The National Weather Service is predicting minor flooding by both the Blanchard River and Eagle Creek today, following four days of rain.  The Blanchard River’s minor flood stage at Findlay starts at 11 feet.  At 11 p.m. Monday, the river level was 9.98 feet and rising.  The weather service projected the river level could rise to 11.5 feet by about noon today, then recede.  More than 2.5 inches of rain has fallen on the area since Friday.
 

In Seneca County, the Sandusky River at Tiffin was in action stage, which is 6 feet to 9 feet. Flood stage occurs at 9 feet.  According to National Weather Service, the river was at 7.31 feet at 9:45 p.m. Monday and was to drop to 7 feet today.  The weather service predicted the river would fall below action stage at about 10 p.m. Wednesday.

Jeffery Dawson of Hamler was introduced to McComb Village Council as the fire chief of the newly-created Northwest Hancock Fire District.  Dawson was recently hired by officials of McComb, and Pleasant and Portage townships, who comprise the fire district.  The three governmental entities will share funding and firefighting equipment for the department.  Recruiting more firefighters, promoting smoke detector use and other community awareness projects were mentioned as goals by Dawson for his department in 2016.

A grand jury has declined to indict a white Cleveland police officer in the killing of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old black boy who was shot while playing with what turned out to be a pellet gun. Cuyahoga County prosecutor Tim McGinty says it's "indisputable" the boy was drawing the pistol from his waistband when he was gunned down last year and patrolman Timothy Loehmann was justified in opening fire.  Tamir Rice's family is condemning the grand jury's decision. However, they echo the prosecutor in urging those who are disappointed to express themselves "peacefully and democratically." Barricades were set up outside the county courthouse in Cleveland yesterday in case of protests.