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Local News

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Woman killed in accident

Findlay Inn & Conference Center -Downtown Findlay
By ERIC SCHAADT

Staff Writer

Interstate 75 turned treacherous Wednesday morning as slick road conditions were blamed for a rash of accidents, including one which took the life of a Bluffton woman.

Kay Johnson, 38, was killed when her car slid into the opposite lanes and struck a tractor-trailer head on, according to the Lima post of the State Highway Patrol.

The driver of the truck, Roy Haynes, 56, of Findlay, was listed in fair condition Wednesday night at Lima Memorial Hospital.

The patrol reported that Johnson was southbound on the interstate near Beaverdam at 6:01 a.m. when her car went off the left side of the road, through the median and into the northbound lanes, colliding with Haynes' rig.

Weather was cited as a factor in the accident, according to the patrol.

The Lima post also handled five other wrecks on the interstate Wednesday morning. None was believed to have resulted in serious injuries.

“Cars just slid off the road, people not slowing down,” a patrol dispatcher said.

About a dozen accidents were reported Wednesday morning in the stretch of I-75 around Findlay. The Findlay patrol post said six people were hurt. Details of the accidents were not available Wednesday night.

One accident, involving four vehicles, shut down travel on the interstate for two hours Wednesday morning, according to the Findlay post.

Numerous accidents occurred around 7:10 a.m. Wednesday north of Findlay on the interstate near the scales area.

And a commercial truck reportedly rolled onto its side on the intestate at 5:30 a.m.

Traffic accidents were not just limited to the interstate.

A rural Findlay teenager was hurt in a two-vehicle accident at 4:50 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Allen Township Road 108 and County Road 236.

Treated and released from Blanchard Valley Hospital was Jordan Hammond, 16.

The Findlay patrol post reported she was driving on the township road when her Chevy slid through the intersection and into the path of a Ford truck operated on the county road by Randy Cunningham, 43, of rural Van Buren.

No citation had been issued as of late Wednesday.

Another motorist escaped serious injury when her van slid into Lye Creek at 9:12 a.m. Wednesday. The driver -- whose name was not immediately available -- was checked for injuries at the scene.

Her van went off the icy Marion Township Road 180, north of Ohio 37, and into the creek. The van landed on its passenger side in knee-high water.

EMTs and the Vanlue Fire Department waded into the creek with a ladder to rescue the driver, according to Fire Chief Bill Drown.

The Hancock County Sheriff's Office responded to five accidents on icy roads, none involving serious injuries.

No snow is predicted today, but there is a 60 percent of snow tonight, according to forecasters.

Contact staff writer Eric Schaadt at: (419) 427-8414 Send an e-mail to Eric Schaadt

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News Briefs Crime Of The Week
Findlay/Hancock County Crime Stoppers wants information about a break-in at the Liberty Convenience store, 607 S. Main St., Mount Blanchard, at 11:30 p.m. March 14.

Entry was made after a window was broken. Several packs of cigarettes were taken before two male suspects fled.

One suspect wore a black-hooded coat, blue jeans and white tennis shoes.

People with information about this or any other crime that leads to an arrest or indictment will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Crime Stoppers can be called weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 419-425-TIPS or 419-425-8477. Callers can remain anonymous.

The Web site is www.hancockcrimestoppers.org.


Two arrested in Fostoria raid
FOSTORIA -- Drug-related charges were pending Friday against two Fostoria residents following a raid at a South Poplar Street home.

Arrested at 304 S. Poplar St. were Tony R. Ticey, 39, and Sara R. Fuller, 35, according to the Seneca County Drug Task Force-METRICH Enforcement Unit.

Charges of permitting drug abuse, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, trafficking in crack cocaine, and possession of criminal tools were pending against the two, police said.

Fostoria police, drug task force agents and the Fostoria Police Department's Directed Patrol Unit all took part in the raid.


Ex-police chief faces sentencing
OTTAWA -- Forrest Gordon, a former Ottawa and Kalida police chief who was convicted of theft in office in Jaunary, is scheduled to be sentenced Friday by Putnam County Common Pleas Judge Randall Basinger.

Gordon was accused of committing several crimes while he was Kalida's police chief.

A jury convicted him of two counts of theft in office, both fourth-degree felonies.


Fundraising 5K race today
Police and firefighters will be among those competing today in the second annual "5K & Pump n Go" competition in Findlay, sponsored by Northwest Ohio Orthopedics.

The event is held to raise money for athletic booster clubs and the families of injured military members.

The 5K race starts at 9:30 a.m. at Findlay Evangelical Free Church, 2515 Heatherwood Drive. There will be race-day signup at the church.

There also will be a "Pump n Go" involving bench presses. Each legal repetition will deduct 30 seconds off the participant's subsequent 5K time.


Litter cleanup planned April 17
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The cleanup will include the area between Road H-11, Ohio 15, Road H, Road 11 and Road 12.

The management district will also hold a tire collection at the landfill the same day. Up to nine tires from a residence will be accepted at 50 cents per car or light truck tire, and $3 per large truck tire.

Volunteers are being sought including civic clubs, agricultural societies, 4-H youth groups, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and church youth groups.

For questions, contact Brenda Bruce or Jessica Trinko, 419-523-3656.


Hospital board to hold meeting
Blanchard Valley Health System will host its annual board of trustees meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Marathon Oil Auditorium at Blanchard Valley Hospital.

The board will review nominations for incoming board members. The meeting is open to the public.


McComb offering open enrollment
McCOMB -- McComb Schools will begin accepting open enrollment applications for the 2010-11 school year Monday.

Applications may be picked up at the superintendent's office between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Completed applications must be returned to the superintendent's office by May 7.

Parents whose children already attend McComb School through open enrollment must apply each year.


Van Buren plans kindergarten registration
VAN BUREN -- Van Buren Elementary School will hold kindergarten registration March 29 through April 16.

Parents or guardians of children who will be 5 years old on or before Aug. 1, and who plan to attend kindergarten in the 2010-11 school year, need to register by calling the school office at 419-299-3416. Registrations will be taken between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on school days.

An appointment time will be set for kindergarten screening, which will be held on April 19 at the school.

Parents or guardians should bring a birth certificate, immunization record, Social Security card and any custody papers to the screening.

At the screening, children will move through stations or centers designed to evaluate speech, hearing, language and vision development.


Screening slated for preschool
MOUNT BLANCHARD -- Falcon View Preschool, located in the Riverdale Schools administration building, will hold screening on May 28. Call 419-694-2211, extension 1811, to register.


Graduate program open house slated
BLUFFTON -- Bluffton University will present a graduate programs open house from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Putnam County Education Service Center, 124 Putnam Parkway, Ottawa.

At the open house, adults can gain information about master's degree programs in business administration, arts and organizational management and education. The graduate programs are made for working adults, with classes one night a week on the Bluffton campus and at other regional locations.

For more information about the open house, call 1-800-488-3257.


Talk scheduled on social work
BLUFFTON -- Christina Gringeri, associate professor of social work at the University of Utah, will discuss "Social Work in the Twenty-First Century: Riding the Waves of Immigration, or Missing the Boat?" at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Bluffton University's Founders Hall. The forum is free.

Gringeri's address will explore the profession of social work and where it fits in the immigration debate in the United States.


Forest library showing movies
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"The Blind Side" will be shown at 1 p.m. and the family movie "The Princess and the Frog" will be shown at 7 p.m.

Admission is $1 for each movie, which includes a pop and popcorn.Doors for the family movie open at 6:45 p.m. and attendance is limited to 75 people.


African Children's Choir to perform
ADA -- Ohio Northern University's Freed Center for the Performing Arts presents the African Children's Choir on Wednesday, April 7, at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Bringing their production "Journey of Hope" to the stage at Ohio Northern, the African Children's Choir consists of children from poverty-stricken and war-torn areas of Africa.

Tickets are on sale now: $15 general admission, $12 for seniors and non-ONU students, $9 for children and $5 for ONU students. The Freed Center box office is open Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Phone orders are accepted with American Express, MasterCard, VISA and Discover by calling 419-772-1900. Tickets are also available online at www.freedcenter.com.