High school football gets back in action tonight.  On ESPN Radio 1430 WFOB, Fostoria travels to Oak Harbor.  On sister station Mix 96.7 WBVI McComb visits Carey.  Both games follow the Northwest Ohio Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Psyche Up show at  6pm that airs live from Fricker’s in Findlay.

Fostoria Civil Service Commission has announced tentative dates for comprehensive examinations of prospective firefighters and police officers.  The exams for both departments will include three components: a physical agility test, a written exam and an oral interview.  Civil Service Commission Chairperson Linda Cohen said the tentative dates for the physical agility test/oral interview for police candidates are either Sept. 17 or Sept. 24. The commission was unable to determine a date for the firefighter exam, but Cohen said a date would likely be selected by Tuesday.

A proposed noise-reduction wall along Western Avenue in Findlay will not be constructed because of a lack of support from the affected neighborhood.  The proposed 16-foot-high wall would have begun at the Western Avenue intersection with U.S. 68/Ohio 15 and continued north to West Lake Court near Lake Cascades.  The decision not to proceed with the wall was based on results of a survey conducted this summer, according to the transportation department.

Jolly's Drive-In has found a new home in downtown Tiffin.  Owner Diane Hassing signed a lease Thursday for space in the Laird Arcade building.  She said the restaurant would open after Christmas, at the earliest.  Hassinger said she plans to have limited seating and a small counter, but she said she expects most business to be from people calling in orders and picking them up at a drive-through window in the alley behind Laird Arcade.

Seneca County law enforcement removed 100 marijuana plants during the county's annual marijuana eradication effort yesterday.  The eradication, funded by a grant from the Drug Enforcement Agency, was an eight-hour event that featured a helicopter that searches the county for marijuana plants in fields.  An estimated that $100,000 of marijuana was taken off Seneca County streets.

First Federal Bank’s parent company, First Defiance Financial Corp. of Defiance, is buying Commercial Bancshares of Upper Sandusky, parent company of Commercial Savings Bank, for about $63 million.  Commercial Savings Bank will merge into First Federal Bank.  Upon completion of the purchase, the combined organization is expected to have about $2.8 billion in assets.

Seneca County Administrator Stacy Wilson says a $500,000 state loan for information technology upgrades can be used while an application is refiled for a $500,000 state grant, The zero interest loan, in conjunction with Tiffin, will allow the purchase of laptops and combine technology between the county and city so building technology can be connected to serve the two government entities.  North Central Ohio Regional Council of Governments, part of the North Central Ohio Educational Service Center, secured the loan.

Seneca Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Charlene Watkins met with township, village and county personnel Thursday night and made a presentation on potential assessment increases to partially fund a land use plan, which is estimated to cost $100,000 to $130,000.  It has been 15 years since a new plan has been put in place and would take about a year to complete. The planning commission is expected to vote on an assessment plan during its Oct. 5 meeting.

Tornado sirens were heard throughout the Tri-County area last night as storms raced through northwest Ohio.  No storm damage was reported in Hancock, Wood and Seneca Counties...

A spokesman for the state Emergency Management Agency says damage was reported at a mobile home park and other sites across four northwest Ohio counties after storms that spurred multiple twisters in Indiana moved across the state line. Spokesman Jay Carey said Wednesday night that there was damage in Defiance, Henry, Paulding and Van Wert counties. Officials in Van Wert County say at least two tornadoes touched down there. In Defiance County, a mobile home park sustained the most damage.

Sandusky County Sheriff Kyle Overmyer pleaded not guilty to charges he stole medications from prescription drug disposal drop boxes, deceived doctors into giving him painkillers and misused department funds.  Overmyer faces six felony charges in a 43-count indictment released Tuesday night.  A judge ordered him to turn over his county property and told him not to contact anyone from the sheriff’s office.  Overmyer was released from jail a short time later on a $150,000 bond.  A special prosecutor said she would begin the process of having him suspended from his job.

32 year old Bradley Stemen of North Baltimore who pleaded guilty in June to amended charges  of permitting drug abuse and obstructing justice in connection to a 2015 overdose death was sentenced to five years of community control on Tuesday.  Stemen and his codefendant 34 year old William Patterson also of North Baltimore, were indicted last year on one count each of reckless homicide and involuntary manslaughter in the May 27, 2015 death of 35 year old Todd Williams of  North Baltimore.  Stemen was also sentenced to pay a $1,000 fine to the North Baltimore Police Drug Fund.

Marathon Petroleum Corporation is donating $250,000 to aid in flood recovery efforts in Louisiana.  The Red Cross will receive $100,000; United Way will receive $50,000; and various local organizations with critical needs will receive the remaining $100,000.  The company's refinery in Garyville, Louisiana, is the third-largest refinery in the nation…At least 10 percent of its employees were also impacted by the devastating floods.

At Findlay’s Income Tax Review Board meeting, Findlay Auditor Jim Staschiak raised several questions about staffing and funding for staff.  The board met to discuss the possible transfer of $155,000 from one fund in the income tax department to another, in order to pay for temporary staff that has been provided through an accounting agency.  During the meeting, Staschiak questioned how using temp workers affects the integrity of the department, whether temporary workers would be more likely to share confidential information, and if the $155,000 request was the most exact estimate.

Stantec, the Canadian-based engineering firm hired by the Hancock County commissioners in July, has completed the first stage of its review of the Army Corps of Engineers’ flood-control plan for the Blanchard River at Findlay.  Hancock County Commissioner Phillip Riegle provided an update saying the company found more surveying of the river is needed and that it would like to create an unsteady-state model to account for all elements to determine flooding impact.

A Sandusky County grand jury has indicted Sandusky County Sheriff Kyle Overmyer on 43 counts, including 38 felony charges following an investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).  The charges include deception to obtain a dangerous drug, tampering with records and theft.  The BCI was asked to conduct an investigation back in September of 2015 after local police chiefs in Sandusky County expressed concerns regarding alleged unusual behavior by Overmyer in prescription drug disposal drop box collections. 

Repair of Fostoria’s Rock Street is nearly complete after KS Energy replaced natural gas lines several months ago.  Two large pits have been filled and seeded.  The only work to be completed is the replacement of a small portion of sidewalk on the northeast corner of Rock and Walnut Streets.

Regional Income Tax Agency, also known as RITA, will begin assisting the City of Fostoria with tax collections beginning October 1.  The move comes on the recommendation of the state auditor’s office after the City was placed on fiscal emergency.  RITA will collect unpaid taxes due to the city.

The Hancock County Republican Party submitted the names of two potential nominees to the governor’s office on Tuesday to replace retiring Findlay Municipal Judge Robert Fry.  Hancock County Prosecutor Mark Miller and Findlay Assistant Law Director Alan Hackenberg were named as candidates for the seat…They were the only two who applied.  The governor’s office will schedule interviews with the candidates and make the selection with a decision possible in a month.

The seventh Seneca County Farmers Market in downtown Tiffin is this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on South Washington Street between Market and Perry streets.  The market will feature a wide variety of products including baked goods, fresh produce, plants, flowers and more.  Other events taking place include the 2nd Annual Downtown Tiffin Garage Sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring wares from most Downtown merchant locations.

Opening ceremonies for the Blanchard Valley Health System’s Miracle Park at the Marathon Diamonds Sports Complex in Findlay are slated for tomorrow morning at 1:15.  The park is a custom baseball field with a cushioned, rubberized surface that allows players with disabilities to play baseball.  The first games are at 2, 3 and 4.  The $1.6 million park, paid for entirely by public and private donations, also features an inclusive playground.

Former Hancock County assistant prosecutor Elizabeth Smith pleaded guilty this week in Putnam County Municipal Court to drunkenly driving a vehicle this spring.  Smith, of Kalida, was fired following an internal investigation by the prosecutor’s office after she was arrested on a drunken driving charge on April 17.  She was sentenced to 33 days in jail with a one-year license suspension.  Thirty days of the jail sentence were suspended on the condition that Smith attend a driving intervention program, and she will be given three days of jail credit upon completion of the program.

After receiving complaints about large holes left on Rock Street in Fostoria, KS Energy Services began repair work yesterday.  The holes were created when a natural gas line was replaced.  Former Fostoria Mayor Jim Bailey began calling officials from Columbia Gas, KS Energy, and the city several months ago to ask the sidewalks be fixed and two large open pits be filled in because of safety concerns of children walking to school.  Riley School Principal Kori Bernal said until the work is completed, adults will be in the area before and after school to make sure students stay safe as they traverse the hazards.

Findlay Municipal Court Judge Robert Fry’s will serve his final day on the bench today as his retirement from public service begins.  Fry was appointed as municipal judge in January 2007 to fill the unexpired term of Judge Vernon Preston, who became an appeals court judge.  Fry was then elected to a full six-year term as municipal judge in November 2011.  Gov. John Kasich will appoint a replacement who will complete Fry’s six-year term.

This Friday, the City of Fostoria, Fostoria Economic Development Corporation and Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce will recognize 97 year old Ray Dell by dedicating the parking lot on the southeast corner of Dell’s Restaurant in honor of him.  The restaurant was founded in 1934 by his father.  In addition to the ribbon-cutting, a new sign will be unveiled naming the parking lot in Dell’s honor.

Bowling Green City Schools is considering drug testing students in the future.  Superintendent Francis Scruci says the idea of implementing drug testing of students recently came up.  He says they've already done drug sweeps at the high school in the past, so randomly testing students and or student athletes would just be another way the district can keep their students free from drugs.  The plan would initially focus on high school students and then could expand to other grades. But Scruci says nothing will happen without consulting the community first.

Fostoria City Council has table proposed legislation to expand the city’s central business district.  A public hearing will take place on September 20 to discuss the zoning change.  The city planning commission recommended the expansion on July 14, which calls for re-zoning several parcels of land along a corridor of Perry Street to officially join the roster of downtown businesses.

Findlay City Council has approved a resolution that allows officials to seek a grant of up to $50,000 from the state’s “Local Government Innovation Fund” to analyze how cost-effective it might be to convert some city vehicles to use alternative fuels.  Findlay City Schools and Hancock County may join the city if it is awarded money for the study.  The city would not be required to contribute any funds to the study, except for labor to compile information about the city’s fleet.

Seneca County Commissioners are looking into potential parking issues that may arise when construction begins on the Seneca County Joint Justice Center.  The Commissioners have talked with the Elks Club about using a portion of its parking lot.  Arrangements have been made for designated parking for Court Street businesses.  Also, the City of Tiffin administration has agreed to allow county employees with a county parking sticker to use other city parking lots.

Bowling Green City Council members chose Scott Seeliger to fill the vacant 4th Ward council.  Seeliger has been a resident of BG since 1979 and most recently was the athletic director and head football coach at Bowling Green High School.  He has since retired.  Seeliger was among six residents who applied for the open seat after former 4th Ward councilwoman Theresa Charters Gavarone resigned to fill the remainder of Tim Brown’s seat as 3rd District Ohio House representative. 

Fostoria City Council will hear a second reading tonight of proposed legislation extending the city’s central business district down Perry Street to include businesses such as Kroger, Red’s Pizza, Little Caesars Pizza and the future Fostoria Learning Center.  Officials say expanding the central business district would create more opportunities for economic growth in the downtown area and allow more local businesses to seek specialized grant funding.

Julie Baker has been named the new executive director of Owens Community College’s Findlay campus.  She replaces Melissa Green, who resigned this summer to take a position elsewhere.  Baker currently serves is the campus director at Brown Mackie College in Findlay.

The Seneca County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is looking for volunteers in the Fostoria area to supplement their emergency service in the event of a disaster.  A new round of classes are set to begin soon to bump up the volunteer base in Fostoria. It’s a vital tool for the entire community in the event of a disaster.  CERT began in the 1980s and was revived following the attacks on September 11.  It’s a way for private citizens to receive training in first aid, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, and terrorism response.  Applications for the CERT training can be found on the Senaca County CERT Facebook page.  The first of nine sessions begin on September 15 at the Fostoria Fire Department.

Tiffin Fire Rescue Division has been awarded a $1 million Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to put toward the purchase of a new aerial fire truck.  The grant leaves the city responsible for $100,000 of the $1.1 million vehicle purchase.  The need for the new aerial truck - which will replace a 35-year-old truck -  was found in a needs assessment conducted for the department 10 months ago.

Starting August 31, new rules will be enforced that will affect trash collection for Bowling Green residents.  Some changes include keeping container lids closed at all times, on collection days, containers must be placed with the lid opening facing the street and removed by 7am the next day and on non-collection days, containers, including dumpsters, shall be stored within an enclosed area or in the side or rear yard of the premises adjacent to the structure with the lid closed.

Ohio Means Jobs-Hancock County will introduce some new programs for individuals seeking work and possibly experiencing barriers to employment.  Beginning at 2 p.m. today, “Getting Ready for Employment Workshops” will be held for those searching for work.  Subjects to be covered include resume writing, interview skills, registering with Ohio Means Jobs, dressing for success, training needs, and mock interviews.  The free workshops will be held at 2 p.m. every Tuesday and at 9 a.m. every Thursday at the Ohio Means Jobs office, 7746 Hancock County 140.
 

Four Fostoria businesses have been awarded grants as part of the Downtown Façade Enhancement Program.  The Fostoria Area Historical Society, United Way of Fostoria, Second Wind Music Center and  Motte and Bailey Assets LLC are the recipients.  The grants are made possible by the Community Investment Corporation, in partnership with the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation and the Geary Foundation.

The Village of Arlington is in the market for a new street commissioner.  On Aug. 4, former street commissioner Kyle Crist submitted his letter of resignation, which will go into effect Friday.  The village has received 12 applicants and full council will review all resumes.

26 year old Robert Roy of Risingsun was arrested early Thursday after firing his gun following a crash west of the village.  His actions caused the Wood County Sheriff’s Office to issue an alert for residents in the area of the crash to stay inside.  Roy crashed into a pole and upon the authorities arrival, he fired a gun three times.  The Sheriff’s office believes the incident stemmed from a family dispute earlier Wednesday evening.  Roy has been charged with inducing panic, discharging weapons while intoxicated and criminal damaging.

65 year old James E. White of Tiffin man was found guilty in the sexual assault of four children between 1995 and 2008.  White’s bond was revoke and he was ordered to be held in Seneca County Jail until his sentencing.  Due to one of the victims being less than age 10 at the time of the offense, White faces life in prison with no possibility of parole.

19 year old Luke Bowman of Mount Blanchard was sentenced to 120 days in the Hancock County jail for assaulting and abducting a 17-year-old boy at a Riverdale High School football game last year.  He was also placed on five years of community control sanctions.  His co-defendant, Brandon Bowman, was sentenced last month on an abduction charge.  The Bowmans believed the victim had stolen a gun from the Bowman family.

The Wood County Sheriff's Office has located 10-year-old Zachary Reilly of Bairdstown.  Police say he was found around 11 p.m. in the 1500 block of Bairdstown Road.  Police say the boy went missing around 3:35 p.m Thursday.  His family told police that this is not the first time he has run away from home. 

The Village of Pemberville is working to fix things, after recent test showed elevated levels of lead in two homes.  Village officials believe the high levels are the result of plumbing in the homes, and not an issue village-wide.  The owners of those homes have been notified, and the village is continuing with testing to determine if the issue exist in other areas. 

23 year old Joshua Chavez of Fostoria was found unresponsive in the restroom of the Pit Stop on Perry Street in Tiffin yesterday afternoon.  Police found a syringe and possible heroin after a brief physical altercation with the suspect.  Chavez was arrested on outstanding warrants unrelated to the incident and was charged with possession of drug abuse instruments.

Former Fostoria City Council Clerk and President Dave Clark died Wednesday after a two year battle with lung cancer.  He was 57 years old.  Clark first served on city council from 2001-2005.  He then became clerk of council, but ended his 8 year term  when he was diagnosed with the disease in July, 2014.  In 2016, Clark returned to public service by winning the November 2015 election for council president.  A 1978 graduate of Fostoria High School, Clark received an associate degree from Terra Technical College in Fremont. He would then go on to work as an engineer for the Roppe Corporation, retiring after more than 30 years.

The City of Tiffin saw a steep decline in its crime rate in 2015.  According to the Uniformed Crime Report, Part I Crimes decreased for the third consecutive year. Part 1 crimes are murder, rape, robbery, grand theft auto, larceny theft, assault and arson.  TPD Chief Fred Stevens said the decrease occurred partly because of a change in strategy of solving cases faster.  54 percent of follow-up investigations were solved last year. The report states the national average for 2015 was 23 percent.

Tiffin Community Reinvestment Group received 14 entries in a contest to win rent-free office space in the Laird Building for one year.  The contest deadline was Aug. 1, and property manager Tyler Shuff said he reviewed all the applicants during the past 10 days.  Shuff and reinvestment group members are to narrow the field to eight finalists in the next few days, and finalists will have about a month to put together a 15-minute PowerPoint or other types of presentations about their business plans.  Each entrant will be invited to present his or her plan before a panel of seven judges Sept. 21.

Shots being fired in Risingsun prompted the Wood County Sheriff’s Office to tell residents in the Bradner and Bay Roads area to stay inside.  The advisory was issued at 11:45 last night and lifted at 3:19am this morning.  The sheriff's office asked at that time that people in that area remain in their homes until further notice while officers investigate activity there.

Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative will break ground on a solar project east of Findlay at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19.  The OurSolar array will offer a green-energy option for the nearly 11,000 residential homeowners served by Hancock-Wood.  The project will place 300 panels east of Findlay at the northwestern corner of U.S. 224 and Marion Township 215.  Funded through Ohio’s electric cooperatives and maintained by Hancock-Wood, the solar station is expected to be ready for use in late summer or early fall, Walton said.

FindlayOhioFinances.com has gone live and anyone can now look at the Findlay’s finances dating back to 2012.  Users can see what payments have been made, how departments are spending their money and every city government employee’s salary.  The website will be updated weekly.
 

Fostoria City Council has approved the zoning change of five properties on North Countyline Street that will become the location of a new Tim Hortons.  The properties — 1030-908 N. Countyline St. — will be converted from residential lots to business lots so MCV Acquisitions LLC can break near the intersection of Countyline Street and Park Avenue.  A new traffic light will be installed outside the business with the traffic flow expected to increase.
 

20 year old Diondre Nathaniel Brown of Fostoria (formerly of Toledo), was arrested and charged with possession of crack cocaine after a drug related search warrant was served at his Bugner Street home.  Brown lives at the residence with 31 year old Danelle Settles and 28 year old Anthony Armstrong.  Additional charges of trafficking crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine, possession of criminal tools and permitting drug abuse are all pending on the residents with the conclusion of the entire drug investigation.

The Hancock Park District commissioners on Tuesday took no action on a resolution to discontinue hunting at Litzenberg Memorial Woods.  The hunting, which is offered through an annual August lottery, has been available since 1993.  As a result, the lottery, usually held in August, will be scheduled soon.  The program allows 35 permit holders to hunt on the 56 acres of park district-owned, mostly wooded property on the south side of U.S. 224…The program operates from Sept. 1 through Jan. 31. The area is closed to the public during these months, except those with a permit to hunt or trap.

Changes to office locations in the Findlay Municipal Building will be taking place at a cost of $350,000.  The moves will create more space for the municipal court on the second floor.  Also, part of the Police Department will be relocated.  The project will be paid for by the court’s improvement fund.

The first meeting of Fostoria’s Financial Planning and Supervision Commission takes place today.  The meeting will officially trigger the 120 day timeline for the city to find a solution to Fostoria’s budget crisis.  If the city does not come up with an answer to Fostoria’s projected deficit of $800,000 for 2016, the state will take over.  In order to get out of fiscal emergency, city officials must eliminate Fostoria’s deficit and then present a five-year forecast showing those conditions will not arise during the five years.

The Findlay City School Board of Education extended Superintendent Ed Kurt’s contract for an additional five years upon the end of his current one that ends in 2017.  Kurt’s new contract includes a salary raise to $150,000 in the first year of the new contract and subsequent raises of 2 percent for each year of the contract.

The Village of McComb began discussions of the installation of an ice rink over the village parks’ basketball courts during the winter.  One option would be for village workers to install a roofing-like material over the courts and surround the rink with plywood at a cost of $9,900.  A second plan would be to obtain an ice rink kit, which could cost $4,300. That sum could be reduced if the village provided the plywood.  Village officials estimated a rink would require 11,000 gallons of water, probably drawn from a reservoir.

An effort to provide several school bus stops inside the village of Carey has been delayed because of a lack of bus drivers.  There is a shortage of substitute bus drivers in the school district, too.  Efforts to advertise for more bus drivers have been unsuccessful.

An electrical fire at a Bascom residence caused extensive damage, but no injuries.  The Bascom Joint Fire District responded to the fire Saturday afternoon at 673 Elm Street.  No one was home at the time of the fire…Brandy Cook and three others who lived in the home have been displaced and are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is seeking public comments about the widening of I-75 in Findlay, which is now slated to begin next year.  The state plans to reconstruct and widen about five miles of I-75 through Findlay, to improve safety and traffic flow. Construction work will begin just south of the Hancock County 99 interchange and extend south beyond the Harrison Street overpass, about one mile south of the U.S. 68/Ohio 15 interchange.  Comments can be made be made by contacting Nate Tessler at ODOT District 1in Lima.

The commercial bids in this year's Seneca County Fair livestock sale increased by more than $40,000 from 2015.  This year’s total was $284,000.  Part of the increase can be attributed to the return of birds to the fair this year.  Last year, there was a statewide ban on live bird exhibits.