03/28/17 – 6:35 P.M.

Findlay received a visit from a candidate for the 83rd Ohio House District seat Tuesday at Logan’s. Republican Jon Cross said he has experience in job growth.

Jon Cross

Cross said that another focus he has is to support much-needed drug prevention and rehabilitation measures.

Jon Cross

Cross said that he believes legislators are supposed to be listeners.

Jon Cross

Cross is serving as the Economic Development director of Hardin County. He wants to help continue the job growth and economic stability Ohio has seen so that the state remains competitive.

Robert Sprague is the current 83rd House District Representative. He is seeking election as the State Treasurer at the end of his current term.

03/28/17 – 3:16 P.M.

Congressman Bob Latta spoke with us about the failed attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. He said that it failed due to a lack of people thinking the bill would work the way it is supposed to.

Bob Latta

Latta added that the repealing the Affordable Care Act needs to be done. He said that they cannot sit and wait for the ACA to implode on itself.

Bob Latta

Latta said that he believes congress should multitask tax reform and the healthcare bill since they are so closely related.

03/28/17 – 2:16 P.M.

A former secretary used the Wyandot County Agricultural Society’s credit card to buy personal items. A release from the Ohio Auditor State said that Kisha Taylor pleaded guilty to the theft in January. She spent over $2,700 and pocketed over $5,800 in cash from the Agricultural Society.

State Auditor David Yost said, “Government credit cards are the keys to the public treasury.” He added, “It’s up to government leaders to make sure those keys don’t end up in the wrong hands.”

Taylor was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 2 years of probation earlier this month. She also has to pay restitution.

The voter registration deadline for the May 2 primary election is next Monday. The Courier reports that registration can be done at the Hancock County Board of Elections. Voters can check their registration status at their listed residence at hancockboardofelection.com. You are able to register or change your address online or in the board of elections until 9 p.m. next Monday.

Early in-person absentee voting will be available starting next Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the office. It will be held every Tuesday through Friday until April 21 at those times.

You can contact the board of elections at 419-422-3245 if you have any questions.

3/28/17 – 11:23 A.M.

Hancock County has the third lowest unemployment rate in Ohio. New numbers from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Service show Hancock County stands at 4.1 percent unemployment. That’s down from 4.4 percent in January.

Putnam, Wood, and Wyandot counties are all below 5 percent joblessness.

Unemployment dropped in February for every area county except for one. Unemployment went from 7.2 percent in January to 7.3 percent in February in Henry County.

All area counties except Putnam have higher unemployment compared to February of 2016.

Unemployment Numbers By County:
Allen: 5.8% (Feb 17) 6.0% (Jan 17) 5.2% (Feb 16)
Hancock: 4.1% (Feb 17) 4.4% (Jan 17) 3.9% (Feb 16)
Hardin: 5.7% (Feb 17) 6.1% (Jan 17) 4.9% (Feb 16)
Henry: 7.3% (Feb 17) 7.2% (Jan 17) 6.7% (Feb 16)
Putnam: 4.4% (Feb 17) 4.8%(Jan 17) 4.4% (Feb 16)
Seneca: 5.7% (Feb 17) 6.1% (Jan 17) 5.5% (Feb 16)
Wood: 4.8% (Feb 17) 5.0% (Jan 17) 4.4% (Feb 16)
Wyandot: 4.7% (Feb 17) 4.9% (Jan 17) 4.0% (Feb 16)

3/28/17 – 5:29 A.M.

McComb officials are looking at restricting door-to-door sales. The Courier reports council discussed the matter Monday night. Village Administrator Kevin Siferd says residents have complained about several sales people blanketing the village in recent weeks.

Council sent the issue to the General Government Committee for further consideration.

McComb’s council talked about regulating door-to-door sales in 2011. Nothing ever came of the discussion though.

MORE: The Courier

3/28/17 – 5:10 A.M.

Only one person applied to fill an open municipal court judge spot in Findlay. The Courier reports the Hancock County Republican Party nominated Alan Hackenberg to fill the position during a Monday meeting. Hackenberg is Findlay’s assistant law director. He’s served in that role since 1994. He is also a partner in a private law firm and McComb’s village solicitor.

The spot opened up when Governor John Kasich appointed Judge Jonathan Starn to an open judge’s position in the Hancock County Common Pleas Court. Starn is a Republican so the local GOP gets to nominate a replacement for the rest of his term.

Kasich has to approve the nomination. GOP Chairman Jim Baker says he’s not sure when that process will happen.

MORE: The Courier