Char Simons has been installed as the new president of the Findlay Rotary Club.

During the 2022-23 Rotary year, Simons will serve her second term as Club President and will celebrate 20 years of membership in the Findlay Rotary Club.

Simons, a native of Putnam County, came to Findlay in 2002 after the birth of her children to be closer to her family.

She eventually left her career in healthcare to be the executive director of the Arts Partnership and later pursue a career in real estate.

She has spent more than 13 years in the Findlay real estate market and is now the managing broker of the Danberry Realtors in Findlay that she opened in 2018.

Simons obtained an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University plus a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from Defiance College.

She completed her real estate education at Hondros College.

In addition to Rotary, Simons has been actively involved with numerous organizations throughout her career such as Hope House for the Homeless, Open Arms, Habitat for Humanity, Findlay Downtown Area Association and the Hancock County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Simons is the proud parent of two young adult children, Conner and Taylor who attend college in Cincinnati and Lexington, KY.

Other Rotary officers are: Scott Hohman, president-elect; Robin Ridge, treasurer; John Harrington, secretary; Chris Webb, sergeant-at-arms; and Matt Black, immediate past president.

Club board members include, Leah Brant, Craig Burnside, Hohman, Glenn Jost, Stan Kujawa, Erin Poling, Bill Reist, Precia Stuby, and Dick Zunkiewicz.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says a man was killed and several people injured in a three-vehicle crash in Putnam County.

The crash happened at around 7:47 Sunday night on U.S. 224 near Road 5.

Investigators say Thomas Sproles, 36, of Stryker, was driving west on U.S. 224 when his Chevy Silverado was hit by an eastbound Ford Escape that swerved into the left lane to miss an eastbound Jeep that was slowing down to make a left turn.

Sproles was pronounced dead at the scene, while five people in the truck were taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital with injuries.

The Highway Patrol says the driver of the Ford Escape, Jorge Villegas, age 34, of Findlay, and a passenger were flown to a Toledo hospital.

The three people in the Jeep were not injured, according to the Highway Patrol.

The Highway Patrol says alcohol is a factor in the crash, and Villegas was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

The Highway Patrol was assisted on the scene by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Ottawa Police Department, Putnam County Coroner’s Office, Putnam County EMA, Putnam
County EMS, Ottawa Fire and EMS, Gilboa Fire Department, Columbus Grove EMS,
Leipsic EMS, Pandora EMS, Continental EMS, Mercy Health Life Flight, Love-Heitmeyer
Funeral Home and 419 Towing.

A resignation is bringing about an opening on Findlay City Council.

Republican Brad Wisener, who represents the First Ward, says he has accepted a job in Florida and must relocate there.

His resignation will be effective July 1st.

Republicans who live in the First Ward, who are 18 or older, and want to be considered for the vacated seat should mail a letter of interest, resume, and up to three letters of recommendation from the Hancock County Republican Party.

All submissions must be postmarked on or before July 6th.

Questions can be directed to Bill Johns (Central Committee Chair) or Heather Pendleton (Executive Committee Chair) at 419-422-5946.

The City of Findlay‘s Independence Day Parade and fireworks are approaching.

The 2022 Flag City 4th of July Parade will step off at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 4th.

The parade will begin on South Main Street at Lincoln Street and proceed north to Clinton Court.

People should watch for road closures.

People wishing to be in the parade may contact amvet21@att.net to request parade entry registration information.

The fireworks show will be held on Sunday, July 3rd at the Hancock County Fairgrounds at 10 p.m.

Gates open at 4 p.m.

There will be free admission and free parking.

Live music by the Cherry Bombs begins at 7:30 p.m.

See video from last year’s parade and fireworks below.

Additionally, the Hancock Historical Museum’s Ice Cream Social will be held on Monday, July 4th from 12:30 to 2:30.

Abortion in Ohio is now banned once a fetal heartbeat can be detected.

That’s around six weeks into a pregnancy and before many women know they’re pregnant.

Hours after the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday, a federal court lifted the stay put on Ohio’s Heartbeat Bill that was passed in 2019 when Roe v. Wade was in effect.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost on Friday filed the emergency motion to dissolve the 2019 injunction against Ohio’s Heartbeat Law.

The chair for Ohio’s Democratic Party says the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade makes November’s midterm election critical.

Elizabeth Walters says Ohioans must elect U.S. Representative Tim Ryan to the U.S. Senate and put Dayton’s former Democratic mayor Nan Whaley in the governor’s office.

Ohio’s Republican Party Chairman Bob Paduchik says the decision to reverse legalized abortion nationwide rights a grave injustice of judicial activism and the right to govern has been restored to Ohioans.

The Hancock County Engineer’s Office says a stretch of County Road 9 next to Liberty Benton High School and the new elementary/middle school that’s being constructed will be closing for a widening project.

The widening project will begin on Tuesday, July 5th and last until August 24th.

Liberty-Benton Local Schools Superintendent Mark Kowalski says this widening project is very important as their campus grows.

The engineer’s office says County Road 9 will be closed from State Route 12 to Early Drive.

The south entrance to Liberty – Dold Subdivision will be maintained for local traffic for as long as possible for local residents while construction is ongoing and will have periodic closures.

The detour for the area will be State Route 12 and County Road 313.

The Hancock County Engineer’s Office says County Road 9 is being widened to help in handling the increased traffic that will be created by the new K-8 building as well as other events on the school campus.

“We recognize this closure will be a temporary inconvenience for some,” said Hancock County Engineer Doug Cade.

“However it is necessary to complete the project in the limited timeframe while the school is not in session and make a long-term improvement to the area.”

In April, Liberty-Benton Local Schools held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open its new Eagle Fieldhouse. Get more on that by clicking here. 

The new elementary/middle school is expected to be ready to go for the beginning of the 2023-24 school year.

The West Ohio Food Bank in Lima is teaming with 11 other food banks across Ohio, as well as with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, to ask Ohio lawmakers for emergency funding,

“The request is in response to the current economic crisis, and to assist those who continue to seek assistance with food and other social services,” said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, Executive Director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.

She said Ohio’s foodbanks are asking for $50 million in immediate, emergency funding to move much-needed food out to food insecure Ohioans and $133 million in a longer-term investment to help us prepare our physical and human infrastructure to face the recession many economists estimate is just around the corner.

“There have been over 8,000 new families who have needed food assistance through West Ohio Food Bank’s food distributions and network of partner agencies over the past 11 months, ” said West Ohio Food Bank CEO Tommie Harner.

“This comes at a time when our food donations are currently 33 percent lower than what they were a year ago. The need to purchase additional food to help feed our hungry neighbors is vital. We need the support of our legislation to approve using some of Ohio’s ARPA funding to purchase food ensuring that those within the communities we live and work do not go hungry.”

More than 200 statewide, regional and local organizations, and nearly 600 individuals, have signed an online petition urging immediate investments in Ohio’s food banks and other basic services that Ohioans with low and moderate incomes rely on.

Starting on Tuesday, June 28, the food bank’s hours of operation will be Monday through Thursday from 7 to 5:30.

The West Ohio Food Bank office and warehouse will be closed on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and on major holidays.

“We are going to a four-day work week, but this does not mean that we will be cutting back on our services,” said Harner.

“We want the public to know that volunteer opportunities and distributions can still take place even outside of our normal business hours.”

Two people were life-flighted from the scene of a crash in northeast Putnam County while others were taken to a hospital by ambulance.

The crash happened at the intersection of Township Road D and County Road 2 at around 5:11 p.m. Thursday.

The Highway Patrol says Maurice Schroeder, 72, of Leipsic, was driving west on Township Road D and ran the stop sign at County Road 2 and was struck by a vehicle that was southbound on County Road 2 being driven by Tahlor Kreinbrink, 25, of Deshler.

After impact, Schroeder went off the left side of the road and struck a utility pole, while Kreinbrink went off the right side of the road and hit a traffic sign.

Life Flight responded to the crash and flew Schroeder to a Toledo hospital for potentially life-threatening injuries

A passenger in Kreinbrink’s car, Storm Roberts, 30, of Deshler, was also flown from the scene with serious injuries.

Kreinbrink and two kids in her vehicle were taken to a hospital in Lima for injuries that were not life-threatening.

The Highway Patrol says alcohol and/or drugs are not suspected to be a factor in the crash.

Troopers on scene were assisted by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Leipsic Fire and EMS, Henry County EMS, McComb EMS, Ottawa Fire Department, 419 Towing and Recovery and Dab Towing and Recovery.

The Findlay Municipal Court has received a nearly $20,000 technology grant from the Supreme Court of Ohio.

The court says it will use the grant money to implement an e-filing system through the court’s case management software.

The e-filing system will be a portal on the court’s website.

The system will eliminate the need for parties to mail documents or report in person to the court, eliminating the transportation barriers for many court users.

“This project will improve accessibility, accuracy and efficiency of the judicial process for all court users,” said Findlay Municipal Court Judge Stephanie Bishop.

“We greatly appreciate the Supreme Court of Ohio for awarding the court this technology grant. It will go a long way in assisting the community with access to justice.”

Technology funding to local courts across the state has been a priority of Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor since 2015.

A total of $35 million in technology grants has been provided to local courts.

The goal is to reduce paperwork and data entry to remove barriers and make it easier for Ohioans to interact with the justice system.

Courts across the state increased the use of technology during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to court officials, the increased use included electronic dockets, text and email reminders of court dates and remote access.

In 2022, technology grant funding totals more than $3 million for projects by 48 courts in 36 counties.

You can see the full list of grant awardees by clicking here.

The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles says it’s launching new services to save Ohioans time and money.

Starting Monday, drivers will be able to renew their driver license online, adding to the list of services through the BMV that can now be completed on their newly-updated website, rather than in-person.

Then in July, Ohioans will be able to transfer a vehicle title and take the written portion of the driver exam online.

The Ohio BMV also recently announced that it’s expanding its self-service kiosk program and making it permanent.

The Findlay Meijer was one of the first locations in the state to have one of the new self-service kiosks.

Get more on the program and see the full list of locations by clicking here.