12/18/18 – 6:43 P.M.

An employee of a local company was honored as a hero for saving an infant’s life. Joe Webken works for the Findlay Implement store. He was at his home in Ft. Jennings on Sunday when he heard cries for help at his neighbors home. He went over and found the child who appeared to be choking. Webken patted the child’s back while the child’s mom called for help. He was about to start CPR when the child took a breath.

The infant is believed to have swallowed and choked on its own vomit. Findlay Implement said Webken is often a quiet yet very caring employee.

12/18/18 – 6:33 P.M.

Ohio ranked 30th for funding anti-tobacco programs for children and adults after a recent report from the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. Director of State Communications John Schachter joined us on WFIN and said that the state doesn’t put much money back into these programs.

John Schachter

Schachter added that Ohio has a high rate of tobacco use among youths and adults. He said that the state legislature needs to strengthen anti-tobacco policies and programs to help these people.

He said that there are some easy ways to prevent kids from picking up the habit.

John Schachter

You can learn more at tobaccofreekids.org

12/18/18 – 10:32 A.M.

The Hancock County Commissioners approved the 2019 county budget during their Tuesday meeting. Commissioners Mark Gazarek and Tim Bechtol voted in favor of the $23.6 million general fund budget, while Commissioner Brian Robertson voted against it…

Audio: Brian Robertson

Robertson says he would have liked to have seen a reduction of costs across more offices. He believes that would have freed up more money to pay for future needs.

Commissioner Mark Gazarek says the budget reflects the increasing costs related to the opioid epidemic…

Audio: Mark Gazarek

Gazarek adds the budget leaves room to make necessary upgrades to the county jail and the juvenile and probate court.

12/18/18 – 5:33 A.M.

A school renovation project is moving along in Fostoria. A safety inspection of the addition to the Fostoria Intermediate Elementary School building will take place Thursday. Superintendent Andrew Sprang says once the facility passes the inspection, the district can move forward with moving sixth-grade classes into the addition for the second part of the year.

Once the sixth-grade classes move renovations will start in other parts of the building. Band classes will temporarily move to the former library so workers can finish renovations in that space. The project will also see the art and music classes move to the new art rooms while renovations are completed in the music room.

MORE: Status of the rest of the building project

12/18/18 – 5:23 A.M.
Updated – 6:31 A.M. (Clarifies location of Latta’s Findlay office)

Congressman Bob Latta will meet with local residents today. The recently reelected Republican will hold one-on-one meetings at his office in the Findlay Municipal Building from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. His office is on the third floor of the building.

Latta’s staff members will also attempt to help with casework. They’ll also try and sort out any federal government issues residents may have.

You don’t have to RSVP. You can call 800-541-6446 for more information.

12/18/18 – 5:17 A.M.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office has given an update on a body found in a field east of McComb over the weekend. Sheriff Mike Heldman and Sgt. Jason Seem say they are looking at the case as a “not attended” death. That means no one was around when the man died.

Heldman and Seem did not provide further details, other than to say hunters found the body closer to nearby railroad tracks than to State Route 613. They stumbled across the body Sunday morning.

The Lucas County Coroner is performing an autopsy today. Heldman says they won’t publicly identify the man until after that.

12/18/18 – 4:31 a.m.

A search is underway in Findlay for an Olympic champion’s missing cane. Police say 86-year-old Weldy Olson walked out of a store last week without his cane that was made out of a hockey stick. The custom cane was a gift from his son to recognize Olson’s silver medal in hockey in 1956 and gold medal in 1960. Police aren’t planning to file charges, but want whoever found the cane to return it to them, no questions asked.