01/03/18 – 5:39 P.M.
Governor-elect Mike DeWine has appointed Findlay Mayor Lydia Mihalik as the Director of the Development Services Agency. Mihalik said that she is excited for the shift in roles but will miss being the Mayor of Findlay.
Mihalik said she will continue to build relationships and looks forward to using the skills and insight she has gained serving as mayor to help out in a statewide position.
01/03/18 – 4:59 P.M.
Governor-elect Mike DeWine has nominated Findlay Mayor Lydia Mihalik to a state position and if she is approved, Findlay will need a new mayor. City Law Director Don Rasmussen explained that since Mihalik is a Republican, the Republican Central Committee members in Findlay will appoint someone to take her place.
Findlay City Council president Ron Monday explained that he will take over until then.
Petitions for those running for mayor are due on February 6. DeWine has appointed Mihalik as the Director of the Development Services Agency.
1/3/19 – 11:24 A.M.
A Findlay-native will serve on Governor-elect Mike DeWine’s cabinet. DeWine appointed Ryan Burgess as the Director of Cabinet Affairs during a Thursday press conference. Burgess currently serves as the Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation.
The Director of Cabinet Affairs helps coordinate efforts between the state’s 28 cabinet agencies.
Burgess has also served as the Assistant Director of the Ohio Development Services Agency. That’s the same agency DeWine nominated Findlay Mayor Lydia Mihalik to be the director of.
Burgess lives in Columbus with his family.
1/3/19 – 11:03 A.M.
Findlay Mayor Lydia Mihalik is among Governor-elect Mike DeWine’s cabinet nominations. DeWine has appointed Mihalik as the Director of the Development Services Agency. DeWine says Findlay’s reputation for business development led to Mihalik’s nomination…
Audio:
DeWine adds that it was also important to have a member of the cabinet with local government experiences…
Audio:
DeWine takes office on January 14th. The Ohio Senate has to confirm the governor’s cabinet appointments.
According to its website, the Ohio Development Services Agency works to create jobs and build strong communities while, “ensuring accountability and transparency of taxpayer money and exceptional customer service.”
Audio courtesy of the Ohio Channel
1/3/19 – 5:24 A.M.
Update – 8:38 A.M. (Clarifies hometown of each suspect)
Law enforcement arrested three people following a drug bust in Tiffin Wednesday. The Seneca County Drug Task Force-METRICH Enforcement Unit reports the arrests stem from an ongoing investigation into Toledo residents selling drugs in Tiffin.
32-year-old Dalvon Ray Coffey of Toledo and 36-year-old Michael Carter of Tiffin both face trafficking crack cocaine charges. 37-year-old Melinda De La Rosa of Toledo faces a charge of permitting drug abuse.
Additional charges are pending.
1/3/19 – 5:14 A.M.
North Baltimore has a new village council president. Council picked Matt Beagle to serve in the role during their first meeting of the year.
In other council news, new village Administrator Michael Brillhart said he was developing a five-year plan for capital improvements in the village.
MORE: North Baltimore working on “Safe Routes to School” proposal
1/3/19 – 5:09 A.M.
Update – 8:36 A.M. (clarifies what day the crash happened)
A one-car crash injured a North Carolina woman in Carey earlier this week. The Carey Police Department says the crash happened in the 600 block of West Findlay Street around 9:20 p.m. Monday
50-year-old Cynthia Hartman was driving east when she went off the road and hit three trees and a utility pole. Wyandot County EMS took her to Wyandot Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Officers cited Hartman for driving a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, or alcohol, or both.
1/3/19 – 5:02 A.M.
Putnam County saw an increase in criminal cases come through the Common Pleas Court in 2018. The Putnam County Sentinel reports the court tried 134 cases last year. That’s up from 69 in 2017.
The opioid epidemic was largely responsible for the spike in cases. 58 opiate cases made their way through the court in 2018, accounting for more than 43 percent of the cases heard. There were 23 cases related to other drugs last year.
Putnam County Common Pleas Court Judge Keith Schierloh says most cases didn’t make it to trial as the defendants took plea deals.
MORE: Putnam County Sentinel
1/3/19 – 4:53 A.M.
The Lucas County Coroner will perform an autopsy on a Findlay police officer who died at his home in Van Buren on New Year’s Eve. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says 54-year-old Douglas Akers died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound around 8:15 p.m. on December 31.
Akers had worked in the Findlay Police Department for 27 years. Funeral arrangements are not complete yet.
01/02/18 – 11:30 P.M.
Findlay City Council may have to revisit the vacations of two undeveloped streets. The ordinance vacated Carol and Benton streets after a 6-5 vote last August. Law Director Don Rasmussen explained that the ordinance was enacted before the 30 day referendum was done.
Rasmussen added that there was a petition out to stop the ordinance. He said he is waiting to see if the petition was filed within those 30 days.
If the petition was done during the referendum period, then the ordinance must be turned around. If not then the streets can remain vacated