Cory Duran has been named by Mayor Christina Muryn to serve as the city’s next Tax Administrator.

Duran will be replacing Andrew Thomas, who has been with the city since the early 90s and will be retiring effective January 9th.

Duran is a 2008 graduate of Bowling Green State University with a Bachelors in Business Administration and a minor in Finance.

He most recently worked with the Ohio Casino Control Commission as an External Auditor Supervisor.

His prior experience also includes work with the Ohio Department of Taxation.

“Cory is going to be a fantastic addition to our team,” said Mayor Muryn.

“His background with the state has equipped him well. I am confident that with his background, analytically focused mind, and process driven approach he is going to ensure a smooth transition while growing the level of service of the City of Findlay Income Tax Department.”

Andrew Thomas added, “Cory is exceptionally well suited for this position. I look with admiration on what he is going to be able to accomplish for the City.”

The City of Findlay Income Tax Department processes the municipal and village taxes for Findlay, Arlington, Mount Cory, Vanlue, Carey, and Mount Blanchard.

Findlay City Schools on Monday will be returning to the 2-day per week schedule it began the school year under.

Under this hybrid model, students are placed in two groups with one group attending school on Monday and Tuesday and the other on Thursday and Friday, with Wednesday being a remote day.

The school district says this 50 percent reduced capacity hybrid model alternates between in-person learning and remote/online learning to keep class sizes smaller.

The school district is making the change back to this hybrid model because of Hancock County’s recent bump up to the ‘red’ level on the state’s COVID-19 alert map.

The district recently went to a 4-day per week schedule; on October 26th for Kindergarten through 5th grade and on November 2nd for 6th through 12th grades, but made clear that the schedule could change based on the COVID situation in the county.

The 2-day per week schedule will begin on Monday.

Group A will be last Names A-K and will report to school on Monday and Tuesday

Group B will be last Names L-Z and will report to school on Thursday and Friday.

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

The school district says it hopes to be able to return to all in-person learning in the near future.

That will depend on the state of the pandemic and guidance the district receives from Hancock Public Health and the state.

The City of Findlay’s leaf collection this year will run from Monday, November 16th through December 4th.

City workers will pick up leaves that have been placed in biodegradable paper bags at the curb.

The city makes clear that plastic bags and loose leaves will not be picked up.

The city is reminding people to not rake leaves into the street, as leaves tend to wash into and clog storm sewers, causing maintenance issues and potentially flooding.

City residents may continue to drop leaves at the green waste site located at 330 North Cory Street at no charge.

The current hours for the site are Tuesday through Friday 1pm-6pm and Saturday 8am-4pm, closed Sunday, Monday.

The green waste site will be closed on Thanksgiving.

It will be open on November 27 and 28, 2020.

The last day for the green waste site for the season is December 5, 2020.

The entire State of Ohio will be under a Wind Advisory on Sunday.

For Findlay and Hancock County the advisory will go from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Forecasters say southwest winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour will at times gust to 55 miles per hour.

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

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

Outdoor objects should be secured.

The forecast for Sunday is calling for rainy and windy conditions with the temperature falling throughout the day, to around 45 by 5 p.m.

The City Mission of Findlay says it has eight positive cases of COVID-19 and is requiring all residential guests to quarantine for 14 days.

The homeless shelter says this is a proactive effort to reduce the potential of community spread.

During the quarantine period, the mission will not be accepting new guests and anyone who leaves will not be allowed to return until the quarantine period has ended.

The City Mission of Findlay says health, well-being and safety is their top priority and will continue to make every effort to provide crucial services of housing, meals and advocacy in a safe and effective manner.

Habitat for Humanity of Findlay-Hancock County has presented its first ever Founders Award.

The lifetime achievement award went to volunteer Tom Joseph, of Findlay.

Full details are in the following news release from the organization.

Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County announced today that is has named Tom Joseph with the first ever Habitat for Humanity Findlay/Hancock County Founders Award.

Mr. Joseph was recognized for his tenure of service to stabilize families through shelter in Hancock County on November 1 at a special 20-year celebration event of the partnership between First Presbyterian Church and Habitat.

Members of the congregation, current and past Habitat presidents, and The Joseph Family were present. Wendy McCormick, Habitat Executive Director, shared the history of the partnership and leadership of Tom Joseph.

Tom Joseph served as President of Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County from 1996-2006.

Recruited by founding father Paul Geyer to organize, run, and recruit the first board of trustees, Tom led a ten-member board that wrote Habitat’s articles of incorporation, by-laws, and met the rigorous requirements to become an official nonprofit organization and Habitat for Humanity affiliate.

Once established, Tom helped form and lead 12 volunteer operating committees.

Together, these committees funded and built the first Habitat home in Hancock County in November 2000, as well as the nine homes that followed in those first ten years.

“I never picked up a hammer in all those years,” said Joseph. “We started a group that traveled to Alpena, Michigan to build a Habitat home and thought we need to do that in Findlay. It was not easy and took three long years to become official, but once established we couldn’t wait to break ground. For me, the reward has always been seeing a family who works so hard have a home and knowing they are doing it so they have a safe place for themselves and their children. I loved seeing them and their first Christmas. It was so rewarding.”

“In our 20 years of partnership with First Presbyterian, thousands of dollars were contributed and 11 homes were built in partnership, including the most recent Apostle Build. Thousands of volunteer hours have been donated to stabilize families in Hancock County,” said McCormick.

“Our current board of directors created the Founders Award to recognize significant lifetime accomplishments like Tom’s. I am honored that Tom still volunteers with Habitat, and is swinging a hammer today to continue to serve families. We try every day to live up to the legacy he and others have built on such a strong foundation of giving a hand up to local families. I can’t thank him enough for launching that vision.”

The latest data from Hancock Public Health shows that COVID-19 cases are still on the rise in the county.

The agency says, as of Friday,  there have been a total of 1,761 cases in the county since the pandemic began, which is an increase of 116 from Wednesday.

Active cases stood at 258 on Friday, which is an increase of 12 from Wednesday.

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

33 Hancock County residents have died from the virus.

As of Friday, 20 people were currently in the hospital with COVID and three were in the ICU.

Hancock County on Thursday was moved up to level three, or the ‘red’ level, on the state’s COVID-19 alert map.

Level 3 is defined as very high exposure and spread.

Statewide on Friday, another 8,071 cases were reported along with 42 deaths.

There have been 282,528 cases of the virus in Ohio since the pandemic began and  5,700 deaths.

Hancock County Health Commissioner Karim Baroudi says:

We can reverse the current trend if we all work together to reduce the spread. We should all take a close look at the plans we have put in place to protect our families, our employees, our co-workers, and our community. This will be especially important during the upcoming holiday season as we are all accustomed to getting together with friends and family.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company will be doing its part to make this holiday season a little brighter for children across the country.

The company is donating 10,000 toy vehicles to Toys for Tots, in addition to making a cash gift to the organization.

Details are in the following news release from Cooper Tire.

Cooper Tire Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, today announced it has selected Toys for Tots as its national charity for the 2020 holiday season. Toys for Tots is run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve with the mission of providing happiness and hope to disadvantaged children nationwide during the holiday season.

In addition to making a cash gift to Toys for Tots, the Cooper Foundation is donating 10,000 miniature cars, trucks and other vehicles that will be distributed through Toys for Tots to children in need across the United States.

“This holiday season will look and feel different for many families this year, and the need for assistance will be significant,” said Chris Ball, Cooper Tire President—Americas. 

“We believe everyone deserves to travel life’s journeys with confidence, and Cooper is there at every turn. That is our company purpose, and it is even more important as life has taken unexpected turns for so many this year. We are pleased to help Toys for Tots bring much needed joy to kids this holiday. Santa has his sleigh, but as a tire company, it’s even better for us at Cooper to share our passion for driving by giving toy cars, trucks and buses to children across America this holiday season. Oh what fun!”

Cooper will also collect a variety of toys at its offices, manufacturing plants and technical centers in the U.S., giving employees the opportunity to donate directly. To mark global “Giving Tuesday,” which is December 1, the Cooper Foundation will increase the match for its employee charitable matching gift program from a dollar-for-dollar match to two dollars for every dollar donated by employees who designate gifts to Toys for Tots. The increased match will be in effect for the month of December.

The University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum is home to a new exhibit featuring the life and work of former Disney Studios artist Hardie Gramatky.

Curator Dan Chudzinksi says Hardie learned the art of animation directly from Walt Disney and then branched out to make his own name as an artist.

Chudzinski says the Mazza Museum is honored to share Hardie’s legacy and offer a rare glimpse into his story, which has remained unseen by the public until now.

The exhibit, Hardie Gramatky: A Glimpse into Greatness, can be seen by appointment only.

You can learn more about the exhibit in the video below and by clicking here.

The 4-day per week schedule didn’t last long for Findlay City Schools.

The district went to a 4-day per week schedule on October 26th for Kindergarten through 5th grade and on November 2nd for 6th through 12th grades.

But, now that Hancock County has been bumped up to level 3, or the ‘red’ level on the state’s COVID-19 alert map, the district will be going back to the 50 percent reduced capacity hybrid model in which they began the year.

That hybrid model has students placed in two groups with one group attending school on Monday and Tuesday and the other on Thursday and Friday, with Wednesday being a remote day.

Group A will be last Names A-K and will report to school on Monday and Tuesday

Group B will be last Names L-Z and will report to school on Thursday and Friday.

This hybrid plan alternates between in-person learning and remote/online learning to keep class sizes smaller.

This plan will go into effect on Monday, November 16th.

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

The school district says it hopes to be able to return to all in-person learning in the near future.

That will depend on the state of the pandemic and guidance the district receives from Hancock Public Health and the state.