Forum on drug addiction to be held in Port Clinton Thursday

A pair of two-hour forums dealing with the area’s drug epidemic will be held in Port Clinton on Thursday.

The Ottawa County Opiate Collaborative is hosting the event at 7:30 am and 3:30 pm at the Camp Perry Clubhouse on Lawrence Drive.

The forums will include discussion from local law enforcement, EMT’s, treatment services and those recovering from addiction.

The public is invited; but you must register online to attend (ottawafcfc.weebly.com).

Monroeville man wins safety award

A Monroeville electrical worker has been recognized for safety.

Electric division superintendent Dave Hamons has received the 2017 A-M-P Hard Hat Safety Award.

The honor from American Municipal Power selects workers who exemplify “a safety first” approach in the maintenance and repair of electrical systems.

Superintendent of Danbury to retire

Danbury Schools Superintendent Dan Parent has announced his retirement.

Parent, who has led the school district since 2008, will retire in 2018.

Special meetings have been planned to discuss the opening; as well as possibly hold interviews.

The school plans to make a decision on a new superintendent by December.

Fremont woman charged with stealing from Sandusky salon

A Fremont woman has turned herself in to authorities after being charged with stealing over $300 in services from a hair salon in Sandusky.

31-year-old Brittany Hetrick reportedly received hair highlights and other services at Scarlett O’Hair Salon on West Perkins Avenue; where she left without paying after being told she couldn’t pay with a check.

Norwalk Rotary Club requests “Pennies For Polio”

The Rotary Club of Norwalk is currently holding a donation drive, raising funds to benefit Rotary’s Polio Plus program.

Marked yellow jugs have been placed throughout the Norwalk area, including businesses and restaurants; with funds raised going directly to help eliminate Polio throughout the world.

Donations will be collected through the end of October.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST – 10/17

Today

Sunny, with a high near 67.

Tonight

Clear, with a low around 45.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 69.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 69.

High winds cause damage on Sunday

High winds and dropping temperatures were the story on Sunday.

The increasing wind gusts caused a section of State Route 4 in Erie County to be closed for a few hours late Sunday afternoon due to a downed tree between Mason Road and Route 99.

Erie County detective resigns following alleged use of racial slur

A detective with the Erie County Sheriff’s department has resigned amid an internal investigation involving his alleged use of a racial slur in public.

Deputy Justin Smith reportedly used the slur earlier this month while intoxicated at a Columbus bar after the first day of a training session with other area detectives.

Smith had been with the sheriff’s office in Erie County for 13 years.

Two men injured in crash near Norwalk

A Wakeman teenager was cited for running a stop-sign in a two-vehicle injury accident Friday morning at the intersection of U.S. 250 and Zenobia Road, south of Norwalk.

Mason Church reportedly hit a SUV with his truck on U.S. 250 after heading east on Zenobia.

Two men in the SUV received non-life-threatening injuries.

Church was not hurt.

Four teens hurt in golf cart crash

Four teenagers were hurt in a golf cart crash Saturday night near Sandusky.

Three of the four juveniles had minor injuries and another suffered incapacitating injuries when their cart reportedly ended up in a water hazard at Plum Brook Country Club.

The crash occurred near a bridge that was closed and barricaded.

Fire destroys barn in Townsend Township

A fire completely destroyed a barn in Townsend Township Saturday morning.

No one was hurt, including animals, in the blaze on State Route 412 near the Castalia Quarry MetroPark.

National School Bus Safety Week starts today

Today begins ‘National School Bus Safety Week’.

This year’s theme, “Stop on Red,” reminds motorists and students about the dangers that exist outside of school buses.

Troopers will increase visibility on school bus routes and school related safety zones by following or riding on school buses to identify violations.

Hydrant flushing going on this week in Norwalk

Fall hydrant flushing begins this week in Norwalk.

The city says that water may be discolored during the flushing; and recommend that residents run cold water for around 15 minutes, or until water is clear.

The hydrant flushing project should last around two weeks.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST – 10/16

Today

Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Tuesday

Sunny, with a high near 65.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 67.

Norwalk City Schools open today after threat determined to be false

The Norwalk City School District will operate as normal today, after an investigation by police deemed a violent threat to be non-credible.

The violent threat, referring to today, was reported to authorities last week after being viewed on social media by a Norwalk High School student.

There will continue to be an increased police presence throughout the district.

Trial delayed for Huron County accused serial rapist

The Huron County trial for accused serial rapist McClain Durst has been delayed a couple of months.

It was supposed to begin yesterday, but has been rescheduled for December following a motion made by the prosecution.

Durst is facing rape charges from a July incident near West Clarksfield.

He is also scheduled to go on trial next month in Sandusky County on a charge of rape from a 2015 incident in Bellevue.

Sandusky County Jail escapee facing more time in prison

One of the men who escaped from the Sandusky County Jail in Fremont this past summer now faces additional time in prison.

37-year-old Mickey Hardy was sentenced to three more years in county jail after pleading guilty to the escape last month.

He now faces a total of nine years in jail.

Hardy and fellow inmate Jordan Chapman escaped from jail in July by going out a malfunctioning door and climbing a fence.

They were on the run for two days before being caught by police in Toledo.

Construction of Sandusky detox center to likely be complete by month’s end

The Erie County Health Department says their new 16-bed detox center is near completion.

The facility on Superior Street in Sandusky will offer a medically-supervised setting for addicts to detox, as an alternative to jail or at home.

The construction of the building is expected to be wrapped up as early as October 24^th.

An open house has been planned for mid-November.

Firelands Symphony seeking new locale

The Firelands Symphony Orchestra is looking for a new location.

They have been residing in their historic downtown Sandusky home on East Washington Street since 1996; but the current lease there will reportedly expire in February of 2018.

Orchestra officials say they are taking a look at spaces both downtown and outside of the downtown Sandusky area.

The lease at their current location could be extended if needed.

Perkins Schools seeks honest feedback

Residents are invited to have their opinions heard concerning how Perkins Schools is handling a number of issues; including ADA accessibility, capacity and increasing repair costs.

The district is offering three 90-minute work sessions through an independent third party.

They will take place on October 19^th and 20^th at Perkins High School.

Contact the school for more info.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST – 10/13

Today

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.

Sunday

Showers likely.  Mostly cloudy and breezy, with a high near 74.

Driver killed in crash on U.S. 20 west of Fremont

A driver was killed Wednesday morning when his SUV ran underneath a semi-trailer at the west end of the U.S. 20 by-pass around Fremont.

According to authorities, a 57-year-old Michigan semi-truck driver was charged with vehicular homicide after pulling out in front of a Cadillac driven by 75-year-old William Mayle of Fremont, who died at the scene.

Drugs and alcohol do not appear to be a factor in the crash.

Early voting underway

In-person absentee voting is now underway here in Ohio.

Registered voters can cast their ballots early from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at county board of elections’ offices over the next couple of weeks, with extended hours the week of October 30^th.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 7^th.

Free Medicare Check-Up Day event coming to Huron County

A Medicare Check-Up Day event will be held next Wednesday (10/18) at the Fisher Titus Medical Center, Jennings Auditorium, in Norwalk.

Counseling is by appointment only, beginning at 9:00 am.

Call ahead to schedule.

More information can be found online at the Ohio Department of Insurance website (www.insurance.ohio.gov).

ODOT memorial on display honoring lives lost in construction zone accidents

The Ohio Department of Transportation has created a travelling memorial to remember the 28 lives lost inside road construction zones a year ago.

The display consists of 28 construction vests placed over crosses in front of a flashing sign, displaying work zone death information.

The crosses are currently on display on State Route 2 near Camp Perry.

In 2016, 27 drivers and one state road employee were killed inside Ohio construction zones.

Edison High School students working on community projects

Edison High School students are working hard on two annual community service projects.

Senior Molly Davis is collecting can pull-tabs that will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House in Toledo.

“Sock-tober” also begins on Friday, with students gathering socks to be presented to the Miriam House in Norwalk; as well as the Boys and Girls Club and Care and Share in Sandusky.

The collection drives are part of Edison High School’s Teen Leadership Corps class.

Perkins Fire Department hosting ‘open house’ event this weekend

The Perkins Township Fire Department is playing host to an open house event on Sunday.

From 12 noon to 3:00 pm, visitors can sit in a fire truck; tour their fire safety house, and watch police K-9 demonstrations.

It takes place at the fire station on Milan Road in Sandusky, next to Great Wolf Lodge.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST – 10/12

Today

A slight chance of showers.  Cloudy, with a high near 66.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.

Friday

Partly sunny, with a high near 72.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.