The National Weather Service has adjusted the flood stages on the Blanchard River in Findlay.

“Over the last few months, the City of Findlay has been working with the National Weather Service to evaluate and modify the current flood stages,” said Mayor Christina Muryn.

“These changes show the direct benefit of the flood mitigation efforts such as significant flood prone properties removal and benching in the area of Swale Park. These efforts have decreased the impact of flood events on property and roadways. This is just the beginning as we continue to see successful mitigation efforts in Findlay and the region as a whole.”

Effective March 1st, Minor flood stage will be raised from 11 feet to 12 feet.

Moderate flood stage will be raised from 12.0 feet to 13.5 feet.

And Major flood stage will be raised from 13.5 feet to 14.5 feet.

The National Weather Service says it’s necessary for them and local floodplain officials to periodically evaluate changes in the watershed that can impact river flood warning services.

The raising of the flood stages reflect the positive effects mitigation efforts are having on the Blanchard River watershed.

If more changes are made to reduce flood impacts in the region, then further reviews will be taken to adjust flood stages.

In December, a second installment of funding was approved for construction of the Eagle Creek Floodwater Storage Basin project just south of Findlay, which will further mitigate flooding in the area. Read about that by clicking here.

The City of Findlay is asking people to be good neighbors and to remember to clear their sidewalk after it snows.

The city reminds residents that, per city ordinance 906.02, it is the responsibility of property owners to clear their sidewalks following snow events.

The ordinance states that snowfall must be removed from the sidewalk within 12 hours after it falls or within two hours after being notified by the city to do so.

The owners or occupants of abutting lots and land in the City shall keep the sidewalk in front of and along their respective lots in good repair and free from filth, mud or any nuisance. The owners or occupants shall remove all snow, ice and dirt from the sidewalk along or in front of their respective property within twelve hours after any snowfall or within two hours after being notified by the Service-Safety Director to remove the same.

Governor Mike DeWine wants all police officers in Ohio to wear a body camera.

“My goal is every police officer in the State of Ohio have a body camera,” DeWine said Wednesday.

“I think it protects police. It protects the public. It’s good to have that transparency.”

The governor is proposing using a $10 million grant to buy body cameras for law enforcement agencies across Ohio.

He says around 180 of the state’s 900 law enforcement agencies currently have body cams, which were recommended by a state advisory board.

Last summer, we asked Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn about body cameras, and she said they are something they consider on a regular basis and are not opposed to.

However, she said the cost of the technology and the ongoing data storage is quite expensive and, as things stand now, that cost is not justified because the department doesn’t have many complaints or issues.

She added that the department does a lot of training on de-escalation and the proper procedure for physical altercations.

The West Ohio Food Bank donated two semi truckloads of pet food to the Humane Society & SPCA of Hancock County.

The dog and cat food was delivered to the Humane Society on Fostoria Avenue in Findlay courtesy of Ohio Logistics.

“It’s going to allow us to help quite a few people here in Hancock County, so if anyone needs it all they have to do is give us a call,” said Hancock County Dog Warden Dana Berger.

Berger says Walmart gives them broken bags that they donate to the public.

And Iams donates food that’s used at the Humane Society.

People interested in getting some of the pet food should set up an appointment by calling the Humane Society & SPCA of Hancock County at 419-423-1664.

The number of active COVID-19 cases in Hancock County went down again.

The latest numbers released by Hancock Public Health on Wednesday show that there are 152 active cases of the virus in the county, a drop of six from a week ago.

Active cases are cases that are currently under quarantine or in isolation.

Six people were hospitalized with the virus on Wednesday, a drop of one from a week earlier.

A total of 403 people in Hancock County have been hospitalized since the beginning of the pandemic.

Two more Hancock County residents died from the virus in the past week, and the death toll now stands at 94.

Statewide, more than 906,000 people have had the virus and 11,430 have died from it.

There was a fire at Findlay Warehousing on County Road 140 just west of Findlay Tuesday night.

The fire appeared to start in a trailer and the flames did some damage to the side of the building as well.

The Liberty Township and Blanchard Township fire departments both responded.

The fire was quickly extinguished.

The Liberty Township Chief posted the following on their Facebook.

“We would like to give a big Thank you to Blanchard Township Fire Department for the assist tonight on our fire call to Findlay Warehouse. And a shout out to Assistant Chief Brandon Andrews and Captain Justin Terry for their quick thinking and attack as the first truck/crew on scene. With their initial attack and the help of an operational sprinkler system, contained the damage and spread of the fire. Great team work tonight, everyone! Chief Young 501”

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has announced the creation of the Ohio Stolen Gun Portal, a searchable website designed to increase public safety by helping to identify and recover stolen firearms.

“With our new portal, when buying a used firearm, private citizens and firearms dealers can instantly check to see whether a gun was previously reported as stolen,” Yost said.

“This is a tool for gun buyers and law enforcement alike that will lead to the recovery of stolen firearms and serve as a deterrent for criminals seeking to make a quick buck.”

The online tool — a first in the state — aims to protect buyers and traders from purchasing a stolen gun and to facilitate the return of stolen firearms to their rightful owners.

The Stolen Gun Portal consists of a database of stolen gun information — including serial numbers — compiled from law enforcement agencies throughout Ohio and reported to the Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS).

LEADS is administered by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, which authorized the release of that data to the public and connected it with the portal.

Learn more about the Ohio Stolen Gun Portal by clicking here.

The Findlay Rotary Club is looking for three of the most outstanding teachers in Findlay and Hancock County.

The Rotary is accepting nominations for its 2021 Golden Apple Awards.

The Rotary’s Golden Apple Award, signifying teaching excellence, is awarded annually to outstanding teachers in the elementary, middle, and high schools of Findlay/Hancock County.

The Rotary hopes the Golden Apple Awards will enhance the public’s respect for teachers and help attract new, dedicated people to the teaching profession.

People in Findlay and Hancock County who know a teacher who has improved a student’s life through excellent, dedicated teaching are encouraged to nominate that teacher for the Golden Apple Award.

Nominations will be accepted until April 2nd.

There will be three semifinalists at each the elementary, middle, and high school level.

The Findlay Rotary Club will then name the three winners at an awards banquet in the fall.

Each of the three outstanding teachers will receive a Golden Apple Award and a $2,500 cash award.

Click here for the nomination form and click here to read about the winners of last year’s Golden Apple Awards. (pictured below)

The 31st Annual Golden Apple Awards Banquet is scheduled for Wednesday, October 20th, 2021 at Winebrenner Seminary.

A Findlay woman is facing charges after a drug task force searched her residence.

The Hancock County METRICH Drug Task Force along with the Findlay Police Department Emergency Response Team (ERT) executed a search warrant at 301 Edith Avenue on Monday night.

They say the search of the residence yielded a large amount of crack and powder cocaine, methamphetamines, Fentanyl mix, psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana.

Cash and other drug paraphernalia was also seized, according to police.

The task force says Ashley D. Woods, 35, was arrested and booked at the Hancock County Justice Center.

She’s facing charges of possession of crack/cocaine and meth.

Additional charges of drug trafficking are expected at the conclusion of the investigation.

Marathon Petroleum Corporation is reporting a net income of $192 million for the fourth quarter of 2020.

That number is down from a net income of $443 million in the fourth quarter of 2019.

The company says it had an adjusted net loss of $608 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to an adjusted net income of $1 billion for the fourth quarter of 2019.

“The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges in 2020,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Hennigan.

“The rollout of vaccines in 2021 provides support for the return of global mobility and transportation fuel demand, increasing optimism around steps toward economic recovery and prospects for our industry.”

“Throughout the year, we took aggressive action to reposition the company for long-term success. We focused on optimizing our portfolio through the sale of Speedway, indefinitely idling higher cost refineries, structurally reducing operating costs, and expanding our renewable fuel portfolio. Our Dickinson facility began producing renewable diesel and we are advancing discussions with feedstock suppliers and potential commercial partners for the Martinez renewables project. Today we announced our 2021 capital outlook which is yet again below prior year spending levels. And, as we enter 2021 and progress toward the close of the $21 billion sale of our Speedway business, our top priorities remain reducing debt to strengthen our balance sheet and efficiently returning capital to shareholders.”

Marathon recently announced the hiring of a new Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Read more about that here.