3/14/19 – 5:28 A.M.
We could see strong storms later today. The National Weather Service says isolated storms are possible in the region this afternoon. The highest likelihood of severe weather is between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.
It’s going to be windy today as well. The area is under a wind advisory until midnight. We could see wind gusts of 40 mph.
We’ll keep an eye on the situation and update you throughout the day.
3/14/19 – 5:21 A.M.
Hancock County has seen a sharp increase in traffic fatalities so far this year. Five crashes have killed eight people since the start of 2019. There were 11 traffic deaths in Hancock County in 2018.
The State Highway Patrol says factors in the crashes include driving at unsafe speeds, driving left of center, and failure to yield. The Patrol says distracted driving crashes are also increasing.
Four people killed in crashes this year were not wearing seatbelts.
3/14/19 – 5:15 A.M.
Area trash haulers are seeing a large increase in business following the sudden closure of G.I.B.S. Sanitation Services. Scott VanWormer of American Trash Hauling says he’s seen his customers double this month. VanWormer says he now has closer to 840 clients.
Dave’s Hauling reports adding 300 new customers over the last few weeks. Owner Dave Brehm says they are working hard to make sure they don’t miss anyone since they have so many new stops.
MORE: Other trash haulers talk about taking on more customers.
3/14/19 – 5:06 A.M.
Hancock County is suing a former Fostoria trash hauling company for nearly $100,000 in unpaid fees. The county commissioners filed a suit against G.I.B.S. LLC in December. Court documents show they filed the suit after several attempts to collect the money.
G.I.B.S. went out of business earlier this month. In a statement, owner Larry Lundy said he had been unable to find a buyer for the company. He went on to say he had to close his business due to family health issues.
G.I.B.S. may have had around 1,000 customers. They were not given notice that the business was closing.
03/13/19 – 6:25 P.M.
The Findlay Water and Sewer Committee met to discuss putting in waterline pipes on County Road 140 Wednesday. Service Director Brian Thomas explained that they want to the pipes to be bigger than needed so that they can build off of them later. He said that the city will help pay for the added material.
Thomas added that they want the pipes to be zinc coated ductile pipe rather than plastic. This allows the pipes to be one material all the way up to County Road 99 where they can use plastic piping.
Findlay City Council will decide if the project moves forward as discussed by the committee. If approved the city will put $42,935 into the project.
03/13/19 – 12:49 P.M.
The Fostoria Police Department reports that several cars were broken into over the past weekend. According to a post on the department’s Facebook page, the cars involved were in the area from East Crocker Street to the 900 block of North Main Street. Items were stolen in some cases.
Police urge you to remove valuables from your car and always make sure it is locked.
3/13/19 – 8:33 A.M.
UPDATE – 11:37 A.M. (More details released about the accident
Area EMS crews responded to a crash near the intersection of State Route 568 and County Road 236 on Findlay’s east side this morning. The Sheriff’s Office says the incident happened around 7:15 a.m. involving a car and a pedestrian. 62-year-old Mark Hochstettler of Findlay was crossing State Route 568 when he was struck by 28-year-old Tyler Smith of Vanlue.
Medical personnel pronounced Hochstettler dead at the scene. Smith was not injured.
The crash remains under investigation.
Crash Location:
3/13/19 – 5:16 A.M.
More than 50 people gathered in Ottawa Tuesday to remember a teenager who lost his life in October. WLIO-TV reports the group released green balloons at the outdoor amphitheater in honor of Ty Conn. The former Ottawa-Glandorf student accidentally shot himself last fall.
Lindy Schroeder is Conn’s mother. She tells the TV station that St. Patrick’s Day was her son’s favorite holiday, which led to the “Paint the Town” green event. Schroeder added that she was grateful for the support and hopes to continue to raise awareness about her Ty’s death.
MORE: WLIO-TV
3/13/19 – 5:06 A.M.
A two-car crash killed three people in Hancock County Tuesday night. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says the head-on collision happened on State Route 186 just north of U.S. 224 around 6:30 p.m.
22-year-old Dylan Miller of McComb was driving south when he lost control and went left of center. Miller’s car hit a pickup truck driven by 31-year-old Allen Wilson of McComb. The crash killed Miller and his passenger, 22-year-old Edward Bear III of Hoytville. It also took the life of a passenger in Wilson’s car, 33-year-old Andrew Crowe of McComb.
Emergency responders took Wilson and a 1-year-old passenger in his truck to Blanchard Valley Hospital for treatment of their injuries. The hospital hasn’t released their conditions.
Crash Location:
3/12/19 – 4:59 A.M.
CORRECTION – 6:29 P.M.
Findlay City Schools are not cutting 10 teachers due to declining enrollment. WFIN erroneously aired a story based off of last years numbers Tuesday. Superintendent Ed Kurt says the 10 cuts were made last year. He adds that moving forward the school will make any needed cuts based on enrollment figures.
WFIN regrets that the wrong information aired today. We are taking steps to ensure this does not happen again.