(From the Findlay Family YMCA)

The Findlay YMCA will be taking over before and after school programming at Findlay City Schools beginning in the 2023-2024 school year.

FABSS, or Findlay After & Before School Sessions, was designed to provide safe and quality childcare for children in kindergarten through fifth grade during the school year before school starts and after school is dismissed. The program took place at Chamberlin Hill, Northview Elementary, and Wilson Vance.

The Findlay YMCA has collaborated with Findlay City Schools to provide similar programming for the 2023-2024 school year. The new program, YMCA After & Before School Sessions (YABSS) will continue to operate at Findlay City Schools.

“This is a great program, but more importantly, it is a NEEDED program,” said Kari Harrison Redman, Child Development District Director at the Findlay YMCA. “We are delighted that FCS approached us with this opportunity to show our commitment to working families in our area.”

The YMCA just recently announced Redman as their new Child Development District Director, a newly created position to meet the growing needs of childcare in the community. Redman is familiar with both organizations after teaching preschool at Findlay City Schools for eight years and serving on the YMCA’s Child Development Advisory Board for the past five.

“I am excited to team with Findlay’s YMCA to provide optimal before and after school childcare,” said Krista Crates Miller, Assistant Superintendent of Findlay City Schools. “Our students deserve the best and the partnership between the YMCA and FCS will provide just that!”

The Findlay YMCA is encouraging parents who may be interested in YABSS for the 2023-2024 school year to sign up for YABSS updates in the childcare section of their website at www.findlayymca.org/yabss.

(From the City of Findlay)

Safety is a pillar of the City of Findlay’s mission and values. The City is proud to have a culture of safety within its workforce that has led to $2,529,194.77 in workers compensation reimbursements since 2019.

The City participates in the Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation (BWC) Group-Retrospective Rating Program. The City continues to pay its individual premium and has the opportunity to receive retrospective premium adjustments based upon the combined performance of the group.

The most significant contributor to savings within the group is each employer’s experience modification rate (EMR). BWC uses the historical payroll, industry type and claim costs to determine EMR. An employer with claim costs that are typical for its size and industry will have an EMR of 1.0. If the employer has lower claim costs than typical, their EMR will be below 1.0.  Conversely, if an employer has higher claims costs than typical, their EMR will be above 1.0.  The City of Findlay’s EMR for 2024 will be 0.71 and has had an average EMR of 0.82 for the last 5 years.

The City’s Human Resources office tracks workplace incidents and identifies possible preventative measures to avoid future occurrences. The City has partnered with BWC to have all facilities assessed for safety and makes changes based on findings.

The City looks forward to continuing to ensure a culture of safety amongst its workforce.

Findlay’s 4^th of July Parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 4^th.

The parade will begin at Lincoln Street and head north on Main Street, ending at Center Street.

People are being reminded that portions of Main Street will be closed during the parade and beforehand as participants in the parade line up.

The Hancock Historical Museum will be holding its July 4^th Ice Cream Social after the parade at the museum located at 422 West Sandusky Street.

Findlay’s Independence Day Fireworks show will take place on Monday, July 3rd at the Hancock County Fairgrounds.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office says it’s been receiving a lot of 911 misdials and hang- ups recently.

The sheriff’s office said the issue is happening at 911 call centers across the country.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office shared a Facebook post from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office about the issue.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office says many of the misdials are from Android phones which recently were updated to include crash detection in their settings.

“If you own an Android phone, please be careful where you place your phone for example, in a cup holder on a lawn mower, lawn chair, on a boat or in a pants pocket. If you hear the emergency calls being made, DO NOT hang up, please stay on the phone, and explain to the dispatcher your phone accidentally called 911.”

“If you simply hang up without speaking to a dispatcher, the dispatcher must follow the following procedure in an attempt to verify an emergency is not taking place.”

-The dispatcher must attempt to call the number back.

-If they do not receive an answer, they typically call the number a second time to speak with someone.

-If there still is no response, the dispatcher then texts the phone explaining the situation and the need for the owner of the phone to reply to the dispatcher.

-If no response is received after the text is sent, a deputy is sent to the location the phone plotted on the map.

“We understand that 911 calls are made in error, please stay on the line or answer when the dispatcher calls you back to keep our deputies available for calls for service.”

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says three people were injured in a two-vehicle crash just outside the city limits of Findlay on the east side.

The crash happened at the intersection of US 224 and Township Road 237 at about 3 o’clock Thursday afternoon.

The sheriff’s office said Carolyne Bielstein, 84, was northbound on Township Road 237 in a Toyota Prius, and after stopping at the stop sign at US 224, proceeded into the intersection failing to observe that a Kia Soul was eastbound on US 224.

Bielstein’s Prius struck the passenger side of the Soul and both cars came to rest in the roadway.

The sheriff’s office says two people in the Kia Soul were taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Bielstein was treated at the scene by EMS personnel.

Bielstein was cited for failing to yield the right of way.

WFIN reported in November that a traffic light is planned for that intersection, and you can read more about that by clicking here.

The Hancock Historical Museum and Hancock Regional Planning Commission will host a public forum to continue a community conversation about historic preservation.

“I think a lot of people are surprised to learn that in our community we really don’t have any of the policies in place to prioritize historic preservation and protect our historic buildings,” said Sarah Sisser, Executive Director of the Hancock Historical Museum.

Sarah says the forum is an opportunity for the museum to educate people about the concept of historic preservation and how to go about it if the community determines it is a priority.

As Sarah mentioned in the audio above, people attending the forum will be able to ask questions and learn more from state experts about the value of historic preservation, how it has been used as a tool for redevelopment in the state, and the steps the community can take to make it a priority.

The forum will take place on Thursday, June 29th at 6 p.m. in Findlay City Council Chambers at the Findlay Municipal Building.

(From the University of Findlay)

The University of Findlay department of athletics is pleased to announced plans for a new multi-purpose practice facility located in the heart of campus. Dick Strahm Champions Field will provide 83,000 square feet of turf that will be utilized primarily by the football program, but will also serve as auxiliary practice space for many of the department’s 22 NCAA sponsored sports. It will also be utilized by the university’s intramural programs as well as various community organizations including Upward Sports of Findlay.

About the project, Director of Athletics Jim Givens said, “Coach Strahm left an indelible mark on the University of Findlay, and we are honored to have this facility planned in his name. I want to thank (Head Football Coach) Kory Allen and (Findlay President) Dr. Fell for their work in supporting this project and working to make it a reality. We’re excited to get Dick Strahm Champions Field under construction and know that this is a positive step forward in our effort to maintain our status as a highly attractive option for high-level student-athletes.”

Over the past two months, 60% of the funds necessary have been secured. A continued effort is being made to obtain the remaining portion. Interested donors are encouraged to contact Director of Athletics Jim Givens or Interim Vice President of Advancement Ken McIntyre.

The field will be constructed by Maumee Bay Turf Center which operates out of Oregon, Ohio and is run by 1991 UF  graduate, Brad Morrison. Dick Strahm Champions Field will be a 100-yard turf facility with a goal post in the north endzone and extra room for positional work in the northwest corner of the field. The facility will be lit, providing the opportunity to practice into the evenings.

“I would like to thank our incredible alumni base and football supporters. These individuals are the foundation that this program was built on and their support of this project has been and will continue to be impressive“, commented Kory Allen. “I would also like to thank Jim Givens for all the time and support he has provided in working towards this day. To Dr. Katherine Fell and our Board of Trustees, thank you. Your support and belief in this facility is appreciated. It will be an honor to practice every day on ‘Dick Strahm Champions Field’, paying homage to a group of men who set the standard here at Findlay.

Coach Dick Strahm was a staple on the sidelines at Findlay for 24 years, coaching his teams to a combined record of 183-63-5 in 252 games as the head coach. During his tenure, the Oilers won 13 conference titles and four NAIA national championships, finishing as the top team in the country in 1979, 1992, 1995, and 1997. Strahm was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004 and remains the Oilers’ all-time wins leader in football as the only head coach with more than 100 wins.

(From the United Way of Hancock County)

A local nonprofit director is among the final graduating class of the prestigious Jo Ann Davidson Ohio Leadership Institute.

Betty D. Montgomery, chair of the board for The Jo Ann Davidson Ohio Leadership Institute and the first woman Ohio Attorney General, has announced that Angela DeBoskey, CEO of United Way of Hancock County, graduated from the institute at a recent ceremony in Washington, D.C. DeBoskey joins an alumni class of about 500 Ohio Republican women — 12 from Hancock County — to have graduated from the eight-month leadership training program since the first class formed in 2001.

“These outstanding women leaders are dedicated to applying their experience and skills to community and public service,” Montgomery said. “It is inspiring to watch their growth and commitment to a better future for our state and our communities.”

The Institute is dedicated to outlining opportunities for women leaders to grow and serve their communities best, with extensive studies in local, state and federal governments, as well as public policy, public speaking, politics and the organization of political parties. DeBoskey said she is honored to have been one of only about 20 women from across Ohio to be selected for this year’s class and to learn new skills to advance the work of the United Way.

“There is a network of women across the state – and in some cases, based on new and changing employment opportunities, across the country – that are doing amazing things,” DeBoskey said, “and I am proud to be among their ranks. Our responsibility as we move forward is to inspire the women around us to step into the leadership shoes that will serve their communities best.”

Throughout the program, DeBoskey and the other participants spent time at the Ohio Statehouse, where they observed the legislative process and learned ways to lobby for change and leverage state and federal grants to advance their respective communities. The graduation in Washington, D.C., was a culmination of several days spent meeting one on one with political leaders from Ohio and touring the U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court.

DeBoskey said the process served to demystify the legislative process and to further her understanding of the ways she can help better her community.

“It makes it more approachable from a citizen point of view, but also from the point of view of, ‘Why couldn’t I,’” DeBoskey said.

“Why couldn’t I form relationships with my state representatives or regularly visit Washington to make an impact? Why couldn’t I pursue federal dollars to advance opportunities for the residents of Hancock County?”

The Findlay Police Department has promoted Justin Hendren to the position of Captain.

Hendren began his career with the Findlay Police Department in 1999 as a full-time officer and was assigned to the Patrol Division.

Prior to this assignment, he worked a year and a half with the Pemberville Police Department and was also an Auxiliary Deputy with the Wood County Sheriff’s Office.

He has served as a Field Training Officer, a Crisis Management Team Operator, and was the Department’s Officer of the Year in 2003.

During his career, he served in various positions within the department; including Patrol Sergeant, Detective Sergeant in the Hancock County METRICH Enforcement Unit, Special Services Lieutenant, Patrol Division Lieutenant, and Detective Lieutenant.

He was promoted to Sergeant in 2007 and promoted to Lieutenant in 2020.

Hendren is married to his wife Victoria and they have six children.

Captain Hendren will be sworn in by Mayor Christina Muryn at the City of Findlay Municipal Building Council Chambers on Monday, June 26 at 1 p.m.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office has some positions open for Deputy Sheriffs.

The sheriff’s office is currently hiring with all the details in the flyer below.

Candidates must be OPOTA (Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy) certified and pass an extensive background investigation.

After one year the pay is $63,148 annually or $30.36 an hour.

Get more details by clicking here and in the flyer below.