Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer is heading to the National Football League.

Meyer has agreed to become the new head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The team made the announcement saying Meyer will succeed Doug Marrone as head coach.

The Jaguars went 1-15 in 2020 and enter the offseason holding the No. 1 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The team’s general manager position remains open, with the team having previously dismissed David Caldwell from the position.

Meyer posted an 83-9 overall record during his time at Ohio State from 2012 to 2018, a tenure that included a national title.

(above picture courtesy of Columbus Wired)

A new era begins.

Welcome to #DUUUVAL, @CoachUrbanMeyer

— #DUUUVAL (@Jaguars) January 14, 2021

Success at every stop.@CSICompanies | @CoachUrbanMeyer pic.twitter.com/LaL4nUsf3F

— #DUUUVAL (@Jaguars) January 14, 2021

Bluffton community members 80 and older can register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as Phase 1B of the state’s coronavirus vaccination plan approaches.

Details are in the following news release from Blanchard Valley Health System.

Vaccinations for Bluffton community members, 80 years of age and older, will begin Saturday, January 23 at Bluffton Hospital, a division of Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS).

These individuals can register for the vaccine beginning Monday, January 18, by calling 419.369.2323. Operating hours for the call center are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are a limited number of vaccines available, therefore, vaccines will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. A caregiver or loved one may make an appointment on behalf of an eligible senior.

“By offering vaccines to those who are 80 years of age or older, we can better protect our vulnerable population,” shared Dr. Kose, vice president of special projects at BVHS.

Appointments for the second dose will be made at the clinic when the first dose is administered.

“It is better for community members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine than to end up getting sick with the life-threatening illness,” stated Dr. Kose. “We want to get the vaccines distributed as quickly as possible to protect our community.”

Additional groups, such as those based on underlying health conditions, will be included in the vaccination clinic as doses become available.

Two people were injured when their family’s house in Bloomdale caught on fire.

One of the injured was life-flighted to a hospital.

The Bloomdale Fire Chief told WFIN at the scene that they first responded to the fire on Harrison Street at around 12:15 Thursday morning and the kitchen area was fully engulfed.

He said they got it put out at around 3 a.m. but were called back to the scene around 6:30 a.m. when the fire rekindled.

The chief said after the fire restarted it got into the walls and attic and there was no other option but to have the house torn down. (video below)

He said a total of four area fire agencies helped out with the blaze which started as a grease fire.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family.

The page says the father suffered second-degree burns and is in the intensive care unit and the mother jumped from a second story window and broke her arm.

A friend got her babies out of the house.

Click here for the GoFundMe page.

Hancock Public Health is gearing up for Phase 1B of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan.

Phase 1B will include older Ohioans and school employees.

The timeline for Phase 1B will be as follows:

-Week of Jan. 18: Ohioans 80 years of age and older.
-Week of Jan. 25: Ohioans 75 years of age and older; those with severe congenital or developmental disorders.
-Week of Feb. 1: Ohioans 70 years of age and older; employees of K12 schools that wish to remain or return to in-person or hybrid models.
-Week of Feb. 8: Ohioans 65 years of age and older.

Hancock Public Health says it is planning several vaccination clinics for the following weeks working in conjunction with Blanchard Valley Hospital and 50 North.

The vaccine will be administered by appointment only.

Health officials say they have had more than 1,400 people pre-register in the 80 and older age group.

However, for the first week of Phase 1B, the county will only be receiving 500 doses of the vaccine.

“While we understand many are eager to receive the vaccine, patience will be necessary while demand for the vaccine remains higher than the available supply.”

Anyone in Phase 1B that has not pre-registered and is interested in receiving a vaccine must pre-register in advance by visiting www.hancockph.com and completing the “Hancock County Tier 1A & 1B COVID-19 Vaccine PreRegistration” form located at the top of the page.

People in Phase 1B without online access may also call 50 North at 419-423-8496 or HPH at 419-424- 7105 to be registered by phone.

The two Kroger stores in Findlay will also be offering the vaccine for 1B individuals.

All COVID-19 vaccines will require an appointment via www.kroger.com/ohiocovidvaccine or by calling 866-211-5320.

Appointments will be open once vaccines are received next week.

People who have pre-registered will be contacted to schedule their vaccination as appointments become available.

(Below is video from December when EMS personnel in Hancock County started receiving the vaccine and we spoke with Health Commissioner Karim Baroudi)

The Ohio Statehouse will be closed for four days amid a planned “armed march” on the Statehouse from supporters of President Trump.

Governor DeWine says the Statehouse will be closed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the interest of public safety.

All state office buildings in downtown Columbus will be closed on those days as well. Personnel will work from home or other alternate work locations.

The Ohio National Guard has been activated to guard the Statehouse and to help with security at the Presidential Inauguration in Washington D.C. on Wednesday.

Governor DeWine said violence will not be tolerated during any protests.

“Just as we respect and will protect peaceful protesters, we will also just as vigorously resist violence.”

In the interest of public safety, the @OhioStatehouse will be closed this coming Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. All state office buildings in downtown Columbus will be closed on these days as well. Personnel will work from home or other alternate work locations. pic.twitter.com/sEFCZLkeTr

— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) January 14, 2021

Beginning on Monday, January 25th all grade levels within Findlay City Schools will return to school four days per week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday).

Wednesday will be a remote learning day for all grade levels.

Trojan Academy students will remain in the remote learning model.

Preschool students will remain in the hybrid model.

People with questions are urged to contact their building principal.

Since November 30th, grades 6-12 have been in a fully remote learning schedule and K-5 students in a 2-day per week hybrid schedule.

A new online portal lets Ohioans report cases of unemployment fraud.

State officials say the portal allows people who believe their identity was stolen and used to file a fraudulent unemployment claim to file a complaint directly on the site.

Officials say some people may not realize they’re victims until 1099 tax forms are mailed out at the end of this month.

Click here to be connected to the portal.

NEWS RELEASE: ODJFS Issues a Record Amount of 1099 Tax Forms,
Online Fraud Form and Guidance Available for ID Theft Victims with
Unemployment Claims
FULL DETAILS: https://t.co/grA8ExMZID pic.twitter.com/occSibdQ5Z

— OhioJFS (@OhioJFS) January 13, 2021

The City of Tiffin once again has been recognized as a National Main Street Community.

The city says the downtown Tiffin revitalization effort continues to be validated and recognized throughout the state.

Since becoming a Main Street Community in 2015, 55 new businesses have located in Downtown Tiffin and nearly $33 million in investment has occurred in the downtown.

Get more details in the following news release from the city.

For the fifth year, Downtown Tiffin has been re -recognized by Heritage Ohio as a National Main Street Community. The Ohio Main Street Program, administered by Heritage Ohio, works with communities across the state to revitalize historic commercial areas. Based in historic preservation, it focuses on four points: organization, design, promotions and economic vitality. Each point is an integral part in the successful revitalization of a downtown area.

The Ohio Main Street program is a partner of Main Street America. Accreditation is an honor that must be earned every year by meeting the program’s high standards as determined by an annual quality audit by state officials. With this distinction, Downtown Tiffin has received accreditation for its Main Street program at both the state and national level for 2016-2020.

Downtown Tiffin’s revitalization efforts continue to be validated and recognized throughout the state. Since becoming a Main Street Community in 2015, 55 new businesses have located in Downtown Tiffin and nearly $33 million in investment has occurred in the downtown.

In October, Downtown Tiffin was presented with two statewide awards by Heritage Ohio, Best Downtown Placemaking for the Frost-Kalnow Amphitheater at the East Green and National Corner and Historic Farmstead of the Year for Winterberry Farm. Since 2017, Downtown Tiffin has received six additional awards and one honorable mention from Heritage Ohio.

Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz was glad to see Downtown Tiffin recognized. “I’m honored that Downtown Tiffin has received its accreditation for the fifth year. Especially during this difficult year, I’m proud of our business and building owners and the hard work of Amy Reinhart, Director of Downtown Revitalization for Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership, and members of the downtown development committees.”

Did you know, since becoming a Main Street Community in 2015, 55 new businesses have located in Downtown Tiffin and nearly $33 million in investment has occurred in the downtown.https://t.co/RgRzphRYkv

— Mayor Aaron Montz (@MayorMontz) January 13, 2021

The sheriff’s office in Wyandot County is warning residents of a COVID-related scam.

The sheriff’s office says a group calling itself Wyandot Covid is reaching out to people through Facebook in the hope of obtaining people’s personal information.

The scammers are using pictures from the Wyandot County Health Department to make it look legitimate.

The sheriff’s office says the health department will not reach out to people through Facebook messenger or ask for any personal information in such a manner.

Anyone with questions or concerns may contact the Wyandot County Health Department at 419-294-3852.

Six Hancock County residents died from the coronavirus in the past week, according to Hancock Public Health.

The agency released the latest COVID-19 numbers for the county on Wednesday.

The data shows there have been 88 deaths from the virus in the county, an increase of six from a week ago.

The number of active cases dropped in the last week, down to 266 from 316 a week ago.

Active cases are defined as cases that are currently under quarantine or isolation.

16 people are currently hospitalized with the virus in Hancock County, a drop of 11 from a week ago.

Statewide, there have been nearly 800,000 cases and nearly 9,900 deaths.

Vaccinations for people in Phase 1B ( the elderly and school employees) is expected to begin the week of January 18th.

50 North is helping seniors pre-register for the vaccine and Hancock Public Health also has a form to fill out.  Get more on that here.