Information about alleged sexual contact between a Norwalk High School teacher and a student is now in the hands of a prosecutor.

Evidence collected so far could lead a charge of sexual battery against 25-year-old Alexa Nasonti.  It’s a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.  Erie County Sheriff’s Captain Paul Sigsworth said the initial findings were turned over to the Sandusky County Prosecutor’s Office because the alleged encounter between Nasonti and the 17-year-old boy occurred at a home in Bellevue.  Those findings include hundreds of text messages between the two.  Nasonti remains on paid leave. 

Top honors for Main Street Norwalk.

It’s been certified as an Ohio Main Street Community, by Heritage Ohio. The organization continues to work toward revitalizing the historic downtown district.

As the economy improves, so does Ohio’s housing market.

The Ohio Association of Realtors says home sales increased nearly 13 percent, during the first quarter of 2012. The average sale price went up as well, by 3.4 percent. Those figures were much higher in the Firelands area. Sales of new and existing homes jumped 33.5 percent, compared last year’s first quarter. Around the region, the average sale price increased by nearly 12 percent, to $108,000.

EMS fees in Huron may be going up…Way up.

If approved by city council, fees for services will increase between 36 and 57 percent.

Don’t forget…The city of Norwalk’s limited Spring Trash Pickup is next week.

Residents may place three large items, or nine extra bags out for pickup, at no extra charge.

The state’s jobless rate continues to decrease.

New figures from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services show March’s unemployment rate was 7.5 percent, down slightly from February.

If you shop in Richland County, you’ll pay a higher sales tax, starting in June.

Commissioners there have approved a temporary, quarter-percent sales tax increase, taking Richland County’s rate to seven percent.  The increase will generate over $1 million in new revenue.

In sports…

The Indians are 5-1 on the road, after last night’s 2-1 9th inning win over Seattle.  Next up for the Tribe:  Oakland.  Tonight’s game against the A’s begins at 10:07.  Tomorrow and Sunday, it’s 9:07.  You can hear all three games on 95.3, WLKR.

The Indians’ four-game winning streak is over.

Last night, Seattle topped the Tribe 4-1.

A day after President Obama spoke in Elyria, his Republican rival will stop in nearby Lorain.

Mitt Romney will speak at 12:45 this afternoon, at the former National Gypsum Plant. The event is open to the public.

Coming up during news at noon, we’ll have an update on the investigation involving a Norwalk High School teacher, and a student.

A Willard man has joined the race for Huron County Commissioner.

Fred Eldred is running as an independent. He’ll face incumbent Republican Gary Bauer, and Democrat Sharon Ward this fall.

Bellevue city leaders say they’re still waiting for details on Norfolk and Southern’s expansion plans.

As we told you earlier this week, the railroad will spend $160 million, to expand its Bellevue rail yard. The project is expected to create 275 new jobs. While the rail yard is outside the city limits, officials say they’d like more information on the expansion.

Going on eBay tonight: A 2009 Harley-Davidson Softail motorcycle.

The seller: The Vermilion Police Department. Officers said the bike was seized last summer, during a drunk driving arrest. Bidding will start at 8 tonight. The opening bid is set at $9,000. The auction will end on April 29^th. Some of the proceeds will be used by buy new portable radios for officers.

Tuesday’s Norwalk Rotary Club Pizza Bakeoff was a big success!

More than 800 people went through 464 pizzas from 7 restaurants. Approximately $8,000 was raised, during the 2 ½ hour event, held at Norwalk High School. The money will be used to help fund a number of programs, including D.A.R.E. and Safety Town.

In sports…

A perfect game for Edison’s Susan Knight.  She allowed no hits or walks and struck out 14 during yesterday’s 11-0 win over St. Mary Central Catholic.  It was Knight’s third career perfect game.

The Indians and Mariners will close out their three-game series at 10:10 tonight.  You can hear the game on 95.3, WLKR.

The highway patrol says a seizure likely caused a crash that sent a Wakeman teen to the hospital.

17-year-old Mariah Wood was injured yesterday morning, when her car went off U.S. Route 20, near Pine House Pizza. Her car slammed into a pole, and caught fire. The girl was out of the car before the blaze broke out. As a precaution, she was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center. The crash shut down some of Route 20.

A Bellevue man accused of sexually abusing three young girls will undergo a mental health evaluation, to see if he’s competent to stand trial.

18-year-old Lawrence Hoffman was scheduled to stand trial last week, but it was delayed, to allow time for testing. His trial has been rescheduled for late June. The alleged incidents involving Hoffman and the girls occurred last year. The victims range in age from 5 to 10.

He had been on death row since 1986.

This morning, a man who killed a northeast Ohio teen died by lethal injection.  Mark Wayne Wiles was pronounced dead at 10:42 this morning at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility.  Wiles dropped his final appeal last week.

The search will begin soon, for a new superintendent at South Central.

Ben Chaffee is leaving, to become director of adult education at EHOVE Career Center.

A Willard man has joined the race for Huron County Commissioner.

Fred Eldred is running as an independent.  He’ll face incumbent Republican Gary Bauer and Democrat Sharon Ward this fall.

President Obama today, Mitt Romney tomorrow.

The President will speak this afternoon at Lorain County Community College. Romney has planned a Cleveland-area appearance for tomorrow. The time and location have yet to be announced.

Republican State Representative Terry Boose of Norwalk has been selected to serve as vice-chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Huron officials are mulling a proposal that would allow golf carts on city streets.

They’d be limited to streets where speed limits are 35 miles per hour or less.

You can now follow us on Twitter!

You’ll find us @953WLKR. When you follow us, you’ll receive breaking news and weather updates, sports info and more. @953WLKR, on Twitter.

Yesterday’s Norwalk Rotary Club Pizza Bakeoff was a big success!

More than 800 people went through 464 pizzas from 7 restaurants (Domino’s, East of Chicago, Pizza Brothers, Pizza Cravin, Pizza Hut, Pizza Post and Uptown Cafe).  Approximately $8,000 was raised during the 2 1/2 hour event held at Norwalk High School.  The money will be used to help fund a number of programs, including D.A.R.E. and Safety Town.

April 17^th, tax deadline day.

Tax forms must be submitted online by the end of the day, or be postmarked with today’s date, to be considered on time.

It’s also pizza eatin’ day!

The Norwalk Rotary Club’s 13^th annual Pizza Bake Off runs from 4:30 until 7 today, at Norwalk High School. Seven different pizza places will be on hand. It’s all you can eat! The cost is $10 for adults, and $5 for children and seniors. Melissa Sharp will broadcast live from the Pizza Bake-Off, between 4-6pm.

A Norwalk High School teacher found alone in a park with a male student was placed on leave yesterday.

Superintendent Dennis Doughty said 25-year-old Alexa Nasonti is on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of a school investigation. Doughty also said school officials are gathering information, before taking any additional action. The art teacher and a 17-year-old Norwalk High School student were found alone in a car, after hours, at a Castalia park April 2^nd. An officer became suspicious, after questioning the two. Authorities are now sorting through hundreds of text messages between Nasonti and the student. Those text messages could lead to criminal charges.

President Barack Obama will be in Elyria tomorrow.

He’ll speak at Lorain County Community College. The topic: The economy.

Big cuts, in the Sandusky City Schools.

21 teachers, two administrators and 13 others will lose their jobs. The school board also agreed to close Adams Junior High School. Those changes and others will save the district $3 million.

There’s street resurfacing today and tomorrow in Norwalk.

Newton Street near Main Street will stay open, along with some of Hickory Street. But Minard Place, and the intersection of Newton and League will be closed.

Big plans, for Bellevue’s Norfolk and Southern rail yard.

Officials say the company is ready to begin a $160 million dollar expansion project. Once complete, Bellevue will be home to one of Norfolk Southern’s largest rail yards. The project is expected to create 275 new jobs.

Norwalk and North Fairfield firefighters were summoned to a barn fire on West Peru Olena Road late last night.

We’ll have more, as details become available.

US Route 20 just east of Hanford Road

US Route 20, just east of Hanford Road (between Wakeman and the Lorain County line), is closed due to an accident.  Emergency crews say the road will remain closed until 2PM.

In sports…

Late night Indians baseball, starting tonight.  The Tribe will take on the Mariners in the Great Northwest.  Gametime is set for 10:10, and you can year it on 95.3, WLKR.

There’s a Wind Advisory, from 10 this morning, until 10 tonight.

 Wind gusts could hit 50 miles per hour.

Norwalk firefighters spent Sunday night battling a house fire, at 256 East Main Street.

Firefighters were summoned to 256 East Main Street just before 8:30…They arrived to find flames coming from the rear porch, kitchen and second-floor bedroom.  Reports indicate a neighbor tried to extinguish the blaze with a garden hose.  Firefighters were on-scene for just over four hours.  No one was hurt.  Damage estimates were placed at $125,000.

A White’s Landing woman remains in critical condition at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, after an explosion leveled her home.

Vindetta Younger suffered serious burns, during Friday’s explosion and fire at Edgewater Estates mobile home park. Younger was injured, when an oxygen tank she was using exploded, when she tried to light a cigarette.

A Sunday afternoon car-motorcycle accident in Norwalk injured two Vermilion residents.

Christopher Morgan was taken to Fisher-Titus Medical Center. Marsha Morgan was flown to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center. The two were thrown from their motorcycle, after it was hit at the intersection of Routes 61 and 601. A teen driver from Norwalk was charged with failure to yield.

With prom season here, the Norwalk Police Department has announced plans for extra patrols, through the end of April.

Officers will work overtime, looking for drunk drivers, speeders and aggressive drivers.  Grant money will be used to overtime costs.

President Barack Obama is coming to Ohio this week.

He’ll be in the Cleveland area Wednesday. The White House has yet to release more information. After Cleveland, the President will head to Detroit.

A death row inmate scheduled to die Wednesday says he won’t file any more appeals.

Mark Wiles’ decision came, two days after Governor John Kasich denied clemency.  Wiles will die by lethal injection, for killing a teen in 1985.

Just one day, until the Norwalk Rotary Club’s 13^th annual Pizza Bake-Off.

It’ll be held from 4:30 until 7 tomorrow at Norwalk High School. There’s going to be pizza from seven different places. It’s all you can eat. The cost is $10 for adults, and $5 for children and seniors.

If you’ve put it off, you have one more day to file your taxes or seek an extension.

Tax forms must be filed online, or postmarked by April 17th to be considered on-time.

Another Freeze Warning from midnight until 9am tomorrow.

If they can play, there’s day baseball today in Cleveland.

The Indians and Chicago White Sox are scheduled to play at 12:05. You can hear it on 95.3, WLKR. Last night’s game was postponed, due to adverse weather conditions.

Authorities are searching for thieves who stile thousands of dollars worth of items from a vacant Vermilion-area home.

Among the missing items:  a convection oven, wood burner, washer and dryer and copper pipes.  Anyone with information should contact the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies are still investigating last week’s farm accident that claimed an 11-year-old Mennonite boy from Greenwich.

Jay Zimmerman was operating a feed cart when he was crushed by the equipment.  The boy died last Tuesday at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center.  The Huron County Prosecutor’s Office is expected to consider charges.

ODOT has released its list of 2012 road construction projects.

Locally, that list includes:

Resurfacing State Route 61, from Norwalk to State Route 113 in Erie County. A bridge replacement, just north of U.S. Route 224 over the Vermilion River. And bridge repair on State Route 2, between the State Route 13 and Berlin Road interchanges near Huron.

Norwalk city officials are looking for a new planning and zoning officer.

Allison Hodson recently resigned, to take a similar job in southwest Ohio. She had been in Norwalk for nearly a year. The city is accepting applications through Friday.

Also from Norwalk City Hall…

The city’s bi-annual brush pickup will be held the week of April 30^th. Curbside yard waste pickup will begin the same week. And the city’s limited spring trash pickup is scheduled for the week of April 23^rd. Households will be able to set out nine extra bags, or three large items.

A light night for Norwalk City Council.

Tuesday’s meeting lasted less than 10 minutes.

A new study shows Ohio ranks 23^rd, in terms of teen births.

A new survey shows 21 percent of Huron County teens admit to abusing prescription drugs.

The survey covered 6th through 12th graders in 2011.

Make it 18 plaintiffs seeking damages, in connection with last October’s hayride crash in Oxford Township.

Four more passengers have filed suit against Michael Hermes and the Mason Jar. They’re seeking at least $200,000 in damages. Dozens of people were injured, when two hay wagons tipped over on Patten Tracht Road. Hermes was driving the tractor pulling the wagons. Troopers said he was legally drunk. He’s facing criminal charges.

From the ‘not-so-smart’ category…

Police in Xenia say a 21-year-old man showed his ID to buy a cigar, then pulled a gun and robbed a convenience store. Hanson Price is now in the Greene County Jail, for aggravated robbery.

It looked bad, but there were no injuries in a semi-truck/SUV crash on the Ohio Turnpike, near Bellevue.

It happened late yesterday afternoon, near U.S. Route 4. The tractor-trailer veered off the road, and sideswiped a parked SUV. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage. The trucker was charged with failure to control.

The search is underway, for a new Wakeman fire chief.

That’s because Jim Tansey has been let go. The decision was made late last week, after a six-month investigation into how Tansey ran the department.

This Saturday is when Willard residents can ‘fill the boot.’

Between 9am and 2pm, Willard firefighters will be at the intersection of U.S. Route 224 and Myrtle Avenue. They’ll be there with their boots, collecting donations for the Huron County Firefighters Memorial. The memorial will be located on Shady Lane Drive in Norwalk. It’ll list the names of all Huron County firefighters who died on duty.

As we first told you this morning, a Willard-area man was jailed early today after damaging his mother’s home and then threatening Huron County Sheriff’s Deputies with a knife and baseball bat.

Deputies said they used a Taser to subdue Ronald Babione after he came at them.  He’s facing charges of aggravated menacing and resisting arrest.  Babione has a history of domestic violence and fighting with law enforcement officers.

Norwalk city officials are looking for a new planning and zoning officer.

Allison Hodson recently resigned to take a similar job in southwest Ohio.  She had been in Norwalk for nearly a year.  The city is accepting applications through Friday.

Also from Norwalk City Hall…

The city’s bi-annual brush pickup will be held the week of April 30th.  Weekly yard waste pickup will begin the same week.  And the city’s limited spring trash pickup is scheduled for April 23rd.  Households will be able to set out nine extra bags, or three large items.

Tomorrow night is when Ohio Democrats will meet, to pick their leader for the next two years.

Incumbent party chairman Chris Redfern is being challenged by Lorain County Democratic Party chairman Anthony Giardini. Redfern says he’s confident he’ll win re-election. Giardini says he has strong support from key labor unions.

 Federal, state and local taxes must be filed one week from today.

In sports…

The Indians and Chicago White Sox will continue their three-game series at 7:05 tonight.  It’s a noon game tomorrow.  You can hear both games on 95.3, WLKR.

And you can catch high school baseball this Friday on sister station Kool Gold 1510, WLKR.  It’s the Maple City Classic II, featuring the Norwalk Truckers and the Clyde Fliers at All-Pro Stadium in Avon.  Live coverage begins at four o’clock.

The ‘S’ word is in tomorrow’s forecast.

There’s a slight chance of rain and snow showers in the morning.

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown was in Perkins Township this morning.

He toured NASA Plum Brook’s Space Power and B2 facilities. Brown is a supporter of NASA.

A slow-moving truck will bring traffic to a crawl in some of Huron County.

The truck is hauling a 260-ton electrical transformer from Fulton County to Stark County, today through Wednesday. It’s being escorted by four highway patrol troopers, at speeds of just five miles per hour. The route includes parts of U.S Route 224, and State Route 162.

Charges are pending against four teens accused of leading law enforcement officers on a short chase in Norwalk.

The early Saturday morning chase wound along several streets. It ended, when the 17-year-old driver crashed into a tree at East Main and Oakwood. Two of the teens were arrested near the crash site. Two others were arrested near Maplehurst Elementary. They were taken into custody.

It passed the Ohio House, but now it’s hit a red light in the Senate.

A bill that would ban texting while driving has been delayed, while a subcommittee defines texting. Other senators question how the law will be enforced. Also bogged down in Columbus:  New laws regulating internet cafes. Legislation was introduced last year, but there’s been no vote. Internet cafes offer slot-like machines.

A crash involving farm machinery sent a Clyde man to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center.

William Frankart was flown there late Saturday afternoon, after his fertilizer spreader overturned on County Road 21 in Seneca County. The highway patrol is investigating the crash.

A Sandusky man was arrested over the weekend, after firing a shotgun inside his Sheffield Way apartment.

Jeffery Perrin was charged with improper discharge of a firearm. He told police he was cleaning the shotgun, when it went off. No one was injured.

The village of Plymouth will hold a ‘Spring Clean Up’ April 21^st.

Residents should play unwanted household items out the night before.

State Route 13, near U.S. Route 224 in Greenwich will close this Friday, for railroad crossing repairs.

The work should be complete by April 21^st.

One week and one day until the Norwalk Rotary Club’s annual Pizza Bake-Off.

It’ll be held at Norwalk High School.

Three injury crashes in two hours kept the highway patrol busy yesterday.

All three crashes were in Erie County. The first one happened just after 2:30pm, on State Route 2 in Vermilion Township. Edward Boyd of Sandusky suffered serious injuries, when he lost control, causing his car to roll over several times. Boyd was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center. A passenger was unharmed. Troopers said alcohol was a factor in the crash.

The second crash occurred at 3:20pm, at State Route 4 and Strub Road in Perkins Township.It was a rear-end crash, involving three cars. Two people were taken for treatment of minor injuries.

Yesterday’s third crash happened just before 5pm at State Route 2 and Rye Beach Road in Huron. Troopers said a car driven by Dave Lauby of Sandusky struck a guardrail, then drove under a semi-truck. His car was crushed, but Lauby suffered only minor injuries. The highway patrol believes alcohol was a factor in that crash.

Deputies are investigating the death of a Mennonite boy from Huron County.

11-year-old Jay Zimmerman died Tuesday, two days after a farming accident at his family’s Greenwich-area home.  The mishap involved equipment used to feed cows.  Charges could be filed in connection with the boys’ death.

An attack in Afghanistan has claimed three Ohio National Guard soldiers.

The three were killed Wednesday, by a suicide bomber. All three were from Columbus.

Authorities are investigating a claim that a 10-year-old Edison Schools student was ‘roughed up’ by a bus driver.

It happened earlier this week. Deputies are reviewing surveillance footage from the bus.

A grand jury will consider charges against a Lake County man who led authorities on a high-speed chase from Wakeman to Norwalk.

John Lane II of Mentor remains in the Huron County Jail, in lieu of $100,000 bond.  Lane was arrested late last month.  The chase reached speeds of 110 miles per hour…It ended, when Lane crashed in Norwalk.  Lane’s a suspect in several northeast Ohio robberies.

Easter weekend, and good weather for egg hunts!

The Willard Kiwanis annual Easter Egg Hunt will begin at 10am tomorrow at the Willard Park. Norwalk’s annual Egg Hunt will begin at two tomorrow, at Baines Park.

Today’s average for gas in Ohio: $3.82.

But you’ll find it for much less at some area stations. It’s even under $3.50 at three stations in Milan and Sandusky. At the opposite end of the scale, gas is still in the mid-$3.80’s at some stations in Norwalk and Willard.

Just two days after a judge ruled executions may resume in Ohio, another state is moving to do away with the death penalty.

Connecticut lawmakers are considering a measure that would end capital punishment. Several other states recently abolished the death penalty.

Just one day, until the Indians’ season opener.

The Tribe will take on the Toronto Blue Jays, at 3:05 tomorrow. You can hear the game, plus our special opening day broadcast starting at noon.

Milan police are searching for the vandal or vandals who shot paintballs at the Edison Birthplace Museum.

It happened over the weekend.  Four different areas of the building were hit. Outside of paint, there was no damage.

To Monroeville, where someone caused damage at Marsh Field.

Reports indicate the vandal or vandals pulled wires from the fuse box.

The city of Norwalk is nearly ready to seek bids for major work along West Main Street.

The waterline replacement project will stretch from Benedict Avenue to North West Street.  Once it starts, work could last two or three months.  The project is expected to cost more than $900,000.

The history of the Norwalk Fire Department will be the topic during an upcoming meeting of the Firelands Historical Society.

Norwalk Fire Chief Shawn Dickerson will be the speaker.  He’s researched 80 years of records.  The April 18th meeting will be held at 7pm at the Historical Society’s Research Center on Case Avenue.

A reminder…

A limited spring trash pickup will be held in Norwalk the week of April 23rd.  Residents may set out three large items or nine extra bags for pickup.

Some good news if you use natural gas.

Natural gas prices have dropped to a 14-year low.

The question of same-sex marriage is one step closer to the ballot.

Yesterday, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine certified a proposed amendment that would end the state’s ban on same-sex marriages.  Supporters will need nearly 400,000 valid signatures on petitions, to get the issue on the ballot in 2013.

A Sandusky man was arrested yesterday, after a hit-and-run accident  that sent a teen to the hospital.

20-year-old Trey Jones is charged with felonious assault and reckless operation.  A passenger was charged with tampering with evidence.  Police said Jones hit bicyclist Justin Winter, at Pierce Street and Central Avenue, then took off.  They were able to track him down, after they found the car’s license plate at the scene. Winter is in stable condition. Jones is free on bond.

The Ohio Supreme Court has struck down a state law that requires juvenile sex offenders to register as sex offenders for life.

The court ruled yesterday that the law is unconstitutional, because it amounts to cruel and unusual punishment, and violates children’s due process rights.

When it comes to collecting old debts, the Erie County Clerk of Courts Office has a new ally.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office has been hired to track down debtors in old court cases.  Officials have sent 40 cases to Columbus for review and collection.

Two Chicago men are in jail after they were caught with counterfeit items in northern Ohio.

The two were arrested Sunday on the Ohio Turnpike after authorities found dozens of phony designer-brand purses, sunglasses and other items in their car.  They’re charged with trademark counterfeiting.