10/18/18 – 7:18 A.M.
Repairs on a water main have led to a boil water advisory for part of Mount Blanchard. The advisory affects people who live on West Clay and Water Street. You should boil your water for at least a minute before using it if you live in the affected area.
10/18/18 – 6:59 A.M.
A Hancock County couple is renewing their efforts to get charges filed against the man they say caused the death of their daughter in a traffic crash nearly two years ago. Brett and Emily DeWeese held a press conference Wednesday to talk about the matter. They say there is plenty of evidence to show the actions of William Hudson Jr. of North Carolina led to the death of 22-year-old Rachel DeWeese on November 4 of 2016.
Prosecutor Phil Riegle says there’s not enough evidence to file felony charges. Findlay assistant law director Marshall Finelli wrote a letter to the DeWeese’s lawyer last year that said, “his is a case in which it appears that no one was at fault. Because we believe that the state cannot meet its burden of proof, we cannot in good faith pursue a conviction against the defendant.”
The DeWeeses received a payout from the trucking company involved in the case.
The crash in question happened near the Best Buy Distribution Center. DeWeese’s car went under a semi’s trailer as the truck turned into the facility on County Road 212.
The DeWeeses hope something will change soon. November 4th is the two-year statute of limitations for a misdemeanor case.
COURIER VIDEO:
10/18/18 – 5:28 A.M.
The Putnam County Courthouse is getting a new elevator. The Putnam County Sentinel reports the commissioners recently voted to accept a roughly $178,000 bid from Davis & Newcomer Elevator Company. The bid was $50 more than the lowest bid, but included more equipment.
Davis & Newcomer’s bid included the cost of a new cab enclosure. Toledo Elevator’s bid charged more than $12,000 for that part of the remodel.
The county plans to have the new elevator installed by the end of next May at the latest.
MORE: Putnam County Sentinel
10/18/18 – 5:20 A.M.
UPDATE – 11:21 A.M. (A previous version of this story mistakenly said the meeting took place on Thursday. The meeting took place on Wednesday night. We do not have access to a flux capacitor.)
Only two people spoke against Hancock County’s plans to replace an expiring sales tax with a new tax at the end of the year during a public hearing Wednesday. Dave Martaus of Marion Township said he disagreed with two of the three commissioners imposing a “$3.4 million tax on a large number of people.” , He added that he believed it represents a 33 percent increase.”
Commissioner Brian Robertson disagreed with Martaus’ numbers. Robertson said the tax wouldn’t increase revenue for the county because it’s only replacing the expiring sales tax, not increasing it. Martaus argued that aside from the soon-to-expire tax, Hancock County already collects a three-quarter percent sales tax for operations. He said by his math the replacement tax would represent a 33 percent increase.
Several county officials spoke on behalf of the sales tax during the meeting. Sheriff Mike Heldman, Prosecutor Phil Riegle, and Juvenile and Probate Court Judge Kristen Johnson all said the county needs more money to expand jail capacity and update the probate court.
Commissioner Mark Gazarek voted against moving to the public hearing stage of the tax implementation a few weeks ago. He said he thought residents should vote on replacing the expiring tax. Commissioners Brian Robertson and Tim Bechtol voted in favor of moving forward.
The next public hearing on the tax proposal is set for October 25 at 1:30 p.m. in the first-floor hearing room of the commissioners’ office.
MORE: The Courier
10/17/18 – 10:30 p.m.
The 28th Annual Golden Apple Awards Dinner celebrated outstanding teachers Wednesday evening. The awards honor nominated area teachers in elementary, middle, and high school. Nominees in the elementary section included Van Buren intervention specialist Bridgett Bunn fourth grade teachers Jeanine Baker and Jennifer Stillings from Bigelow Hill. Jeanine Baker took home the award.
Sue-Harrington-Williams of Donnell won the middle school section.
She was facing up against Miranda Kennedy from Vanlue and David Sorenson from Arlington.
Krista Bigger of Findlay High School won the high school section.
She was up against Gary Holland of Cory-Rawson and Lisa Willson who was also from Findlay High School.
Each winner got $2,500 to spend on their classroom.
10/17/18 – 10 p.m.
The committee looking at a salary ordinance for elected officials in the City of Findlay has made some headway. Committee Chair Dennis Hellman said that they are getting information on what officials in other cities are paid.
Hellman said that they are also going to get in touch with members of the auditor’s office.
The committee wants to have an ordinance before council before people start to run for office. This will allow people to know what the compensation is before they run.
10/17/18 – 7:45 A.M.
A river cleanup will start in Fostoria within the next couple of weeks. The Review-Times reports Mayor Eric Keckler talked about the project during Tuesday’s council meeting. Keckler says the work should take a couple of weeks. He adds the city will notify residents who have property near the river before work starts.
The project includes clearing logjams, vegetation, and debris from the Portage River.
MORE: Review-Times
10/17/18 – 7:33 A.M.
A reminder that parts of Main Street remain closed in downtown Findlay this week. The city says crews are installing in-pavement lights at the new mid-block crossings. South Main Street from Main Cross Street to Crawford Street is closed to through traffic today. You’ll see a closure between Sandusky and Hardin streets Thursday.
Work also is continuing on South Main Street between Lima and Front streets. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction in certain spots for work.
10/17/18 – 7:24 A.M.
The Findlay Municipal Court has dropped a case against a 71-year-old Findlay man accused of trespassing on Marathon Petroleum property. The court made the move Tuesday after Michael Phillips paid $109 in court costs.
Police arrested Phillips on May 12 for allegedly trespassing in a Marathon parking garage. Phillips claimed he was riding his bike on East Hardin Street. Police Captain Robert Ring says Marathon had concerns that Phillips was taking pictures of security cameras on the property.
MORE: The Courier
10/17/18 – 7:16 A.M.
The Hancock County Commissioners approved another transfer of money from the general fund to Job and Family Services during their Tuesday meeting. The JFS will use the more than $86,000 for children’s services.
Earlier this year the commissioners agreed to make monthly payments to the agency.
In August the JFS projected a $500,000 shortfall for child placement funds for the rest of the year.
MORE: The Courier