It’s the end of the road for St. Wendelin Catholic School in Fostoria. A letter posted on the parish’s Facebook page from Reverend Todd Dominique announced the closing late last week. The letter said, “This decision has not been made lightly or in haste. Our school and the incredible work that is accomplished there by so many loving, dedicated people is certainly remarkable.”
The school will close at the end of this school year. St. Wendelin’s high school closed in 2017.
During a November parish meeting, Dominique said the school was facing declining enrollment and increasing costs. This school year started with only 97 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Hancock County’s sales tax collections are off to a strong start this year. Numbers for January show that the county has collected $1.3 million dollars during the first month of the year. That’s a 15% increase over January of 2018.
The numbers reported by the Hancock County Auditor’s Office reflect collections from October of 2018. The county receives part of the sales tax back from Ohio a few months after the state collects it.
We have reports that people were hurt trying to shovel snow after last weekend’s storm. Director of Hanco EMS Rob Martin explained that snow shoveling is hard work.
Martin said that it is dangerous to suddenly change your exercise level, and could be life-threatening. He recommends that if you’re physically fit, you should help others.
Martin explained that if you’re not accustomed to exercising then shoveling can lead to shortness of breath, chest pain, and exhaustion. He added that this could quickly become a life-threatening situation if you push yourself too much.
Martin also mentioned making sure you stay hydrated and dress appropriately. He said that in severe cold weather you may experience frostbite in as little as two minutes if you aren’t covered. You should also be wary of ice and try to avoid falling.
Aside from your health, there are other ways to maintain your safety in the winter. Findlay Fire Chief Josh Eberle gave some safety tips on using space heaters in the home.
Eberle added that it’s important to maintain the doorways of your home.
He said this will also help make sure emergency personnel can get into your home quickly. He also stressed that fire hydrants should be kept clear of snow for easy access.
A Thursday police chase in Fostoria led to a crash involving a Seneca County sheriff’s deputy and a bystander. Fostoria Police Chief Keith Loreno says a traffic stop led to a pursuit involving a police officer and a sheriff’s deputy. It resulted in a two-car crash at the intersection of Union and Culbertson streets around 5:12 p.m.
A deputy and a woman not involved in the chase went to Pro Medica Fostoria Community Hospital for treatment.
Law enforcement arrested four people in a Seneca County drug bust Thursday. The Seneca County Drug Task Force-METRICH Enforcement Unit reports officers found a “large amount” of suspected methamphetamine in a home at 55 East New Haven Street in Bloomville.
32-year-old Adam Barto of Bloomville, 27-year-old Kelli Swartz of Fremont, 52-year-old Louis Reilly, and 18-year-old Matthew Childers of Bellvue are facing a variety of charges. The drug task force says Barto was wearing an ankle monitor as part of a bond agreement for another drug trafficking case.
Dunkin’, formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts, is coming to Fostoria. The Fostoria Planning Commission approved plans for the donut and coffee chain during a Thursday meeting. Construction will start in March for a location at 918 North County Line Street.
That location might sound familiar. A developer had planned to build a Tim Horton’s at the same spot but then backed out of the proposal.
Dunkin’ will employ between 25 and 30 people. They plan to open about three months after construction starts.
Preparations are underway for a public forum about the Sunny Farms Landfill in Seneca County next week. The Seneca County General Health District is urging residents to submit questions for the event ahead of time. You can send your questions and comments to sunnyfarmsfeedback@gmail.com.
A release from the health district says you can also write your questions on a card at the event. Nate Heiser helped form a group to address concerns about smells coming from the landfill. The release says Heiser requested people submit questions ahead of time so there aren’t duplicates.
Next week’s meeting will be at the Fostoria Junior/Senior High School Performing Arts Center on Wednesday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
ODOT is planning lane restrictions on I-75 in Findlay this weekend. The agency says crews will reduce the southbound side of the interstate to one lane between County Road 99 and U.S. 224 for the removal of temporary pavement. The work will start at 9 p.m. and last through 7 a.m. Saturday.
Crews are also closing the exit ramp from I-75 northbound to State Route 12 starting at 9 p.m. They’ll be removing temporary pavement until 7 a.m. Saturday.
ODOT says the pavement removal will help with snow and ice removal this winter.
Hancock County voters will see a renewal levy for the Board of Developmental Disabilities on the ballot this May. The county commissioners approved putting the 2.5-mill, five-year renewal measure in front of residents during their Thursday meeting. The levy would generate a little more than $4 million every year for operations and community-based services.
Area residents last renewed the levy in 2014.
The resolution now goes to the Hancock County Board of Elections for certification.
Area waterways are receding today, a couple of days after melting snow and rain led to high water in some areas. The Blanchard River in Ottawa is in the minor flood stage this morning after cresting at just over 24 feet yesterday. The National Weather Service calls for the river to drop below flood stage this evening.
The Blanchard affects low-lying land south of Ottawa when it is in the lower part of the minor flood stage.
The Eagle Creek in Findlay is out of flood stage after cresting just below major flood stage Thursday morning.
The Blanchard River in Findlay is also pulling back after cresting just shy of minor flood stage Thursday night.
