12/13/18 – 6:05 P.M.

County Sheriff’s Office is investigating breaking and entering reports by Rawson. Detective Lyle Harvitt explained that the suspects have avoided households.

Lyle Harvitt

Harvitt said there are numerous cost-effective ways to discourage people from breaking into your things.

Lyle Harvitt

He added that if you install cameras, you should sure that they record in a high quality. Neighbors should also keep an eye on each other’s properties and take photos if something seems wrong.

If you have any information about the break-ins, please call the Sheriff’s Office at 419-424-7097

12/13/18 – 4:49 P.M.

ODOT has a gift for everyone traveling on I-75 through Findlay. A third lane will be open heading northbound between U.S. 224 and County Road 99 starting Friday. Crews will close some lanes tonight from 9 p.m. until 7 a.m. to place pavement markings.

Southbound traffic will continue to travel in two lanes between U.S. 224 and County Road 99. By mid-January, the third lane southbound is expected to open.

The driving surface throughout the project is an intermediate pavement. The final driving surface will not be placed until finish paving occurs in 2020.

For information on traffic conditions, visit our WAZE Traffic Center.

12/13/18 – 12:38 P.M.

Children’s Mentoring Connection has a wish list of items they are seeking this holiday season. The program is looking for craft supplies, decks of cards, movie passes, and gift certificates, to name a few. You can drop items off at the agency’s office from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

The program puts mentors with children. These mentors are tasked to plan activities two or three times a month with their mentee.

12/13/18 – 9:53 A.M.
UPDATE – 10:11 A.M. (Adds second audio cut)

The Findlay Police Department is looking into another rash of BB gun vandalism in the city. Lt. Jim Mathias says they received 10 more reports of car and house windows getting shot with BB guns on Tuesday and Wednesday. There have been more than 30 similar incidents since November 30. Mathias says they can’t confirm the incidents are all related yet…

Audio: Lt. Jim Mathias

Mathias says most of the incidents have happened late at night or early in the morning. If you hear anything suspicious like glass breaking, Mathias says you should call the police to report it. The number to call is 419-424-7150.

If you have a video doorbell or security camera, you might want to check that too…

Audio: Jim Mathias

Mathias adds they are following up on a few leads to try and track down the suspect or suspects.

12/13/18 – 7:30 A.M.

Putnam County’s newest county commissioner will take office on Monday. The Lima News reports a ceremony to swear in John Schlumbohm will take place in the Putnam County Courthouse on December 17 at 6 p.m.

MORE: Lima News

12/13/18 – 6:50 A.M.

The owner of Amy May’s Rockin’ Taco food truck and an employee suffered injuries Tuesday after a minivan slammed into their workplace. The crash happened in the parking lot of the Fort Findlay Coffee & Doughnut Shoppe on Tiffin Avenue, where the truck often sets up for business during the week.

Amy Taylor says the driver of the van suffered a seizure and hit the trailer at 60 miles-per-hour. The impact of the crash pushed the truck’s grill and stove into Taylor. She suffered a concussion. Her employee, Samantha Latham, suffered lacerations on her head and arm. Both women were trapped inside until emergency responders could cut them out.

Taylor says she’s already making plans for a new truck. She’s also started a GoFundMe page to raise money for Latham. The account, called “Let’s make Christmas Happen 4 our Rockin Taco kid,” started Tuesday evening and had raised $580 of its $1,000 goal by 5 p.m. Wednesday. Taylor says the money will help Latham pay her rent and buy Christmas gifts for her kids.

12/13/18 – 5:34 A.M.

Residents of an Ottawa neighborhood argued against placing a dog park next to their homes during a village council meeting earlier this week. The Putnam County Sentinel reports Pet Pals president Melissa Drerup proposed a dog park behind the Tractor Supply Company location on Meadowglen Drive. However, residents of a subdivision in that area brought up concerns about noise, maintenance, and property values.

Park board member Brad Leis suggested a meeting with the organization to look for other possible sites. Council took no action on the issue.

MORE: Putnam County Sentinel

12/13/18 – 5:22 A.M.

Voters in the McComb school district will see a couple of levies on the ballot in May. The school is asking residents to renew a half-percent income tax. The levy pays for operating expenses and generates around $416,000 every year. Voters renewed the tax in 2014.

The school board has also approved putting a 1-mill, five-year levy for the McComb Public Library on the May ballot. The library board says it needs help to offset decreasing revenue from the Public Library Fund.

If approved, the levy would generate more than $97,000 each year.

The McComb school board acts as the taxing agency for the library.

MORE: Library director Jane Schaffner talks about the library budget crunch