Blanchard Valley Health System and the University of Findlay have formed a partnership to encourage more students from northwest Ohio to consider healthcare majors and to retain them for local employment.

UF President Dr. Katherine Fell (audio below) says the collaboration will enable their students and graduates to gain the experience necessary to serve our community for many years to come.

“Together, in this partnership, we will be able to deliver even stronger healthcare to our neighbors near and far,” Fell said.

Scott Malaney, BVHS president and CEO, is excited about the collaboration.

“Ensuring that as many students as possible get their practical experiences with us strengthens the pipeline of people we could have access to for hiring.”

To further support University of Findlay students entering healthcare fields of study, a scholarship will be developed in the near future.

Get more on the collaboration by listening to Malaney and Fell during the announcement below.

The United Way of Hancock County‘s free tax preparation program will not be available this year.

About 1,700 people were signed up for the program last year.

Get more details by clicking here and in the following release from the United Way of Hancock County.

In the interest of COVID19 safety for both clients and volunteers, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) has been canceled for this year.

“While we know our clients, who are our friends and neighbors will be disappointed, as are the volunteers; it is with an abundance of caution that we make our decision,” said Larry McDaniel, who heads up the tax volunteers, in an email statement. “The health and safety of our volunteers and clients is paramount in our decision.”

VITA is an IRS-sponsored community service designed to help low- to moderate-income households prepare and file their taxes free of charge. It is made possible by a partnership between the Findlay Area Tax Volunteers, United Way of Hancock County, VITA and the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library.

Last year, more than 1,700 tax returns were slated for completion through VITA. The volunteers were able to complete about 1,000 before the operation was halted March 16 because of the pandemic.

Depending on contact information provided, those who signed up for the program last year will receive a phone call from a UWHC volunteer, an email, or a text alert to notify them of the cancellation.

Legally, United Way of Hancock County is not able to refer clients to other tax services. However, an online search of “Tax Return Services, Findlay, Ohio” or key words “Tax Return Preparation, “Tax Consultants” in the yellow pages of the phone book will lead to tax service providers.

McDaniel said the VITA volunteers hope to revisit the program in the future. Deadline to file for 2020 taxes is currently April 15.

Those who are trying to find last year’s tax returns for their 2020-2021 taxes, were sent a copy of their return via email or were provided a paper copy after their taxes were completed by the VITA volunteers. Since VITA has not applied to be a tax preparer in 2021, they do not have access to last year’s files and returns.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced the tentative dates for Phase 1B of the state’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan.

DeWine says the next group to get the vaccine on January 19th will be people 80 and older who don’t live in nursing homes.

They will be followed by those 75 and older on January 25th, 70 and older on February 1st and February 8th for Ohioans over the age of 65.

DeWine also plans to begin vaccinations for school workers next month, with the goal of fulling reopening schools by March 1st.

Hancock Public Health is offering pre-registration for people in Phase 1A or Phase 1B who want to get the vaccine.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is taking public comment regarding two proposed bridge projects just outside the Findlay city limits.

One of the bridges being repaired is the one over the Blanchard River just west of the County Road 236 intersection.

The Blanchard River is designated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources as a recreational water trail.

As a public recreational resource, this portion of the river is protected under federal law.

The use of federal funds requires measures to be developed to minimize harm, and advance public notice be given of impacts to this public recreational resource.

This project has been developed to be constructed without any impacts to recreational boaters.

The other structure being repaired is the bridge carrying State Route 568 over a small tributary to the Blanchard River located about a half-mile east of the County Road 236 intersection.

Construction at both structures is anticipated to occur in the summer of 2023 and will result in temporary road closures.

Vehicular traffic will be detoured. Access to all properties will be maintained throughout construction.

The work at both these structures will occur in the regulated floodplain of the Blanchard River.

ODOT says the impacts to the floodplain are anticipated to be minor and the carrying capacity of the Blanchard River will be maintained.

A statement of findings detailing the results of the final floodplain analysis will be made available on the ODOT District 1 environmental website here.

Written comments regarding the projects may be sent to: Ohio Department of Transportation District 1, Attn: Nate Tessler, 1885 N. McCullough Street, Lima, Ohio 45801; or to nate.tessler@dot.ohio.gov

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office says an employee of Kalida Manufacturing Incorporated was injured in an industrial accident.

The sheriff’s office says the accident happened at 10:51 Wednesday morning.

The employee that was injured is male, but other than that no other information has been released.

The sheriff’s office says the matter is still under investigation.

Hancock Public Health is encouraging people in the first two phases who want the COVID-19 vaccine to pre-register.

People who are considered Phase 1A and/or Phase 1B and would like to receive the vaccine should complete the form by clicking on this link to pre-register.

Health officials say, at this point, they don’t have exact dates and timeframes as the timing depends on the availability of the vaccine.

Phase 1A has been underway since December 23rd.

Once Hancock County begins Phase 1B, they will notify people via the phone number and/or email address you provide.

Ohio’s COVID-19 vaccination dashboard shows 919 people in Hancock County have received the vaccine as of Wednesday.

Phase 1A
– Healthcare Workers
– EMS responders
– staff and residents at long-term care facilities

Phase 1B
– people age 65 and older
– people living with severe congenital, developmental, or early-onset medical conditions
– adults who work in schools (K-12)

A Cleveland Browns fan with terminal cancer got his dying wish.

Tom Seipel is a die hard fan from Columbus and with help from quarterback Baker Mayfield and his wife Emily, he got to see the Browns earn a playoff spot last weekend.

He also got to meet the Mayfields thanks to the Angry Browns Fans podcast.

Seipel says he hopes his illness and story encourages people to spread love to others.

Supporters of President Donald Trump who rallied outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday clashed with police officers and breached the building, forcing a lockdown with members of Congress inside.

The clashes began as Trump and his allies held a rally pushing the Senate to not certify the election for President-elect Joe Biden.

The protesters pushed ahead of barricades and a wall of police officers in riot gear to get into the building.

Inside, the Trump supporters, many of whom were not seen wearing face coverings, waved “Trump 2020” flags, shouted chants and moved freely.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued a statement calling the situation an embarrassment to our country.

DeWine’s full statement is below.

President Trump is calling on protesters who have stormed the U.S. Capitol to go home.

In a video posted online, Trump said there has to be peace.

He continued to call the election fraudulent and stolen.

A high-speed pursuit went through Findlay on Interstate 75 before finally ending about 40 miles south of Findlay.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says troopers tried to stop Cortez Larkin, 38, of Columbus, for a speeding violation on Interstate 75 near Bowling Green on Tuesday night but he refused to pull over and a pursuit ensued.

A registration check revealed that the Ford Escape Larkin was driving was stolen.

The pursuit went under State Route 12 in Findlay at 9:37 p.m., and as you can see in the video below the suspect was driving without headlights.

Troopers were able to deflate Larkin’s tires with tire deflation devices but he kept driving on the rims.

Troopers performed a rolling roadblock near Cridersville and Larkin intentionally struck a trooper’s cruiser.

A trooper then performed an immobilization maneuver and the pursuit ended.

Troopers took Larkin, and passenger Kaneasha De Ann Price, 37, of Columbus, into custody without further incident.

Larkin has been charged with speeding, failure to comply, receiving stolen property and tampering with evidence.

He had multiple felony warrants out for his arrest.

Both Larkin and Price were booked at the Wood County Justice Center.

Two Highway Patrol cruisers were damaged during the pursuit.

The incident remains under investigation and additional charges are pending.

Fresh Encounter, a supermarket management company in Findlay, is expanding its operation into Florida.

President and CEO Michael Needler Jr. says the company has acquired 51 stores from Save A Lot in the Tampa market.

The acquisitions will double Fresh Encounter’s store count. The stores will continue to operate under the Save A Lot banner.

Needler tells WFIN News this is a good move for Fresh Encounter and Needler Enterprises.

“Because we’ll be able to develop a little further scale, and the more scale that we get the better we’ll be able to compete with the big-box stores.”

He says the Fresh Encounter family of companies has a culture that prioritizes being positive, appreciative and resilient and they’re eager to bring their new 51 stores and 1,000 employees into that culture.

“That’s what we try to do, we try to delight our customers, nourish our communities and inspire pride in our team.”

Fresh Encounter operates stores throughout Ohio, including the Great Scot stores in Findlay, as well as in eastern Indiana, Kentucky and now Florida.