A drug task force says three people were arrested after a search warrant was executed at a Findlay house.

On Thursday night, the Hancock County METRICH Drug Task Force with the assistance of the Findlay Police Department Emergency Response Team served a search warrant at 205 West Hardin Street.

The task force says a search of the residence resulted in the seizure of approximately 18.5 grams of fentanyl, a .38 caliber revolver, ammunition and more than $5,700 in cash.

Drug paraphernalia and other items indicative of drug trafficking were also seized.

Authorities say two people who live at the address, Darious Pullom, 30, and Kimberly Wise, 32, were arrested on charges of having weapons while under disability.

Additionally, another individual, Andrew Twinning, was arrested for drug possession.

The three were booked at the Hancock County Jail.

Additional criminal charges of drug trafficking are expected at the conclusion of the investigation.

The latest COVID numbers from Hancock Public Health show that community transmission of the virus in the county remains “low”.

The health department is reporting eight new cases, one new hospitalization and two new deaths for the weekly reporting period of March 18th to March 24th.

The previous week there were 12 new cases, one new hospitalization and one new death.

The level of community transmission in Hancock County remains “low” as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Blanchard Valley Health System adjusted its visitation guidelines again to lessen restrictions on visitors as COVID cases continue to decline.

AEP Ohio says a planned power outage will affect parts of Findlay this weekend, including the downtown area.

AEP says At 11:59 p.m. Saturday, electric service for areas of Findlay will be turned off while their transmission team makes emergency repairs.

Power is expected to be back on by 7 a.m. Sunday.

The planned outage includes the following areas:

• South Main Street
• 100 – 500 blocks of East Sandusky Street
• East and West Front Street
• 300 – 800 blocks of West Main Cross Street
• McManness Avenue
• Carnahan Avenue
• Cherry Street

Affected customers should receive an automated phone call advising them of the outage.

Customers can make sure their account information, including phone number, is updated at AEPOhio.com/Account.

A man’s facing a variety of charges after allegedly leading authorities on a high-speed chase and causing a crash in Findlay.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says a trooper attempted to stop a Dodge Charger for speeding on U.S. 68 in Arlington at around 6:30 Wednesday night.

The Highway Patrol said the driver, Ronald Harry Dowell III, 36, of Dayton, refused to stop and a pursuit ensued lasting seven miles.

The Highway Patrol said the pursuit reached speeds of 120 miles per hour, and due to the high speed and traffic conditions, the pursuit was terminated south of Findlay.

At around 6:40, Findlay police, Hancock County Sheriff’s Office deputies and the Highway Patrol responded to a four-vehicle injury crash at North Main Street and Walnut Street in Findlay.

The Highway Patrol says Dowell was driving north on North Main Street and traveled across the center line and struck a southbound SUV.

Debris from the crash struck another southbound vehicle and Dowell’s vehicle traveled back into the northbound lanes where it sideswiped a car.

The Highway Patrol says Dowell exited his car and tried to carjack a vehicle but the driver fought him off.

The Highway Patrol says Dowell was then taken into custody.

The Highway Patrol says Dowell was found to be in possession of suspected methamphetamine.

He was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital for minor injuries and then booked at the Hancock County Jail. (mugshot below)

Jail records show that he’s facing charges of robbery, failure to comply, OVI, driving under suspension and violating parole.

All occupants involved in the crash were wearing their seat belt except for Dowell.

One of the people involved in the crash was taken to the hospital with a minor injury, and the driver who struggled with Dowell during the attempted carjacking sustained a minor injury.

(above pic courtesy of Renee Kraus on Facebook)

(dashcam video below courtesy of Evan Hartman)

The Liberty-Benton Athletic Boosters and the Capital Campaign Committee are inviting the Liberty Benton community to the grand opening of the new Eagle Field House.

Superintendent Mark Kowalski says the 22,500 square foot indoor turf practice facility, which was privately funded by generous donations from the community, will be utilized by all sports, the band and the community.

The new Eagle Field House is located directly behind the new elementary/middle school building that’s being built.

The grand opening of the Eagle Field House will be held on Saturday, April 2nd beginning at 4:15.

There will be limited parking and drop-off in front of the field house.

Golf cart transportation service will be offered from the high school parking lot to the field house.

Some local companies are going above and beyond to help the people of Ukraine and are inviting you to join their effort.

Buffalo Trading Company and Buffalo Cartridge through Project Help Now are gathering goods and monetary donations for a relief effort for the people of Ukraine.

Ken Cooper with Buffalo Trading Company says there are a variety of ways to help.

“You can donate items, you can set your business up to be a drop point for other people to drop off items, you can host or participate in packing parties to get the supplies ready to go over there,” Ken told WFIN’s Chris Oaks.

He says they have a system in place that quickly gets the relief to the people who need it.

“We are absolutely contributing to saving lives over there and we feel blessed to be in this spot bringing the opportunity to the community.”

Other additional businesses have joined in, including City Uniforms and Linen.

Get more on the relief effort by clicking here, and listen to Chris Oaks’ full interview with Ken Cooper and John Larbus by clicking here.

A bill exempting employers from paying overtime for small tasks done off-the-clock and commuting to work is making its way through the Ohio Legislature.

In a party-line vote, Senate Bill 47 passed through the Ohio House with Democrat opponents saying it enables wage theft.

Supporters say the bill aligns with the Fair Labor Standards Act, exempting employers from paying overtime for insubstantial periods beyond an employee’s scheduled work hours.

Republicans say that includes checking schedules, listening to voicemail, or reading emails off-hours, and the bill is necessary with the increase in workers doing their jobs from home.

The bill now heads back to the Ohio Senate for a vote on amendments made to it in the Ohio House.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine laid out goals for a potential second term and beyond during his State of the State address on Wednesday.

DeWine gave his first State of the State since 2019 after the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the previous two speeches.

DeWine spoke about the state’s future economic growth centered around a planned $20 billion investment from the Intel Corporation and his record on tax cuts, spending reductions, and job creation.

DeWine is up for reelection in November but first must defeat three Republican challengers in the GOP primary.

Also in the speech, the governor said we must work hard to support our officers, deputies, and troopers by giving them the resources to go after violent criminals.

He said a bill currently pending before the legislature addresses violent crime by increasing penalties for dangerous felons who continue to carry and use guns.

DeWine said he supports the legislation, as it will help law enforcement deal with the most violent offenders in their communities.

Watch the governor’s full speech by clicking here.

(above pic courtesy of @GovMikeDeWine on Twitter)

The University of Findlay’s College of Pharmacy will welcome Dr. Jerome Adams, 20th Surgeon General of the United States, Distinguished Professor, Presidential Fellow, and Executive Director of Health Equity Initiatives at Purdue University, to campus on Thursday, April 7 at 6 p.m.

Adams will speak at the University’s second annual Health Equity – I Can Make a Difference event, which is open to the public, and will take place in Ritz Auditorium in Old Main.

Adams grew up in a predominantly poor, African American, Southern, rural community.

He “went on to lead the 6,000 person U.S. Public Health Service as ‘America’s Doctor’ during a worldwide pandemic,” according to Adams’ biography.

“As Surgeon General, he brought a passionate commitment to fighting issues that his own family and community experienced, including limited healthcare access, chronic disease, substance use disorder and ensuing stigma, tobacco addiction, maternal health, mental illness, and the opioid epidemic.”

Adams’ discussions combine his knowledge of being at the forefront of national and global health with his personal experiences.

These experiences include having a sibling who has a substance use disorder, dealing with life-threatening asthma, and navigating politics to support the health of the helpless throughout difficult times.

“I hope our society finds it unacceptable that health care quality depends on your economic class or race. At the University of Findlay, our faculty, staff, and students want to work to eliminate this inequity,” stated Sandra Earle, Pharm.D., associate professor of teaching in pharmaceutical sciences and associate dean for assessment and student success.

“By bringing in national leaders working on this problem, we hope to elevate the discussion in our community and stimulate actions that will work toward equal access and quality for all.”

This event is made possible through the generosity of the College of Pharmacy, Student Government Association, UF Convocations Committee, and Walgreens Pharmacy.

For more information or to register to watch the event via Zoom, visit the Health Equity – I Can Make a Difference webpage, or contact Sandra Earle at earle@findlay.edu.

The Community Gardens of Hancock County is gearing up for its eighth year.

This year the gardens, located at the Family Center (1800 N. Blanchard St.), will have more than 50 plots available sectioned into a variety of plot sizes, mainly 10 feet by 10 feet.

The Community Gardens of Hancock County is under the management of the Halt Hunger Initiative and is working toward its goal to educate and equip individuals and families to be food secure.

In the past five years, over 20,000 pounds of produce has been donated from the gardens back to local food pantries.

The Community Gardens is open for anyone to apply, but low-to-moderate income families and/or those on assistance will be given preference.

Agencies, organizations, churches, or youth groups that want to grow a plot and donate at least a portion of the produce to those serving food-insecure families may apply as well.

There is no cost to apply, and applications will be accepted now through April 15th, 2022.

Applications can be filled out online by clicking here.

If you cannot access an online application, call the United Way of Hancock County office at 419-423-1432 or visit the United Way of Hancock County office at 318. W. Main Cross St., 2nd Floor, to access an application.

Gardeners can anticipate accessing their plot in early May through the end of October.

For those who have never had a garden, Master Gardener Volunteer Karl Farwig says beginning gardeners should plan on spending five to 10 hours a week working in their plots.

“That timeframe will vary depending on the size of the plot and the plants they are growing,” Farwig said.

For more information, contact United Way of Hancock County at 419-423-1432 or email Taylor Coote, Community Impact Director, at taylor.coote@uwhancock.org.