Two Findlay teenagers were injured when their car went off the road and crashed into a tree.

The crash happened on South River Road, between Broad Avenue and Interstate 75, at around 3:30 Wednesday afternoon.

The Findlay Police Department says Julien Carlin, 18, was driving west on South River Road when he went off the right side of the road, overcorrected and then went off the left side of the road and hit a tree.

Carlin, and a passenger, Halie Bowen, 17, were transported to Blanchard Valley Hospital for possible injuries.

Carlin was issued a citation for the crash.

Hancock and Putnam County remained 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 and Putnam both are still labeled as a “high incidence” county.

The number of “red” counties has increased to 38, with Allen and Hardin Counties among the new “red” counties.

Governor DeWine says 74 percent of Ohioans are now living in a “red” county.

“COVID-19 is multiplying very quickly, and it will continue unless we do something different,” DeWine said in his Thursday COVID update.

“More of us need to wear masks, and more of us need to be careful. We’ve done it before, and we can do it again.”

Hancock County has had 1,041 cases and 24 deaths as of the Wednesday update from Hancock Public Health.

143 of the Hancock cases are active, meaning the patient is currently under isolation or quarantine.

State data shows Putnam County as of Thursday has had 974 cases and 27 deaths.

More than 2,400 new cases were reported statewide on Thursday along with 12 deaths.

That brings the statewide numbers to 190,430 cases and 5,161 deaths.

Get more coronavirus information and view the county-by-county map by clicking here.

Ohio drivers are being reminded that we’re heading into the peak time for deer-related crashes.

In 2019, statistics from the Ohio State Highway Patrol show there were 19,375 deer-related crashes on Ohio’s roadways.

Of those crashes, four resulted in fatal injuries to motorists and 966 people were injured.

46 percent of the crashes occurred in October, November, and December.

Some of the top counties for deer-related crashes include Stark, Richland, Lorain, Trumbull, and Hancock with US-30, I-71 and I-80 being the leading roadways in the state.

“Always avoid distractions and keep your full focus on the roadway,” said Colonel Richard Fambro of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

“If you see a deer slow down, but do not swerve. If you strike a deer, move to a safe place if you are able, turn on your hazard lights, and report the crash.”

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, deer become much more active during the fall breeding season which occurs from late October through November.

The dawn and dusk hours are the most likely times for deer-involved crashes.

Get more tips on avoiding a collision with a deer by clicking here.

The Findlay Rotary Club presented its 2020 Golden Apple Awards to three area teachers for their teaching excellence.

Annually, The Rotary chooses three teachers from the elementary level, three from the middle school level and three from the high school level to compete for the award.

The winners of the Golden Apple Award this year are; at the elementary level, Lani Sapp, First Grade at Jefferson Primary, at the middle school level, Kathleen Rayle, Intervention Specialist grades 6-8 at Glenwood Middle School, and at the high school level, Martie Andrews, Intervention Specialist at Findlay High School.

(in the above picture are Martie, Lani and Kathleen left to right)

(below they are pictured with Superintendent Troy Roth)

Lani told us after the ceremony that it’s great to be recognized for doing something she loves.

We asked her what her favorite thing is about being a teacher.

The finalist at each level receives the Golden Apple Award along with a $2,500 cash prize.

Second and third place semi-finalists each receive a $250 cash prize.

Finalists also accept an invitation to join the Golden Apple Academy, a group consisting of all past Golden Apple Award finalists.

At the elementary level, the three semifinalists were: Lani Sapp, First Grade at Jefferson Primary; Becky Solomon, Second Grade at Jacob Primary; and Sarah Strohscher, Second Grade at Whittier Primary.

At the middle school level, the three semifinalists were: Kathleen Rayle, Intervention Specialist grades 6-8 at Glenwood Middle School; David Sorensen, Instrumental Music Instructor at Arlington Local Schools; and Raymond Wolfe, Director of Choirs/Musical Director/Assistant Band Director at Liberty-Benton Local Schools.

At the high school level, the three semifinalists were: Martie Andrews, Intervention Specialist at Findlay; Stacy Palmer, Government, History at McComb Local School; Daniel Wilson, Instrumental Music Instructor/ Marching Band Director at Findlay High School.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, October 24th.

The Findlay Police Department says, due to the ongoing pandemic, it will not be hosting its semi-annual Take Back event this fall.

However, they say the disposal of unused and expired medications remains a very important issue.

Police are reminding people that there’s a drop box just inside the entrance to the City of Findlay Municipal Building that’s available at any time.

There’s also a drop box in the entrance to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.

Learn more about National Prescription Drug Take Back Day here.

The number of Hancock County residents that have died of the coronavirus now stands at 24.

Three more deaths were reported in the Wednesday update by Hancock Public Health.

The total number of cases in the county now stands at 1,041, which is an increase of 46 from Monday.

143 of the cases are active, meaning the patient is currently under isolation or quarantine.

State data shows Putnam County has had 937 cases and 27 deaths.

Both Hancock and Putnam Counties are considered a “high incidence” county.

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.

The new map will be released on Thursday.

Statewide, 2,366 new cases were reported on Wednesday, which is a new single-day record, along with 66 new deaths.

Overall, there have been 188,005 cases in the state and 5,149 deaths.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says troopers found a pound of methamphetamine during a traffic stop in Wyandot County.

Troopers pulled over a car on U.S. 23 on October 14th for a lanes violation.

While performing a field sobriety test, they say the driver, Eddie Pope, 47, of Detroit, fled on foot.

He was apprehended a short time later and booked at the Wyandot County Jail.

He’s facing felony charges of possession and trafficking in drugs as well as misdemeanors for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and failure to comply with the order of a police officer.

A man robbed the West Side Carryout in Findlay.

Police say the man entered the store at 1132 Logan Avenue at 7:53 p.m. Tuesday and selected a couple of items and walked to the counter.

That’s when police say the man gave the clerk a note demanding the money from the register.

The note also implied the suspect had a gun, although no gun was seen.

The cashier cooperated and handed over the money from the register.

The suspect then left the store on foot heading westbound.

It’s unclear if he fled on foot or got into a nearby vehicle.

No one was injured during the robbery.

The suspect was described as a white male, possibly in his 20s, standing about five feet ten inches tall and weighing 190 pounds.

He was wearing a gray and white striped neck gaiter, brown leather jacket, blue jeans, brown stocking cap and brown boots.

Officers searched the area with a K9 but did not locate the suspect.

Anyone with information about the suspect is urged to contact police at 419-424-7150.

Findlay resident Ryan Drury is the newest member of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Saved by the Belt Club.

Ryan was involved in a bad crash in April at State Route 12 and Township Road 212 when he was broadsided.

Ryan is still recovering from some of the injuries he sustained that day, but, as he said, he doesn’t think he’d even be here today if he hadn’t been wearing his seat belt when he was hit.

See video of Ryan getting his Saved by the Belt certificate from Lt. Matt Crow of the Findlay Post below.

No fans will be allowed inside Ohio Stadium for the Buckeyes’ season opener against Nebraska.

And Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith is cautioning fans about getting together for the game elsewhere as well.

“We would encourage everyone to not host or be a part of large gatherings or watch parties,” Smith said.

Smith says large gatherings or watch parties for Buckeyes games could turn into super-spreader events and send the state’s COVID numbers even higher.

The Buckeyes and Cornhuskers game begins at noon on Saturday.