Three Tiffin firefighters were recognized for their heroic actions in saving people trapped in a burning building last year.

Something that Tiffin Fire and Rescue has never done in the department’s 130 year history – awarding three medals of honor for the work done by Matt Gebauer, Josh Majors and Brian Hunt.

The three were working that morning in April of last year when the call came in that the Burwell Building, just around the corner, was on fire.

It was known there could be up to 15 residents living in the building at that time.

Two of the residents were unable to get out on their own and the firefighters were able to locate them and bring them to safety.

“While they may say they were ‘just doing their job’, to those lives saved it is the truest act of heroism,” said Chief Rob Chappel.

“This truly is why we do the job we do and love it.”

The long-vacant Argyle lot in downtown Findlay will be home to a new residential building that will include retail as well.

Tim Mayle, director of Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development, says Trivium Development has purchased the lot.

He says the company has plans to build a 36 room apartment building on the site, and the first floor will include 4,000 square feet of commercial/retail space.

“Trivium has the experience and expertise to develop the Argyle site,” Mayle said.

“Their vision will be a great addition to downtown Findlay.”

He says the project could begin later this year or early next year.

The Argyle building, which was directly across from Marathon Petroleum,  was torn down after being severely damaged in a fire in February of 2012.

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation Board of Trustees approved $453,425 in grants at the July board meeting.

Among the grants awarded, the Hancock County Veterans Service Office was awarded a $23,900 grant to install a storywalk along Heritage Trail with information on Hancock County’s contributions to military campaigns, as well as the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) initiative to connect at-risk veterans with community services.

Also, Hancock Properties Foundation was awarded a grant for up to $166,000 for capital projects at The Family Center, including parking lot resurfacing and air handlers.

You can go over the full list of grants and learn more about the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation by clicking here.

“These grants represent progress on our mission to improve the quality of life for all in the community,” said Brian Treece, President & CEO of the Foundation.

“Each dollar will impact someone’s life, just like the $70 million we’ve awarded historically in our 30 years. All this work is made possible by those in our community who gave to the Foundation.”

Stylists from Shear Vanity Salon will be donating their time to give 100 kids a free haircut during the second annual Heavenly Haircuts event.

The stylists donate their time to give back to the community by providing needy kids with a back-to-school haircut and a fun time before they head back to the classroom.

Every child who attends will also receive a hygiene kit to take home with them.

The event will also include face painting, balloon animals, train rides and inflatables.

There is no charge for the haircuts, but donations for school supplies and other expenses are welcome.

Each child must register for a 15 minute haircut appointment.

Maximum of 5 kids per adult.

People are asked to arrive 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment with the registration confirmation e-mail.

Heavenly Haircuts will be held on Monday, August 8th from 10 to 3 in the back parking lot of Heavenly Pizza at 1404 North Main Street in Findlay.

For more information and to register click here.

(pic courtesy of Heavenly Pizza)

(ONN ) – In Washington, a day after the US Senate, the US House passed the CHIPS Act, sending it to the president’s desk.

It’s a bill that will boost Intel’s plans for a huge chip-making operation in suburban Columbus.

That bill will provide $52 billion in grant funding for semiconductors nationwide.

24 Republicans joined Democrats in the House to vote in favor of the bill.

But not everyone voted to approve it.

There were four Ohio lawmakers in the House who voted no on the bill.

Republican congressmen Bob Latta, Jim Jordan, Warren Davidson and Brad Wenstrup all voted against the bill.

The House Freedom Caucus issued a statement saying the bill adds $79 billion to the deficit.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine says the CHIPS Act will be transformative for Ohio.

Intel’s CEO tweeted out a statement saying, “this investment will shape the future of America’s leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and innovation. We are excited to move full speed ahead to start building Intel Ohio.”

Hancock County has jumped up to the ‘high’ level of community transmission of COVID-19 as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Last week the county went down to the ‘low’ level after being at the ‘medium’ level a week before that.

Hancock Public Health is reporting 148 new cases and six new hospital admissions over the last week.

Test positivity is 21.26 percent and cases per 100,000 is 208.49.

Seneca and Allen Counties are also at the ‘high’ level, while Putnam, Wood and Hardin are at the ‘medium’ level and Wyandot at the ‘low’ level.

See the full map from the CDC by clicking here.

Health officials are still urging people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 if they haven’t already, and to get their boosters if eligible.

For people in a county at the ‘high’ level, the CDC recommends wearing a mask indoors and on public transportation.

People at high risk for severe illness should talk with their doctor about taking additional precautions.

Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn provided the following statement.

“At this time severity is still low so we continue to advise that if you are showing any signs of illness to use precautions. To get vaccinated if you are not and watch for boosters in the near future. Additionally, wear masks in large indoor congregate settings especially if you are high risk. We are monitoring the situation but are not overly concerned.”

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is asking farmers and landowners to make sure their corn is not encroaching on intersections and making it difficult to see oncoming traffic.

The sheriff’s office says, in recent years, many farmers have not been planting as close to intersections, or even planting at an angle.

“We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our county safe,” the sheriff’s office said in a post on Facebook.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office ‘Citizens Sheriff’s Academy’ class will return this fall after being canceled the last two years due to the pandemic.

The Citizens Sheriff’s Academy Class will begin on September 8th and run for nine weeks on Thursday nights from 6:30 to 9.

Sheriff Michael Heldman says each class focuses on a different aspect of the sheriff’s office.

He says the classes educate the public about what the sheriff’s office does and how their tax dollars are spent.

The first class was in the fall of 2000 and the program has more than 280 alumni.

This year will be the 31st class.

People interested should 419-424-7229 or email rssmith@co.hancock.oh.us to sign up or get further information.

It’s been a busy summer at Liberty-Benton Local Schools, with a variety of projects continuing.

Superintendent Mark Kowalksi says the new K-8 building is coming along nicely, as are the renovations to the high school.

He said they also have a stadium project going on to build a recognition and memorial entrance to the stadium to thank their donors.

Also, County Road 9 next to the campus is being widened to handle the increased traffic that will come from the new elementary/middle school and other activities on the campus.

And back in April, they held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open their new Eagle Fieldhouse.

Mark was on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks and you can hear the full interview by clicking here, and it is also below.

Findlay City Schools is reminding parents that free meals for all students will no longer be available for the 2022-23 school year.

Families will once again be asked to complete and submit a current school year Free/Reduced Meal application to see if their students qualify based on their household information.

An application can be completed on Final Forms or by clicking here.

The following meal prices will be in effect for the coming school year.

Breakfast K-2 $2
Lunch K-5 $3
Lunch 6-12 $3.25