There’s a need for more mentors for younger people in Hancock County.
Children’s Mentoring Connection of Hancock County’s Summer Recruitment initiative is underway.
Stacy Shaw says their goal is to find 40 new volunteer mentors before the summer ends.
As Stacy mentioned in the audio above volunteering your time makes a priceless impact.
She says their Summer Recruitment Passport includes prizes for people who refer people who become a mentor.
Learn more about becoming a mentor by clicking here.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol says one person was killed and another critically injured in a motorcycle crash on Interstate 75 in Allen County.
The crash happened on Sunday afternoon on Interstate 75 at mile marker 127 near Lima.
The Highway Patrol says Saul Palacios, 53, of Florida, was driving his Harley Davidson southbound on the interstate when he lost control and struck a guardrail.
He and a passenger, Reina Palacios, 56, of Florida, were thrown from the motorcycle.
Mr. Palacios died at the scene while Ms. Palacios was taken to a Lima hospital in critical condition.
The Highway Patrol says both were wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
The crash remains under investigation.
The Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by the Bath Township Fire and EMS, Allen County Coroner’s Office, H&H Funeral Services and Able Wrecker Service.
The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation has announced that Arlington will be the third community in Hancock County to implement the Community Heart & Soul process.
Arlington was awarded a two-year grant for up to $140,000 to implement the initiative.
A team of community representatives will work with the Foundation to begin Phase 1 of the four-phase, two-year process.
Arlington will join McComb (2015) and Mt. Blanchard (2017) as the third local community to take on the project.
“Our community is thrilled to have this opportunity to come together and imagine what the future of Arlington will be,” said Cati Barker, Heart & Soul team member and Arlington Village Council representative.
“With the support of The Community Foundation and the national Heart & Soul team, we know the next 2-plus years will be a great success.”
Community Heart & Soul is a resident-driven process that engages the entire population of a town in identifying what they love most about their community, what future they want for it, and how to achieve it.
Developed and field-tested over a decade in partnership with over 100 small cities and towns across America, Community Heart & Soul is a proven process for engaging a community in shaping its future.
“We are so excited for Arlington and can’t wait to get started working with the entire community,” said Dr. Brian Treece, President & CEO of the Foundation.
“This project will help align friends, families and neighbors on what matters most and prepare them to play the long game as a community.”
Arlington will officially launch its Heart & Soul efforts at the Arlington Festival July 22-23.
Residents are invited to visit the Heart & Soul booth to learn more about the project, get involved and share their community stories.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol says 565 vehicles drove through the OVI checkpoint in front of the University of Findlay on Friday night.
Two of the vehicles were diverted for further investigation.
One driver was arrested for OVI and the other charged with possession of marijuana.
Following the checkpoint officers and troopers worked a saturation patrol in and around Findlay and during the saturation patrol 15 traffic stops were made and one person was arrested for OVI.
A second individual was charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Officers from the Findlay Police Department, and the University of Findlay Police Department as well as troopers from the Findlay Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol participated in the checkpoint.
Local law enforcement agencies are reminding motorists to never drive while under the influence.
One person was taken into custody after police responded to Findlay Senior Tower Apartments on the report of possible gunfire from an apartment and were engaged in a standoff with a person.
The situation began at around 5 p.m. Saturday at Senior Towers, located at 806 Bright Road in Findlay.
Officers responded to the scene and attempted to make contact with the person inside at the apartment door.
Police received no response.
While on the scene, police say a possible gunshot was heard from inside the apartment, possibly directed at the front door.
Officers began evacuating nearby apartments, at which time a second possible gunshot was heard from inside the apartment, followed by arguing.
Members of the Findlay Police Department Emergency Response Team, Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, Findlay Fire Department and Hanco all responded to the scene.
Police say attempts were made to communicate with the female inside the apartment with limited success.
Eventually, the person began to communicate with negotiators but refused to exit the apartment or comply with commands.
Tear gas was then deployed into the apartment and the female surrendered.
Nobody else was located in the apartment.
There were no known injuries in the incident.
A search warrant was obtained a search of the apartment was conducted.
The search yielded illegal drug paraphernalia, according to police.
No guns were located.
The incident remains under investigation.
We spoke with Police Chief Robert Ring at the conclusion of the incident and that video can be seen below.
The West Ohio Food Bank will be holding a food distribution in Putnam County.
It will be held on Saturday, July 16th from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at St. John Mennonite Church at 15988 Road 4 in Pandora.
Sign up and line up begins at 8 a.m.
The food distribution is open to Putnam, Hancock, Hardin and Allen County residents in need.
The date has been announced for the 2022 Cops & Kids Findlay Halloween Parade and sponsors are now being accepted.
The 2022 parade will be held on Tuesday, October 25th starting at 7 p.m.
The parade route will be Main Street from Sixth Street/Lake Cascades Parkway up to Lima Street.
Sponsorships are being accepted by the Fort Findlay Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Foundation.
Sponsorship levels are each offered as exclusive with only one sponsorship level available.
They are Naming Sponsor, Primary Sponsorship, Secondary Sponsorship, Tertiary Sponsor, Band Sponsor, Food Sponsor, Last Place Sponsor, and Trick-or-Treat bag Sponsor.
Companies and local businesses can view all sponsorship level perks by clicking here.
All funds raised through sponsorships and parade entries are used for Cops and Kids programming such as Cops and Kids Go Shopping (formerly Shop with a Cop), Cops and Kids Go Back to School, and Cops and Kids Get Creative.
Registration for the parade will run from September 13th through October 21st.
Entries before midnight on September 30th will receive a discounted entry fee.
Registration options are available for businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individuals.
There will also be an option to have preferred placement at or near the start of the parade.
Types of entrants include walking groups, floats, regular vehicles, and oversize vehicles (more than 45 feet).
All information for the parade, including registration, maps, frequently asked questions, rules and regulations, and awards, are available by clicking here, or by calling 833-LODGE20 (833-563-4320).
Email inquiries can be sent to Teresa White at copsandkidsfindlay@gmail.com.
Findlay’s Trick-or-Treat will be held on Saturday, October 29th from 5 to 7.
(below is WFIN’s Bill Rice interviewing Teresa White during last year’s parade)
Area law enforcement agencies will be collaborating on an OVI checkpoint in Findlay on Friday night.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol, in conjunction with the Findlay Police Department, the University of Findlay Police Department, and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting the sobriety checkpoint on North Main Street near the University of Findlay from 8 p.m. to midnight on Friday.
The Highway Patrol says OVI checkpoints, funded by federal grant funds, are planned to deter and intercept impaired drivers.
The checkpoint will be held in conjunction with nearby saturation patrols to aggressively combat alcohol-related injury and fatal crashes.
The Highway Patrol says If you plan to consume alcohol, designate a driver or make other travel arrangements before you drink.
“Don’t let another life be lost for the senseless and selfish act of getting behind the wheel impaired.”
Last July, we spoke with Lt. Matt Crow with the OSHP at a checkpoint that was held in Findlay and you can see that video below.
State and federal guidelines require that the time and location of an OVI checkpoint be made public in advance.
Hancock County has been bumped back up to the ‘medium’ level of community transmission of COVID-19 as determined by the CDC.
The county was previously at the ‘low’ level for a long time.
Hancock Public Health says there have been 137 new cases and nine new hospital admissions over the last week.
Health officials are still urging people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 if they haven’t already, and to get their boosters if eligible.
People at high risk for severe illness should talk with their doctor about whether they need to wear a mask and take other precautions.
Putnam County and other area counties are also at the ‘medium’ level of transmission.
Click here to see the full map from the CDC.
A speed limit change could be coming to Findlay’s South Main Street.
Mayor Christina Muryn says she made a request to the Traffic Commission to reduce the speed limit from 35 down to 25 miles per hour.
She says speeding occurs on South Main Street, and other streets, on an all too frequent basis.
Two speed monitors have been set up on South Main Street, one northbound and one southbound, to collect data on speeding and the amount of traffic.
The lower speed limit would be on South Main Street from Lima Street down to the city limits, or Lima Street to 6th Street/Lake Cascades Parkway.
The Traffic Commission will go over the data and then announce their findings at their August meeting.
