12/17 – 5:17 P.M.

Fires can be especially dangerous this time of year because of added distractions. Lisa Braxton from the National Fire Protection Association joined us on 1330 WFIN and said there is plenty to keep your mind off of safety.

Lisa Braxton

Braxton added that another danger is decorations.

Lisa Braxton

Braxton said that you carefully plan your decorations to avoid causing a fire. You can get helpful tips and find more information at nfpa.org/WinterHolidaySafety

12/17/18 – 4:57 P.M.

The Findlay Rotary Club got to learn about workforce automation during their Monday meeting. Director of the Governors Office of Workforce Development Ryan Burgess said there are pros and cons for workforce automation.

Ryan Burgess

He said that his office is keeping an eye on this process because Ohio is at the epicenter for robotics and automation. He added that businesses should pay attention to how technological advances affect the workforce.

Ryan Burgess

Burgess added that there is also pressure on educational institutions and workforce development agencies to make sure people are prepared to see more robotics in the workplace. He explained that technological advances in automation force workers to practice lifelong learning

12/17/18 – 12:10 A.M.

Findlay firefighters battled a house fire on the city’s south side this morning. The fire department responded to a home in the 600 block of West Hobart Avenue around 10:50 a.m.

Fire Chief Josh Eberle says the fire started in an addition on the back of the home and made its way into the attic. One person was home at the time. He got out of the house safely and went to Blanchard Valley Hospital as a precaution.

So far there’s no word on what caused the blaze.

12/17/18 – 6:44 A.M.

Local gas prices are down as we start a new work week. OhioGasPrices.com reports the average price for a gallon of regular is $2.04 in Findlay today. That’s down 15 cents over the last week.

The statewide average stands at $2.05 per gallon today. That’s fallen 13 cents over the last seven days.

Ottawa drivers report paying $2.10 per gallon today. That’s down 19 cents over the last week.

12/17/18 – 5:32 A.M.

The demolition of the former St. Wendelin Elementary School is underway in Fostoria, but it won’t cost the parish as much as it could have. Sunny Farms has agreed to waive the landfill’s tipping fees. That means the St. Wendelin Parish will save more than $42,000 on project costs.

The demolition will bring more than 2,500 tons of debris to the landfill.

Demolition of the building on South Wood Street will cost around $100,000. The parish also spent $22,000 on asbestos removal.

MORE: History of the decision to demolish former school

12/17/18 – 5:25 A.M.

Authorities took a Carey teenager into custody following a standoff late last week. Officers from the Carey Police Department and Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office made a forcible entry into a home at 137 South Lake Street early Friday morning. They took 19-year-old Zane Mahan into custody.

The incident started around 2:30 a.m. when the teen’s mother said he had threatened her and his stepfather and threatened to take his own life. Mahan also had outstanding warrants for him through the municipal courts in Findlay and Upper Sandusky. He had blocked the doors to the home with furniture and 2×4 lumber. He had also covered the windows.

Mahan will receive a mental health evaluation before a court appearance.

12/17/18 – 5:06 A.M.

The campaign supporting a security and safety levy for Findlay City Schools didn’t spend much in their efforts to pass the levy. Post-election campaign finance reports show Citizens for Findlay Schools spent a little more than $1,200 of the $4,100 it had available.

The committee had a balance of a little more than $4,100 brought forward from the last campaign report. It received a $100 contribution and spent around $1,200 on advertising.

Final campaign finance reports were due Friday.

Voters defeated the levy effort in the November election.

MORE: Political party spending reports