Family Resource Center, in partnership with the Hancock County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services is opening a new residential stabilization facility in Findlay.

The Steady Path Stabilization Center, located at 2627 Crystal Avenue in Findlay is a 24/7 monitored, short-term, step-down and diversion residential center that provides a safe place for stabilization services for individuals with persistent mental health concerns and those with co-occurring disorders.

“At times, the weight of mental health concerns, stress, or suicidal ideations can make getting through the day so difficult that you need a place apart from the whirlwind of the world to get stable before going back out,” said Aeryn Williams, Chief Clinical Officer at Family Resource Center.

“The Steady Path provides a welcoming short-term living environment providing a guided path to wellness. Time spent here will be highly individualized based on the needs of those we get the privilege to serve.”

In addition to mental health services, The Steady Path Stabilization Center will offer programming designed to help transition individuals from higher levels of care, such as psychiatric hospitalization and incarceration, to their independent living environments.

“We will be offering educational groups on money management, job resources, and health education as well as behavioral health groups focusing on emotional regulation and healthy coping strategies,” said Georgianna Smolenski, Program Manager at The Steady Path Stabilization Center.

“We want the care that we provide to include tools that residents can use throughout their journey to wellness.”

The Steady Path Stabilization Center will begin services in mid-December.

The public is invited to an open house for the new facility on Monday, November 29th from 3 to 6.

Family Resource Center President and CEO John Bindas will share some remarks along with Hancock County ADAMHS board chair Mark Rimelspach.

The Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce will host an official ribbon cutting at 4.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting extra patrols over the Thanksgiving holiday.

The sheriff’s office says the extra patrols will run from Wednesday through Sunday.

The sheriff’s office is reminding everyone to drive responsibly and designate a sober driver if consuming any intoxicating beverages.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says the Wednesday before Thanksgiving was the busiest crash day for them over the course of the holiday weekend last year.

Law enforcement agencies are warning against drunk driving over the holiday, and especially on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which is a popular bar night out.

Don’t let a pre-Thanksgiving party squash your holiday meal. 🦃 If you’ve been drinking, call a sober friend, taxi or ride share to get you home safely. #BuzzedDriving is drunk driving. pic.twitter.com/3RMiVtmkY2

— Ohio State Highway Patrol (@OSHP) November 24, 2021

Northwest State Community College is collaborating with OhioMeansJobs-Hancock County and the City Mission of Findlay to offer an Introduction to Welding program at the Fostoria Learning Center.

The program is providing seven individuals from the City Mission the opportunity to earn valuable welding skills and an OSHA 10-hour certification.

The program is designed to provide a pathway for skill attainment, employment with a livable wage, and ultimately a pathway out of homelessness and poverty.

Timothy McDowell, Operations Program Manager at the City Mission says this program can be the first step out of poverty.

“The City Mission is excited for the opportunity to partner with Northwest State Community College, OhioMeansJobs, and the Fostoria Learning Center, to provide our guests with training and skills that will open doors to a new career and a livable wage. This course provides more than the opportunity to learn a trade, it is the first step to a new beginning, to rebuilding families, and to halting generational poverty.”

This is Northwest State Community College’s first collaboration with OhioMeansJobs-Hancock County.

With the growing workforce needs in Hancock County, Workforce Supervisor, BriAnna Ybarra, believes this can not only assist individuals in poverty, but can also serve as way for local companies to fill vacant positions.

“OhioMeansJobs-Hancock County is excited to assist this group of motivated individuals obtain training that can lead to careers in an in-demand job field,” Ybarra said.

“In addition, we are certain that once this training has been completed, we will be able to help these same individuals secure employment, helping the unemployment rate in Hancock County. We believe this is the start of a great partnership.”

Ohio is joining a growing number of states whose highway patrol troopers are equipped with body cameras.

Governor DeWine joined Highway Patrol Superintendent Richard Fambro to announce the program’s kickoff.

DeWine said the $15 million program includes distribution and installation of 1,550 new body cameras.

“The Patrol has been using in-car cameras for decades, but as technology continues to advance, body cameras are now an essential tool,” the governor said.

The new body cameras will link to new in-car systems to ensure that all cameras record simultaneously when lights and sirens are activated.

They will be distributed in batches through May.

The Highway Patrol says the new body cams will roll out in the Findlay District in April of 2022.

The Patrol has been using in-car cameras for decades, but as technology continues to advance, body cameras are now an essential tool. The new body cameras will link to new in-car systems to ensure that all cameras record simultaneously when lights & sirens are activated. pic.twitter.com/4IRO7GunYz

— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) November 24, 2021

Ohio’s new map of congressional districts is facing a constitutional challenge alleging it represents partisan gerrymandering by Republicans.

The lawsuit was filed in the Ohio Supreme Court by the National Democratic Redistricting Committee’s legal arm on behalf of a group of Ohio voters.

It challenges a map of U.S. House districts passed last week without Democratic support and signed into law Saturday by Republican governor Mike DeWine.

According to the suit, the map is “even more rigged than its predecessor.”

Ohio’s ruling Republicans assert that the map does not unduly favor either political party.

I’m proud to see Ohio voters, who overwhelmingly supported reforms to end gerrymandering in their state, fight back in this new lawsuit. Ohio Republicans ignoring their constituents and brazenly disregarding their constitutional duty will never go unanswered. We will win. https://t.co/mCW7QI6qLv

— Eric Holder (@EricHolder) November 23, 2021

When you check out Findlay’s Christmas Tree this year know that the star at the top was made by students at Millstream Career Center.

Mayor Christina Muryn says she asked the construction, welding and engineering students to create a topper for the tree and that they jumped at the challenge.

She says the students came up with two designs and prototypes and she met with them and chose which one will be displayed atop the tree.

She says the students then met with the City of Findlay to go over how the star would be secured and how electricity would be run to it.

“I’m really proud of these students,” Muryn said.

The star was placed atop the tree on Tuesday and the tree was decorated.

You have your first chance to see the star light up along with the rest of the tree during the Findlay Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Friday night at 6 at Dorney Plaza, in front of the Findlay Municipal Building.

2 wks ago I challenged @millstreamcc students to design a tree topper for the #FindlayOhio Christmas tree. The welding and engineering programs came up with two designs & prototypes. I cannot wait to see their work on top of the tree! pic.twitter.com/nVtBsMbxEF

— Mayor Christina Muryn (@ChristinaMuryn) November 18, 2021

The annual Thanksgiving Day Community Meal put on by StoneBridge Church will have a different look again this year.

Usually, the church auditorium is packed with people enjoying a meal together, but with the pandemic lingering dine-in will not be available for the second straight year.

People will need to order a meal for drive-thru or delivery like they did last year.

Delivery is available within the city limits of Findlay only. The delivery order deadline was noon Tuesday.

The drive-thru will be open from 9 to 1 on Thanksgiving Day. People are asked to call ahead and place an order. The number is 567-208-0643.

Reverend Michael Wise, lead Pastor at Stonebridge says they’re preparing to serve up to 2,400 meals and that this is truly a community endeavor.

“I cannot reiterate enough, this is not just a Stonebridge thing, so many people in the community make this possible with the volunteering and donations.”

He thanks everyone who has signed up to volunteer, and says additional volunteers are welcome to join them on Wednesday night from 3 – 7 p.m. and Thursday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Get more details on the meal and learn how you can help by clicking here.

StoneBridge Church is located at 2111 Stonehedge Drive, off of Fostoria Avenue.

Ohio hunters, age 17 and under, took far more deer during this year’s youth hunt than last year.

Last weekend was Ohio’s annual youth hunt for deer.

The Ohio Division of Wildlife says Ohio’s young hunters took around 7,600 deer – up from around 5,800 last year.

The top five counties were Tuscarawas, Coshocton, Holmes, Knox and Guernsey.

More than 38,000 youth deer permits have been issued this year by the state.

Archery season is already underway.

The general week-long deer gun season in Ohio begins on Monday, followed by another weekend on December 18th and 19th.

🔶 Hunting & Trapping Regulations: https://t.co/ygb2K7U5nL
🔶 HuntFish OH app: https://t.co/x5QwR2JpjM pic.twitter.com/EKjEEXtCbx

— Ohio Div of Wildlife (@OhioDivWildlife) November 19, 2021

In a news release from Detective Sergeant, Jason Seem of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, authorities arrested Brian L. Ziessler (65 years of age) for the murder of Sherri Lynn Ziessler. Brian was taken into custody without incident and is currently incarcerated in the Hancock County Justice Center. The investigation is ongoing and no additional information will be released.

The sheriff’s office says it received a 911 call  Monday morning, November 15 and responding deputies found that Sherri Ziessler, 59, suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is being assisted in the investigation by the Findlay Police Department, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Lucas County Coroner’s Office.

Photo courtesy Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.

Winter is just around the corner and the Ohio Department of Transportation is still in need of snow plow drivers.

ODOT District 1 will be holding a hiring event for snow plow drivers on December, 2nd.

Across district 1’s eight counties, ODOT is still looking for approximately 14 seasonal highway technicians to round out the snow and ice team.

To find more drivers, a hiring event will be held on Thursday, December 2nd, from noon to 5 at the Hardin County maintenance garage, 13052 U.S. 68 in Kenton.

The biggest need is on the eastern side of the district, especially in Hardin and Wyandot counties.

The district hopes to find drivers to fill all the positions below:

– 4 positions in Hardin County
– 4 positions in Wyandot County
– 2 positions in Hancock County
– 2 positions in Putnam County
– 1 position in Defiance County
– 1 position in Paulding County

During the hiring event, applicants will complete interviews along with physical abilities tests and a driving record review.

Applicants should bring their driver’s license, and if possible, complete the online application prior to the event.

Learn more about the open positions and apply in advance at https://tinyurl.com/WinterSeasonalD1.

Applicants who are unable to attend the hiring event should call 419-999-6819.

Applicants must have a valid Class A or B CDL with tanker endorsement, a good driving record, and submit to a drug screen and background check.

A typical work week is 40 hours – more for snow and ice events. However, on-call and part-time options may be available.

The pay is $18.59 an hour. Seasonal drivers can expect to work from December through March.

Previous experience plowing snow is not necessary. Training is available for applicants who meet the basic requirements.

Winter equipment inspections were this week! We've got the snow plows, loaders, salt, and brine all ready for winter. Only one thing remains, we need more drivers! Come drive for us! Apply here:https://t.co/jq0Uo4MZwm. pic.twitter.com/Pug4Kdbd2Z

— ODOT NW Ohio (@ODOT_NWOhio) November 5, 2021