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Local News

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Hundreds hope to dive into the record books
Horizon Eyecare - Findlay
By KENT CLEMENTS

STAFF WRITER

GILBOA -- A sea of scuba divers has poured into Gilboa Quarry and will attempt to set a world record this afternoon.

At about 2 p.m. today, divers from across the country will begin entering the 14-acre, 130-foot-deep quarry. They hope to set a mark for the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most scuba divers underwater at the same time, said Mike Williams, the quarry's owner and caretaker.

The current mark was set Feb. 25, 2007 in the Indian ocean when 958 divers entered the water together, Williams said Friday.

Between 700 and 800 divers were registered for the Gilboa event as of Friday night, some traveling from as far as Arizona, Williams said, and he expects them to keep coming.

Gilboa Quarry is located at 3763 Old State Route 224 in Putnam County, just off U.S. 224. To participate in the event, a person must be a certified diver who has been in the water at least once in the last 60 days, and must pay a registration fee of $50.

Most of the money from participating divers is being used to provide tents, other amenities and handle the logistics of the event, Williams said.

"The phone here hasn't gone five minutes without ringing," he said, "It's been crazy."

"It will be quite the party" tonight if the world record attempt succeeds, he said.

Williams said the safety of the divers is a primary concern.

In order to ensure the divers' well-being, each participant will be attached to a 25-foot-long rip cord that leads to the surface, and around 100 "lane shepherds" will be moving through the water keeping tabs on the divers, Williams said.

Spotters on platforms will be looking over the water with infrared goggles as well, he said.

The record dive attempt, which is part of a three-day event at the quarry, is not the only thing Williams has high hopes for.

"Being a farm-town area, we're going to try playing cow-chip bingo (in an adjoining pasture), which I've heard a lot about," he said.

More information can be found at www.divegilboa.com
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News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

Holiday changes ad deadlines
The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.