Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn will be speaking on a panel at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland’s 16th Annual Policy Summit on June 21-23.

The Summit, themed Communities Thriving in a Changing Economy, will focus on timely topics that affect low- to moderate-income individuals and underserved communities, research and best practices related to workforce and economic development, small businesses, and other topics key to racial and economic inclusion. Participants will learn how to design and implement strategies for impact and build new and strengthen existing relationships.

Mayor Muryn will be on the Plenary Session Panel, “Officially Thriving: How Three Mayors are Prioritizing Inclusion and Ensuring Access for All”. Muryn will be joined by Cleveland, Ohio, Mayor Justin Bibb and Erie, Pennsylvania, Mayor Joseph Schember to discuss how they lead their communities through the changing economy, ensure all residents are engaged, and build communities that provide access to quality jobs and housing, entrepreneurial opportunities, safe neighborhoods, and so much more.

“I am excited to share a bit about what the City of Findlay is doing to ensure a strong and agile economy that focuses on all of our residents and creates opportunity for a thriving community and therefore thriving lives. These are interesting times and Mayors must pay close attention to the international, national, state and local economy as they make decisions. As the Mayor of Findlay, I definitely value my background in economics and know that it provides a great lens for me to look through as I lead the City of Findlay,” said Mayor Muryn.

“Each of the panelists has a very different community and different approach. Having each of us share our viewpoint and how we serve our communities will be very beneficial to the attendees.”

To learn more about the Policy Summit click here.  

The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland is part of the Federal Reserve, the central bank of the United States. Its Offices are located in Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Pittsburg. The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland’s service area is comprised of Ohio, western Pennsylvania, eastern Kentucky, and the northern panhandle of Western Virginia.

The Findlay Water Department began flushing fire hydrants on Tuesday.

The first area to see hydrants flushed on May 16^th will be the area of North Blanchard Street east to Bright Road from the Blanchard River to Tiffin Avenue.

Residents may contact the Water Distribution office at 419-424-7192, option 2, with any questions.

Hydrant flushing is part of the general maintenance of a city’s water distribution system and helps ensure that adequate water flow is available.

Congressman Bob Latta recognized and honored students from Ohio’s Fifth Congressional District on their acceptance to one of the U.S. Military Service Academies at a reception at the 180^th Fighter Wing in Swanton.

The students were nominated by Latta and have received offers of appointment for the Class of 2027 at their respective academies.

Pictured left to right are Ansel Holt, Veronica Florek, Brenna Payne, Colton Keefe, and Congressman Latta.

“Each year, I have the honor to nominate some of the best and brightest young men and women from Ohio’s Fifth District for consideration to our prestigious military service academies,” Latta said. 

“This upcoming fall, seven students from our district will make their way to their respective academies. It was wonderful to celebrate this tremendous achievement with the students and their families. I wish each of them the best on this new adventure and commend them for their passion to serve their fellow countrymen and nation.”

The following students received appointments:

U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Jossell Bakheet, Perrysburg, Olentangy Orange High School, Georgia Military College

Colton Keefe, Bowling Green, Bowling Green High School

U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York

Ansel Holt, Bowling Green, Bowling Green High School

Brenna Payne, Luckey, Eastwood High School

Dylan Rockey, Bryan, Hayfield Secondary School

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point New York

Veronica Florek, Maumee, Springfield High School

U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland

Parker Schofield, Maumee, Anthony Wayne High School

Former St. Michael the Archangel pastor, Rev. Michael Zacharias, has been found guilty on all five counts in the federal sex-trafficking trial.

The Diocese of Toledo released the following statement:

The Diocese of Toledo has learned that Rev. Michael Zacharias has been found guilty of all five counts brought against him.

Bishop Daniel Thomas had placed Zacharias on administrative leave on August 18, 2020 immediately after his arrest. The Diocese of Toledo fully cooperated with law enforcement throughout this process.

With the conclusion of the federal trial and the conviction of Zacharias, the diocese is now free to address this matter according to Canon (Church) law. The case will be presented to the Holy See who will make the final judgment, which will lead to a determination of his status as a priest.

As Bishop Thomas asserted, “The acts of which Rev. Michael Zacharias has been found guilty are reprehensible, morally deplorable, and manifestly contrary to the dignity due to each human person and the dignity of the priesthood. The Church cannot and will not tolerate any such behavior and takes any sexual abuse or misconduct on the part of a cleric with the utmost seriousness.”

He further remarks, “Considering all that victims have suffered, all that the Church has endured due to the acts of her own members, all that we have done to protect children, to ensure a safe environment and to guard the integrity of the priesthood, still, sometimes, evil has its way. Our society and Church together must bring evil into the light, wherever it is found.”

The Diocese of Toledo remains vigilant in ensuring the protection of children and providing a safe environment for all young people, as well as ensuring the dignity and integrity of the priesthood.

Any allegations of sexual abuse by a priest, deacon, staff member or volunteer affiliated with the Diocese of Toledo should first be reported to local law enforcement where the abuse is alleged to have occurred. Please also report any such allegation to the Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator at 419-214-4880

The month of May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says, with temperatures warming up they’re seeing more motorcycles on the roadways which means more opportunities for crashes.

The Highway Patrol wants to make it clear that everyone needs to be alert because crashes with motorcycles are likely to cause more injuries.

The Highway Patrol reminds motorcyclists that they need to be properly trained in motorcycle safety, have a motorcycle endorsement, always wear a helmet, and not consume alcohol or drugs when operating a motorcycle.

And they’re asking everyone else on the roadways to always pay attention for motorcycles.

Sgt. Kinney of the Findlay Post has more safety advice in the audio below.

As Sgt. Kinney mentioned in the audio above, he strongly recommends wearing a helmet, as most of the fatal crashes they see are motorcyclists suffering head injuries who were not wearing a helmet.

Ohio law requires helmets for riders under 18 and drivers with less than one year of motorcycle experience.

Passengers on motorcycles must also wear a helmet when the driver is required to do so.

United Way of Hancock County’s spring Days of Caring was held May 8-12 in Findlay and Hancock County, with around 900 volunteers completing more than 100 projects for 39 local agencies.

We stopped by the City Mission of Findlay as Keith Kline and some of his Marathon co-workers were doing some landscaping and putting up a gazebo.

Volunteer teams from other corporations helped out with various projects at locations like Camp Berry, McComb Cemetery and the YMCA.

During Days of Caring, employees of area corporations and small businesses lend a hand to local organizations.

Nonprofits in need of help submit projects, volunteer teams register to help, and the United Way matches up the two groups. In four-hour shifts, the volunteers take on projects such as landscaping, organizing, painting, planning an event, cleaning, or construction.

In September, United Way will host a second opportunity to participate in Days of Caring.

Fall Days of Caring will run Sept. 18 – 20, and a separate registration will open for those dates later this year.

The Walmart on Trenton Avenue in Findlay was evacuated around 6 p.m. Thursday due to a false active shooter threat.

Employees were ushered to a far side of the parking lot as police responded and searched the building.

After no threat was found, the all clear was given.

The store reopened around 6:40 and employees and customers were allowed back in.

Findlay once again has been recognized as a Tree City USA.

Get full details in the following news release from the city.

Findlay was recognized as a Tree City USA at the Northwest Ohio awards ceremony hosted by the City of Wauseon Tree Commission. This is the 41st time Findlay, Ohio, has been honored with this nationally recognized award.

The awards were presented to the Tree City and Tree Campus USA communities by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry. Featured speaker, Nate Andre of Andre Farms, shared his company’s experiences with converting municipal yard by-products into compost.

The title of Tree City USA was bestowed upon Findlay, Ohio, for its ongoing efforts to maintain and improve quality of life through a comprehensive tree management program. The program is guided by Findlay’s Shade Tree Commission.

The Ohio DNR, Division of Forestry’s Urban Forestry Assistance Program acts as a guiding hand in helping a community to become qualified as a Tree City USA. The Regional Urban Forester recommends a community to the Arbor Day Foundation for this standing. To achieve the title and the honors, a community must meet four standards:

• A Tree Ordinance
• An active Tree Commission or forestry department
• A comprehensive urban forestry program supported by a minimum of two dollars per capita
• An annual Arbor Day proclamation and public observance.

Ohio boasts the greatest number of Tree Cities in the country and marks Ohio’s 45th consecutive year as the top Tree City USA state, according to the Ohio Division of Forestry. 47 Northwest Ohio’s communities are Tree Cities and two universities are honored as Tree Campus USAs (Ohio Northern University and the University of Findlay.) All were recognized for their achievements at the awards ceremony in Wauseon.

For additional information about the Tree City USA program or the Arbor Day Foundation, visit www.arborday.org.

The City of Findlay has put up a new batch of Hometown Hero banners ahead of Memorial Day.

The 12 new banners are located on the west side of Main Street from Center Street south to Front Street.

The new banners join many others that line Main Street from Center Street to Lima Street.

New banners put up recently are in honor of: Marlo Brannan, Charles Clapper, Julian Davis, Thomas Diller, Cyrus Dillinger Jr., Mark Feasel, Carl Finerd, Todd Hicks, Merle May, Michael May, Rex Orians and Jeffry Patterson.

Mayor Christina Muryn says the Hometown Hero banners honor local members of the military and include active, retired and deceased service members.

Get details about ordering one of the banners by clicking here.

A full list of banners currently being displayed is below.

The Findlay City Planning Commission approved site plans for a Raising Cane’s and a GetGo convenience store and gas station with conditions.

Both will be located in the parking lot in front of R.P. Home and Harvest at the Findlay Village Mall at 1800 Tiffin Avenue.

Among the conditions are: the city wants to see some greenspace between the sidewalk and the parking lot on the south side of the site, a right-in right-out planned for along Tiffin Avenue needs to be re-engineered to discourage motorists from the opposite direction from trying to enter, and Raising Cane’s needs to have a traffic plan in place to deal with the high amount of traffic the restaurant will see around its grand opening and for a while afterward.

As mentioned, the site will have a right-in right-out along Tiffin Avenue and there will also be a traditional entrance along Croy Drive near where the gas station will be located.

The Raising Cane’s would have a double drive-thru lane that would wrap around from the north side along the west side of the building and 35 parking spots.

The GetGo would include 12 gas pumps on the south side of their building.

There’s no indication yet when construction will begin or when the restaurant or gas station will be open for business.