An anti-vaccination bill introduced at the Ohio Statehouse would allow Ohioans to refuse to be vaccinated for a wide range of reasons — and prevent repercussions from an employer for such a decision.

The bill is called the “Vaccine Choice and Anti-Discrimination Act” and it was introduced by Rep. Jennifer Gross, a Republican from West Chester.

Governor Mike DeWine said he opposes House Bill 248, and brought up once-common illnesses like polio, measles, mumps, and whooping cough that vaccines have all but eradicated.

Testimony in favor of the bill has drawn national ridicule after video went viral of a supporter’s false claims that vaccines make people magnetized.

The Findlay Police Department has released security camera pictures of the suspect in the robbery of the S&G gas station at 800 West Trenton Avenue on Wednesday, and is requesting assistance from the public in identifying the individual.

The clerk told police that a man asked for change at 2:01 a.m., and when she opened the register, he grabbed the $20 bills.

The clerk tried to stop the suspect from leaving but he forced himself away and ran out of the store.

The suspect left in a small dark-colored vehicle westbound from the gas station.

The suspect was described as a white man, about six feet tall with dark hair and hazel eyes.

He was wearing black shorts and a gray hooded jacket and a green hat.

No weapons were used in the robbery.

Anyone with information about the robbery should contact the Findlay Police Department at 419-424-7150 or private message them on Facebook.

You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 419-425-TIPS and you may be eligible for a reward.

The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library is looking for volunteers to help out in a variety of capacities.

Currently, the library offers an adventure for families called StoryWalk.

Storyboards are placed throughout an area, usually a park, and readers can take a walk while reading a children’s story.

Volunteers are needed to help with preparing the storyboards for installation.

People who would like to help should contact the Youth Services Manager at 419-434-1484.

The Book Cellar, the used bookstore on the ground floor of the library overseen by the Friends of the Library, is also seeking volunteers to help in the bookstore, and to help with the Better World Books project, which helps to fund literacy initiatives worldwide.

If interested, contact Emilee at 419-434-1044.

The library’s Read for Life program is also seeking volunteers to help with tutoring.

Read for Life is designed to improve literacy in Hancock County through volunteers trained to act as tutors on a one-on-one basis with adult non-readers.

A tutor training class is scheduled for Friday, July 9th from 9:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. in Lindamood Room at the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library.

Potential adult volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.

Volunteers must be literate, however, no professional training or education is required.

Read for Life is looking for volunteers to teach reading, writing, English, life skills and subject areas of the High School Equivalency including math, social studies, and science.

Registration is required by calling 419-422-3755 or e-mailing readforlife@findlaylibrary.org.

The City of Findlay‘s Independence Day Parade is returning this year after being canceled last year due to the pandemic.

The 2021 Flag City 4th of July Parade will be held in downtown Findlay at noon on Sunday, July 4th.

The parade will go from Lima Street to Center Street.

There will also be fireworks this year.

The fireworks show will be held on Saturday, July 3rd at the Hancock County Fairgrounds.

The American Red Cross of North Central Ohio responded to a call for help at a home surrounded by rising flood waters in Ottawa, following heavy rain on Tuesday.

The Red Cross provided assistance, such as temporary lodging, food and clothing for the immediate needs of two adults and three children forced from the home on Old State Route 65.

Red Cross volunteers will continue to help the those affected, providing recovery assistance, resources and referrals to community partners.

When it comes to severe weather, the Red Cross says people need to know the difference between a watch or a warning.

A flood/flash flood watch means a flood/flash flood is possible in your area.

A flood/flash flood warning means flooding/flash flooding is already occurring or will occur soon in your area.

Move immediately to higher ground or stay on high ground and follow any evacuation orders.

The annual Julie Cole Charity Golf Classic was held at the Findlay Country Club on Monday.

Eric Brown, development officer with the Blanchard Valley Health Foundation, thanks all the sponsors, volunteers and players who made it possible.

“Also, a special thanks to Julie for making this an amazing event for 32 years now, and to our guest pros Corey Pavin and Pat Delaney who were amazing with our folks and spent a lot of time with them.”

He says the event raised more than $ 140,000 this year for their three main beneficiaries, Bridge Home Health and Hospice, the BVHS Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program and the Julie Cole Junior Golf Fund.

Learn more about Julie Cole and the Julie Cole Charity Golf Classic by clicking here.

(pictures courtesy of the Julie Cole Charity Golf Classic)

If you haven’t received the COVID vaccine yet, you’ll have a chance to at the Hancock County Farmers’ Market on Thursday.

Hancock Public Health says it will be at the farmers’ market this week giving out the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The vaccine will be administered from the health department’s new Mobile Health Clinic.

The vaccine will be available for the duration of that night’s farmers’ market from 4 to 6 in the parking lot of the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts.

People 18 and older should bring a photo ID.

A Findlay gas station was robbed overnight.

The robbery happened at 2:01 a.m. Wednesday at the S&G at 800 West Trenton Avenue.

The clerk told police that a man asked for change, and when she opened the register, he grabbed the $20 bills.

The clerk tried to stop the suspect from leaving but he forced himself away and ran out of the store.

The suspect left in a small dark-colored vehicle westbound from the gas station.

The suspect was described as a white man, about six feet tall with dark hair and hazel eyes.

He was wearing black shorts and a gray hooded jacket and a green hat.

No weapons were used in the robbery.

Anyone with information about the robbery should contact the Findlay Police Department at 419-424-7150.

The Hancock Leadership Class of 2021 unveiled its class project on Tuesday — the History Walk at Brucklacher Memorial Park.

Melissa Ebel says the History Walk includes several stations that highlight historical events in Hancock County and Findlay.

The Hancock Leadership Class of 2021 collaborated with the Kiwanis Club of Findlay and the Hancock County Historical Museum on the History Walk.

The History Walk and Brucklacher Memorial Park can be found at the site of the Little Red Schoolhouse at 8884 County Road 236.

In an effort to increase vaccination rates in Ohio, the state’s Department of Health is debunking vaccine myths.

First of all, health officials say the COVID shot does not contain a microchip.

They also say the vaccine will not give you the virus.

Ohio health officials also told the public that the vaccine won’t change people’s DNA, nor will it harm a pregnancy.

Currently, more than half of Ohioans remain unvaccinated.