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Local News

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Economy down, Owens' enrollment up
Ewald Furniture - Tiffin
By MICHELLE REITER

STAFF WRITER

Enrollment at Owens Community College's Findlay campus continues to grow, even as the economy continues to flounder.

Summer enrollment numbers rose from 1,587 last year to an all-time high of 1,619 this year, a 2 percent increase.

Angie McGinnis, director of enrollment services at the Findlay campus, said that is the highest number of students ever enrolled for summer courses.

"I think we're still getting the flow of people from businesses downsizing or closing," she said.

Findlay Industries may be closing, and Honeywell in Fostoria has laid off employees, which means more people may need to learn new skills to find employment.

Between the Toledo and Findlay campuses, a record 8,576 students enrolled for the summer at Owens, which beats the previous record of 7,533 students set during the summer of 2004.

Between the two campuses, enrollment has increased 19.3 percent this year for summer classes.

The economy is not the only reason for the increase, McGinnis said. More "transient" or "guest" students are also going to Owens, she said.

Guest students are those who may attend a four-year university during the regular school year, but go to Owens to pick up extra credit hours during summer break, which would then transfer to their four-year schools.

Owens is also offering more online classes, which are attracting more students because they can enroll in classes from wherever they are.

This summer, 3,871 students are taking e-Learning courses at both campuses, a jump from 3,238 last summer.

The school also anticipates an enrollment surge this fall.

McGinnis said as of Monday, 6,821 people have enrolled at Owens' Findlay campus for the fall semester, almost 1,000 more than the number enrolled for the fall semester at the same time last year. Full-time enrollment for both campuses is up 24 percent so far.

Ohio legislators have approved freezing tuition at community colleges for another two years, which means tuition at Owens will remain as it was in 2008 and 2009.

Reiter: 419-427-8497,

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Oak Mallett Golf Club - Findlay
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.