The Lima Municipal Treatment Court is helping those addicted to drugs or alcohol get the second chance they need.  There is two programs in at the Lima municipal court, the first one was started in 2015 and since then 168 people have gone through the program with 66 of them graduating.  At any time, they have between 15-20 participants. The recidivism rate after one year is 12% and 15% after two.   The goal for participants is to create a life-long pattern of controlling their drug and alcohol addiction. 

The Lima Finance Committee is breaking down the city’s 2023 proposed budget line by line.  Tuesday night, they started their first of three days of budget hearings.   The Mayor’s Office, Utilities, and Lima Municipal Court were just some of the departments on deck for the first night of hearings.  The city is looking good financially heading into the 2023 budget.  They have a carryover of $14 million, which is around 35% of the $45 million estimated budget for this year.  

A Lima woman arrested for allegedly trying to burn down a house with people inside, has her first court hearing on the charge.   29-year-old Markiesha Blackman is facing the charge of aggravated arson, a felony of the first degree.   If her case gets bound over to Allen County Common Pleas Court and she is convicted of one count of aggravated arson, Blackman could face between 3 and 16 years in prison.   Judge Tammie Hursh set Blackman's bond at $350,000.   According to the Lima Police Department,  on Tuesday November 22^nd a fire was intentionally set at 125 west O'Connor.  Four individuals were inside and were able to get out of the home when the fire started.  After doing interviews, police arrested Blackman.  The case is still under investigation.  Blackman will have her preliminary hearing on December 1st. 

Savion Escarsega is facing a charge of failure to comply by order of an officer. Bond was set in his case at one hundred fifty thousand dollars. He is facing the charge after he led police on a chase after fleeing from a traffic stop. The defendant was reported going at speeds up to sixty miles per hour within city limits. Escarsega eventually crashed his vehicle into a tree, and fled on foot, but was apprehended a short distance away. Two handguns were found in the car during the investigation. A hearing is set for September 8th.

Tuesday, Rick Eddy filed a "designation of treasurer" to start campaign finances to run for Lima Municipal Court Judge. Current judge, David Rodabaugh is retiring after next year. Eddy has been the city's chief prosecutor since 2016 and in the prosecutor's office since 2008. He believes his experience is the right fit to be a municipal court judge and has goals he would like to achieve in the judge's seat.

John Payne is seeking the bench currently held by Judge David Rodabaugh who will be retiring after his term is up. Payne was selected to be magistrate in 2018 and presides over the Veteran’s Treatment Court. There are two things that he is focused on if he wins the race, accountability, and restoration.