Arrest Made in Fostoria From Crocker St. Home

/0 Comments/in , /by

KODAK Digital Still Camera

FOSTORIA – On February 23, 2025, at around 4:30 a.m., the Fostoria Police Department responded to a shooting at 310 S. Poplar St. in Fostoria, Ohio, where four shots were fired at the residence. On February 24, 2025, at approximately 9:30 p.m., detectives, with assistance from the Seneca County Regional SRT, executed a search warrant at 201 E. Crocker St., securing the residence and occupants.

The investigation led to the arrest of 18-year-old Michael Bollinger on February 25, 2025, for Discharging a Firearm into Habitation, a second-degree felony under Ohio law. Bollinger was held in Seneca County Jail without bond, awaiting his initial court appearance, as the investigation continues. Police Chief Gabriel M. Wedge praised the officers’ quick response, Detective Hall’s thorough investigation, and the Seneca County Regional SRT’s assistance, noting their professionalism and the strong collaboration among local law enforcement agencies.


Fostoria Mayor on Damage Control While Calling Citizens Irrational & Emotional

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

FOSTORIA – In a recent damage control article published by the Review Times, Fostoria Mayor Don Mennel defended his decision to accept landfill toxic liquid waste while dismissing concerned citizens as irrational and emotional. Mennel’s true colors are emerging, which comes as no surprise since his term began with a lie to the public about a splash pad soak park that was supposed to open in 2024.

Mennel bypassed voters and the city council to unilaterally decide to process leachate (liquid toxic waste) at the wastewater treatment plant.

Mennel also failed to negotiate a reasonable rate for processing the liquid waste. The City of Fostoria is currently charging four cents per gallon, the cheapest rate in the area. In comparison, the City of Bowling Green charges $0.063 per gallon, and the City of Marion charges $0.045 per gallon.

Photo byThe Fostoria Free Press

In addition to the $15,000 discount granted by the City of Fostoria to Win Waste Landfill compared to the City of Marion’s rate, Win Waste is also achieving significant savings on transportation costs.

Not to be forgotten is the previous mayor’s decision to stop processing leachate in 2019. That decision was made because the city had no knowledge of what was going into the landfill or what would be in the liquid waste. Apparently, a miracle has occurred, and Mennel now claims to know everything entering the landfill—despite the lack of comprehensive leachate testing. The city continues to rely on a local water testing lab, Bojhun Labs, which has shown signs of incompetence in its testing results. Previously, Fostoria used Alloway Labs in Bowling Green, OH.

Photo byThe Fostoria Free Press

Photo byThe Fostoria Free Press

 

“What really burns me” – OH-EPA Where rules really ARE made to be broken.

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Author: TD

“Rules are made to be broken” at least that’s what we were told when we were kids.

We heard it from all our friends, and older siblings, and we believed it.

Until our all-knowing smarter parents shot that down, put us to rights and made us understand that rules are made to be followed.

Rules are made to protect us, and rules are made because some people have done things that can be considered ignorant and silly.

So rules were made to protect us just like signs are never made unless someone has actually done the deed that caused the making of the sign.

With that being said, I want to tell you about someone, an organization, who breaks their own rules and allows others to break them too.

The Ohio EPA, and yes I know just as all of you do that these folks are not elected, they’re bureaucrats, hired under the promise of watching out for our health and wellbeing, keeping an eye on our environment and stopping all the pollution and all the toxification of our air and water etc etc.

But What I bet you don’t see, is that the EPA is not a government organization as we were led to believe. They are hired bureaucrats who can talk fancy and make you want their services. they’re given power over protecting our environment and our water and our kids and our lives but they don’t use it for that they use it to make money.

It’s a money grabbing organization that answers to no one but gives all the money they earn to their pockets and to the government officials who let them stay in power.

The EPA gets their funds from fines and fees that they charge to every company, large organization or anyone who violates their rule.

But of course they can’t fine themselves or charge themselves any fees even though they break their own rules as well.

Ask yourself a question When a company needs to get rid of waste if they don’t ask the EPA and get caught they get fined and that’s it.

And yes I know sometimes they get sued and lose a lot of money. Now lets say that same company asks the EPA for a permit to commit whatever atrocity that they’re going to commit And they receive it for a fee.

What I don’t understand is how does the EPA make rules stating that you can’t do this and you can’t do that but if you want to do those things call us and we’ll sell you a permit that allows you to do those things

So if you want to pollute call the EPA if you want to put toxic waste in the water call the EPA and get a permit.

Only as an example Win Waste Innovations. They have purchased multiple different permits and all of those permits give them allowance to do exactly what the EPA has made rules against. Such as SO2 levels, such as expansions, such as height of the trash mountain so on and so forth

It shows me that either the EPA is on the take, or they just take enough to give the landfill the opportunity to have a permit, to do exactly what the EPA has mandated that no one can do.

So I guess our friends were right when we were kids, rules are made to be broken… at least when it comes to keeping our air and water clean for our children and for their future.

What is the actual use of the EPA? why do they exist?

They might need to change their name to the Environmental Payoff Agency.

“What really burns me” and my opinion about it.

 

Incomplete Testing Report Raises Concerns for City of Fostoria’s Leachate Management

/0 Comments/in , /by

FOSTORIA – Bojun Labs conducted a basic test on the recent Win Waste Innovations Landfil leachate “spill”. The report was provided last minute to The Fostoria Free Press on 2.18.25 just hours prior to the city council meeting. Although, the short notice did not stop the spread of the report to interested citizens who spoke at the meeting.

Landfill leachate is a complex mixture of water, organic and inorganic compounds, and microorganisms that can pose environmental and health risks if not properly managed.

What’s Included in Bojhuns Rerport:

  • The report covers several key parameters relevant to wastewater or leachate, such as ammonia, COD, mercury, oil and grease, phosphorus, and TSS. These are important for assessing nutrient levels, organic content, heavy metals, and solids in the sample.
  • The matrix is listed as “WW” (wastewater), which aligns with leachate being a type of wastewater from landfills.

What’s Potentially Lacking:

Based on a typical landfill leachate testing profile, this report may be missing several critical parameters, depending on the regulatory requirements or the specific concerns of the site. Here are some potential gaps:

  1. pH: Not included, but pH is a fundamental parameter for assessing the corrosivity and chemical stability of leachate.
  2. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): This is often tested to understand the overall dissolved mineral content, which can affect treatment processes and environmental impact.
  3. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD): While COD is included, BOD is another critical measure of biodegradable organic matter and is often required in tandem with COD.
  4. Other Heavy Metals: The report only tests for mercury, but landfill leachate may contain other metals like lead, cadmium, chromium, arsenic, copper, zinc, and nickel, which are common in leachate and regulated under environmental laws.
  5. Nitrogen Compounds: While ammonia is tested, other forms like nitrate, nitrite, and total nitrogen are often required to fully assess nitrogen loading.
  6. Organic Compounds: The report does not include testing for VOCs, SVOCs, PAHs, or TPH, which are common in landfill leachate, especially from older or industrial waste sites.
  7. Chloride, Sulfate, and Other Anions: These are often present in leachate and can impact treatment and receiving water bodies.
  8. Toxicity Testing: There’s no mention of bioassays or toxicity tests to evaluate the potential harm to aquatic life or ecosystems.
  9. Microbiological Testing: No testing for fecal coliforms, E. coli, or total coliforms, which could indicate biological contamination.
  10. Emerging Contaminants: No testing for PFAS or other emerging contaminants, which are increasingly regulated in environmental samples.

The provided testing report includes several relevant parameters for wastewater/leachate analysis, such as ammonia, COD, mercury, oil and grease, phosphorus, and TSS. However, it appears to lack a comprehensive suite of tests typically required for landfill leachate, including pH, TDS, BOD, additional heavy metals, nitrogen compounds, organic compounds (VOCs, SVOCs, PAHs, TPH), chloride, sulfate, toxicity testing, microbiological indicators, and emerging contaminants. The specific tests needed depend on local regulations, the landfill’s characteristics (e.g., age, type of waste), and the intended use of the data (e.g., discharge permits, environmental impact assessments).

If this report is for landfill leachate, it may not meet all regulatory or environmental monitoring requirements. I recommend consulting the applicable local or national environmental regulations (e.g., U.S. EPA guidelines for leachate management) or working with an environmental engineer to ensure all necessary parameters are tested.

Fostoria Passes Ch 946, Leachate & HazMat Incoming? CnclMember Claims It’s For “EPA Compliance”

/0 Comments/in , /by

FOSTORIA – Council voted to enact chapter 946. Councilman Podach questioned whether this primarily for accepting landfill leachate. Mayor Mennel responded saying that 946 is for EPA compliance. Mennel also could not answer the question whether or not the writers of 946 knew that the City of Fostoria is considering taking leachate at a cheap rate of $0.04 per gallon.

Mennel also responded to Podach “Thats why you get 3 readings”.

Councilwoman Ward 3: Sue Lehmann voted in favor of 946 “because it puts us in compliance with the EPA”. Also stating that the leachate can be addressed at a later date. Lehmann also commented “Leachate is a new topic for us”. No its not!

Some community members also do not trust Bojhun Labs, a new local water testing lab doing business with The City of Fostoria. Due to their recent incomplete 1/2 page leachate testing report I can see why. Honest leachate testing does not fit on 1 page. It is my opinion that the City of Fostoria is acting negligently by using this inexperienced lab.

Fostoria: Council Member Addresses Council Over Leachate – Mayor Mennel Asleep at The Helm?

/0 Comments/in , /by

Author: (2) Members of The Fostoria Free Press

FOSTORIA – During the February 18, 2025, Fostoria City Council meeting, council member Bob Podach addressed the city council as a citizen. He voiced his concerns regarding the city’s recent rush to accept the Win Waste Innovations Landfill, particularly in light of an alleged spill.

Podach was one of many individuals who addressed the city council that evening.

According to reports, leachate from the landfill is currently being transported by Bugner’s and Black Swamp septic companies via tanker trucks. These companies have reportedly been transporting the leachate as early as 4 a.m. This information came to light from a recently forced-out scale operator employee at the Win Waste Innovations Landfill in Fostoria.

Editor’s Note: Seeing a member of the city council addressing both the city council and the mayor as a citizen is a rare circumstance in my experience. This situation raises a red flag regarding Mayor Don Mennel and his apparent inability to communicate effectively with council members. After recently undergoing spine surgery and currently being in recovery, this development is not entirely surprising. Ultimately, it paints a picture that Mennel may be incapable of fulfilling his duties, largely due to a lack of communication within city government.

City of Fostoria Appoints Madison Stearns to Acting Safety Services Director

/0 Comments/in , /by

FOSTORIA – In a significant development during the city council meeting held on February 18, 2025, Mayor Don Mennel announced the appointment of Madison Stearns as the acting Safety Services Director. This decision comes in the wake of the possible departure of the previous Safety Services Director, Eric Keckler, and has sparked discussions about leadership transitions and accountability within the city’s safety services department.

According to reports from the recent city council meeting, Mayor Mennel’s request for Stearns to step into the acting role was met with approval, signaling confidence in her ability to oversee the department during this transitional period. Stearns, whose background and qualifications were highlighted during the meeting, is expected to bring stability and continuity to the safety services operations, which are critical to the community’s well-being.

The context of this appointment is tied to the earlier tenure of Eric Keckler, who served as Safety Services Director. Sources indicate that Madison Stearns had been involved in covering for Keckler, taking on additional responsibilities to ensure that the department’s functions continued smoothly. While specific details about Keckler’s possible exit remain limited, it is understood that Stearns played a key role in maintaining operational efficiency during a period of uncertainty.

Fostoria Councilwoman Mendoza Launches ‘Convos With Council’ for Public Engagement

/0 Comments/in , , /by

FOSTORIA – Amy Mendoza, Ward 1 councilwoman and public affairs committee chair, has maintained communication with the public via social media. Currently, Mendoza is the only member of Fostoria City Government actively engaging with people on Facebook.

The launch of a quarterly informal meeting with council members is a major step forward in ensuring accountability.

Amy Mendoza was unanimously appointed to serve a 4-year term as the Ward 1 city councilperson commencing January 2022.

She has lived in Fostoria her entire adulthood. Amy married her high school sweetheart and together, they have raised their family here. The majority of both their extended families live in Fostoria as well. Councilperson Mendoza has lived in Ward 1 since 2007 and has no intentions of ever moving. Fostoria is her home.

Amy works full-time as the Youth Defense Administrator/Intake Specialist at Hancock County Public Defender’s Office where she has been employed for the past 13 years. She helps indigent clients who are often facing difficult situations with emotional outcomes through empathy, caring, and leading.

Amy has a Notary Public Commission and received a Certificate for Administration and Certificate of Completion for Workforce and Community Services through Owens Community College. She is a 2023 graduate of Hancock County Leadership, 2024 graduate of Leadership Seneca County, and active Staying Ahead Mentor.

Councilperson Mendoza is passionate about her community and helping our town continue on the path for a more prosperous future, which she is very excited about.

Fostoria: Cheap Liquid Waste Disposal for WinWaste Innovations

/0 Comments/in , /by

FOSTORIA – According to a conversation had with the Ohio EPA, the following facts have been verified:

The City of Fostoria will be accepting Win Waste’s liquid toxic waste through the wastewater treatment plant. This was announced by the Mayor on Feb 4th, 2025.

The liquid waste, or “leachate,” will be transported by semi-truck and tanker. 550+ trips are estimated to move the entire 3,050,000 gallons of water.

The City of Fostoria is required to test the processed waste after filtering and treatment as it is discharged into the Portage River.

Here’s a short summary based on the information provided by City of Fostoria:
1. Payment: The city was paid at a rate of $0.04 per gallon for the storm water management.
2. Transportation: The storm water was transported to the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) using trucks.
3. Deposition: The waste was deposited at a designated dumping station at the treatment plant where it undergoes treatment.
4. Testing: The city facilitated the sampling of the storm water, which was then handed over to BoJhun for testing. Results are pending, which is typical for the sampling process.

Receipts for these services will be available after the monthly billing cycle.

The Controversy:

The City of Fostoria is currently the cheapest location for Win Waste Innovations to dump their liquid waste since Tiffin stopped accepting it. Fostoria Mayor Don Mennel is supporting the Fostoria Landfill by providing a cost-effective method for leachate processing.

How can the community trust that Win Waste Innovations did NOT purposely cause the leachate spill? After all, some employees have started the rumor online that they were “sabotaged”. I find this defense mechanism hilarious because people who are against the landfill are for environmental protection. It does not take a genius to understand the effects of a leachate spill.

Some Fostoria locals are hoping that the money received by Win Waste will potentially go towards funding the remaining $1 million for the incomplete 2024 Splashpad Soakpark project.

This project was announced one week prior to the Mayoral election by current Mayor Don Mennel with the assistance of the City’s undocumented partnership with the ‘unofficial’ Public Relations Officer (Scanner Media), a news outlet with 30,000+ followers and a special seat within city government. The City embarrassingly underbudged the project by $1 Million or nearly 100%. In my opinion this hype was nothing but a stunt pulled by Mennel to get elected. If outsiders would like to know how NOT to run a city government, I encourage you to research deeper. For now, the children of Fostoria continue to wait for their soak park.

Terminally Ill Resident Blames Fostoria WinWaste Innovations Landfill

/0 Comments/in , /by

FOSTORIA – I want to set the record straight by saying that the Fostoria outerbanks Landfill changes names faster than Mayor Don Mennel sucks up liquid waste when money is involved.

WinWaste Innovations, formerly known as Sunny Farms Landfill is owned and operated by Tunnel Hill Partners, which is owned by investment firm Macquarie Group. For this reason, I have chosen to title this article with the current cover being used.

Discraced former Seneca County Commissioner Ben Nutter, was caught receiving campaign funding from the landfill operator. This is where the buck started with the desecration of our land with out-of-state trash.

Former landfill employee Thomas Domich reached out to the Fostoria Free Press and asked for the following letter to be published:

Fostoria Free Press,
In response to the previous back and forth between Win waste innovations And the Seneca county health district president.

___________________________________________
Seneca county health district president,
In your response to WIN Waste Innovations.

All the lies and cover ups that I’ve seen while employed there are all the same lies and cover-ups that I see now. Through all the different owners the pattern is the same.

Through illness and sickness of my own and others, inaction of the Ohio EPA and former health district representatives, It is wholly refreshing to see a health district president who gives a damn and really wants the landfill to do better.

We all know that it cannot be shut down without major issues but it can be set to right for future usage of the landfill.

Now comes the only question, what happens to those who are already sick, been given unwanted prognosis? Or those who have already passed along in this life.

What can be done to make all of the landfill owners over the years stand accountable for the landfills disregard of laws regulations rules and basic common human decency?

And before they throw out the same lies they always do “we didn’t own it back then” we all know that that is not true, every single owner of that landfill since the day I started working there until now, all fall under the same umbrella it’s just the way they run from responsibility and to continue profiting for a much bigger owner.

I would love to know what we can do now to make them show some responsibility and some action to those families that have lost their loved ones already and those that are going to lose their loved ones soon.

How do we help the suffering of the families, for me, I just want them to take responsibility for their actions, admit to the multiple ownership under one umbrella, admit the lies, the deceit the theft, and the general bull snot that they have been spewing from their mouths for years.

I personally want nothing from that landfill, maybe make the next six or eight months of what’s left of my life more comfortable for my wife and children who are going to lose their father and husband, pay the medical bills that are upcoming that are going to be more than my wife could ever afford to pay in her lifetime caused by you.

Maybe that’s what you can do for my surviving family, and all the others that are going through the same thing and suffering the same way, to take care of them as well. They’re going to need it it’s a little late for us now but they will definitely need to help I hope the landfill and all of its owners, and bosses understand that there’s a place for them when they pass I know this because I’m cleaning off a seat for them when I get there it’ll be nice and cushy.

Thomas Domich

Fostoria resident. husband, father, human being