A new online portal lets Ohioans report cases of unemployment fraud.
State officials say the portal allows people who believe their identity was stolen and used to file a fraudulent unemployment claim to file a complaint directly on the site.
Officials say some people may not realize they’re victims until 1099 tax forms are mailed out at the end of this month.
Click here to be connected to the portal.
The City of Tiffin once again has been recognized as a National Main Street Community.
The city says the downtown Tiffin revitalization effort continues to be validated and recognized throughout the state.
Since becoming a Main Street Community in 2015, 55 new businesses have located in Downtown Tiffin and nearly $33 million in investment has occurred in the downtown.
Get more details in the following news release from the city.
For the fifth year, Downtown Tiffin has been re -recognized by Heritage Ohio as a National Main Street Community. The Ohio Main Street Program, administered by Heritage Ohio, works with communities across the state to revitalize historic commercial areas. Based in historic preservation, it focuses on four points: organization, design, promotions and economic vitality. Each point is an integral part in the successful revitalization of a downtown area.
The Ohio Main Street program is a partner of Main Street America. Accreditation is an honor that must be earned every year by meeting the program’s high standards as determined by an annual quality audit by state officials. With this distinction, Downtown Tiffin has received accreditation for its Main Street program at both the state and national level for 2016-2020.
Downtown Tiffin’s revitalization efforts continue to be validated and recognized throughout the state. Since becoming a Main Street Community in 2015, 55 new businesses have located in Downtown Tiffin and nearly $33 million in investment has occurred in the downtown.
In October, Downtown Tiffin was presented with two statewide awards by Heritage Ohio, Best Downtown Placemaking for the Frost-Kalnow Amphitheater at the East Green and National Corner and Historic Farmstead of the Year for Winterberry Farm. Since 2017, Downtown Tiffin has received six additional awards and one honorable mention from Heritage Ohio.
Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz was glad to see Downtown Tiffin recognized. “I’m honored that Downtown Tiffin has received its accreditation for the fifth year. Especially during this difficult year, I’m proud of our business and building owners and the hard work of Amy Reinhart, Director of Downtown Revitalization for Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership, and members of the downtown development committees.”
The sheriff’s office in Wyandot County is warning residents of a COVID-related scam.
The sheriff’s office says a group calling itself Wyandot Covid is reaching out to people through Facebook in the hope of obtaining people’s personal information.
The scammers are using pictures from the Wyandot County Health Department to make it look legitimate.
The sheriff’s office says the health department will not reach out to people through Facebook messenger or ask for any personal information in such a manner.
Anyone with questions or concerns may contact the Wyandot County Health Department at 419-294-3852.
Six Hancock County residents died from the coronavirus in the past week, according to Hancock Public Health.
The agency released the latest COVID-19 numbers for the county on Wednesday.
The data shows there have been 88 deaths from the virus in the county, an increase of six from a week ago.
The number of active cases dropped in the last week, down to 266 from 316 a week ago.
Active cases are defined as cases that are currently under quarantine or isolation.
16 people are currently hospitalized with the virus in Hancock County, a drop of 11 from a week ago.
Statewide, there have been nearly 800,000 cases and nearly 9,900 deaths.
Vaccinations for people in Phase 1B ( the elderly and school employees) is expected to begin the week of January 18th.
50 North is helping seniors pre-register for the vaccine and Hancock Public Health also has a form to fill out. Get more on that here.
The Hancock Park District has named Betsy Worden its VIP (Volunteer in Parks) of the year for 2020.
The award goes to an individual who exhibits leadership and enthusiasm for the projects and services they perform and for their willingness to promote volunteerism in others.
Above and below are pictures of Betsy planting trees at Findlay’s Blue Rock Nature Preserve. Read more about that here.
Get more on the award in the following news release from the park district.
Betsy Worden has been named the 2020 Charlie Meadows Award winner by the Hancock Park District (HPD). Each year since 2012, the award has been presented to VIPs (Volunteer in Parks) who most exhibit characteristics of leadership, enthusiasm for the projects and services they perform and for their willingness to promote volunteerism with others. Worden was announced as the award recipient on Tuesday, January 12 during the monthly meeting of the HPD Board of Park Commissioners at Oakwoods Nature Preserve’s Richard S. “Doc” Phillips Discovery Center.
Worden has been an active HPD VIP for many years. HPD Natural Resource Manager Chad Carroll nominated the Findlay resident in recognition of her past and current involvement in the Hancock Park System.
“Over the past year Betsy has helped with the collection of native seeds from park properties from a variety of species ranging from prairie plants to trees,” said Carroll, adding that these seeds will be used to enhance the natural areas where non-natives were removed. “While doing this she has informed me of many interesting plants she has found that have been added to our plant inventory as well as alerting me to the presence of non-native species.
Worden was also largely responsible for the presence of a number of volunteers that assisted in an autumn tree planting at Blue Rock Nature Preserve, a park where there is a concerted effort to remove invasive woody plant species to make way for native plant species. “She sent text/calls out as well as posting on Facebook to recruit volunteers.” Carroll noted.
Worden also writes the Hancock County Naturalist Newsletter. While the group is not directly affiliated with the HPD, members actively assist in natural resource projects and monitoring. “(Worden) typically writes the main article of the newsletter which tends to get people excited and interested in the natural world,” said Carroll. “Then she encourages them to get out and enjoy the natural world in our parks.”
“I knew Charlie Meadows for a number of years. He was good man. He was always ready to tackle anything which makes this award even more special to me,” said Worden.
The purpose of the VIP Program is to offer opportunities for county and area residents to give personal time and offer their special talents to supplement the HPD staff in providing quality programs, maintaining parks for public use and preserving natural areas. The Charlie Meadows Award is named for the park district’s first volunteer coordinator. In 1982, Meadows was instrumental in launching the Helping Hands program to get people involved in the parks.
For more information about the HPD VIP Program, or for upcoming park programs and events, view the HPD Seasonal Program & Event Guide at www.HancockParks.com under the “Park News” section or call the park office at 419-425-7275.
Marathon Petroleum has announced the hiring of its new Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
The company says Maryann Mannen will succeed the retiring Donald Templin.
Full details are in the following news release from the company.
Marathon Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: MPC) today announced that Maryann T. Mannen will join the company as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective January 25. Ms. Mannen will succeed retiring CFO Donald C. Templin.
“Having spent nearly a decade as CFO in the energy services and manufacturing sectors, Maryann brings the financial acumen and strategic leadership experience critical for delivering our business transformation objectives, including strict capital discipline and overall expense management to lower our cost structure,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Hennigan. “I’m excited for the perspective and business insights Maryann will add to our executive team, as we work together to continue strengthening our financial and competitive positions.”
Since 2017, Ms. Mannen has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of TechnipFMC, a leading global engineering services and energy technology company incorporated in the United Kingdom and headquartered in Paris and Houston, with listings on the NYSE and Euronext Paris. From 2011 to 2017, she was Chief Financial Officer at FMC Technologies, prior to its merger with Technip SA, which Ms. Mannen played a key role in negotiating and executing. Before that, she served as the company’s Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer from 2010 to 2011 and Vice President of Administration from 2007 to 2010. Prior to joining FMC Technologies in 1986, Ms. Mannen was Finance Manager for Sheller-Globe Corporation.
Ms. Mannen holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master of business administration degree from Rider University. She is a member of the Owens Corning board of directors and has served as the audit committee chair since 2019.
The Ohio Department of Transportation says Slabtown Road over U.S. 30 in Allen County will remain closed through the middle of the summer.
The bridge was struck by an over-height boom truck in December.
Repair work on the bridge could begin as early as mid-April.
Get more details below from ODOT.
The Slabtown Road bridge over U.S. 30 was extensively damaged on December 22 by an over-height vehicle.
Slabtown Road was closed immediately.
The next day, U.S. 30 westbound was closed to remove a section of the damaged deck and the steel beam to ensure the safety of motorists traveling under the bridge.
ODOT and the Allen County Engineer’s Office have completed the initial scope for the repair of the Slabtown Road bridge over U.S. 30, which closed in December due to a bridge strike.
The tentative schedule for the repairs sets construction to begin as early as mid-April and will take approximately 60 days to complete.
The repairs for the Slabtown Road overhead will include removing and replacing all the bridge deck over the westbound portion of U.S. 30.
The section of damaged beam that has already been removed will be replaced. One other steel beam will need heat-straightening.
The start date for the repairs will hinge on how quickly the replacement beam can be custom-fabricated.
The timetable for this special order depends on several factors and it could take a couple of months for the beam to be delivered.
Prior to the crash, the bridge was in good condition and no upcoming maintenance work was planned for the bridge.
Raise the Bar – Hancock County has received a $250,000 grant from the state to accelerate workforce development efforts in the county.
Raise the Bar is among a limited number of awardees in the new Industry Sector Partnership Grant Program, which is administered through the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation and the Ohio Development Services Agency.
Raise the Bar Executive Director Tricia Valasek says this state funding will allow Raise the Bar to simultaneously reach educators, parents, employers, job seekers, and students.
She says the grant support will positively impact existing programs, including Leader in Me, Manufacturing Day for middle school students, career and college day for high school students, and earn-and-learn pathways like OH! FAME.
Raise the Bar is also seeking to pilot a new career assessment process to place high school students with companies/mentors that align to individual interests and aptitudes.
Tricia has more details on how the community will benefit from the grant money below, and you can learn more about Raise the Bar – Hancock County by clicking here.
Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced the grant recipients during the governor’s Tuesday afternoon COVID update.
Governor DeWine says he has signed an order authorizing 580 Ohio National Guard members into active duty.
He says their activation allows them to begin training in preparation to assist during the presidential inauguration in Washington D.C.
The governor says the group will also assist in Ohio.
DeWine says he has met with the Ohio National Guard and the Ohio State Highway Patrol about threats to the statehouse.
The Governor spoke following the release of a bulletin from the FBI saying right-wing extremist groups are planning violence as the president prepares to leave office.
DeWine said he could not discuss specifics regarding security policies, but he was very concerned about the reports.
He says state authorities will do everything in their power to protect the Ohio Statehouse.
A man was killed and a woman suffered life-threatening injuries in a crash on U.S. 23 between Carey and Upper Sandusky.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol says Roger Schlack, 67, of Carey, was driving north on U.S. 23 on Monday night when at around 7:50 he crashed into a trailer that had become disconnected from a semi that was turning onto U.S. 23 from County Road 44.
Roger was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Highway Patrol says passenger Lana Schlack, 60, of Carey, was flown to a Cleveland hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Both were wearing their seat belt at the time of the crash.
The Highway Patrol said the driver of the semi was Salih Husain, 29, of Hilliard.
The crash remains under investigation.