The Ohio Department of Transportation is proposing constructing a roundabout at the intersection of U.S. 224 and State Route 587 in western Seneca County.
That intersection is currently a two-way stop intersection and ODOT says a roundabout would make that intersection safer.
ODOT says roundabouts not only reduce the number of crashes but also reduce the severity of crashes that do occur.
A virtual meeting to get the public’s input on the proposed project will be held on Wednesday, November 4th at 4 p.m.
The project is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2022 and last about three months.
People can also mail comments about the project to John Erford at Ohio Department of Transportation District 2 317 East Poe Road Bowling Green, OH 43402.
The Lima Avenue double roundabout in Findlay (below) opened in November of 2019.
The City of Findlay is on the lookout for its 2020 Christmas Tree.
The city is taking suggestions from people who may have a tree in mind that they think would look great all lit up outside the municipal building.
People with a recommendation can send an email to mayor@findlayohio.com that includes a picture of the tree, address and contact information for the property owner.
The tree should be 25 to 35 feet tall and preferably be a short needle spruce.
It should be easily accessible for equipment to get to and have no obstructions like overhead lines.
It should not be a backyard tree unless the yard is totally accessible for large equipment.
The city will remove the tree, grind the stump, clean up the area and seed.
The city will also plant a new tree in the spring if desired by the property owner.
Last year’s tree (pictured) was courtesy of Amy Wellman and family.
A man is facing charges after allegedly leading authorities on a pursuit with his young child in the vehicle.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office says it responded to 212 North High Street in Columbus Grove around 11 p.m. Friday to investigate an incident that was reported as a kidnapping.
The sheriff’s office says they learned that Michael B. Strykul, 52, and Dorothy A. Selhorst, 43, have a 4-year-old child together and that Michael took the child during an argument with Dorothy.
Deputies say they tried to stop Michael’s vehicle and a pursuit ensued that later ended in Lima after his vehicle was disabled from stop sticks.
The sheriff’s office says the child was okay and was returned to its mother.
Authorities say Strykul was taken into custody and is being held at the Putnam County Jail on charges of failure to comply with a police officer and operating a vehicle intoxicated, and additional charges are pending.
A Findlay priest has been indicted on charges that include child sex trafficking.
A federal grand jury in Cleveland handed down the indictment against Father Michael Zacharias on Friday.
The 10-count indictment includes charges of sex trafficking of a minor and sex trafficking of an adult and minor by force, fraud, or coercion.
Zacharias, 53, was the pastor at St. Michael The Archangel Parish in Findlay.
He was arrested on August 18th and the FBI spoke about the case outside his house near the church. (video below)
“This defendant is accused of using his status and position as a religious and community leader to seek out troubled minors and exploit their personal challenges for his own satisfaction,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman.
“This indictment is a step towards finding justice for the victims, families and community harmed by the defendant and his alleged acts.”
The offenses Zacharias has been charged with allegedly involve boys from Catholic schools in Toledo.
Authorities believe there are other victims of Zacharias out there.
The FBI encourages anyone that may have been groomed or victimized by Zacharias to contact the FBI at 1-877-FBI-OHIO (1-877-324-6446).
The Diocese of Toledo placed Father Zacharias on administrative leave after he was arrested.
The program, which is called “Lit Man” to reflect its combination of literacy and manufacturing concepts, provides resources to sharpen reading and creative thinking skills while also introducing youth to manufacturing and products made in Hancock County.
“We wanted to make sure we targeted 3rd graders because this is a pivotal year in their literacy skills,” said Tricia Valasek, Manager of Raise the Bar – Hancock County.
“And we also wanted to bring manufacturing to the forefront during Manufacturing Awareness Month which is October.”
Through the Lit Man program, each of Hancock County’s 850 3rd graders will receive a manufacturing-related picture book, “Poem Mobiles: Crazy Car Poems”.
Students will also be introduced to five area manufacturers (Cooper Tire, GSW, Molten, Nissin Brake Ohio, ZF) and their designed/produced car parts through a creative coloring page flier.
The program also supports 3rd grade teachers with talking about manufacturing through a lesson plan in the language arts classroom and allows children and families to explore local manufacturing via a fun, interactive website (www.raisethebarhancock.org/litman).
“Literacy skills in third grade are critical,” added Shannon Andersen, Director of Hancock Literacy.
“Up until third grade, students are learning to read. If youth are not proficient readers when they begin fourth grade, as much as half of the curriculum they will be taught will be incomprehensible. Lit Man, thus, brings a fun book to the hands and home libraries of our students to help them in their love of reading.”
The watch includes all of northwest Ohio and goes until 9 p.m. Friday.
Forecasters say some of the storms that are forming along a cold front may approach severe limits with damaging winds and small hail the main threats.
After this line of storms moves through, the weekend is looking decent, with partly sunny skies and a high around 50 Saturday and low 50s Sunday.
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for a portion of the area until 9 PM this evening, mainly along and west of a Marion to Lorain line. Stay weather aware this afternoon and evening and be alert for potential warnings for you location! #ohwxpic.twitter.com/KLmtqFrJyM
The reward for information leading to the arrest of a wanted fugitive in Ohio has doubled.
The U.S. Marshals Service has upped the reward for information leading to the arrest of Lester Eubanks to $50,000.
Eubanks was convicted in the 1966 killing of 14-year-old Mary Ellen Deener, from Mansfield, and given the death sentence, which was later commuted to life in prison.
In 1973, Eubanks was allowed to shop unsupervised at a Columbus-area shopping center and hasn’t been seen since.
The now 75-year old was recently featured on the Netflix reboot of “Unsolved Mysteries.”
