8/17/18 – 7:36 A.M.
Blanchard Valley Health System is adding an office in Fostoria. The Findlay-based healthcare provider plans on opening Blanchard Valley Obstetrics & Gynecology in an office at 617 North Countyline Street. Health system officials say the new office will open in early September.
Dr. Mohamed El Nemr will be a provide services at the new facility a well as at the Neil & Laura Clark Women & Children’s Center in Findlay.
8/17/18 – 7:26 A.M.
Two more school districts in Hancock County are opting to have their own resource officer. On Thursday Van Buren’s school board voted to pay sheriff deputy Matthew Crouch $52,000 for full-time services. Riverdale’s school board recently approved a $52,000 contract with Deputy Kreg Sheets.
Deputy Shane Leeth will continue to work as a school resource officer in other county schools.
School resource officers are responsible for crime prevention in schools. They also teach lessons on topics like alcohol, drugs, and personal safety.
MORE: The Courier
8/17/18 – 7:13 A.M.
Hancock County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man wanted on a warrant out of Seneca County near Mount Cory Thursday. A post on the office’s Facebook page says deputies responded to East Washington Street in the village around 4 p.m. The suspect took off before they got there, but they were able to track the man with K9 deputy Charlie.
Charlie tracked the man through a bean field and wooded thicket. The man surrendered as Charlie closed in.
Officials haven’t publicly identified the man.
8/17/18 – 6:52 A.M.
CSX will close two railroad crossings for repair next week. You’ll see work on Jackson Township Road 172 starting Monday. They’ll start repairs on Jackson Township roads 40 and 45 on Tuesday.
The Hancock County Engineer’s Office says paving work continues through next week as well. Crews will be on County Road 252 today and next Wednesday. Paving takes place on Marion Township Road 202 next Wednesday as well.
Plans for repaving also include Van Buren Township roads 27 and 29 on August 23. Work takes place on Washington Township Road 218 on August 24 and 25.
8/17/18 – 6:44 A.M.
A grant will pay for wetland mitigation along the Blanchard River. On Thursday the Hancock County Commissioners approved spending more than $97,000 for the project associated with Blanchard River widening. A $97,000 grant received by the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership will offset the costs.
The EPA is mandating that wetlands disturbed by the flood mitigation process get replaced somewhere else.
MORE: The Courier
8/17/18 – 5:31 A.M.
A missing teenager from McComb has been found. The McComb Police Department says 16-year-old Xavier Terry was located this week. He had been missing since July 31.
8/17/18 – 5:28 A.M.
A West Virginia man and woman are facing drug charges after a Wednesday drug bust in Hancock County. The State Highway Patrol says a trooper found 246 grams of heroin and a gram of marijuana during a traffic stop on I-75. The agency says the value of the drugs is more than $43,000.
Troopers pulled over the car for a lane violation around 7:45 p.m. Wednesday. They smelled marijuana and searched the car.
29-year-old Shawntrinia Alford and 34-year-old Terrell Walker are facing a possession of heroin charges. They face up to 11 years in prison if convicted.
8/17/18 – 5:21 A.M.
Findlay’s former interim police chief reportedly noted ethical and criminal violations by his employer and by elected officials before his 2017 firing. The Courier reports that Sean Young made the claims in an appeal to the State Personnel Board of Review. However, a settlement between the city and Young meant the state board never reviewed the claims.
The city fired Young last September. The move came after they removed him from his post following a domestic violence incident in his home. Young appealed the firing but eventually settled the matter in April of this year.
In documents filed last October, Young wrote, “It is my belief that my report had great weight in the decision to terminate my employment with the City of Findlay.”
Young and city officials are under a gag order about the deal.
8/17/18 – 5:05 A.M.
Findlay and the Japanese city Kawaguchi announced a Friendship City agreement on Thursday. Findlay-Hancock County Alliance Economic Development Director Tim Mayle says the announcement acknowledges the role Japanese companies have played in Findlay’s economic success. He says it goes beyond that though…
Audio: Tim Mayle
Mayle says the announcement also helps Findlay work to better understand Japanese culture. He adds that will help Japanese businesses in the community…
Audio: Tim Mayle
Officials from Findlay and Kawaguchi unveiled a rock monument celebrating the partnership at Riverside Park as part Thursday’s festivities.
8/16/18 – 11:51 A.M.
The new school year is nearly under way at the University of Findlay. Today is move-in day on campus, and the next few days include orientations and community-building activities. Friday will see incoming freshman students walk through the Griffin Memorial Arch. Saturday includes service projects throughout Findlay and Hancock County.
Students will also take part in sessions on Sunday about making good decisions while living away from home.
The weekend of activities wraps up with an all-campus picnic Sunday afternoon before classes begin on Monday.