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Local News

Friday, July 30, 2010

Sanders named battalion chief
Brian Sanders, a 21-year veteran of the Findlay Fire Department, has been promoted to battalion chief.

Chief Tom Lonyo on Thursday said Rodney Phillips, a firefighter since 1992, was promoted to fill Sanders' captain post.

Sanders has filled in as an acting battalion chief since 2003. He was named Fire Officer of the Year in 2006, and was commended for the rescue of a 13-year-old girl from a burning house in 2005.

Phillips is the leader of the Technical Rescue Team, and earned Firefighter of the Year in 2008. He has also been commended for saving a small boy from a burning house in 2006, rescuing five victims from a flood in Mount Blanchard in 2007, and most recently for helping save the life of firefighter Richard Kidwell this year.

The fire department has three battalion chiefs and 12 captains. Command structure at the fire department starts with the fire chief, followed by battalion chiefs, then captains and the firefighters.

The battalion chief spot opened when Patrick Ball retired in 2009, Lonyo said.

A battalion chief makes $64,066 the first year, while a captain makes $58,270 in the first year, according to the auditor's office.

Safety Director Jim Barker, an arbitrator, Perrysburg Fire Chief Jeff Klein, and several union members decided the promotions, Lonyo said.

It is typical to have a neutral party brought in for promotions, union President Matthew Cooper said, explaining the Perrysburg fire chief's spot on the promotions panel.

"Whoever would have gotten picked for the positions, we would have been happy," Cooper said.

"We have held off promotions for a long time and it kind of hurts the command structure when you don't have positions filled," he said.

Both Sanders and Phillips will be sworn in at 9:30 a.m. Monday in City Council chambers.


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Benton Ridge Shooting

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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.