The Ohio Secretary of State’s office has announced the creation of a Public Integrity Division as part of an ongoing effort to build on Ohio’s record as a national leader in maintaining secure, accurate, and accessible elections.

The Public Integrity Division consolidates many of the office’s current investigative functions, including campaign finance reporting, voting system certification, voter registration integrity, the investigation of election law violations, data retention and transparency, and cybersecurity protocols.

“Ohioans deserve to have confidence and faith in their election system. While Ohio has developed a strong national reputation for secure, accurate, and accessible elections, a national trend is growing that indicates a crisis of confidence in the electoral process,” said Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

“While both voter fraud and suppression have proven to be exceedingly rare in Ohio, any transgression of either breaches the promise made to Ohio voters and hinders confidence in the outcome of elections.”

Learn more about the new Public Integrity Division by clicking here.

The voter registration deadline for the November election is October 11, and the election is on November 8.

The City of Mission of Findlay is inviting the community to its 2022 Giver of Life Gala Event.

It will be held on Friday, October 21^st from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts.

City Mission Executive Director Kathryn Bausman is inviting people to join The Mission for an evening of impact, art, food and fellowship.

Get tickets by clicking here.

As the only emergency shelter in Hancock County, The City Mission has been helping men, women and families move from crisis to stability for 86 years.

The Findlay City Schools Homecoming Parade is coming up on Friday.

The parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Lincoln Street and travel south on South Main Street to Stadium Drive and on to Donnell Stadium where the Trojans will take on Oregon Clay at 7 p.m.

The Trojans community is urged to come out and cheer on the Trojans in the parade.

Video from last year’s parade is below.

The Homecoming Dance will be held on Saturday night at the high school.

(WTOL-11) – In northwest Ohio, a whole slew of first responders and people came together in a town near the Indiana border to save a pooch in Defiance County.

The dog, named Ozzy, got stuck in a pipe in Hicksville on Tuesday.

The fire department, sheriff’s office, two other agencies and several neighbors came to help.

Eventually, rescuers were able to get Ozzy out of the pipe.

Ozzy is doing okay.

It’s unclear how he got stuck in the pipe.

(pics courtesy of the Defiance County Sheriff’s Office)

Blanchard Valley Health System has updated its organization-wide COVID-19 masking policy in response to the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Effective Thursday, October 6th, 2022, vaccinated BVHS associates working in non-clinical areas will be able to unmask in specified areas during all transmission levels.

BVHS clinical-working associates will continue to mask, regardless of vaccination status, during periods of high transmission, as defined by the CDC.

Visitors and patients will continue to be screened and if asymptomatic, with no known exposures, will be encouraged but not required to wear a mask. Masks will be readily available for all visitors and patients.

Birchaven Village and Independence House are required to follow their regulatory criteria and may be more stringent in their masking protocols. Please follow posted instructions when entering these facilities.

BVHS will continue to monitor the regulatory guidance provided as changes are announced and will modify and communicate the masking requirements as necessary.

United Way of Hancock County will hold its annual World of Downtown Restaurants Tour on Thursday, November 3rd from 5 to 9 p.m.

This self-guided tour celebrates the many culinary offerings in downtown Findlay.

Customers will buy a passport for $30, which allows them to receive a free sample from each participating bar and restaurant.

Passport holders will visit each destination on the tour at their leisure.

All proceeds from the sale of passports will go toward United Way-supported programs promoting food security.

“The World of Downtown Restaurants Tour is a fun night out on the town for a great cause,” said UWHC CEO Angela DeBoskey. “Participants can feel good knowing that while they are exploring all the great cuisine downtown Findlay has to offer, they are also working to fight hunger right here in Hancock County.”

Restaurants included on this year’s tour include: Alexandria’s, The Baker’s Café, The Bourbon Affair, Circle of Friends, Coffee Amici, Findlay Brewing Co., Japan West, Logan’s Irish Pub, Mancy’s Steakhouse, RYSE, Vivir Modern Mexican and We Serve. Coffee.

The United Way says only 300 passports will be sold, so be sure to get yours while you can by clicking here.

Passports can be picked up at UWHC’s office, 318 W. Main Cross St. (second floor), from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Passports will also be available for purchase at Coffee Amici, 328 S. Main St., beginning Monday, Oct. 10.

Call the UWHC office at 419-423-1432 for more information.

It won’t be long before the leaves start to change colors into vivid reds, oranges, and yellows, signifying the shift of the season.

Throughout the fall color changes, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will release weekly updates letting people know where to see the best hues and what unique activities can be enjoyed under a blanket of autumn leaves.

“Ohio comes to life with the arrival of fall,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “With cooler temperatures and incredible views, this time of year is perfect for exploring the natural beauty that can be seen and felt in our state parks, nature preserves, and forests!”

Fall forecasters consider variables like sunlight, temperature, wind, and rainfall when estimating the intensity and longevity of leaf color. This year, the ODNR Division of Forestry is expecting peak color to arrive in mid-to-late October.

“The supply of water from above average rainfall this year should have the trees healthy and ready to put on a color show with brilliant oranges and blazing yellows,” said ODNR Fall Color Forester David Parrott.

“It is still early in the season, but northern Ohio is already starting to see some changes in the tree canopies. Be on the lookout for black gums and buckeyes that are usually the first tree species to show their fall colors as well as poison ivy and Virginia creeper which show deep hues of red.”

Those interested in finding the most eye-catching leaves throughout the season should check out the ODNR’s Fall Color website, the official guide to the changing colors.

Hancock Public Health and the Marion Township Trustees are partnering to offer the community an opportunity to get their flu shot without even getting out of their car.

The Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic will be held on Thursday, October 6^th from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Marion Township House located at 16003 State Route 568, a little east of Findlay.

Regular flu shots will be available for those 6 months and older.

Also, the Flublok shot, which has three times the standard dose and is 30 percent more effective in adults 50 and older, will be available for those 18 and older.

Covid shots will also be available.

People can call Hancock Public Health at 419-424-7441 for more information.

Findlay Municipal Court is providing people with driver’s license restrictions an opportunity to resolve their issues.

The 4th annual Findlay Municipal Court DUS Day Clinic will be held on Thursday, October 6th.

The goal of the clinic is to help people resolve their legal issues and get back on the road legally.

WFIN’s Chris Oaks spoke with Judges Stephanie Bishop and Alan Hackenberg about the event.

Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome. For more details and to set up an appointment, call the clerk’s office at 419-424-7141.

Over the last three years, the court has assisted more than 250 people with their license suspensions and got them on the right track to obtaining a valid license.

Some people may even leave their appointment with their driving privileges restored.

Get more information on the clinic in the audio above and by clicking here.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is asking drivers to be extra vigilant on the roads and extra patient with farmers during the fall harvest season, which is underway.

The sheriff’s office reminds drivers that farmers will be traveling to and from fields, farms and grain elevators with their machinery and they will be pulling out of fields and lanes, not just other roads.

Drivers should also be alert for farmers working at night with their hazard lights on finishing up the day’s work or trying to beat the rain.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is asking drivers to slow down and give farm equipment as much space as they can.

“They are doing their best to give everyone room on the road, a little patience will go a long way!”