10/16/17 – 6:44 A.M.

A two-car crash injured a Findlay woman over the weekend. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says the collision happened at the intersection of Forest Park and Turnberry Drive around 4:55 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

81-year-old Voleta Willford of Findlay was driving on Forest Park when she failed to stop at the intersection with Turnberry Drive. She pulled into the path of a car driven by 33-year-old Patrick Manders of Findlay. Hanco EMS took Willford to Blanchard Valley Hospital for treatment of her injuries. Manders and his four passengers refused treatment.

Deputies cited Willford for failure to stop at a stop sign.

10/16/17 – 5:32 A.M.

The federal government is filing drug charges against a Findlay and a Lima resident. An FBI report accuses 25-year-old Kasey Hutchinson of Findlay and 28-year-old Eric Mason of Lima of attempting to distribute meth. A federal indictment says the two had around 54 grams of meth on September 6.

10/16/17 – 5:30 A.M.

Scammers are getting creative when it comes to getting you on the phone. President of the Toledo Better Business Bureau Richard Eppstein says they can make their calls seem important.

Richard Eppstein

He added that these scammers can also mimic numbers that would be local to your area. If you do pick up then you shouldn’t respond to their questions.

Richard Eppstein

He added that you should also avoid answering any questions with a yes. They will record that and use it to accept additional charges.

If you recognize that the call is pre-recorded or is a scam then you should just hang up. You can learn more about spoofing and tips to avoid it in the full interview with Eppstein below.

10/16/17 – 5:22 A.M.

Hardin County emergency responders are mourning the loss of one of their own today. A crash involving an ambulance in southern Hardin County killed an EMT and critically injured another around 9:20 p.m. Saturday night.

The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office says Rachael Willeke of Belle Center was driving west on State Route 273 when she hit an ambulance driven by Krista McDonald at the intersection with State Route 292. The collision ejected McDonald and Peggy Eastman. Deputies pronounced McDonald dead at the scene of the crash. A medical helicopter to Eastman and a passenger in Willeke’s car to the OSU Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. An ambulance took Willeke and a child in her car to Lima Memorial Hospital.

McDonald and Eastman were returning from a crash involving an Amish horse-and-buggy near Kenton.

The crash remains under investigation.

10/13/17 – 11:31 A.M.

The Hancock Historical Museum has plenty of spooky things for you to do later this month. Executive Director Sarah Sisser said that they’ve worked the history and lore of the area into many of their events.

Sarah Sisser

The Spooktacular will be on October 21 from 5-8 pm at the Hancock Historical Museum. It will cost $1 per person.

10/13/17 – 7:52 P.M.

An area filmmaker will have two short films featured at American film festivals. The Review-Times reports that Matt Erman’s “So Many Things” and “Mental State: Revelation” were both produced this year. They were named as official selections into festivals in both Wisconsin and southern Ohio.

“So Many THings” was chosen for the 3rd Annual Lakeside Film Festival in Madison, Wisconsin. “Mental State: Revelation” was shown during the Inside the Loop Film Festival in Cincinnati.

You can learn more about the films at capture1.com.

10/13/17 – 7:35 A.M.

A Cygnet man pled guilty last Friday in a sex case in the village. The Sentinel-Tribune reports that 26-year-old Alan Hoffman was indicted on one count each of sexual battery and rape. Hoffman pleaded guilty to the sexual battery count which carries a possible sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The case is about a July 2016 incident. Wood County Assistant Prosecutor David Romaker stated that the victim awoke to find herself in a state of undress. Hoffman was on top of her. Forensics results showed that Hoffman was linked to DNA found at the scene.

10/13/17 – 6:55 A.M.

A Tiffin Columbian High School student was arrested yesterday for a warning on social media. The Review Times reports that the Tiffin Police received a Facebook message warning everyone to stay away from the school. Police arrested 18-year-old Seth Whitaker for disorderly conduct. The message sent to police read, “Every one don’t come to school and work tomorrow.”

Officers immediately reached out to the school to speak with school officials. They had already removed Whitaker from class and were speaking with him. Police believe this to be an isolated incident and that there is no continued threat.

10/13/17 – 5:01 A.M.

Hancock Soil and Water Conservation District will serve as a collection station for milkweed seeds. The Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative is looking for your help in collecting the seed pods until October 31. The seeds will be used to establish new plantings and create more habitat for the Monarch Butterfly throughout Ohio.

You can collect the pods when they are dry and gray or brown in color. OPHI recommends collecting the pods in paper bags. Plastic bags can collect moisture and allow mold to develop.

If you have any questions, you can call Hancock SWCD at 419-422-6569.