4/25/19 – 5:25 A.M.

Hancock County residents are a step closer to seeing new voting machines at polling locations in November. The Hancock County Board of Elections voted 3-1 in favor of buying new machines during a Wednesday meeting. The Hancock County Commissioners also have to approve the measure.

The machines from Dominion Voting Systems are similar to what the county already uses. Voters get a “SmartCard” to insert into a machine, which then displays candidates and issues. It also provides a paper copy of the final choices.

If the county announces an intent to buy the machines before July then the state will provide more than $836,000 for the effort. The county will have to pay around $200,000, which they can pay over six, eight, or 10 years.

MORE: Why the vote wasn’t unanimous.

4/25/19 – 5:14 A.M.

A weekend motorcycle crash has claimed a second life. 53-year-old Larry Lee of Arlington died Wednesday at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo. A medical helicopter took him to the hospital following a Sunday night crash in Bluffton.

Lee’s passenger, 50-year-old Anne Lee of Arlington, died at the scene of the crash. She and Larry were riding east on State Route 103 when a car hit their motorcycle. The State Highway Patrol says 42-year-old Matthew Pfenninger of Cincinnati was trying to cross Route 103 from the southbound I-75 exit ramp at the time.

4/25/19 – 4:59 A.M.

The autopsy report from the death of a 17-month-old child shows he died from what’s called a “closed head injury.” The Courier received a copy of the report Wednesday. It shows that Osiris Walters suffered a blow to the head, or a violent head movement on June 19th of 2018. Osiris died from his injuries on July 4th at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus.

The autopsy also showed brain swelling and hemorrhages around the left and right optic nerves.

In the meantime, the search continues for the suspect in Walters’ death. The Hancock County grand jury indicted Jonathan Suber on a murder charge this week. He has a Fostoria address, but police don’t believe he is in the area.

MORE: Full autopsy details

04/24/19 – 5:33 P.M.

ODOT District 1 will hold an application workshop event in Lima to help fill open positions. The event will be May 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. at OhioMeansJobs Allen County. ODOT employees will help applicants apply for several open positions. Employees will get practical experience in highway maintenance and training to receive a CDL.

Applicants should bring a resume, the last four digits of their social security number, and their high school diploma or GED.

04/24/19 – 5:14 P.M.

Habitat for Humanity of Findlay-Hancock County received two grants totaling $15,000 from the Findlay Rotary Club. Executive director Wendy McCormick said that the money will support their Critical Home Repair Program…

McCormick said that they only make much-needed repairs. This doesn’t include beautification efforts such as painting.

She added that the program costs about $50,000 to run annually.

She added that you can apply for repairs on their website or by calling Habitat for Humanity at 419-429-1400.

04/24/19 – 5:10 P.M.

Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn held the State of the City Address Wednesday. She said that there were many highlights in 2018 including being named top micropolitan for 5-years running and receiving grants to support fitness programs for the city’s youth. SHe said that the most impressive was the city’s key performance indicators.

She urged residents to use the city’s website to check the KPI’s.

Muryn said that the KPI’s are updated quarterly and the website also includes financial information. You can watch the full State of the City on our Facebook page.

04/24/19 – 5:01 P.M.

There are assistance programs available to farmers in northwest Ohio. Chief of the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Division of Soil and Water Conservation Kirk Hines joined us on WFIN to talk about these programs. He said that the programs focus on protecting streams in Ohio.

He said that there are a few options as to how to handle these minerals.

Another program is voluntary nutrient management plans. The state has set aside $20 million to help farmers with these programs. Hines said you can get signed up at your local Soil and Water Conservation District.

4/24/19 – 10:43 A.M.

Voters in the Vanlue school district rejected a renewal levy for operating expenses last fall. Superintendent Traci Conley says following the defeat they went back to the community to listen to their questions…

Audio:

As a result, Vanlue is coming back to voters this spring with a 5.92 mill, 10-year emergency levy for operations. The levy currently generates $325,000 per year for the district.

Conley says the money helps pay for things like transportation, technology, and building maintenance among other items.

You can see the full interview on our Facebook page.

4/24/19 – 6:51 A.M.

A Fostoria woman will spend four years in prison for a sex crime conviction. 45-year-old Tanya Smith received her sentence Tuesday. She pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual battery in March.

The grand jury originally indicted Smith on five counts of sexual battery in connection with incidents that happened in 2015 and 2016. The victim in the case was a teenage boy.

Smith’s lawyer lobbied for Smith to receive a lighter sentence. He said Smith had kids and a husband at home who needed her. Judge Steve Shuff said other recent sexual-battery cases in his courtroom brought prison terms as well.

MORE: Details from Tuesday’s sentencing hearing

4/24/19 – 6:44 A.M.

The annual Backyard Mission Trip is coming up in Findlay this weekend, and the city is offering a bulk trash drop-off location in connection with the event. The city will place dumpsters at the Public Works Department at 330 North Cory Street from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday.

The dumpster is for unwanted debris. You may have to provide proof of residency to use the dumpsters. The city is not collecting hazardous materials, tires, concrete, appliances, or electronics.