The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation Board of Trustees approved grants totaling $1,428,531 at the February board meeting. The total includes 11 responsive grants, three president’s discretionary grants and 163 donor-advised fund grants.

“The Foundation is proud to partner with donors to make this $1.4 million available for so many nonprofit organizations in the community,” said Brian Treece, President & CEO of the Foundation.

“Many of these grants address critical needs like housing, safety, transportation and workforce, all of which are priority areas in Hancock County. As we strive to improve the quality of life for all in the community, listening to and responding to community needs continues to be a priority.”

Among the grants awarded; The Family Center was awarded $265,814 for payment on the building loan, Findlay Hope House was awarded $24,500 to support an increase in housing needs and costs for clients and shelter residents and the West Ohio Food Bank awarded $13,420 to pilot food pantries in two local schools.

Click here for the full list and for more information about the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) showed its appreciation for exceptional leadership and commitment to conservation by honoring the Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Sunrise Cooperative, and Ed Crawford of the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

The awards were presented by ODA Director Brian Baldridge at the 2023 Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Annual Partnership Meeting.

In the picture, Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge presents the H2Ohio Lifetime Conservation Advocate Award to Putnam SWCD for outstanding H2Ohio program delivery and administration.

The H2Ohio Lifetime Conservation Advocate Award recognizes those who exhibit exceptional leadership and commitment to water quality through H2Ohio.

Recipients of this award are devoted stewards of water quality improvement and conservation who demonstrate innovation, partnership, enthusiasm, and a “get it done” attitude.

The recipients were chosen from three categories:  agricultural retailers, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and conservation-minded individuals.

This recognition supports Governor DeWine’s H2Ohio Initiative to ensure safe and clean water in Ohio.

It is a comprehensive, data-driven approach to improving water quality over the long term, involving ODA, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and the Lake Erie Commission.

H2Ohio focuses on encouraging agricultural best management practices, restoring wetlands, and improving water infrastructure to reduce nutrients that contribute to harmful algal blooms.

For more information on the H2Ohio initiative, visit h2.ohio.gov.

(In the pic above, Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge presents the H2Ohio Lifetime Conservation Advocate Award to Putnam SWCD for outstanding H2Ohio program delivery and administration.)

(story and pic courtesy of the Ohio Department of Agriculture)

A suspect in several bank robberies in northwest Ohio, including one in Hancock County, has been arrested.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced that said Gage Daniel Shafer Haws was apprehended at a Findlay residence by a Findlay Police Department SWAT Team.

The 28-year-old Haws is suspected in the following bank robberies:

• December 31, 2022 (Hancock County) Premier Bank, Arlington, Ohio
• February 2, 2023 (Seneca County) Old Fort Bank, Bettsville, Ohio
• February 10, 2023 (Wyandot County) *attempted – First National Bank of Sycamore, McCutchenville, Ohio
• February 11, 2023 (Putnam County) Union Bank Co., Kalida, Ohio
• February 16, 2023 (Fulton County) State Bank and Trust Company, Delta, Ohio

WFIN spoke with Enforcement Lt. Jason Seem of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office about the investigation and arrest.

The suspect’s arrest follows a lengthy joint investigation involving multiple agencies including the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, Findlay Police Department, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Kalida Police Department, Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, Delta Police Department, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Hancock Historical Museum in Findlay will host its monthly Brown Bag Lecture on Thursday, March 2nd at noon.

Dr. Chuck Coletta will give a lecture titled, “Television in Jeopardy: The 1950s Quiz Show Scandals.”

Dr. Coletta is a teaching professor in the Department of Popular Culture at Bowling Green State University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in English and American Literature from John Carroll University. He earned his PhD in American Culture studies from Bowling Green State University in 2000, where he has been teaching since.

Thursday’s lecture is free for museum members, and $3 for nonmembers.

Reservations are requested but not required.

For more information, call the Hancock Historical Museum at 419-423-4433, or visit hancockhistoricalmuseum.org.

Findlay Brewing Company will be hosting the inaugural “Scrabble Babble,” the world’s first and only beer-fueled Scrabble tournament.

It will be held on Sunday, March 5^th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Jerry Sisser Memorial Scholarship at the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation.

Findlay resident Jerry Sisser was an educator for more than 35 years, spending most of that time at Fostoria High School teaching English, communications, and television production.

When Jerry passed away unexpectedly in May 2022, the Sisser family created a scholarship in his memory at the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation to benefit Hancock County students pursuing English, communications, journalism, or a related field.

Jerry believed that education and literacy were the keys to societal prosperity. He enjoyed crossword puzzles and Scrabble in his free time, and he was a skilled player. Jerry was also an aficionado of good cocktails and beer, and was a fan of the Findlay Brewing Company.

The Scrabble Babble combines two of Jerry’s favorite pastimes to support the scholarship in his memory. The Scrabble Babble is a doubles tournament. Every registered team of two players will play three, 30-minute games.

After three rounds, a 45-minute championship round with the top two teams will take place from 12:15 – 1 p.m. to determine the winners. Check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m. First of three games will begin promptly at 10 a.m. Prizes will be awarded throughout the morning for best team name, highest scoring word and more.

Experience is not necessary. Instructions will be provided and it’s all in good fun to benefit a good cause. Pre-registration is required. Register at findlaybrewing.com under the “Events” tab.

The Fostoria Police Division arrested a man for attempting to have sex with a child in an undercover operation.

The operation was another Internet Crimes Against Children investigation led by Fostoria Police Officer Kyle Reinbolt.

The police department says Kevin Crowe, 27, traveled to the City of Fostoria, believing he was meeting with a juvenile to engage in sexual conduct. (mugshot below)

The investigation was very quick, said Police Chief Gabe Wedge, taking less than one day and resulting in Crowe’s arrest.

Arresting officers reported finding a Lake High School Track Coach ID on Crowe.

As of the time of his arrest, Crowe’s affiliation with the school had not been confirmed.

Crowe is being charged with Importuning and Attempted Sexual Conduct with a Minor.

Police Chief Gabe Wedge issued the following statement,

“With the prior information/ news release from last week, I want to use this time clear up a few things; First, the Fostoria Police Department will continue to do these operations no matter the sentencing imposed by the courts, it is our duty to put these people in front of the judge with the best case possible, the courts and prosecutors take it from there. Remember the courts system has guidelines to follow set by the ORC when handling these cases; it can not be done by personal opinion. One of the most important results of these cases is bringing these individuals out into the eye of the public and having them registered as sex offenders.

Second, these crimes against children are not isolated to the City of Fostoria, it is the result of Officer Reinbolt making these types of investigations his focus, of which he has perfected his techniques in conducting them. These crimes are happening in every city in the country, so a better question to ask, instead of “why are all these happening in Fostoria,” is “are these types of investigations being conducted where I live.” Because the bottom line is, that they should be. Today’s children face more everyday challenges than ever before, the Fostoria Police Department will continue to go after these people, in hopes of removing these predators from our children’s lives, or at the very least, let them know who these people really are.

Lastly, in all of these investigations that have occurred, these subjects were arrested as soon as we could, some in as little as a couple of hours after our initial contact online with them. The said 10-month investigation timeline, was used as a measurement of how long the Fostoria Police Department conducted these investigations with out publicly posting anything; in hopes of investigating and apprehending as many of these predators as possible, before word got out and compromised our efforts.

Thank you all for your continued support!”

A man wanted for attempted murder and other offenses out of New York City was arrested in Carey.

The Wyandot County Major Crimes Unit says it assisted the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in apprehending Rodolfo Grey, of Fostoria, who was arrested at his workplace in Carey.

Grey was taken to the Wyandot County Jail and will be extradited to New York.

Authorities say Grey was wanted for several charges out of New York including attempted murder and assault.

The Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) of the Ohio Department of Transportation has approved the annual draft list of projects to receive funding over the next four years.

TRAC will vote on the final list at their March 29 meeting.

On the list is the project to redo the Interstate 75/County Road 99 interchange on the north end of Findlay into a diverging diamond interchange.

Transportation officials say a DDI shifts the eastbound and westbound traffic to the other side of the bridge at signalized crossovers which eliminates left turns across traffic and the traffic signals for left turns. (design below)

The benefit is that all traffic can enter the interstate in a free flow movement to the ramps which reduces the long start and stop times of trucks at signals.

A successful example of a DDI is located in Perrysburg at I-475 and State Route 25.

ODOT says the improvements will combat congestion at the important economic hub while reducing the risk of crashes and making travel in the area easier and safer.

“A DDI will ensure the sustainability of the economic opportunities in this corridor,” said Hancock County Engineer Doug Cade.

“With increased commuter and truck traffic comes the need to take steps to improve the efficient movement of our labor force and goods to and from this area so that we can continue to see prosperity and be ready for future opportunities,” he added.

The project will also include upgrading intersections along County Road 99 between North Main Street and Technology Drive.

A separate multi-use bridge for pedestrians and bikes that would connect Miracle Park with future development on the west side of I-75 was also considered but will not move forward at this time.

Detailed design and right-of-way acquisition for the project is slated to begin in October of 2023.

(above picture courtesy of ODOT)

The Hancock County Veterans Service Office in conjunction with VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System will host a PACT Act information session on Monday, February 27th at the Hancock County Veteran Services Office, 1100 E. Main Cross Street, Suite 123, in Findlay from 1 to 7.

The PACT Act expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans, and Survivors of Veterans, who were exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances during their service in Vietnam, The Gulf War, and Post 9/11 eras, as well as Veterans who served at Camp Lejeune or MCAS New River for at least 30 cumulative days from August 1953 through December 1987—and their families.

Senator Sherrod Brown was in Findlay last fall to discuss the PACT Act with Veterans and you can read that story by clicking here.

Nichole Coleman, Executive Director of Hancock County Veterans Services says, “This is an amazing opportunity for veterans and family members to learn about how the PACT Act benefits impact them.”

“The staff from the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center will provide the presentation; have staff available to do on-site, private toxic exposure screenings, as well as members of their team to answer questions about eligibility and community care. Additionally, the veterans service office team will be available to fill out forms for disability claims, answer questions about how the PACT Act benefits might impact other benefits you already receive and make state veterans ID cards.”

Gino Detone, PACT ACT Public Affairs Outreach Specialist with VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System says “I am excited to share information on the 2023 Promise to address comprehensive toxics (PACT) ACT with your community. This new momentous legislation expands toxic-exposed

Veterans to access to VA care and benefits, adds over 23 presumptive conditions for radiation, Agent Orange, Gulf-war toxins, burn pit exposures and address Camp Lejeune water contamination.” Services from Ann Arbor VA, Transition Assistance Program, Hidden Heroes, and Hancock County Veterans Service Office will be presenting information and answering questions for participants. Participants are asked to bring their DD-214 and register for the session by calling Hancock County Veterans Service Office at 419-424-7036.

The City of Findlay has announced a time change for City Council meetings.

Going forward, City Council meetings will begin at 6 p.m. instead of 7 p.m.

Meetings will continue to take place on the first and third Tuesdays of the month.

The next council meeting will be on Tuesday, March 7^th at 6 p.m. in City Council chambers in the Findlay Municipal Building.

Meetings are also streamed on the city’s YouTube channel.