06/28/17 – 4:17 P.M.
The Findlay City Council Chambers were full on Wednesday for a swearing in ceremony. Mayor Lydia Mihalik swore in police chief John Dunbar. Dunbar said that he’s always wanted to be a police officer.
Dunbar said that he is looking forward to the opportunity to serve as the police chief. He added that he thinks the force is doing a good job and wants to keep it going.
Dunbar was the acting police chief since February following the retirement of Greg Horne.
06/28/17 – 2:39 P.M.
Hardin County deputies arrested two people yesterday after finding drugs while executing a search warrant Tuesday. The Lima News reports that Hardin County Crime Task Force searched a home at 723 W. Lima Street in Kenton. They found 26 doses of heroin, 60 capsules of a controlled substance, drug abuse tools, and drug paraphernalia. Two adult men were arrested, one for an outstanding warrant and the other for a probation violation. Additional charges are pending against them and two women that were in the home.
6/28/17 – 6:55 A.M.
Deputies arrested a man who won a Mega Millions jackpot last year on drug charges near Upper Sandusky over the past weekend. The Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office reports Michael Goines crashed into a guardrail on U.S. 23 near the State Route 199 exit just before 5:45 p.m. Sunday.
The sheriff’s office says investigators found drugs, a stolen handgun, and $10,000 in cash inside the car.
Goines is from Seattle, Washington. The Washington State Lottery says he won $25 million last July.
6/28/17 – 6:45 A.M.
St. Wendelin Catholic School has named its next principal. Teresa Kitchen takes over the role at the end of the week. She’s taking the place of Cathy Krupp, who is retiring Friday.
Kitchen is a 1995 graduate of the school. She had started at St. Wendelin as an assistant principal back in January.
6/28/17 – 5:32 A.M.
Several homes on 6th Street are under a boil water advisory today. The Water Distribution Department says the advisory affects nine homes in the 1400 block of the road. Residents affected by the notice need to boil their water before drinking, cooking, or brushing their teeth with it.
If you have any questions about the alert you can call the distribution department at (419)424-7192.
Affected Homes:
6th Street: 1401, 1405, 1409, 1415, 1416, 1420, 1421, 1425, 1431
6/28/17 – 5:26 A.M.
A Putnam County man serving a life sentence for killing his 13-month-old son in 2005 is getting a new trial. The Lima News reports Michael Luebrecht learned he’ll potentially face a jury again on September 11.
A judge allowed Luebrecht to withdraw his 2006 guilty plea last November. The newspaper reports new evidence shows side effects of the medication Luebrecht was taking for mental health issues could have been a factor in the murder.
Judge Randall Basinger denied Luebrecht’s request to lower his bond while waiting for the case to go back to trial.
MORE: Lima News
6/28/17 – 5:15 A.M.
If you use the Osborn Avenue bridge in Findlay you’ll want to find a different route to get where you are going starting next week. Hancock County Engineer Chris Long says the bridge is closing on July 5 for a replacement project. Long expects crews to finish the work by November 26.
You’re advised to drive with caution in the area.
6/28/17 – 5:09 A.M.
Findlay-based MPLX has finished a 50-mile pipeline project through our area. The Courier reports Marathon Pipe Line, a subsidiary of MPLX, recently finished testing the line that runs from Lima to Harpster in Wyandot County. The company tested it with water under high pressure. Inspectors also x-rayed welds and checked for dents or corrosion.
The pipeline is part of a network of pipes moving products from the Utica shale in eastern Ohio to refineries in the Midwest and Canada. Operators will control it from MPLX in Findlay.
MPLX says it took 450 contractors more than one million man-hours to construct the pipeline. The project came in on time and under budget.
MORE: The Courier
06/27/17 – 3:13 P.M.
The Reineke family has bought the Honda franchise from Gene Stevens in Findlay. Dan Reineke said that this will help to keep the family chain growing.
Gene Stevens has sold cars in Findlay for 50 years and reflected on his career…
Scott Stevens is Gene’s son. He will be the general manager of the location on Bright Road. The family is planning a customer appreciation event/open house to be announced in the future.
06/27/17 – 2:44 P.M.
Findlay Mayor Lydia is in Miami, Florida for the 85th US Conference of Mayors. She said that the conference seeks to bring light to issues cities are facing.
Mihalik said that the first day of the conference was about infrastructure. Many of the mayors reported having issues with red tape and permitting processes of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
She said that many mayors think that the process could be quicker and not all projects need the same environmental tests. Mihalik added that the Trump Administration appears to be listening to local officials.