Monthly Archives: February 2017

Area Bank Merges Upper Sandusky Banks

02/27/17 – 5:12 P.M.

First Defiance Financial Corp. merged Commercial Bancshares of Upper Sandusky today. The Courier reports the deal cost over $70 million. First Defiance Financial Corp is the parent company for First Federal Bank. They will continue to operate the seven Commercial Savings Bank branches in Hancock, Wyandot, and Marion counties. The merger brings the number of First Federal Bank branches to 43.

First Defiance CEO Donald Hileman said, “This merger provides an extension of our growing market area into central Ohio and supports our overall strategic plan.”

Findlay Company Purchases Kentucky Grocery Company

02/27/17 – 3:17 P.M.

A Findlay grocer is taking over a Kentucky-based retail grocery chain. Generative Growth, LLC of Findlay is acquiring Remke Markets Inc. Remke is a retail grocer with stores in the Cincinnati Metropolitan area. Fresh Encounter Inc. will manage the stores for Generative Growth. CEO Michael Needler said, “This partnership will be beneficial for both Fresh Encounter and Remke Markets.” Fresh Encounter operates Community Markets, Great Scot, and Sack ‘N’ Save.

The retail stores will continue to operate under their existing brands. Combined, the companies now operate 44 stores in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana with about 2,900 employees.

7 Habits Helps Area Students

02/27/17 – 3:43 P.M.

Hancock County Students have been learning about Franklin Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People this year. The Franklin Covey Organization’s Nolan Marx explained that the habits help students make better decisions.

Nolan Marx

Marx added that the habits help children develop maturity faster and help them grow.

Nolan Marx

Marx added that students that work with the habits often see more success in their academics.

It’s Important To Talk To Teens About Healthy Relationships

02/27/17 – 11:15 A.M.

The CDC reports that 1 in 10 teens say they have experienced domestic abuse or sexual assault in a relationship. Open Arms Executive Director Ashley Ritz says that this stresses the importance of talking to your children.

Ashley Ritz

She said that talking to your kid might be difficult at first but it is vital to keeping them safe. Ritz added that you should talk about what a healthy relationship looks like and how to tell if something is wrong.

You can also look out for other children by speaking up when something is wrong. Ritz said that if you see something wrong you need to speak up.

Ashley Ritz

Ritz said you can go to the parents or a guidance counselor to get the child the help they need.

Wood County Crash Injures Five, Claims Life Of Unborn Baby

2/27/17 – 6:49 A.M.

A two-car crash in Wood County last Friday injured five women and killed an unborn baby. The State Highway Patrol says the collision happened at the intersection of State Routes 281 and 199 southwest of Wayne around 3:40 p.m.

47-year-old Karen Walter of Fostoria was driving south on Route 199 when a car driven by 18-year-old Alyssa Ann Cooper of Rudolph pulled into her path. Walter’s car went off the road an hit a utility pole. Cooper was around 7 months pregnant and lost the baby as a result of her injuries. Walter and three passengers in her car also suffered injuries in the collision.

The State Patrol had not finished their investigation into the crash as of Saturday. They have not filed charges yet.

Local Gas Prices Up To Start The Week

2/27/17 – 5:33 A.M.

Gas prices are higher as we start the new work week. OhioGasPrices.com reports the average price in Findlay is $2.08 per gallon today. That’s up 11 cents over the last seven days. A month ago we were paying $1.99 per gallon.

Drivers in Ottawa report paying $2.14 per gallon. That’s a 15 cent increase over last week.

The statewide average is $2.12. That’s up seven cents from last Monday and also up seven cents from a month ago.

Fostoria Home Damaged By Sunday Fire

2/27/17 – 5:22 A.M.

Fire damaged a Fostoria home Sunday morning. Firefighters responded to a home at 820 South Main Street just after 8:30 a.m. One person was in the home at the time and escaped safely.

Investigators say the fire caused a total of $35,000 in damage. There was smoke damage throughout the house. A heat lamp near a tortoise’s aquarium may have sparked the blaze.

The American Red Cross helped the family with food, clothing, and a temporary place to live.

A family cat died in the blaze. Two dogs ran out of the home when the smoke detector went off. One of the dogs reportedly got hit by a car and did not survive.

Local Schools Stand To Lose Some State Funding In State Budget Proposal

2/27/17 – 5:08 A.M.

Several area school districts stand to lose some degree of funding under Governor John Kasich’s proposed budget. The Courier reports the only Hancock County schools in line for a funding increase are Findlay and Van Buren. The plan calls for Findlay to get a more than $109,000 increase over two years. Van Buren could see a more than $90,000 increase.

Findlay Treasurer Mike Barnhart tells the Courier he isn’t thrilled about the size of the potential increase. Barnhart said the 2018 increase of more than $79,000, “hardly covers the salary and benefits of one teacher.” He added that doesn’t help much given the size of the district.

Under Kasich’s proposal, districts whose enrollment has decreased by 5 percent or more since the 2011 fiscal year could lose up to 5 percent of their state funding. The budget proposal doesn’t include explanations for funding cuts, but officials at some county schools believe that could be why they may get less money from the state over the next two years.

The proposed budget McComb, Arlington, and Arcadia would lose more than $100,000 over two years. Cory-Rawson, Liberty-Benton, Riverdale, and Value would lose less than $10,000 each.

The Argyle Fire Is Over 5 Years Old Now

02/27/17 – 5:30 A.M.

The Argyle Fire took about 20 housing units just over 5 years ago. Hope House’s Angela Crist said that the building was helpful to those in need.

Crist said that the Argyle helped those who were trying to start over after a felony or bad rental history. She added that it’s difficult to find housing for people with felonies, poor rental histories, or low credit scores.

The Argyle Fire took housing units from Findlay just a few years after the 2007 flood destroyed many units as well.

Though nobody was hurt it did create an imbalance of the supply and demand of housing in Findlay. Crist said that the city will need to build more housing options.

Bowling For Kids Event Raising Money To Support Children’s Mentoring Connection

02/24/17 – 5:01 P.M.

The Children’s Mentoring Connection will be hosting its Bowling For Kids fundraiser soon. Mentor Eric Ferguson says that the event was well attended last year.

Eric Ferguson

Executive director Stacy Shaw said that this is their biggest fundraiser of the year for Hancock County.

Stacy Shaw

The Bowling For Kids event will be March 11-12 at Sportsman Lanes. There will be food and prizes available. You can sign up your team of five at hancockmentors.org.