The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is among area public safety agencies entered in the 2022 First Responder Photo Challenge.

In remembrance of the anniversary of the 9-11 attacks and the heroic response by first responders, Light Ohio Blue and Light Ohio Red with the support of Ohio’s own Flying Cross Uniforms is again hosting a friendly competition amongst Ohio first responders.

Any public safety agency in Ohio is encouraged to submit a photo of their agency’s vehicle.

Light Ohio Blue says the competition was very popular last year and brought agencies and communities together from across the state.

The photos will be posted for public voting from September 11, 2022, through September 30, 2022.

See all the photos in the contest and vote for your favorite by clicking here.

Ohio has a number of highly ranked schools on a newly released list from U.S. News and World Report.

The publication’s 2022-2023 Best Colleges Rankings places Ohio Northern University in Ada at number 4 on the list of Best Regional Colleges in the Midwest.

ONU points out that the university was also ranked the 2nd Best Value among regional colleges, highlighting how its student career outcomes make it a strong, investment-worthy endeavor.

“We’re so pleased to be consistently recognized as one of the best schools in the nation,” said President Melissa J. Baumann.

“These outcomes are the result of our talented, committed and highly knowledgeable faculty and staff who help our students achieve both academically and in their post-graduate careers, and to our supportive University community as a whole that makes our institution so distinctive.”

The University of Findlay’s ranking in the 2022-2023 edition of Best Colleges is number 317 in the category of National Universities.

Ohio State, Case Western Reserve, John Carroll University, Baldwin Wallace University and Cedarville University are among other institutions that also made the list.

See the full rankings by clicking here.

Several community agencies and nonprofits will gather on Thursday, September 15th at the Hancock County Fairgrounds in Findlay to provide resources and information to community members.

Resources will range from physical and mental health to workforce development and individual and family needs.

Attendees will receive nutritional education, easy-to-make recipes, and other key resources for whole person wellness.

As an incentive, Meijer is providing a few $25 gift cards to be given to attendees who visit each resource booth.

The event is being presented by the Hancock County Food Security Coalition through the Findlay-Hancock County Center for Civic Engagement.

It includes a resource fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with lunch provided by the City Mission at noon.

The event also includes a food distribution provided through West Ohio Food Bank from 1 to 3.

All events will take place in the Buckeye Building at the fairgrounds.

For more information, contact Tommie Harner with the West Ohio Food Bank at 419-222-7946.

The feed industry will soon have another option for laboratory testing services.

Groundbreaking for Veritas AgrilabsTM was held in Carey.

The lab will focus on testing animal feed ingredients, finished feed, and forages for customers across the United States.

The name Veritas, which means, truth, in Latin, was chosen for the name because it represents the values to which the laboratory organization aspires.

Veritas AgrilabsTM will be an independent, accredited laboratory that is dedicated to providing accurate and timely results to the animal feed industry.

Veritas AgrilabsTM will be a full service laboratory, offering testing services such as NIR spectroscopy, mycotoxin testing, particle size analysis, proximates (protein, fat, fiber, ADF, NDF and ash); minerals analysis, nitrogen, potash and potassium as well as moisture content.

The lab plans to add additional testing capabilities in the future.

The newly constructed building will contain multiple specialized labs with state-of-the-art testing equipment expected by modern laboratory customers.

Veritas is excited to announce that Joy Fetter will be leading the new lab organization.

Fetter has spent over 8 years in the pharmaceutical laboratory industry as an analyst and manager.

“I am thrilled to be joining such an exciting project. It’s a unique opportunity to start at the ground floor and design the facility with the requirements needed to meet our goals: (1) accurate, consistent results, (2) outstanding customer service, and (3) improved turnaround time. I can’t wait to see the impact for the feed industry.”

Veritas AgrilabsTM is located on the research campus of Kalmbach Nutritional Services.

Chris Steiner, VP of Sales for KNS added, “I am excited to be able to improve the quality and service that KNS is offering to our customers by adding Veritas AgrilabsTM to the Kalmbach family. This demonstrates the commitment that KNS has to our customers and the future of our industry.”

Paul Kalmbach Jr., President of Kalmbach Feeds, also stated, “This lab, in addition to the multiple research and innovation sites that Kalmbach has added over the last two years, is a continuation of our desire to create value for our customers and be able to better serve them for years to come.”

Construction of the facility (rendering below) is expected to be completed in December 2022, with full lab services open to the industry beginning in the first quarter of 2023.

Sunday will mark 21 years since 9-11 and that fateful day again is being commemorated at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus.

The statehouse lawn is lined with nearly 3,000 American Flags in honor of the lives lost on that day in 2001.

The display is designed to show from above the World Trade Center towers with a space in the shape of the Pentagon and an open strip representing the field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

The flags will be in place until noon on Tuesday.

In a major moment for Ohio, Intel broke ground on a multi-billion dollar computer chip-making facility in central Ohio’s Licking County.

President Biden spoke at the groundbreaking about Intel’s partnership with Ohio colleges and universities to train students to work in tech.

Intel’s CEO is calling Ohio the Silicon Heartland.

That’s what Pat Gelsinger said during a groundbreaking ceremony for the company’s semiconductor manufacturing facilities in the New Albany area.

Intel’s initial investment is $20 billion with the possibility of billions more.

Gelsinger has said Ohio’s skilled workers and education were factors in picking central Ohio for the project.

Ohio Supreme Court Justice Sharon Kennedy and State Senator Rob McColley were in Findlay to speak at the Hancock County Republican Party’s First Friday Luncheon.

Kennedy is running for Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, a position that’s being vacated by current Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor due to term limits.

Kennedy’s opponent in the race is fellow Ohio Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner.

Learn more about Kennedy by clicking here, and learn more about Brunner by clicking here.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 8th.

The Putnam County Health Department is preparing for flu season by once again offering clinics for those interested in receiving the seasonal flu vaccine.

The Quadrivalent flu vaccine, which protects against two influenza A strains and both B strains, is available to residents 6 months to 64 years of age.

The High Dose flu vaccine will be available for those 65 years of age and older.

High Dose flu vaccine is also a quadrivalent vaccine to protect against four strains of the flu virus.

Flu Mist is also available this year for those that are healthy and between the ages of 2 and 49 years.

The Putnam County Health Department bills most major insurance companies for vaccines, including Medicare and Medicaid, so there may not be any cost to you to receive the vaccine at the time of service.

If paying at the time of service because your insurance doesn’t cover the vaccine, or you have no insurance, the cost for the flu shot is $10 for those 18 years and younger, and $35 for those 19 years and above.

There is a limited amount of free vaccine available for those with no insurance and are unable to pay. The high-dose vaccine cost is $77, which is usually covered by Medicare.

The seasonal influenza vaccine will be offered by the Putnam County Health Department at various clinic locations throughout the county.

No appointments are necessary at the clinics.

People who prefer to have an appointment should call the Putnam County Health Department at 419-523-5608 to schedule.

It is also recommended to make an appointment at the health department for young children who need a flu vaccine and who may be better served in the office setting.

The influenza vaccination clinics that are open to the public include:

– September 26, 9:00 – 11:30 am and 1:00 – 3:30 pm at the Ottawa Senior Center (1035 E. Third Street, Ottawa)

People who live along East Lima Street in Findlay or who use that street to get around are breathing a sigh of relief.

After being torn up for months when Columbia Gas put in new gas lines, the roadway has been resurfaced and is now back open to traffic.

East Lima Street was resurfaced from Main Street all the way down to the back entrance of MacDonald Supply.

Most of the curbs were also replaced.

The speed limit is 25 miles per hour.

The city was planning on resurfacing that stretch of East Lima Street a few years ago when Columbia Gas informed them that they would be putting in new gas lines, so the work was put off until after the work by Columbia Gas would be finished.

Donald Trump is endorsing Governor Mike DeWine for reelection.

Trump says DeWine serves the office “professionally and patriotically”.

However, In 2020, the former president suggested that someone challenge DeWine in the Republican primary after he appeared on CNN, urging Trump to begin the transition to Joe Biden following the presidential election.

DeWine posted on his social media saying he was “grateful” for Trump’s support.

Democrat candidate for governor, Nan Whaley, is critical of DeWine’s acceptance of the endorsement, accusing him of “going whichever way the political winds blow”.