In light of the recent decision by the City of Fostoria not to eliminate an income tax credit for those who live in Fostoria but work out of town, the president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 325 says the local fire department should not be the only one facing cuts.  Warren Digby says that every department that uses the SAFER grant should be affected.  The expiration of the grant has the city facing a $500,000 shortfall.  Mayor Eric Keckler says 8-10 members of the city’s fire or police department could be out of work if a solution to the shortfall is not found.

Due to the continuing growth at The Allen Eiry Senior Center in tiffin, a campaign has begun to build a garage to house the AEC's transport vehicles.  The center has two buses and a van that are used to take members of the community on day trips throughout the year.  The center is hoping to raise $50,000 for a garage.  The building would be built next to the center.

Spectra Energy and DTE Energy, the companies planning a 255-mile natural gas pipeline across Ohio and into Canada, filed an application last week with the federal agency responsible for reviewing the project.  DTE and Spectra filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the agency which will determine whether the project moves forward.  The companies asked that FERC make a determination by the fourth quarter of 2016, as they hope to begin construction in early 2017.  Some property owners in Wood County and other areas have objected to the project over concerns for the impact on their land and the environment.

Approximately 12,350 former and current members of North Central Electric Cooperative will receive patronage capital credit refunds this week.  At its November meeting, the North Central Board of Trustees approved a patronage capital credit refund of $690,385, marking the 36th consecutive year the cooperative has retired capital credits to current and former members.  The majority of refunds are issued as credits on members’ bills rather than issued as checks. 

Fostoria Mayor Eric Keckler announced Tuesday through his personal Facebook page that the city is withdrawing its plans to do away with the income tax credit given to residents who work out of town.  The mayor said he and his administration have listened to the public’s strong opposition of the plan and hope citizens attend the Dec. 1 city council meeting to engage in open dialogue about the issue.  The city’s initial decision to eliminate the tax credit came as a potential solution to a shortfall officials expect to face once the SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant expires in the middle of next year.
 

The Fostoria City Schools 6^th Annual Community Dinner is today from 11 to 1 at Fostoria Junior Senior High School.  Dinner is free, although donations are welcome.

Jeremy Linhart’s girlfriend Katrina Taylor has told state investigators that a handgun, which police found under a car seat during a June traffic stop, belonged to Linhart.   Linhart was fatally shot by Findlay patrolman Aaron Flechtner during the traffic stop.  According to a state Bureau of Criminal Investigation report, Taylor initially told investigators that the Ruger handgun in the car belonged to her.  Taylor has not been criminally charged in the case. 
 

The Seneca County Board of Elections voted to terminate Karl Erbland as its director in a Tuesday meeting.  Although he declined to go into detail regarding why the move was made, Board Chairman Charles Knight said the board was dissatisfied with Erbland's performance.  Knight said the board might not try to find a replacement immediately.

Two neighborhoods have been selected for spring tree plantings by the Findlay Shade Tree Commission.  Picked to participate in the NeighborWoods Adopt-A-Tree Program are an area on the west side of Findlay around Howard Street and Broad Avenue near Findlay High School, and along Greystone Drive and Stonehedge Drive near Stonebridge Church.  Residents in both neighborhoods have shown an interest in the program, and representatives of the areas have volunteered to help organize neighbors to plan and plant trees next May.  The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation has provided grants for three previous tree projects, and depending on citizen participation, may assist again in 2016.  Grants are matched by city in-kind services to dig holes.
 

Safe Ride Home has announced its schedule for the 2015 holidays.  The program provides an inebriated person in Findlay and Hancock County a free ride from a party or bar to one’s home or hotel.  Safe Ride Home will be available from 9 p.m. today to 4 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.  In addition, Safe Ride Home will be available from Dec. 20 through Jan. 1, 2016, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to organizers. 
Those needing the service can call 419-425-3908.  People also can download the “IRideHome” app by searching for it on a smartphone.
 

Fostoria police are utilizing every resource available to apprehend the criminal responsible for five robberies in the past five weeks.  Fostoria Pantry, Little Caesers, South Side Carryout, Taco Bell and Tri-County Beverage Center are believed to have been robbed by the same person.  The suspect wears a mask and has been described as a white or light skinned male, weighing approximately 180 pounds with a stature of approximately 5 feet, 10 inches and dressed in dark clothing.  Fostoria Police Chief Keith Loreno asks if anyone believes they have any piece of information — no matter how small — to contact the police department.  Police consider the criminal to be extremely dangerous.

The University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum has announced the hiring of professional artist Dan Chudzinski as curator and the promotion of Kerry Teeple to deputy director.  Chudzinski is a highly talented sculptor and illustrator who holds Fine Arts degrees from Bowling Green State University and Miami of Ohio University.  Teeple served as the museums administrative assistant for four years.  Both will start their new roles this month.

The City of Findlay is in negotiations with both police and firefighter unions on new contracts.  The current three-year contracts expire at the end of the year.  Safety-Service Director Paul Schmelzer and Law Director Don Rasmussen are negotiating on the administration’s behalf.  The firefighter negotiations should be completed by the end of the year.  If contract negotiations aren’t completed by year’s end, current contracts will carry over until a new one is agreed upon.

The fifth annual Light Up Fostoria home tour, slated for Dec. 18 and 19, is getting underway.  Residents wanting to showcase their homes can pick up entry forms at the mayor’s office, the Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce.  The Christmas home decorating contest will begin at the LE&W Depot where Fostoria Rail Preservation Society members and friends have been decorating for a Winter Wonderland.  Weather permitting, buses will depart from the depot building at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on both days, transporting light seekers to participating houses throughout the city. Cost is $5 per person.
 

In a letter to the Tiffin Advertiser Tribune, Seneca County Regional Planning Commission Director Roxyanne Burrus claims she is a victim of a “witch hunt” by the Seneca County Commissioners after they criticized the commission at a recent meeting.  At the center of the controversy are concerns about the handling of the sewer district project and invoices not being paid on time.  Burrus claims the commission is not out of compliance.  Commissioner President Holly Stacy says the issue had been addressed.

The Fostoria Pantry on South Street was robbed at gunpoint on 9pm Saturday evening.   Fostoria Police Chief Keith Loreno said the robbery is believed to be linked to other robberies in the area.  No injuries were reported.  The Fostoria Pantry is now the fifth business to be robbed and it is believed that the same criminal is doing the crime.  Little Caesers, South Side Carry-Out, and Taco Bell have been victim, as well.
 

In the regional finals in the high school football playoffs, Van Buren fell to Tinora 44-14 to end a remarkable season where the Black Knights started 0-3.  McComb defeated Lucas 36-6 to advance to the state semi-finals in Division VII.  The Panthers will meet Fort Recovery this Friday at Lima Senior Spartan Stadium at 7:30pm with the winner advancing to the state final.  You can listen to that game on Mix 96.7 WBVI.

The city of Fostoria’s plan to eliminate the tax credit given to those who pay income taxes in other cities but only pays the difference locally is causing concern among some citizens.  The plan to eliminate the credit begins on January 1 when all residents will pay the full amount.  The move comes as the city nears the end of the SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant, which has provided nearly $1.2 million toward the salaries and benefits of eight Fostoria firefighters over a two-year period.
 

Ohio's transportation department says a traffic-pattern change this weekend will put motorists on entirely new pavement between suburban Toledo and Findlay.  That’s the good news.  The bad news is that the $260 million project is only about halfway completed.  A spokeswoman with Ohio's transportation department says that it at least should be a smooth ride for motorists through the rest of the project.

An environmental project at the University of Findlay’s Rieck Center for Habitat Studies is completed, and is expected to produce results about floodwater filtration and collection.  The Center is the University’s 55-acre nature preserve located south of Findlay in Amanda Township.  The project’s purpose is to reduce sediment and phosphorus runoff from farmland, which goes into the Blanchard River watershed.

Officials are ready to mark the completion of a $2.25 million renovation of the Wyandot County courthouse in Upper Sandusky with a ceremony today.  Wyandot County voters approved a six-year bond issue two years ago to generate for the funds for work on the historic courthouse.  The building was featured in scenes of the 1994 movie "The Shawshank Redemption."

The Fostoria Police Department reports that Little Caesars Pizza on North Union Street was robbed at gunpoint Wednesday night in the nine o’clock hour.  The suspect entered the business through the backdoor into the kitchen and left with an undisclosed amount of cash.  Police reports indicate the individual struck an employee of the establishment with his fist, while holding a handgun.  The suspect was white or light skinned and wore dark clothing and a mask which hindered identification.  The robbery marks the fourth robbery to hit the Fostoria area in a month.

High School football playoffs continue this weekend with the regional finals.  Tonight, McComb faces Lucas in Tiffin at 7:30.  Tomorrow night, Van Buren takes on Tinora in Findlay at 7:00pm.  Both games can be heard on Mix 96.7 WBVI.

The Army Corps of Engineers is asking the public to help in identify cultural resources and historic properties that could be affected by the proposed construction of a 9.4-mile Eagle Creek diversion channel on Findlay’s west side.  Comments should be submitted by Dec. 7 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Toledo Project Office.  Cultural resources include any pre­historic or historic district, site, building, structure or object that shows evidence of human occupation or activity and that is important in the history, architecture or archaeology of a community or region. 

Open Arms Domestic Violence & Rape Crisis Services is seeking donations of gifts for children and women who have been affected by domestic violence.  A Client Christmas Party will be held in December, providing many clients with food, games, and gifts for Christmas.  Items needed include sports equipment, gift cards, games, cars and dolls for the children.  All donations can be dropped off at the Open Arms Administrative Office, 401 West Sandusky Street, by December 9 .

28-year-old Wesley DeWitt of Custar was found dead in his cell in the Wood County jail Thursday morning.  According to the sheriff’s office, the preliminary investigation does not indicate the death is suspicious in nature or related to his custody.  DeWitt was arrested Monday on a felony drug abuse charge.

At a Thursday meeting of the League of Women Voters of the Tiffin Area, State Representative Bill Reineke said a bipartisan group of state leaders is working to fix Lake Erie algae bloom problem.  Reineke said Ohio Senate Bill 1 "was a step in the right direction to address part of the problem, which was phosphorus coming off of the land and entering the watershed."  The bill was adopted by the Ohio Legislature at the beginning of the 

The Christmas for Every Child toy drive in Fostoria is underway and according to organizer Amber Herbert it is off to a slow start.  The annual drive is in conjunction with Toys for Tots and Fostoria Cash Mob.  Last year, A Christmas for Every Child toy drive helped nearly 450 children.  New toys are being collected in boxes all around the Fostoria community for children up to age 12.  The deadline to donate is December 12.
 

The head of Ohio's failed campaign to legalize medical and recreational marijuana in a single vote says the effort is regrouping for 2016 and will be gathering input from residents on how best to proceed.  In an "open letter to Ohioans," ResponsibleOhio Executive Director Ian James acknowledges the campaign made two major mistakes: limiting marijuana production to 10 exclusive private growing sites and using the playful Buddie mascot, which critics said was inappropriately aimed at children.

The University of Findlay has narrowed its search of a chief of police to two candidates.  Alexander Bebris, the chief of police and fire for Oakwood, in Montgomery County, and Brian Hurd, assistant director of the police department at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, have been named as the two final candidates.  The university hopes to have a chief in place by the beginning of the spring 2016 semester, which starts in January and the new department operational by the next school year in August.

A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board says that the pilots of a business jet that crashed into an Akron apartment building last week were warned that the weather had made landing conditions barely suitable. The jet crashed and exploded less than 2 miles from Akron Fulton International Airport, killing all nine people on board.

Republic Services has entered into an agreement to purchase Karl's Hauling of Tiffin.  Paul Rasmusson, senior area manager for municipal services with Republic Services, said the company recently signed an agreement to purchase Karl's Hauling, but the deal is in its early stages.  He said through the purchase, Republic Services will be taking on Karl's Hauling customers and employees.  It is unclear on the timeline for the takeover and whether Republic is purchasing Karl's building on South SR 53.

Bowling Green residents will soon be able to get a closer look at proposals to improve Bowling Green's East Wooster Street corridor.  A public, open house-style session is scheduled for Dec. 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. at a location to be named.  Drawings for the proposed improvements were originally presented Saturday at a work session of City Council and are on display at the City Administrative Services office.  The drawings depict the street with a series of long "traffic island" style areas along its center, also with trees, and including intermittent pedestrian crossing areas. Also depicted are a series of traffic roundabouts, including the intersection of Alumni Drive/Campbell Hill Road and the Interstate 75 northbound and southbound ramps.

Tiffin's City Council agreed to create a director of human resources position for the city with plans to install City Administrator Debra Reamer in the position.  Council suspended its three-reading rule to create the position so the city could begin advertising for a new city administrator. Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz has said he plans to have a new city administrator on the job by the beginning of 2016.

Findlay City Schools Board of Education has approved a district wide fiber optic network that is expected to cost around $1 million.  Board members unanimously approved the project.  TSC Communications of Wapakoneta will install the fiber of a cost of just over $500,000.  Other costs will include buying the dark fiber cables and renting utility poles.  The project is expected to be completed by the start of the next school year.  Hancock County has agreed to join the network and the City of Findlay is still making a decision.

The first of three meetings led by State Senator Cliff Hite on “pay to play” at high schools took place yesterday.  Hite believes that policy keeps those who do not have money out of extracurricular activities – whether its music or sports.  Some school district leaders are worried about the implications state mandates could have.  There are still two more meetings on this topic.  After that the senator says he will compile all of the input he's received and figure out the best plan of action moving forward.

Friday's attacks on Paris are causing Bowling Green State University police to make sure their security plan is iron clad for the big game against University of Toledo Tuesday night.  Thousands of fans are expected to be in and around Doyt Stadium in Bowling Green for the game.  BGSU police can't get into specifics about their security plan for the game but want to let fans know to expect added security.  To make things easier on fans and police, they are asking everyone to arrive early to get through the security and to leave your bags and backpacks at home if.

Findlay city officials hosted an open house yesterday for citizens to learn more about changing streets and other portions of downtown.  The plan will create bicycle lanes on Cory Street by eliminating the southbound lane and creating medians, bump-out curbs and more crosswalks on Main Street.  Concerns about snow removal on Main Street and the possibility of reverse angle parking on Main Street were common.

It’s week 2 of the Ohio High School football playoffs.  ESPN Radio 1430 WFOB will bring you Tiffin Calvert and Lucas from Bellevue.  Mix 96.7 WBVI will have McComb tangling with Leipsic from Findlay.  Both games kick off at 7:30.  Tomorrow, Mix 96.7 WBVI has Van Buren facing Delta from Holland-Springfield at 7pm.

Charles V. Schaeffer of Fostoria who was sentenced in connection to a fatal 2014 arson will return to court next month to face a charge recently overturned by Ohio’s Third District Court of Appeals.  Schaeffer will go before Seneca County Judge Michael P. Kelbley on Dec. 18 for a hearing to determine whether he will enter a plea to complicity to aggravated murder or stand trial for the second time.  The Third District Court of Appeals reversed Schaeffer’s conviction on the charge, as well as his conviction on one count of complicity to attempted murder, on Aug. 31. The court affirmed his other two charges, complicity to aggravated arson and complicity to murder.
 

Penske Logistics will begin operating out of a $1.5 million, 10,000-squarefoot truck maintenance building being built on Findlay’s northern end and completed in March.  Ohio Logistics will own the building and lease it to Penske, which will hire a total of 25 truck drivers and seven technicians.  Plans for the single-story metal building, on the east side of Distribution Drive and north of Hancock County 212, were approved Thursday by the Findlay City Planning Commission.
 

Tiffin City Council’s Personnel and Labor Relations Committee decided in a Thursday meeting to consider Mayor Aaron Montz's proposal to create a new director of human resources position.  Montz announced his proposal to take the city's human resources responsibilities out of the city administrator's office and to staff the new position with current City Administrator Debra Reamer in a press release Nov. 5.  Montz said he thought it would be easier to find a new city administrator than to find a human resources specialist with Reamer's knowledge of the law and rapport with city employees.

Heidelberg University has received a $500,000 grant from the National Machinery Foundation to support a new co-curricular program that will help students develop the soft skills of communication, collaboration and conflict management that employers are seeking.  The grant is the largest foundation award ever received for a program by Heidelberg.  The co-curricular program will feature six high-impact speakers each academic year, followed up by smaller sessions with experts in the areas of values, work styles, job search skills, communication, collaboration and conflict management.

Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz and Director of Finance Gwynn Reinhart presented to Tiffin City Council in a committee of the whole meeting Thursday night a proposed 2016 budget.  Highlights include the newly-created director of human resources position, a new police officer, changes in how the city negotiates with its health insurance provider and nearly $1.6 million devoted to street repairs.  The budget anticipates a $3.4 million carryover from 2015 in the city's General Fund and $11.6 million in projected income. 

A new trial may be possible for Charles V. Schaeffer of Fostoria who was sentenced in a fatal 2014 arson after the Ohio Third District Court of Appeals reversed one of his convictions.  Schaeffer was found guilty of complicity to aggravated arson, complicity to aggravated murder, complicity to murder, and complicity to attempted murder after a three-day trial in October 2014.  On Aug. 31, the appellate court reversed Schaeffer’s conviction on the complicity to attempted murder charge, citing improper jury instructions.  It is unclear whether or not a new trial will take place.

Wood County taxpayers will be getting a rollback after Wood County Job and Family Services asked commissioners to suspend collection of its levy in 2016.  Director Dave Wigent said the agency has established a system by which it builds a reserve of about two years of funds and then ceases or reduces collection of the levy, a 10-year, 1.3-mill tax approved by 65 percent of voters in 2007.  Collections, which currently total around $4 million annually, were suspended in 2000, 2001 and 2011, and reduced by half in 2014 and 2015.

Marathon Petroleum has increased its purchase offer for MarkWest Energy Partners by $400 million, to $15.1 billion. Marathon’s improved offer comes as the proposed purchase of MarkWest, one of the nation’s largest natural gas processors, faces mounting second-guessing and even criticism.  Last week, former MarkWest Chief Executive Officer John Fox issued an open letter to the MarkWest board of directors opposing the sale. He said the merger would result in MarkWest unit holders receiving smaller cash distributions.  MarkWest unit holders will vote December 1 on whether to approve the deal.
 

North Baltimore mayor Mike Julien cast the tie breaking “yes” vote to allow the village to adopt a full-time paid EMS program.  North Baltimore has been discussing the need for a full-time service at least since January of 2013.  The village currently has a part-time paid/part-time volunteer department, which has helped fill more shifts and decrease response times.  Volunteers will continue, but the department will be staffed around the clock.  No one would be paid 40 hours.

The Laiho Gallery, the first pop-up book gallery in the world, will open tonight at the University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum.  An additional 325 square feet of gallery is being dedicated to children’s books that feature paper engineering techniques.  Pop-ups, fold-outs, die-cuts and other three-dimensional literary works of art will be displayed in space that was previously part of the museum’s storage area.

Bluffton University will be adding a four-year nursing program that will allow students to earn an associate degree to become registered nurses and then complete a bachelor of science in nursing.  The program, which is expected to begin in fall 2016, will be offered in conjunction with Northwest State Community College in Archbold.  Current registered nurses who would like to finish their bachelor of science in nursing will be sought for the first year, the university said.  First-year students who will be beginning the entire four-year program will be recruited in fall 2017.

Seneca County Commissioners approved a resolution Tuesday to establish a countywide non-profit “land reutilization” corporation which would demolish foreclosed properties or real estate tax delinquent properties and either sell or give the land to adjacent property owners.  The property owners would be responsible for paying real estate taxes, which would generate money for the county.  Fostoria Mayor Eric Keckler and FEDC President Renee Smith, addressed the commissioners about the proposal and said the corporation would also improve the city of Fostoria.

City officials are seeking public reaction to the Transportation Alternative Plan for altering two streets in downtown Findlay.  The plans call for bicycle lanes on Cory Street, which would eliminate the southbound driving lane.  On Main Street, the plans envision medians, bumped-out curbs, and more crosswalks.  Officials are planning two “open house” meetings from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday in the Findlay Municipal Building lobby, where residents can talk to consultants about the plan and provide their thoughts.
 

The Fostoria Police Department has received 11 reports of vehicles either being vandalized or rummaged through.  Four of those calls included a report of at least one item missing.  The recent series of break-ins marks the second time in less than a week thieves looted vehicles at night.  Fostoria Police Chief Keith Loreno said the latest string of thefts is the same story as last time, the only difference being the added vandalism.  Loreno urged citizens not to leave anything of value in their vehicles.

The new Daniel J. & Maria H. Sak Sleep Wellness Center, part of Blanchard Valley Health System, opens today at 1909 S. Main Street, Findlay.  The building replaces the BVH Sleep Disorders Center that stood in the same location prior to the new building’s completion.  The Sak Sleep Wellness Center offers…More than 3,800 square feet of sleep lab and office space.  Four bedrooms with adjacent private bathrooms used for sleep studies.  A quiet location set back from the traffic of Main Street.  A residential-style construction that will provide a home-like environment

Several Findlay businesses have been robbed recently and the Findlay Police Department says some of the holdups may be related.  At least six businesses have been robbed since September, some more than once.  Recently, the Mobil gas station on North Main Street was robbed by a male suspect brandishing a knife and demanding cash.  The white male suspect was described as 5 feet, 10 inches tall, with a thin build and in his early 40s.Police said the same person may have robbed Som Carryout on North Main St., on Nov. 8.  Authorities say the holdups also appear to be related because the same weapon and same method of operation were used.

Hancock County’s commissioners decided Tuesday to join Findlay City Schools’ planned fiber network.  It is expected to cost the county about $115,000 to buy into the fiber-optic loop.  The network is expected to cost the school district about $1.5 million to establish.  The network will be within reach of city, county and Blanchard Valley Hospital buildings.  The network is cable of supporting state-of-the-art voice, video and data platforms with high broadband capabilities.  The school board is expected to hire a vendor for the project at its regular meeting Monday.
 

Findlay business owners will get to keep their “pylon” signs after the sign proposal was eliminated from a list of zoning code updates that were presented to City Council members during an informal committee- of-the-whole meeting.  A proposal in July called for city business owners to use “low profile” monument signs, while phasing out existing signs on poles, known as pylon signs.  The planning commission decided to focus the zoning updates more on clerical issues rather than “hot-button” ones.

Tiffin City Administrator Debra Reamer was surprised by Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz’s decision to move her to the city's human resources director position.  Reamer says the move was totally the mayor's decision.  She said Montz told her Oct. 26 of the plan to reassign her to the new position.  The proposed job change would be a lateral move and Reamer’s salary will remain the same.  No candidate for the city administrator position has been announced.

A former North Baltimore billing clerk accused of theft on the job pleaded guilty in Wood County court Monday.  43 year old Jaimye Benedictt of North Baltimore was indicted in August on two counts of theft in office.  She reportedly took almost $77,500 in cash, which was to be deposited in the village's bank account.  As the result of a plea agreement, Benedict pleaded guilty to one count of theft in office, with the second count to be dismissed at sentencing.  In addition to restitution to the village for the full amount of the cash taken, she is also to pay $19,372.50 to the State Auditor's Office, which is the cost of the audit that uncovered the thefts.  Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 4.

The Hancock Park District is receiving $332,402 from the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation for development of the Blanchard River Greenway Trail.  The estate of Eveline Stitt, who died March 1, earmarked the money to the park district, with half the funds designated for expansion of Oakwoods Nature Preserve and the balance for the paved multi-use trail.  The park board approved a resolution to designate the entire amount for the Blanchard River Greenway Trail, which is a network of river parks and sites along the river within the city of Findlay.
 

High School Football Playoffs begin tonight.  On ESPN Radio 1430 WFOB…Tiffin Calvert will be at Hicksville…On wfob.com Gridiron One.  Leipsic will host Arlington and on Mix 96.7 WBVI.  McComb hosts Convoy Crestview.  All games kick off at 7:30.

Nominations for the third annual Fostoria Snow Queen contest are now being taken.  The Fostoria Snow Queen Contest is a fun, informal contest where people can nominate a Fostoria resident who is well known in the Fostoria community, active in local clubs or organizations and over the age of 60 to represent Fostoria at the Chamber’s “Christmas in Fosterville” on Dec. 6 in downtown Fostoria.  Nominations forms are available in the mayor’s off and due by 4 p.m. Nov. 13.  A public vote will be held from Nov. 16-23.

The Hancock County Commissioners began hearings on the 2016 budget.  Litter Landing could see fewer workers because of falling commodity prices.  Closing the recycling center on Sundays may also be away of balancing the budget.  In the Sheriff’s office, Sheriff Mike Heldman reported that the staffing levels at the jail must be increased.  About 80 to 85 percent of inmates being booked at the jail have addictions and require stricter supervision as they withdraw from drugs and alcohol.
 

On Thursday, the Hancock County Agency on Aging, which operates the senior center, announced that the agency and the center have been renamed as 50 North.  According to executive director Carolyn Copus, the change comes after surveys indicated that people are reluctant to come to a center that gives the perception that it’s a place where only old people congregate.  No programs or services are changing at the agency. 
 

McComb Volleyball, which is ranked #1 in the state, downed fourth ranked Ayersville in the regional semi-finals.  The Lady Panthers will now face third ranked Monroeville at 2pm Saturday at 2pm at Elida.  The game will be a rematch of the Panthers only loss of the season.  The winner will advance to the state finals.

In a plan before Tiffin City Council, City Administrator Debra Reamer will leave her current position to fill a newly-created director of human resources position within the city's government.  According to Mayor Aaron Montz said in a press release the new position will allow Reamer to focus more on aspects of the job she currently holds.    Montz said funds for the new position's salary of about $55,000 will be covered by savings from a previous decision to eliminate the positions of special projects administrator and the city administrator's administrative assistant.

Despite numerous concerns expressed by faculty members, the faculty senate narrowly endorsed a tobacco-free policy for the Bowling Green State University campus.  The policy, which still needs approval from the trustees, would take the current non-smoking policy a step further.  The use of any tobacco product, including chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes and vapor devices, would be forbidden on campus.

Today is Election Day.  Polls will remain open until 7:30pm.

Ballreich's Potato Chips in tiffin suffered its second fire in less than a week Monday afternoon.  Monday's fire at the factory was reported about 2 p.m., and personnel from three fire departments responded to fight it.  The fire was in the production room on the factory's second floor and started with the same equipment as Thursday's fire.  Both fires were due to a malfunctioning machine.

There is plenty of high school football playoff action this weekend.  On Friday, Mix 96.7 WBVI will bring you the McComb Panthers and Convoy Crestview.  ESPN Radio 1430 WFOB will have Tiffin Calvert at Hicksville.  wfob.com Gridiron One has Arlington at Leipsic.  All games kick-off at 7:30pm.  On Saturday, Mix 96.7 WBVI will feature Van Buren at Gibsonburg at 7pm.

Cooper Tire and Rubber profits grew 11 percent last quarter to $53.2 million.  Officials attribute the gains to the selling of more high-profit tires in North and Latin America.  Overall sales declined 15 percent because of the absence of Cooper’s former partner, Cooper Chengshan Tire Co., in China.  However, excluding the loss of Cooper Chengshan, Cooper Tire’s $782.4 million in sales were 2 percent more than a year earlier.

The Hancock County Veterans Council will conduct a Veterans Day parade and services Sunday.  The parade will line up at 12:30 p.m. at East Lincoln and South Main streets and continue formation along East Lincoln Street. The parade will start at 2 p.m. proceeding from East Lincoln Street and north on Main Street to the War Memorial at Center and North Main streets, where services will be held honoring veterans.
 

Blanchard Valley Hospital was honored with an “A” grade in the Fall 2015 Hospital Safety Score, which rates how well hospitals protect patients from errors, injuries and infections.  The Hospital Safety Score is compiled under the guidance of national experts on patient safety and is administered by the Leapfrog Group, a national, independent nonprofit organization.  The score uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to produce a score of A-F, representing a hospital’s overall capacity to keep patients safe from preventable harm.  More than 2,500 U.S. general hospitals were assigned scores in October, with 773 hospitals receiving an “A” grade.

Sen. Cliff Hite of Findlay will host hearings across the state as he explores what steps lawmakers might take to curtail or eliminate the fees.  The concern of Hite and others, including Secretary of State Jon Husted, who has been doing behind-the-scenes work on the issue, is that fees that can exceed $600 per co-curricular activity discourage participation.  They worry that is especially true when a student wants to do multiple sports and activities, or if a family has multiple students who want to participate.  The first hearing on participation fees will be on Nov. 12 at the Statehouse.  In addition, Hite also wants to discuss youth concussions and sudden cardiac arrest, and school start dates.

Former Ohio Governor and current US Senate candidate Ted Strickland shared coffee, doughnuts and concerns about the cost of higher education with students this past Friday morning at Grounds for Thoughts in Bowling Green.  More than a dozen students gathered and told individual stories about the stress of paying for college.  Strickland touted a number of proposals put forth by his fellow Democrats, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders to the students.  Those ideas include proposals to allow students to pay back their loans with payments of no more than 10 percent of their income. 

The Ohio High School Playoffs for football are now set.  Several area teams will be continuing their season this coming weekend.  On Friday at 7:30 in Division III Region 8, Bowling Green is at Cleveland Benedictine.  In Division VII Region 24, Tiffin Calvert is at Hicksville, Convoy Crestview visits McComb and Arlington meets Leipsic again.  On Saturday at 7pm, in Division VI Region 20, Seneca East travels to Tinora and Van Buren is at Gibsonburg.

Election day is tomorrow.  Polls will open at 6:30am and close at 7:30pm.  There are many local contests with mayoral, council and school levy contests taking place.  Three state issues are on the ballot.  State Issue 1 would create a more bipartisan process for drawing legislative districts for state representatives and state senators.  State Issue 3 a state constitutional amendment that would permit the recreational and medicinal use of marijuana in Ohio.  State Issue 2, put on the ballot by state lawmakers, is meant to block State Issue 3. State Issue 2 would prohibit state constitutional amendments that create monopolies in Ohio. If State Issues 2 and 3 both pass, a court fight is expected.

Eyes across the country will be on Ohio on tomorrow to see what voters decide on State Issue 3, the for-profit constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana in smokable and edible form for recreational use for those 18 or older, and for patients of any age with qualifying medical conditions.  Polls are of little help in predicting the outcome.  A Kent State University poll showed 56 percent support for Issue 3, while polls by the University of Akron and Bowling Green State University called the issue too close to call.  Both sides say internal polls show they are winning.

Findaly Mayor Lydia Mihalik is seeking the help of the citizens of Findlay for a donation of a tree for Findlay’s Christmas Tree that will be displayed in Dorney Plaza during the Christmas season.  Criteria for the tree is that it should be at least 25 feet tall, cannot be near power lines, preferably in the front yard, and away from any trees or buildings. The City harvests the tree with a crane and bucket truck and hauls it to Dorney Plaza on a flatbed trailer.  If you are interested in donating your tree, please contact the Mayor’s Office.