Three people were seriously injured in a head-on crash Friday night on Ohio 53 in Seneca County, south of the county line.  Forty-nine year old Michelle A. Gaietto, of Lindsey, and twenty-two year old Brittany Victoria Irene Martin, of Upper Sandusky, were seriously injured and transported to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo.  A passenger in Martin’s vehicle, nine-teen year old Donald P. Barth, of Upper Sandusky, was also seriously injured and also was taken to the hospital.  Gaietto was traveling north on Ohio 53 in an SUV and Martin was driving south in a van.  Gaietto failed to maintain control of her vehicle on the icy road and went left of center, striking Martin’s vehicle head on.  All three motorists were wearing seat belts and alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash.

The state Ohio is set to receive another $4 million in federal funds to help fight toxic algae in Lake Erie.  The money will go toward projects in the Maumee River watershed and the Sandusky River watershed in northwestern Ohio.

According to the Van Buren school board, administrators have investigated and responded appropriately to charges of by a mother of a Van Buren football player that her son was harassed, bullied and assaulted as a member of the team.  In a statement, the school board said Superintendent Tim Myers, football coach Kevin Shoup and Principal Mike Brand “promptly, and in good faith, investigated the allegations and responded appropriately and consistently where necessary.”  The school board said it “cannot discuss specifics” because of student privacy laws.

The Findlay Police Department is investigating a robbery at Cigars and Stuff on S. Blanchard Street that took place Sunday afternoon.  A man in his late 20s to early 30s, wearing a hooded gray sweatshirt, blue jeans and a leather jacket gave an employee a note demanding all the money from the register.  He then reached over the counter and took money from the register, left the store and escaped on foot, heading north.  He was described as about 5'10” to 6', thin, with short brown hair and an unshaven face.  Police are continuing to investigate.

Tri-County Area shoppers who travel to Toledo and Lucas County for bargains will be paying a little more beginning Wednesday.  The sales tax will increase by a quarter percent to a total of 7.25 percent.  Officials say the county expects to receive an additional $14 million a year from the increase.

The United Way of Hancock County has awarded grants totaling almost $1.75 million to 26 programs offered by social service agencies throughout the county.  Some organizations receiving the grants were Open Arms, Hope House, Camp Fire of Northwest Ohio, Family Resource Center and Cancer Patient Services.  In addition the grants, a memorandum of understanding was entered into with the American Red Cross to reimburse services related to disaster relief and armed forces communications up to $50,000 for the year.

Ohio drivers are spending a little more at that pump this week.  Gas prices have risen five cents over the past week to $2.38 a gallon.  Ohio prices continue to run about four cents lower than the national average.