Joe Vera III of Arcadia pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery in Hancock County Common Pleas Court for attempting to steal a man’s vehicle at knifepoint. On March 25, Vera brandished a knife at the Findlay Tiffin Avenue Circle K telling the victim to give him his car keys. The victim fought back by throwing his large fountain drink at Vera…Vera then struck the victim and fled on foot. He could face up to 11 years in prison.
Downtown Findlay merchants are collecting signatures on petitions calling for changes in Marathon Petroleum Corp.’s $80 million complex expansion. The businesses want to keep or add public parking. The petitions, also being circulated by additional merchants, state that citizens and merchants are concerned that Marathon’s expansion will “likely have a detrimental effect upon nearby downtown merchants, their patrons and elderly patrons in particular.”
Ohio Gov. John Kasich launches his 2016 presidential campaign today. He'll be the 16th Republican to enter the race and plans to announce his bid at his alma mater, Ohio State University. Kasich is a popular second-term governor, an 18-year veteran of Congress and a previous presidential candidate during the 1999 elections. Former president George W. Bush beat him for the GOP’s support, marking Kasich's only failed election…He's also a father of teenage twin girls and a good friend to U2's Bono.
The City of Fostoria lowered the American flag to half-staff Monday to honor the five military servicemen killed in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Even though the President and Governor are the only ones who can order flags lowered, Mayor Eric Keckler said his office knew it was the right thing to do after being approached by several area veterans. The moratorium on the flag will be lifted after the interment of the five military casualties.
The University of Findlay Mazza Museum founder Dr. Jerry Mallett has passed away. The 76 year old Mallet was serving as curator at the museum. The Mazza Museum began in 1982 as a four-item collection of original pieces of art from children’s books, and as a speaking event that featured a campus visit by an internationally recognized children’s illustrator/author. Since then, the Mazza Museum, housed in the Virginia B. Gardner Fine Arts Pavilion, has become one of the world’s largest museums of original artwork by children’s book illustrators. A private funeral service will be held soon, and the University of Findlay is also planning to hold a memorial service during the fall semester.
A higher percentage of children live in poverty now than did during the Great Recession in 2008, according to a new report released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The foundation's 2015 Kids Count Data Book reported about 22% of children in the U.S. lived below the poverty line in 2013, compared with 18% in 2008. Ohio ranked 23rd nationally and had 53,000 more living in poverty than in 2008.
The Ohio Secretary of State office says a marijuana legalization campaign has failed to meet its initial signature target. Secretary of State Jon Husted announced yesterday that about 276,000 of signatures submitted by the group ResponsibleOhio were valid. At least 305,591 were needed to make the November ballot…The group has 10 days to collect more signatures.
The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation and the United Way of Hancock County announced they will provide funding for 16 children to attend two additional pre-kindergarten classes. The grant extends a pre-kindergarten program of two classes started about 14 months ago. One of the new classes will be in the Riverdale Local School District and the other will be at Washington Pre-School in Findlay. The grants cover tuition, transportation and lunch to pre-kindergarteners.
The Good Ole Summertime Festival returns to North Baltimore this Saturday. Music starts in the gazebo on Main and Broadway at 11am and continues to 9pm. The annual Jack Patterson Memorial Run/Walk begins at 9am and includes a Kids 1 Mile Fun Run. The Red Shoe Society BG and Beyond will host a benefit car show to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. There also will be bingo, a garden show and kids and youth activities. Fireworks cap off the event at 10pm.
The Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce honored several members at the Annual Mid-Year Meeting. The Outstanding Customer Service award was presented to Oasis Restaurant and Delivery. The Small Business of the Year award went to The Student Book Exchange. The I Love BG Award was given to Pat and Sheilah Crowley.
