The playoff run for the Findlay Trojans football team came to an end on Friday night in Bellefontaine.

The Trojans lost to Springfield by a score of 13 – 0 in the regional semifinals.

The Trojans finish the season with a record of 9 – 4.

In other playoff action, the Ottawa-Glandorf Titans defeated Otsego 24 – 22.

The 10-3 Titans will play Elyria Catholic on Saturday night in the regional finals in Clyde.

McComb lost to Hopewell-Loudon by a score of 28 – 20.

Carey advanced to the regional finals and will play Liberty Center Saturday in Bowling Green.

Get all the matchups in the regional finals by clicking here. 

For the second time in three years the Liberty-Benton Volleyball team won the state title.

On Saturday, the Eagles defeated Independence in straight sets to finish the season undefeated at 30 – 0 and win the 2021 state championship.

Liberty-Benton also won the Division III championship in 2019.

The seniors on the team end their careers with a tremendous record of 106 – 8, and two state titles.

(pic courtesy of the OHSAA)

In a unique partnership, Owens Community College, the University of Findlay and Bowling Green State University are coming together on a new Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics to meet the need for a highly trained workforce.

The Center will work with area employers in the Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics sectors to identify and anticipate their needs in workforce training, talent development, innovation, automation, systems integration, and supply chain management.

Tim Mayle, director of Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development, calls the new Center a game changer, saying it will help Findlay and the region not just retain companies, but attract companies. You can get more of our conversation with Tim in the video below.

The Center will also serve as a centralized resource where the business community can bring specific workforce needs for customized training solutions.

The idea for the Center originated in consistent feedback from regional companies regarding the need for growing and enhancing talent to drive success.

“As an institution of opportunity with decades of history in Findlay, we know this partnership will help to meet workforce demands in advanced manufacturing and logistics,” said Dr. Dione D. Somerville, president of Owens Community College.

“This Center will serve as a model for northwest Ohio and beyond as more institutions of higher education look to power economic development in more meaningful and strategic ways.”

The training and instructional programs will be provided across three locations (Findlay, Bowling Green, Perrysburg) and will range from on-degree track certificates and badges, to degree track curricula for associate, bachelor’s, and post-graduate degrees.

The Center will also focus on facilitating a wide range of co-op and internship opportunities.

“The Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics demonstrates the power of a four-year public university, a two-year public community college and a private four-year university all coming together to partner and to demonstrate our relevance to Ohio and beyond,” said BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers. “This partnership is one example of how we are meeting workforce demands by connecting education and listening and responding to industry needs.”

“We are fortunate to live, learn, and work in a vibrant and collaborative community,” stated Dr. Katherine Fell, president of the University of Findlay.

“Having a dynamic and flexible mechanism for intentional workforce development is vital to the continued growth of our region.”

(pictured above are Dr. Rodney K. Rogers, President, Bowling Green State University, Dr. Dione D. Somerville, President, Owens Community College, Chancellor Randy Gardner, Ohio Department of Higher Education and Dr. Katherine Fell, President, University of Findlay)

Three people were injured, one critically, in a two-vehicle crash a little northwest of Findlay.

The crash happened at the intersection of County Road 139 and Township Road 95 in Liberty Township at around 11 o’clock Friday morning.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says David Katz, 41, of McComb, was driving west on Township Road 95 in a Toyota Scion when he failed to stop at the stop sign and collided with a Ford Fusion that was northbound on County Road 139 and being driven by Keyon Camden, 24, of Bradner.

The vehicles came to rest a little north of the intersection.

Katz was flown by a medical helicopter to a Toledo hospital in critical condition.

A passenger in the Katz vehicle, Kristie Tucker, 43, of McComb, was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Camden was taken to BVH by private vehicle with non life-threatening injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.

The Findlay YMCA has a new CEO.

The Board of Directors has selected Stephanie Parsons as the next CEO of the organization.

Stephanie takes over from Steve Crone, who left the position for a different job.

Stephanie was previously the YMCA’s COO and has been with the Y since 2007.

The YMCA says Stephanie has a strong background in program management, staff management, leading mission-driven projects and initiatives, membership development, and strives to provide cause-driven leadership to the Findlay YMCA and our community.

“Stephanie has a great passion for our Y and this community. Her passion, energy, and experience have positioned her well to lead this organization and continue our mission in this community,” said Christy Kisseberth, YMCA Board Chair.

Outside the Y, Stephanie serves on the Hancock Youth Leadership Board, Family and Children’s First Council, Hancock Literacy Committee, and is a member of Rotary.

In 2019, Stephanie started a nonprofit, “The Beam of Light” in honor of her late mother and grandmother, which supports foster children and families within our community.

Stephanie has a bachelor’s degree – Exercise Specialist, from Bowling Green State University. She is also a graduate of the YMCA’s Executive Development Institute.

“It’s a great honor to lead such a cause-driven organization,” Stephanie said.

“I am surrounded by great staff and members, and I look forward to serving them and our community. I am committed to leading this organization to make an impact for years to come.”

Stephanie is from Columbus Grove and currently lives in Findlay with her husband and children.

The youngsters at Findlay’s Chamberlin Hill Elementary waved flags and held up homemade signs thanking Veterans during a ‘Salute to Veterans’ drive through parade on Veterans Day.

A long line of vehicles slowly made its way through the school’s driveway as 3rd, 4th and 5th graders saluted their local Veterans.

See video of the parade below.

Ohio officials are preparing for a colder than usual winter as the state’s Winter Safety Awareness Week begins on Monday.

It’s a coordinated effort between the government and the state’s weather taskforce.

Forecasters are predicting not only colder temperatures but more precipitation this winter.

The Ohio Emergency Management Agency is reminding Ohioans to stock-up on non-perishable foods and have an emergency kit available.

Winter Safety Awareness Week runs November 14 – 20.

Above and below are a few pics from last winter in Findlay.

A big crowd was on hand in Van Buren as the new Veterans Memorial was unveiled on Veterans Day on Thursday.

The memorial, located at the Village Square, is an Eagle Scout project created by Jacob Deiter, a senior at Van Buren High School.

During the dedication, Mayor Ed May surprised Jacob by declaring Thursday, November 11th Jacob Deiter Eagle Scout Day in Van Buren.

Jacob says his dad, uncle and grandfather are all Veterans.

“I have a family full of Veterans and I really appreciate their service and everything they do for us to keep us free,” Jacob said.

State Rep. Jon Cross presented Jacob with a special proclamation from the Ohio House of Representatives and said a flag that flies at the Ohio Statehouse will be presented to Jacob in honor of his efforts in creating the memorial.

Congressman Bob Latta also attended the dedication and thanked Jacob for his efforts.

Both can be seen in the video below along with Jacob unveiling the new memorial.

Fans of the Findlay Trojans are invited to join a Football Spirit Caravan for the trip down to Bellefontaine on Friday for the playoff game between Findlay and Springfield.

Anyone interested in being in the caravan should meet in front of Findlay High School at 5 p.m. Friday and follow the student spirit bus to the game.

People are encouraged to decorate their cars, honk their horns and show off their Trojan spirit.

Findlay takes on Springfield at 7 p.m. Friday at AccuSport Stadium in Bellefontaine. You can hear the game on WFIN.

In other playoff action, the Ottawa-Glandorf Titans will play Tontogany Otsego at Napoleon Buckenmeyer Stadium on Saturday at 7.

You can hear that game on 106.3 The Fox.

McComb will play Bascom Hopewell-Loudon at Bowling Green High School on Saturday at 7.

That game can be heard on 100.5 WKXA.

Check out all the matchups in the next round by clicking here.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway overpass in Findlay has reopened following a flood mitigation project.

The city held a ribbon-cutting Wednesday afternoon to celebrate the completion of the project. The roadway actually reopened at around 4:30 Tuesday afternoon.

The overpass had been closed since June for a project that raised two intersections and a portion of the roadway so they don’t flood.

We spoke with Mayor Christina Muryn and city engineer Jeremy Kalb after the ribbon cutting ceremony. That video is below.

The intersection of East Main Cross Street and East Street closed on Monday, July 26th.

In June, Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway closed for the first half of the project.

The first part of the project involved the raising of Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway from the MLK bridge to Blanchard Street, including the Clinton Court intersection, and building a new super- elevation turn that ties in to Blanchard Street. The Clinton Court/MLK intersection was raised about 4 1/2 feet.

The second half of the project raised the East Main Cross/East Street intersection by about three feet.

Findlay City Engineer Jeremy Kalb says the project will ensure that when we get the next really bad flood, the intersection will not get covered with water, and emergency vehicles will still be able to utilize the roadway.

Traffic signals were also upgraded as part of the project.