1/15/19 – 5:34 A.M.

The process to replace an open Ohio Senate seat in the state’s 2nd Senate district is underway. Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof says the Senate Republican Caucus will be responsible for appointing a temporary replacement for Randy Gardner’s seat. Governor Mike DeWine recently appointed Gardner as the chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

Whoever the caucus appoints will serve the rest of Gardner’s term, which ends in December 2020. If you’re interested, you need to send your resume and any other information to the offices of Obhof and Ohio Senate Chief of Staff John Barron.

The 2nd District includes Wood, Erie, and Ottawa counties, as well as parts of Fulton and Lucas counties.

1/15/19 – 5:15 A.M.

A two-car crash over the past weekend took the life of a Sycamore teenager. The Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office says 17-year-old Heather Raypole was driving west on County Highway 330 around 4:45 p.m. Sunday. She hit a patch of snow near County Highway 134 and hit an eastbound car.

Deputies and members of the Wyandot East Fire Department removed Raypole from her car and gave her treatment at the scene of the crash. Wyandot East EMS took her to Wyandot Memorial before a medical helicopter took her to St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, where doctors pronounced her dead.

The sheriff’s office says Raypole was wearing a seatbelt.

1/15/19 – 5:09 A.M.

Recycling is coming back to McComb, at least on a temporary basis. Village Council members learned that Litter Landing will bring portable recycling bins to the McComb village garage on Maple Street on the first Tuesday each month. They’ll collect the bins the following Thursday. The service will start in February.

Courtney Comstock is the director of Litter Landing. She says they will accept cardboard, designated plastics, aluminum cans, and steel cans. They will not accept glass.

1/15/19 – 5:03 A.M.

Community members in Fostoria have formed a group to address environmental issues. The Greater Fostoria Environmental Coalition aims to bring more attention to issues in the community. Its creation stems from complaints by community members about smells coming from the Sunny Farms Landfill.

Nate Heiser helped form the group. He says they put it together the day after a packed Seneca County General Health District board meeting in late December.

The coalition also started a Facebook page for people to voice their concerns about the landfill. The “Sunny Farms Landfill Complaint Group” urges area residents to share their concerns and ask questions.

MORE: Coalition says local leaders good at sharing info with them.

1/15/19 – 4:53 A.M.

Fostoria officials are addressing rumors about the city’s drinking water supply. Mayor Eric Keckler says because of rising concerns about the Sunny Farms Landfill, “there’s a lot of misinformation out there.”

Keckler says the city gets its drinking water from the Portage River. It takes water from the river upstream of the wastewater treatment plant. He adds that a bad smell and taste in the water doesn’t have anything to do with the landfill. Keckler adds the issue is the result of reservoir turnover. That’s a process where organic material at the bottom of the reservoir rises to the top due to temperature changes.

Keckler says the water treatment plant filters out most the organic matter, but it still leaves a bitter taste and smell. He adds that freezing temperatures should help reduce the issue.

MORE: Details on wastewater treatment in Fostoria.

01/15/19 – 12:12 A.M.

The Hancock County Commissioners held a meeting in McComb Monday night. One resident had asked them how things were going with the McComb-Schroll Ditch…

Commissioner Tim Bechtol said once they have more information there will be more discussions about the ditch.

The commissioners also gave a proclamation to the McComb Panthers football team for winning the state championship last fall

Commissioner Brian Robertson said that they are very proud of the football team. The team went 14-1 last season.

01/14/19 – 5:33 P.M.

4h is getting ready to kick off in Hancock County with a meeting for volunteers later this week. County director Cassie Anderson said that they like to make sure the volunteers are ready to go for the year.

Anderson said that they will also do some training. She added it’s not too late to volunteer. There is a vetting process and you must provide an application to the extension office.

Anderson said that kids can also still get involved. She explained that there are plenty of clubs to get your kid into.

Anderson said that dog and horse clubs require specialized training and requirements. She added that you can find applications to volunteer or get your child involved in 4H online at hancock.osu.edu.

1/14/19 – 6:43 A.M.

Local gas prices are up slightly over the last week. OhioGasPrices.com reports the average price for a gallon of regular in Findlay is $1.97 today. That’s up three cents over the last week. A month ago we were paying $2.10 per gallon.

Drivers in Ottawa report paying $1.94 per gallon today. That’s up five cents from last Monday.

The statewide average is up as well, standing at $2.03 per gallon today. That’s an eight cent increase over the last seven days.

1/14/19 – 5:31 A.M.

Fostoria has a new law-director. Tiffin-Fostoria Municipal Court Judge Mark Repp swore in Stephanie Kiser last Thursday. Kiser is serving as the interim law director following the resignation of Tim Hoover last month. Hoover and his family are moving outside of the city limits.

Kiser has been an assistant county prosecutor for more than five years. She’ll continue to serve in that role. She plans to run for the Fostoria law-director when she finishes serving the rest of Hoover’s term.

MORE: Job responsibilities for the law-director