 in areas between Leipsic and the Henry County line. State Route 109 between Leipsic and the Henry County line is also reduced to one lane in some areas for repaving.
8/20/18 – 5:18 A.M.
There’s one new road project beginning in Hancock County this week. ODOT says crews will restrict traffic on parts of State Route 613 between Van Buren and the Putnam County line for berm repair starting today.
Elsewhere, U.S. 68 in Arlington remains closed between Liberty Street and the Buck Run bridge. State Route 330 over State Route 15 in Vanlue also remains closed for bridge deck replacement. Crews are also restricting traffic on parts of State Route 568 between Bright Road in Findlay and the Wyandot County line for a repaving project.
The County Road 15 bridge over I-75 remains closed for bridge repair.
8/20/18 – 5:10 A.M.
The number of people who died in building fires tripled in our region last year. 12 people lost their lives in fires in Hancock, Hardin, Putnam, Allen, Seneca, Wood, and Wyandot Counties in 2017. That’s compared to four in 2016, and five in 2015.
While there isn’t one clear explanation for the spike in fire-related deaths, fire officials say the weather didn’t help anything. Findlay Fire Chief Josh Eberle says the extended harsh winter could have put extra stress on homes.
While the number of fire deaths increased, the number of structure fires stayed relatively flat over the same time.
Eberle and local Red Cross director Todd James say checking your smoke detectors to make sure they are working is a big key to lowering the number of fatal fires.
MORE: The Courier
8/20/18 – 4:58 A.M.
More details are coming out about a whistleblower case filed by a former acting police chief in Findlay. The Courier reports it has received documents that show Sean Young’s lawyer had referred to another Findlay police officer who the department investigated for “unlawfully entering his estranged wife’s boyfriend’s home and assault.” The report says no charges came from the investigation.
The city fired Young over his involvement in his own domestic violence case. He claimed the firing came as a result of his whistleblower case. He also believes a dispute over whether Mayor Lydia Mihalik could bypass municipal building security with her concealed carry handgun led to his firing.
Young and the city reached a settlement earlier this year.
City Law Director Don Rasmussen redacted the name of the officer involved in the domestic violence incident. He also redacted the name of the officer who did the investigation. Rasmussen tells the Courier that he blacked out the names because they identify an “uncharged individual.”
The city also permanently sealed four videotapes from an internal investigation of Young. Rasmussen said the videotapes show Young undergoing a lie-detector test conducted by the Toledo Police Department.
MORE: The Courier
8/20/18 – 4:20 A.M.
A Fostoria man is dead following a motorcycle crash near Bowling Green. The State Highway Patrol says 50-year-old Kenneth Wren was westbound on State Route 105 last night when he lost control of his motorcycle near Chamberlain Road and hit a utility pole. The wreck is under investigation.
8/17/18 – 8:32 A.M.
A Fostoria teenager recently took first place in an Ohio State Fair competition. The Review-Times reports 14-year-old Belinda Burkett’s radio-controlled project took top honors at the Science Fun with Electricity for Engineering Excitement Day. She also received the Julie Miller Memorial Award for “Woman of the Year” in electrical engineering.
Burkett created a remote control carousel featuring animals that go up and down for her project.
MORE: Review-Times
8/17/18 – 8:23 A.M.
Carey Village Council has reversed course on traffic around the school. Members approved closing a section of Memorial Park road between the high school baseball diamond and the tennis courts and opening the previously closed exit from the school parking lot. The rest of the park road will have two-way traffic, and there will be a “no outlet” sign posted at the park entrance.
Council members say the move will ease traffic around the school and also keep people at the park safe.
MORE: The Courier
8/17/18 – 7:48 A.M.
The Blanchard River Watershed Partnership recently received a grant to help reduce sediment and phosphorus in the Tiderishi Creek watershed. The grant from the Great Lakes Commission is for more than $147,000. Nearly 80 percent of the watershed is cropland. The money will help pay for things like nutrient management plans, controlled water structures, and in-stream sediment removal.
Each project involves cost-share for farmers in the area. Interested farmers should call Phil Martin at the Hancock Soil and Water Conservation District. The number is 419-422-6487.