The City of Findlay is reminding residents that numerous road construction projects are underway throughout the city and short delays are possible.

The status of some of the projects is weather and contractor schedule permitting.

Listed below are some of the projects and the restrictions that result from the ongoing projects.

These restrictions are ongoing May 8, 2023, through May 12, 2023.

HILLSHAFER DRIVE – Crosshill Drive to just east of Cresthaven – Hillshafer Drive will be closed to through traffic from Crosshill Drive to just east of Cresthaven for curb replacement.

HIGHPOINT LANE/WADDLE – Main Street to W. Bigelow Ave – Highpoint Lane and Waddle will be closed to through traffic from Main Street to Bigelow Avenue for curb replacement.

CAPITOL LANE – Highpoint Lane to cul-de-sac – Capitol Lane will be closed to through traffic from Highpoint Lane to cul-de-sac for curb replacement.

RECTOR AVENUE – Main Street to dead end – Rector Avenue will be closed to through traffic from Main Street to dead end for curb replacement.

STATE ROUTE 568 – Bright Road to County Road 236 – The westbound lane of State Route 568 will be closed from 8am to 5pm from Bright Road to CR 236. The eastbound lane will remain open.

BRIGHT ROAD – Fostoria Avenue to Production Drive – Bright Road will be reduced to one lane in each direction from Fostoria Avenue to Production Drive for curb replacement.

Motorists are advised to avoid these areas if possible as short delays are expected.

The Engineering Department will release updates on information and schedules when it becomes available. People with questions about any of the projects can contact the city at 419-424-7121.

Family Resource Center held an open house to show off the $1.75 million renovation of its Findlay headquarters on Carlin Street.

The facility, located at 1941 Carlin Street, will open on May 15^th.

John Bindas, President and CEO of Family Resource Center, says one of the great things about this renovation is that they’ll now be offering adult and youth services under the same roof.

“We are excited to bring our Findlay facilities up to the same high level of comfort and quality as the other locations we operate across Ohio.”

Family Resource Center previously provided mental health and substance use disorder services for adults from their location at 1918 North Main Street, and for youth from their location at 2515 North Main Street in Findlay.

Now, all those services are together under one roof at the renovated Carlin Street facility.

Funded in part by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and a Community Development Block Grant, the renovation project also includes the addition of an on-site pharmacy and meeting space for groups such as adventure therapy and other community support groups to gather.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s office announced the approval of assistance for eight projects set to create 663 new jobs and retain 499 jobs statewide.

During its monthly meeting, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority (TCA) reviewed economic development proposals brought to the board by JobsOhio and its regional partners.

Collectively, the projects are expected to result in more than $35 million in new payroll and spur more than $185 million in investments across Ohio.

The TCA said it approved a 1.425 percent, seven-year Job Creation Tax Credit for an expansion project for GVS Filtration in Findlay.

GVS expects to create 74 full-time positions, generating more than $4.5 million in new annual payroll and retaining more than $8.3 million in existing payroll, as a result of this expansion project.

GVS is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of filter solutions for applications in the health care and life sciences, energy and mobility, and health and safety sectors.

Get a full list of projects receiving tax credits by clicking here.

Anyone who has an Ohio Basic Peace Officer certification with two years of full-time (or equivalent) Ohio law enforcement experience can now apply to the Ohio State Highway Patrol as a lateral cadet with the intent of becoming a state trooper, as announced by Ohio State Highway Patrol Colonel Charles A. Jones.

Applications for a new lateral class will be accepted throughout May.

The new lateral cadet class is expected to begin training in September.

Historically, the Patrol has required already commissioned law enforcement officers to attend the full training program for cadets which lasts approximately six months and includes approximately 1,200 training hours.

Because the lateral cadets will have at least two years of full-time law enforcement experience, the Patrol’s Academy Cadet Training Program will be shortened to approximately 12 weeks.

“As a way to increase our recruitment efforts, we are continuing to develop innovative ways to attract new applicants,” said Colonel Jones. “We believe there are officers who wanted to be troopers, but timing or other factors kept them from joining. A lateral cadet class is one way to attract those seasoned Ohio peace officers to the Patrol.”

The Patrol will pay those selected into the class during their training at the Academy and starting pay upon graduation for an Ohio state trooper is $31.19 per hour after July 1. A summary of the Highway Patrol Lateral Cadet requirements and other information is listed below:

• Must have a current Ohio Basic Peace Officer certification with two years of continuous full-time law enforcement experience with an Ohio agency.
• Academy training will be shortened to 12 weeks from the traditional six-month program.
• Lateral class cadets will be placed at a post within 50 air miles of their residence upon graduation.
• Must pass a physical assessment based on the Cooper Standard of the 30^th percentile prior to acceptance into the class.

People interested in becoming a member of the Patrol should visit www.statepatrol.ohio.gov and click on ‘OSHP Recruitment’.

The University of Findlay held its 2023 commencement ceremonies on Saturday.

The graduate and undergraduate ceremonies both took place at the Koehler Fitness and Recreation Complex.

Following each ceremony, graduates participated in the University of Findlay’s long-standing tradition of marching back through the Griffith Memorial Arch.

As freshmen, the same students walked through the Arch towards Old Main to symbolize the start of their journey at UF, and tradition states that students must not walk back through the Arch until commencement, or they wouldn’t graduate.

Students range in age from 19 to 71, and in total, 10 associate degrees, 464 bachelor’s, 228 master’s, and 182 doctorate degrees were awarded.

A man suspected of shooting and wounding two people in Findlay in April is in custody.

Isaiah Moore was located in Findlay, arrested, and booked at the Hancock County Justice Center on charges of felonious aggravated assault.

The 20-year-old is the suspect in the shooting of two men in a building at 230 East Front Street on the night of April 8^th.

The two men wounded were Kcaleeb Gonzalez, 25, of Fostoria, and Daniel Green, 47, of Lansing, Michigan.

They were treated at Blanchard Valley Hospital.

Moore was indicted by a Hancock County Grand Jury on two counts of felonious assault, a 2nd degree felony.

The Findlay Police Department says a man fired a gunshot into the ground during an argument outside a store.

It happened at around 11:30 Saturday morning behind Cigars-N-Stuff at 710 North Blanchard Street.

Police say Kyler Shoemaker was arguing with another individual when he fired one shot from a handgun into the ground.

No one was injured.

Police say Shoemaker fled the scene on foot and was later located and arrested.

He was charged with discharging a firearm within city limits and having a weapon under disability.

The gun was located a short distance away from where the incident occurred, according to police.

The Lima Avenue Root Beer Stand will soon be reopening under new ownership.

Stanley Miller, the owner of Miller’s Meat BBQ & Catering, bought the iconic Findlay establishment and plans to reopen it under the name Miller’s Root Beer & BBQ.

“My mother retired from Cooper Tire, so I remember going there as a kid when she used to work in the offices. I remember the first time going over there and getting the trays, seeing the frosty mugs come out to the cars back when you actually had to roll your windows down by hand.”

Miller says he sees this as an opportunity to keep an artisan business alive and put his own stamp on it, while creating generational memories for his own kids.

The restaurant will be managed by Rachelle Sanchez, who fondly remembers going there as a kid.

“I grew up going there as a kid, getting my small root beer floats. We had little baby floats back then, they had little kids’ cups which was really cool. It’s just a pretty cool experience. If you haven’t been there you should definitely check it out.”

Rachelle worked for the root beer stand for around 18 years on and off and is looking forward to helping people create new memories once they reopen.

Miller is anticipating opening Miller’s Root Beer & BBQ in early June.

You can get more updates on their Facebook page by clicking here. 

Lt. Governor Jon Husted was in Findlay on Friday to present Mayor Muryn and the City of Findlay with a commendation from the state for being named the country’s top Micropolitan community for a 9th straight year. (video below)

Mayor Muryn accepted the commendation in city council chambers and both she and Husted spoke about the efforts being made to attract businesses statewide and locally and to grow existing businesses.

In March, Findlay was ranked as the top Micropolitan community in the United States for the ninth year in a row.

The award, by Site Selection magazine, is based on job creation, new construction and capital investment.

A micropolitan area is defined as having a population between 10,000 and 50,000.

Over the past nine years, Findlay’s industrial sector has expanded significantly, contributing to nine consecutive Top Micropolitan wins, including this latest one for 2022.

(From Dr. Bill Kose with Blanchard Valley Health System)

The week of May 7-13 has been designated as National Healthcare Week. Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) is partnering with the American Hospital Association to celebrate the recognition of the healthcare workforce and encourage community members to do the same.

Day in and day out, the dedicated and selfless healthcare providers who work at BVHS – like their peers nationwide – devote their energy to caring for their community’s sick and injured. They did so throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, a stressful and exhausting time for those working in this field, and they continue to do so now as health care finds its new normal and we emerge out of the shadows of the pandemic.

We also are looking with an eye toward the future and working to get younger generations excited about healthcare professions to ensure caregivers are readily available for future generations. While this work is not without its challenges, it is also a profession where associates can feel they are truly making a difference.

We know many of you have had your own lives impacted by healthcare providers. We at BVHS are encouraging community members to join us in showing support to these professionals by taking a moment, this week, just to say “thank you.”

For our part, we at BVHS are grateful that you, our community, has entrusted us with your care. We’re here for you.

William Kose, MD, JD Vice President of Special Projects, Blanchard Valley Health System