(ONN) – One of the men charged in the hazing death of Bowling Green State University student Stone Foltz has accepted a plea deal.
Niall Sweeney, 21, agreed to plead guilty to felony tampering with evidence and hazing.
In exchange, his other charges – including third-degree involuntary manslaughter – will be dropped.
The other six men charged have all pleaded not guilty.
Foltz (below) died in March after an alcohol hazing event at a Pi Kappa Alpha off-campus party.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced that Ohio received notification from the federal government that 855 Afghan evacuees will come to Ohio through the U.S. Department of State’s Afghan Placement and Assistance (APA) Program.
The federal government has told Ohio that the placements will be to eight local resettlement agencies located mainly in northeast and central Ohio.
The first group of Afghan evacuees totals 37,000 individuals nationwide.
“These are individuals who have been partners with United States and deserve our support in return for the support they’ve given us,” said Governor DeWine.
“Thank you to the resettlement agencies and communities who have stepped forward and demonstrated they have the resources necessary to help these individuals in their time of need.”
The governor says the purpose of the federal APA Program is to provide newly arrived Afghans with initial relocation services as they begin to rebuild their lives in the United States.
The federal government is screening and vetting participants in this program.
These are individuals who have not yet received refugee status, nor a special immigrant visa.
They are arriving to the U.S. under a legal mechanism known as humanitarian parole.
Managed by the federal government, humanitarian parole provides temporary authorization to enter the U.S., based on humanitarian or significant public benefit reasons.
Details of the program can be found by clicking here.
Blanchard Valley Health System says it has reopened its COVID-19 testing center at the hospital in response to the rising COVID cases in the region.
The drive-through testing site will be open Monday through Friday from noon to 5.
Appointments are required.
If patients are symptomatic, they will need to schedule an appointment with their primary care provider (PCP).
A PCP will determine if a COVID-19 test is needed and will place an order for testing at Blanchard Valley Hospital (BVH).
To receive testing at Physicians Plus Urgent Care, or through the BVH or Bluffton Hospital emergency departments, patients must first be evaluated by a provider.
A determination will be made if a COVID-19 test is required. Testing can be completed on-site.
All other patients that require urgent care or emergency services are still encouraged to seek care at Physicians Plus or BVHS emergency rooms.
State and federal guidelines are in place to keep patients safe.
People who don’t have a primary care provider can call the Blanchard Valley Medical Practices’ physician referral line, 419-422-APPT or visit bvmp.org.
BVHS continues to remain aligned with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Ohio Department of Health.
For additional guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic, BVHS continues to update information that can be found at bvhealthsystem.org under the COVID-19 tab.
Blanchard Valley Health System says it, along with healthcare providers across the nation, are experiencing a shortage of rapid COVID-19 testing supplies directly related to the nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases.
BVHS says other testing options are available, however, there will be at least a 24-hour turnaround time for testing results.
BVHS says, if you have a primary care provider, contact them for potential testing options through the offices.
Other than your primary care provider, BVHS asks that you please do not call BVHS facilities with questions regarding rapid testing availability, as this takes their healthcare providers away from the valuable care they are providing to other patients.
The City of Findlay Water Distribution Department has issued a boil advisory for several residents.
Due to repairs on a water main break on Sixth Street near Amelia Avenue, the following addresses will be under a boil advisory.
On Sixth Street, 1031, 1100, 1101, 1107, 1112, 1120, 1125, 1130, 1133, 1200, 1201, 1210, 1220, 1221, 1230, 1300, 1310, 1321, 1330, and 1425 Eastview Drive.
The boil advisory also affects all residents on Burson Drive and Lockwood Road.
The boil advisory was issued at around 11:30 Thursday morning.
Due to the water main break, Sixth Street in Findlay is closed from Amelia Avenue to Williams Street until further notice.
Drivers are asked to utilize Blanchard Avenue as an alternate route.
(ONN) – The new redistricting panel in Ohio has failed to reach the bipartisan consensus necessary to pass a 10-year map of state legislative districts based on 2020 census totals.
After hours of negotiations, the Ohio Redistricting Commission approved new district boundaries purely along party lines, which means the map will last for only four years.
The two Democrats on the panel maligned the GOP-drawn map as an unfair and arrogant thwarting of Ohio voters wishes.
Republicans who drew the final map said they worked to incorporate Democrats requests.
Legal challenges are expected.
Governor DeWine suggested that the commission could’ve come up with a map that is more clearly constitutional and that it’s likely the courts will have to look at if the map complies with the Ohio Constitution.
Sixth Street in Findlay is closed from Amelia Avenue to Williams Street due to a water main break.
The city said Thursday morning that the street would be closed until further notice.
No indication was given about how long the repairs would take.
Drivers are asked to utilize Blanchard Avenue as an alternate route.
A boil advisory has been issued for some residents in the area. Click here for the addresses.
The United Way of Hancock County is launching its annual campaign with a virtual regional singing competition to raise funds for more than 20 nonprofits serving Hancock County communities.
United Way CEO Angela DeBoskey says it was not easy choosing the 16 finalists for the 419 Sings competition.
“We have a lot of talent in the 419. There were more than 50 submissions that our judges reviewed and they were able to whittle it down to 16.”
Angela is encouraging people to go to the 419 Sings Facebook page and watch the artists and vote for their favorite.
Each vote costs a $1 donation and voting is unlimited.
Money raised through the 419 Sings competition will benefit the United Way of Hancock County, its partner agencies, and the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts.
You may have seen the new mural on the side of the Kan Du Group’s building at 318 West Main Cross Street in Findlay.
The Kan Du Group’s Jodi Hassan says they were chosen to create a mural as part of the Awakening Minds Art Community Mural Project.
She said the meaning of their mural is “Reach for the Stars” and the mural features two silhouettes of young people reaching as high as they can to reach for the stars.
Jodi says they chose stars as the subject matter for the mural because their artists make the stars for the Findlay-Hancock County Small Business Awards.
Click here to see some of the other murals that are going up around town as part of the Community Mural Project.
Ohio State has announced changes to help improve entry at ‘The Shoe’ for Saturday’s home game after massive delays led to congestion outside of Ohio Stadium last week.
Ohio State said delays at some gates last week were caused by WiFi connectivity, staffing numbers and the learning curve with the new ticket pedestal scanners.
This week, OSU will add an additional 27 ticket scanners and another 27 people to keep the lines moving.
There will also be more metal detectors and additional police officers to help with security checks at each entrance.
Ohio State plays Tulsa at 3:30.
Fans are being advised to arrive early, download the official Ohio State Buckeyes app and save their tickets and parking pass to their mobile wallet.
(ONN) – The former executive director of the Ohio High School Athletic Association has sued the organization for breach of contract.
Jerry Snodgrass filed the lawsuit in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
Snodgrass worked for the organization as an assistant commissioner and assistant director from 2008-2018 before serving as executive director until July of 2020 when he was fired.
The OHSAA says it will not comment on pending litigation.
Snodgrass joined the OHSAA after a 31-year career in education as a teacher, coach and administrator, mostly in Findlay.
