The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch that includes Findlay and Hancock County.
The watch goes until 9 p.m. Wednesday and includes all of northwest Ohio.
Forecasters say scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible Wednesday afternoon into the early evening.
Damaging wind gusts and large hail are the main threats, but a tornado or two is possible.
Flag City Honor Flight, the Findlay-based hub of the National Honor Flight Network, will be taking to the air again this year after being grounded for two years due to the pandemic.
Bob Weinberg, president of Flag City Honor Flight, says Veterans interested in making the trip should apply now.
He says those that were scheduled to fly last year can be assured that they will be first on the list to fly this year.
And as usual, WWII Veterans will be given priority, although flights are open to Veterans of all eras.
Flag City Honor Flight will take approximately 80 Veterans per flight, accompanied by their guardians, on a trip to Washington, D.C. to visit the war memorials built in their honor.
The three flights will be on June 7, September 13 and November 1.
The trips are made possible by the generous donations of individuals, organizations, local businesses, and corporations.
Veterans pay absolutely nothing.
They are accompanied by guardians who are asked to make a tax-deductible donation to help with expenses.
Learn more about the organization and how you can donate by clicking here.
Garner Trucking has been named the 2022 Best Fleets to Drive For Overall Winner in the small carrier division presented by the Truckload Carriers Association and CarriersEdge.
This is the sixth consecutive year that Garner Trucking, headquartered in Findlay, has been named a Best Fleet to Drive For, and the first year named as The Best Overall Fleet to Drive For.
“We are proud to be recognized alongside so many other innovative companies working every day to create a better environment for our drivers,” said Garner COO Tim Chrulski.
“We have a tremendous group of people here at Garner that have made this award possible.”
Garner President & CEO, Sherri Garner Brumbaugh added, “I am very proud of my Garner Trucking team! They exemplify the best of the best and truly earned this top award this year!”
To be considered for the Best Fleets program, companies operating 10 or more trucks had to receive a nomination from one of their company drivers or owner-operators.
The fleets were then evaluated using a scoring matrix covering a variety of categories, including total compensation, health benefits, performance management, professional
development, and career path/advancement opportunities, among other criteria.
Driver surveys were also conducted to collect input from drivers and independent contractors working with the fleets.
The statewide emergency drill previously scheduled for Wednesday has been cancelled due to threat of potential severe weather across the state. The City of Findlay had planned to test the warning sirens as part of the Statewide Tornado Drill.
March 20-26 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Ohio.
Area residents are encouraged to still prepare for weather emergencies and to know the difference between storm watches and warnings.
For example:
A Tornado WATCH means conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes in and near areas designated by the National Weather Service. Be ready to move to a place of safety if the watch is upgraded to a warning or if threatening weather approaches.
A Tornado WARNING means a tornado is imminent or has been sighted. Warnings indicate impending danger to life and property. Seek safe shelter immediately.
Watches and warnings issued by the National Weather Service are automatically posted to the home and weather pages of WFIN.com, WKXA.com, and 1063TheFox.com. You can also sign up to receive text and email weather alerts by visiting GoFindlay.com.
Findlay’s Glenwood Middle School is holding a Disability Awareness Day and all 6th graders will be participating.
The event consists of six stations, which the students will rotate through to get an idea of what it would be like to have some type of disability (autism, learning or hearing impairment, communication disorder, physical limitations, etc).
Trisha Klausing is the occupational therapist for Findlay City Schools.
As Trisha mentioned in the audio above, students with special needs want to be included and have friends just like everyone else.
Trisha says they’ve held similar events and that you can tell they’re working because she says she’s seen more interactions in the hallways between students and their classmates with disabilities.
Northview kindergarten teacher Danielle Powell will also be speaking to the group about what it’s like to be a parent of a student with special needs, and encouraging them to be inclusive.
The month of March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
Click here to learn more about events being held by the Blanchard Valley Center this month, including their Celebrity Basketball Game.
A bridge replacement project will force some Findlay drivers to take a detour throughout the spring and summer.
The Hancock County Engineer’s Office says the Olive Street Bridge over Eagle Creek in Findlay is being replaced to meet current bridge standards.
The bridge is on Olive Street (Marion Township Road 204) between Park Street and Marion Township Road 201.
The project will begin on Tuesday, March 22nd and last until approximately early September.
Olive Street will be closed between Park Street and Marion Township 201 while the bridge is constructed and residents are encouraged to use local streets to detour the area.
The Hancock County Engineer’s Office maintains 358 miles of county roads and 372 bridges throughout Hancock County.
note – The sign above says 120 days but the county engineer said it should read 180 days.
The Findlay Police Department has hired two new police officers.
Jacob Frank (left) and Jacob Hollis were sworn in by Mayor Christina Muryn on Monday morning.
Frank, 23, is a graduate of Maumee High School in Maumee.
He graduated from Bowling Green State University with a degree in criminal justice and then obtained his Ohio Peace Officer Certificate at the police academy at Owens Community College.
Frank had been with the University of Findlay Police Department and is a member of the U.S. Army Reserve.
Frank and his wife live in Findlay.
Hollis, 31, is a graduate of Johnstown Monroe High School in Johnstown.
He obtained his Ohio Peace Officer Certificate through Owens Community College.
Hollis previously worked for the Wyandot County Engineer’s Office and is an active member in the Ohio Army National Guard.
He and his wife live in Upper Sandusky.
A variety of projects will continue to affect traffic flow in Findlay this week.
The City of Findlay’s sanitary sewer upgrade along South Main Street (above) is continuing and will affect travel on South Main Street from Monday through Friday.
South Main Street will be reduced to one lane from the city limits to Rosemont Drive, weather and contractor schedule permitting.
Delays are to be expected. Motorists are advised to avoid this area if possible.
Columbia Gas is installing a new main line and services in the area of Washington Avenue.
Washington Avenue from Sixth Street to E. Yates Avenue will be closed while this work is being performed.
Portions of East Lima Street also remain closed for gas line work.
Motorists are also advised to avoid this area if possible.
The Findlay Engineering Department will release updates on information and schedules when it becomes available.
People with questions about any projects can call 419-424-7121.
The City of Findlay will be testing its outdoor warning sirens as part of the Statewide Tornado Drill.
The test will occur on Wednesday, March 23rd at 9:50 a.m.
Businesses, schools, and households are also encouraged to practice their tornado drills and emergency plans at that time.
March 20-26 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Ohio.
The Ohio Emergency Management Agency is encouraging Ohioans to prepare for weather emergencies and to know the difference between storm watches and warnings.
For example:
A Tornado WATCH means conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes in and near areas designated by the National Weather Service. Be ready to move to a place of safety if the watch is upgraded to a warning or if threatening weather approaches.
A Tornado WARNING means a tornado is imminent or has been sighted. Warnings indicate impending danger to life and property. Seek safe shelter immediately.
The Ohio Department of Transportation is asking people to do their part to prevent litter from accumulating along the state’s roadways.
On average, ODOT crews collect more than 400,000 bags of people’s trash from along Ohio highways and roads each year.
The effort costs Ohioans around $4 million annually.
ODOT says it’s disappointing that their workers have put so much time and effort into an issue that’s 100 percent preventable.
ODOT also points out that picking up trash takes them away from important jobs like filling potholes and fixing guardrails.