Garner Trucking President Inducted Into Entrepreneurial & Business Hall Of Fame

(From Garner Trucking)

Garner Trucking, Inc. is proud to announce that Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, President & CEO of Garner Trucking, has been inducted into the distinguished Entrepreneurial & Business Excellence Hall of Fame. This prestigious recognition honors Sherri’s exceptional leadership, innovative vision, and commitment to excellence within the trucking industry. She was formally recognized on November 7th at the 36th Annual EBE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Maumee, OH.

The Entrepreneurial & Business Excellence Hall of Fame was established to celebrate the achievements of outstanding entrepreneurs and business leaders in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. The program recognizes those who have demonstrated excellence in entrepreneurship, fostered business growth, and contributed significantly to their communities and regional economy.

“I’m truly humbled to be included among such an esteemed group of current and past honorees, including my Findlay friends in business, Anni Kramer and Chuck Bills,” said Sherri Garner Brumbaugh. “Leading my family’s business, Garner Trucking, and working alongside the best truck drivers and employees—this is what I’m most proud of.”

Under Sherri’s leadership, Garner Trucking has grown into an industry leader in transportation, renowned for its focus on safety, efficiency, and outstanding customer service. The company’s ongoing success is a testament to her vision, dedication, and the hard work of the entire Garner team.

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Garner Trucking is a family-owned and operated business started in 1960 by Vernon E. Garner and Regina R. Garner, headquartered in Findlay, Ohio. Daughter Sherri Garner Brumbaugh currently owns and operates the business. Garner is 100% woman-owned business. Since 2017, Garner Trucking has been named a Best Fleet to Drive For from trucking companies in North America. In 2022 Garner was recognized as The Best Fleet to Drive For Overall Small Carrier and in 2023, inducted into the Best Fleets To Drive For Hall of Fame. In 2024, Garner was recognized as the winner of the Inaugural Best Fleets To Drive For Hall of Fame Stratosphere Award.

Blanchard Valley Health System Welcoming New Volunteers

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) continues to look for dedicated volunteers to fill a variety of roles.

The organization updates its volunteer opportunities list regularly. Heather Schalk, volunteer services manager, said volunteers today often want flexibility. Some want to volunteer for several hours each week, while others might have less availability but ask to be on the list for a one-time opportunity, like a special event. Schalk meets with each new volunteer individually to get a sense of their interests, skills, and schedule.

BVHS is currently recruiting volunteers to assist with wayfinding at Wellness Park, a new campus on the north end of Findlay which will offer primary care, endocrinology, diabetes management, rheumatology, orthopedics, sports medicine, and podiatry, along with both pediatric and adult physical, occupational, and speech therapies as well as on-site imaging and laboratory services.

“We’re excited about having so many medical specialties and practices at Wellness Park,” Schalk said. “But it’s more than 75,000 square feet in size, and we recognize that patients might be uncertain about where they are going, especially at first. We are looking for volunteers to guide them to their appointments.”

She said the ideal volunteer for this role is “someone who likes to get their steps in,” as it will involve a lot of walking. Volunteers are needed at Wellness Park during weekdays.

“This type of role is rewarding since the volunteers get to know people,” she said. “It can be reassuring for patients to see a friendly face, but we find that the volunteers, too, benefit from getting these kinds of social interactions.”

With the holidays approaching, BVHS is also looking for volunteers to work at the Blanchard Valley Hospital and Bluffton Hospital gift shops. At Blanchard Valley Hospital, volunteers are particularly needed from 5 to 7 p.m. on weekdays and noon to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. In Bluffton, the hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.

“Our gift shops will be bustling for the holidays so we will be relying on volunteers to help,” Schalk said. “It is a fun, busy, and festive atmosphere this time of year.”

Additionally, BVHS is always looking for high school students to serve as candy stripers. Boys and girls from freshman through senior years are welcome. Up to four candy stripers volunteer from 3:30 to 5 p.m. each weekday after school.

“The experience offers the teens great exposure to the medical world,” Schalk said. “Students thinking about a career in healthcare can see what a hospital is like.”

The responsibilities of the candy stripers include replenishing supplies at the emergency department, distributing items to patients from the “comfort cart,” and making milkshakes for new mothers who have just given birth.

Schalk said teens who are shy may find themselves coming out of their shells. In addition to getting to glimpse a hospital behind the scenes, they will meet a wide range of people.

Other volunteer roles may include assisting patients at Physicians Plus Urgent Care, performing administrative tasks, or helping at the Findlay Surgery Center.

“Volunteers who visit patient rooms often are apprehensive the first time around,” Schalk said. “Generally, we don’t meet someone for the first time when they are sick or in a medical setting. However, the volunteers quickly find they can bring some cheer and comfort not only to the patient but associates on the floor. Just making small talk, taking the patient’s mind off their illness, makes more of a difference than people may realize.”

While Schalk often hears from newly retired people who want to stay busy and give back, all are welcome. This might include college students and stay-at-home parents who have time during the school year.

“Many of our volunteers are motivated by a desire to give back to the community, in general, and we’re so happy they picked BVHS as the place to do so,” Schalk said. “But we also hear from a lot of people who have had a good experience as a patient or saw a loved one receiving great care. These folks are motivated to give back to BVHS specifically because of those experiences, which says a lot about our organization and the compassionate associates providing quality care throughout BVHS. It’s so meaningful each time we hear that.”

The Armes Family Cancer Care Center, in particular, tends to attract volunteers with a personal connection.

“That is one area of the health system where we seldom are short of volunteers,” Schalk said. “So many people in our community want to give back and help others going through cancer treatment. Our organization is grateful for their commitment, and I know they have a positive impact on the lives of our patients.”

Schalk, who has served in this role for 12 years, said every day is different and she enjoys getting to know the volunteers.

“It’s so rewarding when I see a volunteer find something that gives them a sense of purpose or a feeling of making a difference,” she said.

For more information on volunteer opportunities, please call 419.423.5342 or visit bvhealthsystem.org/volunteers

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur Victorious In Close Race

(ONN) – Ohio Democrat Marcy Kaptur is extending her tenure as the longest-serving woman in U.S. House.

Kaptur, who represents northwest Ohio’s ninth district, won another term in the U.S. House, defeating Republican State Representative Derek Merrin.

The outcome emerged from final results certified by the Lucas County Board of Elections in Toledo.

On election night the Associated Press said the race was too close to call.

Final results were slightly outside the point-5-percent margin that would have triggered an automatic recount.

FHCPL Celebrates Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Community Library)

The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library is proud to announce the full endowment of the funds supporting Hancock County’s Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. The Imagination Library program is open to all children from birth to age five living in Hancock County. Once enrolled in the program, children receive an age-appropriate book mailed directly to their home until age five at no cost to the family.

The library celebrated this milestone as they observed the 10th Anniversary of the Imagination Library program in Hancock County this weekend. A Meeting Room was also named in honor of Mariann Dana Younger for all of her generous support of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

The State of Ohio fiscally supports 50% of the program, and local affiliates such as the library are responsible for the remaining 50% of the cost of the program. Generous contributions from private individuals, organizations, grants, and the Friends of the Library have supported the program locally since 2014. However, fundraising efforts have taken place to build a lifetime of support for the Imagination Library. The forward-thinking approach of several donors has now granted the program enduring stability. The Chuck and Mariann Younger Hancock Literacy Fund and the Hancock Literacy Fund, held at The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, have now been fully endowed to support the program’s current enrollment level in perpetuity.

Sarah Clevidence, Director of the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library, said of reaching the milestone, “We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of all of the donors who have supported the Imagination Library program. The Younger family and their fellow donors understand the critical roll early and frequent access to books has in the future success of children. They have given our community a life changing gift that will last for generations to come”.

The Imagination Library was originally established in Hancock County by Hancock Literacy, previously the Literacy Coalition of Hancock County, in 2014. In 2022, the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library assumed administration of the program. Since the program’s inception in 2014 in Hancock County, over 245 thousand books have been mailed to our county’s children. Currently, there are over 2,500 children in the county registered for this program.

In addition to funds designated for the Imagination Library program, the library is also supported by funds at The Community Foundation designated for general library operations, the adult literacy program Read for Life and the genealogy collection. For more information on these opportunities, please contact The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation.

Man Arrested After Search Of Residence For Narcotics

(From the Hancock County METRICH Drug Task Force)

The  Hancock County METRICH Drug Task Force assisted by the Hancock County Special Response Team (SRT) executed a narcotic search warrant at 119 S. Cumberland St. Arlington Oh.

The search of the residence yielded suspected methamphetamine, suspected Prescription Pills and drug paraphernalia. Multiple items indicative of drug trafficking were also located.

As a result of the search the following person was arrested and incarcerated at the Hancock County Justice Center:

Shane Lively Sr. (age 38)

119 S. Cumberland St

Findlay, Ohio

Charge: Warrants Hancock County Sheriff’s Officer two counts of trafficking F5

Additional charges of drug trafficking in a school zone and possession of drugs are expected at the conclusion of this investigation.

The Hancock METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit is supported by METRICH in Mansfield, OH and funded in part by the Office of Criminal Justice Services.

METRICH Crime Tip Hotline: 419-52-CRIME (419-522-7463) or download the METRICH enforcement unit mobile app to “Submit a Tip.”

UF Students Awarded Business Affiliates Program Scholarships

(From the University of Findlay)

Ten University of Findlay students are the 2024-25 recipients of more than $60,000 through the Business Affiliates Scholarship Program. This University program offers academic scholarships to Oiler students who have graduated from a Hancock County high school or who are employed by Hancock County organizations.

This year’s scholarship recipients are: Emily Morehart, sophomore from Findlay, accounting major with a finance minor; Kelsie Ritzler, sophomore from Findlay, marketing major; Haleigh Gatchel, fourth year doctor of pharmacy program from Bluffton; Frankie Jones, junior from Forest, finance and accounting major; Maria Saltzman, junior from Alvada, wellness and health promotion major; Owen Styer, senior from Kenton, computer science major; Ashlyn Bohman, junior from Osgood, exercise science for pre-physical therapy major; Caylee Combs, senior from Delaware, pre-vet/animal science and English equestrian studies major; Jaylesiyah Barner-Moon, senior from Columbus, criminal justice major; and Marisa Supers, senior from Dennison, pre-vet/animal science major.

“We appreciate the many local businesses and organizations that are supporting, recruiting, and employing UF graduates,” said Madelynn Greenslade, ’21, UF director of annual giving, who coordinates the program. “Their efforts are developing the talents of new generations of Oilers who are becoming key contributors to our community and local workforce, creating lasting positive impacts.”

The program is administered by the University’s Business Affiliates advisory board, a group of nine Findlay and Hancock County business leaders working with the UF Advancement office. The 2024-25 board members are Erin Schwiebert, chair, O-I Glass; Brian Beltz, Beltz Home Service Co.; Laura Brown ‘07, ’09, Marathon Petroleum Corporation; Mark Cosiano ‘05, ’07, Whirlpool Corporation; Michael Epps, Citizens National Bank; Shawn Fultz ’95, Pfizer; Joshua Reams ’02, Millstream Area Credit Union; Thomas Wagner, Mass Mutual; and Austin Wilson, ’14, Hixon Zuercher Capital Management.

Schwiebert said the generous support of Business Affiliates members helps to ease the financial burden on students as they pursue their academic goals and future careers.

“The Business Affiliates program isn’t just a scholarship, it is a foundation for success and a testament to the endless possibilities when knowledge and industry converge,” she added.

The Business Affiliates Scholarship Program has secured more than $790,000 in scholarship contributions during the past 23 years and impacted the financial well-being of 370 UF students financially since its inception in 2001, Greenslade noted.

“We are so proud of our UF graduates who have developed into valuable members of our community,” she said.

For more information on Business Affiliates, visit the program website https://give.findlay.edu/corporate-engagement/ or call the UF Advancement Office at 419-434-4008.

Madeleine Schneider’s Legacy Continues To Grow

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation)

On November 20, we celebrate Madeleine Schneider’s birthday.

Madeleine was born in Findlay in 1914 and led an incredible life.

She left her entire estate, totaling $25 million, to The Community Foundation without restriction.

This gift to our Community’s Endowment is the largest unrestricted gift in our history and has resulted in more than $21.5 million in awarded grants.

Madeleine’s legacy continues to grow with each passing year.

Happy Birthday! https://www.community-foundation.com/…/madeleines-legacy 

OSHP Findlay Post Names Trooper And Dispatcher Of The Year

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Brian T. Schneck has been selected as the 2024 Trooper of the Year at the Findlay Post.

The selection of Trooper Schneck, is in recognition of outstanding service during 2024 at the Findlay Post.

Fellow officers stationed at the Findlay Post, chose Trooper Schneck based on leadership abilities, professional ethics, courteous treatment of others, enthusiastic work attitude, and cooperation with supervisors, peers, and the public.

Trooper Schneck joined the Highway Patrol in 2017 and has served at the Mansfield Post and Findlay Post since then.

Trooper Schneck graduated from Tiffin University with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.

Other Highway Patrol awards received in the past include: 2023 Findlay Post Trooper of the year, the Safe Driving Ribbon, Physical Fitness with excellence Ribbon, and Field Training Officer Ribbon.

Trooper Schneck and his wife, Faith, reside in Allen County with their child.

Ohio State Highway Patrol Dispatcher Courtney Barth has been selected as the 2024 Dispatcher of the Year at the Findlay Dispatch Center.

Barth, 32, was honored in recognition of outstanding service during the past year at the Findlay Dispatch Center.

Sworn officers and dispatchers chose Barth based on technical job knowledge and ability, enthusiastic work attitude, teamwork, and prompt and courteous response to the public’s request for information and assistance.

Dispatcher Barth joined the Highway Patrol in 2012 and has served at the Findlay Dispatch Center since joining the Division.

She is originally from Findlay and a graduate of Liberty-Benton High School.

Dispatcher Barth was Dispatcher of the year for the Findlay Post in 2020.

Barth is a field training officer.

Dispatcher Barth resides in Findlay with her husband and son.

Hancock County ODOT Garage Ready For Winter Weather

Weather forecasters are saying we could get the first snow of the season on Thursday and the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Hancock County Garage on Lima Avenue in Findlay is ready.

Deidra Noel, transportation administrator for ODOT in Hancock County, says they started prepping their trucks in mid-October and had a district-wide inspection to make sure they were ready to go.

And as usual, ODOT is asking drivers to do their part to help their snow plow operators clear the roads as efficiently as possible.

“Just take your time and slow down, give yourself enough distance between the vehicle in front of you, especially if it’s one of our trucks. Snow coming off of a truck makes visibility even worse so just back up and give us some space.”

Noel says the Hancock County ODOT Garage has 21 trucks and is responsible for 621 lane miles in the county, including Interstate 75 from Bluffton to North Baltimore.

Noel says, as a manager, she doesn’t get to plow snow as much as she used to, unfortunately.

“It’s really fun. Everybody who works here enjoys it. It’s a public service and when you’re good at what you do, you’re proud of it.”

Click here for the latest forecast, weather alerts, and road alerts.

BVHS To Open Wellness Park Campus On North End Of Findlay

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) is excited to announce the upcoming opening of Wellness Park, a new, comprehensive campus on the north end of Findlay.

At this innovative healthcare destination, the skilled team will provide a full spectrum of services, including primary care, endocrinology, diabetes management, rheumatology, orthopedics, sports medicine, and podiatry. Additionally, both pediatric and adult physical, occupational, and speech therapies will be available. On-site imaging and laboratory services will further enhance patient convenience, offering centralized and accessible care.

The campus encompasses more than 75,000 square feet and is designed to employ around 150 associates when fully staffed. With its cutting-edge resources, strategic location, and commitment to quality care, Wellness Park will stand as a beacon of health, healing, and innovation. Conveniently located at 3401 Wellness Way in Findlay, the campus is easily accessible from County Road 99 and nearby I-75, providing a valuable resource for both patients and associates.

Wellness Park aims to address the growing challenges of chronic conditions like diabetes while expanding primary care options.

“Wellness Park will bring together a variety of specialty physicians, but also will serve as an opportunity to expand primary care offerings,” said Myron D. Lewis, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of BVHS. “We’re excited about the opportunity to increase the community’s access to care, and we know this state-of-the-art campus will help in our efforts to recruit primary care physicians to the area. Primary care is just one example, however, of how we are confident this new location will improve access to healthcare in our area.”

The site features an expanded Julie A. Cole Rehab & Sports Medicine with an on-site gym area along with a dedicated pediatric rehab space for occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, and behavioral health therapy.

With practitioners from several specialties coordinating care at a single site, the organization will be able to manage our community’s health and well-being needs even better than before. Wellness Park brings together comprehensive care in one centralized location, reinforcing the BVHS mission of “Caring for a lifetime.”

“BVHS has been planning for Wellness Park for several years,” said Kelly Shroll, chief operating officer-ambulatory services. “In addition to serving as a site for doctor’s appointments, Wellness Park will also be a convenient location for patients who just need routine lab work. This location at the north end of town, close to the I-75 exit, is easily accessible not only to residents of Findlay but to those who live in surrounding communities.

“The campus itself was designed with input from our associates to ensure we were meeting their needs as well as those of our patients,” Shroll went on. “We put an emphasis on making it both functional and attractive. For example, the pediatric rehabilitation area is designed to be kid-friendly and soothing, and we placed large windows throughout the campus to let in a lot of natural light.”

Many community members may have already received letters informing them that their physician or provider will be at a new location. However, BVHS reminds the public that, as of December 16, 2024, the following practices will be seeing patients at Wellness Park: Endocrinology & Diabetes Specialists of Northwest Ohio (including the Community Glucose Monitoring Project), Rheumatology Specialists of Northwest Ohio, and Primary Care at Wellness Park. (Primary Care at Wellness Park is a new practice.)

Soon thereafter, the practices of Julie A. Cole Rehab and Sports Medicine Services and Blanchard Valley Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, as well as laboratory and imaging services, will begin operating at Wellness Park on January 6, 2025.

New patients seeking to make an appointment with these or any other BVHS practice can call 419.422.APPT.

The new Wellness Park campus is one of the cornerstone projects of an exciting space planning effort at BVHS that continues the organization’s longstanding tradition of delivering high-quality care to the Northwest Ohio community.

Other cornerstone projects include the expansion of The Armes Family Cancer Care Center and hospital enhancements including the new Acute Rehabilitation Unit. BVHS is requesting the community’s support through a capital campaign that will help fund the construction, expansion, accessibility, and technological advancements.

“The generosity of the community has been humbling and overwhelming. As we wrap up the silent phase of the capital campaign, the Blanchard Valley Health Foundation has secured over $13 million from generous philanthropists for these important projects,” commented Karen George, chief development officer. “These improvements will help BVHS deliver better health outcomes for those who live and work here. As we move into the public phase of the campaign, we aspire to secure a total of $20 million. It will take the entire community to support this landmark vision.”

For more information about Wellness Park, please visit bvhealthsystem.org/wellness-park

For more information about the capital campaign, please visit https://www.bvhealthsystem.org/support-the-foundation/events-campaigns/capital-campaign/bvhs-capital-campaign