Monthly Archives: October 2022

Drug Task Force Searches Findlay Residence, Arrests Woman

The Findlay Police Department says a woman was arrested when a drug task force executed a search warrant at a Findlay residence.

The Hancock County METRICH Drug Task Force, along with the Findlay Police Department, carried out the search warrant at 530 Eben Avenue.

The task force says the search warrant was the culmination of a month-long investigation into the residence, and methamphetamine, prescription pills, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, cash and items indicative of drug trafficking.

As a result of the search, police say Natalie R. Golich, 38, was arrested and booked at the Hancock County Justice Center on charges of aggravated trafficking in drugs, a second-degree felony.

Additional charges are pending the conclusion of the investigation, according to police.

 

Sheaffer Named Director Of Economic Development

The Findlay-Hancock County Alliance and Economic Development Board of Directors have appointed Dan Sheaffer as Director of Economic Development effective November 1st, 2022.

Sheaffer, Project Specialist of Economic Development, will take over for current director Tim Mayle.

Mayle recently accepted the position of executive director for the new Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics, a partnership between the University of Findlay, Owens Community College and Bowling Green State University.

Sheaffer and Mayle joined the economic development team within two years of each other and have worked together since 2013.

As Director, Sheaffer’s responsibilities will include retention and expansion of existing companies, leading efforts to attract strategic new investment, including industrial, commercial and residential development; addressing workforce-talent initiatives and small business support.

“Over the past ten years, director Mayle, the Alliance and Economic Development advisory boards, business and community leaders have readied me for this role and I thank them for that,” Sheaffer said.

“Our success is built upon robust relationships between business, government, education, and not-for-profits. I will continue to promote the stakeholder engagement and collective impact model recognized as the Findlay Formula.”

“Dan has made a tremendous impact advancing economic development initiatives in the Findlay-Hancock County region,” said Andrew Yates, chair of the Economic Development Advisory Board.

“Dan’s wealth of experience, industry knowledge and as a multigenerational Findlay resident, make him a perfect fit to lead the economic development organization.”

 

 

NWS Warns Of Increased Fire Danger

The National Weather Service is warning of an increased fire danger on Friday.

The alert is for much of northwest Ohio, including Findlay and Hancock County.

Counties a little more to the west, including Putnam County, are under a Red Flag Warning for critical fire conditions.

Forecasters say minimum relative humidity values will fall to 15 to 25 percent Friday afternoon.

The low relative humidity values in addition to breezy southwest winds of 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph will result in an increased fire danger on Friday afternoon.

The threat is greatest in rural areas where harvest activities are occurring.

Any fires that start could spread out of control.

Outdoor burning is not recommended.

 

Firefighters Battle House Fire In Fostoria

The Fostoria Fire Division battled a house fire on Fremont Street on Thursday night.

The first arriving crews found heavy fire coming from the first floor of the residence at 722 West Fremont Street.

The occupants of the house told firefighters that no one was inside the house.

The initial search of the house revealed heavy fire on the first floor extending to the second floor.

A dog was removed from the house and returned to her owner.

Crews had the fire under control in about a half hour, and then remained on scene for overhaul.

The cause of the fire is undetermined and the State Fire Marshal’s Office was contacted to investigate.

The Red Cross was contacted to assist the family of the residence.

 

Woman Injured In Findlay Crash

The Findlay Police Department says a driver was injured in a crash that was caused when she turned in front of a vehicle.

The crash happened at South Main Street and West McPherson Avenue a little before 4 o’clock Thursday afternoon.

Police say Deborah Green, 67, of Findlay was driving her SUV north on South Main Street when she turned westbound onto West McPherson, failing to yield the right of way, and causing a crash with a car that was southbound on South Main Street.

Green was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital for a possible head and neck injury and a cut to a hand.

Police issued her a citation for failing to yield the right of way.

 

Wood County Sheriff’s Office Victorious In First Responder Photo Challenge

The Wood County Sheriff’s Office was one of the winners in the 2022 Light Ohio Blue First Responder Challenge.

The friendly competition among first responder agencies in Ohio ran from September 11 through September 30, with just under 50,000 votes cast.

The timeframe of the contest honors all first responders across our state and the nation who never paused nor faltered on the morning of September 11.

All award winners were recognized on Wednesday, October 12 at Hilliard’s First Responder Park.

Get more on the contest and see the full list of winners by clicking here.

 

Mayle Named Director Of Center For Advanced Manufacturing And Logistics

Tim Mayle is leaving the position of director of Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development for a new opportunity.

Bowling Green State University, the University of Findlay and Owens Community College have announced that Mayle has been appointed executive director for the new Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics.

“The Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics has incredible potential to shape our economy,” Mayle said.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve our region and state through economic and workforce development in this new capacity. Ohio continues to see unprecedented investment in the advanced manufacturing and logistics sectors, and I am excited to leverage the strengths of three higher education institutions through this Center to support our economy at such a significant moment.”

 

 

Last November it was announced that, in a unique partnership, Owens Community College, the University of Findlay and Bowling Green State University would come together on a new Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics to meet the need for a highly trained workforce.

The Center will work with area employers in the Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics sectors to identify and anticipate their needs in workforce training, talent development, innovation, automation, systems integration, and supply chain management.

Mayle calls the new Center a game changer, saying it will help Findlay and the region not just retain companies, but attract companies.

The training and instructional programs will be provided across three locations (Findlay, Bowling Green, Perrysburg) and will range from on-degree track certificates and badges, to degree track curricula for associate, bachelor’s, and post-graduate degrees.

The Center will also focus on facilitating a wide range of co-op and internship opportunities.

Mayle will begin his role as executive director for the Center of Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics on November 1st.

 

Planning Commission Denies Rezoning Request For McDonald’s, Subcommittee Tables Request

The Findlay City Planning Commission voted to deny a request to rezone a property that would be part of a proposed McDonald’s on the south side of town.

The commission did vote to approve a request to vacate an alley that would be part of the project.

However, at the following meeting of the City Council Planning and Zoning Subcommittee, the rezoning request was tabled to allow McDonald’s time to address some concerns raised by residents and commission members.

The City Council Planning and Zoning Subcommittee will reconsider the rezoning request at their November 10th meeting and will make their recommendation to full council, which will ultimately make the decision on the rezoning request.

A property owner wants to put a McDonald’s in place of the Fifth Third Bank at the northwest corner of South Main Street and Sixth Street/Lake Cascades Parkway in Findlay.

To make the plan work, they would have had to get a house on West McPherson Avenue that’s behind the bank rezoned to commercial and also get an alley vacated.

Traffic and pedestrian safety concerns were among the biggest issues raised by several residents who spoke out against the proposal, and from members of the commission.

“It’s just a busy intersection first and foremost, and at the end of the day it’s a residential neighborhood,” said Rob Martin, Findlay Service-Safety Director and member of the planning commission.

 

 

 

“We feel there’s a great opportunity and potential for that lot and parcel to have something, but McDonald’s just doesn’t seem like it’s a good fit there.”

McDonald’s could still try to fit the restaurant where the Fifth Third Bank Bank is located, and present those plans to the planning commission, and Martin said the commission would consider the plan if presented to them.

The planning commission is also recommending to city council to place a six-month moratorium on any new dollar-thrift stores and skill-based gaming businesses, as the city decides how to proceed with zoning for such businesses.

 

UF Launches Largest Fundraising Campaign In Its History

The University of Findlay has launched the public phase of the largest fundraising campaign in its 140-year history.

Together We Will: the Campaign for the Future of University of Findlay seeks to raise $75 million over a seven year period, with a total of $47,695,780 already raised.

The mission of the Together We Will campaign is to develop University of Findlay graduates who serve and lead with purpose, passion, and skill.

Primary objectives of the campaign are to provide affordable education and enrich the student experience.

Donors to the campaign can enrich the student experience through gifts to:

 

  • endow scholarships
  • support new and expanded capital projects for state-of-the-art learning spaces, laboratories, and athletic facilities
  • provide research and leadership opportunities
  • inspire students to serve and lead with purpose through experiential learning opportunities

 

For more information on the Together We Will campaign, click here.

 

Owens Community College Holding Open House

Owens Community College invites community members and prospective new students to its annual Open House on Monday, October 17th.

Community members and prospective new students will have the opportunity to explore academic programs, transfer options and more.

“With more than 70 programs, Owens Community College is ready to show northwest Ohio all that it has to offer at both our Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses,” said Dave Shaffer, executive director of Owens student services.

“We have a number of new programs that we are excited for the community to explore. Faculty and staff will be available to talk about all of our degree and transfer options and how Owens is the perfect college to begin building a better future.”

At the Open House, prospective students will be able to complete the Admissions application, learn about tuition, financial aid and payment options as well as learn more about student life on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses.

“This really is an opportunity for prospective students and the community to see how Owens Community College fits into their lives now and creates a pathway for their future,” said Shaffer.

The Open House will be located in Education Center 111 on the Findlay-area Campus, and Veterans Hall 201 on the Toledo-area Campus.