10/9/17 – 11:22 A.M.
Cory-Rawson teachers have a new contract. The Courier reports the teacher’s union and school district came to an agreement last Thursday. The deal reportedly includes 2.25 percent, 2.5 percent, and 3 percent raises over three years. Insurance benefits don’t change under the deal.
Cory-Rawson Superintendent Bob Hlasko said the negotiations were about “trying to find that balance” between rewarding teachers and having a balanced budget.
MORE: The Courier
10/9/17 – 10:27 A.M.
Last week the Hancock County Commissioners voted to take Issue 3 off the November ballot. Commissioner Brian Robertson talked more about the decision Monday. He says the idea to pull the sales tax proposal came about when Findlay business and Hancock County agricultural interests started talking to each other…
Audio: Brian Robertson
Robertson says pulling the measure now doesn’t mean that they couldn’t put a similar measure back on the ballot once they know the extent of future flood mitigation projects.
The current quarter percent sales tax that helps pay for flood reduction efforts continues through the end of next year.
The move leaves a quarter-percent sales tax for a jail expansion and other capital improvements as the lone sales tax issue up for a vote this fall. Robertson says he believes this will help Issue 4 pass…
Audio: Brian Robertson
Robertson says even informed voters told him having two sales tax measures on the ballot was confusing.
10/9/17 – 6:54 A.M.
A five-year effort to support local Fostoria businesses is coming to an end. The Review-Times reports the Fostoria Cash Mob is disbanding. The group aimed to drive customers to city businesses, and raise money for charity.
In a Facebook post, Founder Greg Flores said he needed to move on due to new responsibilities and commitments. Flores has taken a job with Wells Fargo as a mortgage consultant. He and his wife are also taking on roles with the IMagINe for Youth Foundation. Fostoria native and NFL player Micah Hyde founded the foundation that’s focused on youth development.
MORE: Review-Times
10/9/17 – 6:42 A.M.
If you want to learn more about the lone remaining sales tax issue on the Hancock County ballot you have a chance to do so later this week. The League of Women Voters is hosting a forum at 7 p.m. Thursday night in Findlay City Council chambers.
Hancock County Commissioner Brian Robertson and Common Pleas Court Judge Reginald Routson will talk about the quarter-percent sales tax issue. They’ll also answer questions.
10/9/17 – 5:41 A.M.
Local gas prices continue to come down. OhioGasPrices.com reports the average price in Findlay is $2.20 per gallon today. That’s down six cents over the last week. Prices are down 33 cents from a month ago.
Drivers in Ottawa report paying $2.23 per gallon today. That’s a 12 cent decline over the last seven days.
Local drivers are paying less than the state average, which sits at $2.25 per gallon. That’s down nine cents since last Monday.
10/9/17 – 5:32 A.M.
A one-car crash injured one person in Findlay Saturday night. The Findlay Police Department reports the accident happened on Trenton Avenue near North Blanchard Street around 7:30 p.m.
62-year-old Joetta Coy of Findlay was driving a pickup truck east on Trenton when she tried to turn right onto Blanchard and hit a tree. Hanco Ambulance took an unnamed juvenile passenger in the truck to Blanchard Valley Hospital for treatment. The crash did not injure Coy.
Police cited Coy for operation without reasonable control.
10/9/17 – 5:26 A.M.
ODOT crews are working to clear drainage structures along Putnam County highways this week. As a result, you’ll see lane reductions on State Route 65 between Ottawa and Leipsic, State Route 109 between Ottawa and Henry County, and on State Route 613 from State Route 634 to the Hancock County line.
Elsewhere, crews are closing State Route 190 between Fort Jennings and U.S. 224 for about a month for pavement repair. ODOT will allow access to homes in the construction zone while the work takes place.
10/9/17 – 5:20 A.M.
You’ll see a couple of new road repair projects in Hancock County this week. ODOT says crews are working on State Route 330 from Vanlue to State Route 568 and on State Route 568 in the area of County Road 248.
Continuing projects include pavement repair on State Route 235 from County Road 313 to the Wood County line this week.
ODOT expects lane closures on U.S. 68 between the airport and Eagle Creek to continue. Workers are installing a new cable median barrier in that area.
10/9/17 – 5:11 A.M.
The Findlay Digital Academy scored high marks on the recent report card released by the Ohio Department of Education. The Courier reports the academy is one of eight dropout recovery schools to earn an “exceeds standards” rating. The academy is an online school focused on dropout prevention and recovery.
51 out of 86 dropout recovery schools in Ohio met expectations. Another 27 did not.
Academy Superintendent Rosemary Rooker tells the newspaper “We’re very, very, very proud of this.” She added, “Our kids are graduating. They’re making it through.”
While the school is a dropout recovery school, it also helps get kids through school faster. If a student finishes the first semester of ninth-grade English in October, they don’t have to wait until January to start the second semester.
MORE: The Courier
10/06/17 – 5:05 P.M.
A majority vote from the Hancock County Commissioners pulled Issue 3 from the November ballot. This Issue was set aside for a quarter percent sales tax for flood mitigation. Commissioner Tim Bechtol said that this doesn’t mean that they’re giving up on flood mitigation.
The commissioners were urged by Blanchard River Watershed Solutions and Hancock United for a Better Blanchard to remove the levy. Bechtol said that they want to take a step back and work on a compromised solution.
Commissioner Gazarek was unable to attend the meeting but left a comment stating his belief that this was a bad idea.
Issue 3 will still appear on the ballot since it has been printed. No votes will count for it since the commissioners pulled it.