Jxxudges from the Findlay Municipal Court presented on Issue 1 to Findlay City Council on Tuesday. Judge Jonathon Starn explained that it will turn 4th and 5th degree drug felonies into misdemeanors. This will take away the courts abilities to put people in jail.

Jonathon Starn

Judge Mark Miller added that there are a lot of unintended consequences to this as well. If the issue passes in November, he said that the court will need more prosecutors. He also Judge Mark Miller added that this will increase the court’s workloads.

Mark Miller

He also said that you can expect drug abuse and overdoses to spike if it passes.

The Findlay City Council Chambers were packed full of residents wanting to oppose property maintenance codes. This came about because mayor Lydia Mihalik spoke with people about the codes Beavercreek has in place during a meeting in a resident’s driveway.. Some residents claimed that if Findlay were to enact maintenance codes then the city would become a charter government.

Council seemed confused by the commotion. Councilman Tim Watson explained that he wasn’t aware of any legislation coming before council for property maintenance codes. He added that council isn’t talking about any legislation to put the codes in place.

Mayor Mihalik said that she is talking to residents about the codes to see if there is any interest. She added that this is part of the responsibility as mayor.

10/02/18 – 6:53 P.M.

The American Red Cross North Central Ohio Chapter celebrated its successes during the Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition Dinner last Wednesday. The program shared successes in service delivery that the chapter had during the 2018 fiscal year. This included helping 695 people in over 150 local disasters, installing over 1,000 fire alarms, and collecting over 18,400 units of blood.

They also honored several volunteers. Matthew Lichtinger of Findlay got the excellence in Youth Services Award. Karl Gingrich got the Excellence in Disaster Services Award. The Red Cross HERO Award went to the Reineke Family Dealerships.

Several volunteers received years of service pins.

10/02/18 – 6:38 P.M.

The United Way of Hancock County kicked off its fundraising season not too long ago. Now that things are in full swing, Judy Pusateri said they’ve been getting many sponsors.

Judy Pusateri

Pusateri added that they will also have the annual celebrity servers.

Judy Pusateri

The celebrity servers are employees of local organizations. This will go on until October 18.

You can learn more and find the celebrity server schedule at liveunitedhancockcounty.org

10/02/18 – 5:13 P.M.

A local professional was nominated for this year’s 20 Under 40 Toledo Award. The Community Foundation’s Genna Freed made the nominations. She serves as the foundation’s Communications Officer.

The award celebrates 20 leaders under the age 40 each year.

10/2/18 – 8:21 A.M.

Carey is applying for state funding to replace a sanitary sewer lift station on South Patterson Street. Village council voted to seek up to $340,000 in grants or loans from the Ohio Public Works Commission and the Small Government Commission.

Earlier this year village Administrator Roy Johnson placed the cost of the project between 250,000 and $300,000. He said the village would pay for around 40 percent of the work.

MORE: The Courier

10/2/18 – 7:49 A.M.

A two-car crash injured one person in the 500 block of West Trenton Avenue late Monday morning. The Findlay Police Department reports 35-year-old Lance Crane of Findlay was driving east in the center turn lane when he collided with a car driven by 34-year-old Stephanie Eisentrager of McComb.

Police say the drivers gave conflicting statements about who crossed the line between the two lanes. They didn’t cite either driver as a result.

Eisentrager went to Blanchard Valley Hospital for treatment of her injuries.