The Findlay Rotary Club presented $48,926 in grants from its Forward Fund to five local nonprofit organizations.

This year’s recipients include:

• Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County: $10,000 for Critical Home Repair program
• Welcome to a New Life: $10,000 for Celebrations of Moments and Milestone + Mentee Basic Needs
• Christian Clearing House: $6,126 for Project Happy Feet
• City Mission of Findlay, Ohio: $17,800 for collapsible shelving for food storage space
• Findlay-Hancock County Public Library: $5,000 for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Program

The Findlay Rotary Club’s Forward Fund was established in 1991 to build over the years through donations and bequests. The objective was to build a permanent fund which could make a substantial and lasting contribution to the local community.

The Forward Fund is also supported through outright gifts, matching funds, contributions through wills, life insurance gifts, shares of stock and memorials. The Forward Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all contributions are tax deductible. To date, The Forward Fund has supported a number of local organizations including Hancock Public Health Foundation Mobile Health Clinic, Hancock County Center for Safe and Healthy Children, Findlay Digital Academy, Blanchard Valley Health Foundation, Miracle League of Findlay, Adopt-A-Door Boot Security System, Children’s Museum of Findlay, University of Findlay, Raise the Bar Hancock County, Findlay Family YMCA and among many others.

The Findlay Rotary Club was founded in 1920 and is a member of Rotary International, an association of Rotary clubs around the world, which today numbers almost 32,000 clubs in over 200 countries.

The Rotary Club of Findlay was founded by the city’s leaders in 1920, and continues with the leaders of today. The Club also sponsors the Rotaract Club at The University of Findlay and an Interact Club at Findlay High School.

Hancock Public Health is discontinuing its COVID-19 walk-in clinics due to decreased interest by the community.

The last clinic will be held on Friday, March 24^th.

People interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccination should call the Nursing Department and make an appointment.

Earlier in March, the Ohio Department of Health reclassified COVID as a Class B disease, which means new cases can be reported within the next business day to healthcare professionals.

“This change in classification indicates that COVID is transitioning toward an endemic response from our healthcare community,” the health department said.

“Although the COVID virus will continue to be present in our communities, its initial effect on our population has been diminished.”

To stay up to date on all developments with COVID-19, visit www.coronavirus.ohio.gov.

To make an appointment for an immunization, call the Nursing Department at 419-424-7441.

The Tiffin Drive-In Theater will be opening for the 2023 season on Friday, March 31st with the release of Dungeons & Dragons by Paramount Pictures.

This will mark the 74th year for the theater, which opened in June of 1949.

The theater has undergone a two-year renovation, beginning with two new drive-in screens in 2020 and a total rebuild of the theater’s concession stand and projection facility in 2021.

The 50s retro style concession stand was dubbed the Moonlite Diner after the new facility opened in April of 2022.

The building also houses the movie projection system, which consists of two state-of-the-art laser projectors, including Screen 1’s unit, which is the newest, brightest, sharpest, most powerful laser cinema projector in the world.

“The movie presentation on our drive-in screens is the best in business,” said owner Michael Cole. “And before and during the show, we have a wide menu of quality foods and refreshments, served to you by a great crew of local kids whom we are very proud of.”

The theater continuously strives to improve the experience. An example this season is the addition of a new TurboChef pizza oven. It will allow the theater to offer quality made-to-order pizzas prepared onsite and bake them in only three minutes.

“Speed is so important to us on a busy night,” Cole said. “The new combo of quality ingredients and the new oven really improves our pizza game.”

Plans are also underway to erect a new children’s playground on the property. Families will be able to bring their kids and let them run off steam before the show at dusk. The theater projects completion of the project sometime in the fall.

The Tiffin Drive-In Theater is a two-screen drive-in, with double features on each screen every show. The sound is delivered by FM radio signal, which you can tune in on your car radio or portable radio.

(story and pic courtesy of Destination Seneca County)

Hancock Public Health says their Mobile Health Clinic will be stopping by an upcoming mobile food pantry event.

CHOPIN Hall will be holding a Mobile Food Pantry at West Independence Church in Fostoria on Saturday, March 25^th, sponsored by the Community Foundation.

During the event, the health department’s Mobile Health Clinic will be offering free wellness screenings and health education.

The event goes from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 25^th at West Independence Church at 22876 State Route 224 in Fostoria.

Read more about a Hancock Public Health – City Mission partnership by clicking here.

A police chase that started in Sidney, Ohio ended on Interstate 75 in southwest Hancock County when stop sticks disabled the fleeing vehicle.

The Sidney Police Department said the pursuit began at 8:06 p.m. Tuesday on I-75 northbound on the north end of Sidney near mile marker 93 when a vehicle observed committing a traffic offense refused to stop and attempted to elude police.

Sheriff’s office deputies and Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers were also involved in the pursuit, which ended around mile marker 145 in Hancock County near State Route 235 when the suspect drove over road spikes that were deployed by law enforcement.

The driver was immediately taken into custody but a passenger fled on foot into a nearby woods.

A Highway Patrol helicopter located the suspect and he was taken into custody.

Charged and incarcerated at the Shelby County Jail were the driver, James W. Bridget, 30, of Southfield Michigan. He was charged with Failure to Comply, a 3^rd degree felony.

The passenger, Terrance Williams-Armstrong, 24, of Detroit, was charged with Obstructing Official Business, a 2nd degree misdemeanor.

The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office handed out its annual awards.

The 2022 Deputy of the Year award, as voted by his peers, went to Luke A. Cantu. (pictured below)

“Luke was hired in October of 2013 and is one of our quiet, steady leaders,” said Sheriff Stevens.

“He is known for his quiet, calm, and respectful demeanor to everyone. He is a natural leader and is often called upon in critical incidents.”

The sheriff said, besides his regular duties, Cantu volunteers for some special details, all with the attitude of keeping the community safe.

The 2022 Dispatcher of the Year award, as voted by her peers, went to Jane E. Houdeshell.

The 2022 Corrections Officer of the Year award, as voted by her peers, went to Allison L. Theis. (pictured above)

The 2022 Civilian of the Year award, as voted by his peers, went to Steven M. Cook.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that his administration is awarding more than half a million dollars in grants that will help more teenagers in low-income families get access to free driver training.

The grants are being awarded through the Drive to Succeed Scholarship Program and Youthful Driver Safety Fund.

25 local governmental agencies will receive a total of $575,000 as part of the new Drive to Succeed Scholarship Program.

Hancock Public Health will be receiving $15,000 to use for scholarships.

The governor launched the community-based teen driver training scholarship program in December 2022. The program was developed to allow eligible teenage drivers to attend driver training classes at no cost to their families.

“Teen driver training courses can cost anywhere from $300 to $600 or more, which can be a huge barrier for some families,” said Governor DeWine. “By increasing accessibility to this important training for teenage drivers, we can better ensure their safety, the safety of their passengers, and the safety of others on the road.”

The 25 agencies below will each receive funding to use toward awarding scholarships.

The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library is asking for help from the community in preparation for their next strategic plan.

With help from the State Library of Ohio, a survey was created for community input.

In order to better serve patrons, the library is asking residents to take a short survey on a variety of library topics to assist in planning the future of the library in the coming years.

The survey will be available until April 5th. Click here to take the survey.

The survey is also available at the library in hard copy, and by way of a handout with a QR code that leads to the survey so it can be conveniently taken on your mobile device in a matter of minutes.

If you choose a paper copy, when completed, the survey can be returned to the administration office at the library.

For any questions regarding the survey, contact the library at 419-422-1712.

The man who was driving the stolen vehicle that struck and killed Bluffton Police Officer Dominic Francis in March of 2022 changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced.

Emin Johnson pleaded guilty to six charges, including tampering with evidence and involuntary manslaughter, in Hancock County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday afternoon.

Johnson, 21, was sentenced to 21 to 26 ½ years in prison.

Two passengers in the vehicle, Dante Tate and Zachary Love, previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced.

Authorities say the three were in a stolen car that was fleeing from police on Interstate 75 southbound around 2:30 a.m. on March 31^st 2022 that struck and killed officer Francis, who was placing stop sticks on the highway in an effort to end the pursuit.

Officer Francis’ widow, Ricki Francis, spoke before Johnson was sentenced about how much Dom meant to their family and the community.

“Dom was my best friend. My soulmate, my partner in everything and the best person I’ve ever met in my life.”

She also forgave Johnson, saying that’s what Dominic would’ve done.

“Dom was always about second chances. Forgiveness was important to him, and I. I forgive you, and Dom would forgive you.”

Donations can be made in Dom’s honor to the Dominic Francis Memorial Scholarships through The Findlay Hancock Community Foundation.

Crime Stoppers of Findlay-Hancock County is seeking information about a residential burglary.

Crime Stoppers says the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a forced residential burglary that occurred on Thursday, March 9^th in the Hillcrest-Siferd Acres subdivision in the area of Jacob Drive, Siferd Boulevard, Lakeland Drive and County Road 140.

Several items were loaded into or onto a motor vehicle and stolen.

Anyone who may have any information related to the burglary is requested to contact the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office at 419-424-7234 and to speak with Detective Barry Boutwell.

People can also contact the Crime Stoppers tip line at 419-425-TIPS (8477).

Tipsters may be eligible for an award.