UPDATE – The boil advisory was lifted on Friday morning.

Due to repair work on the water main located on S. Blanchard Street in Findlay, the Water Department on Thursday, December 29th issued a Water Boil Advisory for the following addresses:

S. Blanchard St.: 1800, 1804, 1808, 1812, 1826, 1828, 1910.

As a precaution, state and local health officials recommend that, until further notice, consumers vigorously boil, for at least one minute, any water used for drinking (including water used to make ice), cooking, or oral hygiene or bottled water should be used.

The department is collecting samples from the affected area to assure that the water is free from any bacterial contamination. The city says an additional notice will be given when the water boil advisory is lifted. Any questions should be directed to the Water Treatment Plant at 419-424-7193 or Water Distribution Department at 419-424-7460.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office has announced the recipients of the 2023 MARCS (Multi-Agency Radio Communications Systems) grant, which totals $3.5 million awarded to 325 fire departments in 76 counties throughout Ohio.

“This is a highly-competitive selection process, so our emphasis has been on growing the MARCS program with the goal that one day every department in Ohio is on this communication system,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin S. Reardon.

“Having first responders with these state-of-the-art radios improves emergency services for these counties, which increases the level of safety for the communities they protect.”

Among the agencies receiving the grant are the Ottawa Volunteer Fire Department and Leipsic Volunteer Fire Department in Putnam County, and the Upper Sandusky Fire Department in Wyandot County.

The MARCS radio system allows first responders to seamlessly communicate, not only with each other, but with other agencies responding to an incident.

MARCS radio system technology is advanced and the costs to acquire and operate can be significant. Priority funding goes to departments applying as part of a regional or county-wide effort, as well as departments that show they are prepared to immediately begin using the MARCS radios upon receiving the award.

The MARCS Grant is available annually to fire departments with service areas of 25,000 people or fewer and up to $50,000 per department is available through the grant.

The City of Findlay is urging people to check out the 2022 Christmas Tree before it’s taken down.

The city says the Christmas Tree will start being removed on Tuesday, January 3^rd.

The 33 foot tall blue spruce has 53,000 lights, 300 ornaments made by community members, 126 colored ornaments and 38 snowflakes. For the second year, a star made by Millstream Career Center students adorns the top of the tree.

The City of Findlay is encouraging people to keep an eye on the city’s social media for additional information on how to pick up their community ornament.

The Findlay Police Department has announced the promotion of Andrew Rudnik to the position of Sergeant.

Sgt. Rudnik was sworn in by Mayor Christina Muryn on Wednesday morning.

He’s pictured above with the mayor and Police Chief Robert Ring.

Sgt. Rudnik is a graduate of Avon Lake High School and Bowling Green State University.

He has Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Criminal Justice from BGSU.

Sgt. Rudnik has been with the Findlay Police Department since 2013 and has worked primarily in the Patrol Division.

He has been a Field Training Officer and a Crash Reconstructionist, and he also served a tour in the Special Assignment Unit.

He will continue to serve in the Patrol Division as a shift supervisor.

United Way of Hancock County’s Foundation is accepting Secor Scholarship applications and references through Jan. 16, 2023. The $2,000 renewable scholarship was established as a memorial to the generosity of the Steven and Doris Secor bequest.

The scholarship is awarded to a Hancock County high school senior possessing a 3.5 grade point average or higher. Applicants must have plans to enroll full time in an accredited institution of higher learning to pursue any undergraduate field of study in the 2023-24 academic year.

The ideal candidate will exhibit a strong emphasis on character, leadership and service. These components will be evaluated through the application and through letters submitted by three separate references in relation to each category.

The award for the first academic year will be $2,000 and may be renewed annually for three additional years for a total of $8,000.

The United Way of Hancock County Foundation designates a Secor Scholarship selection committee comprised of current and past United Way board members and volunteers who evaluate applications, interview finalists and select one scholarship recipient each year. Students related to anyone on the selection committee or United Way of Hancock County paid staff are not eligible to apply.

Paper applications or references will not be accepted. The entire application must be completed electronically through the United Way of Hancock County’s website.

For additional guidance, contact Brenna Griteman at marketing@uwhancock.org or 419-423-1432.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says 13 people were killed on Ohio roadways over this Christmas holiday reporting period, which is three more than in 2021.

During the four-day reporting period, from Friday, December 23, at 12 a.m. until Monday, December 26, at 11:59 p.m., 13 people were killed in seven fatal crashes. Of the 13 killed this year, impairment was a factor in one crash.

Troopers removed 56 impaired drivers from Ohio’s roads during the holiday, while citing 14 for distracted driving and 21 for drugs.

In 2021, there were 10 fatal crashes that killed 10 people during the four-day holiday period.

The public is encouraged to continue using #677 to report dangerous or impaired drivers, as well as drug activity. A statistical analysis of the Patrol’s enforcement activity over the holiday is available by clicking here.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office says this was the deadliest Christmas weekend on record for fires in Ohio.

Fires over the long holiday weekend claimed the lives of 10 people, including six in one fire alone in Newcomerstown.

Friday, December 23
DARKE COUNTY – Barn
2352 STAUFFER RD, MONROE TWP, OH 45337 / 1 FATALITY

Sunday, December 25
MEDINA COUNTY – Residential
8504 LAFAYETTE RD, HARRISVILLE TWP, OH 44254 / 1 FATALITY

Monday, December 26
TUSCARAWAS COUNTY – Residential
429 SPAULDING AVE, NEWCOMERSTOWN, OH 43832 / 6 FATALITIES 

Monday, December 26
STARK COUNTY – Residential
4855 4TH ST NW, PERRY TWP, OH 44708 / 1 FATALITY

Tuesday, December 27
COLUMBIANA COUNTY – Residential
74 N PEARL ST, COLUMBIANA, OH 44408 / 1 FATALITY 

Fire officials are reminding Ohioans to install smoke alarms on every level of their home, inside and outside of sleeping areas and to test the alarms regularly.

Families are also advised to have a fire escape plan and to practice it at least twice a year.

Get more home fire safety and prevention tips by clicking here.

(ONN) – There was a soggy mess to clean up at Ohio Statehouse on Tuesday.

Senator Jay Hottinger posted a video on Twitter and on Facebook that shows water coming from the ceiling.

A pipe burst at around 9 o’clock Tuesday morning.

Crews were working to clean up the mess.

The pipe was between the second and third floor which sent water into the entrance of the Senate Chambers.

United Way of Hancock County will once again facilitate free tax preparation services for qualifying members of the community.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program will be administered in early 2023, offering free tax preparation services for individuals who live in Hancock County and whose household income is $60,000 or less annually. Priority will be given to those over age 60; individuals who speak English as a secondary language; and adults who have disabilities.

United Way is partnering with 50 North and the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library to offer the free tax preparation service at their sites. The taxes will be filed electronically by trained VITA tax volunteers.

Beginning Jan. 17, community members may call the United Way office at 567-250-1955 to schedule their appointment for the VITA program. Callers will be asked a series of questions and will be informed of the items they must bring to their tax preparation appointment.

The number of appointments the program can accommodate this year is limited. Several other free tax services, however, will be available:

• MyFreeTaxes.com: This United Way-sponsored program is a free, online, self-filing system offered in partnership with the IRS for households that earn under $73,000 annually. The website is self-guided, with prompts to help taxpayers complete their state and federal filings.
• Tax Filing Workshops: The opportunity to file taxes yourself in a small group with a trained VITA volunteer who will provide guidance will also be available.

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation has provided a grant for partial support of the VITA program.

The United Way is seeking donations of new and used technology as it prepares to reinstate the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program in 2023. Get more on that by clicking here.

The Tiffin Bicentennial Committee will host the final event to celebrate Tiffin’s 200th year on Thursday, December 29.

The Tiffin Bicentennial’s Year of Tiffin 200 Celebration will begin at 5 p.m. at The Renaissance of Tiffin, 129 S. Washington St. The event will be free and is open to the public.

The event will feature a look back on the Bicentennial year with pictures and conversation about the year’s events.

Complimentary Jolly’s will be provided at The Renaissance of Tiffin at the start of the event.

Attendees will gather at the National Corner, 155 E. Market St. and at 6 p.m. 500 bags of Ballreich’s Potato Chip Bags will be dropped from a lift to attendees.

The Chip Drop is in honor of the historical drop that took place on New Year’s Eve in 1999.

This event is made possible from the support of The Renaissance of Tiffin, Jolly’s, Ballreich’s Snack Food Company, Clouse Construction, The City of Tiffin, and Tiffin Parks and Recreation.

The Tiffin Bicentennial Committee would like to thank the community for their support in celebrating Tiffin’s history in 2022 and into the future.