A charity hockey game will be played to honor the life and sacrifice of Bluffton police officer Dominic Francis who was killed in the line of duty on March 31st.

On Friday, May 6th at the Cube Ice Arena in Findlay, the Wood County Warthogs will take on the Toledo Police Hockey team in the Officer Dominic Francis Memorial Classic.

The event is being put on by the Hockey Helping Heroes initiative of the First Responder Face-Off Foundation.

Proceeds from the game will benefit the family of Officer Dominic Francis of the Bluffton Police Department.

“Any time we lose an Officer, there is a tremendous sense of loss within a community. When that tragedy happens in a smaller community, that impact is deeply felt” said Don Zender, Director of the First Responder Face-Off Foundation.

The non-profit formed the Hockey Helping Heroes initiative in Columbus to showcase First Responder hockey and bring awareness to the various charity and benefit games that public safety hockey teams across the State of Ohio participate in annually.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with puck drop slated for 7 p.m.

Seating and ticketing will be general admission with a donation at the door.

The game will also feature raffle prizes, a 50/50 and an in-game Chuck-A-Puck contest.

With previous games played in Toledo, Cincinnati, Columbus, Athens and now Findlay, Hockey Helping Heroes takes on a special meaning.

“Hockey is a sport that tends to bring people together in a fun yet competitive environment,” Zender said.

“When our police teams join together for these games, we’re able to bring a message of unity and hope through hockey to a community that is still learning to heal”.

People who wish to make a donation but are unable to attend the game are encouraged to make a donation by visiting www.fortfindlayfop20.org.

A federal court is giving the Ohio Redistricting Commission a deadline to come up with a new state legislative map plan or it will impose a previous map that was already ruled unconstitutional.

In their ruling, the court gives the commission until May 28 to come up with a new set of maps.

If that fails, the court says the third set of maps – which were previously struck down by the Ohio Supreme Court as unconstitutionally gerrymandered – would be implemented.

That would allow for a second primary to be held on August 2.

The current primary will be May 3 – but won’t have any Ohio House or Senate races on it.

The ACLU of Ohio says it’s very disappointed that a majority of the three-judge panel identified a map that has already been struck down as an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander by the Ohio Supreme Court as the back-up option.

The Ohio Supreme Court, after rejecting a fourth set of maps earlier this month, gave the redistricting commission until May 6th to file a new plan.

Dozens of people from several different countries took the Oath of Citizenship and became new American citizens during a Naturalization Ceremony at the University of Findlay.

A total of 60 people became brand new American citizens during the ceremony at the Koehler Center on Wednesday.

Local high school students spoke at the ceremony.

Anne Traver, a senior at Findlay High School, spoke about the benefits of citizenship.

“My fellow Americans, congratulations on becoming a part of a country filled with freedom, democracy and endless opportunity. As a child of America you are guaranteed these ideals in everyday life.”

Jenna Hartman, a senior at Cory-Rawson High School, came to the United States from China when she was only 1-year-old.

She spoke about the rights of citizenship and the responsibility of voting.

“As a United States citizen you now have an equal say as everyone else on how our government should be run, who should be in office, you’re entitled to any opinion and can vote to ensure that your voice is heard.”

Also, Liberty-Benton High School Senior Vanessa Heck spoke about the responsibilities of citizenship and McComb High School Senior Dominic Sheeks spoke about life stories of citizenship.

Fostoria firefighters rescued a dog from a burning home on Wednesday.

The Fostoria Fire Division says it responded to 523 Bulger Avenue at around 2:30 Wednesday afternoon on the report of an active fire.

Arriving firefighters found smoke coming from the second floor of the house.

Neighbors told firefighters that the house was not occupied at the time.

Firefighters entered the structure and found fire on the second floor and extinguished it.

A dog was removed from the house and returned to its owner.

The cause of the fire is believed to be electrical in nature.

No injuries were reported.

The Red Cross was contacted to assist the owner of the house.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced that the Ohio Army National Guard will aid Ukraine by providing armored personnel carriers for use against continued Russian aggression.

Following a request from the Department of Defense (DOD), the Ohio Army National Guard will give an undisclosed number of M-113 Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) to Ukraine as part of a drawdown of DOD inventories to support the war-torn country.

M-113 APCs are used to move Soldiers and equipment across the battlefield while providing protection from small arms fire and the effects of artillery.

“As we continue to learn about Russian war crimes in Ukraine, those of us in Ohio stand ready to help the Ukrainian people in any way possible,” said Governor DeWine.

“Ohio has a strong Ukrainian community, and we stand behind them and their families overseas.”

The announcement is the latest effort in Ohio to help Ukraine combat the unprovoked attack by Russia.

Earlier this month, Governor DeWine announced that the Ohio Department of Public Safety had begun collecting hundreds of pieces of surplus or expired personal protective gear for donation to members of the Ukraine civilian territorial defense.

More than two dozen law enforcement agencies in Ohio agreed to donate unneeded equipment, including approximately 75 ballistic and riot helmets and 840 pieces of body armor, including vests and plates.

Local law enforcement agencies that have not yet donated but would like to offer unneeded personal protective gear to Ukraine, should contact their nearest Ohio State Highway Patrol post to arrange for the transfer of the equipment.

Delivery of the personal protective gear donations to Ukraine is being coordinated by the Fund to Aid Ukraine, a non-profit organization based in Parma that is affiliated with the United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio, a member of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife has announced the dates for the 2022-23 deer hunting season.

Wildlife officials say white-tailed deer are Ohio’s most popular game animal and the 2022-23 deer hunting dates are similar to last season.

As in years past, only one antlered deer may be harvested, regardless of where or how it is taken, and a hunter cannot exceed a county bag limit.

The deer hunting season dates for 2022-23 include:

Deer archery: Sept. 24, 2022-Feb. 5, 2023.
Youth deer gun: Nov. 19-20, 2022.
Deer gun: Nov. 28-Dec. 4, 2022; Dec. 17-18, 2022.
Deer muzzleloader: Jan. 7-10, 2023.

Hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

Bag limits will increase in 18 counties.

Three counties will increase to two deer (from one deer): Clinton, Fayette, and Pickaway.

Fifteen counties will increase to three deer (from two deer): Allen, Auglaize, Champaign, Clark, Darke, Mercer, Miami, Morrow, Muskingum, Perry, Preble, Putnam, Shelby, Van Wert, and Washington.

Deer bag limit increases are designed to slow herd growth and provide additional hunting opportunities.

Hancock County and all bordering counties are three deer counties.

Get more on Ohio’s 2022-23 hunting seasons by clicking here.

University of Findlay head football coach Rob Keys is leaving the Oilers to take on a special teams role for the Ohio State Buckeyes, the university announced on Wednesday.

Keys spent 11 years at the helm of the Oilers football program, accumulating a 75-42 (.641) overall record.

“I appreciate all of the players and staff that allowed us to have such great success over the past 11 seasons here at Findlay,” Keys said.

“I feel that the program is in a better position today than it was the day I was hired. It’s hard to put into words what has been accomplished over the past 11 years and that could not have been done without everyone directly and indirectly involved with the program. There’s no doubt I will miss all the players that have made my time here so special and I wish them all future success. I’m excited about my new coaching opportunity at Ohio State.”

Keys is coming off of leading the Oilers to their first conference title since joining the NCAA Division II ranks.

For his efforts, he was named the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Coach of the Year and was voted the NCAA Division II Region 3 Coach of the Year.

During his time at Findlay, Keys led the Oilers to a pair of appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs (2017, 2021) and coached ten players who achieved NCAA Division II All-American accolades. 179 of his athletes have earned all-conference accolades as well.

“Rob has done an incredible job during his time here and has our football program competing at a championship level,” said Vice President of Student Affairs and Director of Athletics, Brandi Laurita.

“His passion, energy, and love for the orange and black will be missed. At the same time, we want to wish him luck as he starts a new chapter of his life at Ohio State.”

Keys .641 winning percentage at Findlay is the second-highest in program history behind National College Football Hall of Fame head coach Dick Strahm, who finished his career with a 183-64-5 (.736) record and four National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) championships.

Kory Allen, the Oilers offensive coordinator, will be acting as the interim head coach.

The Hancock County Board of Commissioners voted 2-1 to approve a resolution enacting exclusion zones in most unincorporated areas of the county to prohibit wind and solar projects.

The vote came after a public hearing was held on the issue at the commissioner’s Tuesday afternoon meeting.

At the public hearing, several people spoke out against proposed solar projects, citing concerns about the negative impact on property values and the environment.

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

And he pointed out that a law passed last year already gives county commissioners in Ohio more oversight when it comes to approving wind and solar projects on a case-by-case basis.

Mayle points out that two solar projects planned for the Arcadia area are not subject to the exclusion zone resolution 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.

“This 2-1 decision jeopardizes significant investment in the future by limiting energy options for manufacturing, distribution/logistics, data centers and other power users,” Mayle said.

Commissioners William Bateson and Mike Pepple voted for the resolution while Tim Bechtol voted against it.

“I’m a farmer and I look at it as are solar panels greener, better for the environment than what we’re doing right now, than what we’re growing there,” Bateson told WFIN.

“For the farm, where we grow wheat, corn and beans, those are green products, those are already a renewable resource. Why are we trading that renewable resource for industrial solar?”

Below is the full resolution concerning exclusion zones along with a map of the county.

Authorities confiscated illegal drugs and guns and made three arrests during execution of a search warrant in Findlay.

The Hancock County METRICH Drug Task Force along with the Findlay Police Department Emergency Response Team carried out the warrant at 136 Ely Avenue on Tuesday morning.

Authorities say the search of the residence yielded more than 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine and just over a half-pound of suspected spice (synthetic marijuana).

Two firearms were recovered from the residence, one of which was reported stolen out of Findlay.

A small amount of cash, drug paraphernalia and items indicative of drug trafficking were also seized.

Three people were arrested and jailed on several outstanding warrants.

Those warrants were for various drug violations, drug trafficking indictments and a probation violation.

All were incarcerated at the Hancock County Justice Center.

Arrested were, Jessica Lause, 33, and Dylan Skaggs, 30, of 136 Ely Avenue and Shaun Eller, 41, of 820 Hurd Avenue.

Additional charges of drug trafficking, having weapons under disability, and receiving stolen property are expected at the conclusion of the investigation.

(ONN) – A federal proposal that would limit funding for new charter schools is getting pushback from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

The governor co-signed a letter with 17 other governors criticizing the proposal.

The law would require new charter schools to prove that their public districts are over-enrolled in order to receive funding.

The governors argue charter schools provide high-quality public school education to underrepresented communities.

But critics argue that charter schools take away much-needed federal dollars from public schools.