As COVID cases increase in Findlay and Hancock County, Mayor Christina Muryn is asking everyone to do their part so things don’t get out of control.

The mayor says everyone did a great job the last several months in making changes to their lives to lessen the spread of the coronavirus and those efforts need to continue.

She’s asking people to continue wearing a mask, practice social distancing and good hygiene and to avoid crowds.

The mayor says an increase in cases is not a surprise, but we need to keep it to a manageable level.

She points out that Blanchard Valley Hospital only has 33 critical care unit beds and around 20 ventilators and could quickly reach capacity if things get worse.

Hancock Public Health said there were 283 cases of COVID-19 in the county as of Wednesday, an increase of 32 from Monday.

122 of those cases are active which is an increase of 16 from Monday.

Two Hancock County residents have died from the virus and 25 have been hospitalized.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is concerned about the rise in fatal motorcycle crashes in the area.

Lt. Matt Crow with the Findlay Post of the highway patrol says there have been three fatal motorcycle crashes in Hancock County in the last three months and a Findlay man was recently killed in a motorcycle crash in Seneca County.

“Motorcycle safety is not solely the responsibility of motorcyclists – it is very important for motor vehicle drivers to be aware there will be an increase of motorcyclists on the roadways during warm weather months,” Crow said.

He says in the three Hancock County crashes the motorcyclist was at fault. In the Seneca County crash a car went left of center and hit the motorcyclist.

In 2019, 3,585 motorcycle-related crashes occurred on Ohio roadways, an 8 percent increase from the year before.

Of those crashes, 156 were fatal crashes killing 165 people, which is a ten percent increase from the previous year.

Only 42 percent of motorcyclists involved in a crash were wearing a helmet.

Lt. Crow says the Findlay Post wants to remind motorcyclists that they need to be properly trained in motorcycle safety, have a motorcycle endorsement, always wear a helmet, and not consume alcohol or drugs when operating a motorcycle.

And he’s asking everyone on the roadways to always pay attention for motorcycles.

COVID cases took another jump in the Wednesday numbers released by Hancock Public Health.

The agency said there were 283 total cases of COVID-19 in the county as of Wednesday, an increase of 32 from Monday.

122 of those cases are active which is an increase of 16 from Monday.

Two Hancock County residents have died from the virus and 25 have been hospitalized.

Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn released a video (below) asking people to continue to do their part to lessen the spread.

Findlay City Schools will try again to pass their 5.9 mill operating levy in a special election on Tuesday.

The same levy was defeated in the April 28th primary by a vote of 4,438 to 3,979, or 52 to 46 percent.

Incoming Superintendent Troy Roth says there have already been personnel cuts due to the April 28th defeat and additional reductions in staffing and opportunities for students will be necessary if this levy fails.

Roth says he knows there’s no good time to ask for additional money but says the district continues to be a good steward of the taxpayer’s money and that it’s been 16 years since they’ve asked for additional operating funds.

The school district says the five-year 5.9 mill levy would generate about $5 million annually.

The levy would cost a homeowner $206.50 for each $100,000 of home value, equating to about an additional $17 a month on your school taxes.

There was no in-person voting on the day of the primary on April 28th.

The Hancock County Board of Elections says the special election on August 4th will include in-person voting although they are anticipating many people voting absentee again.

There’s an absentee ballot drop box outside the board of elections where you can request an absentee ballot and turn in your completed ballot.

Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

(ONN) – Ohio House Republicans informally voted during a strategic meeting on Tuesday to remove Larry Householder as Speaker of the House.

The formal vote to remove Householder will be on Thursday.

Householder was arrested last week and charged with racketeering as part of a $60 million federal bribery scheme.

Householder and four associates are accused of a pay-to-play scheme involving legislation to bail out Ohio’s two financially struggling nuclear power plants.

Neither Householder (pictured below) nor his attorney has commented, and Householder has ignored calls for him to resign.

House Democratic leadership issued a statement on the vote, saying in part: “removing Householder from the dais was a necessary decision and one that should not have required so much debate and hand wringing.”

Findlay’s Riverside Pool will be closed for one day for repairs.

The city says the pool will be closed on Tuesday, August 4th.

The city says the closure is necessary to allow crews to repair a leak.

Click here for information on the precautions the pool is taking in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The West Ohio Food Bank says the need for food assistance continues to grow as the pandemic drags on.

We caught up with CEO Linda Hamilton at a food distribution at Maranatha Bible Church in Van Buren on Tuesday.

She says they distributed a variety of nutritious food to about 300 households at the event, which the Ohio National Guard helped out with.

If you missed that one, a food distribution will be held on August 8th at First Presbyterian Church at 2330 South Main in Findlay.

If Ohio State plays any games in Ohio Stadium this coming season it will be in front of far fewer fans than usual.

Ohio State has informed season ticket holders that the stadium will only be at 20 percent capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While no final decision has been made regarding the 2020 football season, the Department of Athletics has been working diligently with university leaders, public health experts and government officials to create game day plans that protect the health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes, staff, faculty and fans,” the department said in a message to ticket holders.

In addition, face masks will be required and social distancing guidelines must be followed.

Also, tailgating will be prohibited and concessions will be limited.

The Big Ten has already canceled non-conference games for the fall and the pandemic is putting into question whether there will be any season at all.

(ONN) – Governor DeWine issued a new health order that will limit all remaining county fairs this year to junior fair events only.

DeWine said that too many stories related to new COVID-19 cases point to county fairs, which have largely proceeded as normal, as the location where people have come into contact with infected individuals.

The governor said, beginning on Friday, county fairs can only hold junior fair events, such as livestock competitions, 4-H and other FFA competitions.

Any rides, grandstand events and games would be strictly prohibited.

The Hancock County Fair recently announced there would be no fair this year.

The Putnam County Fair held a scaled-back fair in June.

The Findlay Police Department is looking for information regarding a recent theft of money from a store.

Police say the man in the picture, along with several suspected juveniles, entered Wolfies on Glessner Avenue on Friday and stole money.

Police say the man was driving a maroon Mercury van that is also pictured.

The van had tarp coverings for the rear and passenger rear side windows, a bike strapped to the top and possibly a spare tire on the driver’s side rear tire.

All tips and information may remain anonymous and can be sent by private message or by calling 419-424-7150.