Category Archives: Uncategorized

Blanchard Valley Health System Establishes New Visitor Policies

In response to rising Covid-19 case number in the area, Blanchard Valley Health System has established new guidelines for visiting patients at any of its locations, including Blanchard Valley and Bluffton hospitals.  These are in addition to ongoing policy requiring masks and health screenings upon entry.

Dr. Bill Kose, vice-president of Special Projects, explained that the measures are to assure the health and safety of both patients and staff.  Kose added that the public has been very accepting of the health system’s policies throughout the pandemic.

The new guidelines vary depending upon department and the patient’s Covid status. They also will change depending upon the number of local cases of Covid-19 have been found in the area.

Find an explanation of the current guidelines here.

Drunk Driving Crackdown Planned

Drive Sober or get pulled over. That message will be in full force as the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office will be part of a national enforcement campaign. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will sponsor the event August 20th through September 6th. In addition to zero tolerance measures, there will be a heightened awareness blitz to remind the public of the consequences of drunk driving.

Seneca County Sheriff Warns of Scam

The Seneca County Sheriff’s office is reporting a bold scam. According to a release, the department has received several reports from residents saying they have been contacted by phone by someone saying that the victim had missed jury duty and threatening arrest unless the they buy a voucher or make a payment to resolve the issue.

The phone number associated with the scheme goes to a recorded message claiming to be the department but no-one can answer the call.

The actual Seneca County Sheriff’s Office says that no such system to avoid jury duty exists and that the calls are a scam. Anyone receiving such a call is urged to report the call to local authorities at their published non-emergency phone number.

Blanchard Township Fire Department Awarded Grants

The Blanchard Township Fire Department has gotten some good news to counteract bad. The Department suffered the loss of a variety of equipment and two fire trucks in a fire at the the department’s firehouse in Benton Ridge In February. Since that time, the department has been working on a tight leash with remaining equipment and vehicles.

Now, the organization has received some good news in the form of two grants from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The department applied for the grants well before the fire, but the funding will allow for replacement of the entire unit’s Self Contained Breathing Apparatus, including some pieces destroyed in the blaze. A second grant will be used to replace fire hoses and nozzles, including more than 500 feet that was destroyed.

Still pending is a grant application for a fire-truck.

Solar Project Public Meeting

Border Basin Solar will hold a second public meeting on its proposed solar generating facility tonight from 5 to 7 at the Arcadia Lions Community Center. Those visiting can watch a prerecorded presentation on the planned operation and ask specific questions of representatives of Border Basin.

If approved, the planned solar electric generation plant would cover over 13-hundred acres between Arcadia and Findlay, north of State Route 12, south of County Road 109, between County Roads 236. In constructed plans call for a generation capacity of 120 megawatts, roughly enough to power 19-thousand homes. Construction could begin next year with power generation at the facility to start late in 2023.

The project is a joint development effort between Boston-based Galehead Development and Tyr Energy with headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas.

A map of the proposed project is here.

Sheriff Ask Help In Unsolved Hit-and-run

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Department is seeking help from the public on an unsolved case. The office is looking for information on a hit and run crash that occured on May 20th on Trenton Avenue. A woman died as a result of the crash and the Sheriff is looking for help in identifying the other vehicle that left the scene. It’s a red 4-door pick-up truck with a chrome tool box and running boards. Witnesses at the scene said the driver was likely in his early 20s and had red hair. If you know anything about the case, you are urged to call the sheriff’s office

Hancock Covid Cases Rising

Covid -19 cases in Hancock County are rising. Hancock Public Health announced on Friday that the county recorded 69 new cases of the last week, 13 news hospitalizations and one new death. Those trend put the county back to the levels of late April as the second wave of infections was waning. The rate of 83 cases per 100-thousand ranks as “Substantial” spread by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At that level, the CDC recommends that all people wear a mask when indoors in public, no matter one’s vaccination status.

Fostoria Woman Dies When Struck By Train

A Fostoria woman is dead after she was struck by a train on Monday. 37-year-old Ashlie Chapin was pronounced dead at the scene. Chapin was on foot when she was struck by an east-bound train on the CSX tracks near Washington township Road 261 and State Route 613.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is investigating. Als responding to the scene were Washington Township Fire, Fostoria Police and fire, and Reinhart Towing.

Findlay man stabbed, police seek suspect

A Findlay man is in stable condition after being stabbed multiple times early Sunday. 40-year-old Elijah Miller was found at 344 Midland Avenue at 4:20 Sunday morning. He was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital where he is recovering after surgery to treat wounds to the head, neck, chest, and abdomen.

Police searched the area but did not find a man suspected in the crime. The suspect’s name has not been released.
The investigation into the incident continues.

Hancock Fair Raising Funds

Plans are taking shape for a very different Hancock County Fair September 2 through 7. The Hancock County Agricultural Society submitted its tentative plans for dealing with Covid-19 to Hancock Public Health on Friday, according to the board president Jeff Cole.

“Our biggest challenge right now is not so much the restrictions of the guidelines around having a safe fair regarding the pandemic, but our biggest challenge right now is financial,” Cole says.

The spring craft show, Armed Forces Day, and the antique tractor show were all canceled, leaving the society coffers some $50-thousand below last year’s levels. There will also be additional costs incurred due to new protocols to keep fair-goers safe.

The agricultural society is asking for financial contributions to make sure that the fair can go on as planned. Details are at HancockFairgrounds.org