The Putnam County Health Department has released its Covid-19 date from last week. There were 65 new cases of the virus reported between August 22^nd and 28^th. That’s more than 5 times the rate of just 3 weeks earlier.
Seven of the reported cases were in those under age 19, a sign that younger people are now getting the disease at a rate not seen in earlier waves. One Putnam County resident was admitted to the hospital due to Covid. There were no new deaths reported in the period.

The county has a rate of 242 cases per 100-thousand in population, more than twice the threshold of High community transmission as defined by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. With this rate, the CDC recommends wearing a mask when indoors in public places while also practicing social distancing and washing hands frequently.

More than 100 Putnam County residents got their first vaccine shot last week bringing the rate to just over 43%. 112 others completed their shots, giving the county a vaccination rate of just under 41% completed. Those numbers are well below the state figure of 52% with one shot and 52% complete.

The Findlay Rotary Club has announced the finalists for its annual Golden Apple Awards celebrating excellent teachers in Findlay and Hancock County schools.

Those selected at the high school level are Chelsea Burden at Van Buren High School; Mark Laux and Daniel Wilson from Findlay High School.
Middle school finalists are Miranda Kennedy at Vanlue ; Kristina Rodman, at Van Buren Local Schools; and Liberty-Benton’s Raymond Wolfe.

Elementary school teachers chosen as finalists are Brooke Imke at Jefferson Primary; Becky Solomon, at Washington Preschool; and Mackenzie (Macie) Wenner of Wilson Vance Intermediate School.

The winners of the award at each level will be announce on October 20^th. Winner will receive $2500 each, while the other finalists will each get $250.

Wyandot County Public Health released its latest Covid case data on Monday. There are 84 current cases in the county. Of those, 26 patients have been vaccinated, 58 have not. Total active case are up 16 from a week ago.
There are currently 2 Wyandot County residents hospitalized with the virus.

The agency continues to offer the Moderna version of the Covid-19 vaccination each Friday from 9am to 4pm at its office on South Sandusky Avenue in Upper Sandusky.

Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted visited Findlay on Monday to speak to the Noon Rotary Club. His remarks highlighted the improvements Ohio has made in drawing business into the state. Husted noted that the state has added nearly 600-million in new payroll as jobs have come to the state with businesses as diverse as Google, BarkBox, Bitwise, Morgan Stanley, and Peleton. Overall, he said, the state has drawn more than 8-thousand new jobs spread among 27 companies.

Mosquito traps set by Hancock Public Health have yielded bugs that have tested positive for West Nile Virus. To lower the chances of a human case, the agency will increase mosquito spaying in the city of Findlay over the next several days. The positive results came from traps near Swale Park, northwest of downtown.

To reduce the West Nile risk, Hancock Public Health urges residents to clear properties of standing water, wear loose light-colored clothing, and applying repellent with DEET as the active ingredient when you are outdoors during active mosquito periods around dusk and dawn

A Findlay woman and a child were injured Sunday morning in a crash at the intersection of State Route 12 and Marion Township Road 212. Robyn Gerritsen was northbound on 212 and failed to stop at the intersection while making a right onto SR 12. In doing so, she traveled into the westbound lane and collided, head-on, with a tractor trailer.

Gerritsen was trapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated by the Washington Township Fire Department. She was transported by ambulance to Blanchard Valley Hospital. Her passenger, Kayden Youngston of Fostoria was also injured and transported to BVH. The driver of the truck, Raymond Byerly of Arcadia, was not injured.

Gerritsen was cited for failure to stop at a stop sign.

The Findlay Civil Service Commission has added a second seating for the next Civil Service Exam for an open position as a Findlay Police officer. As previously announced, the exam will be offered on September 22^nd, at 6:30pm in the Findlay High School Cafeteria.
In addition, a second seating has been scheduled for the same date, September 22^nd, at 1pm. This edition will be offered at the City of Findlay Training Center, 224 West Crawford Street.

Those wishing to take the test must file an application in advance. The form is available at the Findlay Police station.   You can also find the form here.