A Cleveland police officer was killed in the line of duty on Thursday night.

The undercover officer was reportedly working with a drug informant when someone opened fire into the detective’s vehicle.

53-year-old James Skernivitz and the informant were killed.

Police reportedly have two people in custody in connection with the shooting.

Flags across Ohio will fly at half-staff in honor of the fallen detective.

Governor DeWine ordered all flags lowered in Cleveland, Columbus and at state-owned buildings until the day of Skernivitz’ funeral.

 

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Findlay City Schools Superintendent Troy Roth says everyone has been working very hard to make the environment as safe as possible as the new school year begins on Tuesday, September 8th.

 

 

Roth says the district will begin the school year on Tuesday in a hybrid model with students placed in two groups.

One group will attend school on Monday and Tuesday while the other group will attend on Thursday and Friday.

Additionally, the district’s Trojan Academy is available for parents who prefer an online, remote option for their kids.

 

 

Hancock County is still at level 2, or the orange level, on the state’s color-coded county by county COVID-19 alert map.

Roth says if the Hancock County alert level is bumped down to level one, or yellow, the district will return to a traditional model with a five-day schedule and normal school hours.

Masks are required for K-12 students.

Roth is asking parents to monitor their child for symptoms of the virus and to keep them home if they’re not feeling well.

With the pandemic being a fluid situation, Findlay City Schools says it will continue to be in close contact with health officials and keep everyone informed of any changes.

 

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says it will be focused on removing impaired drivers from the roadways over the Labor Day weekend.

During Labor Day weekend last year, 12 people were killed in 12 fatal crashes.

Seven of those fatalities involved alcohol or drugs.

The highway patrol made 665 OVI arrests during Labor Day weekend of 2019.

“Removing impaired drivers from our roadways is a primary focus for us,” said Colonel Richard S. Fambro, Patrol superintendent.

“If you plan to drink, help make everyone’s holiday weekend safe by designating a sober ride home.”

He’s also asking people to slow down, pointing out that citations for speeds in excess of 100 mph are way up compared to last year.

The 2020 Labor Day weekend reporting period runs Friday through Monday.

Drivers are encouraged to dial #677 to report impaired drivers and drug activity to the highway patrol.

 

 

Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder has pleaded not guilty to racketeering charges in federal court.

He entered his plea on Thursday in connection with a 60-million-dollar bribery scheme.

Four other defendants pleaded not guilty for their roles in the plot earlier this month.

Despite the corruption charges against him, Householder showed up at the Ohio Statehouse for the House session on Tuesday and declared his innocence.

Even though Householder is no longer Speaker, he still represents House District 72.

Householder and four associates are accused of a multi-million dollar pay-to-play scheme involving legislation to bail out Ohio’s two financially struggling nuclear power plants.

He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of conspiracy to commit racketeering.

 

Putnam County was increased to the “red” alert level, or level three, on Ohio’s county by county COVID-19 alert map.

Hancock County remained at level two, or the orange level.

State data show there have been 371 cases in Putnam County and 17 deaths.

The Putnam County Health Department says the county has had an increase of 80 cases from Wednesday, August 26th to Wednesday, September 2nd.

The governor’s office this week said Putnam County has had the highest occurrence of the virus in the state over the last few weeks based on population.

People are being reminded to wear a face mask, wash their hands and maintain social distancing, especially with the Labor Day holiday approaching.

The governor says the state saw a jump in cases a few weeks after the 4th of July holiday.

 

Updated Ohio Public Health Advisory System Map:

Newly Red Since Last Week:
⬆Butler
⬆Putnam
⬆Wayne

Continuing at Red:
↔Lucas
↔Mercer
↔Montgomery
↔Preble

Decreasing Red to Orange:
⬇Erie pic.twitter.com/iuB5612HFd

— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) September 3, 2020

Three people were arrested after a Findlay house was searched as part of a drug investigation.

The Hancock County METRICH Drug Task Force and Findlay Police Department executed a search warrant at 248 Monroe Avenue around 5 a.m. Thursday.

Officials say the search revealed a large amount of fentanyl, prescription drugs, drug paraphernalia, cash and items indicative of drug trafficking.

Arrested were Cedric D. Slough, 22, Tyler M. Courtney, 22, and Ariel M. Miller.

Each is facing a charge of possession of fentanyl, a 2nd degree felony, and authorities say additional charges of drug trafficking are expected at the conclusion of the investigation.

A motorcyclist was injured when he was rear-ended by a car in Findlay.

The crash happened at around 4:15 Wednesday afternoon in the 2100 block of Broad Avenue near Melrose Avenue.

The Findlay Police Department says Treg Wells, 30, of Findlay, was driving his motorcycle north on Broad Avenue in the curb lane when he was struck from behind by a car being driven by Harry Allison, 24, of Bloomdale.

The impact threw Wells from his motorcycle and into the street and left his motorcycle embedded in the front of the car.

He was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital for injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

Wells was cited for not having a motorcycle license.

The driver of the car, Allison, was cited for an assured clear distance violation/distracted driving.

 

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The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is 25-years-old this week.

The doors of the lakefront landmark in Cleveland opened to the public on September 2nd, 1995.

More than 13-million people from around the world have visited the shrine to musical legends and artifacts from some of rock’s biggest moments.

Below is the concert that celebrated the museum’s opening from September 2nd, 1995 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.

(the picture above and video below are courtesy of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)

 

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is asking people to report sightings of sick or dead deer to the Division of Wildlife.

The ODNR says Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) typically affects some white-tailed deer in the late summer.

Officials say this is not unusual, as EHD is the most common ailment affecting deer in the eastern United States and the disease occurs annually in the late summer and fall in deer herds across North America.

Ohio has documented some cases of EHD this summer, mostly in northwest Ohio.

The ODNR says the EHD virus is not infectious to people and is not spread from animal to animal.

It is transmitted by the bite of small insects called midges, so EHD-associated deaths in deer can occur until the first frost of the year causes a decline in midge activity.

Deer infected with this virus may show symptoms including lethargy, head hung down, loss of fear of humans, swelling of the tongue and head and neck, difficulty breathing, and excess salivation.

Affected deer are often found in or near bodies of water, likely because of fever and dehydration.

The ODNR says it’s important that people avoid touching or handling sick or dead wild animals.

Sightings of sick or dead deer can be reported to the ODNR here.

 

Ohioans Asked to Report Sick or Dead Deer to Division of Wildlife https://t.co/5ijiffjbfB @OhioDivWildlife #WildOhio pic.twitter.com/MMGMPUceAT

— OhioDNR (@ohiodnr) September 2, 2020

The Findlay Police Department says a driver struck a gas meter causing a severe gas leak while fleeing from police.

Police say they witnessed an SUV enter Broad Avenue from a private drive at a high rate of speed and strike a curb at around 1:18 Wednesday morning.

An officer activated his lights and the suspect vehicle continued into the S&G gas station parking lot at 800 West Trenton Avenue.

Police say the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed through the parking lot and struck a gas meter and the building on the northwest side of the building.

Police say a second officer arrived as the vehicle was proceeding eastbound on the north side of the gas station towards Broad Avenue.

Police say the driver finally stopped as their vehicle came face to face with the second police cruiser.

Police say a man, later identified as Christopher D. Allen, 48, of Findlay, jumped out of the SUV and was detained.

Columbia Gas was contacted due to the large gas leak caused when the SUV crashed into it.

Allen was taken to the Hancock County Jail and is facing charges of failure to comply, a 3rd-degree felony, and driving under suspension.