Hancock Public Health has issued a health advisory asking people to be vigilant as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.

The Stay Safe Health Advisory states that beginning on Friday, November 20th, all residents are advised to utilize additional scrutiny in their daily behaviors to curb the rapid increase of COVID cases and hospitalizations in the county.

People are being advised to avoid gathering with anyone outside of their family, limit any non-essential activities and to only patronize businesses that have implemented COVID-19 safety protocols.

Residents are also being strongly encouraged to avoid traveling in and out of the state and to not have guests into their homes during the upcoming holidays.

The advisory will expire on December 17th.

You can read over the entire advisory by clicking here.

Hancock County and most of its neighboring counties are at level 3, or ‘red’, on the state’s COVID-19 alert map.

‘Red’ means the county is experiencing very high exposure and spread of the virus and people should limit activities as much as possible.

Franklin County in central Ohio recently became the state’s first ‘purple’ county, level 4.

‘Purple’ means a county is experiencing severe exposure and spread and people should only leave home for supplies and services.

The Marathon LPGA Classic has donated a record $600,000 to 25 children’s charities in northwest Ohio.

Among the local charities that benefited; Hancock Literacy received nearly $39,000, the Children’s Museum of Findlay received $30,000, CASA/GAL of Hancock County received $27,100 and Hancock County Special Olympics received $15,000.

Full details are in the following news release from the Marathon LPGA Classic.

2020 has challenged businesses, communities and families in ways that were never thought possible. Despite the many challenges caused by Covid-19, this year’s Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana was successfully held thanks to the generous support of sponsors, volunteers and the LPGA. In addition to an exciting final round battle between winner Danielle Kang and past Marathon LPGA Classic champion Lydia Ko, this year’s tournament raised a record $600,000 for 25 northwest Ohio children’s charities.

“It’s with great excitement that we can announce that the Marathon LPGA Classic Presented by Dana raised a record-setting $600,000 to aid 25 incredible children’s charities in our region,” said John Rice, Manager of Advertising & Brand Management at Marathon Petroleum. “Considering all the challenges presented by COVID-19 this year, this is an accomplishment we’re extra proud of. We thank the sponsors, the volunteers, and all the loyal supporters of the Marathon LPGA Classic. Without them, this would not be possible. We’re already looking forward to 2021.”

The breakdown of charities that received contributions is as follows:

Adopt America Network – $35,000
Aurora Project, Inc – $21,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Central Ohio – $15,050
CASA/GAL of Hancock County – $27,100
Catholic Club – $10,000
Children’s Museum of Findlay – $30,000
College Mentors For Kids – $7,000
Connecting Kids To Meals – $35,000
Courageous Community Services – $10,000
Franciscan Earth Literacy Center – $37,500
Geary Family YMCA – $19,850
Girls on the Run of Northwest Ohio – $16,800
Hancock County Special Olympics – $15,000
Hancock Literacy – $38,878
Heartbeat of Toledo – $28,000
Jamie Farr Scholarship Fund – $33,400
Junior Achievement of Northwestern Ohio – $20,000
Let’s Build Beds – $40,000
Muscular Dystrophy Association – $5,000
ProMedica Foundation (First Tee/Boys & Girls Club) – $25,000
Ronald McDonald House Charities – $50,000
Sara’s Garden – $35,000
Sylvania Community Action Team – $8,800
YMCA of Bucyrus-Tiffin – $16,622
YMCA of Greater Toledo – Camp Catch – A – Rainbow – $20,000
Total – $600,000

“To be able to reach our pre-covid goal of $600,000 for charity in a year where we weren’t allowed to have spectators is a tribute to the generosity of our sponsors,” stated Tournament Director Judd Silverman. “We can’t thank the sponsors and the LPGA enough for their unwavering support under difficult circumstances. They went above and beyond to make sure the tournament was held and that we were able to reach our goal to help 25 northwest Ohio children’s charities in a time of tremendous need.”

With this year’s $600,000 contribution the Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana has now raised over $12 million for 190 northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan children’s charities since its inception in 1984.

The tournament also announced the children’s charities that will receive the net proceeds from the 2021 Marathon LPGA Classic Presented by Dana, they include: Autism Model School, Avenues for Autism, Cancer Connection of Northwest Ohio, Challenged Champions Equestrian Center, Children’s Mentoring Connection, Children’s Theatre Workshop of Toledo, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Down Syndrome Association of Greater Toledo, Good Grief of Northwest Ohio, Hilty Childcare and Preschool, Jamie Farr Scholarship Fund, Lutheran Social Services of Northwestern Ohio, Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity, Michigan Lupus Foundation, Miracle League, On-Target Outfitters, Open Arms, Ottawa County Family Advocacy Center, Putnam County YMCA, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Serenity Farm Equestrian Center, Sylvania Community Arts Organization, The Victory Center, Toledo Cultural Arts Center – The Valentine Theatre, Toledo School For The Arts, Toledo Science Center – Imagination Station, Toledo SeaGate Food Bank, United States Vets, Wood County Plays, Young Life.

The 2021 Marathon LPGA Classic Presented by Dana will be held July 5-11 at Highland Meadows Golf Club. Defending champion Danielle Kang and a field of 144 LPGA players will play for a purse of $2 million. For more information please visit www.marathonclassic.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @marathonLPGA.

The City of Findlay Christmas Tree was put into place at Dorney Plaza outside the municipal building on Friday morning.

The city thanks Ray and Danny Hines and Mike Bridenbough for the tree, and thanks Miller Rigging for help in getting the tree to Dorney Plaza.

The tree will be lit up on Friday, November 27th.

Findlay’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will still be held this year, there just won’t be any people in attendance.

The city says the tree lighting will be held virtually due to the pandemic and Hancock County being at Level 3, the ‘red’ level, on the state’s COVID-19 alert map.

The ceremony can be viewed on the City of Findlay’s Facebook page at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 27th.

The city invites people to come downtown to enjoy dinner, shopping and take a few pictures with the tree once it’s lit up.

See video of last year’s tree lighting ceremony below.

The autumn removal of the watercraft docks at Zonta Landing at Findlay’s Riverside Park took place on Thursday.

“The last vestiges of the summer season disappeared Thursday with the removal of the docks at Zonta Landing at Riverside Park Waterfront,” said Anne Coburn-Griffis, Marketing Manager for the Hancock Park District.

“As high winds tossed autumn leaves on the shore, Hancock Park District Natural Resource Manager Chad Carroll, Natural Resource Assistant David Myers and Central Park Manager Rowan Coburn-Griffis waded into the cold waters of the Blanchard River to dismantle the docks for winter storage.” (picture courtesy of the Hancock Park District)

She says the last scheduled fall float trip for the 2020 season launched from the park facility on November 14th.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources was in town over the summer to designate the Blanchard River as an official state water trail.

Read more about that by clicking here.

Franklin County is the first in Ohio to be designated at level 4, or “purple” on the state’s color-coded COVID-19 alert map.

Purple indicates ‘severe exposure and spread’ of the virus.

This coincides with a stay-at-home advisory issued by Columbus and Franklin County officials a day earlier.

Governor DeWine says all 88 Ohio counties are considered ‘high incidence’ and that no county is at lowest level, yellow.

Nearly 3,900 people are currently hospitalized in Ohio for treatment of COVID, nearly four times as many as at the first peak of the virus in April.

Hancock County and most of its neighbors are at level 3, the red level.

Findlay Hope House is celebrating their 30th anniversary.

Hope House operates a transitional shelter for women and children and offers rental assistance programs to the homeless in Hancock County.

Development Director Laurie Poland says they’ve touched a lot of lives over the years.

Laurie says they’ve been very busy during the pandemic, helping families who are behind in their rent stave off eviction.

She says they served 84 families in 2019, and so far this year have already served more than 130.

Laurie says it wouldn’t be possible without the support of the community.

Learn more about Hope House and how you can help by clicking here.

(ONN) – Governor DeWine says he will veto a bill, sponsored by Republican lawmakers, to strip him and his health director of the power to issue health orders during a pandemic.

The governor calls HB 621 horribly misguided.

“This is a direct attack on public health. It’s a direct attack on the safety of the people of Ohio,” said Governor DeWine.

The Business Fairness Act now heads to the Ohio Senate for consideration.

Another bill targeting state health orders will get consideration next week.

House Bill 618 would require that health orders issued by the governor and state health department be approved by lawmakers in order to take effect.

Blanchard Valley Health System has named a new president and CEO.

BVHS says Myron D. Lewis will be taking over from Scott Malaney, who’s retiring after 18 years.

Details are in the following news release.

Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) is pleased to announce that Myron D. Lewis will become its next President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Lewis is currently the Spectrum Health Southwest Regional Market Leader, the president at Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital (SHZCH) and the vice president of radiology services for the health system. Spectrum Health (SH), is an integrated health system with 31,000 employees, 4,600 medical staff members, 3,300 volunteers and a health plan serving one million members. Lewis has been part of SH since 2015.

The BVHS Board of Trustees organized a CEO search committee and retained a nationally recognized healthcare recruitment firm to conduct a nationwide search. Through an exhaustive and in-depth process, the committee interviewed numerous candidates from various backgrounds and the board of trustees identified Lewis because of his deep understanding of healthcare, executive experience and high level of enthusiasm.

“Myron Lewis brings the talent and energy that an extraordinary organization like BVHS deserves,” said Paul Worstell, chairman of the BVHS board of trustees. “He’s an innovative, dynamic leader with a passion for quality and excellence.”

Lewis launched his career as a social worker and counselor. After providing direct patient care at Catholic Social Services and Metro Health Hospital (Grand Rapids, MI) he transitioned into hospital leadership. In 1998 he worked at McLaren Northern Michigan (Petoskey, MI), where he started as the manager of rehabilitation and ancillary services. Lewis soon became the lead for the neuroscience and orthopaedic service lines as well as physician offices.

He joined Indiana University Health South Central Region (Bloomington, IN) in 2006 as the executive director of the orthopaedic and neuroscience service lines where he was instrumental in opening a new 11,500 square foot outpatient rehabilitation and sports medicine facility. In 2011 he became the administrative director of Indiana University Health Saxony Hospital (Fishers, IN). In this role, he built the brand new, innovative hospital which specializes in cardiovascular, open heart and orthopaedic services.

In 2013, Lewis joined the Community Health Network (Indianapolis, IN), a health system with nine hospitals, 15,000 associates and nearly 1,000 employed providers. While he started as the network vice president of the neuroscience service line, he was soon named chief operating officer at the health system’s 205-bed facility, Community Hospital East, East Region.

In 2015, Lewis accepted a position with his most current employer where he has served in many leadership capacities and achieved numerous successes. He provided strategic planning for SHZCH and the Southwest Region collaboratively with the board of directors and medical staff leaders. He was also pivotal in the conversion of fourteen hospital boards to one delivery system fiduciary board and combined the hospital and medical groups under the new Spectrum Health West Michigan Board.

During Lewis’ tenure at SHZCH, the hospital earned consistent “A” ratings from the Leapfrog Group and a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The organization achieved 100 Top Hospitals designation for five consecutive years by IBM Watson.

Lewis is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), has a Master of Social Work and a Master of Business Administration degrees. He has held a nursing home administration license and project management professional certification. Additionally, he has a passion for community volunteerism and has served on many boards and committees in the cities in which he has lived.

“It is a true honor to be selected as the next leader of Blanchard Valley Health System,” shared Lewis. “BVHS is a very special place with a long history of excellence. Working together as a team, I know that great days lie ahead. Through the collaboration of our family of professionals, we will continue as the region’s preferred provider of healthcare.”

“Lewis was the first choice,” shared Worstell. “He showed us a deep appreciation for the rich history and culture of BVHS. He understands the importance of patient quality and patient satisfaction that will benefit our community moving forward.”

Lewis, and his wife, Lisa, a registered dietitian, have two grown children. Hanna is a junior at Grand Valley State University (Allendale, MI) majoring in social work and Sydney is a freshman at Butler University (Indianapolis, IN) majoring in psychology/neurosciences. In his spare time, Lewis is an avid cyclist who also enjoys walking, hiking and skiing.

Lewis will start on January 11, 2021. Until then, BVHS will continue to be led by Scott Malaney, current president and CEO.

To learn more about Blanchard Valley Health System and services offered, please visit bvhealthsystem.org.

The City of Findlay is asking faith leaders to make sure their churches are following recommended COVID-19 safety protocols.

Throughout the pandemic, religious gatherings have been exempt from health orders (except the mask mandate), and Mayor Christina Muryn says she’s been working closely with faith leaders to ensure they did what they could as a community to mitigate the spread of the virus.

The mayor says a number of cases that have been part of this recent surge have been traced back to a couple of churches.

She’s asking churches to follow the safety protocols listed below, and if they can’t, she’s asking them to suspend in-person services.

“It hurts my heart to make such a request, but we each have a responsibility to protect our community and congregants. We have already seen a concerning number of cases being tied to a few of our churches. Unfortunately, it appears they have not been using the recommended protocols, and though they may seem small at first, our individual networks are much larger than each of us understands,” the mayor said.

One change in the safety protocols is that churches are now being asked to require face coverings for all attendees in accordance with the state mask order.
Previously, it was requested, not required.

SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR FAITH ORGANIZATIONS

1) Strongly encourage the at-risk population to watch or participate in the service remotely.
a. At-risk population are those who are 65 or older and/or those with chronic
lung disease; moderate to severe asthma; chronic heart disease; severe
obesity; diabetes; chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis; liver
disease; or weakened immune system. (Link to at-risk populations)

2) Limit attendance to 50% of fire code capacity

3) Equip ushers and greeters with gloves and masks.
a. Discourage hand shaking, etc. (Have ushers open doors to limit the
numbers of people touching handles.)

4) Avoid having childcare or Sunday School

5) Have hand sanitizer at doors for communal use

6) Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces before and after service

7) No communal food. (Coffee, donuts, etc.)

8) Require face coverings for all attendees in accordance with the State Mask Mandate

9) Request all attendees check temperatures and not attend if showing any
symptoms of illness (Fever, shortness of breath, cough, or fatigue) Post signage
on doors.

10)Encourage social distancing (6ft + of separation.)

11)Encourage families to stay together. (i.e try to limit kids gathering with other
children)

12)Cover drinking fountains

13)Post signage about good hygiene in bathrooms.

14)Make sure bathrooms are properly stocked with soap and paper towels for
proper handwashing

Findlay and Hancock County are included in a Wind Advisory issued by the National Weather Service.

The advisory will be in effect from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday.

Forecasters say southwest winds of 25 to 35 miles per hour will gust up to 45 miles per hour at times.

Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects and some tree limbs could come down, possibly resulting in power outages.

People should use extra caution while driving, especially if driving a high-profile vehicle.