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Local News

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Fostoria crime task force leaving
Findlay Inn & Conference Center -Downtown Findlay
By JORDAN CRAVENS

staff writer

FOSTORIA -- After three years of combatting drugs and other crime in Fostoria, the Tri-County Fostoria Zero Tolerance Task Force is leaving town.

As of Nov. 30, deputies from Seneca and Hancock counties will stop patrols in Fostoria, due to decreased funding, according to Capt. Roger Treece with the Hancock County Sheriff's Office.

The Wood County Sheriff's Office opted out of the three-county task force earlier this year, also citing financial concerns.

The task force began in April 2006 with three-year funding provided by the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation. Each of the three counties contributed a deputy to help fight crime in Fostoria.

The task force "was pretty unique, there was nothing like it in the state," Treece said. "Basically it formed its own police department."

Funding is no longer available, "but the mission has been accomplished," Treece said.

"The mission was zero tolerance. Fostoria was having an open drug problem," he said. "It was also to help supplement the Fostoria Police Department when manpower was down and they were going through layoffs."

In its first nine months of operation, the task force arrested 87 people for drug crimes, according to statistics provided by the Hancock County sheriff. In 2007, 120 drug arrests were made and in 2008, there were 67.

As of June 2009, 25 drug arrests were made.

"We are certainly appreciative of their efforts in helping us have extra eyes and ears on the road," said Fostoria Police Chief John McGuire.

"It was nice to have an extra agency to not only assist, but to also help us when we were understaffed," he said.

The extra enforcement will be missed, but McGuire said his department is up to the task of continuing to clean up the drugs in Fostoria.

"They are highly trained and I think they are going to continue the increased efforts we started," he said of his staff.

Treece agreed: "They have some new young guys, some go-getters."

Deputy Josh Peters is Hancock County's assigned task force deputy. His task force position will be eliminated, but he will continue working at the sheriff's office, Treece said.

The Seneca County Drug Task Force METRICH Enforcement Unit will continue enforcement alongside Fostoria police, Treece said.

Seneca County Sheriff Tom Steyer was out of the office until Thursday and was not available for comment.

Cravens: 419-427-8422,

Send an e-mail to Jordan Cravens


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1 Comment

jeff wrote:
thank you
“ To the officers that worked this detail, thank you for your efforts. Good luck Fostoria PD in the future, you will need it!! ”
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 10:39:57 PM
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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.

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

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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.

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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
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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.