Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn recently returned from a trip to Japan but it wasn’t all fun.

Muryn said that while she did enjoy it, it was about maintaining relationships.

She explained that there is a great deal of history between Ohio and Japan.

Roki Corporation started the trend of making Findlay a location for Japanese headquarters over 30 years ago. Now Findlay has 6 Japanese companies.

Muryn went with several other Findlay officials to meet with company heads, government officials, and students.

This week’s 20 under 40 Leadership Recognition Awards honored not one but three people from Findlay.

Sarah Sisser from the Hancock Historical Museum, Sarah Crisp from Awakening Minds Art, and Gaven Smith from Fifth Third Bank were all recognized.

Smith is an investment executive at the bank. He said that out of 200 people nominated from all over northwest Ohio and southern Michigan, having three in Findlay says a lot about the community and the support people have here. He is a former Marine and helps run the Wreaths Across America in Hancock County.

Sisser is the executive director of the Hancock Historical Museum. She credited her award to the wonderful staff she has and the success they’ve seen in the community. Sisser said she is honored to have the recognition.

Crisp is the founder and executive director of Awakening Minds Art which was started in 2009. The group recently moved to a new location due to a successful capital campaign.

An independent panel of judges picks the 20 young professionals based on how they distinguish themselves in career or through volunteering.

The 6th District Court of Appeals made a decision in 2017 that families that have children in relative care should receive money like foster families.

Hancock County JFS executive director Randall Galbraith said that the conversation has been growing about how to implement this.

Galbraith said that he isn’t privy to the plans Ohio has yet.

He adds that kids in relative care do have access to cash public assistance and other programs equal to around $290 a month, but says that pales in comparison to what foster families make.

Hancock County currently has about 30 kids being cared for by relatives and 89 kids in foster care.

You can listen to the full interview below.

Marathon Petroleum Corporation has announced that Chairman and CEO Gary Heminger will be retiring and the company will be spinning off Speedway.

Heminger has been with the company for 45 years, and has been president and CEO since the company’s spin-off from Marathon Oil in 2011, and has been chairman and CEO since 2016.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am grateful to Gary for his distinguished and successful leadership of this great company, for which he has earned the unqualified and unanimous support of the board,” said Lead Independent Director James Rohr.

“We thank him also for his commitment to the board’s request that he remain on for extended service following the announcement of the Andeavor combination to ensure the successful integration of the two companies.”

According to a news release from Marathon, under Heminger’s leadership, the company has continued to create value for shareholders.

Since 2011, the company has delivered returns of 323 percent, outstripping the 183 percent growth of the S&P 500 over the same period, and returned nearly $21 billion to shareholders.

As CEO, Mr. Heminger has headed several transformative acquisitions, resulting in Marathon Petroleum’s current position amongst the highest performers in the refining, retail and midstream segments of the industry.

“I am very proud of the management team with whom I have served over the years”, Heminger said, “and I thank them for their dedication, loyalty, and diligence that has fueled the steady growth of the company.”

The board has appointed a committee that will consider internal and external candidates to succeed Mr. Heminger.

Marathon Petroleum Corporation has also announced that it will be separating Speedway into an independent, publicly traded company.

As part of the Speedway separation process, MPC will initiate a nationwide search for a Speedway CEO.

“Today’s announcement to separate Speedway will create a new independent company that is well-positioned to achieve sustained growth and create substantial shareholder value,” said MPC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gary Heminger.

Marathon Petroleum Corporation reported its third quarter results on Thursday. The company reported net income of $1.1 billion, or $1.66 per diluted share, for the third quarter 2019 compared to $737 million, or $1.62 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2018.

In the third quarter the company says it generated $2.8 billion of operating cash flow and returned $848 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

The Humane Society & SPCA of Hancock County held a fun event for dogs and their owners called Howl-O-Ween.

Owners dressed their dogs up like everything from Superman to a pumpkin to even a UPS delivery man.

The dogs got to walk around the room and enjoy special treats at various stations.

“Well, the dogs don’t get to go Trick Or Treating so we thought, why not do this for them,” said Natalie Reffitt with the Humane Society.

She said the event was also a way to say thanks to the community for always supporting them.

There were also costume contests during the event.

Braxton, who was a UPS delivery guy, won the dog costume contest while a girl and her dog dressed as Beauty and the Beast won the duo contest.

The Findlay Police Department will be passing out candy at five Elementary Schools tonight.

The following schools have been selected this year by Findlay City Schools: Bigelow Hill, Jefferson, Jacobs, Northview and Whittier.

Police will hand out the candy from 6:30 to 8, or whenever it runs out, whichever one comes first.

The candy was provided by the Fort Findlay Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 20.

A Wind Advisory has been issued for Hancock County and surrounding counties.

The advisory will go from 5 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday.

The National Weather Service says winds will be 20 to 30 miles per hour with gusts up to 50 miles per hour.

Unsecured objects will be blown around and tree limbs could also come down, resulting in a few power outages.

People should use caution driving, especially in a high profile vehicle.

The City of Findlay says its Trick Or Treat is still on for Thursday night.

Also, the Findlay Police Department will be passing out candy at five Elementary Schools Thursday night.

The following schools have been selected this year by Findlay City Schools: Bigelow Hill, Jefferson, Jacobs, Northview and Whittier.

Police will hand out the candy from 6:30 to 8, or whenever it runs out, whichever one comes first.

The candy was provided by the Fort Findlay Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 20.

The City of Findlay says its Trick Or Treat will go on as planned on Halloween.

Trick Or Treat will go from 6:30 to 8 o’clock on Thursday.

The forecast looks rainy, windy and cold so make sure to put your kids in a costume that’s really warm.

People have been reacting to the decision on the city’s Facebook page.

Findlay will be having an art walk this coming weekend.

Visit Findlay community relations and development manager Danielle Wilkin explained that Friday evening will be about celebrating art.

Artists will set up at various shops and restaurants with their art.

Wilkin added that the artists will be mostly from Findlay and Hancock County but will also feature a few artists from other parts of northwest Ohio.

You can find more information and a map of locations here.

The Buckeye Association of Secondary Administrators gave Findlay City Schools superintendent the Region 2 Exemplary Leadership Award.

Kurt said that he was nominated for region 2. After being voted on by his peers, BASA selected him as a winner.

Kurt said the award is a great honor.

He adds that he owes it to the excellent teachers and faculty he works with.