8/31/17 – 4:56 A.M.

The Ohio Elections Commission will hear a complaint involving a former Hancock County commissioner candidate next month. The Courier reports the Hancock County Board of Elections filed a complaint about William Bateson’s campaign expense reports. Bateson ran against Commissioner Mark Gazarek last fall.

Bateson tells the newspaper he would pay for some campaign expenses with a personal credit card instead of the Committee to Elect William Bateson for Commissioner’s checking account. Bateson says he kept receipts for what he bought with the credit cards.

The hearing is set for September 7 at 10 a.m. in Columbus.

MORE: The Courier

08/30/17 – 9:53 P.M.

The University of Findlay had a guest speaker talk about PTSD and service dogs. Findlay resident and Army veteran Louis Belluomini said that PTSD can occur when someone experiences something traumatic. It can have several symptoms.

Louis Belluomini

Belluomini said that service dogs can help address these symptoms and make life easier for people with PTSD.

Louis Belluomini

Belluomini received his dog Star last September. He said that she goes with him everywhere and has helped treat his symptoms of PTSD. She can sense when he is having nightmares or when he is about to sleepwalk and stop him. She will also work to put distance between him and others if he is uncomfortable.

08/30/17 – 6:06 P.M.

The Hancock County Board of Elections believed they received three fraudulent absentee ballots last November. The Courier reports that the board determined the ballots were frauds and sent them to the prosecutor’s office. They sent the ballots to the sheriff’s office who then sent them to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

BCI said they exhausted all leads and the investigation is closed pending further information.

08/30/17 – 5:57 P.M.

Ottawa-Glandorf High School is asking for donations to send to victims of Hurricane Harvey. They will be hosting a clothing and cash drive at the school tomorrow and Friday. The school will also have a trailer available to drop off donations before their home football game.

The Camping World chain is sponsoring the drive and is matching all cash donations up to 2 million dollars. The donation trailer will be taken to their RV store in Rossford Ohio. From there the trailer will board a semi-truck and head to Houston.

8/30/17 – 7:28 A.M.

The Fostoria Police Department is giving an update on the death of a Findlay woman in the city Monday night. Fostoria Police Chief Keith Loreno tells the Review-Times a friend of 30-year-old Leah White found her body in a yard on South Vine Street just before 9 p.m. Monday. Loreno does not suspect foul play in White’s death.

The Hancock County Coroner’s Office took the body to the Lucas County Coroner’s Office in Toledo for an autopsy. Loreno says investigators have ruled out homicide.

MORE: Review-Times

8/30/17 – 6:59 A.M.

Fire damaged a Rawson home Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters responded to a home at 160 North Gaw Street around 12:45 p.m. The people inside the home when the fire started were able to get out safely.

The flames started in an upstairs bedroom, but the cause remains under investigation.

The American Red Cross provided the family of five with temporary housing as well as food and clothing.

8/30/17 – 6:46 A.M.

Findlay Mayor Lydia Mihalik was part of a group of Ohio officials that met in Washington D.C. Tuesday. The group talked about building stronger relationships between President Donald Trump and U.S. communities. A White House spokesman says the meeting featured policy discussions with White House staff members as well as presentations from various federal agencies.

More than 80 people represented Ohio in the sessions.

8/30/17 – 5:37 A.M.

Today is the first day of the Hancock County Fair, and it brings some traditional events as well as some new events. Opening ceremonies start at 7 p.m., followed by the coronation of the junior fair king and queen. The county band show will follow the coronation.

A new event takes place at 8 p.m. in the north grandstand. Donkey races will raise money for Flag City Honor Flight. Five classes of jockeys will race in the event.

Today is Senior Citizens and Veterans Day day at the fair. Adults 60 and over, and veterans with proper identification get in for $2 per person.

Full Schedule:

All day: Gospel pavilion open.
8 a.m. — Junior fair horse show, north grandstand; Junior fair swine show, south show arena.
9 a.m. — Open class judging in Grange Building, including farm products, horticulture, woodworking, domestic arts and crafts, hobbies and collections, Granges, honey and bee, and baking department.
1 p.m. — Harness racing, south grandstand.
2 p.m. — Junior fair duke and duchess contest; 4-H in Action, youth building.
3 p.m. — Junior fair rabbit showmanship, south show arena; Junior fair poultry judging, south show arena; Open class special draft horse show, north grandstand.
4 p.m. — 4-H photo contest.
5 p.m. to 9 p.m. — HCAS Ninja Warrior open time.
5 p.m. — Open class baked goods auction, Grange Building.
6 p.m. — Open class photography judging, Grange Building.
7 p.m. — Opening ceremonies, south grandstand; Junior fair king and queen coronation, south grandstand, followed by Hancock County Band Show.
8 p.m. — Donkey race, north grandstand.
11 p.m. — Fairgrounds closes.

8/30/17 – 5:30 A.M.

The Hancock County Fair starts today and Burton Brothers Amusements wants you to know they are going to great lengths to inspect the rides for safety issues. Co-owner Bryce Burton tells the Courier his workers spend two to three hours each day inspecting the rides. He added they don’t cut any corners.

Burton says the entire industry suffered a black eye following the death of an 18-year-old at the Ohio State Fair. The “Fireball” broke apart even though it had passed inspection. Burton says they use X-Ray technology to test the interior pieces of equipment for faults.

Burton Brothers will have 20 rides at the Hancock County Fair this week.

MORE: The Courier