The funeral procession for Ohio State Highway Patrol Sergeant Matthew Cook made its way down Findlay and Hancock County roads on Friday before arriving at Maple Grove Cemetery.

Sgt. Cook worked at the Defiance Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and previously at the Findlay Post. 

He was named Trooper of the Year at the Findlay Post in both 2016 and 2020.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office responded to Sgt. Cook’s home in rural McComb on December 31 and found him deceased.

“Our thoughts are with Sergeant Cook’s family, the Findlay District and the Patrol family as a whole,” the Ohio State Highway Patrol said. 

See some video from the procession as it passed by the Findlay Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and under an American Flag from a Findlay fire truck below, and read his obituary from Kirkpatrick-Behnke Funeral Home by clicking here.

The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library will be showing a PBS documentary about the Blizzard of ‘78’.

The Blizzard of 78 Remembered: Personal experiences of Northwest Ohio residents during the 1978 blizzard.

Stories include a helicopter rescue of an expectant mother, effects on emergency services, and the methods people used to survive without electricity and heat.

The documentary will be shown on Tuesday, January 13, at 6 p.m. in the Lindamood Room.

(From the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office)

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to receive complaints about telephone scams.

Multiple reports have been filed where a Deputy James Spencer is notifying people that they missed jury duty or a family member has a warrant and needs money to post bond.

We do not have a Deputy James Spencer that works for our office.

We do not call anyone about missing a jury duty.

We do not call people to notify them about posting a bond for a warrant.

Please be aware of these scammers and do not give any personal information to anyone without first verifying the information.

Findlay City Schools is still working on restoring some of the busing services it eliminated and scaled back. 

For the current school year, there is no busing for high school students, and a two-mile walk radius for elementary and middle school students, with busing provided for those who live more than two miles from their school.

At the first school board meeting of the year, Superintendent Dr. Andy Hatton recommended that the district keep its current level of busing service for the remainder of the school year and focus on restoring some busing services in August.

He says they will continue to do their best to reduce the longest routes as they continue to hire drivers, and in the meantime, they’ll be testing new routes and making sure the enhancements to their software and GPS are talking seamlessly.

The school district previously mentioned February as when some busing could be restored.

Busing services were reduced after voters rejected a levy in November 2024, but in May 2025 voters approved a 1 percent earned income tax levy for the district. 

You can watch the latest Findlay City Schools Board of Education meeting in which busing services were discussed below.

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

No one gets into the field of law enforcement for the recognition.

It is chosen out of a sense of duty and responsibility to our communities.

Nonetheless, on #NationalLawEnforcementAppreciationDay, we want to thank every trooper and law enforcement officer who is providing a service with a purpose.

The messages shown were received via public comments on our social media.

(From the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)

On behalf of Sheriff Michael Cortez, we honor our amazing team at the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office; and all our law enforcement partners throughout Hancock County and abroad.

You are appreciated more than you know!

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

(From the United Way of Hancock County)

We’re gearing up for another tax season, and we’re looking for volunteers to join our team!

Our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides free tax preparation for people in our community who meet the federal requirements.

Volunteers are essential to this program’s success, providing the support that allows us to serve hundreds of households each year.

No tax experience is necessary, and free training and certification is provided. 

Contact Bridgit at accounting@uwhancock.org or call 419-423-1432 to learn more!

(From CreativeOhio)

Building on a successful inaugural year, CreativeOhio is proud to launch the second year of the CreativeOhio Advocacy Leadership Institute, a first-of-its-kind program that equips leaders in Ohio’s arts, culture, and creative industries with the skills and knowledge to advocate effectively for the sector.

After a strong first year, the program will continue with its second cohort beginning in May 2026. The Advocacy Leadership Institute develops a new generation of advocacy champions dedicated to advancing Ohio’s creative sector through informed leadership, relationship-building, and sustained civic engagement.

During its inaugural year, the Institute demonstrated both reach and impact:

• 26 arts and culture leaders from across Ohio
• 6 regional sessions over 6 months
• 20+ speakers and presenters
• 15 arts and cultural venues visited
• 10+ elected officials and policymakers engaged
• 1,200+ miles traveled across the state

Participants left not only with practical tools, but with a renewed sense of purpose and a peer network to sustain their work.

“There is incredible knowledge and power in this group. I will be tapping into this for a long time,” Becky Keck, President, SMARTS Community Arts School

And Luke Dennis, General Manager and President of WYSO Public Radio reflected on the program’s long-term value: “Advocacy skill-building and networking are two of the most important things you can do for your organization, and this program provides both.”

Interested applicants should be established leaders in the creative sector—such as arts administrators, nonprofit executives, and advancement or development professionals—or government, media, and business leaders with a strong passion for the creative sector and a commitment to becoming advocacy champions.

Endorsed by Arts Midwest and crafted in collaboration with leading national arts advocacy experts,the program offers a transformative curriculum. Participants will explore topics like legislative processes, public funding mechanisms, and strategies for building a culture of advocacy. Enriched by site visits to cultural venues and hands-on workshops, the institute equips participants with the knowledge and tools to lead with confidence.

“Advocacy isn’t a single moment. It’s a long game,” said Sarah Sisser, Executive Director and CEO of CreativeOhio. “This institute is about building sustained leadership across Ohio so the creative sector has a strong, informed presence wherever decisions are being made.”

Participants will gain:

• Knowledge: Insights into legislative processes and the creative sector’s economic role.
• Know-How: Practical tools to champion their organizations and communities.
• Networking: Connections with policymakers and creative leaders statewide.

Applications are open through February 13, 2026. Selected participants will meet monthly from May to October at cultural hubs across Ohio, culminating in certification as Certified Creative Sector Advocates. Tuition is $1,500, with scholarships available to ensure accessibility.

The Advocacy Leadership Institute is made possible through the generous support from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Greater Columbus Arts Council, The George Gund Foundation, The Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation, The Charles F. Kettering Foundation, Edwards Companies and Envisage Wealth.

For more information and to apply, visit creativeoh.org/advocacy-leadership-institute/

About CreativeOhio

Celebrating 50 years of statewide leadership, CreativeOhio is the collective voice for Ohio’s creative sector. Driven by more than 130 member organizations, CreativeOhio strengthens communities across Ohio through arts, culture, and creativity. creativeoh.org

(From Findlay Trojan Sports)

We love celebrating our Findlay High School alumni and the incredible things they’re accomplishing at the next level.

With so many Trojan athletes continuing their journeys beyond FHS please use this form to share athletic honors, milestones, or updates so we can spotlight and celebrate our alumni.

Nominate a Findlay High School alum here:

bit.ly/FHSAthleticsAlumniNomination

“Once a Trojan, always a Trojan.”

(From the Hancock County METRICH Drug Task Force)

On 1/7/2026 at approx. 1842 hrs the Hancock County METRICH Drug Task Force assisted by the Findlay Police Department and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office executed a narcotic search warrant at 1615 Burson Dr., Findlay OH, 45840.

The search of the residence yielded 215 grams of suspected cocaine, $15,501 dollars in cash, six firearms and multiple items indicative of drug trafficking. A 2021 Chevrolet 1500 truck was also seized.

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

Skylar Johnson (42 year old)

1615 Burson Dr.

Findlay, Ohio

Fresh Charge: Possession of drugs felony of the first degree, trafficking in drugs felony of the first degree and third degree, and having weapons under disability felony of the third degree.

Additional charges of drug trafficking 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.”

(From the Ohio Department of Health)

Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA, has reported the state’s first measles cases and outbreak of 2026. There are three infected individuals, all children, from one household in Cuyahoga County. One of the three cases that is part of this outbreak had an illness onset date at the end of 2025, and the other two cases had onsets in 2026.  

 The children were all unvaccinated at the time they were exposed and traveled to an area in the United States with an ongoing measles outbreak. ODH is working with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health to follow up on potential exposures and to promote opportunities for vaccination.

 “The fact that we again have measles cases in Ohio underlines the importance of being fully vaccinated,” Dr. Vanderhoff said. “This disease can be very serious, but it is also preventable. I strongly encourage you to protect yourselves and your children by getting vaccinated.”

 Measles is extremely contagious and can spread to others through coughing and sneezing. The measles vaccine (called MMR as it protects against measles, mumps, and rubella) is very safe and effective at preventing measles. Two doses of MMR is 97% effective against measles. If you are up to date on measles vaccine, the risk of getting sick is very low.

 The measles virus can live for up to two hours in air where an infected person coughed or sneezed. If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch an infected surface and then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected. People infected with measles can spread it to others from four days before, through four days after, a rash appears.

 Measles symptoms include a rash, high fever, runny nose, cough, loss of appetite and red, watery eyes. The rash usually lasts five to six days and begins at the hairline, moves to the face and upper neck, and proceeds down the body. Diarrhea and ear infections are common complications of measles. More severe complications may also occur.

 Complications from measles are more common among children younger than 5 years of age, adults older than 20 years of age, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems. As many as one out of every 20 children with measles gets pneumonia, the most common cause of death from measles in young children.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all children get two doses of MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age. MMR vaccine can also be given to adults who are not vaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

 Measles can be brought back to Ohio by individuals who travel internally and within the United States to areas with ongoing measles outbreaks. If people are not protected against the disease, 9 out of 10 people who are exposed will become ill.

 Ohio had 45 cases of measles in 2025 (including the one case mentioned above) and seven cases in 2024. The state had one measles case in 2023 and 90 cases in 2022, when an outbreak in central Ohio totaled 85 cases.

 More information about measles is available on the CDC website, including general information and the recommended immunization schedule. ODH also has a measles FAQ page.