Officials from Fisher-Titus Medical Center and The Bellevue Hospital will announce an affiliation, and major expansion plans, during a 10am press conference in Norwalk. The focus will be a new initiative to expand the region’s heart, vascular and thoracic services.

Different name, same offense.

For the second time in less than one year, Sandusky’s new boys basketball coach has been fired, for DUI. Jason Prophet was dismissed yesterday, a day after his arrest. Sandusky police arrested Prophet shortly after 2:30 Sunday morning. According to reports, Prophet wrecked his car at Fifth and Marlboro streets, then tried to leave the scene. He was charged with driving under the influence, reckless op, obstructing official business, driving under suspension and failure to control. Prophet was hired in April, to replace interim coach Bobby Langdon, who replaced DeMar Moore, who was arrested for DUI last July.

If you travel along Old State Road, between Dublin and Peru-Olena roads in Bronson Township, you’ll want to use New State Road, between 8 and 3 today.

Traffic will be rerouted, while crews install a guardrail, at the bridge just north of Peru-Olena Road.

This Thursday, the Norwalk street department will work on the traffic signal at Woodlawn and East Main.

The light will be down most of the day and the intersection will be treated as a four-way stop.

An arrest has been made, in connection with an alleged sexual assault near Holiday Lakes.

David Barnum of Toledo is charged with rape. The charge is tied to a weekend accusation made by a Willard woman. Barnum remains in the Huron County Jail, in lieu of $75,000 bond.

A former Richland County deputy is facing up to five years in prison for having sex with a student while teaching at Pioneer Career and Technology Center.

Michael Gouge pleaded guilty yesterday to a charge of sexual battery.  He’ll be sentenced in August.  Prosecutors said Gouge and the female student had a five-month-long relationship.  She was 18, but Ohio law prohibits relationships between teachers and students.

State Route 13, near U.S. 224 in Greenwich Township will close next Wednesday for repairs at the CSX railroad tracks.

Route 13 should re-open on July 1st.

Second-half Huron County property taxes are due July 12th.

For those who don’t want to drive to Norwalk to pay or mail their taxes, Huron County Treasurer Kathleen Schaffer has scheduled three off-site stops—July 1st at the Wakeman Village Office, July 2nd at the Willard Senior Enrichment Center, and July 3rd at the New London Village Office.  Hours at each site will be 9am until noon.  Taxpayers must have their tax bill and a check or money order.  Debit and credit cards cannot be accepted off-site.

The state highway patrol has announced plans, for an upcoming DUI checkpoint sometime this week.

More information, including the date, times and location will be released, as it gets closer.

During the remainder of June, the Norwalk Police Department will use grant funds, for enhanced speed enforcement.

Officers will focus on U.S. Route 250, and state routes 18, 20 and 61.

There’s a Red Cross blood drive in Norwalk today.

It’ll be at the First United Methodist Church on West Main, between 2 and 7pm. The Red Cross is in need of all blood types.

The Sandusky Highway Patrol Post is investigating a late Sunday morning crash that sent three people to two hospitals.

Troopers said Janet Wahl of Castalia failed to yield at a stop sign, at the intersection of Strecker Road and State Route 99 in Groton Township. Her car was hit by one driven by 17-year-old Hayden Coey of Greenwich. Wahl suffered serious injuries, and was lifeflighted to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center. At last check, she was in fair condition. Coey and a passenger, Lisa Coey were taken to The Bellevue Hospital, with incapacitating injuries. Their conditions are unknown.

Huron County deputies, the highway patrol, New London firefighters and Firelands Ambulance were called to a Sunday afternoon car/motorcycle crash in Fitchville Township.

The call to U.S. Route 250 and State Route 13 came in shortly before 4pm. Crash reports are incomplete.

Huron County deputies are investigating an alleged rape, at Holiday Lakes.

Deputies were summoned early Saturday morning. Because of the ongoing investigation, there’s no other information.

The State Highway Patrol has announced plans for an upcoming DUI checkpoint sometime this week.

More information, including date, times and location, will be released as it gets closer.

The budget will be the main topic during Wednesday’s special meeting of the Perkins Board of Education.

The meeting will start at 7:30am in the board room at the Administrative Service Center.

The Huron County Highway Department says Williams Road, just north of State Route 547 in Ridgefield Township will close for five weeks, starting today, for a bridge replacement.

Traffic will be detoured along routes 20 and 547, and Sandhill Road.

In Norwalk, sewer line work is starting on Wooster Street, between League and Franklin streets, and on Franklin, between Wooster and Marshall Streets.

Temporary daytime closures are expected until mid-to-late August.

And from ODOT…

State Route 101, or Tiffin Avenue, between Harbor Boulevard and Superior Street in Sandusky will close next Monday, as part of that area’s ongoing train overpass project. The road is expected to re-open by the end of August.

It’s Miss Ohio Week in Mansfield.

The annual Miss Ohio Parade was held yesterday, in downtown Mansfield. There’s various events leading up to preliminary competition Thursday and Friday, and the Miss Ohio Finals Saturday. The winner will represent Ohio, at Miss America.

A new poll shows 61 percent of Ohioans support comprehensive immigration reform legislation being debated this week by the U.S. Senate.

The survey by Harper Polling was commissioned by a group of immigration reform groups from both sides of the aisle.  Harper President Brock McCleary says the immigration proposal is bipartisan, and now, so is public support.  He also said immigration reform is necessary for economic growth and to create jobs.

Things will get underway at 10 this morning, at Strobel Field at Cedar Point Stadium. We’ll broadcast live from Relay for Life, between 4 and 6pm.

It’s also nice weather to start the 47th Annual Festival of the Fish, sponsored by the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce.  It begins at noon today and ends Sunday evening.  There is food, live music and much more.  We’ll broadcast live from the Festival of the Fish from 1 until 3 tomorrow.

June 14^th—It’s Flag Day, 2013.

Norwalk firefighters are investigating a suspicious porch fire, at a home on North West St.

Crews were at the scene early this morning. Other nearby suspicious activity is investigation as well.

One of the finest athletes in Norwalk High School history has passed away.

Don Sweet died yesterday, at age 83. He earned 14 varsity letters, before graduating in 1947. Some of his records still stand. Services will be held at 2pm Monday, at Walker Funeral Home in Norwalk.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for today, for a former Willard man accused of raping two girls.

The alleged incident involving 55-year-old Kenneth Bentley of Shelby occurred last month, while he was babysitting. The victims are 7 and 11.

The National Weather Service has confirmed at least two tornado touchdowns, during Wednesday’s storms.

Both were in northwest Ohio, and both were weak EF-0 twisters, with 80-mile-per-hour winds. One touched down in the village of Willshire, in Van Wert County. The other tornado touched down near the village of Custar, in Wood County. Investigators are looking into possible tornadoes in Henry County, and in Marion.

A Thursday night crash shut down some of State Route 303, in Wakeman.

It happened around 9:30 last night, near Butler Road. It involved a semi-truck. There were no injuries.

A new report by State Auditor Dave Yost says Ohio could save as much as $30 million in Medicaid funds by catching bad or fraudulent billings before they’re paid.

Medicaid officials said they are working to address fraud and abuse.

Sunday is Father’s Day and congratulations to the winner of the 95.3 WLKR/K96 Father’s Day contest.

Matt Dickman of Berlin Heights is getting:  4 tickets to the July 13th Cleveland Indians-Kansas City Royals game; an auto detailing package from Sharpnack Chevrolet Buick in Willard; Ice cream cake form the DQ Chill and Grill on Cedar Point Drive; Recliner from Dewey’s Furniture in Vermilion; 1 garlic pizza, a large foldover and a dozen wings from the Pie Factory in Sandusky.  Matt and his wife Ashley have two girls, ages 5 and 2.

Strong storms, but no Deracho.

That’s the word from Karen Oudaman, meteorologist with the National Weather Service Office in Cleveland. There was lightning, rain and wind in Huron and Erie counties. Tornado warnings were issued late yesterday afternoon and evening for southern Huron County, and parts of Crawford, Seneca and Richland counties. Funnel clouds were spotted in Shelby, and a twister may have touched down in Bellville, south of Mansfield. Parts of Plymouth had golf-ball sized hail.

A flood watch remains in effect for the listening area, until noon today.

The village of Monroeville is a step closer to getting ‘red light cameras.’

Earlier this week, village council gave the okay for officials to negotiate an agreement with Redflex Traffic Systems. The company would provide and install the traffic cameras free of charge, then would get a cut of all fines. If a deal is reached, cameras will likely be installed at U.S. Route 20 and State Route 547, and Routes 20 and 99.

A tense meeting, at Perkins High School.

Last night, the board of education approved $2 million dollars worth of cuts. The list includes a dozen teachers from four schools, plus a secretary and guidance counselor. Officials said the cuts were necessary, due to last month’s levy failure. The board also approved higher ‘pay-to-participate fees’, including $730 per high school sport, and $220 for high school band or choir. Superintendent Jim Gunner told a large audience that if voters approve a special August levy, the cuts could be reversed, and pay-to-participate fees returned to normal.

Starting Monday, paving work will begin on Norwalk’s East Main Street, near Oakwood Drive.

Work will progress toward downtown, and should be complete by July 4^th.  At least one lane of traffic will be maintained, and delays are expected. Residents should try to use alternate routes during the project. More road work in Norwalk…

Old State Road, between Woodlawn Avenue and Executive Drive will be closed to thru-traffic next Wednesday and Thursday, for pavement repairs.

Strobel Field, at Cedar Point Stadium in Sandusky will be a busy place tomorrow and Saturday.

Relay For Life will begin at 10 tomorrow morning, with 23 teams taking part. Various events and activities will take place, before Saturday’s 10am closing ceremony. We’ll broadcast live from Relay For Life, between 4 and 6pm tomorrow.

Also going on this weekend…

The 47^th annual Festival of the Fish, sponsored by the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce. It begins at noon tomorrow, and ends Sunday evening. There’s food, live music and much more. Fireworks are scheduled for dusk tomorrow night.

There’s three parades…The Pet Parade at 12:30 tomorrow, the lighted boat parade at dusk Saturday night, and the Father’s Day parade at 12:30 Sunday.

According to the National Weather Service, numerous strong thunderstorms could produce up to three inches of rain.

An Erie County grand jury has charged a Sandusky man accused of killing a Norwalk infant.

19-year-old Denzel Castile is facing a single count of aggravated murder. The charge is tied to the death of 11-week-old Athena Castile. She was fatally stabbed last month, at a home in Sandusky. Castile remains in a state-run mental hospital, in northwest Ohio.

As expected, the Norwalk Board of Education spent some of last night’s meeting discussing levy options for this fall.

As we told you Monday, three options were on the agenda—A five-year emergency operating levy to raise $1.8 million annually, a five-year emergency operating levy to raise $2 million annually, and an earned income tax increase, that would raise nearly $4.6 million a year. A decision could come next month.

The Norwalk Board of Education accepted the resignation of assistant superintendent and curriculum and grants director Sue Goodsite.

She’s retiring, but will be re-hired in 60 days. Board president Janet Broz said Goodsite will be given a one-year contract. A salary is being negotiated.

Still no sign of two brothers wanted for questioning, in connection with the death of a roommate.

Mis-Sail Lopez and Hiram Emmanuel Lopez remain at-large. They may have fled to Mexico. The two lived with 24-year-old Daniel J. Hernandez, at a Baseline Road apartment, in New Haven Township. Hernandez was found dead in the apartment June 2^nd. He had been stabbed multiple times. Huron County Deputies said he might have been dead for two days, when his body was discovered. The Sheriff’s Office is offering a $1,000 reward, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the two suspects.

A portion of State Route 2 near Vermilion was closed for about two hours yesterday, due to a suspicious item found near the road.

ODOT said crews discovered what appeared to be a pipe bomb in the grass, between Routes 61 and 60. The Lorain County Bomb Squad was called in, to remove a one-foot long PVC pipe, capped on both ends, with a wire sticking out. It turned out to be an old waterproof container, for a tree-trimming service.

The city of Norwalk’s 2013 sidewalk repair program is scheduled to begin next Monday.

That’s when crews hired by the city will start to fix defective or dangerous sidewalks throughout Norwalk.

The results are in, from the Norwalk Police Department’s recent ‘Click It Or Ticket’ enforcement effort.

Between May 20^th and June 2^nd, officers made over 100 traffic stops, and issued 55 citations, including 34 for seat belt violations. Officers also issued more than 60 warnings.

Former Norwalk High School assistant principal Brian Garverick has been named superintendent, of the Mansfield City Schools.

He’ll take over July 1^st.

Strobel Field, at Cedar Point Stadium in Sandusky will be a busy place Friday and Saturday.

Relay For Life will begin at 10am Friday.  Various events and activities will take place before Saturday’s 10am closing ceremony.  We’ll broadcast life from Relay For Life between 4 and 6pm Friday.

A Clyde man is facing charges of breaking and entering, theft and vandalism, for allegedly stealing grave markers and ornaments from the Oakland Cemetery on Milan Road in Sandusky. Jeffery Huey was arrested last Friday. He remains in the Erie County Jail, in lieu of $20,000 bond. Sandusky police used electronic surveillance to nab Huey. When law enforcement officers met at his County Road 213 home, they discovered dozens of grave ornaments lining his driveway. Investigators believe some of the items came from other cemeteries, including ones in Toledo and Michigan. They also believe he was reselling the items. Huey may face more charges.

Zenobia Road, between State Route 60 and Vesta Road in Clarksfield Township will be closed today, for major guardrail work.

Traffic will be detoured along Route 18.

Three people have been named as finalists, in the search for a new Monroeville Local Schools superintendent.

The list includes current Monroeville Elementary principal Bob Butler, former Port Clinton High School principal Ralph Moore, and Christine Standring, a North Point ESC curriculum specialist assigned to the Huron City Schools. Second interviews will be held next week. Current superintendent David Stubblebine is leaving to take over the Clyde-Green Springs Schools.

The city of Norwalk’s 2013 sidewalk repair program is scheduled to begin next Monday.

That’s when crews hired by the city will start to fix defective or dangerous sidewalks throughout Norwalk.

The Huron Board of Education will meet three times this week to interview seven superintendent applicants.

The board will meet behind closed doors at 6:30 tonight and Thursday night, and 8am Saturday.  All three meetings will be held in the board conference room.

The Perkins Board of Education will meet in special session and regular session, tomorrow.

The special session will begin at 5pm…The board will enter into executive session, to discuss personnel. The regular meeting will start at 6, in the Perkins High School auditorium.

A Mineral City, Ohio man is in ‘satisfactory’ condition after crashing his motorcycle head-on into a car.

Jeffery Becker remains at Akron City Hospital.  He was flown there late Friday night after the accident on U.S. Route 250, near Lockwood Road in the village of Milan.  Police suspect alcohol was factor in the crash.

The results are in from the Norwalk Police Department’s recent ‘Click It Or Ticket’ enforcement effort.

Between May 20th and June 2nd, officers made over 100 traffic stops and issued 55 citations, including 34 for seat belt violations.  Officers also issued more than 60 warnings.

Today is when the Ohio Supreme Court will hear oral arguments, in a case that could decide if company-paid employee benefits are countable as income, in calculating child support obligations.

Lawyers for a divorced Medina County man say a company-paid car and cell phone, insurance and Ohio State football tickets should not be counted as income, for the purpose of calculating child support.

A Greek company will continue to help run Ohio Lottery games.

Intralot is getting a two-year extension and $57 million.

Listen to K96 for your chance to get qualified to win a Summer Stay-cation! Your Summer Stay-cation prize pack includes:

**An African Safari Wildlife Car Pass for up to 6 people!

**A pair of tickets aboard the Jett Express

**A day pass for up to 4 people to Valley Beach on Route 61 South in Norwalk- don’t forget Valley Beach for you group picnics and parties PLUS they have season passes and Pay-As-You-Go memberships available!

**Tickets aboard the Goodtime 1 Island Hopping Cruise

**4 Family Fun Packages from Mohican Adventures in loudonville that includes a 7-mile river trip (your choice of canoe, kayak, raft or tube), 2 go-kart rides on the family track and 18 holes of miniature golf!

Let K96 give you a summer full of adventure on us!  Listen to qualify for the Summer Stay-cation from Your Country, K96! Winner Announced July 3rd!

Nearly 200 Norwalk High School seniors received their diplomas. In Willard, the number was more than 100, and in Vermilion, it was just over 200.

Huron County Sheriff Dane Howard is offering a $1,000 reward, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of Daniel J. Hernandez.

Anyone with information should contact the Huron County Sheriff’s Office. Hernandez was found dead in his Willard-area apartment last Sunday. He had been stabbed multiple times. Authorities are still searching for two ‘persons of interest.’ Misael Lopez and Hiram Emmanuel Lopez are believed to have fled the area, in a car owned by Hernandez.

A Northern Ohio League school board will decide next month, whether or not to arm teachers with pepper spray.

The Shelby Board of Education is considering the idea, to protect students against armed intruders.

Just one person has applied to become Norwalk’s next fire chief.

Captain John Soisson is the sole applicant.  He’ll undergo academic, physical and psychological tests.  Current Fire Chief Shawn Dickerson is retiring June 30th.

Potential tax levies, and school lunches will be discussed, during tomorrow’s meeting of the Norwalk Board of Education.

Three levy options are listed on the agenda. Two are emergency operating levies. One is five years, and $1.8 million annually. The other is five years, and $2 million annually. The third is an earned income tax that would generate nearly $4.6 million annually. Any one of those could appear on the November ballot.

It appears the cost of school lunches will increase, in the Norwalk City Schools.

Pending board approval tomorrow night, the 10-cent across-the-board increase will take effect, with the 2013-2014  academic year. In related news, the Norwalk school board is expected to approve a transfer of $200,000 from the General Fund, to the Food Service Fund, to cover a deficit, plus salaries and benefits. The shortfall was caused by a loss of state and federal funding, higher food costs, and by a free and reduced-price lunch level of 54 percent.

South Norwalk Road, at State Route 61 in Norwalk is closed as part of an ongoing construction project.

According to ODOT, work should be complete by late July.

Also, U.S. Route 20 between Hanford and Butler Roads in Wakeman is closed until June 19th for culvert work.

And from the Huron County Highway Department…

Zenobia Road, between State Route 60 and Vesta Road in Clarksfield Township will be closed tomorrow for major guardrail work.  Traffic will be detoured along Route 18.

Ohio Bike Week 2013 is complete.

It ended, with two more crashes that injured three people, one seriously. The late Saturday night crashes occurred along Huntington Place in Sandusky, and Routes 2 and 163 in Ottawa County. Alcohol was involved in both crashes. There were three serious motorcycle crashes, and one fatality last week.

A biker is facing a felonious assault charge, for allegedly breaking a man’s jaw.

It happened at 2am Saturday, along Shoreline Drive. Witnesses told Sandusky police that Ryan Pirkel was driving recklessly and performing stunts, when the victim made a comment about Pirkel’s wife. Pirkel then slugged the victim. The man was taken to the emergency room for treatment.

A weekend fundraiser at Cedar Point was a big success.

Cedar Point spokesperson Annie Zelm said approximately 100 people took part in ‘Coasting for Kids.’ They raised more than $30,000 for Give Kids The World. Across Cedar Fair’s 11 parks, riders raised more than $150,000.