Findlay City Schools has been recognized by the Ohio State Board of Education for achieving the “All A Award” for Whittier Primary and Jefferson Primary in 2019.

Also, Wilson Vance Intermediate received an “Overall A Building Award.”

The State Board of Education recognizes schools and districts with the “All A Award” if they receive A’s on all Ohio School Report Card measures.

This is the second “All A Award” in a row for Whittier Primary.

“It’s a really big deal for us and we’re extremely proud of it,” said Principal Kelly Stahl.

“It’s a great honor because we’re one of a few schools in the state to receive the award.”

She says parents play a big role in a child’s foundational reading skills.

“I believe in a strong home-school connection and I think that parents helping out and seeing that kids are practicing at home is a big help.”

The schools will be recognized at an award ceremony at the Penta Career Center in Perrysburg in March.

A complete list of districts and schools across Ohio that have warranted the “Overall A Award”, “All A Award” or “Momentum Award” can be found on the Ohio Department of Education’s website.

(Holding the banner in the picture above are Whittier students Ava, Ayden and Mason)

A judge has dismissed a professor’s lawsuit against a small, public university in southern Ohio that rebuked him for not addressing a transgender student using the student’s preferred gender terms.

Nicholas Meriwether’s federal lawsuit alleged that Shawnee State University officials violated his rights by compelling him to speak in a way that contradicts his Christian beliefs.

The school contended such language was part of his job responsibilities, not speech protected by the First Amendment.

A federal judge agreed that the manner in which Meriwether addressed the student wasn’t protected under the First Amendment.

The Hancock Park District has named its 2019 volunteer of the year.

Details are in the following news release from the park district.

Shawn Arnold has been named the 2019 Charlie Meadows Award winner by the Hancock Park District (HPD). Each year since 2012, the award has been presented to VIPs (Volunteer in Parks) who most exhibit characteristics of leadership, enthusiasm for the projects and services they perform and for their willingness to promote volunteerism with others. Arnold will accept the award on Tuesday, February 11, at 3:30 p.m. during the monthly meeting of the HPD Board of Park Commissioners at Oakwoods Nature Preserve’s Richard S. “Doc” Phillips Discovery Center.

Arnold is receiving the award because of his involvement in removing invasive woody plant species at Oakwoods Nature Preserve. In the fall, the Findlay resident worked alongside HPD Natural Resource Manager Chad Carroll to remove nearly two acres of Japanese bush honeysuckle and Chinese privet that were displacing native plants, trees and wildflowers from the park.

“While two acres doesn’t seem that large, it is actually enormous,” said Carroll. “A majority of plants have to either be lopped or hand-sawed and then moved to an area where they can either be chipped or utilized in other aspects, like for creating brush piles or fish habitat.” Carroll added that Arnold is continuing to volunteer with this project this year.

In addition, Arnold’s prowess as a photographer has helped with documentation of bird, reptile, mammal and plant species throughout the park system. Two of the Findlay resident’s photographs were selected to appear in the 2020 Monthly Calendar that highlights winners of the 24th Annual HPD Photography Contest. His photographs are also often featured on HPD’s social media platforms to encourage others to get out and enjoy native flora and fauna.

The purpose of the VIP Program is to offer opportunities for county and area residents to give personal time and offer their special talents to supplement the HPD staff in providing quality programs, maintaining parks for public use and preserving natural areas. The Charlie Meadows Award is named for the park district’s first volunteer coordinator. In 1982, Meadows was instrumental in launching the Helping Hands program to get people involved in the parks.

Former Ohio State running back Antonio Pittman is now working as a firefighter with the Columbus Fire Department.

Pittman recently graduated from the Columbus Fire Academy and spoke about his new career, which he said became his dream after injuries cut his football career short.

Pittman grew up in Akron and played with the Buckeyes from 2004 until 2006, where he rushed for over 2,900 hundred yards and 22 touchdowns.

Pittman says he is looking forward to his new job and being part of a great new team.

A local K9 officer is hoping to get your vote in an online contest.

Sonny, with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, has been entered into the contest which is put on by the Facebook page Ohio Going Blue.

People are encouraged to check out the pictures of the K9 officers from all across Ohio and ‘like’ as many pictures as they want.

Of course, locally, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is hoping Sonny’s picture gets the most ‘likes’.

Sgt. Tom Miller says Sonny has a great demeanor, and recently helped catch a bad guy who ran into the woods.

“And then he knows when to switch it up when we’re around kids during fair season or during demonstrations in schools, he just loves to have that interaction.”

The K9 with the most ‘likes’ will win a prize from Ohio Going Blue.

The contest will end Wednesday at noon.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office has two K9 officers, Sonny and Charlie.

The American Red Cross is in need of volunteers to become Blood Donor Ambassadors in Hancock County and throughout the state.

Volunteer Blood Donor Ambassadors need to be courteous, well-organized and enthusiastic to ensure that blood donors have a pleasant and fulfilling experience.

During a blood drive, these volunteers will greet donors, answer questions, provide refreshments, and create a favorable impression that encourages ongoing donor support.

“I can’t say enough about the important role these special volunteers play at blood drives,” said Wendy Yarbrough Regional Donor Services Executive for the American Red Cross.

“Their kindness and professionalism encourage visitors to make a long-term commitment to regular blood donations.”

She says each volunteer shift as a Blood Donor Ambassador is another opportunity to be a part of the life-saving mission of the Red Cross.

Learn how you can volunteer and about upcoming blood drives here.

The deadline to register to vote in Ohio’s March 17th Primary Election is Tuesday, February 18th.

The Hancock County Board of Elections says it will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at their location at 201 East Lincoln Street in Findlay.

There are also other locations at which you can register to vote as well, including the library.

Early voting then begins on Wednesday, February 19th.

Click here for a list of local candidates and issues you’ll see on the ballot in Hanock County on March 17th.

The Hancock County Board of Elections needs some help with the upcoming primary.

“We are in dire need of poll workers this year because the election is in March and we have a lot of snowbirds, a lot of poll workers are in Florida or Arizona,” said Jody Beall O’Brien, Republican Director of the board of elections.

Click here for details on helping with the election.

WFIN has two candidate forums coming up.

On Wednesday, February 19th we’ll have the forum for Hancock County Sheriff.

Then on Wednesday, February 26th a forum for a Hanock County Commissioner’s seat.

Both forums begin at 5 p.m. at the University of Findlay Alumni Memorial Union.

Get more on both forums here.

In an effort to cut down on crashes, Ohio lawmakers are considering a bill that would require flashing lights on Amish buggies.

The bill, which was recently introduced, would require horse-drawn buggies to have a flashing light and to use a new type of reflective tape with higher visibility.

Current law requires a combination of still lights at dusk or at night and reflective tape or a triangular emblem to indicate a slow-moving vehicle.

The Ashland Times-Gazette reports more liberal Amish communities have agreed to additional safety measures, but other groups won’t take part unless it is state law.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says there have been nearly 900 crashes involving an animal-drawn vehicle or an animal with a rider since 2014.

The Ohio Department of Transportation says a crash in southeast Ohio injured three ODOT workers.

Two workers in the back of an ODOT truck were picking up cones on Highway 33 in Hocking County on Friday when they saw a van hitting cones.

They jumped out of the truck just before the van hit it.

ODOT Spokesperson Matt Bruning says this happens way too often, and drivers need to pay better attention.

“Our people are out there with close calls, every day it’s this close to being a fatal, or a double-fatal or an injury.”

The ODOT workers, truck driver and van driver were all treated at a hospital and are expected to be okay.

ODOT officials are reminding drivers about the move-over law, requiring drivers to move over and slow down when you see workers on the road.

Multiple fire departments responded to a fire in southern Hancock County on Saturday.

The fire was at a farm on Township Road 184 in Delaware Township between Mt. Blanchard and Arlington.

Firefighters were on the scene for several hours on Saturday afternoon.

Delaware Township, Arlington and Forest were a few of the departments that responded to the fire.

The Red Cross says it is assisting one person who lived in an apartment in a barn on the property.

The Red Cross also provided some food and beverage for firefighters who were at the scene for quite some time.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.