The City of Findlay has announced the leaf collection dates for this fall.
The City of Findlay’s leaf collection this year will run from November 14th through December 2nd.
The city will pick up leaves that have been placed in biodegradable paper bags at the curb.
The city makes clear that plastic bags and loose leaves will not be picked up.
The city is reminding people to not rake leaves into the street, as leaves tend to wash into and clog storm sewers, causing maintenance issues and potential flooding.
City residents may continue to drop leaves at the green waste site at 330 North Cory Street at no charge.
The green waste site is for residential use only.
No contractors are permitted to use this site.
Only tree trimmings, brush, leaves, and grass clippings can be dumped in designated areas at the site.
The last day for the green waste site for the season is December 3rd, 2022.
A fatal crash involving multiple semis and a car closed a stretch of Interstate 75 just south of Findlay on Friday morning.
The crash happened on northbound I-75 a little north of State Route 235 at approximately 2:44 a.m.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol says their preliminary investigation shows that traffic was backing up due to a vehicle fire ahead.
The Highway Patrol says traffic was backed up for about four miles when a semi being driven by Jagdeep Singh Chohan, 33, of Brampton, Ontario crashed into the back of a tanker truck being operated by Robert A. Borer Jr., 55, of Toledo, that was stopped due to the backed up traffic.
The impact forced the tanker truck forward into a semi and a car.
The Highway Patrol says Borer Jr. suffered fatal injuries at the scene.
Chohan suffered minor injuries as did the driver of the car.
A short time later, another semi swerved to avoid the multiple vehicles in the roadway and struck a car on the median.
The crash remains under investigation.
The highway reopened at around 9:45 a.m. as you can see in the video below.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted on the scene by the Southwestern Hancock Joint Fire District, Hancock County Emergency Management Agency, Hancock County Coroner’s Office, Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, HANCO Emergency Medical Services, Liberty Township Fire Department, Dick’s Towing Service, Ed’s 24 Hour Service and the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Findlay City Council recently passed an ordinance authorizing a six-month moratorium on the establishment of any new skill-based amusement businesses in the city.
Rob Martin is Findlay Service-Safety Director and a member of the City Planning Commission.
“We just wanted to make sure that we’re prepared, so we know they’re not going to pop up in a residential area and where they are going to establish themselves it makes sense for our community.”
The city says the moratorium will allow city officials to consider incorporating such businesses into the current zoning code before enacting them as part of the codified ordinances of the City of Findlay.
Also at the City Council meeting, a proposed six-month moratorium on small box discount stores/dollar stores received its second reading and will be up for a third reading at the November 1st council meeting and action will be taken on it.
Drivers are being reminded that nearly half of all deer-related traffic crashes in Ohio happen this time of year.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says deer become very active from late October through November due in large part to the fall breeding season.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol says, over the past five years, there have been more than 100,000 deer-related crashes on Ohio roadways, and 31 people have died in those crashes.
Nearly half of the crashes occurred in October, November, and December.
Drivers are encouraged to use extra caution and slow down, especially at dawn or dusk when deer are more active.
If a collision with a deer is unavoidable, drivers should brake firmly and avoid swerving, because that could cause an even worse crash.
If you see a deer crossing the road, know that there are likely to be other deer in the area as well.
The Findlay Rotary Club presented its 2022 Golden Apple Awards to three area teachers for their teaching excellence.
Annually, The Rotary chooses three teachers from the elementary level, three from the middle school level and three from the high school level to compete for the award.
The winners of the Golden Apple Award for 2022 are, at the elementary level, Sara Cleary, Second Grade teacher at Jefferson Primary, at the middle school level, Kristina Rodman, Intervention Specialist at Van Buren Middle School, and at the high school level, Becky Bucher, Business, Family & Consumer Sciences at Cory Rawson High School.
We spoke with Becky after the presentation and she said it felt really great that one of her students nominated her with a four-page-long letter of recommendation.
“I read that letter and knew that I was a winner then, because somebody in my classroom felt that strongly about what I do and how I make a difference in their life.”
The finalist at each level receives the Golden Apple Award along with a $2,500 cash prize.
Second and third place semi-finalists each receive a $250 cash prize.
Finalists also accept an invitation to join the Golden Apple Academy, a group consisting of all past Golden Apple Award finalists.
(pictured below are Sara Cleary, Kristina Rodman and Becky Bucher)
Each year, the Chamber highlights local individuals and companies, who through their independent entrepreneurial spirit, play a vital role in building the community and the economy.
We spoke with Mike Gomez of Garden Central after they were presented with the Family-Owned Small Business of the Year award, and asked him what it means to win the award.
“Well, it means quite a bit, it just goes to show you that with a little bit of hard work you can get some stuff done, and we appreciate Findlay for giving us the opportunity to do this here in this town.”
Mike’s wife Kim is the current owner of Garden Central, which opened in Findlay in the spring of 2008.
It’s located at 430 East Main Cross Street in Findlay.
The other award winners are listed below.
Small Business of the Year
Presented to:Feasel’s Garden Center & Gregor’s
Sponsored by: Premier Bank
Small Business Person of the Year
Presented to:Ken Rood – DNC Hydraulics
Sponsored by: University of Findlay
Emerging Business of the Year
Presented to: River + Road
Sponsored by: State Bank
Nonprofit Leader of the Year
Presented to:Sue Lehman – Findlay Hope House
Sponsored by: The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation
Professional of the Year
Presented to: Chris Webb
Sponsored by: Old Fort Bank
“Our Spirit Shows” Hospitality Award
Presented to: Flag City Balloonfest
Sponsored by: Hancock County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Agriculture Enterprise Champion of the Year
Presented to:Jackson Farms
Sponsored by: Citizens National Bank
Diverse Small Business Champion of the Year
Presented to:Taco Fiesta Hinojosa
Sponsored by: Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Do Good! Award
Presented to:Heavenly Pizza
Sponsored by: City Apparel
Go Local Small Business Champion of the Year
Presented to:Buckeye Family Farm
Sponsored by: First National Bank
Small Business Manufacturing Excellence
Presented to:Werk-Brau Company
Sponsored by: The Companies of Tall Timbers Industrial Park
ATHENA Award
Presented to: Annette Edgington – GSW Manufacturing
Sponsored by: Huntington Bank
Manufacturing & Distribution Leadership Impact Award
The Findlay-Hancock County Alliance board of directors has announced that Don Bruce will serve as the organization’s President and CEO effective October 24th, 2022. He follows Glenn Jost who retired in September.
“We are excited to have Don take on this leadership role,” said Annette Edgington, Chairman of the Board.
“Don has shown expertise collaborating with the public and private sectors and has experience working with both domestic and international businesses. Given his commitment to the community, we believe his experiences directly align with all three branches of the Findlay-Hancock County Alliance – The Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development, and the Convention and Visitors Bureau.”
“I am thankful for the opportunity to join the Findlay-Hancock County Alliance,” Bruce said.
“We live and work in a great community in which the Alliance team, in cooperation with local business, government, and many other stakeholders, has played a key role in Findlay being consistently ranked as a Top Micropolitan City. Working in industry for the past 37 years, I’m looking forward to shifting my focus to serving the public and private sectors of our community. One of my initial goals will be to focus on future opportunities that continue to promote the growth and prosperity of Hancock County.”
After 37 years, Don retired earlier this year from Cooper Tire & Rubber Company where he served as Vice President of Global Quality. He was responsible for Global Manufacturing and Supplier Quality Management for Cooper’s 10 manufacturing operations in NA, Europe, and Asia.
The Alliance says Don has a proven track record of developing and executing annual business plans to assure continual growth and viability of organizations. With over 20 years serving in strategic corporate leadership roles, his understanding in the importance of collaboration with cross-functional teams has been a key factor in his success. This accompanied with his data-driven servant leadership approach has made him effective in his past roles. Locally, Don has served on the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts board of directors; United Way Resource Committee; Findlay Rotary Club; MAPI Manufacturing Council. Additionally, he’s been actively involved with Findlay Backyard Mission, Knights of Columbus, City Mission, and Habitat for Humanity.
The Findlay Police Department is asking the public for help in identifying two people they say used stolen credit cards at local stores.
Police say, on September 16th, the individuals in the surveillance picture went to area stores and used several credit cards that had been stolen during reported thefts in the area.
Anyone with information on the theft suspects is urged to call police dispatch at 419-424-7150 or message the police Facebook page.
People can also contact Crime Stoppers at 419-425-TIPS and may be eligible for a reward.
