01/30/18 – 5:44 P.M.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol took part in a multi-state human trafficking initiative last week. Lt. Robert Sellers explained that the patrol focused on specific areas.
He added that it is important for Ohio to provide human trafficking awareness. He said that our location makes it easy for traffickers to get to other states or Canada quickly and easily.
Sellers said they will have the results from the initiative in a few weeks.
01/30/18 – 12:06 P.M.
ODOT is looking for comments on an upcoming bridge project in Hancock County. They are proposing to replace the structure on State Route 37 over Lynn Creek with a new extended structure. They will also be doing earthwork along the shoulder of the roadway to eliminate the need for a guardrail.
The project is scheduled to start in 2020. This work will result in temporary road closure and detours around the project. You can send ODOT a public comment at Ohio Department of Transportation District 1, Attn: Nate Tessler, 1885 N. McCullough Street, Lima, Ohio 45801. You can also email comments to nate.tessler@dot.ohio.gov.
1/30/18 – 11:59 A.M.
The cost of housing inmates in Hancock County continues to have a big impact on the budget. As a result, the county commissioners have approved an amendment to a contract with Inmate Health Care Services to cover inmate care costs…
Audio: Brian Robertson
Commissioner Brian Robertson says the increasing costs to house inmates combined with flat sales tax revenues is a big issue for the county to contend with…
Audio: Brian Robertson
The cost of caring for the inmates increased slightly Tuesday. The commissioners approved an amendment to a contract with Inmate Health Care Services. The change in the deal means the county now pays nearly $318,000 per year to care for inmates. That’s a 1.8 percent increase over last year.
Robertson says the short term inmate housing solution for the county is paying a “hundreds of thousands of dollars” each year to house prisoners in other jails. He says there’s an increased cost for doing that, not to mention safety risks for deputies.
Hancock County currently pays Putnam County to house extra inmates. While Putnam County has a new video arraignment system for inmates there, Robertson says it can only save Hancock County so much. That’s because inmates have the legal right to attend their proceedings.
1/30/18 – 8:46 A.M.
The Cooper Tire & Rubber board of directors will have a new Vice President and Treasurer starting Thursday. Jerry Bialek is taking over the position on February 1. He’ll also continue to lead investor relations for the company.
Bialek replaces Tom Lause, who retires from Cooper effective January 31.
1/30/18 – 5:33 A.M.
A former Riverdale teacher has pleaded guilty to a count of sexual battery. WKTN Radio reports Brooke Rosendale appeared in the Hancock County Common Pleas Court to enter her plea last Friday. Her sentencing hearing is set for March 7.
The Hancock County grand jury indicted Rosendale on three counts of sexual battery last June. Investigators said she sexually assaulted a female student.
Rosendale is a former fifth-grade intervention specialist and junior high girls volleyball and basketball coach.
MORE: WKTN Radio
1/30/18 – 5:21 A.M.
A car hit two pedestrians in Fostoria over the past weekend. The Fostoria Police Department says the incident happened at the train tracks on Poplar Street around 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
91-year-old Arturo Costilla hit someone pushing a wheelchair. Firefighters took the person in the wheelchair and the person pushing it to the hospital.
The investigation continues. If you saw the crash, you should call the Fostoria Police Department at (419)435-8573.
1/30/18 – 5:15 A.M.
The Fostoria City School district has hired a new company to complete the cleanup process at the junior/senior high school. The Courier reports the board voted to end its contract with Toledo-based Cleaner & Dryer. Officials asked the company to leave last Wednesday. BMS-Cat out of Cleveland resumed the cleanup process on Friday.
Superintendent Andrew Sprang said the school’s insurance company made the suggestion. He added, “they began to evaluate the scope of the work being presented and their work didn’t fit the scope of work that needed to be completed.”
Sprang says there’s a noticeable increase in productivity with the new company handling the project. He expects a timeline for completion soon.
Students have been attending classes elsewhere in the city ever since a fire damaged a boiler room and caused smoke damage in the building.
MORE: The Courier
1/30/18 – 5:04 A.M.
If you haven’t renewed your dog licenses yet, you have until the end of tomorrow until you have to pay a late fee. Dog licenses are $20 right now. Starting February 1 they become $40 each.
In Hancock County, you can buy your license online at auditor.co.hancock.oh.us. Just click on the “license” tab.
You can also buy a new license at the auditor’s office or at participating stores.
1/30/18 – 4:58 A.M.
The fiscal officer for Union Township in Putnam County has pleaded not guilty to theft charges. The Lima News reports Kyle Unverferth appeared in court for an arraignment hearing Monday. He faces theft, tampering with records, and falsification charges. Investigators say he took a laptop and computer tower that belonged to the township.
Unverferth remains free on bond. He’ll have a pretrial hearing on March 12.
MORE: Lima News
1/30/18 – 4:27 A.M.
For the 52nd straight year, footballs used in the Super Bowl will come from northwest Ohio. Workers at the Wilson factory in Ada have already turned out thousands of balls that will be used Sunday in Minneapolis and they’re not done yet. Each ball is still cut, stamped and stitched by hand by more than 130 workers at the factory.