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 Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help with a recent property damage complaint in Jackson Township.

The sheriff’s office said it appears that there have been vehicles driving through fields in the area causing damage.

Anyone with information regarding the property damage is asked to contact the sheriff’s office 419-523-3208.

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.

Findlay City Schools is reminding students and parents that there will be no school on Tuesday, March 21^st.

That day will be a professional development day for teachers in the school district.

After that, the next days off for students will be for Spring Break from Thursday, April 6^th – Monday, April 10^th.

The last day for students will be Wednesday, May 24^th.

Click here to see the full school district calendar.

One of the three men involved in the death of Bluffton police officer Dominic Francis in March of 2022 agreed to a plea deal with the Hancock County Prosecutor’s Office.

Zachary Love changed his plea to guilty on three felony counts in the indictment and two other counts were dismissed.

The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence, having a weapon under disability, and improper handling of a firearm in a vehicle.

He faces a maximum of 7 ½ years in prison. His sentencing hearing has been set for May 24^th.

Love was a passenger in the car that struck and killed Officer Francis on I-75 in Bluffton on March 31^st of 2022.

Another passenger, Dante Tate, pleaded guilty in February and was sentenced.

Court records show the man police believe was driving the car, Emin Johnson, has a trial date set for April 24^th in Hancock County Common Pleas Court.

He’s facing charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and involuntary manslaughter, among others.

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 Bluffton police officer Dominic Francis, who was placing stop sticks on the highway in an effort to end the pursuit.

The West Ohio Food Bank will be holding a food distribution in Putnam County.

The food distribution will be held at St. John’s Mennonite Church at 15988 Road 4 in Pandora on Saturday, March 18^th from 9 to 11 a.m. Sign-up and line-up begins at 8 a.m.

The food distribution is open to any Putnam, Hancock, Allen or Hardin County residents in need.

Get more details on this event below and other upcoming events by clicking here.

The Christian Clearing House Annual Benefit Garage Sale is this weekend.

The annual event will be held at Brinkman’s Greenhouse at 1800 East Sandusky Street in Findlay on March 18th and 19th.

Executive Director Tammy Stahl on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks said there’s something for everyone.

All proceeds benefit people in Hancock County who are struggling.

Get more on the event below and by clicking here.

The Findlay YMCA has been purchasing nearby properties in the hope of building a new facility or expanding the current one at 300 East Lincoln Street.

There has been concern that some of the structures that were acquired along East Hardin Street, Grand Avenue and East Lincoln Street were historic in nature.

In a letter to the community, YMCA CEO Stephanie Parsons said the Y worked diligently with the Hancock Regional Planning Commission to complete a review of the properties to be demolished to ensure that any with historical significance would be removed from the list.

Parsons said when they learned of the historical significance of 404 East Lincoln Street – that it was the site of the first Catholic Mass in Findlay – it was removed from the demo list.

She said the Y will work with the Hancock Historical Museum to discuss potential uses for that property, which the museum believes is the oldest existing structure in Findlay and dates back to 1837.

You can read the full statement from the Y below.

The executive director of the Hancock Historical Museum, Sarah Sisser, has expressed her disappointment with how the Y has been acquiring properties over the years with the intent to demolish them at some point.

“These were certainly not all blighted houses when they were purchased by the Y, and this plan has led to the slow destruction of a historic neighborhood in our downtown. These houses date from the 1840s – 1930s. There is really no denying this neighborhood’s historic significance,” Sisser said.

Sisser said something needs to be done about the lack of policy regarding historic preservation in Findlay.

“We have virtually nothing in place to protect our built history, and sadly, it shows. We are far behind many of our peer communities in Ohio in this regard. I believe we can, and should, do better.”

You can read Sisser’s full statement below, below the statement the YMCA posted on their Facebook page.

Statement from Hancock Historical Museum Director Sarah Sisser:

“I appreciate that when we met with the YMCA and the organization learned of the particular significance of the John Engleman House at 404 E. Lincoln Street, they seem to have paused to determine how to best preserve this structure. I have not been told by the YMCA what will be done with the house, but since it was removed from the list of proposed demolitions recently brought before City Council, I hope we can assume that it is safe for the immediate future.

I have expressed my concern and disappointment at the strategy that was used to acquire these properties over many years with the intent to demolish them at some point. These were certainly not all blighted houses when they were purchased by the Y, and this plan has led to the slow destruction of a historic neighborhood in our downtown. These houses date from the 1840s-1930s. There is really no denying this neighborhood’s historic significance.

I think that this situation, along with recent threats to South Main Street and other historic neighborhoods in our community, should make us reevaluate our lack of policy regarding historic preservation in Findlay. We have virtually nothing in place to protect our built history, and sadly, it shows. We are far behind many of our peer communities in Ohio in this regard. I believe we can, and should, do better.”

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says they’ll be working together with local law enforcement to remove impaired drivers from the roadways on St. Patrick’s Day.

The effort is part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving campaign.

During the last five years, impaired driving accounted for 219 crashes with 128 injuries on St. Patrick’s Day. Of those impaired driving crashes, seven were fatal resulting in 10 deaths. Additionally, the Patrol made 545 OVI arrests on St. Patrick’s Day from 2018 to 2022.

“Before celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, designate a sober driver,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. “The safety of everyone on our roadways is our top priority. We want everyone to get to and from their destination safely.”

In addition to efforts on our roadways, Ohio Investigative Unit agents will work to educate permit holders on the consequences of over-serving. For bars and permit holders, over-serving or serving to underage customers could mean costly fines, suspension or revocation of their liquor permit.

As always, motorists are encouraged to dial #677 to report unsafe or impaired drivers.

https://twitter.com/OSHP/status/1636385392227397638

The Seneca County Sheriff took to social media to voice his surprise that a bank robbery suspect was given such a low bond.

“It has come to our attention today, and we have called and verified the info, that the suspected Bettsville bank robber, Gage Daniel Shafer Haws, was released on bond from a federal court detention hearing last week,” Sheriff Fred Stevens wrote.

“It was a very low bond and took the FBI by surprise as well, as the agent stated that the normal bond for a string of suspected bank robberies is typically pretty high. The breakdown in communication seems to be that the case is being run by the Toledo / Lima area agencies and none of us were notified of the change in his status to allow us to notify the victims or the community at large.”

“The suspected robber does not live in our county but that didn’t stop him from bringing crime to our county or the several other counties he is alleged to have robbed banks as well. So, as always, be aware of your surroundings and if you see anything suspicious don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement agency to check it out.”

Haws is suspected in several bank robberies in northwest Ohio, including one in Hancock County in Arlington.

He was arrested in February at a residence in Findlay.