12/16/18 – 10:28 P.M.

A man was found dead in a field outside of McComb Sunday. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office reports that a group of hunters found the body in a field south of State Route 613 around 10: 45 a.m.

The cause of death has yet to be determined. The identity is of the body is also pending the autopsy.

We will continue to follow the situation and provide updates when more information is available.

12/14/18 – 3:06 P.M.

Local food truck Amy May’s Rockin’ Taco was hit by a car on Tuesday and is closed for the time being. Owner Amy Taylor said that they aren’t going out of business though.

Amy Taylor

Taylor said it’ll take some time, though.

Amy Taylor

In the meantime, there is a gofundme set up for the business as well as for Taylor’s employee, Samantha Latham. You can find links to support these causes on the Amy May’s Rockin Taco Facebook page.

12/14/18 – 11:24 A.M.

The chief executive of Rowmark will be retiring at the beginning of the year. Duane Jebbett announced that he is planning to retire after January 1. Jim Ellward will fill the role starting on January 7. Ellward is the current president of TOPS Products and has served in that role for the past five and a half years.

Jebbett said he is truly blessed to have served as Rowmark’s chief executive. He added, “I am deeply appreciative of the customers who have honored Rowmark with their business and the countless relationships fostered over the years.”

Ellward said that he looks forward to working for Rowmark. He said, “One of the biggest reasons I decided to accept the position with Rowmark was their people and culture.”

Jebbett will remain on the Rowmark board of directors and will be available to Ellward through the transition.

12/14/18 – 5:21 A.M.

The site of the former St. Michael Catholic School on Western Avenue in Findlay could be the home of townhouses in the future. The Findlay City Planning Commission voted 4-1 on Thursday to rezone the area as high-density, multiple-family. Commission member Dan Clinger voted against the rezone. He says he’d like to see the area between Adams and Putnam streets remain zoned for single-family housing.

Property owners on Putnam and Adams streets voiced concerns Thursday that the townhouses would make the already congested traffic in the neighborhood even worse. They also objected to three-story buildings in the area.

City council would have to approve the commission’s recommendation before construction could start.

MORE: Why the developer wants to build a three-story townhouse.

12/14/18 – 5:09 A.M.

Findlay City Council talked about budget strategies for the future during Thursday’s budget hearings. The Courier reports much of the discussion focused on the year-to-year carry-over balance. Findlay expects to have a $10.7 million cash balance going into 2019.

City Safety Director Paul Schmelzer says the cash balance “isn’t that big,” considering they project the city’s general fund operating budget will be around $30 million next year. City Auditor Jim Staschiak agrees. He says bond rating agencies like to see a cash reserve of up to 40 percent of operational expenses for cities the size of Findlay.

Schmelzer says the city administration wants to develop guidelines for use, or non-use of the cash balance in the future.

MORE: Full look at budget numbers for 2019

12/14/18 – 4:58 A.M.
Update – 9:31 A.M. (Corrects story to indicate funding is for 2018.)

Hancock County will help pay for a workforce development program this year. The commissioners voted to contribute $30,000 to the “Raise the Bar” program Thursday. The county will use an extra $100,000 in interest income to pay for their part of the program.

The county commissioners agreed to contribute to the program for five years starting in 2016. However, they initially pulled funding for this year because of a tight budget.

The decision didn’t come without some conflict. Commissioner Brian Robertson says they didn’t talk about how they would spend the interest money before the meeting. Commissioners Mark Gazarek and Tim Bechtol both said there had been talks beforehand.

12/13/18 – 6:54 P.M.

Hancock County Job and Family Services is trying to solve an employment crisis. Executive Director Diana Hoover explained that wages are the issue.

Diana Hoover

Hoover told the Hancock County Commissioners that most counties offer $2 or $3 more an hour than Hancock County. To help address the issue she has a plan to help.

Diana Hoover

Hoover added that this will make Hancock County more competitive when compared to other counties.

12/13/18 – 6:28 P.M.

Hancock County Jobs and Family Services executive director Diana Hoover is retiring. She said that while she looks forward to relaxing, she won’t stop helping.

Diana Hoover

Hoover’s last day will be December 31st. Her replacement will be current assistant director of Athens County Department of Job and Family Services Randall Galbraith. He will start on January 7.