Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn was in Washington D.C. this week for The White House Vaccine Summit.

Details are in the following news release from the City of Findlay.

Mayor Christina Muryn participated in The White House Vaccine Summit. Mayor Muryn joined five Mayors from across the country along with Governors Abbott, Edwards, DeSantis, and Lee, leaders from the private sector and Operation Warp Speed leadership. The goal of the Vaccine Summit was to Build Understanding, Build Confidence, and Recognize Achievement related to the unprecedented development of a COVID-19 vaccine. The program included four hours of material. The program outline is below.
The full Summit can be accessed at https://fb.watch/2gRUNuA2k7/.

“As the conversation around a COVID-19 vaccine grows, it is vital that Federal, State, and Local leaders work together to communicate accurate information about the timing, safety, and access around the vaccine. The summit provided additional behind the scenes information on how our nation has gotten to this point so quickly, how we are prepared to safely roll out the vaccine, and the public-private partnerships that will be critical in equitably and effectively distributing the vaccine. Over the last number of months, Federal, State, and Local leaders have been working together to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Our communities have largely seen the mitigation efforts that we have been taking to decrease the overall number of cases. While that has been a huge focus, we are also working tirelessly to get our communities open, support our economy, and prepare for these vaccines. Now that a vaccine is expected in the next week or two, we are ready to put our plans in action to roll out the Ohio Vaccination plan. Hancock Public Health and I have been in regular conversations with the Ohio Department of Health and Governor DeWine’s Office on how we will make the vaccine available locally. As soon as we know the number of vaccines we will receive in the first shipment, we will begin to execute the plans in place,” said Mayor Muryn

“One of the most fascinating points to me was the explanations by Dr. Moncef Slaoui, a foremost expert in vaccinations on how the COVID-19 vaccines have been able to be developed in such an expedited fashion compared to other vaccines. That has certainly been one of my largest questions, and something I have heard from a number of community members,” said Mayor Christina Muryn. In short given the government’s willingness to bring together a cross sector team and commit to funding it allowed the manufacturers to run testing in parallel rather than the linear process they typically follow.

Additionally, Dr. Slaoui stated that the industry was able to cut the front end of the discovery process from years to weeks utilizing platform technologies. “Imagine a cassette player. It plays classic music if you play a classic music tape, and it plays rock and roll if you put in a rock and roll tape. 99% of cassette players are of course the same and only the tape changes and you have a very different outcome. It is the same with vaccines. Platform technologies are a means by which you can produce a vaccine that induces the right immune responses and you put in a different cassette in it to produce a different vaccine against a different virus.” He goes on to say that, “When we knew, as the industry and academia, what the virus is and its sequence, companies were able to take that sequence, plug it in the cassette player of their platform technology and be into the clinic within two months from the discovery of the virus. This is where, I would say, we cut most of the time.”

Dr. Slaoui stated that the Administration expects 20 million Americans to be able to be vaccinated by end of 2020, 30 million in January, and 50 million Americans in February.

The Ohio Department of Health’s Vaccination Plan has a 4 Phase Distribution Plan.

Phase 1a: (~ 1.3MM Ohioans) Healthcare Workers, EMS Responders, Resident and Staff at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, psychiatric hospitals. Individuals, and those who work with individuals that have disabilities, in group homes or centers.

Phase 1b: (~4.5MM Ohioans) Essential Workers including lower exposure First Responders and High Risk Citizens

Phase 1c: (~.5MM Ohioans) 65+ Year Olds

Phase 2: (~100k Ohioans) Other Older Adults

Phase 3: (~4MM Ohioans) Young Adults

Phase 4: (~1.3MM Ohioans) All Remaining

The target for herd immunity is 60-70% of the population either receiving the vaccination or having the antibodies from having exposure to the virus. In Hancock County that means approximately 52,050 based off a population of 75,783. At this time, the Ohio Department of Health is estimating that 10% of Ohioans have already been exposed and have the antibodies. Therefore, locally we are hoping to have 47,744 individuals choose to be vaccinated. This is not a mandated vaccination. It will be available to those who want it as each of the phases is executed.

A clerk told police the suspect waved a gun in her face as he robbed her convenience store in Findlay.

It happened at Som Carry Out at 825 North Main Street at around 9:30 Wednesday night.

Police say the suspect went to pay for a drink and asked for four packs of cigarettes.

The clerk asked if he needed anything else and that’s when he instructed the clerk to give him all the money in the cash register.

The clerk said, when she didn’t comply immediately, the suspect pulled a gun and began waving it.

The clerk gave the suspect the money and he fled southbound from the store.

Officers checked the area with a K9 but the suspect was not located.

The suspect is described as a black man, standing about five feet five to five feet seven inches tall.

The surveillance photo below of the suspect is posted inside the store.

Anyone with information can call Findlay police at 419-424-7150.

Earlier that same day, a Circle K was robbed nearby. Read about that here.

The Ohio State football team will play in the Big Ten Championship game on Saturday, December 19th after the minimum game requirement was eliminated.

The Buckeyes are 5 and 0 on the season and teams were required to play at least six games to qualify for the championship game.

Their game set for Saturday with Michigan was canceled by the Wolverines due to COVID.

Ohio State will play Northwestern in the title game at noon on Saturday, December 19th in Indianapolis.

(picture courtesy of Columbus Wired)

More details are in the following news release from the Big Ten.

The Big Ten Conference Administrators Council, which includes the Directors of Athletics and Senior Women Administrators from all 14 member institutions, voted today to eliminate the minimum-game requirement for participation in the 2020 Big Ten Football Championship Game. The decision was made in collaboration with the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors and the conference office.

The decision was based on a competitive analysis which determined that Ohio State would have advanced to the Big Ten Football Championship Game based on its undefeated record and head-to-head victory over Indiana regardless of a win or loss against Michigan.

As a result of the decision, Ohio State will represent the East Division in the 2020 Big Ten Football Championship game against Northwestern.

The conference continues to prioritize the health and safety of our student-athletes and remains flexible and united with its 14 member institutions and partners during these unprecedented times.

Some upcoming Findlay High School sporting events have been postponed or canceled.

The school district says the boys basketball game against Toledo Central Catholic and the boys hockey game against Toledo St. Francis that were scheduled for Friday, December 11th have been postponed.

The school district says the postponement is due to contact tracing performed because of confirmed COVID cases from previous opponents.

Also, boys wrestling at the Vandalia Butler Invite set for Saturday has been canceled.

A list of upcoming sporting events can be seen by clicking here.

You can check out the district’s COVID-19 dashboard by clicking here.

The Wood County Sheriff’s Office says a Bowling Green city councilman, who was also a professor, was killed in a crash.

The sheriff’s office says Neocles Leontis was driving on State Route 25, just north of Bowling Green at about 6 p.m. Tuesday when his vehicle went into the opposite lane and hit a vehicle traveling northbound.

Leontis was pronounced dead at the scene.

Multiple people were taken to the hospital for treatment, including his wife.

Leontis had been a chemistry professor at Bowling Green State University for more than 30 years.

The Findlay Police Department says the Circle K at 100 Crystal Avenue was robbed by a suspect who showed a gun.

The robbery happened at 2:41 Wednesday morning.

Police say a man entered the store and asked the clerk for assistance with cigarettes.

As the clerk was assisting the man, police say the man ordered the clerk to give him all of a certain brand of cigarettes and all the money in the cash register.

Police say the suspect pulled a small gun halfway out of his hoodie pocket during the robbery.

The clerk complied with the robber’s demands and placed the smokes and cash in a plastic bag.

The suspect fled on foot northbound through an alley behind the store.

Officers checked the area with a K-9 but the suspect was not located.

The suspect is described as a black man, standing about five feet five and wearing a gray hoodie, black pants and blue surgical-style mask.

Anyone with information about the robbery can contact the Findlay Police Department at 419-424-7150.

Marathon Center for the Performing Arts is inviting people to check out a virtual performance of The Nutcracker by Madcap Puppets, a Cincinnati-based puppet theater.

“Clara needs a little help from The Nutcracker to keep the Sugarplum Fairy from spoiling their holiday festival. Adapted by Dylan Sheldon, Madcap turns this classic Holiday story into a fantastically funny tale, filled with giant puppets and comical characters.”

The free livestream holiday performance, made possible by Great Scot Community Markets, will be broadcast via Zoom at 2 p.m. Sunday.

A link to the livestream will be made available on MCPA’s website and Facebook page prior to the beginning of the show.

Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague, of Findlay, has announced his Compass Award honorees for the month of December.

The monthly recognition program commends organizations, programs, and individuals across the state who are working to guide Ohioans toward financial literacy and empowerment.

Liberty-Benton High School was one of the December honorees.

Sprague says Liberty-Benton High School takes a comprehensive approach to give students the information and skills needed to make informed financial and career decisions at each stage of life.

High School Principal Ben Gerken tells WFIN they’re honored to receive this recognition.

Treasurer Sprague added that with a greater understanding of personal finance and career readiness, Liberty-Benton students are well-prepared to navigate life after high school.

(ONN) – The Ohio House of Representatives has canceled its Wednesday and Thursday sessions.

It says committee work will continue this week.

Some in the Ohio Legislature were calling for cancelations because three house members have tested positive for COVID-19 since Friday.

Those who tested positive include an unnamed Republican lawmaker, along with Democrat John Patterson, from the Ashtabula area, and Republican Rick Carfagna from suburban Columbus.

The House’s top Democrat called for the session this week to be canceled.

Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes said, “at the very least, they could pretend to care about the health, safety and well-being of those who enter the state’s legislative halls and share information with everyone who is affected in a timely manner.”

House Republicans said the decision to cancel the sessions was because of a scheduling conflict, not the coronavirus.

The annual rivalry game between Ohio State and Michigan that was scheduled for Saturday has been canceled.

The University of Michigan made the announcement on its Twitter account.

“This decision is disappointing for our team and coaches but their health and safety is paramount, and it will always come first in our decision-making,” the tweet read.

The cancelation announcement came shortly after Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said the game was still happening.

Michigan also canceled its game last weekend with Maryland due to COVID cases.

Get more details on Michigan’s decision to cancel the game by clicking here. 

(picture courtesy of Columbus Wired)