The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library is celebrating National Library Card Sign-Up Month.

They’re urging their more than 30,000 library cardholders to send them a photo on social media of themselves with their library card along with the tag #FHCPLShowUsYourLibraryCard and a winner will be chosen to receive a gift card to downtown Findlay.

And people who don’t have a card yet are encouraged to sign up for one.

Director Sarah Clevidence says most years the library staff would use their time at the Hancock County Fair to share the benefits of having a library card with the community.

But since there was no fair this year, the library is asking cardholders to share with their family and friends about a great book they checked out from the library or a great selection for movie night you found at the library.

The library says, with the public’s help, they can go beyond their original goal of every child to every member of the community as a library card cardholder.

Get more on National Library Card Sign-Up Month here.

Governor DeWine is granting the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals a variance to the section of the state’s sports order that details how many spectators may be allowed to attend games.

DeWine says both teams will be allowed to have up to 6,000 fans at two home games.

Fans must wear a mask and use the designated entrance for their ticket.

The games are as follows:

-September 17th: Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns
-September 27th: Washington at Cleveland Browns
-October 4th: Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals
-October 25th: Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals

The order the governor released in August said outdoor spectators would be limited to 15 percent of the venue’s capacity or 1,500 people, whichever is less.

“This year will certainly be different, but both the Browns and the Bengals have worked exceedingly hard and have made extensive preparations to welcome a limited number of fans to their stadiums safely,” said Governor Mike DeWine.

“These very thorough plans and safety precautions warrant a two-game trial to try and accommodate fans, at reduced capacities with social distancing and masks.”

DeWine spoke with both the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals organizations to inform them of the variances.

The number of overall cases went up while the number of active cases went down in the latest COVID-19 data from Hancock Public Health.

Health officials say, as of Friday, there have been 554 cases in Hancock County, an increase of 20 from Wednesday.

The number of active cases was at 37 on Friday, a drop of 17 from Wednesday.

Four patients were hospitalized as of Friday and one was in the ICU.

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

Hancock Public Health says 50 people have been hospitalized from the virus in Hancock County since the beginning of the pandemic and seven residents have died from it.

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

The driver of a truck was injured when he crashed on U.S. 68 south of Findlay.

The crash happened at around 9:30 Thursday morning in front of Brinkman’s.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says Marvin Schroeder, 62, of McComb, was driving a truck for the Hancock County Solid Waste District and was southbound on U.S. 68 when he went off the right side of the road.

The truck entered a ditch and then struck the driveway embankment at Brinkman’s before rolling onto its side and sliding across U.S. 68. and coming to rest on the east side of the road and partially covering the road and closing the road in both directions.

Schroeder was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital for injuries that are not life-threatening.

He was cited for failure to control.

Assisting at the scene was the Arlington Volunteer Fire Department, Appleseed EMS and Dick’s Towing.

In February a semi crashed into the Brinkman’s parking lot. Read about that crash here and see video of both crashes below.

A Cleveland police officer was killed in the line of duty on Thursday night.

The undercover officer was reportedly working with a drug informant when someone opened fire into the detective’s vehicle.

53-year-old James Skernivitz and the informant were killed.

Police reportedly have two people in custody in connection with the shooting.

Flags across Ohio will fly at half-staff in honor of the fallen detective.

Governor DeWine ordered all flags lowered in Cleveland, Columbus and at state-owned buildings until the day of Skernivitz’ funeral.

Findlay City Schools Superintendent Troy Roth says everyone has been working very hard to make the environment as safe as possible as the new school year begins on Tuesday, September 8th.

Roth says the district will begin the school year on Tuesday in a hybrid model with students placed in two groups.

One group will attend school on Monday and Tuesday while the other group will attend on Thursday and Friday.

Additionally, the district’s Trojan Academy is available for parents who prefer an online, remote option for their kids.

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

Roth says if the Hancock County alert level is bumped down to level one, or yellow, the district will return to a traditional model with a five-day schedule and normal school hours.

Masks are required for K-12 students.

Roth is asking parents to monitor their child for symptoms of the virus and to keep them home if they’re not feeling well.

With the pandemic being a fluid situation, Findlay City Schools says it will continue to be in close contact with health officials and keep everyone informed of any changes.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says it will be focused on removing impaired drivers from the roadways over the Labor Day weekend.

During Labor Day weekend last year, 12 people were killed in 12 fatal crashes.

Seven of those fatalities involved alcohol or drugs.

The highway patrol made 665 OVI arrests during Labor Day weekend of 2019.

“Removing impaired drivers from our roadways is a primary focus for us,” said Colonel Richard S. Fambro, Patrol superintendent.

“If you plan to drink, help make everyone’s holiday weekend safe by designating a sober ride home.”

He’s also asking people to slow down, pointing out that citations for speeds in excess of 100 mph are way up compared to last year.

The 2020 Labor Day weekend reporting period runs Friday through Monday.

Drivers are encouraged to dial #677 to report impaired drivers and drug activity to the highway patrol.

Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder has pleaded not guilty to racketeering charges in federal court.

He entered his plea on Thursday in connection with a 60-million-dollar bribery scheme.

Four other defendants pleaded not guilty for their roles in the plot earlier this month.

Despite the corruption charges against him, Householder showed up at the Ohio Statehouse for the House session on Tuesday and declared his innocence.

Even though Householder is no longer Speaker, he still represents House District 72.

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

He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of conspiracy to commit racketeering.

Putnam County was increased to the “red” alert level, or level three, on Ohio’s county by county COVID-19 alert map.

Hancock County remained at level two, or the orange level.

State data show there have been 371 cases in Putnam County and 17 deaths.

The Putnam County Health Department says the county has had an increase of 80 cases from Wednesday, August 26th to Wednesday, September 2nd.

The governor’s office this week said Putnam County has had the highest occurrence of the virus in the state over the last few weeks based on population.

People are being reminded to wear a face mask, wash their hands and maintain social distancing, especially with the Labor Day holiday approaching.

The governor says the state saw a jump in cases a few weeks after the 4th of July holiday.

Three people were arrested after a Findlay house was searched as part of a drug investigation.

The Hancock County METRICH Drug Task Force and Findlay Police Department executed a search warrant at 248 Monroe Avenue around 5 a.m. Thursday.

Officials say the search revealed a large amount of fentanyl, prescription drugs, drug paraphernalia, cash and items indicative of drug trafficking.

Arrested were Cedric D. Slough, 22, Tyler M. Courtney, 22, and Ariel M. Miller.

Each is facing a charge of possession of fentanyl, a 2nd degree felony, and authorities say additional charges of drug trafficking are expected at the conclusion of the investigation.