No injuries were reported after a fire broke out at a vacant trailer at Nye’s Trailer Park Tuesday morning.  Officers with the Fostoria Police Department responded to the scene and were able to evacuate the surrounding trailers and area to ensure no one was injured.  Upon arrival, fire crews found a 750 square-foot, single-family structure with flames blazing from the front window.  While the fire was quickly extinguished, crews were on scene for an hour and a half performing overhaul and investigations.  Utility services were previously turned off at the vacant property and the incident was turned over to the Fostoria Police Department for further investigation.
 

The Hancock County commissioners approved an agreement today with the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts and the Hancock County Agricultural Society to allow for the release of hotel/motel bed tax money.  The commissioners voted Oct. 6 to increase the tax to benefit the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts and the Hancock County Agricultural Society.  By accepting the money, both groups will be required to report annually to the commissioners’ office about their use of the money.  The money must be used for capital improvements over the next seven years.

State Sen. Cliff Hite, R-Findlay, released a report on resolving issues surrounding participation fees for extra- and co-curricular activities in Ohio schools.  Hite had conducted a statewide tour, seeking input at public forums last fall in Findlay, Dayton, Cleveland and Columbus.  Hite’s report suggests several possible steps, including:  Requiring districts to disclose costs and budgeting related to extracurricular fees; Prescribing that fees must be used for the activities they are being charged for; and setting caps on how much districts can charge per activity or family per year.  Banning participation fees outright, or banning them but providing an additional measure of appropriating funds, was considered but deemed to not be a feasible solution.

A new support group is meeting in Tiffin for combat veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress. The group meets each Monday, 10:30am-Noon at the Tiffin-Seneca Public Library and is facilitated by the VA’s Toledo Vet Center.  The PTSD Support Group is an open, on-going support group for veterans who have served in a combat theater and are having problems readjusting to civilian life or veterans experiencing a delayed stress reaction to repressed combat trauma.  Veterans must be pre-screened by a Toledo Vet Center counselor prior to starting group therapy.  Veterans are asked to contact the Seneca County Veterans Service Office to participate.

Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) is offering educational scholarships to individuals pursuing health care careers. BVHS associates, current college students and high school seniors entering college are eligible to apply.  A complete list of scholarships, along with applications, deadlines, qualifications and contact information can be viewed at www.bvhealthsystem.org.

The Hancock Park District Board approved a payment of nearly $7,500 to Watchtower Consulting IT Services, Findlay, to design and host the site at hancockparks.com.  The price includes a year of website hosting, and after that, the park district will pay $20 monthly.  Along with seeing a new look, park patrons will also be able to register for program and pay registration fees online.  There will also be videos, and park district personnel will have access to make changes.