Powerful words from Blue Jackets player Elvis Merzlikins at the memorial service for fellow player Matiss Kivlenieks.

Merzlikins says Kivlenieks saved him and his pregnant wife from getting hit by an errant mortar-style firework.

The firework struck Matiss in the chest, killing him.

It happened at a 4th of July party at a coach’s home in a Detroit suburb.

Merzlikins says Kivlenieks died as a hero and that his son’s second name will be Matiss.

You can watch the full memorial service below.

(ONN) – For the first time, Ohio lawmakers will have the chance to weigh in on a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana in the state.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that Democrat Reps. Casey Weinstein of Hudson and Terrence Upchurch of Cleveland have drafted a bill to legalize cultivation and regulate sales.

The bill would also allow people previously convicted of low level marijuana crimes to have their records sealed.

The legislation faces a steep climb in a GOP dominated legislature that five years ago barely legalized a highly-regulated medical marijuana program.

The 2016 law was passed quickly to head off a ballot measure that would have amended the state constitution.

Findlay and Hancock County are included in a Flash Flood Watch issued by the National Weather Service.

The Flash Flood Watch goes through Saturday morning.

Widespread rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are expected.

Localized higher totals are possible and flash flooding may develop.

The graphic below from the NWS puts Findlay in the 2 to 3 inches range.

Get the latest river levels by clicking here.

The National Weather Service says heavy rain is expected Friday into Saturday.

Forecasters say 1 to 2 inches of rain could fall in a short amount of time, resulting in flooding.

As of Thursday afternoon, the NWS forecast for Findlay was calling for showers and storms Thursday night with a rainfall total of up to half an inch.

On Friday, the forecast is for showers and maybe a thunderstorm with a rainfall total between a half and 3/4 of an inch.

Friday night’s forecast is calling for showers and storms with another 1 to 2 inches of rainfall possible.

And then early Saturday we could pick up another 1/4 of an inch of rain.

Drivers should be alert for ponding on the roadways and reduced visibility.

For the latest river levels click here.

The Howard Street Bridge replacement project in Findlay has been completed.

Hancock County Engineer Doug Cade says the bridge opened to traffic on Thursday afternoon.

The bridge is located on Howard Street between Broad Avenue and Fox Street in Findlay.

The project replaced the previous bridge whose condition had warranted the construction of a new bridge meeting current standards.

The project began on May 17th and was expected to take 2 1/2 months but was finished ahead of schedule.

The Hancock County Engineer’s Office maintains 358 miles of county roads and 374 bridges throughout Hancock County.

The head of the Findlay-Hancock County Alliance is retiring.

John Haywood’s retirement will be effective August 13th.

Haywood has served as President and CEO of The Alliance since 2011.

Haywood began his relationship with the Chamber and Economic Development twenty years ago, serving on both boards.

Haywood had previously retired as Findlay Division Vice President of Whirlpool where he worked for 24 years.

“The Alliance and the community as a whole are extremely grateful for John’s leadership both as a volunteer, and for leading the organization for the past ten years,” said Richard Kirk, chair of the board of directors.

“Under his guidance, The Alliance has a strong foundation creating a strong business environment led by a cohesive team in the areas of Economic Development – Chamber of Commerce – and Convention & Visitors Bureau. John has been instrumental in the evolution of the organization’s structure.”

A transition team has been launched to find Haywood’s successor.

Haywood will continue to support The Alliance with the process of selecting his replacement as well as continuing to support the organization’s overall mission.

The community is invited to a retirement reception on August 23rd at 3pm at Findlay Country Club.

A drug task force executed a search warrant at a Findlay address and made one arrest.

The Hancock County METRICH Enforcement Unit along with the Findlay Police Department Emergency Response Team searched 916 1/2 West Main Cross Street at around 6:30 Thursday morning.

They say a search of the residence yielded a large amount of fentanyl powder as well as other items indicative of drug trafficking.

Authorities say Brittany A. Ferguson, 30, was arrested and booked at the Hancock County Justice Center.

She’s facing a charge of possession of fentanyl, a 3rd degree felony.

Authorities say additional charges of drug trafficking are expected at the conclusion of their investigation.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says a man operating a lawn mower was killed when he entered a roadway and was hit by a car.

It happened on Wednesday afternoon in Marion County on Marseilles-Galion Road (County Road 26), east of Martel Road (County Road 171).

The Highway Patrol says Jerry Baldinger, 61, of Caledonia, was operating a John Deere lawn mower and entered Marseilles-Galion Road from the north and was struck by a westbound car being driven by David Burns, 72, of Marion.

Both vehicles became engulfed in flames.

Baldinger was taken to Marion General Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Burns was taken to the same hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.

Governor DeWine has signed a bill into law that prohibits K-12 schools and colleges from requiring a vaccine that has not received full approval by the Food and Drug Administration.

The law applies to the COVID-19 vaccines which have received an emergency use authorization from the FDA.

The governor said he believes the FDA’s emergency use authorization label is causing hesitancy.

A DeWine spokesman said shortly after the bill was signed that the governor is confident that the vaccines will soon be fully approved, as reported by Cleveland.com.

House Bill 244 originally dealt with educational opportunities for children in military families and was amended to include the vaccine prohibition.

The governor recently announced that the state will be holding a second vaccine incentive program. Get more on that by clicking here.

The Findlay Police Department responded to the Findlay Reservoir after a kayak was found floating along the shoreline.

Officers arrived at 7:24 Wednesday morning and checked the area but couldn’t locate anyone to claim the kayak.

A drone was deployed and the shorelines were checked for anything suspicious, but nothing was located.

The police department says it has advised the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.