The Ohio Department of Transportation is letting drivers know about some overnight closures involving State Route 15 south of Findlay.

ODOT says beam setting for the new overpass at County Road 180 will close State Route 15 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Wednesday night through Saturday morning, September 20-23.

Work is expected to begin in the westbound lanes on Wednesday night, move to the eastbound lanes Thursday night and finish up on Friday night.

The detour will be U.S. 68 to State Route 103 to State Route 37. (below)

Two overpass projects along State Route 15 are currently underway and scheduled to be finished in 2023.

One of the overpasses is at County Road 180 over State Route 15 near Findlay and the other is at County Road 169 and State Route 15 near Vanlue.

Another overpass is planned at the intersection of State Route 15 and County Road 193 near Vanlue.

The projects are designed to improve safety and reduce crashes at the intersections.

https://twitter.com/ODOT_NWOhio/status/1703785884091560071

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says an intoxicated man was arrested after firing shots into his residence and striking a nearby residence.

Deputies responded to a call of a man firing a gun in the area of Kenwood Court and Tanglewood Drive at the Riverview Terrace Mobile Home Park off of County Road 140 in Findlay at around 2:20 Wednesday morning.

Upon arrival, deputies say they located Anthony Rose, 49, sitting in the driveway of his residence.

Deputies say Rose stated that he was firing at what he thought was a person in his residence, which was unfounded.

Two of the gunshots struck a neighboring residence, causing minor damage.

No injuries were reported.

Rose was arrested and charged with inducing panic, weapons while intoxicated, and discharging a firearm into a habitation.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s office put out the following statement on Tuesday regarding him contracting COVID-19.

“At approximately 5:30pm today, Governor DeWine tested positive for Covid-19.  He started experiencing mild cold symptoms yesterday.  Believing he had a mild head cold, he proceeded with his work day today.  As the day progressed, his symptoms worsened, and his doctor advised that he take a Covid-19 test, which was positive.  He reported having a 101 degree fever at the time of taking the test late this afternoon.  He is resting at home at this time.

“The current strain of Covid-19 can present itself with symptoms much like a head cold.  Governor DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health advise testing yourself for Covid-19, even if you think you have only a minor cold.”

(ONN) – In a first for Ohio, the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks have been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO which is the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

It highlights eight of Ohio’s prehistoric monumental earthworks that were built 2,000 years ago by Hopewell Native Americans in Licking, Ross, and Warren Counties.

Experts say the mounds show the Native American Earthwork builders were “not just geniuses, but uncommon geniuses.”

The announcement puts the sites on an elite list that includes the Grand Canyon, the Pyramids of Giza, and Machu Picchu in Peru to name a few.

The Findlay Police Department is seeking help from the public in identifying a person of interest.

Police say the man in the surveillance picture is a person of interest in a theft and unlawful entry investigation at a local business.

“If you happen to know this subject, contact the FPD at 419-424-7150 or Hancock County Crime Stoppers at 419-425-8477 in reference to Case: 2023-19705,” the police department said.

The University of Findlay will host a Health and Wellness Fair on Thursday, September 21st.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Koehler Fitness and Recreation Center.

University resources will be joined by community organizations to offer health information, screenings, and free flu shots for UF students.

Hancock Public Health will be on hand to offer Tetanus, Hepatitis A, flu, and Meningitis vaccines.

(ONN) – Bowling Green State University has put head hockey coach Ty Eigner on administrative leave as it investigates a report of alleged hazing.

Three players are also on interim suspension.

The school made the announcement in a statement posted on its website.

The statement does not name the three players nor specify any details about the alleged hazing.

BGSU officials say they immediately notified local law enforcement and initiated their own investigation upon receiving the report.

Assistant coach Curtis Carr will take over as interim head coach.

BGSU sophomore student Stone Foltz died in March 2021 after a fraternity initiation event.

(From the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office)

We have received at least 4 reports of scammers calling Seneca County residents to tell them, or leaving messages advising them, that they missed jury duty and there is a warrant out for their arrest.

They are telling them to call this number, 419-455-6084, to clear it up. When people call that # back (a spoofed #) a foreign accented person answers it “Seneca County Sheriff’s Office”.

Callers are also claiming to be real deputies. The scammers will then tell people that they need to pay them (in gift or cash cards) in order to clear up a problem they have with the warrant.

They are going to scare you into thinking you have a warrant. They are going to convince you that you did something wrong and that the only way you can fix it is by paying them. Don’t fall for it.

People are calling the Clerk of Courts and they are telling them to call us. We have posted several times in the past about these type of scams.

The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office will never call someone demanding money for a warrant. Ignore the caller, hang up and if you get home and there is a message to call about a jury warrant know that it is a scam.

If you truly had a warrant you would see us face to face. We don’t handle them over the phone.

-Sheriff Stevens

Hancock County Sheriff Michael Heldman will not be seeking re-election in 2024.

“Since 1997, it has been my distinct privilege to serve as the elected Sheriff of Hancock County. After careful consideration, I have decided not to seek an eighth term in the March 2024 primary election,” Heldman said in a letter to the Hancock County Board of Elections.

Heldman began his career with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office in 1972.

“I’ve seen our community grow and prosper while remaining one of Ohio’s safest counties to live, work, and raise a family.”

“I thank everyone who has supported my efforts as Sheriff during the past seven terms.”

Sheriff Heldman said he looks forward to continuing to serve Hancock County through the end of his current term, which ends on January 5^th, 2025.

Hancock County Commissioner William Bateson attended the September 14^th commissioner’s meeting.

Bateson had been absent from office since suffering a medical emergency in the middle of June.

He did inform Tim Bechtol and Mike Pepple, the other two commissioners, that he may miss some more meetings as he undergoes rehabilitation.

Bateson was elected to the Hancock County Board of Commissioners in November of 2020 and his term runs through the end of 2024.