The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a plane crash near Fostoria that left two people dead.

The Highway Patrol says the crash happened Tuesday night at 10:47 approximately two miles east of Fostoria near Crestview Drive in Loudon Township, Seneca County.

Officers from the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office and the Fostoria Police Department responded to a report of a possible plane crash near Crestview Drive in Loudon Township.

Officers searched and located the crashed plane in a wooded area north of Crestview Drive.

Two deceased victims were located at the scene.

The pilot was identified as Shane Alan Halbrook, age 59, of Avon, Indiana.

The copilot was identified as Michael D. Wright, age 51, of Casey, Illinois.

The plane was identified as a Piper Saratoga single engine plane.

The plane was reportedly traveling from Illinois to Findlay.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Assisting on scene were Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, Fostoria Police, Bascom Fire, Seneca County EMS, and the Seneca County Coroner’s Office.

Lawmakers are considering a bill that would strengthen distracted driving laws in Ohio.

House Bill 283 would allow police to pull you over if they see you with a phone in your hand – making that a primary offense.

Ohio’s current law applies to texting while driving – and is a secondary offense for adults – which means police can’t stop a driver unless they witness a primary offense in addition to texting while driving.

But House Bill 283 would change that by making holding a phone or any electronic device while behind the wheel a primary offense.

“House Bill 283 is extremely needed for Ohio’s roadways,” said Kimberly Schwind with Triple A Ohio.

“Looking away from the road for just two seconds doubles your risk for crashing.”

The bill was last heard by the Criminal Justice Committee on February 15th.

Hancock County health officials say there’s been an increase in suspected overdose fatalities.

Hancock Public Health says there have been four so far in 2022, with two occurring just this past weekend.

“The two suspected overdose fatalities were within roughly a 24 hour period, which is unusually high for Hancock County,” said Gary Bright, with Hancock Public Health.

He says there have also been 16 non-fatal overdoses so far this year.

Hancock Public Health reminds people that they have the overdose-reversing medication Narcan available through Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided with Naloxone) as a way to combat the opioid overdose epidemic.

“It looks pretty clear to us that the more Narcan kits we get out there, in the hands of folks who may potentially overdose, the less fatal overdoses we’re going to have,” Bright said.

He says while Narcan can rapidly reverse an overdose it’s still important to call 911 because the opioid is still in the person’s system.

Click here for more information about Narcan and how to receive a kit.

People can also call 419-424-7420 (or email gbright@hancockph.com / jdecker@hancockph.com ) to answer a few simple questions and arrange safe pick up or delivery of a kit.

Authorities made two arrests as they raided a Findlay residence in connection with a drug trafficking investigation.

The Hancock County METRICH Drug Task Force along with the Findlay Police Department Emergency Response Team executed a search warrant at an apartment at 1900 Kirkwood Court on Tuesday morning.

Authorities say they found a large amount of methamphetamine as well as fentanyl powder and MDMA powder.

Also recovered from the apartment was cash, drug paraphernalia, items indicative of drug trafficking and a loaded gun with an altered serial number.

Authorities say Frank Brown IV, 29, and Madeleine Heater, 22, were arrested and jailed at the Hancock County Justice Center.

They face charges of possession of meth, possession of fentanyl and possession of MDMA.

Additional charges of drug trafficking, having a weapon under disability, possession of defaced firearm and endangering children are expected at the conclusion of the investigation.

Two people were found dead inside a mobile home that was on fire in Fostoria.

The fire happened on Monday at the Poplar Village Mobile Home Park on Axline Street just outside the city limits on the south side of town.

The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office says responding deputies and fire personnel arrived to find fire and heavy smoke coming from the trailer.

While fighting the blaze, fire personnel from the Bascom Fire Department, Fostoria Fire Department and Washington Township Fire Department discovered two bodies inside.

The sheriff’s office said Richard Prenzlin, 48, and Monique Jones, 51, lived at the residence.

Detectives from the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the coroner’s office were requested to the scene to assist with the investigation.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the victims of this devastating fire,” said Sheriff Stevens.

The Findlay Police Department is seeking help from the public in identifying two people who stole from Menards.

The police department says the two men in the surveillance pictures entered Menards around 2:40 Saturday afternoon and loaded up a cart with electronics.

The suspects walked to the front of the store and pushed the cart through a closed register lane and left the store without paying.

Anyone with information about the suspects is urged to contact the Findlay Police Department at 419-424-7150 or Crime Stoppers at 419-425-TIPS.

Tipsters may be eligible for a reward.

Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn is excited about what’s in store for Findlay in 2022.

One of the things she’s looking forward to the most is the city’s strategic planning process.

As the mayor mentioned in the audio above, the city will be kicking off community involvement in the strategic planning process in April.

She says the process involves taking a strategic look at how they operate, their core services, but also making sure that they’re supporting investment in the community to make sure Findlay continues to be a great place to live, learn, work and play.

Among the capital project this year, she says the city will be investing more in the airport to position it for continued economic growth.

As the mayor mentioned in the audio above, the Findlay Airport is starting to see a significant number of cargo flights with 155 last year.

Phase 2 benching for flood mitigation, which could include a park and recreation component, and breaking ground on the training center for first responders (STRICT Center) are a few of the other capital projects set for this year.

Muryn said the city is doing quite well considering the challenges it faced over the last two years during the pandemic and she feels comfortable with the city’s overall financial position.

She says the city added to its general fund unappropriated balance last year and it currently stands at around $16 million.

When it comes to body cameras for police officers and dash cams for their cruisers, Muryn said she supports the idea and it needs to be fully vetted before they move forward.

She expects the city to have a body cam proposal ready by the summer for community discussion and then they’ll determine if the project will proceed.

Get more of our conversation with Mayor Muryn about what’s in store for Findlay this year below.

Restaurant Week has returned for the fifth year in Findlay and Hancock County.

Visit Findlay says around 20 local restaurants are offering three-course meals on a prix-fixe menu at different price points.

Diners are encouraged to try something new or support their favorite restaurants during this special week.

This year Restaurant Week is set for February 21 – 27.

Price points for the participating restaurants are $10, $20, $30, and $40 per diner and vary per restaurant.

Those interested in taking part in Restaurant Week simply need to visit the restaurant of their choice during dinner hours and ask for the Restaurant Week Menu.

Diners will then select one option per course and be charged the restaurant’s set price.

Prices do not include tax, gratuity, or drinks; however, many locations are running drink specials.

Restaurants will also be serving their regular menu.

No tickets are necessary, but reservations are suggested at many locations. Menus and hours are subject to change without notice.

For a complete list of participating restaurants and their menus, click here.

For more information, call 419-422-3315 or email info@visitfindlay.com.

Blanchard Valley Health System is adjusting its visitation guidelines as COVID cases decline in the community.

The health system as of Monday was bumped down to an orange level of visitor restrictions that you can read about by clicking here.

All BVHS visitors are still required to wear a mask at all times, and that includes time spent in the room of a loved one.

The health system will provide an appropriate mask if the visitor doesn’t have one.

Additionally, visitors are required to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer every time they enter or exit a patient room.

BVHS continues to take temperatures and screen at the door.

Visitors with symptoms or a high temperature will not be allowed into the facility in order to better protect patients and visitors.

Medical professionals have the right to refuse appointments to those who do not comply.

For more information about COVID-19 efforts and guidelines at BVHS click here.

A person was flown to a Toledo hospital after being pulled from a house fire in Fostoria.

Firefighters responded to 161 Sandusky Street at 11:37 Sunday morning for a reported active fire.

Fire crews arrived to find heavy fire and smoke coming from the house.

Firefighters located a male inside the residence and got him out and starting performing life-saving measures.

The male was then taken to Fostoria Community Hospital and then flown to a Toledo hospital.

Two Fostoria firefighters were treated at Fostoria Community Hospital for minor injuries.

The Ohio State Fire Marshal’s office was called in to investigate the cause of the fire.

It’s unknown if there were any working smoke detectors in the house.

The Fostoria Fire Division reminds residents that it has free smoke detectors available to any residence in Fostoria and the surrounding areas.

Contact them at 419-435-3206 for more information.