The United Way of Hancock County’s sweet new fundraiser, the Downtown Chocolate Tour, will be held from 10 to 2 on Saturday, May 13, falling on Mother’s Day weekend and Downtown Findlay’s Second Saturday.

Ticketholders will make their way to each of the participating retailers and restaurants at their leisure during this four-hour window, collecting chocolate treats and taking advantage of special offers at each stop.

The event will include around 25 local food establishments and retailers, including Dietsch Brothers of course.

Some establishments located outside the downtown area will be paired with shops downtown to allow their participation in the event.

Ticket sales for the event directly support United Way’s Vulnerable Children’s Initiative, dedicated to programs helping kids find a better path in life. Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased by clicking here. Only 300 tickets will be sold.

“This new event is a great way to show your support for youth in our community and the organizations that serve them. That it falls on Mother’s Day weekend makes it all the sweeter,” said Angela DeBoskey, CEO of United Way of Hancock County.

United Way of Hancock County for many years has funded local efforts to support children and is currently partnered with various local agencies championing children’s needs.

Bags and maps can be picked up at the United Way office, 318 W. Main Cross St. (above Kan Du Studio), from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 11-12; and at Hancock Hotel (a stop on the tour) beginning at 10 a.m. the day of the event.

Call the United Way office at 419-423-1432 for more information.

The Findlay Fire Department recently conducted some boat drills on Lake Cascades.

Battalion Chief Matt Cooper says they hold the refresher course each spring and go over lake and river rescue procedures so they’ll be ready.

“Every year it happens, we get called out to the reservoir for boaters in distress and the possibility of river rescues.”

Cooper says they take their three boats to Lake Cascades, the reservoirs and to the Blanchard River in the spring to get their firefighters back into the swing of things and familiarized with their equipment.

Cooper reminds boaters that the wind can really kick up on the reservoir and that the trash cans there are color-coded, so if a boater is in distress they can relay what color of trash cans they see and the fire department will know what part of the reservoir to respond to.

“It was an Eagle Scout project a couple years ago, and one of our firefighters thought about it because it’s such a big body of water it’s hard to see all the way across and we want to get to the people quicker when they’re in distress.”

The City of Findlay will be offering a bulk trash drop-off for Findlay residents from Saturday, April 22nd to Saturday, April 29^th.

Hours are 8 to 4 or until dumpsters are full on Saturdays and 8 to 8 or until dumpsters are full on weekdays.

Dumpsters will be at the Public Works Department, 330 N. Cory St., where city residents may dispose of unwanted debris.

The drop-off is in conjunction with the annual Backyard Mission Trip on Saturday, April 22nd.

The City will keep dumpsters open for an additional six days to encourage citizens to clean up the community in observance of Earth Week.

Hazardous materials, commercial tires, concrete, appliances, and electronics will not be accepted.

Proof of residency or ID may be required.

This year, the city will accept noncommercial vehicle tires on Saturday, April 22nd, and Saturday, April 29th. The tires must be off the rim. Proof of residency in the City of Findlay and/or ID will be required.

The city reminds people that it is illegal to transport more than ten scrap tires at any time without obtaining a registration certificate from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency per ORC 3734.83.

(Story courtesy of the Second Chance Coalition)

The Second Chance Coalition of Hancock County is inviting the public to an awareness event on Thursday, April 20^th from 10 to 2 at The Dock at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 800 South Main Street in Findlay.

Second Chance Month is observed in April and is a national effort to raise awareness of the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction and unlocking second chance opportunities for people having completed their sentences to become contributing citizens.

The Hancock County Second Chance coalition was created to bring awareness of challenges formerly incarcerated individuals face when they return to the community.

Many formerly incarcerated individuals strive to be fully contributing members of their communities and struggle to overcome the stigma of being a criminal.

It is a core belief of this coalition that every person has value in our community and together, as a community, we can help rebuild lives.

This event is meant for those in need of a second chance in Hancock County.

You will get to hear personal accounts of starting over from area individuals wanting to encourage others to not give up.

We will be serving a meal for those in attendance, provided through the generosity of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church and by Joan Pierce at Great Scot Community Market.

We have also asked many local agencies to provide information and resources for those who are working through barriers post incarceration.

Among those agencies are the Hancock County Court of Common Pleas, the Findlay Municipal Court, Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Hancock County Job and Family Services, Habitat for Humanity’s Financial Opportunity Center, Welcome to a New Life, Hancock Public Health, Focus Wellness & Recovery, and the Veterans Service Office to name a few.

For questions, please contact Cheryl Miller (567) 250-5192 or email at cmiller@hancockph.com.

Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn issued a proclamation declaring April 2023 as Second Chance Month in Findlay.

The Cleveland Browns and FirstEnergy are ending their naming rights agreement for the stadium.

The Cleveland Browns say the decision was mutually agreed upon.

This change comes after a federal conviction for former Ohio House speaker Larry Householder tied to being bribed by FirstEnergy officials.

The stadium will now return to its former name, Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The Findlay Police Department says an impaired driver caused a crash that sent a man to the hospital.

The crash happened at around 6:30 Thursday night at the intersection of East Sandusky Street and Bright Road.

Police say Derrick Feltman, of Findlay, was driving his pickup truck westbound on State Route 568 approaching Bright Road.

Police say Feltman ran the red light and struck a van that was traveling southbound on Bright Road and being driven by Douglas Freed, of Findlay.

Police say Freed was transported to Blanchard Valley Hospital for head and facial injuries while Feltman was treated at the scene for a facial injury.

Feltman was issued citations for OVI and running a red light and was placed under arrest for OVI, police said.

Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.

The Findlay Municipal Court will hold its 6th Annual Safe Surrender Day on April 27th.

People who have a bench warrant for their arrest – regardless of the reason – can get the warrant addressed by the court and released on that day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Officials say all you need to do is show up at Findlay Municipal Court and meet with court staff.

The Public Defender’s Office, City of Findlay Prosecutor’s Office and other agencies will be on hand on that day to help get any bench warrants addressed and released.

Over the past five years, the event has helped 383 people clear 455 bench warrants.

Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome.

Findlay Municipal Court is located in the Findlay Municipal Building at 318 Dorney Plaza, Room 206.

Get more information here, or by calling the Findlay Municipal Court Clerk’s office at 419-424-7141.

The City of Findlay has begun the Blanchard River Greenway Trail Phase II project.

The shared-use path will start at the existing Greenway Trail on E. Main Cross Street and extend eastward along State Route 568 towards the County Road 236 shared-use path.

The new path will go under the Bright Road overpass, turn south towards State Route 568 and then turn back to the east along State Route 568.

At the Blanchard River, a new pedestrian bridge will be erected just north of the existing bridge to get users across the Blanchard River.

Detailed construction updates will be posted along with the impacted route on the City of Findlay’s website, www.findlayohio.gov, throughout construction.

We spoke with Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn about the project and that audio is below.

The city says traffic will be maintained along State Route 568 during construction by closing the westbound shoulder and allowing vehicles to travel along an eleven-foot-wide lane in the westbound direction, however, a stretch of westbound State Route 568 from County Road 236 extending over the bridge will be closed to traffic at times to give crews access to the river.

Access will be maintained to adjacent properties and businesses for the duration of the project.

A portion of the new path will be within the boundaries of Eastpoint Area and Vogelsong Conservation Preserve.

The parks are designated as a public recreational property that is owned and maintained by the Hancock Park District.

As a designated public recreational property, it is afforded protection under federal law.

Work at this location will occur in the regulated floodplain for the Blanchard River.

Impacts to the floodplain are anticipated to be minor and result in no rise in localized flood levels.

The path will also require minor amount of tree removal, as well as work within a designated wetland and work within portions of the Blanchard River.

It is anticipated that the work will result in minor impacts or disruption to the designated areas, the city said.

Once the second phase of the Greenway Trail project is completed users will be able to access the existing Greenway Trail that travels along the Blanchard River within the City of Findlay as well as the multi-use path on County Road 236 that was installed as part of the roadway widening project.

It is expected the path will be available for users in the fall of 2023.

The total construction cost of the project is expected to be $2,749,736 dollars.

The Ohio Department of Transportation will fund $2,200,000 dollars.

The City of Findlay will fund $549,736 dollars.

The project will be carried out by Helms & Sons Excavating Inc. of Findlay, Ohio.

For any questions or comments, please feel free to contact the City of Findlay Engineering Department via phone at 419-424-7121 or email at engineering@findlayohio.gov.

(ONN) – Ohio’s attorney general is working to stop billions in student loan debt from being forgiven.

Attorney General Dave Yost filed a brief with the US Supreme Court along with 19 other states, arguing that the Executive Branch does not have unlimited policy-making power.

The US Secretary of Education plans to wipe away an estimated $6 billion in student loan debt.

President Biden previously announced that he would forgive up to $10,000 in federal student loans for people with annual incomes of $125,000 or less, and an additional $10,000 for people who received Pell grants, which is federal money allotted for low-income students who want to pursue higher education.

Seven Findlay High School student-athletes recently took part in a National Signing Day ceremony.

The student-athletes signed their letter of intent to play collegiate sports and continue their academic pursuits in college.

They are:

Austin Asada, who will play tennis at Ohio Northern.

Donovan Harris, who will play football at Baldwin Wallace.

Jadyn Barney, who will play soccer at Tiffin University.

Kellen Wetz, who will play lacrosse at Hiram.

Jake Bishop, who will play basketball at the University of Findlay.

Delaney Spradlin, who will be on the swim team at Ashland University.

Connor Harp, who will play football at Baldwin Wallace.

Athletic Director Nate Weihrauch is proud of these student-athletes.