Registration is underway for Camp 911 in Hancock County.

Camp 911 is an interactive safety camp is for kids entering kindergarten and helps them learn basic safety.

The free camp presents important safety lessons such as stranger danger, drug safety and pedestrian safety through a combination of demonstrations, videos, and activities.

Camp 911 is a joint effort led by local emergency response agencies, including Hanco, Findlay Fire and Police Departments, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and Hancock Public Health.

The camp will be available this year to 200 kids across Hancock County who will be entering kindergarten for the 2022-23 school year.

The camp will be held June 20th – 24th at First Presbyterian Church at 2330 South Main Street in Findlay.

Morning sessions will run from 8 to 11 a.m, and afternoon sessions from 1-4 p.m.

To sign up click here, and for more information call 419-424-7853.

The video below and picture above are from last summer when the youngsters got to see local K9 officers in action.

Findlay City Schools says masks are now optional on its school buses.

The school district said bus drivers, students, and bus aides who want to continue wearing face coverings are encouraged to do so.

Findlay City Schools says the change is in reaction to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recently updated their guidance saying masks are no longer required on buses.

The full updated masking statement from the CDC can be read by clicking here.

Hancock Public Health reports that COVID numbers continue to decline in the county.

High school students and their parents, as well as prospective students of all ages, are invited to meet with representatives from approximately 100 colleges, universities, industries and the military when two of the area’s largest college night events return following a two-year absence due to the COVID pandemic.

In partnership with 12 area high schools, Greater Hancock County College Night will begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 7 at the Owens Community College Findlay Campus in the Community Education and Wellness Center, 3200 Bright Road, Findlay.

In partnership with 17 local high schools, College and Career Preview Night is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 9 at the Owens Community College Toledo-area Campus in the Student Health and Activities Center, 7315 Championship Drive, Perrysburg.

The college nights also feature presentations on financial aid and in-demand careers plus information tables focused on helping students succeed after high school.

More details and a list of representatives attending are available at www.owens.edu/collegenight.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has declared Sunday, February 27th, a Day of Prayer in Ohio honoring the people of Ukraine.

He says Ukraine’s flag will fly at the Ohio Statehouse and Governor’s Residence to further show support for those under attack in Ukraine and for Ohio’s Ukrainian population.

On the Day of Prayer in Ohio, DeWine and his wife Fran attended Sunday church service at St. Andrew Ukrainian Catholic Church in Parma to stand in solidarity with Ohio’s Ukrainian community.

DeWine has also directed state commerce officials to cease the purchase and sale of all vodka made by the Russian company Russian Standard Vodka.

In addition, liquor venders in the Buckeye State have been directed to immediately pull “Green Mark Vodka” and “Russian Standard Vodka” from their shelves.

Findlay City Schools Superintendent Troy Roth is leaving the school district to become the new superintendent at Bellevue City Schools.

Roth has been with Findlay City Schools for seven years, five as assistant superintendent and the last two as superintendent.

Troy tells WFIN News that it was a difficult decision and it came down to what was best for his family, and Bellevue is closer to where he and his wife are from.

As Troy mentioned in the audio above he’s enjoyed his time in Findlay, his three kids all graduated from Findlay High School, and he believes the district has made great strides and is in good hands going forward.

He pointed out the Bellevue, while smaller than Findlay, is similar to Findlay City Schools in that it has strong academics, athletics, performing arts and community support.

The Bellevue City Schools Board of Education will vote on Roth’s hiring at their board meeting this week.

He expects his last day at Findlay City Schools to be in the middle of July and his first day at Bellevue City Schools will be August 1st.

Roth came to Findlay from Margaretta Local Schools which is a little north of Bellevue.

The Kiwanis Club of Findlay is excited to have its Pancake Day back in person this year.

The all-you-can-eat pancakes and sausages event is the club’s biggest fundraiser and will be held on Saturday, March 12th at Findlay High School from 7 to 1.

All proceeds from Pancake Day help the Kiwanis Club of Findlay support the youth of Findlay and Hancock County.

The club’s most recent accomplishment was the creation of Brucklacher Memorial Park at the Little Red Schoolhouse, which was the club’s 100th anniversary gift to the community.

The club says support of Pancake Day allows them to reinvest the profit from the event into the community’s youth.

Some investments in the past have included:

Kiwanis Closets which provide basic clothing supplies to every elementary school in Hancock County.

Donations of AmTrykes® to provide mobility to children with physical disabilities.

Santa’s Mailbox, which helped Santa send personalized letters to over 240 children in the community.

Kiwanis Foundation Scholarships have awarded over $100,000 to Hancock County youth.

Building future leaders through our Service Leadership Programs: K-Kids (McComb Elementary), Builders Club (McComb Middle School), Key Club (Findlay High School and Van Buren High School), Circle K Club (University of Findlay), and Aktion Club (Blanchard Valley Center).

Pre-sale tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for children and seniors.

On the day of the event tickets are $7 for adults and $6 for children and seniors.

Tickets may be purchased from any Kiwanis member and also at Smarty Pants Findlay, AAA Findlay Automobile Club and Premier Bank downtown Findlay.

Tickets are also available online by clicking here.

The Findlay – Hancock County Chamber of Commerce says applications are being accepted for the 2022-2023 Hancock Youth Leadership (HYL) program.

Affiliated with the Findlay – Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, HYL is an investment in the future of Findlay and Hancock County.

Its purpose is to enhance knowledge and develop leadership skills in a select group of high school students, motivating them to become positive role models, active and committed to their civic responsibilities.

Students attend monthly sessions, beginning with a team-building retreat in August.

Session topics include agriculture, health and human services, arts and media, diversity, business and economic development, justice and law, and volunteerism.

Hancock Youth Leadership is open to Hancock County and Findlay City Schools students, including those who are homeschooled, beginning their junior year in fall 2022.

Applications are available online at www.FindlayHancockChamber.com/HYL.

Completed applications must be submitted by Friday, March 11, 2022.

For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce at 419.422.3313, email djenkins@FindlayHancockChamber.com, or visit www.FindlayHancockChamber.com/HYL.

Blanchard Valley Health System is making changes to its COVID-19 testing sites and testing requirements.

BVHS says the changes are being made due to the decline in COVID cases in the community.

BVHS will no longer require COVID testing prior to having a surgery or procedure completed at the Findlay campus, Bluffton campus and the Findlay Surgery Center, effective Sunday, February 27th.

Drive-thru testing at Blanchard Valley Hospital and Bluffton Hospital will no longer be offered beginning Monday, February 28th.

BVHS is encouraging patients to contact their primary care provider if they’re in need of a COVID-19 test.

People without a primary care provider can call the Blanchard Valley Medical Practices’ physician referral line, 419-422-APPT or visit bvmp.org.

To receive testing at Physicians Plus Urgent Care, or through a BVHS emergency department, patients must first be evaluated by a provider.

A determination will be made if a COVID-19 test is required.

BVHS continues to remain aligned with the Center for Disease Control 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.

The number of new COVID cases went down drastically in the latest numbers from Hancock Public Health. Get more by clicking here.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol joined forces with members of the 6-State Trooper Project to enforce speed, safety belts, and OVI on Interstate 75.

The project ran from February 18th through February 20th.

The high-visibility campaign included the Kentucky State Police, Michigan State Police and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The remaining states were not a part of this particular initiative.

During the project, a total of 444 people in Ohio were cited.

The Highway Patrol cited 396 drivers for speed-related violations, 37 for safety belt infractions and 11 with OVI.

The 6-State Trooper Project is a multi-state law enforcement partnership aimed at providing combined and coordinated law enforcement and security services in the areas of highway safety, criminal patrol, and information sharing.

A complete breakdown of the project can be found by clicking here.

The number of new COVID cases went down drastically in the latest numbers from Hancock Public Health.

Hancock Public Health is reporting 31 new cases, seven new hospitalizations and 11 new deaths for the week of February 18th through February 25th.

The health department says those 11 reported deaths may have been delayed, and is waiting confirmation from the state.

The previous week those numbers were 94 new cases, eight new hospitalizations and three new deaths.

Hancock County is averaging around 4 new cases per day and cases per 100,000 is 48.8.

The previous week the county was averaging 13 new cases per day and cases per 100,000 was 150.

Community transmission in Hancock County was lowered to “moderate” from “high” as defined by the CDC.

49.7 percent of eligible residents are fully vaccinated while 53.5 percent of eligible residents have started the vaccine.

1,090 Hancock County residents have been hospitalized with COVID since the beginning of the pandemic and 262 have died.