11/26/18 – 12:31 P.M.

Sales tax collections for November in Hancock County came in well above last year’s numbers. The auditor’s office says the county collected more than $1.5 million this month. That’s a nearly 35 percent increase over November of 2017.

For the year, Hancock County has seen $14.2 million in sales and use tax collections. That’s compared to 13.8 million through 11 months of 2017, representing a more than 3.4 percent increase. Sales tax collections had been flat through October.

November sales tax numbers reflect sales made three months ago.

11/26/18 – 5:28 A.M.

Gas stations in Findlay are now selling gas at its lowest price this year. OhioGasPrices.com reports the average price in Findlay is $2.14 for a gallon of regular today. That’s down 11 cents from last Monday. Gas hasn’t been this cheap in Findlay since the middle of December last year.

Drivers in Ottawa report paying $2.26 per gallon today. That’s down four cents from last week.

The statewide average is also $2.26 per gallon. That a 15 cent decline over the last seven days.

11/26/18 – 5:10 A.M.

Dollar General is closer to moving into Pandora. The Putnam County Sentinel reports council recently voted 5-1 in favor of allowing Mayor John Schlumbohm to transfer nearly 1.5 acres to the Putnam County Community Improvement Corporation. The organization will attempt to work out a deal to buy the land with the real estate company that leases properties to Dollar General.

The company will pay Pandora $65,000 for the land in the industrial park. The village will have to spend around half of that on infrastructure improvements.

MORE: Putnam County Sentinel

11/26/18 – 4:52 A.M.

Findlay-based Ohio Logistics has opened a new 120,000-square-foot warehouse in Olive Branch, Mississippi. The company says the new division in Mississippi will serve an existing Ohio Logistics client. The business will start with 18 employees.

The company has seen expansion efforts in Ohio as well. It recently opened new warehouses in Bowling Green and Bellevue. The 200,000-square-foot building in Bellevue has six railroad docks and 17 semi-trailer docks. The 200,000-square-foot building in Bowling Green is in Wood-Bridge Business Park.

Ohio Logistics also expanding its footprint in Findlay. CEO Chuck Bills says they are expanding a facility at 1800 Production Drive from 150,000 square feet to 560,000 square feet.

11/23/18 – 5:29 P.M.

Small Business Saturday is dedicated to your local businesses and area shops aren’t missing out. You’re encouraged to stop by Findlay and Hancock County businesses to spend your money on Christmas shopping or a good meal. Several area businesses are taking part and offering deals and incentives to earn your business.

Some of these incentives include money off of products or gift cards, some are buy one get one deals, and there are businesses extending happy hour deals and other events. You can go to visitfindlay.com to see many of the deals happening this Saturday.

11/23/18 – 10:14 A.M.

Fostoria residents can expect to see work on a couple of busy roads in the city next summer. Fostoria City Council approved legislation to move forward with the projects during a meeting earlier this week. The improvement areas include North Countyline Street and the northern part of North Union Street.

The city expects the work to start after school gets out for the summer. The plan is to finish before the 2019-2020 school year starts.

The city will pay a maximum of $204,644 for the work. The state will cover the rest of the work.

11/23/18 – 10:08 A.M.

The Hancock County Republican Central Committee will start the process of naming someone to fill the county engineer’s term on Monday. The group is meeting at 7 p.m. in the Findlay Municipal Building to consider an appointment to fill Chris Long’s unexpired term. Long recently stepped down due to health concerns.

The county engineer is an elected position. Long is a Republican, so the Hancock County GOP can pick someone to finish his term. The Hancock County Commissioners appointed then deputy county engineer Doug Cade to take over the office on an interim basis.

Anyone interested in the engineer’s position should go to the Monday night meeting. Hancock County Prosecutor Phil Riegle serves as vice president of the Republican Central Committee. He says Cade is the only person to show interest in the position so far.

MORE: Recent history of the Hancock County Engineer’s Office