The Executive Director of the American Red Cross of North Central Ohio is rejoining the ongoing Hurricanes Ian and Nicole relief operation in Florida.

Todd James will be serving as the Assistant Director of External Relations, helping coordinate efforts with local, state and federal partners in assisting families affected by storm with their ongoing recovery needs. This is James’ second deployment to Florida for this event. In October he served as the Public Affairs Chief for the relief operation.

Months after Hurricanes Ian and Nicole devastated Florida, Red Cross disaster workers are still on the ground there, making it possible to provide recovery assistance to people impacted by these massive, destructive storms.

Relief organizations, including the Red Cross, are striving to help people who don’t have homes to return to and our workers are connecting with people still in shelters to help them plan for the future and make housing arrangements.

These arrangements will look different for each person. For example, some people may choose to live with friends or family while they rebuild. Others will move into new apartments. And some will be helped through transitional sheltering or other housing programs offered by government agencies and other community organizations. Depending on the circumstances, this may include financial assistance.

Red Cross teams have completed nearly 240,000 door-to-door detailed residential assessments, including how many homes have been affected and the extent of that damage. This is one of the largest damage assessments the Red Cross has ever undertaken.

Since shelters were opened for this disaster, the Red Cross and our partners have provided more than 60,000 overnight stays for more than 6,800 residents in more than 85 emergency shelters.

With the help of partners, the Red Cross has provided more than 1.7 million meals and snacks. We have also distributed more than 404,000 relief items including comfort kits and other supplies.

Currently, there are more than 100 trained Red Cross disaster workers still on the ground making it possible to provide recovery assistance to Floridians. Since September 23, the operations have been supported by more than 3,500 trained Red Cross disaster workers.

(ONN) – Sports betting has only been legal in Ohio since the beginning of the year and already some gaming companies are in trouble with state officials.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission says it has notified three sports betting companies for violating rules with their ads.

BetMGM, American Wager, and Crown OH gaming are all facing fines of $150,000 for violating laws on responsible gambling.

According to the commission, the ads made fake promises about free betting.

Children’s Mentoring Connection of Hancock County will be holding an open house and ribbon cutting to celebrate their new location in Findlay as well as National Mentoring Month.

Children’s Mentoring Connection is now located in The Family Center at 1800 North Blanchard Street, Suite 126.

The open house and ribbon cutting will be held on Monday, January 23^rd from 2 to 4:30.

The Hancock County Chamber of Commerce will be there to do an official ribbon cutting and Mayor Muryn will do a proclamation at 2.

We spoke with Executive Director Stacy Shaw in November about their move to the Family Center.

“This move will allow us to serve our clients, mentors, and mentees while continuing to provide quality programming,” said Executive Director Stacy Shaw.

“In addition, our new location will encourage continued collaboration with agencies serving many of our clients.”

Children’s Mentoring Connection was founded in 1972 and through their programs creates meaningful connections that positively impact the lives of youth and adults in our community.

State Representative Jon Cross was sworn in for his third term in the Ohio House of Representatives during the opening day session of the 135^th Ohio General Assembly.

Cross, a Republican from Kenton, will continue to serve the constituents and communities of the 83^rd House District, which includes Hancock, Hardin and portions of Logan counties. 

 “I’m honored and humbled by the constituents of the 83^rd district for sending me back to the Ohio Statehouse, on their behalf, to champion our great communities in northwest Ohio,” Cross said.  

“As I’ve done before in my previous two terms, I look forward to going to work to protect our rights and freedoms, to bring state funding and resources back to our district and to pass needed legislation to keep Ohio safer, stronger and open for business.”

 During the swearing-in ceremony in the Ohio House Chambers, Cross was joined by his wife Christina, two sons Carson and Connor, and his mother Judy Cross. 

Ohio U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown has announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded a $50,000 Housing Preservation grant to the Putnam County Habitat for Humanity.

The funding will help to rehabilitate homes for low-income residents in the community.

 “Every Ohioan should have a roof over their heads and a safe place to call home,” Brown said. 

“This investment will help make sure that communities in Putnam County have the resources they need to improve the lives of their residents. My office and I will continue working with community partners to ensure Putnam County gets its fair share of support and investment.”

USDA’s Housing Preservation Grant program provides grants to sponsoring organizations for the repair and rehabilitation of housing owned or occupied by low and very low-income rural citizens.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine vetoed a bill that would have blocked cities from banning the sale of menthol cigarettes, as well as candy-flavored vaping products.

DeWine made the announcement during a news conference on Thursday with state health department officials.

“On December 15^th the General Assembly passed a bill that would prohibit local governments from enacting laws to would discourage the use of tobacco. This measure is not in the public interest and therefore I have vetoed this bill.”

DeWine called youth smoking an epidemic that he says is exacerbated by flavored products on the market.

The Seneca County Board of Health has voted to issue its intent to deny the 2023 operating license for Sunny Farms Landfill in Fostoria.

The Seneca County General Health District points out that the vote does not deny the landfill’s operating license outright, but initiates the process required by law to do so.

The Seneca County General Health District must notify Sunny Farms in writing of the Board of Health’s intent to deny the license, and the landfill will have 30 days to request a hearing.

If a hearing is requested, the Health District will schedule a public hearing.

If Sunny Farms doesn’t request a hearing within 30 days, the board will then formally vote on whether to proceed with denying the landfill’s 2023 operating license.

There were many complaints about the landfill’s smell under the previous ownership and in 2019 it was ordered to pay civil penalties to resolve past violations.

There was an incident involving the Grinch and the City of Findlay Christmas Tree on Wednesday morning.

The city says the Grinch was caught red-handed stealing ornaments from the tree just as it was about to be taken down.

The Findlay Police Department, located just feet away from the tree, quickly intervened and recovered the stolen ornaments.

The police department let the Grinch go with just a warning.

The city says ornaments that were decorated by the public for the 2022 Christmas Tree will be available for pickup by the people who decorated them beginning Monday, January 9^th at the Findlay Municipal Building.

Blanchard Valley Health System welcomed its first baby of 2023 on Monday, January 2^nd at 4:17 p.m.

“Congratulations to Kayla Walters and Jeremiah Suman, Findlay residents, on the birth of their son, TayShawn Lee Suman!” BVHS said on their Facebook page.

BVHS is encouraging people thinking about growing their family to consider them.

People who want to schedule an onsite tour of labor and delivery can call 419-423-5103 or click here for a virtual tour.

Community members who are grieving a deceased loved one will be able to honor their memories in an upcoming event sponsored by Bridge Home Health & Hospice, a division of Blanchard Valley Health System.

Bridge Bereavement Services will host a “Forever Memories” group from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 16 at Birchaven Village Hub, 15100 Birchaven Lane, Findlay.

Individuals who have experienced the death of a loved one will create 12″ x 12″ memory frames that will honor their deceased loved one’s life and the relationship they shared.

The group is open to any adult or family who has recently lost a loved one, regardless of whether that person was a patient of Bridge Home Health & Hospice.

Participants will have an opportunity to create lasting memories and share openly about their loved ones.

All supplies will be provided at no cost. Participants will simply need to bring their memories and a few photographs.

Registration is required by February 2 in order to prepare frames and supplies.

To register, call 419-423-5351.