Monthly Archives: April 2018

Bridge Repair Project Continues Near Bluffton

4/30/18 – 5:24 A.M.

A bridge repair project continues in Bluffton this week. Crews will continue to restrict I-75 to one lane between Bentley Road and State Route 103 for a bridge repair project. The project includes the I-75 bridge over Riley Creek in Bluffton and the Hancock County Road 15 bridge over the interstate.

Crews are preparing the interstate for a lane shift onto the shoulder near Riley Creek. The traffic shift should happen in about two weeks.

ODOT says the work will continue into late September. Throughout the project, you can expect to see variable speed limits.

Findlay Road Work Continues

4/30/18 – 5:08 A.M.

You won’t see much change in Findlay road work this week. The city says crews will continue to close the Osborn Avenue bridge at times. The closures will happen between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Elsewhere, you’ll continue to see lane restrictions on Cory Street for curb and sidewalk replacement. The city will restrict Cory to one lane between Lima and Sandusky streets. The road is closed between Sandusky and Crawford.

North Blanchard is down to one southbound lane between Trenton and Melrose avenues for repair work.

Park Street remains closed to through traffic between Lima and Hancock Streets for road reconstruction.

Campaign Financial Reports Filed Yesterday

04/27/18 – 11:18 A.M.

The deadline to file campaign finance reports was yesterday. In the Hancock County Commissioners race, Tim Bechtol is outspending his opponent Paul Craun. The “Team to Retain Commissioner Bechtol raised over $7,900 and spent over $4,300. “Friends of Paul Craun” raised over $6,800 and spent just over $3,000.

The Jobs and Family Services levy committee has raised more than $18,400 for the 1.2-mill, 10-year property tax. They’ve spent almost $11,900 of that money.

Jon Cross is spending more than his opponent Cheryl Buckland in the Republican Ohio House race. The “Friends of Jon Cross Committee” reported raising over $151,000 and spent more than $139,000. The “Buckland for State Representative” campaign raised over $63,400 but spent around $19,500. The winner will face off against Democrat Mary Harshfield

The state treasurer’s race has candidates spending hundreds of thousands of dollars. Findlay’s Robert Sprague has spent over $428,200 and still has over $200,000 left. His Republican opponent spent over $16,300 dollars and still has a balance of around $1,500. The winner will face off against the Democratic nominee which will be either Neil Patel or Rob Richardson.

Fostoria Man Sentenced To 33 Years In Prison In Overdose Case

04/27/18 – 6:50 A.M.

A Fostoria man is heading to prison for supplying drugs that killed a Findlay man in 2016. A Seneca County Jury found 36-year-old Tyree Carpenter guilty of involuntary manslaughter, corrupting another with drugs, and trafficking in heroin among others. He will spend 33 years in prison.

Judge Michael Kelbley sentenced Carpenter to 30 years in prison in addition to 36 months for another drug case.

Dunkirk Woman Hurt In One-Car Crash

04/27/18 – 5:36 A.M.

A Dunkirk woman was injured in a car accident south of Findlay Thursday afternoon. The State Highway Patrol reports that the accident happened around 12:40 p.m. on Jackson Township 168. 75-year-old Karen Kidd was heading eastbound on Jackson Township 168 when she bottomed out after crossing railroad tracks. She went off the right side of the road and overturned.

Kidd wasn’t wearing her seatbelt at the time and was trapped in her car. Hanco EMS took her to Blanchard Valley Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Officers cited her for failure to control and for not wearing her seatbelt.

Marathon And MPLX Announce Dividends For First Quarter

04/27/18 – 4:53 A.M.

The Marathon Petroleum Corp. board of directors declared a dividend of 46 cents per share on common stock. The dividend is payable June 11 to shareholders of record as of the close of business May 16.

Marathon’s subsidiary MPLX has declared a cash distribution of over 61 cents per common unit for the first quarter. It will be paid on May 15 to common unitholders of record as of May 7. This is an increase of 1.6 % over the fourth quarter of 2017. This is the 21st consecutive quarter that MPLX has authorized distribution increases. It also represents a compound annual growth rate of 17.7 % since the formation of the partnership in 2012.

Hancock County Commissioners Discuss Jail Renovation.

04/26/18 – 7:59 P.M.

The Hancock County Commissioners talked more about renovating the county jail during their Thursday meeting. Before they can start renovating the inside of the jail, they need state approvals for secure areas.

They will be able to move forward with projects not in the secure areas. This includes replacing boilers and repairing and painting the roof. Before that is done they want more research done to make sure of pricing and needs. They also need to be sure of how the projects fit together before going out for a bid project.

Commissioners Talk About State Route 68 Project In Arlington

04/26/18 – 7:20 P.M.

State Route 68 through Arlington is in disrepair and officials from the village met with the Hancock County Commissioners to discuss a project. Village Councilman Brian Essinger said that they have a project broken up into three phases over three years. He added that it could be shorter with proper funding.

Brian Essinger

Essinger explained that the village shouldn’t be alone in funding the project. Essinger said that funding has been the issue. Despite help from ODOT and grants, they are still short over $850,000. State and federal representatives have expressed their support for the project but nothing has been done yet.

Brian Essinger

Essinger added that the village shouldn’t have to front the costs all by itself.

Brian Essinger

Commissioner Brian Robertson recommended having the village get letters from the various companies that use the route to send to the state house. He said this will help put political pressure on those in charge of the budget.

 

Pokemon GO Players Damage Maple Grove Cemetery

04/26/18 – 1:15 P.M.

Pokemon GO has made local headlines again, this time for causing damage in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Findlay. Public Works Superintendent Matt Stoffel said a group was driving past one another to play the game and caused some damage.

Matt Stoffel

Stoffel said that the group admitted the damage adding that they didn’t mean any harm. He said that the group has offered to repair it but he declined.

Matt Stoffle

The group was driving around the cemetery playing the game after the heavy rains two weeks ago.

Wood County Crash Injures Three, Damages Church

4/26/18 – 9:03 A.M.

A collision between a pickup truck and a semi in Wood County this morning sent three people to the hospital and damaged a church. Media partner WTOL 11 reports the crash happened at the intersection of U.S. 6 and State Route 235 near Weston around 6:40 a.m.

Police say the driver of the pickup didn’t stop at the intersection and hit the semi. The impact of the crash sent the semi into the side of Antioch Church.

A medical helicopter took the driver of the pickup to the hospital. A ground ambulance took two people in the commercial truck to the hospital as well.

The crash closed the intersection for several hours.

MORE: WTOL-11