After suggesting new health guidelines could be on the way this week, Governor DeWine is planning a primetime address to Ohioans.

Normally, DeWine gives an update on Tuesdays and Thursdays on the state’s response to the pandemic, but he canceled Tuesday’s briefing.

Instead, he will address Ohioans at 5:30 Wednesday night.

He says Ohio is in a “critical stage” in the battle against the virus and calls the Tuesday numbers “alarming”.

On Tuesday another single-day record for new cases was set as 6,508 new cases were reported along with 23 new deaths.

Statewide there have been 261,482 cases since the pandemic began along with 5,547 deaths.

https://twitter.com/GovMikeDeWine/status/1326240667815841792

The Findlay Police Department has a new officer on the force.

Joshua Scharp was sworn in by Mayor Christina Muryn on Monday.

Scharp, 29, is a Findlay High School graduate and served in the United States Marine Corps.

After his service in the Marines, he completed the Police Academy at Owens Community College.

Before joining the Findlay Police Department, Scharp was an auxiliary officer with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Scharp will join the department’s patrol division upon completion of his field training program.

The Findlay Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol will be cracking down on stop sign and red light violations through November with a targeted enforcement initiative.

Lt. Matt Crow, Findlay Post Commander, says failure to yield is the biggest contributing factor for serious injury and fatal crashes in Hancock County.

“Unfortunately we have seen a large increase in fatal and serious injury crashes this year alone, and when we look back at a one year period from October of 2019 through October 2020, we have had 70 crashes in which people were either seriously injured or killed,” Crow said.

Lt. Crow is urging everyone to come to a complete stop and take an extra moment to ensure it’s clear before proceeding through a stop sign or red light.

He says there will be zero tolerance for violators during the enforcement effort.

A company that has a facility in Findlay has announced plans to open a facility in Tiffin.

The Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership says TH Plastics, Inc. will be locating a production plant in the Tiffin Spec Building in the Eagle Rock Business Park.

TH Plastics is a custom plastic injection molding company that supplies to the appliance and automotive industries.

TH Plastics has two other facilities in northwest Ohio that manufacture and assemble products for customers in the midwest, one in Findlay (pictured) and one in Bowling Green.

Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership, the Regional Growth Partnership and JobsOhio worked closely with TH Plastics to secure the project.

The Ohio Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (OH! FAME) of Findlay-Hancock County is taking applications for its 2021 cohort.

Tricia Valasek, manager of Raise the Bar – Hancock County spoke with WFIN’s Chris Oaks about how the program works.

She says the OH! FAME ‘earn while you learn’ program brings local manufacturers and educators together to create a skilled workforce pipeline and pathway to area jobs.

High school seniors, graduates, veterans, and career changers are all encouraged to look into the program to see if it’s right for them.

She says they have 13 slots in the program among seven different employers in their 2021 cohort.

Learn more about the program and get details about how to apply by going to the Raise the Bar website here.

OH! FAME of Findlay-Hancock County’s second-ever incoming cohort was welcomed during a signing day event in August ( pictured above). Read more about that here.

https://twitter.com/RaiseTheBarFHC/status/1321095760356773898

The Findlay Police Department says an officer used a taser on a man who fled from police on a motorcycle and then on foot.

Police were flagged down at the Old Stoney Ledge on Howard Street at around 9:15 Sunday night for a fight between a man and a woman in the parking lot.

Officers were told the man left the scene on a motorcycle.

The motorcycle was seen exiting an alley in the 700 block of Davis Street and failed to stop for an officer.

After running two stop signs the bike turned onto Fox Street and left the roadway to try and drive around a residence in the grass and went down in the yard.

Police say the operator, Isaac Moore, 43, of Findlay, fled on foot.

The officer gave chase and apprehended the man by deploying a taser.

Moore was checked by Hanco EMS and found to be uninjured.

The motorcycle had disabling damage and was towed.

Police say Moore was cited for operating a motorcycle without a license, failure to reinstate a license, operating without reasonable control, failure to stop for stop signs and fleeing police.

There was a short service held at the Hancock County War Memorial on Sunday to honor local Veterans ahead of Veterans Day on Wednesday.

Bill Johns, president of the Hancock County Veterans Council, is asking people to thank a Veteran for the service any time you see one, not just on Veterans Day.

While there was no parade this year due to COVID, Bill said he still wanted to have a short service to let Veterans know they’re not forgotten and never will be.

In the video below is Marine Corps Veteran J.D. Owen singing the Star Spangled Banner and God Bless the U.S.A.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company presented the United Way of Hancock County with a check for $168,000.

The United Way says, at a time when many corporate employee campaigns are seeing a downturn because of of COVID, Cooper Tire met and even exceeded their employee participation and giving goals.

The United Way says the donation is on top of employee pledges and includes contributions from the Cooper Tire Foundation and executive leaders, as well as money raised through several activities conducted as part of Cooper’s 2020 Findlay United Way campaign.

Click here to see video of the check presentation.

The Findlay Police Department says a motorcyclist led officers on a pursuit instead of pulling over for them.

Police say they attempted a traffic stop on the Harley Davidson after it was seen nearly crashing and then doing a burnout near Old Stoney Ledge on Howard Street at around 9:30 Friday night.

Police say the driver, later identified as William K. Jeakle, 58, of Findlay, was driving at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour during the pursuit.

The pursuit was terminated when the officer lost sight of the motorcycle in the area of West Melrose Avenue and Anna Street.

Police say Jeakle was identified as the driver by bar patrons.

The bike was located at Jeakle’s address on West Main Cross but Jeakle was not there.

The motorcycle was impounded.

Hancock County Jail records show Jeakle was booked at the jail at 11:50 Saturday morning.

Charges against him are pending.

Hancock County health officials say the county is experiencing an increase in drug overdoses.

Hancock Public Health says there have been seven suspected overdoses this week.

Health officials say since each person was revived with Narcan, the overdoses were likely caused by opioids.

Hancock Public Health is encouraging anyone in need to reach out for Narcan, and they can even deliver it if necessary.

“A person cannot achieve recovery if they are not alive,” said Gary Bright, Injury Prevention Coordinator with Hancock Public Health.

In September, they held a Narcan distribution event in Findlay.

Click here for more information about Narcan and how to receive a kit of the medication.

People can also call Hancock Public Health at 419-424-7105 for more information.