Raise the Bar Hancock County will be hosting three career expos to expose local high school students to potential career paths and employment opportunities in the Findlay-Hancock County community.

This initiative is by way of school districts that seek more opportunities for students to interact with local employers.

The expos will allow students and their chaperone teachers to tour workplaces, hear from current employees in different positions, and engage with the training providers who can put them on a path towards employment.

Raise the Bar Hancock County Executive Director Tricia Valasek says they are really excited to offer this career expo series for grades 9 – 12.

On February 28, Raise the Bar will partner with the Findlay-Hancock County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Marathon Center for the Performing Arts, the Hancock Hotel, and the Hancock Historical Museum to host local students at these facilities for a career focus in hospitality and tourism.

Additionally, professors from The University of Findlay and Bowling Green State University will act as panelists for a Q&A discussion during the event.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes lunch for registered attendees.

Then, on March 30, students will again have the opportunity to learn more about careers in the finance industry.

Finally, on May 11, students will receive tours and presentations from local healthcare employees and key professionals.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 1’s Paint the Plow contest is accepting applications through March 13.

The program is open to area schools and vocational school groups within its eight-county region, including Hancock, Putnam, Wyandot, Allen, Defiance, Hardin, Paulding and Van Wert counties.

The Paint the Plow program allows students to paint an ODOT snowplow blade with a message of school spirit, Ohio pride, patriotism, or safety. The decorated blades are displayed at local community events before being used in regular winter operations, usually within the same school district that painted the plow.

“We first offered the Paint the Plow program in 2014, and each year the number of schools participating continues to grow,” said ODOT District 1 Deputy Director Chris Hughes.

“We often hear that the students have a lot of fun and look forward to the opportunity to paint their original artwork that goes on display in their community.”

Plow blades will be dropped off to participating schools during the week of March 20 and picked up by April 28. Winners will be announced prior to Memorial Day via the media and social media.

Last year, 28 schools participated in the program. Cory-Rawson High School won the overall ODOT choice title and the people’s choice award, which was determined based on Facebook votes. Their plow was painted in honor of fallen Bluffton Police Officer Dominic Francis.

Applications are being distributed to all eligible schools. Those who would like to receive an application electronically may do so by contacting ODOT District 1’s public information office at 419-860-3655 or d01.pio@dot.ohio.gov. A school administrator must approve of participation and sign the application.

The City of Findlay held a public meeting about the annexation proposal it announced in January.

If you didn’t have a chance to attend the meeting or would like to go over the information again, the video of the meeting is below.

Mayor Christina Muryn invites anyone with questions to contact Hancock Regional Planning at annex@findlayohio.gov or by calling 419-424-7094.

The City of Findlay contacted the owners of approximately 400 parcels that have been identified for annexation into the City of Findlay corporation limits.

Click here for more, including an overview of the annexation areas and frequently asked questions.

Applications are being accepted for the 2023-2024 Hancock Youth Leadership (HYL) program.

Affiliated with the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, HYL is an investment in the future of Findlay and Hancock County.

Its purpose is to enhance knowledge and develop leadership skills in a select group of high school students, motivating them to become positive role models, active and committed to their civic responsibilities. 

Students attend monthly sessions, beginning with a team-building retreat in August. Session topics include agriculture, health and human services, arts and media, diversity, business and economic development, justice and law, and volunteerism. 

HYL is open to Hancock County and Findlay City Schools students, including those who are homeschooled, beginning their junior year in fall 2023.

Applications are available online by clicking here. Completed applications must be submitted by Friday, March 17, 2023. 

For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce at 419.422.3313, email djenkins@FindlayHancockChamber.com, or click here.

Volunteers donated 1,915 hours making critical home repairs through Putnam County Habitat for Humanity in 2022. They rebuilt floors and leveled toilets, installed bathtubs so that people wouldn’t fall through cracks in the old ones, repaired roofs and replaced windows, doors and installed accessibility ramps. This year, thanks to students studying auto repair at Vantage Career Center, they can transport tools and materials to-and-from job sites in a shiny red pickup truck.

When Putnam County Habitat for Humanity was established in 2009, the organization was dedicated to the biannual building of a new home in partnership with an income-qualifying family in need. In 2018, this affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International launched a Critical Home Repair program to make essential repairs and improvements to ensure safe and healthy homes in our communities.

Transportation of tools and building supplies to and from work sites has required careful planning during last several years due to the lack of serviceable vehicles. Volunteers generously carted supplies in their own cars and trucks to facilitate the workflow. Then in 2022, Dan VonderEmbse donated a cargo trailer to the cause and the PCHFH board of directors approved the purchase of a reliable used 2002 Ford Super Duty Truck. Both were put to work immediately, even though the truck had some substantial body rust.

In order to keep the vehicle roadworthy for years to come, PCHFH Executive Director, Anne Coburn-Griffis, reached out to Dan Edwards, Auto Collision Instructor at Vantage Career Center. Edwards, who sees himself as more of a coach than a teacher, saw the body repair as an opportunity for his students to work directly with a customer. He presented the project to them and Hunter Stevens, a senior from Van Wert, took it on. He went to work on a heavily rusted wheelhouse in fall 2022 and completed the repair in January.

“I was up for the challenge,” said Stevens. He worked with other classmates to cut out the rust, made the panels, primed, painted, striped and assembled. “I like the finished process. I can say I did that.”

(story and picture courtesy of Putnam County Habitat for Humanity)

A pair of reproductive rights organizations are coming together to get a proposed constitutional amendment before Ohio voters in November.

The groups Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights and Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom are filing language with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

That’s the first step to getting an issue on the ballot.

The groups say the amendment would be similar to one approved by Michigan voters last year.

The amendment would secure the right to reproductive freedom, including abortion.

The Findlay Water Department on Friday morning lifted a Water Boil Advisory that was issued earlier in the week.

The Boil Advisory was for all residents on Northtowne Drive, Villa West Drive, Villa South Drive and 2501 Broad Avenue.

The water department said the boil advisory was lifted on Friday morning.

Any questions can be directed to the Water Treatment Plant at 419-424-7193.

The Findlay Police Department is asking the public for help in identifying a driver who fled the scene of a crash.

On February 11^th at around 4:14 p.m. officers responded to the 2500 block of Tiffin Avenue for a crash involving a vehicle that had left the scene.

Police say their investigation revealed that the person in the picture and the vehicle were involved in the crash.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Findlay Police Department at 419-424-7150 or Crime Stoppers at 419-425-TIPS.

Tipsters may be eligible for a reward.

Greater Findlay Restaurant Week is returning for the sixth year in Findlay and Hancock County.

Visit Findlay says around 20 local restaurants are offering three-course meals on a prix-fixe menu at different price points.

Diners are encouraged to try something new or support their favorite restaurants during this special week.

This year Restaurant Week will be held February 20 – 26.

Included in Restaurant Week this year are restaurants in Arlington, Bluffton and Vanlue.

Price points for the participating restaurants are $15, $25, $35, and $45 per diner and vary per restaurant.

Those interested in taking part in Restaurant Week simply need to visit the restaurant of their choice during dinner hours and ask for the Restaurant Week Menu.

Diners will then select one option per course and be charged the restaurant’s set price.

Prices do not include tax, gratuity, or drinks; however, many locations are running drink specials.

Restaurants will also be serving their regular menu.

No tickets are necessary, but reservations are suggested at some locations.

Menus and hours are subject to change without notice.

For a complete list of participating restaurants and their menus, click here.

For more information, call 419-422-3315 or email info@visitfindlay.com.

The Ohio Power Siting Board has given the go-ahead for two solar projects planned for Hancock County.

The board issued a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility to South Branch Solar and Border Basin for the construction, operation and maintenance of their solar-powered electric generation facilities in Hancock County. Video of the meeting is below.

The South Branch Solar website shows that the project will be located on about 700 acres north of Arcadia.

The Border Basin website says their project will be located near Cass Township on about 1,000 acres spanning both the Arcadia and Van Buren school districts.

Dan Sheaffer is Director of Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development.

In April of 2022, The Hancock County Board of Commissioners voted 2-1 to approve a resolution enacting exclusion zones in most unincorporated areas of the county to prohibit wind and solar projects.

At a public hearing, several people spoke out against proposed solar projects, citing concerns about the negative impact on property values and the environment.

Tim Mayle, then Director of Findlay – Hancock County Economic Development, addressed the commissioners saying banning wind and solar projects outright would hurt the county’s economic growth.

And he pointed out that a law passed in 2021 that already gives county commissioners in Ohio more oversight when it comes to approving wind and solar projects on a case-by-case basis.

The two solar projects planned for the Arcadia area are not subject to the exclusion zone resolution because the projects were proposed before the new law giving commissioners more oversight took effect.