1/29/18 – 5:28 A.M.
Sales tax receipts for Hancock County are down this month. The auditor’s office reports the county collected $1.16 million for January. That’s down from more than $1.3 million in 2017. In 2016, the county collected around $1.18 million.
Sales tax collections reflect sales from October of 2017. The state returns sales tax collections back to the county about three months after the actual sale takes place.
1/29/18 – 5:18 A.M.
Findlay police are looking for the two men who robbed the pharmacy at the Tiffin Avenue Kroger Sunday afternoon. Two men jumped over the counter of the pharmacy and took several bottles of medication around 12:50 p.m. Investigators say the men appeared to know what they were looking for.
Witnesses described the suspects as skinny and black. They were both around 6’2″. They ran out of the store into a waiting car. It was possibly a black sedan, which took off north on Bright Road.
1/29/18 – 5:13 A.M.
The two recovery homes in Findlay are earning praise. The Courier reports during the first fiscal year for the facilities the homes served 13 people. Only three people had to leave due to a rule infraction. Records for the second fiscal year show the homes served 21 people. Focus on Friends Executive Director Ellyn Schmiesing says the numbers for successful stays during the 2017 fiscal year aren’t available yet.
The first fiscal year ran from July 1 of 2015 to June 30 of 2016. The second fiscal year ran from July 1 of 2016 to June 30 of 2017.
Schmiesing says very few people who leave the recovery home have negative consequences. That includes people who leave due to a rule infraction.
MORE: The Courier
01/26/18 – 5:09 P.M.
ODOT reopened the Harrison Street overpass in Findlay. ODOT reports that they reopened the bridge Friday after completing their work early. The overpass was supposed to be finished and reopened in March.
The overpass could have been reopened on Wednesday but ODOT said they had to wait for appropriate weather to get striping done.
01/26/18 – 4:55 P.M.
A former gymnast from Liberty Benton talked about her story in the abuse case of Dr. Larry Nassar. Marissa Beucler said she was lucky and managed to keep away from the man.
Even though former Liberty Benton student Marissa Beucler didn’t get treated by Nassar, many of her friends did.
Nassar was sentenced last Wednesday to up to 175 years in prison. He also heard impact statements from more than 150 women.
Beucler added that she hopes this trial helps push for more rights for female athletes.
01/26/18 – 4:05 P.M.
Findlay Councilman Tom Shindledecker worked for WFIN forty years ago when the blizzard of ’78 hit the community. He reflected that the snow blew into mounds that stuck around well after the blizzard was done.
he also talked about how even though he played a role in helping people, it was the community that helped the most.
He explained that people would call in with questions on what to do and someone else would call in a response. He gave the example of a woman asking how she can make formula for her baby. Shindledecker said members of the medical community called in to help.
01/26/18 – 11:21 A.M.
Findlay made Wallet Hub’s list of Best Places to Raise a Family in Ohio. Findlay placed 52nd on the list of 185 cities. The cities were compared across 4 key dimensions. These include affordability, socioeconomics, family life and fun, and education, health, and safety. These were further broken down into 21 metrics including crime rate, graduations rates, and unemployment for cities to be given values in.
Findlay’s highest came 14th in the family life and fun dimension. It ranked over 75 in the other dimensions. Perrysburg made the number one spot on the list, ranking in the top 12 in each dimension. Tiffin placed 49, Bowling Green placed 63, Fostoria made 132, and Lima ranked 177 on the list.
1/26/18 – 5:38 A.M.
Allen County has a new coroner. The Lima News reports the Allen County Republican Party appointed Dr. John Meyer to the position. Meyer was already serving as the acting coroner. Before that he was the deputy coroner.
He takes the place of Dr. Gary Beasley, who recently retired after 13 years of service.
1/26/18 – 5:34 A.M.
A Forest man recently pleaded guilty to several charges stemming from a Kenton home invasion. WKTN Radio reports 33-year-old Rick Gault faced aggravated burglary, grand theft, and felonious assault charges. The state dropped other charges including kidnapping.
Investigators say Gault forced his way into a home on North Main Street last fall. The attack sent one person to Grant Medical Center in Columbus for treatment of injuries.
A sentencing hearing is set for March 1.
1/26/18 – 5:28 A.M.
The new Seneca County Justice Center will open a little later than expected. The Review-Times reports the move-in process was set to start on March 5. On Thursday, members of the Leadership Core Team pushed that date back a week. It will take one week to move things in to each of the building’s four floors.
The issue is that furniture and things like counters and partial walls still need installed. Judge Michael Kelbley tells the newspaper most of the furniture is ready to ship. However, the move-in process can’t start until crews install everything.
MORE: Review-Times