4/11/19 – 5:21 A.M.

The chief deputy of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has resigned over a pay dispute. The Putnam County Sentinel reports Verl Warnimont claims Sheriff Brian Siefker verbally promised a wage and compensation package above what the position normally receives.

Warnimont says the situation came to a head after he had two surgeries and needed several weeks off. He tells the newspaper the county informed him he was out of time off.

Sheriff Brian Siefker says he didn’t promise any extra compensation or vacation time. Siefker adds that other employees tried to donate time off so Warnimont could recover from his surgeries, but Warnimont turned them down.

MORE: Putnam County Sentinel

04/10/19 – 5:26 P.M.

Police arrested a Findlay man after searching his room at the Super 8 on Broad Avenue in Findlay Tuesday. The Hancock METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit arrested 53-year-old Darrin Wyse. In his room, they found crack cocaine, cash, and drug paraphernalia.

Wyse was arrested for possession of crack cocaine and tampering with evidence. The case remains under investigation and more charges are expected.

04/10/19 – 5:07 P.M.

Camp 911 is coming to Hancock County in June to teach kids about safety. The program is being brought to the community by Hanco, Findlay Fire and Police Departments, and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. The program is open to students entering Kindergarten in 2019. They will learn about stranger danger, basic first-aid skills, and fire safety to name a few.

Registration is open until May 1.

You can call Beth Baker at 419-424-7853 if you have any questions.

04/10/19 – 4:46 P.M.

Findlay High School and the Findlay Police Department are investigating a threat from this morning. Principal Ryan Imketold the Courier that a student came forward after noticing a message on a bathroom stall. The message mentioned a threat in the future.

Imke said that there was no immediate threat and the school did not have to go into a lockdown.

4/10/19 – 7:28 A.M.

The Seneca County Health Alliance is starting a survey of Seneca County residents this week. The agency is partnering with the Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio and researchers at the University of Toledo to conduct the survey. They’ll randomly select 1,200 residents to take part.

The anonymous survey asks participants to answer questions about general health, risk and protective health factors, and access to health care. These answers will create a snapshot of the health of Seneca County.

They’ll publish the results of the survey this fall.

MORE: Full details of the survey

4/10/19 – 6:47 A.M.

An anonymous donation will help pay for the replacement of another shelter house at the Riverbend Recreation area east of Findlay. Parks director Gary Pruitt says they estimate $300,000 should cover the cost of the entire project. The new structure will replace Shelter 4 near Giertz Lake.

The parks district is considering different design options. They include an open shelter, an open shelter with a short wall topped with a concrete pad on all four sides and a fireplace, or the second option – but with no fireplace.

MORE: Options considered for extra land at Oakwoods Nature Preserve

4/10/19 – 5:30 A.M.

Putnam County is getting grant money designed to keep low-level felons out of prison. The Lima News reports Ottawa Village Council learned more about the program Tuesday night. Putnam County Common Pleas Court Judge Keith Schierloh says the county has received $60,000 of the $75,000 grant.

Schierloh says the money allows the county to make decisions about lower-level felony offenders and how to best treat them. The grant allows the offender to stay in the county jail and receive treatment.

Schierloh told council the county jail can hold up to 75 people. It currently has around 42 people in it.

MORE: Lima News