(ONN) – An Ohio man is accused of sending about three-dozen feces-filled letters to lawmakers around the country, including to Ohio’s 25 Republican state senators in July.
Richard Steinle, a 77-year-old from Mogadore, east of Akron, who is also a former Portage County Common Pleas Court mediator, was arrested Friday.
He’s accused of violating a federal law that prohibits mailing certain things, including hazardous material.
The feces mailed in July prompted an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Investigators say Steinle has sent such letters to elected officials since last August, in Washington DC, Kentucky, and California.
One of three men facing charges in connection with a deadly pursuit that took the life of Bluffton police officer Dominic Francis has been sentenced.
Dante Tate in July pleaded guilty to charges of failure to comply and receiving stolen property in Medina County Common Pleas Court.
He was sentenced to two years in prison on Monday, according to WTOL-11.
Two other suspects are being held at the Hancock County Jail, including Emin Johnson, the man authorities say was driving the stolen car that hit and killed Officer Francis on March 31st and who’s facing a variety of charges including aggravated vehicular homicide and involuntary manslaughter.
Court records show that he has a pretrial hearing set for September 9th.
A backseat passenger, Zachary Love, pleaded not guilty to charges including the improper handling of a firearm in a vehicle and receiving stolen property.
Love has a pretrial hearing set for October 14th.
Authorities say the three were in a stolen car that was fleeing from police on Interstate 75 southbound around 2:30 a.m. on March 31st that struck and killed Bluffton police officer Dominic Francis.
Officer Francis was placing stop sticks on the highway in an effort to end the pursuit.
The three fled on foot and one stole a car and was later arrested in northeast Ohio in Elyria, in Medina County.
The Highway Patrol is asking you to click here and then scroll down to the drop-down venue and place your vote for Ohio.
People can vote once from each of their devices.
Voting will wrap up on August 25th at 5 p.m.
The American Association of State Troopers will be putting a daily update on its Facebook page.
It is officially time for the American Association of State Trooper's annual Best Looking Cruiser Contest. Scroll down to Ohio from the drop down menu and vote for us!! You may only vote once from each of your devices. Voting ends August 25 at 5 pm EST https://t.co/A3xwE0sSOEpic.twitter.com/CgCuOMcv8T
The event, dubbed “Last Weekend on Us,” will take place on Saturday, August 13th and Sunday, August 14th.
The cost of entry for anyone attending will be covered by The Community Foundation.
Attendance may be limited for safety reasons, depending on the turnout.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Findlay Family YMCA for this special closing weekend opportunity,” said Dr. Brian Treece, President & CEO of The Community Foundation.
“We often hear from community members that there is a shortage of affordable community activities. Partnering with the Y for Last Weekend On Us is a step toward bridging the gap.”
The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, currently celebrating 30 years of community impact, has awarded over $70 million dollars in grants in the area since it was officially formed in 1992.
Along with the Findlay Family YMCA, the Foundation supports nonprofits of all types in Hancock County through grantmaking, organizational strengthening and more.
“We are incredibly thankful for the Community Foundation sponsoring Last Weekend On Us at Riverside,” YMCA CEO, Stephanie Parsons, said.
“This is what it is all about, two cause driven organizations coming together to build a stronger community.”
The Findlay Family YMCA has been in operation in Findlay since 1888.
While it does operate as a fitness center and childcare facility, the organization relies on funding from community partnerships and donors to provide opportunities for community members through the Open Doors program, Y on the Fly, and other valuable programs throughout the year.
In 2010, the Y joined the City of Findlay in the management and operations of Riverside Pool.
Raise the Bar Hancock County is in line to receive up to $930,000 over the next three years as part of The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association’s (OMA) $23,492,808 award from the Economic Development Administration’s American Rescue Plan Act “Good Jobs Challenge” program.
OMA is the lead applicant and system lead entity for one of the 32 projects throughout the country to receive a portion of $500 million in federal funds.
The federal initiative aims to get Americans back to work by strengthening workforce partnerships that lead to good-paying jobs.
Raise the Bar is among OMA’s network of manufacturing industry sector partnerships (ISPs) that will receive funding from this grant. Raise the Bar will conduct specific recruiting and upskilling components of OMA’s workforce development action plan, benefitting the Findlay and Hancock County region.
“I am thrilled that Raise the Bar will be receiving support from the Good Jobs Challenge grant awarded to OMA. This investment, in combination with the guidance and best practice sharing with OMA and peer industry sector partnerships, will build upon Raise the Bars work and have a tremendous impact for growing our local trained and credentialed manufacturing workforce,” said Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn, President, Raise the Bar Board.
We spoke with Raise the Bar Executive Director Tricia Valasek about the new grant.
Findlay-Hancock Economic Development’s Director, Tim Mayle, added, “This grant will allow our community to attract additional manufacturing talent to our region. The timing of this funding aligns exceptionally well with our community’s ongoing efforts to add a substantial number of housing units within Hancock County. We know the importance of housing and other infrastructure for workforce development, and we look forward to collaborating with Raise the Bar to achieve local success.”
OMA’s workforce plan prioritizes recruiting, training, and retaining underrepresented groups for the manufacturing workforce, including women, veterans, people of color, and individuals returning to the workforce after incarceration.
“We project 1,000 Ohio employers to engage in hiring, retaining or advancing a participant served by this initiative,” said Ryan Augsburger, OMA president. “Our goal is to enroll 6,000 participants across the state in one or more training programs that leads to a job offer or upskilling opportunity at their incumbent employer.”
In response to regional needs and the needs of the target populations, Raise the Bar and its peer ISPs will execute an OMA-developed, evidence-based Entry-Level Learn-and Earn (ELLE) model to prepare a future workforce.
The strategy, which gives employers the opportunity to build a workforce trained to their specific needs, includes recruiting, pre-screening, preparing job skills training, onboarding, and ongoing support and job coaching components.
“Ultimately, the Good Jobs Challenge grant will lay the groundwork for exponential, ongoing impacts beyond the 36-month grant period by operationalizing sustainable new training programs, formalizing referral partnerships, accelerating ISPs’ momentum, and building underrepresented communities’ interest in manufacturing careers,” Augsburger said.
Raise the Bar (RTB) Hancock County is a 501(c)3 industry-sector partnership changing how individuals learn about and prepare for Hancock County’s careers and industries.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office says a man was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash in the southwest portion of the county.
The sheriff’s office says deputies responded to investigate a report of a single-vehicle crash on Road 25P, just outside Ottoville, at around 2:45 Saturday morning.
Deputies found Jasper Fout, of Ottoville, alongside the roadway next to a motorcycle.
He was taken to St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima by Ottoville EMS with life-threatening injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.
The sheriff’s office says alcohol is suspected to have been a factor in the crash and that Fout was not wearing a helmet.
Findlay City Schools held a Community Day – Back to School celebration at Donnell Stadium on Friday.
We spoke with Interim Superintendent Krista Crates-Miller about why events like Community Day are so important.
“We want to synergize with our community. We are Trojan Country inside the halls of our schools but we want to make certain that you feel the Trojan Country spirit driving right into town, and that’s what today’s all about.”
People enjoyed a variety of events at the Community Day, including a dunk tank (video below) that saw football coach Stefan Adams and others getting dunked by youngsters of all ages.
After Community Day, the fall sports teams were introduced and the football team held its first scrimmage of the year.
It’s meant to help parents and teachers get the most for their money while preparing for students to return to school.
Shoppers will save some money when buying back-to-school supplies and clothing.
During the holiday, the following items are exempt from sales and use tax:
– Items of clothing priced at $75 or less.
– Items of school supplies priced at $20 or less.
– Items of school instructional materials priced at $20 or less.
Items used in a trade or business are not exempt under the sales tax holiday.
For more information regarding the sales tax holiday, refer to the Ohio Department of Taxation website by clicking here.
People with additional questions regarding the holiday can call 1-888-405-4039.
