The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office says the 2022 Shop with a Cop was a big success.

The sheriff’s office says the youngsters had a blast shopping and playing games with local law enforcement officers.

“They will definitely have a very Merry Christmas this year,” the sheriff’s office posted on their Facebook page.

The sheriff’s office gave a special thank you to Tannis’ School of dance for wrapping gifts and donating toys and Car-e-it Party Shop for donating pizza.

The Fort Findlay FOP Foundation’s Cops and Kids Go Shopping event will be held at the Findlay Meijer on Saturday, December 11^th.

Findlay-area firefighters will take kids Christmas shopping during their annual Shop with a Firefighter event on Tuesday night at the Walmart on Tiffin Avenue.

The Findlay Police Department says it continues to seek improvements in the quality of the services it provides to the people of Findlay and Hancock County.

And that’s why they’re asking people to complete the 2022 citizen survey and share their opinions about the police department.

The police department says the anonymous survey will help them place resources where they are most needed while addressing the concerns of residents.

The survey should take up only about five minutes of your time and can be completed by clicking here.

Paper copies can also be picked up at the Findlay Municipal Building at the front desk or at police administration.

Surveys will be accepted until Friday, December 30th.

Findlay City Schools is holding a community meeting about the search for the district’s next superintendent.

The Findlay City Schools Board of Education is offering the public an opportunity to share feedback with the Board as it prepares to develop the leadership profile for the position of superintendent.

People can share their feedback on Wednesday, December 7^th at 7 p.m. at Glenwood Middle School at 1715 North Main Street or online by clicking here and filling out a search profile questionnaire.

Hard copies can also be picked up at 1100 Broad Avenue.

Krista Miller was selected as interim superintendent for Findlay City Schools for the 2022-23 school year after superintendent Troy Roth left the district to become the superintendent of Bellevue City Schools.

Some members of the Liberty-Benton school community are concerned about how safe the school district’s new K-8 building that’s currently under construction will be.

A community member started a petition on Change.org stating that the proposed architecture and layout of the new K-8 building are not safe against an active shooter.

The petition asks for changes to be made to the classroom doors and for sidelights next to the doors to be eliminated.

The petition has been signed by more than 500 people.

Parents voiced their concerns at the board of education’s latest meeting.

Liberty-Benton Superintendent Mark Kowalski provided WFIN News the following written statement.

“On Wednesday of this week at our regularly scheduled board meeting, the school board and district administration heard comments from residents of our school community regarding campus safety.

With the recent false threat at Liberty Benton High School and other events occurring within our state and nation, school safety and security continues to be a topic that requires ongoing review and scrutiny.

Members of the school board, administration and our construction team have conducted several meetings this week regarding campus safety and security.

The school board and administration at Liberty Benton Local Schools is committed to reviewing safety and security protocols not limited to but including our current and future facilities.

We welcome input from the members of our school community and appreciate your support to enhance our campus safety and security both present and future.”

In November, Liberty-Benton High School was the target of a hoax active shooter call that led to a heavy police response.

Findlay and Hancock County are included in a Wind Advisory issued by the National Weather Service.

The Wind Advisory goes from 10 p.m. Friday until 1 p.m. Saturday.

Forecasters say southwest winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour will gust up to 50 miles per hour at times.

Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects and some tree limbs could come down, causing some power outages.

Outdoor objects should be secured and extra caution should be used when driving, especially if operating a high-profile vehicle.

A woman was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital after being involved in a car crash in Findlay.

The crash happened Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Tiffin Avenue and McManness Avenue.

Police say Shirley Gray, 80, of Findlay, was driving a Pontiac Vibe and was waiting to turn left from Tiffin Avenue southbound onto McManness Avenue when she failed to yield and was struck by a car that was eastbound on Tiffin Avenue.

Shirley was taken to BVH for possible neck and back injuries.

Police issued her a citation for failure to yield.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene by Dick’s Towing.

The Fort Findlay FOP Foundation has announced the date for their annual Cops & Kids Go Shopping event.

It will be held on Sunday, December 11th beginning at 8 a.m. at Meijer in Findlay.

You can see video from last year’s event below.

The project pairs income-challenged and at-risk children with a local law enforcement officer for a shopping spree.

The program’s goal is to allow the children the experience of shopping alongside local law enforcement, instilling in each child a positive experience that will carry into their adolescence and adulthood.

The children are referred to the event through local school counselors.

There is still time to support this program and donations can be safely and securely made by clicking here. Donations can also be mailed to Fort Findlay FOP Lodge 20, P.O. Box 1335, 1769 S. Romick Pkwy, Findlay, OH 45840.

For more information, contact Teresa White, development director at copsandkidsfindlay@gmail.com, or 833-LODGE20 (833-563-4320).

Learn more about the Fort Findlay FOP Foundation and other events they put on by clicking here. 

The United Way of Hancock County’s Senior Cheer program is back for a third year, accepting your uplifting cards, notes, art or small gifts designed to brighten the day of seniors living in local care facilities.

Last year, the United Way delivered about 1,800 items of Senior Cheer to seven participating care facilities in the county.

“Everybody has someone they know in one of those facilities — a gramma, a grampa, a neighbor, a friend,” said Maria Sellers, a United Way Volunteer Ambassador who delivers Senior Cheer and played a major role in the start of the program.

“Maybe they can receive something that will make their day. It’s a great way to help, whether a group, a team, a class or one person — you know what you’ve made will be distributed and it will make a difference.”

United Way of Hancock County started Senior Cheer in 2020 as a way to reach out to seniors who were isolated because of the COVID-19 pandemic and to offer a remote volunteering option for those who wanted to help their community.

In 2022 and heading into 2023, seniors living in care facilities are still a population requiring extra protection and continue to be more isolated than before the pandemic.

“This community is amazing in its outpouring of support for seniors through this program,” said Angela DeBoskey, United Way of Hancock County CEO.

“We see the Senior Cheer coming in and these sweet gestures from kids, gifts and cards from adults and groups, they brighten our day to see it. There is no doubt in my mind they are bringing smiles to seniors.”

Senior Cheer is a great opportunity to spread cheer for whole classrooms or groups, as well as individuals.

Currently, seven Hancock County care facilities are partnering in the program. Cheer will be delivered to facilities on a rotating basis to ensure it is distributed evenly.

Groups or individuals interested in signing up for Senior Cheer can email United Way’s Volunteer Coordinator at sarah.mayle@uwhancock.org or call the office at 419-423-1432, or click here for more information.

Volunteers and recipients are encouraged to email a selfie or photo as they create or receive cheer, as an additional way for all to connect and build excitement. Photos received will be shared on United Way of Hancock County’s social media.

Cheer can be dropped off at the United Way office, 318 W. Main Cross St., second floor. There is a bin outside the office door upstairs or come inside the office to drop off. For gifts, facilitators suggest: lip balm, sweet treats (no nuts, no homemade), large-print word search, large-print books, or large-print crossword puzzles. Please label your cheer with the number of items, the group or individual it is from, and a way to reach you.

Intentional false reports about school shootings and other hoax emergency calls could be prosecuted as a felony under legislation passed by the Ohio House of Representatives.

The bill would create a felony offense for swatting, which is when someone knowingly reports a false emergency that prompts a large response by law enforcement.

Supporters of the bill say such situations cause unnecessary panic, disruption, and expense, and can end with innocent people being arrested or harmed.

The legislation would make swatting at least a third-degree felony.

The bill now moves on to the Ohio Senate.

The state public defender’s office opposes the bill, arguing there’s no need for it, as penalties for false reporting of crimes already exist.

In November, a hoax call about an active shooter sent police to Liberty-Benton High School, and the same thing happened in September at Findlay High School.

A semi struck and took down and traffic light in downtown Findlay on Thursday.

It happened at the intersection of South Cory and West Main Cross at around 1:40 in the afternoon.

Witnesses said the semi was southbound on South Cory and turned west onto West Main Cross when it hit the traffic light.

The falling traffic light slightly came into contact with the side of the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts.

Police had the semi pulled over down the street, near the intersection of West Main Cross and Western Avenue.

Until the light is repaired, police say the intersection of West Main Cross and South Cory will have the following changes. Traffic on West Main Cross going east and west will have the right of way. Traffic on South Cory going north and south will be regulated by temporary stop signs. Traffic on South Cory will have to yield to all traffic on West Main Cross.