The Diocese of Toledo has placed Father Michael Zacharias on administrative leave effective immediately.

The Pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Findlay was arrested by the FBI on Tuesday morning on child sex abuse charges.

The FBI says Zacharias, 53, has engaged in sexual conduct with minors since the late 1990s.

“I am profoundly shocked and grieved to learn of these charges against one of our priests,” said Bishop Daniel Thomas.

“The Church cannot and will not tolerate any such behavior and takes any sexual abuse or misconduct on the part of a cleric with the utmost seriousness. As we await the outcome of the criminal investigation, our prayers go out to anyone affected by this situation.”

The Diocese says Father Zacharias was ordained a priest in 2002 and these are the first such allegations to be raised against him.

The Diocese says, in accordance with the Policy for the Protection of Minors and Young People, while on administrative leave, Father Zacharias cannot exercise public priestly ministry, administer any of the Sacraments, wear clerical attire or present himself as a priest.

“I am distraught by the news of the arrest of Father Michael Zacharias,” said Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn.

“These allegations are not taken lightly, and the Findlay Police Department and our community at large will support the full and thorough investigation by the FBI. Such abuse of power, and perversion of sexuality is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated by any organization, individual, or society.”

Father Michael Zacharias, pastor at St. Michael The Archangel Parish in Findlay has been arrested by the FBI and charged with coercion and enticement, sex trafficking of a minor and sex trafficking of an adult.

The FBI says they made the arrest Tuesday morning at his residence near the church.

According to the complaint, investigators are aware Zacharias, age 53, has engaged in sexual conduct with minors since the late 1990s.

The offenses he has been charged with allegedly involve two boys from Catholic schools in Toledo.

The FBI believes there are additional victims they are unaware of and is asking anyone who had contact with Zacharias and was inappropriately touched or sexually assaulted by him to contact the FBI at 216-622-6842.

The Diocese of Toledo has placed Father Zacharias on administrative leave effective immediately.

“I am distraught by the news of the arrest of Father Michael Zacharias,” said Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn.

“These allegations are not taken lightly, and the Findlay Police Department and our community at large will support the full and thorough investigation by the FBI. Such abuse of power, and perversion of sexuality is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated by any organization, individual, or society.”

Hancock Public Health says it has identified a COVID-19 outbreak at Primrose Retirement Community of Findlay.

The agency says 12 residents and three workers at the facility on Township Road 237 had tested positive for the coronavirus as of Monday afternoon.

One of the patients has been hospitalized.

Health officials say additional testing of residents and staff will be conducted this week to see if there are any more cases.

Hancock Public Health says, as of Monday, there have been a total of 435 cases in the county since the beginning of the pandemic, an increase of 17 from Friday.

The number of active cases was at 72 on Monday, an increase of 11 from Friday.

Active cases are patients who are currently under quarantine or isolation.

The Ohio Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (OH! FAME) of Findlay-Hancock County has welcomed its second-ever incoming cohort with a signing day event.

The OH! FAME “earn while you learn” program brings local manufacturers and educators together to create a skilled workforce pipeline and pathway to area jobs.

Gabe Heilman (in the middle in the picture) says he’s already learned a lot in his time with Molten Corporation.

Toshi Yamate, President of Molten North America, says participating in the program is an investment in the company’s future.

Five manufacturers in Findlay and Hancock County have partnered with Raise the Bar – Hancock County and Owens Community College (Findlay Campus) to sponsor this year’s class which has eight students.

Brendon Iliff (Arlington, OH), Ball Corporation; Ryder Egbert (Mount Blanchard, OH), Gabe Heilman (Findlay, OH) and Isaiah Wolford (Arcadia, OH), Molten; Cory Warnecke (Ottawa, OH), Nissin Brake Ohio; Lincoln Bockbrader (Perrysburg, OH) and Clay Santos (McComb, OH), Simona-PMC; and Conner Klaft (Holland, OH), Veoneer.

Learn more about the OH! FAME program by clicking here.

https://twitter.com/OHFAME_FHC/status/1294310928092200961

The latest data from Hancock Public Health shows an uptick in both total and active COVID-19 cases.

Health officials say, as of Monday, there have been a total of 435 cases in the county, an increase of 17 from Friday.

The number of active cases was at 72 on Monday, an increase of 11 from Friday.

Active cases are patients who are currently under quarantine or isolation.

39 people have been hospitalized from the virus in Hancock County since the beginning of the pandemic and three residents have died from it.

Hancock County is still at level 2, or orange, on the state’s COVID-19 alert map.

Good record keeping has earned the Hancock County Auditor’s Office the Award with Distinction from the Ohio Auditor of State.

The Auditor’s Office presents the Auditor of State Award with Distinction to local governments and school districts upon the completion of a “clean” financial audit.

“Qualifying for the Award with Distinction is an achievement that the fiscal team and community can be proud of because it acknowledges hard work and determination,” said Ohio Auditor Keith Faber.

“Congratulations for a clean audit that demonstrates a commitment to transparency and accountability for tax payers.”

Charity Rauschenberg is the Hancock County Auditor.

The following entities qualified from the Award with Distinction:

Hancock County (Hancock County)

City of Hilliard (Franklin County)

City of Pataskala (Licking County)

City of Reynoldsburg (Franklin County)

Warren County (Warren County)

Deerfield Township (Warren County)

Click here to go to the Ohio Auditor of State’s website where you can search for full financial audits.

Blanchard Valley Health System will be holding an online event about how COVID-19 can impact your respiratory health.

The online session can be viewed on the BVHS Facebook page beginning at noon on Tuesday, August 18th.

BVHS says Dr. Rafid Fadul, a physician with Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine and Dr. Bill Kose, vice president of special projects, will co-host a livestream discussion regarding the effects and treatment options for COVID-19 and other serious respiratory conditions.

To view the session on the BVHS Facebook page click here.

The session can also be viewed on the BVHS YouTube channel.

People who have questions may call 419-423-5551.

Questions can be submitted beforehand to that number or via email to community@ bvhealthsystem.org.

State health officials say face shields cannot be used as a substitute for masks or face coverings when it comes to protecting against COVID-19 in schools.

Governor DeWine tweeted out over the weekend that the Ohio Department of Health is following federal guidance and prohibiting the use of face shields as a substitute for face coverings and masks.

As the new school year begins, all K-12 students who participate in in-person instruction will be required to wear a face covering.

The Ohio Department of Health says there is not enough evidence to support the wearing of face masks to control the spray of respiratory droplets, which is how COVID-19 is believed to spread.

https://twitter.com/GovMikeDeWine/status/1294633343745695745

A woman was injured in a single-vehicle crash on State Route 235 just north of McComb.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says Danielle Morris, 39, of McComb, was driving south on State Route 235 at around 6 p.m. Saturday when she went off the east side of the road and struck a telephone box and a tree.

Morris had to be extricated from her Jeep SUV by first responders.

She was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital.

The sheriff’s office says alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation.

Ohio State Quarterback Justin Fields has launched an online petition to get the Big Ten to reinstate the football season.

Fields created the petition on Sunday, less than a week after the Big Ten conference announced it was postponing fall sports, including football, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It didn’t take long at all for the petition to take off, with tens of thousands of people attaching their name to it soon after it went live.

The #WeWantToPlay petition is asking the conference to allow players and teams to make their own choice about whether to play or opt out of the season.

The petition reads “We believe that safety protocols have been established and can be maintained to mitigate concerns of exposure to Covid 19. We believe that we should have the right to make decisions about what is best for our health and our future. Don’t let our hard work and sacrifice be in vain. #LetUsPlay!”

More than 150,000 people had signed the petition by late Sunday afternoon.

(pictures courtesy of Columbus Wired)