3/26/19 – 10:27 A.M.

After going up in January, the unemployment rate went back down in February in our area. New numbers from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services show Hancock County now stands at 3.4 percent unemployment. That’s down from 4 percent in January. The jobless rate is also slightly below where it was in February of 2018.

The next lowest unemployment rate is in Wyandot County. February figures put the jobless rate at 3.6 percent there, down from 4.2 percent the month before. Putnam County is also below 4 percent unemployment, dropping to 3.8 percent last month.

Wood (4.0), Hardin (4.2) Allen (4.4) and Seneca (4.7) Counties were all below 5 percent unemployment. Henry County has the highest jobless rate in the area at 6.4 percent.

3/26/19 – 5:25 A.M.

The fate of McComb’s annual Cookie Fest could hang in the balance at a meeting later this week. Organizers say low turnout from volunteers to help organize the event have forced them to consider canceling this year.

The meeting takes place Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in the municipal building.

McComb’s village council is also asking for a community organization to step forward to run the annual fireworks display.

MORE: Full coverage of Monday’s council meeting.

3/26/19 – 5:20 A.M.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is warning about a phone scam making its way around the county. A post on the office’s Facebook page says someone is calling residents and pretending to be Detective Matt Johnson. The person is targeting people listed as sex offenders or who are on probation.

The caller says they need you to buy a Google Play gift card and give them the card information to avoid having a warrant for your arrest issued.

The Sheriff’s Office says they don’t accept gift cards to recall active warrants, and they don’t have a Detective Matt Johnson.

The calls have been coming from the phone number 419-615-6018.

3/26/19 – 5:12 A.M.

The U.S. Postal Service is shutting down the Bloomdale post office location. The post office says the building has deteriorated to the point where it isn’t safe. The building will close after today with all Bloomdale postal operations moved to the Fostoria post office.

Postal service officials say they haven’t decided if they’ll close the building permanently yet. Anyone with questions should call 419-435-6651.

The Fostoria post office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. The lobby is always open for access to post office boxes.

3/26/19 – 5:04 A.M.

Ohio Supreme Court Justice Sharon Kennedy spoke in Findlay Monday night. Kennedy talked about the perseverance of Abraham Lincoln at the Hancock County Republican Party’s Lincoln-Day dinner. Kennedy says Lincoln personifies the American Dream, as he faced hardship after hardship but continued to pursue his goals.

Kennedy also talked about whether Ohio has truly become a red state. She says while the statewide offices in the executive branch went to Republicans, two Democrats joined her on the bench of the Ohio Supreme Court. Kennedy said that people should elect justices who exercise judicial restraint.

Kennedy is up for reelection in 2020.

MORE: Kennedy details the trials and tribulations of Abraham Lincoln

3/25/19 – 10:46 A.M.

The Hancock Leadership program is accepting applications for the 2019-2020 class. The Findlay-Hancock County Alliance says the nine-month seminar program helps develop and cultivate leaders in the community.

More than 1,000 people have graduated from the program since it started in 1985.

Tuition for the program is $895. Many area employers cover the cost, and there are also scholarships available. The deadline to apply is June 7.

For more information, you can call 419-422-3313.

3/25/19 – 10:28 A.M.

The annual Findlay-Hancock County Heart Walk and 5K is coming up soon. The event takes place on April 6 at the University of Findlay’s Koehler Center. Registration starts at 8 a.m. with the 5K race kicking off at 8:30 a.m. The opening ceremonies will follow at 9:30 a.m. with the Heart Walk following directly after.

The event is free and open to the public. There will be several fundraisers for the American Heart Association during the heart walk. The 5K costs $35 to take part in.