The Ohio Department of Commerce is again reminding Ohioans to check to see if they have any unclaimed funds or property through their online portal.

State officials use the final weeks of the tax season to send reminders to people who may have money from a past job, business, lawsuit or refund that has not been claimed.

The ODC says they are currently guarding more than $3 billion in money and property that has gone unclaimed.

To check if you are owed money from a previous venture, visit the state’s web portal called missingmoney.com.

If an account appears that matches their information, claimants can generate a claim form to fill out and upload to the division using the new portal.

“They can either scan the documents with a scanner that they have at home and upload it, or they can use their phone and do the same thing,” said Akil Hardy, superintendent for the Division of Unclaimed Funds.

“All you have to do is take a picture of the document and then upload it.”

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says it will have extra patrols on St. Patrick’s Day and for the remainder of the week.

The sheriff’s office is reminding everyone to line up a designated driver before they start consuming alcohol.

The Highway Patrol will also have an increased presence due to the holiday.

“We want all motorists to plan ahead before they start celebrating, and St. Patrick’s Day is no exception,” said Colonel Richard Fambro, Patrol Superintendent.

He says, over the last five years, impaired driving accounted for 252 crashes on St. Patrick’s Day in Ohio.

14 people killed in 11 fatal crashes and 137 people were injured in OVI-related crashes.

“St. Patrick’s Day is synonymous with consumption of alcohol, which makes impaired driving enforcement during the holiday a priority for our troopers so that everyone remains safe.”

Logan’s Irish Pub in Findlay is looking forward to St. Patrick’s Day on Thursday, which will be their first full-fledged celebration since the coronavirus pandemic began in March of 2020.

Co-owner Karen Logan says they had to shut down two days before St. Patrick’s Day in 2020 and still did deliveries and takeouts, and then in 2021 they were open for St. Patrick’s Day but everyone had to be seated.

She’s looking forward to things getting back to normal for this St. Patrick’s Day.

“There’s just a spark in the air around here for St. Patrick’s Day,” Karen told WFIN News.

“The staff is excited for it and they’re wearing green all month long.”

As Karen mentioned in the audio above, St. Patrick’s Day will be a day full of food, drink and music.

They’ll have four bands with the first one beginning at 6 a.m. and the last one going on at 8 p.m.

Karen says the community has been very supportive the last few years as restaurants like Logan’s dealt with the effects of the pandemic, and she’s hoping everyone can come out and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Thursday.

She points out the the weather is going to be great and people can also take advantage of the city’s new DORA, allowing them to put their drink in a DORA cup and take it outside to other DORA establishments.

For people who happen to imbibe a little too much, free rides home will be available.

A bridge replacement project will force some Findlay drivers to take a detour for several months.

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 Monday, March 21st and last until approximately September 11th.

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.

The Hancock County Board of Commissioners has scheduled a public meeting to be held before it decides on whether to approve exclusion zones for wind and solar projects.

The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 19th at 2:30 at the commissioners’ regularly scheduled meeting in the first floor conference room at 514 South Main Street in Findlay.

A law passed last year gives county commissioners in Ohio more oversight when it comes to approving wind and solar projects.

Most townships in Hancock County have asked the Hancock County Board of Commissioners to approve exclusion zones in their townships to prohibit such projects.

Tim Mayle, Director of Findlay – Hancock County Economic Development, addressed the commissioners earlier in the month, telling them that banning wind and solar projects outright would hurt the county’s economic growth.

Mayle points out that two solar projects planned for the Arcadia area would not be subject to action by the commissioners because the projects were proposed before the new law giving commissioners more oversight took effect, but he’s concerned about the effect on future projects.

“Let’s not limit the possibility of large capital investments that would be coming in for data centers and advanced manufacturing that may want a renewable energy source tied to it.”

Mayle says more companies are using renewable energy because it’s becoming more cost effective and if that option is eliminated in Hancock County those companies won’t invest here.

Students from Findlay’s Bigelow Hill Elementary School toured One Energy to learn how wind turbines produce electricity.

Over the course of two days, One Energy’s North Findlay Wind Campus welcomed approximately 140 Bigelow Hill third graders who are learning about conserving natural resources.

Students were accompanied by Findlay teacher and project-based learning coach Beth Ann Nissen and learned about how wind turbines in their community produce electricity.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced on Monday that he signed a bill that allows Ohioans to carry a concealed gun without a permit.

Ohio lawmakers earlier in the month approved Senate Bill 215 and sent it to the governor.

With the governor’s signature, the bill will now become law in 90 days.

The new law allows people 21 and older in Ohio to carry a concealed gun without a permit as long as they lawfully possess the gun.

Previously, Ohioans needed eight hours of training and a background check to obtain a CCW permit from their local sheriff’s office.

The bill also removes a requirement to tell officers about the weapon during a traffic stop unless asked.

Many in law enforcement voiced their opposition to the bill, including the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, which believes it will create a greater threat to officer safety.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is joining forces with law enforcement throughout the country to focus on traffic safety and crash reduction during the Operation CARE Spring Break/St. Patrick’s Day Mobilization.

The initiative began on Saturday and will continue through Sunday night.

“We will have an increased presence of law enforcement, as more people travel to and from their spring break destination this year,” said Colonel Richard S. Fambro.

“And as St. Patrick’s Day celebrations begin, please make sure you’re properly wearing safety belts and designating a sober driver. Your actions can influence friends and family to make the same choices.”

He says Ohio has continued to see an increase in fatal crashes over the last few years.

The campaign is used to help law enforcement educate drivers on the dangers of driving impaired, without a seatbelt and distracted.

During the last five years, there were 14 people killed in 11 fatal crashes on St. Patrick’s Day in Ohio, and 137 people were injured in OVI-related crashes.

“We want all motorists to plan ahead before they start celebrating, and St. Patrick’s Day is no exception,” said Colonel Fambro.

“St. Patrick’s Day is synonymous with consumption of alcohol, which makes impaired driving enforcement during the holiday a priority for our troopers so that everyone remains safe.”

Hancock Public Health took its ThinkFast Interactive driving program to Liberty Benton Local Schools.

The health department’s Jessica Halsey says the program goes over the dangers of driving distracted, impaired and over the speed limit.

As Jessica mentioned in the audio above, around 450 high school students attended the program.

She says the program is funded through a safe communities grant they received from the Ohio Department of Transportation for teen driving safety.

University of Findlay’s College of Pharmacy will hold its Very Important Potential Pharmacist (VIP²) Day on March 25th.

UF’s College of Pharmacy invites all high school students to campus for a free, in-person event.

Registration for the day begins at 8:30 a.m. with the day’s activities lasting from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

VIP² Day is a biannual event held every spring and fall semester, and is designed for high school students to explore and learn about the field of pharmacy.

Participating students receive an overview of the pharmacy practice as they spend time in the labs compounding chemicals, learning about physical assessment, and filling prescriptions under the supervision of College of Pharmacy faculty.

Students will also get an overview of UF’s Pharmacy Program as well as some souvenirs to take home.

Dean of UF’s College of Pharmacy, Debra Parker, Pharm.D., described VIP² Day as being “like Pharmacy Summer Camp, but all in one day. It’s a fantastic way for students to explore a career in the profession of pharmacy.”

“The day is packed full of hands-on activities as well as an introduction to what pharmacists do and the education it takes to be a pharmacist. This is a great opportunity for students who enjoy the sciences and are interested in a career in healthcare in general.”

For more information on VIP² Day, visit the VIP² Day webpage or to learn more about Findlay’s College of Pharmacy, visit the College of Pharmacy webpage.