The Toledo Police Department says it has received many inquiries about financial donations for the family of Officer Brandon Stalker, who was killed in the line of duty on Monday.
The department says the Toledo Police Federal Credit Union has opened an account in Officer Stalker’s name and 100 percent of the donations will go to his family.
“We at the Toledo Police Department thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the kind words we have received. Officer Stalker leaves behind a loving fiancee and two children: aged 7 years-old and 3 months old,” the department said on its Facebook page.
A Toledo police officer has been shot and killed in the line of duty.
The Toledo Police Department says officer Brandon Stalker, 24, was shot on Monday afternoon during a standoff with a suspect while securing the perimeter of a residence on Fulton Street.
Police Chief George Kral says the individual who shot the officer was a suspect in the arson of a cathedral earlier in the day.
The suspect was shot by police. His condition wasn’t released.
Both the Chief and Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz spoke to the media briefly, with the mayor saying it’s “a dark day in Toledo.”
The Chief said Officer Stalker was hired in July of 2018 and was an “amazing police officer.”
He leaves behind a fiancée and a young child.
Stalker is the second Toledo police officer killed in the line of duty in less than a year.
On July 4th, Officer Anthony Dia was shot and killed.
It had been closed since November after cases of COVID-19 increased.
People are asked to make a reservation online so the museum can manage capacity and stick to pandemic rules.
“The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is thrilled to announce that we’re reopening to the public Monday, January 18th, with proven health and safety precautions in place to protect visitors and staff. The museum will be open to tour daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advance tickets are required and available now,” read a post on the Hall of Fame’s Facebook page.
On Monday, it offered free admission for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, to celebrate how music played a role in the Civil Rights movement.
Campbell Soup Company is donating $25,000 in support of the construction of the STRICT Center, standing for Simulated Tactical Response & Incident Command Training Center.
“I am thrilled by the support from Campbell for this project. They are a newer business in Findlay, but they continue to step up to support public safety services, first responders and law enforcement in our community,” said Mayor Christina Muryn.
The estimated cost of the training complex is $1,000,000, with construction funding from a joint effort of public, private, and non-profit funds.
The mayor says Campbell’s $25,000 donation brings the remaining funds needed to complete the project to just under $350,000.
Other donations include funds from the Findlay Hancock County Community Foundation, Valfilm, Marathon Petroleum, the Hancock County Firefighters Association, McComb Fire Department, Hancock County Commissioners, Washington Township Fire Department, and Whirlpool. Additionally, Findlay City Council has allocated $250,000 towards the project.
The STRICT Center would be a city-owned, multi-agency training complex located behind Findlay Fire Station 4 on County Road 236.
Mayor Muryn says the STRICT Center will benefit emergency personnel throughout the county.
Conceptual drawings for the facility show two buildings, including a “Burn Building” and a “Tower Building”.
Fire Chief Josh Eberle says the structures will allow for live fire training, technical rescue, law enforcement, EMS, and other training scenarios.
“An exciting aspect of the STRICT Center is the ability for our safety agencies to train together. At almost every emergency, there is a fire department, law enforcement and an EMS component all working alongside each other. Currently it is difficult for these agencies to train as a unit, even though we respond together. The STRICT Center will allow that joint training to happen on a regular basis.”
Learn more about the STRICT Center (pictured below) by clicking here.
The church sent invites to area churches to join them at 10 a.m. Tuesday to pray for relief from the pandemic and strength for those who are ill or grieving, and for the government to heal.
“While there will be no gathering to pray together, we will be praying at the same time by just pausing in daily work or chores to spend some time with God asking for him to protect and heal our country.”
Churches are asked to have their bells ringing for a call to worship from 9:50 to 10 a.m. Tuesday.
St. Paul’s Church provided the following prayer in their e-mail to area churches.
Dear Lord,
We take this moment to join in prayer with the rest of our church family. We ask you to pour your spirit upon us, opening our eyes, ears, and hearts to your guidance as we live through this time of stress.
We pray for mercy during this pandemic. Be with those who are ill and those who care for them. Please rid us of this virus that has caused great suffering and grief. Touch the ill with your healing hand. Hold families who grieve in your arms.
Our nation is also in need of your healing care. We ask that you mend our divides and guide our leaders as they deal with strife and discontent. Bless our nation with peace, calm, and respect for others. Help us to become truly one nation under God.
Bless our struggles and bend our efforts to your leading, so that we may in turn lead others into a deeper relationship with you.
The Putnam County Health Department and the Putnam County EMA are coordinating efforts to administer the COVID-19 vaccine in the county.
The first clinic for Phase 1B of the state’s vaccination plan offered by the PCHD will be held on Wednesday, January 20th.
This clinic is for those age 80 and older only.
Due to the limited amount of vaccine the health department is receiving, the clinic is by appointment only.
The health department says the clinic will not be held at the Putnam County Health Department office and walk-ins will be turned away at the door.
“Unfortunately, because vaccines are a scarce resource right now, it will take some time to provide vaccine to those that want it,” the health department said.
People on the wait list will be contacted as soon as possible for an appointment.
People over 80 who are not yet on the wait list can call 419-538-7001 to be placed on the list.
The call center is open 9 – 2, and will not be open on Monday, January 18th.
The health department says Mercy Health is also providing the vaccine to those 80 and over at the Putnam County Medical Center.
Appointments are required and people can call 419-996-5000 or their Mercy Health provider for more information.
The City of Findlay has selected a new supplier for its electric aggregation program.
The city says Constellation NewEnergy was chosen because it offers the best overall value and a rate lower than the rates residents received in the previous program term.
The city has sent out a mailer explaining the offer they negotiated and how people can opt-out if they don’t want to participate in the program.
Full details are in the following news release from the city.
City of Findlay officials are pleased to announce that they have selected Constellation NewEnergy to serve the next term of the City’s electric aggregation program. Constellation recently won a competitive proposal process and was chosen by the City because they provided the best overall value for the program. The City has set a fixed rate of 4.861 cents/kWh for a 3-year term starting with March 2021 meter reads. Residents and small businesses should look for a mailer to arrive on or about January 14, 2021 concerning the new electric aggregation program offer from Constellation.
“The mailer will explain the low offer we negotiated and the means to opt-out should a customer not want to participate in the program,” said Paul Schmelzer, Safety Director of Findlay. Residents will have 21 days to return an opt-out card to Constellation, if they decide not to participate. Schmelzer concluded by saying, “We’re excited about the 36-month offer of 4.861 cents/kWh. That rate is lower than the alternative from AEP/Ohio Power, lower than the rates residents received in the previous program term, and we expect participation levels in our program to be high.”
Mayor Christina Muryn said, “We are delighted by the low fixed-rate of 4.861 cents/kWh for Findlay residents and businesses. This low rate will allow residents to predict their costs and will protect them from rising rates for the next three years. Our new rate is very attractive, and as before our program has no early termination fee.”
Any residents who have already chosen a supplier on their own may still join the program and get the same rate, terms, and conditions as their neighbors if they wish. These residents will have to contact Constellation at 833-930-3162 in order to join the program, and should review their current supply contracts to make sure there are no early termination fees.
The City is pleased to have made this program possible but asks that you do not call the City offices. They are not equipped to handle a large volume of calls. If residents have any questions, they should contact Constellation at 833-930-3162 after they receive their letter.
