The ninth annual Latino Fest hits the streets of downtown Fostoria tomorrow.  The free event brings more than 1000 people to Fostoria.  The festival starts at 2pm and runs until midnight.  Live entertainment, activities for the kids, a car show and lots of great food will be featured.  Proceeds from the Latino Fest set up a foundation for next year’s event.  Remaining funds will be donated to at least one area family during the holiday seasons to go toward food, clothing, presents and more. 

Arcadia Local Schools was one of three area schools to be recognized among the top 50 of Newsweek’s 2015 Beating the Odds list.  The list ranks the top 500 schools in the nation for low-income students.  The rankings are based on performance while also factoring in student poverty.  The two other schools are Pandora-Gilboa and Patrick Henry.

The Hancock County commissioners voted Thursday to seek bids for the demolition of their former offices at 222 Broadway.  Bids will be accepted until 11 a.m. Sept. 8.  The commissioners were forced to move their offices to Broadway after the 2007 flood destroyed their former building.  The Broadway building is in need of extensive repairs, including the roof and foundation, so the commissioners opted for demolition instead.
 

An Ohio lawmaker is proposing an annual "Louis Stokes Day" to recognize the state's first black congressman, who died this week. State Representative Stephanie Howse (haus) says she plans to introduce legislation establishing the day on February 23rd, which was Stokes' birthday. Stokes died peacefully at home in Cleveland on Tuesday at age 90.

Five search warrants were executed Thursday as Seneca County law enforcement officers investigated the death thirty two year old Nathan Hunker of Tiffin.  Hunker died in the home of Randall S. Mentzer after having drinks.  The two went to bed around 4am and Hunker was found in the same position as he we went to bed.  Officers called it a "questionable death" and said an autopsy on Hunker's body had not been performed as of Thursday evening.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is ramping up enforcement efforts against drunken driving as part of the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.  The effort by the sheriff’s office will run from today through Labor Day, Sept. 7.  The campaign with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration aims to curb impaired driving.  Increased state and national messages about the dangers of impaired driving will be coupled with sobriety checkpoints and additional road patrols.
 

The Friends of ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital Foundation have announced plans to host a two-day signature fundraising event – Cookin’ for a Cause and Golf Benefit on September 2 and 3.  The events will benefit local patients through the expansion and relocation of the ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital Dialysis Center on the hospital campus.  The events will kick off on Wednesday, September 2 with the new Cookin’ for a Cause grazing dinner and auction.  The following day, Thursday, September 3, the Golf Benefit, a traditional golf scramble, will be held at Loudon Meadows Golf Course in Fostoria.  For additional information, including reservations, sponsorships or donation information, simply call the ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital Foundation, at 419-436-6678.