A record-breaking number of people are voting early in this election and you still have time to do so.

Early in-person voting will continue at the Hancock County Board of Elections through Monday, the day before election day.

The hours for Saturday are 8 to 4 while the hours for Sunday are 1 to 5.

The hours on Monday will be 8 to 2.

The polls will be open on election day on Tuesday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Any absentee ballots that have not yet been returned can be placed in the drop box (below) outside the board of elections by 7:30 the night of the election.

Absentee ballots that are mailed back need to be postmarked no later than Monday, November 2nd.

Click here to see what candidates and issues are on the ballot.

The Hancock County Board of Elections is located at 201 East Lincoln Street in Findlay.

A man who taught music in Findlay for 35 years has been inducted into the Fifth Third Bank Wall of Fame at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts.

David Hanson was the director of the Findlay High School Orchestra for 25 years and directed the high school musicals from 1980 to 2001.

Hanson oversaw a big increase in participation in the orchestra and at the same time helped it gain statewide and nationwide recognition for its excellence.

Thousands of students were impacted by Hanson’s career in education and music.

The Fifth Third Bank Wall of Fame includes people with a connection to Hancock County whose accomplishments have greatly impacted their chosen arts discipline locally, regionally or nationally.

Nominations are being accepted. Learn more and get a nomination form by clicking here.

(picture courtesy of MCPA)

Two more Hancock County residents have died of COVID-19.

The Friday numbers from Hancock Public Health show a total of 31 county residents have now died from the virus, an increase of two from Wednesday.

Total cases in the county on Friday went up to 1,235, which is an increase of 53 cases from Wednesday.

Active cases decreased by 20 cases and as of Friday there were 158 active cases in the county.

Eight Hancock County residents were in the hospital with COVID-19 on Friday, and two were in the ICU.

State data shows Putnam County was at 1,274 cases and 28 deaths as of Friday.

Hancock and surrounding counties are all considered “high incidence” counties.

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

Putnam County is still at level 3, or the red level.

Statewide, a single-day record of 3,845 cases were reported on Friday along with 16 deaths.

As of Friday, there were a total of 212,782 cases statewide and 5,291 deaths.

Nearly 57,000 Ohioans are trained and ready to serve as a poll worker on election day on November 3rd, exceeding the statewide goal.

“Ohioans are stepping up to serve as poll workers this election season at a pace never seen before, showing the world the civic engagement and can-do sense of public service our state has always exemplified,” said Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

LaRose says, while this is the largest aggregated statewide number of poll workers ever trained for an election in Ohio, a handful of counties still lag behind the goal for their county.

Five counties have not yet met their minimum number of poll workers: Ashtabula, Greene, Jackson, Pike, and Vinton.

LaRose says the county-level details can be seen on Ohio’s first-ever Poll Worker Tracker, an innovative recruiting and accountability tool which has received national attention.

The University of Findlay has unveiled a new scholarship endowment fund in the name of Donald L. Mathews, a late professor and chairman of the division of mathematics and computer science, along with his late wife, Ruth A. (Morehead) Mathews.

The endowed scholarship will be awarded annually to one senior who is in the upper third of his or her graduating class, as well as a first-time college-bound student planning to enroll at UF from each of the following schools: Fostoria High School, McClain High School, Old Fort High School, and Wapakoneta High School.

Get more details by clicking here.

With Hancock County remaining at level 2, or the “orange level” on the state’s COVID-19 alert map, trick-or-treat will continue as planned.

Had the county gone up to the “red” level it would have been canceled.

Findlay’s trick-or-treat is scheduled for Saturday, October 31st from 6:30 to 8.

Anyone who feels ill should stay home.

Everyone participating is asked to wear a mask and to social distance when possible.

People handing out candy should be on their porch or the sidewalk to avoid doorbell ringing.

Candy should be handed out one-by-one to avoid youngsters reaching into a common bowl.

Trick-or-treaters are reminded to always watch for cars and drivers are urged to be extra vigilant for little ghouls and goblins who might get a little too excited and dart across the road.

Hancock and Putnam County stayed at their previous levels on the latest COVID-19 alert map that was released on Thursday.

Hancock County remained at level 2, or the orange level, while Putnam County is still at level 3, or the red level.

Hancock, Putnam and all surrounding counties are still labeled as “high incidence” counties.

The number of “red” counties has increased to 43, up from 38 last week, which means nearly 80 percent of Ohio’s population lives in a red county.

New red counties this week are Defiance, Ashtabula, Clermont and Trumbull.

The number of new cases statewide on Thursday was 3,590, smashing the previous single-day record.

19 new deaths were also reported statewide on Thursday.

“The virus is raging throughout Ohio,” Governor DeWine said in his Thursday update.

“There is no place to hide. All of us must come together to fight this enemy. We must fight this invader.”

Statewide, cases now stand at 208,937 for the duration of the pandemic and deaths at 5,275.

State data shows Hancock County at 1,217 total cases and 29 deaths as of Thursday, while Putnam County is at 1,238 cases and 28 deaths.

After struggling in the first half of the year due to the pandemic, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company rebounded in the third quarter to post some impressive numbers.

The company reported on Thursday that their third quarter net income was $123 million, which is a big increase from their third quarter 2019 net income of $29 million.

In August, the company reported a second quarter net loss of $6 million.

“Following a first half that was significantly impacted by the global pandemic, our third quarter performance reflected a strong rebound for Cooper, validating our strategic initiatives and our team’s ability to execute and react quickly to market opportunities,” said President & Chief Executive Officer Brad Hughes.

“As a result, in the U.S., our third quarter unit volume increase of 9 percent significantly outperformed the USTMA and exceeded the total industry. Beyond the benefit provided by an adjustment to our product liability reserves, lower raw material costs combined with favorable price, mix and volume, all contributed to a strong result for the quarter.”

Hughes added, “Coming off an exceptionally strong third quarter and the coronavirus-related production disruptions earlier in the year, our inventory levels are lower than normal. In the near term, this will challenge our ability to meet continuing strong customer demand. We are leveraging our global manufacturing footprint and taking actions to increase production to meet the growing demand.”

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding both pedestrians and drivers to remain vigilant on the roads in communities that are hosting trick-or-treat events.

“Halloween is always a fun night for our youth, but this year, as kids and parents focus on maintaining social distance to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, families crisscrossing the streets must also remember to remain vigilant and watch out for cars,” said Colonel Richard S. Fambro, Patrol superintendent.

“Motorists should also be cognizant of the increased pedestrian traffic and remember to watch for children going place to place.”

Pedestrians and drivers are urged to observe the following tips to increase pedestrian safety:

– Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available. When no sidewalk is available, walk facing traffic as far away from the edge of the roadway as possible.

– Stay alert at all times, motorists and pedestrians should be prepared in case a hazardous situation arises.

– Don’t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes and ears off the road.

– Pedestrians should wear bright or reflective clothing and costumes and carry flashlights on the side closest to traffic.

– Pedestrians should cross where motorists expect them to, follow pedestrian signs and signals, and never assume a driver can see you.

– Motorists are required to yield to pedestrians in a marked crosswalk and in unmarked crosswalks at intersections.
Motorists can use bright headlights when legally able to illuminate the roadway and possibly spot a pedestrian walking near the roadway.

-Motorists should slow down and drive cautiously in residential areas.

The highway patrol says pedestrian-involved crashes have increased the last five years.

From 2015-2019, there were 13,796 pedestrian-involved crashes in Ohio resulting in 664 fatalities and 12,832 injuries of pedestrians.

Pedestrians were at fault in half of the fatal crashes with improper crossing being the leading cause.

Findlay’s trick-or-treat is scheduled for Saturday, October 31st.

Get more details here.

Cincinnati-based Kroger has announced it will become the first U.S. retailer to bring COVID-19 antibody testing to customers across the country.

The supermarket chain said the FDA-authorized tests will be available at all Kroger pharmacies and clinics by the end of November.

The antibody test involves a finger-prick blood sample to detect antibodies of SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19.

The tests will cost $25 and provide results within an average of 15 minutes.

An antibody test should not be used to diagnose an active infection, because the test only detects antibodies developed in response to the virus, not the virus itself.

The CDC says an antibody test may not show if you have a current COVID-19 infection because it can take 1–3 weeks after infection for your body to make antibodies.