A pop-up testing site for COVID-19 will be available in Bowling Green on Wednesday, December 30th.
The Ohio Department of Health says anyone can get a free test and no appointment or referral is necessary.
Quantities may be limited.
The pop-up testing site will be at the Wood County Fairgrounds from noon to 4 on Wednesday.
The Wood County Fairgrounds is located at 900 West Poe Road.
For details on other upcoming testing opportunities click here.
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says someone is claiming to be with the sheriff’s office in an attempt to scam people.
The sheriff’s office says a resident notified them that a person claiming to be a Sgt. Jack left a message for her saying she needed to call him at the sheriff’s office to “work some things out.”
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says their number showed up on the woman’s caller ID, but the scammer left another number for the woman to call back.
The sheriff’s office says this is a scam and reminds people to never give out information if you receive a similar call.
Anyone with a question can call the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office at 419-422-2424.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol says fewer people were killed on Ohio’s roadways this Christmas holiday, as compared to the previous two years.
The Patrol says nine people were killed in seven crashes on the state’s highways during the Christmas holiday this year.
12 people were killed in 2019 and 11 in 2018.
More than half of the people killed during the Christmas holiday this year were not wearing a seat belt.
The Patrol says wearing a seat belt remains the single most effective thing people can do to protect themselves in a crash.
OVI arrests were way up over the Christmas holiday this year.
The Patrol says troopers removed 142 impaired drivers from the roadways this year, which is an increase of 137 percent from last year.
The Patrol says the increase in OVI arrests is due to more people drinking to relieve stress during the pandemic and holiday season, and extra diligence on the part of their troopers in looking for impaired drivers.
See the county-by-county breakdown by clicking here.
Two people were injured in a crash at South Main Street and Lima Street in Findlay at around 3:30 Monday afternoon.
The Findlay Police Department says Ivorie Garnes, 21, of Findlay, was driving a Hyundai Sonata northbound on South Main Street and was stopped for traffic, waiting to turn westbound onto West Lima Street.
Police say Garnes failed to yield the right of way when turning left and was struck by a Ford Explorer that was southbound on South Main Street.
Garnes, and the driver of the Explorer, Megan Burke, 30, of Tiffin, were taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital with minor injuries.
Police say Garnes was issued a citation.
Both vehicles were towed from the scene.
Boy Scout Troop 322’s annual Christmas Tree pick up is scheduled for Saturday.
Troop 322 is based in Findlay and is part of the Arrowwood District, Black Swamp Area Council.
The Troop said they have more than 100 trees to pick up and they’re still taking registrations.
The registration deadline is Thursday, and then trees will be collected on Saturday from 10 to 2.
People who have signed up should leave their tree at the curb.
The troop is asking for a $5 donation per tree.
To sign up to have your tree picked up and for more information click here.
In January of 2020, the fundraiser brought in $1,300 for the troop.
Blanchard Valley Health System says Dr. William Kose, vice president of special projects, was one of the first BVHS associates to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. (above pic courtesy of BVHS)
“I’m really excited to be able to get the vaccine, this is the light at the end of the tunnel,” Kose said after being inoculated against the coronavirus.
Kose says the vaccine is safe and has been well-studied.
“I highly encourage members of the community to consider getting the vaccine. It could save your life or the life of a loved one,” Kose added.
Hancock County’s initial shipment of the vaccine was received on Monday, December 21st and included 500 doses of the Moderna vaccine.
A vaccination clinic was held for Hancock County EMS personnel at the fairgrounds on December 23rd. (video below)
Hancock County health officials anticipate the vaccine to be available to anyone who wants it in early March.
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says an armed man was taken into custody after barricading himself in a residence in Arcadia.
Deputies responded to an address on Walnut Street a little after noon on Sunday to investigate a reported domestic disturbance.
During their investigation, deputies learned that the man was armed and it turned into a barricaded subject situation.
The sheriff’s office says the man, Matthew Hickle, 25, exited the residence after a short time and was taken into custody and transported to the Hancock County Jail.
No injuries were reported.
The incident remains under investigation.
A Putnam County family is recovering after an overnight fire in which their house sustained extensive damage.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office says it received a call about a house fire at 20692 Road 18S in Fort Jennings at around 12:30 Monday morning.
The two-story house was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived.
The owners of the home, David and Bettie Hess, along with their son-in-law, Richard Walters, suffered minor injuries while escaping the fire.
They were taken to St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima to be checked out.
The house sustained severe damage as well as the detached garage and a vehicle in the driveway.
The sheriff’s office says no foul play is suspected in the fire.
The cause is under investigation.
Some Findlay City Schools students sent healthcare workers notes and artwork to thank them for their hard work and dedication throughout the pandemic.
The Millstream Career Health Professional students sent the thank you notes and artwork to healthcare workers at Blanchard Valley Hospital.
Some of the notes read things like “Stay strong and brave. Let your light shine bright,” and “Life is tough but so are you.”
Another note said, “We appreciate your hard work & thank you for your service.”
One student wrote the following letter (below): “To our front-line heroes, your passion to save patients and put their health first is greatly appreciated. We look to you as somebody to admire and see as role models during these challenging times. Thank you for being my super hero!”
The Hancock Park District has announced the winners of its 25th Annual Photography contest and the pictures that will be included in their 2021 calendar.
Each image was taken within the Hancock Park System.
Findlay resident Shawn Arnold claimed the Grand Prize with his photo (above) of a tree frog at Oakwoods Nature Preserve.
The park district says Elizabeth Hoverman’s photo entitled “Trees Above” (below) was declared the People’s Choice entry.
The photo, taken at Riverbend Recreation Area, received the most “likes” out of all the entries on the HPD Facebook page between November 20th and December 20th.
All selected photos and photographers are listed below:
• Grand Prize winner—”Treefrog” by Shawn Arnold (cover)
• People’s Choice winner—”Trees Above” by Elizabeth Hoverman
• “Autumn Path” by Kristin Fraley
• “Untitled” by Dan Donovan
• “Deep in Thought” by Mary Banks
• “Another Year Taller” by Nicole Centofanti
• “Butterfly” by Shawn Arnold
• “Fall Migration—White-crowned Sparrows” by Anne Albert
• “Robin Purple Flower” by Elizabeth Hoverman
• “Blue Heron” by Mary Banks
• “Snail’s Pace” by Julie Zaring
• “Dold Lake” by Shawn Arnold
• “Singing from the Treetop” by Anne Albert
Each photograph is featured in the Hancock Park District’s 2021 wall calendar which you can download by clicking here.
