The Ohio State Highway Patrol pulled over and arrested a chronic OVI offender in Findlay.

The Patrol says Tremell De Wayne Foster, 45, of Findlay, was observed speeding on Interstate 75 southbound near County Road 99 on January 2nd.

Troopers pulled him over and determined that he was under the influence of alcohol.

Field sobriety tests were conducted and Foster was placed under arrest for felony OVI.

The Patrol says Foster has been charged with OVI seven times in the past 15 years and his driver license has been suspended since 2003.

“Impaired driving is something troopers take seriously,” said Lieutenant Matthew R. Crow, Findlay Post commander.

“It is not worth risking your life or others by getting behind the wheel impaired.”

He says, last year, troopers from the Findlay Post removed 121 impaired drivers from area roadways.

The public is encouraged to call #677 to report reckless or impaired drivers.

Family Video is closing its remaining 250 stores nationwide, including the one at 1500 North Main Street in Findlay.

“While we have faced digital competition from Netflix and others for years, nothing has been as devastating to our business as Covid-19,” said District Manager Scott Jaynes.

He says their liquidation sale is underway and the store will completely close when they sell through their remaining product of movies, video games, CBD products and store fixtures.

Jaynes anticipates that taking about six weeks.

“We are very thankful to have been able to provide entertainment for many family movie nights, and want to thank the people of Findlay and our incredible staff for the many years of support and service,” said Keith Hoogland, CEO of Highland Ventures, LTD, the parent company of Family Video.

He says Family Video has served the Findlay community with all of their entertainment needs since 1998.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says a driver was charged with OVI after causing a crash just outside the city limits of Findlay. (video below)

The crash happened at 2:08 Monday afternoon on County Road 180 a little south of Sandusky Street/State Route 568.

The sheriff’s office says Andrew B. Smith, 31, of Findlay, was southbound on County Road 180 in a Ford Contour when he went left of center and struck a northbound Honda CR-V.

Both vehicles ended up on the east side of County Road 180 and had to be towed.

Hanco EMS and Vanlue Fire responded to the scene.

Both drivers were treated at the scene.

The sheriff’s office says Smith was cited for a marked lanes of travel violation and also charged with OVI.

Cleveland Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski, two other coaching staff members and two players have tested positive for COVID-19.

The team facility is closed as contact tracing takes place.

The Browns announced on Twitter that the team will consult with the league and medical experts to determine the appropriate next steps.

Special Teams Coordinator Mike Priefer will serve as acting head coach.

The Browns are scheduled to play the Steelers in the playoffs on Sunday.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has signed a bill that eliminates a person’s “duty to retreat” before using force in self-defense.

Cleveland.com reports that Senate Bill 175 was fast-tracked through the Ohio General Assembly last month by the governor’s fellow Republicans.

The “stand your ground” legislation makes Ohio the 36th state that doesn’t require people to retreat before they can justifiably hurt or kill someone in self-defense.

Lawmakers previously removed the duty to retreat in a confrontation in one’s home or vehicle, known as “castle doctrine.”

Senate Bill 175 expands the castle doctrine concept to almost any place where a person is lawfully allowed to be.

“I have always believed that it is vital that law-abiding citizens have the right to legally protect themselves when confronted with a life-threatening situation,” DeWine said in a statement that you can read below.

DeWine also said that he was very disappointed that the legislature didn’t include in the bill the provisions he proposed to make it harder for dangerous criminals to illegally possess and use guns.

The governor added that he signed the bill in the “spirit of cooperation” with the newly seated 134th Ohio General Assembly.

Opponents of “stand your ground” laws say they allow people to shoot first and ask questions later.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting 10 deaths on Ohio’s roadways during the 2020-2021 New Year’s holiday, according to provisional statistics.

Two fatalities were the result of not wearing a safety belt when available, four were OVI-related and five were pedestrians.

The four-day reporting period began at midnight Thursday, December 31, 2020 and ran through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, January 3, 2021.

Four fatalities were recorded during the two-day reporting period last year.

Troopers made 3,979 traffic enforcement contacts; including 303 OVI arrests, 115 distracted driving and 478 safety belt citations.

The public is encouraged to continue using #677 to report dangerous or impaired drivers, as well as drug activity.

A statistical analysis of the Patrol’s enforcement activity over the holiday is available here.

The newly elected president of the Ohio Senate was sworn into office from his home after contracting COVID-19 over the holidays.

His spokesperson says Senate President Matt Huffman (below) experienced mild symptoms before the New Year and is doing well.

Huffman, a Republican from Lima, joins a list of more than a dozen Ohio lawmakers who have tested positive for the virus.

State Representative Jon Cross (R-Kenton) is one of the lawmakers who has had COVID. Click here for more on that.

Huffman was chosen to succeed former Senate President Larry Obhof for the 134th General Assembly following a session filled with pandemic-related hurdles, a federal bribery scheme and infighting within the majority party.

The Ohio Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (OH! FAME) based in Findlay is hosting two virtual open houses/job recruitment events.

Tricia Valasek, Executive Director for Raise the Bar Hancock County, says even in spite of COVID, Northwest Ohio manufacturers are seeing an increase in production and hiring demands, and one of the positions most companies need to fill is supported by OH! FAME.

On with WFIN’s Chris Oaks, she explains how the OH! FAME program works.

“FAME produces tremendous outcomes. In fact, a recent study by Opportunity America and the Brookings Institution found that FAME graduates earned a median $98,000 per year, that is $45,000 more per year than the earnings of other career and technical graduates from the same colleges. FAME students are also more likely to graduate from technical trade programs than non-FAME graduates (80% vs. 29%). With the opportunity for high wages, stable employment, and a two-year degree with little to no debt, the OH! FAME program should certainly be a consideration for anyone holding a high school degree on or before June 30, 2021,” Valasek added.

She says, even in this COVID era, seven manufacturers are preparing to hire, pay a competitive wage ($15+ per hour), and cover one-half of an employee’s associate degree tuition and fees to be in the OH! FAME program.

Findlay (Molten, Nissin Brake Ohio, ZF, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies, Graham Packaging), Upper Sandusky (Kalmbach Feeds), and North Baltimore (The D.S. Brown Company) companies are seeking candidates to hire and support through OH! FAME.

Individuals hired will work first shift three days per week and attend Owens Community College-Findlay Campus two days per week starting in August 2021.

Several companies, however, are eager to hire individuals in early 2021 who will then start the split schedule in August alongside their OH! FAME cohort peers.

Individuals interested in learning more about the companies seeking candidates and/or the OH! FAME program should attend one of the upcoming virtual open houses using their computer or mobile device (video and audio required).

The virtual open houses will be Tuesday, January 5 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. and Friday, January 8 from 9:00-10:30 a.m.

Pre-registration is required. Registration may be completed at www.ohfame.org/event.

OH! FAME of Findlay-Hancock County’s second-ever incoming cohort was welcomed during a signing day event in August ( pictured below).

Read more about that here.

It was a neat sight on South Main Street in Findlay on New Year’s Day.

Dozens of fire trucks, police vehicles and tow trucks drove down South Main and looped around Blanchard Valley Hospital a few times in a salute to healthcare workers and first responders. (video below)

We spoke with Nolan Shaner of Dick’s Towing/Ed’s 24 Hour Service, who organized the tribute.

“I understand 2020 was a disaster with COVID, but let’s hope for a better year and kick COVID out of here.”

Nolan thanked the many agencies that took part in the procession and was happy with how it turned out, as were a few of the hospital staff we spoke with immediately afterward.

“I thought it was incredible. It was very nice to see the community come together and show appreciation for each other,” said one staff member.

Findlay Brewing Company is releasing a new beer called Imagination Li-Berry.

The new brew is a triple berry blonde (strawberry, blueberry and raspberry) and a portion of the proceeds will go directly to Hancock Literacy.

Imagination Li-Berry will go on tap January 5th.

Findlay Brewing Company will open at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 5th.

People can enjoy Imagination Li-Berry in the taproom or take some to go while supplies last.

64 ounce growlers and 32 ounce crowler cans filled with this new brew will be available for take out as well.

People who have their own growler can bring it in to be filled.

Hancock Literacy says about eight percent of Hancock County, or 4,000 adults are functionally illiterate, which means they possess reading and writing skills that are inadequate to manage daily living and employment tasks that require reading skills beyond a basic level.

Hancock Literacy, formerly known as the Literacy Coalition of Hancock County (Ohio), exists to coordinate and support community initiatives that promote lifelong literacy.