Governor Mike DeWine on Monday outlined his plan to slowly start reopening the Buckeye State.

The governor said as of Friday, May 1st, all health procedures can resume in hospitals that don’t require an overnight stay, and dentists and veterinarians may return to normal procedures.

He said manufacturing, distribution and production will resume on Monday May 4th, as will offices.

With that comes strict measures for wearing masks and taking other precautions and DeWine is encouraging companies whose employees can work from home to continue doing that.

Consumer retail and services will be allowed to reopen on Monday, May 12th.

All employees and customers will be required to wear facial coverings.

Governer DeWine said he knows there’s a great desire to get restaurants fully open and to get hair salons and daycares open “but we must first start down the pathway of opening things up where we thought there was less risk and a more controllable risk.”

(In the picture with this story, it appears Pratt Image Salon in Findlay will have to wait longer than May 1st to reopen as will all salons)

DeWine said as Ohio begins to reopen, the state’s stay-at-home order will remain in place, as will the order prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people.

The governor said with any decision regarding the coronavirus pandemic and reopening there is a risk, but he said he feels like the state’s plan hits the “sweet spot”.

First Federal Bank will be getting a new name this summer.

They’re merging with Home Savings Bank out of Youngstown, and the new unified banking business will be known as Premier Bank.

The combined 77 branches will begin adopting the Premier Bank name and new branding in June with the transition to be completed by the middle of July.

The full news release from First Federal Bank is below.

First Federal Bank of the Midwest (“First Federal Bank”) and Home Savings Bank, announced today the upcoming unification of their banking businesses under the new name of Premier Bank. This announcement was planned as part of the strategic merger and upcoming integration of the two bank systems set to be complete in July of this year. At that time, both banks will begin operating under the name Premier Bank.

“I’m truly excited to announce this upcoming name change that will bring together all of our branches under one brand,” stated Donald P. Hileman, CEO of First Federal Bank and Home Savings Bank. “We achieved our goal of selecting a name that represents and honors the commitment both banks have made to our customers and communities by providing the best in financial partnerships for over a century.”

The combined 77 branches will begin adopting the Premier Bank name and new branding in June with the transition being complete by mid-July.

“Whether our customers walk into a First Federal Bank branch or a Home Savings Bank branch today, they know they can count on us to provide them with
the banking products and services they need and greet them with familiar, friendly faces who have their best interest at heart,” explained Gary M. Small, President of First Federal Bank and Home Savings Bank. “This name change will bring additional consistency throughout our entire footprint and an
elevated promise to deliver the best in community banking.”

Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer, Head of Community Banking, Vince Liuzzi, added, “We made sure our employees and customers had a voice during this rebranding process to ensure our outcome would reflect what sets us apart in the communities we serve. We know that our customers value us as their trusted advisors known for the local decision making, quick answers and flexibility that our unique market leadership structure provides. The Premier Bank name and brand are a reflection of our commitment to helping customers, employees and our communities achieve their best.”

Additional details of the new brand will continue to be developed and released in the coming months.

For more information, visit the company’s websites at First-Fed.com and HomeSavings.com.

Baldwin Wallace University in Cleveland conducted a poll that covered a variety of coronavirus topics, including the governor’s handling of the pandemic.

The survey of nearly 800 Ohioans shows 85 percent supporting the governor, but just 52 percent agree with his plans to allow some businesses to begin reopening May 1st.

When asked whether they trusted Governor DeWine or President Trump more on the situation, DeWine got 56 percent to 12 percent for Trump, while another 24 percent say they trust both equally.

The poll also showed that about 63 percent percent of Ohioans surveyed said they will get a coronavirus vaccine if and when it becomes available.

11 percent said they wouldn’t get a vaccine, while 26 percent said they’re not sure.

The Findlay Fire Department had a busy Saturday.

Fire officials say, upon being dispatched to a garage fire on Winchester Court, the crew of Engine 2 noticed a second unreported garage fire on Covington Avenue.

The crews were immediately split and responded to both scenes.

The fire on Winchester Court destroyed the garage.

The fire department says the fires were unrelated and no one was injured in either fire.

Five Putnam County residents had died from the coronavirus as of Saturday, according to the Putnam County Health Department.

The total number of cases in the county was at 51 as of Saturday.

On Thursday the health department reported a big jump in cases of COVID-19.

The county on Thursday went from 23 cases and two deaths to 47 cases and three deaths.

Health officials said the increase was mostly due to an increase in testing and lab-confirmed cases related to the outbreak at the Meadows of Leipsic.

The health department says it’s important to monitor for symptoms of coronavirus and to contact a healthcare provider if you begin to show signs or symptoms.

Additional information can be obtained on the state’s coronavirus website and on the Putnam County Health Department website.

After serving Findlay and the surrounding area for more than half a century, Bindel’s Appliance is closing up shop.

Jack Bindel says he and his wife Pat have made the bittersweet decision to retire.

“It is, I’m going to miss the customers for sure, but we just realized that it’s time.”

Jack says his parents started the store in 1966 and moved it to the current South Main Street location in 1968.

He says he appreciates all the loyal customers they’ve had over the years and many have gotten ahold of him to say good luck with retirement after hearing the news.

Jack says he’s made arrangements for his salespeople and service technicians to go to work for Ralph’s Joy of Living in Tiffin, a similar family-run store.

“It was pretty important for me to continue to have service in Findlay for our customers, so the technicians will still be able to service the Findlay area out of Tiffin.”

Jack says he’s had people interested in the building but it hasn’t been sold yet.

As for their next chapter, what will he and Pat be up to?

“If the virus ever gets over with we’d like to do some traveling,” Jack said.

He says they have a daughter who lives in New York who they’d like to visit more and they have a place on a lake in Indiana where they plan to spend more time.

“But we still plan on living in Findlay, this is our home.”

Governor DeWine says two new partnerships will allow Ohio to ramp up COVID-19 testing.

He says former governors Richard Celeste and Bob Taft, working with the newly-formed Testing Strike Team, have forged a deal with Cleveland-based Roe Dental to manufacture the swabs used to test for coronavirus.

Additionally, Thermo Fisher, which employees 1,500 workers in Ohio, has committed to providing the reagent used in testing.

By the end of April, DeWine says the state should be able to test more than 7,000 people a day and 22,000 people by the end of May.

The University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum says it’s continuing to make the best of the current pandemic situation by providing virtual entertainment.

In a new series called Mazza Artist Mondays, staff will conduct virtual interviews with award winning authors and illustrators.

The short sessions will include a Q & A session with viewers and a draw-along.

People can watch on the Mazza Museum Facebook page or via Zoom.

Get more on the new series here, and more information about other online programming here.

Ohio’s primary election is coming up on Tuesday.

The election was moved from March 17th to April 28th due to the coronavirus and will be conducted through the mail only.

The Hancock Board of Elections says the deadline to request an absentee ballot is noon on Saturday.

Applications placed in the drop box outside the board of elections at 201 East Lincoln Street or received by mail after noon on Saturday will not be processed.

All completed ballots then must be postmarked April 27th or placed in the drop box by 7:30 p.m. on election day Tuesday for them to be counted.

Slower than expected mail delivery could affect Ohio’s ongoing primary election.

Secretary of State Frank LaRose says it’s taking as many as 7 to 9 days for first class mail, when normally it would take one to three.

That means voters requesting an absentee ballot may not receive one in time.

Absentee ballots have to be postmarked by Monday, April 27th.

LaRose says voters affected by the mail delay can go to their county board of elections Tuesday and cast a provisional ballot.

Click here for a rundown of candidates and issues.

Three former Buckeyes are heading to the pros after being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft which was held virtually Thursday night.

Chase Young went at number two to Washington, Jeff Okudah at number three to Detroit, and Damon Arnette at number 19 to Las Vegas.

With the three selections, Ohio State has sent 84 players to the NFL in the first round, setting the record for the college football program with the most all-time first-round picks.

Ohio State also made history as the only school to have had three players taken in the top three slots of a draft with Young and Okudah this year and Orlando Pace and Shawn Springs back in 1997.

(picture courtesy of Columbus Wired)