The Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce will host its first ever Spring Home and Garden Show at Stacey’s Place tomorrow.  The event will run from 11am to 6pm and feature 20 vendors ranging from home improvement specialists to gardening to realty.  Admission is free.

Cleveland's settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice on reforming the city's troubled police department calls for civilians to play influential roles in investigating police misconduct and establishing policies and procedures.  The city and Justice Department announced Tuesday that they had reached a settlement on a consent decree that a federal judge must approve and an independent monitor will enforce.

Hancock County Commissioner Phil Riegle was injured in a traffic accident Wednesday night.  Riegle was hurt in a two-vehicle crash that evening in Jackson Township.  Riegle’s vehicle was struck when a pick-up truck ran a stop sign.  He was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital and release on Thursday.  The crash remains under investigation…

Tiffin City Council members verbally agreed to a maximum price of $10 million for the joint justice center project during a committee of the whole meeting Thursday.  The $10 million price tag would include total construction, engineering, design and legal fees.  Legislation to approve the $10 million maximum price, pending the approval of council will be discussed at Monday's council meeting.  The agreement would allow the city and county to pull out of the project if the cost is too high.

Scientists say about 80 percent of human-made debris found in the Great Lakes is plastic.  While the big pieces can be ugly, the smaller pieces can attract dangerous chemicals, which can then be eaten by plankton, mussels, fish or birds.  Scientists discussed the plastic pollution problem yesterday during a meeting of Great Lakes scientists at the University of Vermont.

A Findlay City Council committee that is looking at salaries of elected officials recommended that Law Director Don Rasmussen receive an eight percent pay increase.  The increase would pay Rasmussen $8000 more for an approximate total of $108,000.  The committee is also recommending raises Mayor Lydia Mahalik and Auditor Jim Staschiak.  All raises would have to be approved by council.

A woman who dropped her toddler son into Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's cheetah pit and was charged with child endangering has pleaded no contest to a reduced charge.   Authorities say Michelle Schwab of Delaware dangled her 2-year-old son over the railing of the zoo's cheetah exhibit last month.  The boy lunged from her grasp and fell about 10 feet.  Schwab and her husband jumped into the exhibit to retrieve the boy, who broke his leg in the fall.

Area unemployment rates fell from March to April this year.  However, the numbers are more reflective of people who have quit looking for work after becoming discouraged.  Jobless rates declined in April from a month earlier in all 88 Ohio counties.  The statewide unemployment rate, which is adjusted for seasonal trends such as hiring for construction, leisure and hospitality jobs, increased in April to 5.2 percent from 5.1 percent in March.
 

Two women who were abducted as teenagers and held captive in a Cleveland house for a decade have been awarded the high school diplomas they missed out on.   Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus donned white caps and gowns yesterday and were given honorary diplomas from John Marshall High School.

The Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation group of Findlay is moving a train depot built in the 1800s by picking it up.  The depot is currently on leased land, but will soon be at the groups location on Hancock County Road 99.  The plan is to remove the roof to be moved separately with the remainder of the building going next.  The depot is expected to be fully moved and put back together by the end of the week and available for tours in the near future.

Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corporation President and CEO David Zak presented a 2014 update to the Sececa County Commissioners at their regular meeting yesterday.  Zak touted over $40 million in manufacturing investments  and 1000 jobs created.  Projects in the health and education sectors included $16 million in investments and 650 jobs.  Zak said that the growth adds to the quality of life in Tiffin and Seneca County.

At its most recent board meeting, The Hancock County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services board of directors says it plans to provide information about potential recovery houses to City Council members and Mayor Lydia Mihalik, so the elected officials will be able to help respond if residents complain.  The move is in an effort to head off any public backlash to any planned recovery house.  Executive Director Precia Stuby told board members they aren’t doing anything against the law by trying to establish recovery housing in neighborhoods zoned for single-family homes.

A man was cited after he left a handgun in the bathroom at a Bowling Green McDonald this weekend.  The manager of the Wooster Street McDonald's called police, saying that the firearm - a 9mm semiautomatic pistol, in a holster and fully loaded - had been turned into them by a patron after being found in the men's restroom.  The firearm was secured by police, who were contacted later that day by Kaleb Spicer of Maplewood, who indicated he had left the gun there.  Police were able to confirm the claim and released the gun to him.  Spicer was cited for failure to secure a dangerous ordnance.

Hancock County Common Pleas Judge Joseph Niemeyer has ruled against a defense request to exhume the body of a 44-day-old baby who was allegedly killed by his father.  Jerrod Hartman’s defense suggested that the infant may have had a birth injury to his skull.  Hartman is charged with murder for allegedly kill his infant son in 2013.
 

An anonymous donor again will help buy school supplies for North Baltimore elementary students next school year.  It will be the sixth consecutive year that this donor will have paid for school supplies, such as pens, for students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.  While an estimate was not yet available for the latest donation, in past years it was $8,000.

Cleveland has agreed to overhaul its police department under the supervision of a federal monitor in a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department over a pattern of excessive force and other abuses by officers.  A 105-page settlement between Cleveland and federal authorities includes a move to community policing.  A commission of residents and police union officials will be formed to end bias and other problems within Cleveland's police force.

Residents of North Baltimore should expect an increase in taxes next year.  The Village plans to increase the street lighting tax assessment to bring in approximately $52,000.  Residents will be paying about $16 more on a home value of $100,000.  Costs to operate the lights have gone up since the current rate was set about 10 years ago.

Dozens of protesters arrested after the acquittal of a white patrolman charged in the deaths of two unarmed black motorists have been arraigned in court in Cleveland.  Fifty-eight people appeared on Monday morning to be arraigned on misdemeanor charges.  Most pleaded no contest to reduced charges and were sentenced to time served.  Cleveland police arrested 71 people on Saturday night after a day of mostly peaceful protests turned more aggressive.

Fire officials are crediting Joseph and Samuel Wagner of Biglick Township in Hancock County for rescuing their neighbors from a blaze that heavily damaged a home.  Officials say the brothers were at a campfire on their property just north of Hancock County Road 7 and noticed a glow.  The brothers then drove to the scene to find the home rented by Warren Lynch on fire.  The Wagner’s woke the family who were able to escape uninjured.  The fire remains under investigation...

Charter Communications Inc. has confirmed a deal to buy Time Warner Cable for about $55.1 billion.  The merger will create a cable and internet superpower, giving the company 23 million subscribers.  Comcast attempted to buy Time Warner for more than $45 billion, but the deal fizzled out in April when federal regulators said in no uncertain terms they were against the merger of the country's two largest cable companies.

Members of dozens of Cleveland-area churches plan to march and rally in downtown Cleveland this morning to protest this weekend's acquittal of a police officer in the 2012 deaths of two unarmed motorists.  A judge Saturday found Michael Brelo not guilty of voluntary manslaughter.  The Plain Dealer reports organizers have notified police of their plans.

A state Senate panel is slated to vote today on a proposal pushing back Ohio's presidential primary next year by one week, to March 15.  Republican officials have been pressing for the delay to keep the state party from violating national party rules on

primary scheduling.  It has already cleared the House.

Big numbers of Ohio travelers are expected to leave home over the long Memorial Day weekend, spurred by more disposable income and lower gas prices than in recent years.  But the heavy traffic combined with widespread highway construction could slow them down.  AAA projects nearly 1.44 million Ohioans will travel this weekend, with 1.3 million going by automobile.  Travelers will have to deal with nearly 1,000 highway construction zones around the state.

The Wood County Sheriff’s Office is warning citizens of an increase of daylight burglaries in the county.  About ten burglaries have taken place in southern Wood County since March.  Authorities say the thieves are going in through back doors or windows and making off with jewelry, electronics, guns and cash.  To help cut back on the crimes, deputies will be patrolling the area.  They are also offering a vacation check service, where they can check on your home while you're away. 

James Ball of Fostoria received a $2,500 Blue Ribbon Arson Committee Reward from the State Fire Marshal’s Office on Thursday morning for his assistance in an arson investigation.  Ball provided law enforcement with information that led to the arrests of those connected with a fatal fire on Poplar Street that killed two persons nearly one year ago.  The Blue Ribbon Arson Committee Reward is funded through the Ohio Fair Plan

Facing growing opposition from teachers, parents and legislators, new standardized tests given to students in Ohio, along with 10 other states and the District of Columbia, will be shortened by 90 minutes next year.  But it might not be enough for Ohio lawmakers who have been considering getting rid of the exams.  The online tests in English/language arts and math debuted this year and took about 10 hours, depending on the grade.  The action comes a week after the Ohio House overwhelmingly passed legislation to dump PARCC tests and limit state achievement tests to three hours per year. 

Bowling Green City Council has approved $44,000 for a study concerning the future of the East Wooster Street Corridor.  The funds for the study will be used to merge together the city’s Land Use Plan and the Bowling Green State University Master Plan regarding the area.  Council has listed East Wooster Street as one of its top three priorities for the next two years, and the study “is an outstanding vehicle” to pursue that issue.

Major League Baseball and the Cincinnati Reds will determine Pete Rose's role at the All-Star game in Cincinnati after discussing what other obligations the banned career hits leader has.  Rose began work as a studio analyst for Fox this month.  The network will broadcast the game, which is being played in Rose's hometown on July 14th.

Governor John Kasich will be hitting the road for appearances in Georgia and South Carolina next week as he weighs a possible run for the White House.  Kasich has set up a committee allowing him to raise money for the potential run and has visited California in recent weeks to meet with potential benefactors.

Twenty two year old Jarrod R. Pfeiffer of Tiffin was sentenced to three years in prison for setting a fire at the Tiffin Wal-Mart on September 5, 2014.  Pfeiffer set fire to a sporting goods display by using a 6-volt battery, a metal hook and paper.  The fire caused smoke damage throughout the store and fire damage to the immediate area. It was nearly three weeks before the store returned to normal operation.

Arcadia Schools has announced the selection of a new high school principal.  Bill Dobbins, who is currently principal at Hopewell-Loudon High School was given a two-year contract.  Dobbins is set to begin on August 1.

The North Central Ohio Regional Council of Governments has agreed to work with Seneca County and the city of Tiffin as project management of the joint justice center.  Tiffin City Council and Seneca County commissioners must discuss the agreement before a final decision is made.  Seneca County Commissioner Fred Zoeller said if the city and county agree to hire the council of governments, it would function as a facilitator and hire an outside project manager for the joint justice center.

Trustees for both Eagle and Liberty townships say they oppose the Army Corps of Engineer’s plan to build a diversion channel through their backyards as part of the flood-control plan for the Blanchard River.  The proposed 9.4-mile long Eagle Creek diversion channel will begin in Eagle Township and connect with the Blanchard River in Liberty Township.  Trustees are concerned about the plan to cut off roads that would cause difficulties for emergency vehicles.
 

Fostoria Junior/Senior High School Chamber Choir received top honors at Cedar Point’s Music in the Parks Festival.  The 30 member group took first place in the competition by performing Ezekiel at the Wheel and Masquerade from Phantom of the Opera.  Choral Director Betsy Bellavia does not plan on returning to the competition next year.  Bellavia is stepping down as director to pursue a Master’s degree at Bowling Green State University full-time.

Bowling Green Police Chief Brad Conner is planning to retire from the Police Division next month.  Connor will be moving on to work with a private entity.  He has been with the city of Bowling Green for over 34 years.  Deputy Chief Tony Hetrick will be appointed as acting chief in the interim.  Hetrick served in that capacity earlier this year while Conner was recovering from surgery.

Ohio General Assembly members hold a joint session today to honor Ohio military members who have died in combat since the 9/11 attacks.  Lawmakers will posthumously award the state's Military Medal of Distinction to service members ahead of Memorial Day on Monday.

The City of Fostoria is estimating $6.1 million in revenue for 2016.  According to City Auditor Steve Garner, that is down more than $2.7 million in 2007 and approximately $91,000 from this year’s estimate.  City officials are confident that they will be able to maintain the same level of efficiency as in the past.

The new Mickey Mart/ Dunkin Donuts in Tiffin is open for business today.  The new businesses are located at 1804 West Market Street.  Five managers and 17 employees have been trained.  Dunkin Donuts is open from 5am to 10pm and Mickey Mart is open 24 hours a day.

Marathon Petroleum will pay a $2.9 million fine and spend another $2.8 million on pollution controls at its distribution terminals in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio as a part of a settlement reached over allegations of Clean Air Act violations at 10 Marathon sites in recent years.  The federal government said Marathon failed to comply with some fuel quality emissions standards along with record keeping, sampling and testing requirements.

An Ohio House committee is set to vote today on a bill that would make it easier for schools to install barricade devices on doors in emergencies.  The measure would require the standards board to adopt rules for schools using the devices and would prohibit the banning of such devices under the state fire code.

The University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum has expanded for the first time in almost a decade.  Through a donation from Rikhard and Ginny Laiho of Findlay, an additional 325 square foot gallery has been constructed and will feature books that feature paper engineering techniques.  Pop-ups, fold-outs, die cuts and other three dimensional works will be displayed.  The Mazza Museum is recognized as having the world’s largest collection of original artwork by children’s book illustrators.

At last night’s meeting, the Fostoria City School Board of Education hired Mike Daring as assistant principal of Fostoria Junior/Senior High.  Daring has been teaching biology and environmental science at the high school and middle school for the past ten years.  His first day in the new position will be August 1.

The Findlay City Schools Board of Education approved the purchase of property on the city’s east side for a new bus garage.  The property, located at 1710 Romick Parkway, was previously owned by Northwest Ohio RV Sales and has an existing structure that the district will use.  The purchase price will not exceed $600,000.  The school district plans to have the bus garage ready for the next school year.
 

Also at last night’s meeting, Findlay City School district teachers will receive a 1.5 percent wage increase next year, after a negotiated salary table with the Findlay Education Association was approved by the board.  The district is entering the final year of a three-year contract with the Findlay Education Association, which represents the district’s teachers.

The Arlington Village Council discussed details of a new wine shop that may open.   Stephanie and Dave Rader of Van Buren presented some plans for the wind shop which includes live music, craft beers, cheeses and other foods.  A petition drive will be held this summer to permit the sale of alcohol at the East Liberty Street business.   A liquor option could appear on the November ballot.

The Fostoria Planning Commission on Thursday approved a proposed parking expansion at ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital’s West Fourth Street medical center.  A second parking lot will be constructed.  53 additional spaces and an easy-access entrance from West Lytle Street will be created.

Phoenix Technologies’ in Bowling Green is planning a new expansion with a new facility that will bring 30 new jobs.  Phoenix manufactures rPET pellets, used in the manufacture of a variety of plastic packaging.  The $18 million expansion will allow the company to produce its own “clean flake” plastic material, which is used to make rPET pellets...The new facility will be located at 501 E. Poe Road, the former Thomas & Betts factory site.

Lily Bay Gift Company on Croy Drive in Findlay is closing after 32 years.  Owners Jim and Connie Hutchinson plan on retiring.  At this time, there are no buyers for the business.  Lily Bay started under the name Crabapple Cove but changed its name when it moved to the Findlay Village Mall 26 years ago.  It has been at the Croy Drive location for 19 years…

During an event to unveil new school uniforms, Brian Shaver, the Director of parish and St. Wendelin Schools, shot down rumors that the school is closing.  However, he did say that declining enrollment numbers continue and there is a possibility of staffing changes may be needed, as well as, the elimination of some elective courses that would not affect the curriculum…

The Hancock County commissioners agreed Thursday to scrap plans for renovations at the Litter Landing recycling center.  The commissioners met with board members from the Hancock County Solid Waste Management District to discuss abandoning the project due to money concerns.  There was also a discussion Thursday about abandoning the center altogether, or trying to create a public/private partnership to continue operations.
 

Starting Monday and running through May 31, area law enforcement agencies will be joining the 2015 Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization.  Officers will be cracking down on seat belt violations during this time.  If caught in violation of the seat belt law, no warning will be given.  You will get a ticket.  The main objective of Click It or Ticket is to save lives and to remind motorists that wearing a seat belt is a law…

A Monday night fight in Fostoria has several individuals facing charges after an incident involving baseball bats and a car crash left five people injured on Hart Avenue.  According to Fostoria Police Capt. Patrick Brooks, the incident began as a result of a dispute between two parties, one from Fostoria, the other from out of town.  A planned meeting a City Park between the two groups ended up on Hart Avenue where one party pulled a person from a vehicle and into the fight.  The vehicle’s windshield was damaged by a baseball bat causing the driver to hit a residence.  No injuries were reported to the residents.

Two of Cheri Brooks’ family members have pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking…  Brooks’ son, Scottie Emmons and her husband Kevin Brooks Sr. were arraigned by video before Judge Reginald Routson yesterday afternoon on drug trafficking charges.  All three were arrested last week on warrants following their recently unsealed secret indictments.  Both defendants were release on their own recognizance bond.  A pretrial hearing for all three defendants was set for June 5.

Evelyn Marker, former executive director of ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital Foundation, has been named interim executive director of the United Way of Fostoria.  Marker is a current member of the United Way board and replaces Ashley Stahl who resigned last month.  Marker will also be leading the search for a new executive director while overseeing day-to-day operations of the organization.
 

Findlay City Council could be seeing an ordinance before them at the next council meeting to create a five person board that would decide if a resident’s water should be turned off for violating junk laws.  Four of the board members would be appointed by the mayor and the fifth by the council president pro tempore who is currently Ron Monday.  In the event the board does decide to shut off water service, the resident will have 30 days to appeal the ruling.

Fostoria St. Wendelin girls basketball standout Kamryn Troike has committed to play basketball at Kent State University.  Troike cannot sign a letter of intent until November made her decision on Wednesday.  The 6-4 junior averaged 21 points and 13 rebounds this past year and shared Associated Press Division Four Player of the Year honors.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office has launched a new service to help citizens with internet transactions.  The Office is now offering the use of its lobby for exchanges between buyers and sellers in agreements made through on-line sales.  Many times purchases are made on-line where the buyer and seller do not know each other.  By offering the use of the Sheriff’s Office lobby, buyers and sellers can be assured of safety to all involved.  The service is now offered twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Chopin Hall and Hancock County Job and Family Services have partnered to bring a satellite office for Ohio Means Jobs Hancock County to Findlay.  Starting Monday, Ohio Means Jobs Hancock County will have office hours two and a half days a week at the Family Center to assist people find jobs and better paying jobs and alert people to job training opportunities.  Then, in August, a representative from the Hancock County Jobs and Family Services Family Stability Unit will be in the same office two and a half days a week to provide assistance to families in financial need, such as applying for food assistance and Medicaid.  All services will be free.

The State of Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway has filed a lawsuit against Marathon Petroleum this week in federal court in Louisville.  Conway alleges that Marathon operates under anti-competitive practices in the state.  Gas prices in Northern Kentucky were 20 to 30 cents higher than the rest of the state and 25 cents hire in cities of comparable size to Louisville.  Marathon disputes Conway's allegations and will defend the lawsuit in court.

Findlay City Schools officials say they expect to spend about $3 million this year on building improvements.  Most of the expense will be for replacing boiler systems in all the elementary buildings and high school.  Heating, ventilation and air conditioning control systems will also be installed.  The district also plans to spend around $1.2 million in 2016 and $1.3 million in 2017 in building improvements…
 

The Ohio House has passed a bill to extend the time period for prosecuting rape and sexual battery to 25 years after the crime.  The bill also would provide an additional five years for prosecution from the time a potential suspect is identified through DNA testing.  The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.
 

The University of Findlay plans to perform several construction and renovation projects this spring and summer.  At the top of the list is the replacement of the bleachers in Croy Gymnasium which have been in place since the building was constructed in 1969.  Other projects include resurfacing Koehler Center’s indoor track, removal of little used tennis and basketball courts, removal of twelve modular trailers and renovations on Morey and Myers Halls.

The Seneca County Commissioners began discussions at their most recent meeting on the details of constructing a joint justice center with the City of Tiffin.  During the meeting, Commissioner Fred Zoeller said that nothing can be done until the cost of the project is known.  The decision to pursue construction was based on an $8.7 million estimate.  The county is working with the North Central Ohio Regional Council of Governments to manage the construction.  Also, legislation will need to be passed by the county and city before construction can begin.

A Hearing Examiner’s Report says the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s order to seize 11 exotic animals from Tiger Ridge Exotics in Stoney Ridge was appropriate and authorized by law.  The report found that Tiger Ridge owner Kenneth Hetrick owned the animals without a permit, and that his “possession of the dangerous wild animals without a permit violated the Ohio Revised Code and his care and housing of the animals was potentially dangerous to him, the public and the animals.”

The Hancock Park District will be making improvements to three small park areas along the Blanchard River on East Main Cross Street in Findlay.  Removal and replacement of picnic tables and benches at the Eastpoint Area, along with a concrete edge to the areas boat ramp and installation of concrete walks, pads and patio work at the park district offices will take place.  The estimated cost of the project is just over $30,000.
 

A suburban Cincinnati man accused of plotting to attack the U.S. Capitol in support of ISIS has pleaded not guilty to the latest federal charge against him.  An indictment last week added a fourth count against Christopher Lee Cornell.  The charge of material support to a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison with conviction.

Stearns Road in Fostoria between Ohio 199 and Ohio 23 will be closed beginning today.  Construction on a widening project will begin.  A westbound lane will be maintained for local traffic.

52 year old Cheri L. Brooks of Findlay pleaded not guilty to one count of trafficking in drugs in Hancock County Common Pleas Court Monday.  Brooks is currently on probation for a conviction related to the Vera Jo Reigle murder case.  Brooks is accused of selling prescription drugs from her home.  Brooks was released on her recognizance.  Her husband, Kevin L. Brooks and son, Scottie E. Emmons are to be arraigned tomorrow.

North Baltimore Village council members passed an ordinance to eliminate the tax credit for residents who pay taxes to other municipalities.  Village finance officer Chris Kirk said eliminating the tax credit is estimated to bring in just under $200,000 in revenue.  The money is being earmarked to create a full-time EMS department.

25 year old Nicholas I. Lawler and his 23 year old wife Brittany R. Lawler are now facing federal charges.  The Indiana couple is accused of transporting 14 year old Madalyn Hiser of Tiffin to entice her into teen prostitution.  Seneca County Prosecutor Derek DeVine on Monday submitted motions to dismiss the indictments in the state’s case against the husband-wife duo in order to allow the cases to move on to federal court.  The Lawlers are in federal custody and will remain detained until a future hearing takes place. 

A bill to be introduced into the Ohio Senate will allow killers diagnosed as “seriously mentally ill” at the time of the crime could not be executed in Ohio.  If passed, the bill would be a major change in Ohio, which now prohibits the execution of mentally disabled people but not the mentally ill.  Seriously mentally ill defendants could still be prosecuted and sent to prison for murder.

Carey Schools Superintendent Mike Wank said the addition of four classrooms to the new school building being constructed would cost an estimated $800,000.  The cost includes furniture.  The additional classrooms would be used for a computer area, expanded preschool and reading intervention.  The fourth room would be used for future needs.  A final amount will be determined by May 24.  The board then can decide whether to add the rooms.

The Annual Armed Forces Day and Findlay Military Association Show takes place this weekend at the Hancock County Fairgrounds.  The event will be honoring those who have and those who are currently serving their country.  The Veterans of the Year Awards will be passed out, Revolutionary War re-enactments will take place, over 100 military item vendors will be there and a military vehicle show will happen.  The show is Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

A recent online study from smart asset dot come has ranked Fostoria as the second most affordable place to purchase a home in Ohio.  The average annual mortgage payment in Fostoria was $ 3,399.  Wapakoneta was ranked number one.  Nationally, Fostoria ranked 112 with Mesquite, Texas number one.

Members of the Brooks family, who many suspect had a connection to the murder of a Findlay woman in 2011, are now accused of selling prescription drugs from their city home.  Cheri L. Brooks, her husband, Kevin L. Brooks Sr. and Cheri’s son, Scottie E. Emmons are accused of selling a generic version of Xanax, an anti-anxiety medication.  They were arrested Wednesday on drug trafficking charges.  All three are scheduled to be arraigned in Hancock County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.

Three people were hurt when a Findlay man drove off Tiffin Avenue and struck a porch Sunday night.  26 year old Randall Rayle of Findlay was driving a Ford Freestyle east in the 700 block of Tiffin Avenue at 8:33 p.m. when he drove off the southbound side of the street and struck the porch at 721 Tiffin Avenue.  Rayle and two of his three passengers who were ages 7 and 4 were taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital for treatment of injuries.  Police said the driver may have been suffering from a medical condition at the time of the accident.  The house sustained minor damage, and none of the residents were hurt.
 

Fostoria City and Seneca County officials are in the early stages of planning to regularly hear court cases from the area in Fostoria’s Municipal Building Courtroom.  Seneca County Judge Steve Shuff plans to bring as many local cases to Fostoria as possible.  Cases will be heard in Fostoria on a trial basis for the next several months.  Once an effective system is created for domestic trials, criminal and felony cases will be incorporated.

The Davis-Besse nuclear power plant remained shut down on Sunday after being a steam leak was discovered on Saturday.  A First Energy spokesman says the plant is under an "unusual event" classification, which is the lowest level emergency classification.  The leak was found in the non-nuclear part of the plant and has since been stopped.  It is currently in the process of being fixed.  According to the spokesman, the public is not at any risk.

Gas prices are up a nickel to start the work week.  According to Triple A, a gallon of regular gas in Ohio is averaging $2.49 as compared to $2.44 last week.  Nationally, the average is $2.66 per gallon.

The most recent state audit of Van Buren Schools shows the district has corrected a majority of the mistakes that were found in an earlier audit that covered 2011 to 2013.  Superintendent Tim Myers said the district wasn’t scheduled to have another audit until next year, but asked to have one completed sooner to make sure that earlier mistakes were corrected.  One issue that was only “partially corrected” is the large number of credit cards the district uses

The body of a man who was under a missing persons alert in Upper Sandusky has been found.  Authorities said the body of 72 year old James D. Zoll was found in Upper Sandusky’s Reservoir 1 in an apparent suicide.  Zoll’s body was located near where authorities found his 2003 Chevy S-10 pickup truck submerged in the reservoir.  The man had been reported missing Wednesday evening after he left his home on Westbrook Boulevard and didn’t return.  His wallet was found by a passer-by in the reservoir Wednesday night.
 

The Allen Township Fire Department Station 1 has received a new Resusci Anne Complete CPR mannequin.  The mannequin will be used for educational training and certification.  LaRiche Toyota-Subaru, in conjunction with the Ohio Auto Dealer’s Association made the donation.

Three members of the Brooks family, who gained notoriety after a woman who lived in their Findlay house was murdered in 2011, were arrested this week on drug trafficking charges.  52 year old Cheri L. Brooks, 56 year old Kevin L. Brooks and 33 year Scottie E. Emmons were arrested at their 409 Washington Street residence after they were charged through a Hancock County grand jury secret indictment earlier this week.  All three were being held the Hancock County jail.

Area sheriff’s offices, along with the Ohio State Patrol, have launched a new traffic safety campaign for US Route 6 from the Indiana state line to Sandusky.  Since 2012, this stretch of US 6 has seen 18 fatal traffic crashes, 484 injury crashes and 1372 property damage crashes.  The US 6 Corridor Project will run through November.  Motorists should expect to see extra warning signs and more officers patrolling the road in an effort to keep motorist safe.

The Taylor Automotive Group announced the grand opening of its seventh dealership, Taylor Volkswagen of Findlay.  The new dealership will officially open on May 11 and is located on County Road 99, just east of I-75.  The new 30,000 square foot facility will be able to accommodate hundreds of new and used vehicles.

The son of Susan Phillips, a former director of Seneca County Agency Transportation charged with falsification and theft, has been indicted by a Seneca County grand jury on a charge of theft.  22 year old Michael E. Woodman admitted he was the one who accessed a SCAT bank account and transferred money to a different bank account.  Susan Phillips is still facing the theft charge in Seneca County Common Pleas Court, and she also is charged with falsification for allegedly lying to a Bureau of Criminal Investigation agent in June.

A Findlay toddler is in the hospital after he was pinned between two cars Thursday afternoon.  Findlay police say the 2-year-old was playing on Ely Avenue between two parked cars when one came out of gear and rolled forward. The boy was pinned between the two.  The child sustained life-threatening injuries and was flown to the hospital.  His condition is currently unknown.  Police say the cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Fostoria City Auditor Steve Garner presented his financial report for the first quarter of 2015 at last night Fostoria City Council meeting.  Garner reported the general fund’s $284,000 shortfall and said he expects to shorten the gap between the red and the black of the city’s budget within the month.  The Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response grant has accounted for much of the red in the general fund’s ledger.  Timing issues affected the reimbursement of funds at the end of 2014, which carried over into the first three months of this year.  .As a result, the grant — which provides the city with more than $50,000 per month to fund eight firefighters — was absent, leaving the city with a deficit of nearly $150,000.
 

Last night's event An Evening with Urban Meyer at The University of Findlay’s was postponed after Meyer had surgery Wednesday morning for an emergency appendectomy.  Meyer’s wife, Shelley Meyer said the Ohio State football coach had appendicitis, but that his appendix had not burst.  Meyer is expected to make a complete recovery.  A new date for the event has not been announced yet. All tickets for the event will be honored at the later date.

Ohio voters approved 85 percent of the 101 school levies on the ballot statewide in this week’s primary election.  This is the highest passage rate in a primary or general election in more than a decade.  The previous record was a 73 percent passage rate in the 2012 primary election.

The Upper Sandusky Police Department has issued a Missing Adult Alert for 72-year-old James Zoll, last seen in Wyandot County on West Street.  Zoll is a white male, 5' 11” tall, weighs 170 pounds with red/gray hair and green eyes.  Zoll does suffer from a medical condition.  The car involved is a dark green 2003 Chevy S-10 with Ohio plate number GDD3406.  Authorities are asking that if you see Zoll or the car to call 911.

The University of Findlay has filed a lawsuit against USA Lawn and Landscaping of Findlay after the majority of the university’s grass was killed when it was accidentally sprayed with the wrong herbicide last year.  The university is suing the company for more than $25,000.  The university said the goal of the suit is to obtain money from the landscaping firm’s insurance company, Celina Mutual Insurance, which has refused to cover all of the university’s costs.
 

Bowling Green State University's campus will break ground today on the brand new Greek Housing Village which will bring all of the chapters to one spot.  Demolition on the site started back in 2013 and now the rebuilding is ready to begin.  The ground breaking ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday. The housing village will be open for the Fall 2016 semester.

Cassie Carlson, an Upper Sandusky native, has been named the new executive director for the Carey Area Chamber of Commerce.  She replaces Ron Dunn, who has been executive director for four years and is retiring to spend more time with family.  Carlson has been a board member since January and a Chamber Ambassador for the previous four years.
 

A state House committee has heard testimony on several proposed gun laws.  The laws would expand concealed weapons by potentially allowing them in places like churches or daycares and letting certain gun owners carry concealed weapons without a permit.  The House State Government Committee heard initial testimony on several measures yesterday.  No votes were taken.

Ohio’s primary election is today.  Polls are open until 7:30pm tonight.  Findlay will decide the Republican candidate for city auditor, 6^th Ward council seat and one council at-large seat.  The Blanchard Valley Center and Findlay-Hancock Public Library have levies to decide.  Arcadia, North Baltimore, Bowling Green, and McComb schools will be deciding levy requests, too.

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies plans to expand its automotive parts plant in Findlay and hire about 25 employees to meet increasing customer demand.  The plant produces about 700 plastic sealing parts for vehicle manufacturers and other suppliers.  Executives said an $8.6 million, 43,000-square-foot expansion, off West Sandusky Street and Interstate 75, also will retain 148 jobs.  It is expected to be completed by winter.

Tiffin City Council unanimously approved the memorandum of understanding entering into a non-binding agreement with Seneca County commissioners to build a joint justice center on Courthouse Square.  The memorandum also outlines plans to renovate the East Tower property and move several city and county offices into the building.  It could allow METRICH Drug Task Force to move into City Hall, and if the RTA Building is empty, it could be sold to the city and razed to create green space.

The City of Findlay will have its first city engineer since 2012.  Brian Thomas will begin work on Monday.  Thomas previously spent 17 years at Peterman Associates in Findlay.
 

The City Mission of Findlay has begun work to expand its facility to provide more space for the homeless.  The entire project cost is $2.55 million and will double the current building’s size.  When completed there will be 30 beds for men, 20 for women and five family units.  A new addition will also include a larger dining room and kitchen.

Governor John Kasich and members of a task force that examined community-police relations say they're concerned about the possibility of violent protests in Cleveland once the verdict is returned for an officer on trial in the fatal shooting of two unarmed citizens.  Kasich's remarks came during a meeting yesterday to discuss the recommendations of a task force that was formed in December.

Two state lawmakers say they have forwarded to the state auditor's office a whistleblower's allegations that the online charter school Ohio Virtual Academy has padded its rolls by failing to dis-enroll hundreds of chronically truant students.  They have also notified state education officials along with the school, which says it is doing its own review of the claim.

Gas prices in Ohio are down slightly to start the work week.  A gallon of regular gas in Ohio was averaging $2.44 in Monday's survey from auto club AAA.  That's down 6 cents from a week ago.  Gas prices remain significantly cheaper than last year at this time, when prices were averaging $3.66 per gallon.  Analysts have said prices at the pump could rise as gasoline costs catch up to higher oil prices.

Ohio’s primary election is tomorrow.  Numerous candidates in the Tri-County area are running unopposed.  However, in Findlay, there are contested races for city auditor and city council seats.  In Fostoria, council seats are also contested.  Blanchard Valley Center and the Findlay-Hancock Public Library have county-wide levies on the ballot, as well as, other schools and.  Polls are open from 6:30am to 7:30pm

According to a recent report from the U.S. Geological Survey, earthquakes are directly linked to hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas and to injection wells for fracking wastewater.  The report was the survey’s first large-scale examination of the connection between earthquakes and oil and gas extraction.  Geologists identified 17 regions across the country, including the area around Youngstown in northeastern Ohio, that are at higher risk of earthquakes because of oil and gas activities.

A woman was uninjured after her car went over a sidewalk and struck Dollar Tree's storefront Sunday morning.  The Tiffin Police Department said eighty-nine year old Rosemary Gerber of Tiffin, was attempting to leave a parking spot when her accelerator became stuck and her 1993 Taurus struck the storefront.  No other injuries were reported.

According to a review of records by The Associated Press, the number of abortion providers in Ohio has shrunk by half amid a flurry of restrictive new laws over the past four years, and the number of the procedures also is declining. Seven of 16 abortion providers have either closed since 2011 or curtailed abortion offerings. An eighth, in Toledo, is operating under the cloud of pending litigation.

United Way of Fostoria Executive Director Ashley Stahl has resigned effective Thursday.  Stahl has held the position since September 2013…As executive director, the United Way raised over $360,000.  Tiffany Sheridan, the current United Way administrative assistant, will manage the office until a new executive director is appointed. 

Cooper Tire announced it has completed work to develop advanced tire technology funded by a $1.5 million federal grant.  Cooper says it has developed tire technology that delivers an average fuel efficiency improvement of 5.5 percent and reduces weight by 23 to 37 percent.  The grant period began in 2011 and continued through the end of 2014, with work done at Cooper’s North America and Global Technical Centers in Findlay.

The Army Corps of Engineers has released a video answering questions from the April 22 public meeting on the draft flood-control plan for the Blanchard River at Findlay.  Officials from the corps spent nearly two hours answering questions from a crowd of about 300 at Findlay High School.  Participants were asked to write down questions on blue.  However, many questions went unanswered due to time constraints...Team members reconvened in the past week to answer the questions and videotape their response.  The video can be seen at dvidshub.net.

The new Marathon Petroleum parking garages being built in Findlay are making some business owners unhappy.  Street parking along Sandusky Street and Beech Avenue has been scarce as construction moved in for the new parking garage and city officials say they aren't sure if the street parking will return once construction is complete.
 

Governor John Kasich has signed a bill to let some cities create outdoor refreshment areas where revelers could walk outside with open containers of alcohol.  An emergency clause in the legislation allows it to take effect immediately.  The measure will allow cities of a certain size to create areas exempted from the state's open-container law.  The bill originated in Cincinnati who is hosting the Maor League Baseball All-Star Game in July.

Marathon Petroleum announced it profit quadrupled to $891 million because it was refining more oil at higher profit margins.  Marathon Petroleum’s earnings in the January-March quarter translated to $3.24 per share.  CEO Gary Heminger credited Marathon’s extensive pipeline system and fleet of barges and towboats that assisted in the more cost-effective refining.
 

Ohio State University drum major instructor Stewart Kitchen has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman at his home was arraigned yesterday on rape and kidnapping charges.  He did not enter a plea and was released on a $50,000 bond... Court documents allege Kitchen and a woman went out drinking April 15, then walked to his Columbus home.  The woman reported that Kitchen refused to return her to her home and sexually assaulted her in his bedroom as she tried to escape and told him to stop.  Kitchen led the band as head drum major in 2006-07 and is now teaching the leaders of the marching band.  Ohio State University has placed Kitchen on administrative leave and is conducting an internal investigation.