3/15/19 – 5:23 A.M.
The Fostoria Fire Department is looking to fill three open spots. The Civil Service Commission certified a list of candidates during a Thursday meeting. That means Fire Chief Brian Herbert can offer the jobs as soon as possible to reduce overtime hours.
3/15/19 – 5:19 A.M.
The Putnam County Board of Health has three new members. The Putnam County Sentinel reports the Putnam County District Advisory Council made the appointments Monday in the wake of three resignations. Lita Siefker, Kyle Stechshulte, and Carrie Knippen will all serve five-year terms.
They take the place of three people who stepped down after the District Advisory Board decided to keep Matthew Herman on the board of health.
Ohio Revised Code requires the board to have a doctor on it, however the current makeup the health board in Putnam County does not include a physician. Sherrie Recker is the director of nursing. She says they have reached out to most of the doctors in the county, but none have wanted to serve on the board.
MORE: Putnam County Sentinel
3/15/19 – 5:09 A.M.
An apartment complex on Findlay’s north side is expanding. The Findlay City Planning Commission approved plans for a nine-building project at the Horizon apartments off of Technology Drive during a Thursday meeting.
Construction on the northward expansion will start this year. The finished product will add 70 housing units to the apartment complex.
MORE: Millstream Area Credit Union to build new offices in Findlay.
3/15/19 – 5:03 A.M.
The Hancock County Park District is looking to grow the Oakwoods Nature Preserve. Director Gary Pruitt says the board has voted to turn 100 acres of farmland into a conservation area. Pruitt says they could use the land to introduce wildlife habitat and possibly expand trails. With 100 acres available, the park could use the land for things like wetlands or prairie grass planting. They could also allow nature to reclaim it.
The park district bought the farmland in 2006 and 2009. They have rented the land to area farmers up until now.
MORE: How the Park District plans to approach the expansion.
03/14/19 – 7:35 P.M.
One person was injured in an accident in Allen Township Thursday afternoon. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office reports that the accident happened around 12:30 pm at the intersection of Township Road 229 and State Route 613. Takoda Pahl was heading south on 229 when he failed to stop at the intersection. Jessika Cobb struck Pahl on the passenger side.
The ALlenTownship Fire Department extricated Pahl from his car. Hanco EMS took him to Blanchard Valley Hospital.
Officers cited Pahl failure to yield the right of way at a stop sign.
03/14/19 – 6:22 P.M.
President Donald Trump is coming to northwest Ohio next week to visit the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima. The Lima News reports that Trump plans to speak at and tour the tank plant on Wednesday. The White House reports that this is to “reaffirm the President’s commitment to the United States Military and the American worker.”
The tank plant has rebounded over the last five years and currently is filling new jobs. On January 11, the U.S. Army announced a $714 million order for General Dynamics Land Systems upgrades on 171 M1 Abrams tanks.
We’ll have more details on Trump’s visit when they become available.
03/14/19 – 3:37 P.M.
The Findlay City Planning Commission rejected plans to build one or two 400-foot wind turbines southeast of the intersection of Crystal and Bigelow Avenues. The decision comes after the city zoning appeals board denied a variance request from One Energy last month.
Residents in the area have opposed the proposed wind turbines. The concerns they raised include the turbines being an eyesore and affecting property values as well as the health of residents.
One Energy may challenge the city’s decision in the Hancock County Common Pleas Court.
3/14/19 – 12:04 P.M.
The sudden closure of G.I.B.S Sanitary Services left nearly 1,000 customers without service, and the company with nearly $100,000 in unpaid landfill fees. Commissioner Tim Bechtol says while the county filed a lawsuit late last year, they’ve been working to collect the fees for much longer…
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Commissioner Mark Gazarek adds that the commissioners learned about the situation in October. They asked the prosecutor’s office to take action in November…
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Gazarek says that given the company had nearly 1,000 customers they could have piled up landfill fees fast.
The case had a pretrial hearing this morning.
The Hancock County Agriculture Hall of Fame inducted two familiar faces today. Gary Wilson and Vaun Wickerham were honored at the 30th annual Farmers’ Share Breakfast. Wilson says it was a special day for him…
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Wilson and Wickerham hosted “Ag Talk” on WFIN radio for several years, talking about the issues affecting local farmers.
Wickerham says it means a lot to get inducted with his good friend…
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Hobart Farthing and Alvin Shoop earned posthumous inductions. Their nominations recognized them for their contributions to agriculture in the county and their willingness to help other farmers.
3/14/19 – 5:32 A.M.
A one-car crash injured a rural Arcadia man Tuesday morning. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened on Cass Township Road 215 around 7:15 a.m.
52-year-old Richard Lewis was driving east on Road 215 when he fell asleep and drove off the road and into a ditch.
Lewis received treatment at Blanchard Valley Hospital for minor injuries. Deputies cited him for operating a vehicle without reasonable control.