Evelyn Marker has been named the permanent executive director of the United Way of Fostoria after serving four months as the interim.  Marker is a former director with ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital and replaced Ashley Stahl on May 11.  The United Way’s 2015 campaign kicks off tomorrow.

The University of Findlay’s All-Hazards Training Center has received a $611,000 federal grant to train volunteers and remote emergency responders on responding to train derailments involving hazardous materials spills, particularly crude oil.  The one-year grant from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration will be used to conduct between 60 and 70 one-day training events within a 500-mile radius of Findlay.  UF was one of three nonprofit organizations to receive a grant.

The City of Findlay was not included in the more than 100 cities and school districts that were included in Ohio’s new “open checkbook” website.  Findlay Mayor Lydia Mihalik and city Auditor Jim Staschiak were to meet with state officials to begin the process of transferring city data to the website, but a February meeting was canceled by a state official and was never rescheduled.  Now it seems that the Mayor and Auditor at odds over participation.  While Mihalik supports the website, Staschiak will not commit to publishing information on the site for what he calls “several critical issues”.
 

Ohio has received a $71 million U.S. Department of Education grant to expand charter schools. The move comes as the state reviews possible data scrubbing by a former school choice director and lawmakers push fixing charter oversight. The grant represents the largest single portion of a new $157 million to expand charter school opportunities.
 

Effective October 1, 2015, Mercy Tiffin and Mercy Willard Hospitals will begin benefiting from public safety and service protection as part of Mercy Health’s Toledo Region.  Previously, Mercy had four different services that provided policing, security and emergency management functions at some of the local hospitals within Mercy Health’s Toledo region.  The new regional Public Safety Department is currently working with all the hospital senior leadership and local jurisdictions on reviewing security structures needed at each of their respective facilities.

Hancock County’s commissioners have begun the first steps of updating ditch maintenance funds and will begin with Ottawa Creek.  The commissioners asked Gary Tuttle, district technician for the Hancock Soil & Water Conservation District, to develop an estimate and specifications for clearing a 12-mile length of Ottawa Creek, as it flows through Union and Blanchard townships.  The district has already cleared about 8 miles of the creek of leaning trees and logjams this year. A total of 27 logjams and 22 leaning trees were removed from the creek for about $20,000.  A rough estimate puts the cost of finishing the creek at about $35,000.

Fifth Ward Findlay City Councilman John Harrington announced via his Facebook page that he is running for the Hancock County Commissioner seat held by Brian Robertson in the March 15, 2016 Republican Primary.  Harrington believes that the county has a lot of opportunity for growth and will be running on the platform of a balanced approach to spending, development and cooperation between townships and the city.

The Hancock Historical Museum will host a paranormal investigation from 9:30 p.m. to midnight Oct. 16.  Investigators from Paraex will lead the investigation.  Guests will take an active role in an investigation of the Hull House, Crawford Log House and DeWald-Funk House, working with the investigators to identify any paranormal activity.  Space is limited and guests must be over 16. Advanced reservations are required. Refreshments will be provided.  For more information or to make a reservation, call the museum at 419-423-4433 or visit www.hancockhistoricalmuseum. org.