7/30/18 – 6:44 A.M.
The placement of bridge beams over I-75 for the interstate widening project continues this week. ODOT says you’ll see lane restrictions on I-75 northbound while crews set the beams for a flyover ramp. The restrictions are in place from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
You may also see some short traffic stoppages in that area between midnight and 5 a.m.
7/30/18 – 5:32 A.M.
A collision between a motorcycle and a car injured one person in Findlay over the weekend. The Findlay Police Department says the crash happened around 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of South Main and East Sandusky streets.
40-year-old Kristy Wheeler of Findlay was turning left from East Sandusky onto Main when she hit a motorcycle ridden by 37-year-old David Barnard of Findlay. Hanco EMS took Barnard to Blanchard Valley Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Officers cited Wheeler for failure to yield on a left turn.
7/30/18 – 5:24 A.M.
Fire destroyed a Buddhist temple in eastern Hancock County late last week. Firefighters responded to the building at 23434 U.S. 224 in Alvada around 11:15 p.m. Friday.
No one was in the temple when the fire broke out. Washington Township Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Bill Laveglia described the building as a pole barn with some additions. A Buddhist monk who lives on the property was able to let firefighters in to try and fight the flames.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
7/30/18 – 5:14 A.M.
A one-car crash injured an Arlington teenager Sunday afternoon. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office reports the crash happened on Madison Township Road 31, west of Township Road 68 around 5:10 p.m.
16-year-old Richard Worstine was driving east on Road 31 when he nearly had a head-on collision with another car and lost control. Worstine drove off the road and hit several trees.
A passenger in the car, 19-year-old Justin Sheldon, went to the hospital for treatment of his injuries. Worstine received treatment at the scene of the crash. A third passenger wasn’t hurt. They were all wearing their seatbelts.
Deputies cited Worstine for operation without reasonable control.
7/30/18 – 5:06 A.M.
50 North won’t put a levy on the November ballot. The agency that serves area seniors wants to build a 23,000 square foot expansion but will look at other funding options. A quarterly newsletter from 50 North sent out in early July outlined a potential effort to get signatures to put a levy on the ballot. However, the organization’s board decided to approach the project in a different way following a meeting last week.
Executive Director Carolyn Copus says the facility on East Melrose Avenue is at capacity. She adds they need to grow to handle an estimated 44 percent increase in the Baby Boomer population over the coming years. Copus also says programs like Medicare counseling have wait times.
The expansion project would include an addition to the existing fitness center, space to provide resources for transportation, housing, and food, and replacing the aging HVAC system.
MORE: The Courier
07/27/18 – 1:05 P.M.
The historic Finders Building is under new ownership and will be getting some renovations. Mike Mallett is the new owner and said that they want to make some repairs before deciding how to use the building.
Mallett added that they want to try to keep the building intact.
Mallett said that he wants to make sure the building draws people downtown.
07/27/18 – 11:08 A.M.
Hancock County is at the last of its funds for housing inmates with five months left in the year. Hancock County Commissioner Tim Bechtol explained that they’ve had more inmates than they could have imagined.
The commissioners allocated $400,000 to house inmates in other jails. Those funds are down to $15,000 now. Bechtol said that he thinks the commissioners will have to re-visit the sales tax issue to make more money.
Bechtol explained that he wouldn’t want to impose an increased sales tax unless it had community support. An increase will also have to provide short term and long term solutions to gain his support.
Bechtol added that they will discuss options in handling the situation during next Tuesday’s commissioners’ meeting.
07/27/18 – 7:56 A.M.
A Findlay woman was seriously injured in a rollover crash on I-75 Thursday afternoon. The Ohio State Highway Patrol Findlay Post reports that the accident happened around 4:30 p.m. near the Ohio 613 exit. 21-year-old Ashley Fisher of Cygnet was heading south on the interstate when she made an unsafe lane change and lost control of her vehicle.
Ashley was wearing her seatbelt and suffered non-life threatening injuries. Her passenger, 41-year-old Shari Fisher, was not wearing her seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. She suffered life-threatening injuries and Hanco EMS took her to Blanchard Valley Hospital. She was later taken to Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo.
The accident shut down the southbound lanes for about 45 minutes.
07/27/18 – 7:19 A.M.
The Findlay pickleball courts at Riverside Park are officially open after a ceremony yesterday. Dick Schrock from the Flag City Pickleball Club said that the courts were needed.
Schrock added that the club continues to grow and he expects it to stay that way. Their previous location only allowed for people 55 or older to play.
Schrock added that the sport is beneficial for older people.
Schrock said that pickleball is a great way to stay social and active. He added that those interested in joining the club can reach out to them on their facebook page.
07/27/18 – 5:24 A.M.
Two people were injured in a car accident in Marion Township yesterday. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office reports that the accident happened around 11:30 a.m. at the intersection of State Route 568 and Township Road 237. 59-year-old Richard Aukerman of McComb was heading south on 237 when he failed to stop at a stop sign. He was hit by 28-year-old Bryatt Smith of Findlay.
Hanco EMS took Aukerman to a hospital for unknown injuries. A private vehicle took Smith to Blanchard Valley Hospital for possible injuries.
Officers cited Aukerman for failure to stop at a stop sign.