8/16/18 – 8:31 A.M.
Two separate crashes on I-75 in Findlay closed one lane of traffic in both directions this morning. ODOT says the crashes happened just south of the U.S. 68 interchange near the Harrison Street overpass. We’ll have more details as they become available.
8/16/18 – 7:11 A.M.
A three-car crash injured two people on Findlay’s north side Wednesday. The Findlay Police Department says the crash happened on Hancock County Road 99 near the intersection with Ventura Drive around 4 p.m.
25-year-old Ciara Burrell of Cridersville was driving west on Road 99 when she hit the back of a car driven by 22-year-old Jeanette O’Dell of Deshler. O’Dell had stopped for traffic. The impact of the collision pushed O’Dell’s car into an SUV driven by 25-year-old Traci Stout of Harrod.
Hanco EMS took O’Dell and her passenger to Blanchard Valley Hospital for treatment of their injuries.
Police cited Burrell for failure to stop in an assured clear distance.
8/16/18 – 6:46 A.M.
Two Putnam County fire departments are getting grants to buy some new equipment. The Bureau of Worker’s Compensation Firefighter Exposure to Environmental Elements Grant Program recently awarded more than $13,000 to Columbus Grove. They also gave more than $10,000 to the village of Continental.
Both villages will buy an extractor with their grant money. Columbus Grove is also buying 70 pairs of washable gloves and 70 hoods with barrier protection.
8/16/18 – 5:34 A.M.
The Putnam County Commissioners have tabled a contract to replace the elevator in the courthouse. The Lima News reports the commissioners want to see what other options they might have before moving forward. The tabled measure says a revolving staff of county repairmen and elevator technicians have kept the current elevator working. It concludes the elevator “has the potential to harm riders upon breakdown.”
Commissioner Vincent Schroeder says they want to explore all options before signing a $130,000 contract with the Davis & Newcomer Elevator Company.
MORE: Lima News
8/16/18 – 5:24 A.M.
Road work will close part of a Findlay street for the next two days. The city says work crews are closing Lake Cascades Parkway to all traffic at the intersection of South Main Street for water valve repair work. The closure will last through Friday afternoon.
You can still get to businesses on Lake Cascades by coming in from the west off of Western Avenue.
8/16/18 – 5:18 A.M.
You’ll see road work on a section of Bright Road in Findlay starting today. The city says the project will reduce Bright to one lane in each direction between Bigelow Avenue and Industrial Drive. The construction will last through Sunday morning.
You’re asked to avoid this area if possible.
8/16/18 – 5:13 A.M.
You’ll want to avoid part of East Bigelow Avenue in Findlay starting Friday. The city says crews are closing the road between Crystal Avenue and Bright Road for a repair project. The work starts at 8 a.m. Friday and will last through Sunday morning.
8/16/18 – 5:07 A.M.
A Hancock County grand jury has voiced concern about overcrowding in the Hancock County jail. The group made their comments following a recent quarterly tour of the facility. Following their tour, the grand jury released a statement that said, “More space is obviously necessary for housing inmates. The fact that the holding cells, drunk tank, and other specifically-designed facilities are now being used simply as cells for overflow inmates is quite disheartening.”
Sheriff Mike Heldman says it’s good for the grand jury to see the facility. He adds it helps the public learn more about the issues the jail faces.
Heldman says the Hancock County justice system was holding around 125 people Wednesday morning. 103 were in the Hancock County Jail, while the rest were in jails in surrounding counties. Hancock County has to pay the other counties to house inmates from here.
MORE: The Courier
8/16/18 – 4:23 A.M.
Final preparations are underway in Bowling Green for the National Tractor Pulling Championships. Businesses are gearing up for thousands of visitors who will fill hotel rooms this weekend and spend money at shops and restaurants. Organizers say recent crowds have been so good that 15-hundred seats were added to the Wood County Fairgrounds grandstand this year.
08-16 – 12:52 A.M.
The Hancock Regional Planning Committee looked at proposals from the Town Homes of Liberty Ridge. Nick Nigh from Peterman Associates explained that they just wanted to split the property into a third plat for financial reasons.
The committee also discussed a variance to allow the drives around the apartments. Nigh explained that they couldn’t meet regulations.
Neither issue affected current plans for the properties.