Findlay City Schools is in need of substitutes for the upcoming school year.

“We have a huge need for substitutes at Findlay City Schools just like every other school district right now,” said Communications Director Kelly Cheney.

Kelly says that when most people hear “substitute” they think classroom teaching, but she says the school district is seeking quality subs for every aspect of their operations.

“We need facilities substitutes, we need food service, office staff, transportation. Obviously, we have classroom needs but it’s not just that if that’s not your area of expertise or enjoyment.”

Kelly hopes they see as many people as possible join their Trojan Country team as a substitute for the upcoming school year.

Get more details on becoming a substitute for Findlay City Schools and other job opportunities by clicking here.

A couple who recently adopted a dog from the Humane Society and SPCA of Hancock County had him in their wedding a few days after giving him his furever home.

The couple shared some pictures from their wedding with the Humane Society showing Wayne (on the right in the pic above) with his new fursiblings and his nearly identical new sister.

“Congratulations to his Mom and Dad on their new nuptials and Wayne, you did it buddy! You finally found your fur-ever after!” the Humane Society wrote on their Facebook page.

We spoke with the Humane Society’s Natalie Reffitt about Wayne’s (formerly Mcrib’s) journey to finding his furever home.

As Natalie mentioned in the audio above, they took McRib to Wet Nose Wednesday on WKXA on June 14 and then his new Mom stopped in to the Humane Society and put in an application for him and adopted him.

Natalie asked her why it was important to include McRib (now Wayne) in her wedding along with her other dogs.

“Our dogs are pretty much our babies and so much a part of our lives,” she said.

“It wouldn’t have been the same without them, and we decided to act on Wayne (formerly Mcrib) as quickly as we did because we planned to give him his furever home and he needed to be in the wedding pictures with us.”

Click here to see what animals the Humane Society has up for adoption.

Police in the Cleveland suburb of Westlake say they have located the SUV involved in a road construction zone accident on I-90 that seriously injured an ODOT worker.

Unfortunately, it’s a scenario that often happens this time of year.

The Ohio Department of Transportation’s Matt Bruning says drivers have already hit ODOT workers or equipment 35 times this year.

“That is 35 times too many. There is no reason for those kinds of crashes to occur.”

And it’s not just road crews getting hurt.

According to ODOT, there were more than 5,200 move-over crashes between 2015 and 2020.

40 percent involved highways workers and 42 percent involved law enforcement officers.

Ohio’s Move Over Law requires drivers to move over, or slow down if changing lanes isn’t possible, when passing vehicles with flashing lights on the side of the road.

(the picture below is from a previous crash when an ODOT crew in Putnam County was struck)

(From the Findlay Rotary Club)

At the Club’s Wednesday, June 14 meeting, The Findlay Rotary Club presented the Service Above Self Award to William H. “Bill” Conlisk. The award is presented annually to a non-Rotarian in the community who exemplifies the Rotary ideals of professional leadership and service.

Findlay Rotarian Harold “Puck” Rowe wrote in nominating “Bill demonstrates what can happen when one steps up to volunteer or improve the quality of life for all citizens. Bill has been an incredible volunteer in so many ways. He has the respect and admiration of many citizens of this community. His integrity and character are incredible.”

Professionally, Conlisk served in various positions throughout his career with Marathon Petroleum Company, retiring as Manager of Administrative Services. In this position, Conlisk coordinated and managed MPC’s corporate philanthropy. It was this work where Bill collaborated with numerous non-profit agencies in the Findlay and Hancock community, providing corporate support to their many outreach programs for the needy. Some major community projects included Marathon Diamonds, Hancock Soccer Fields and Marathon Center for the Performing Arts.

He also served on numerous community organizations such as Alzheimer’s Association, Habitat for Humanity, Susan G. Komen, United Way and many other area organizations. Bill currently serves on the boards of The Findlay Hancock Community Foundation in Findlay and St. Francis de Sales school in Toledo, his high school alma mater.

Bill has designated a $500 contribution made in his name by the Findlay Rotary Club equally to United Way of Hancock County and Habitat for Humanity.

(Bill is pictured above with Findlay Rotary President Char Simons and Harold “Puck” Rowe)

Since May 13, troopers from the Marion Post and the Bucyrus District Office of Investigative Services continued to investigate and follow up on leads to locate the vehicle and driver from the hit-skip fatal crash that occurred on state Route 95 in Marion County.

As a result of the crash, John Arthur II succumbed to his injuries on May 19.

To further the investigation, the Ohio State Highway Patrol sought the public’s assistance on June 2 for any information regarding the crash. As a result, numerous tips were received and those tips were followed up on by investigators.

On Tuesday, troopers from the Bucyrus District Office of Investigative Services executed a search warrant at a residence in LaRue, where the BMW X5 was located in the garage and it was determined to be the hit-skip vehicle involved in the fatal crash.

A short time later, the driver, Evan Trigg, 43, was arrested by troopers from the Patrol’s Special Response Team. Later that night, Trigg’s wife, Carrie Jervis, 36, turned herself in to troopers at the Marion Post, where she was arrested.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol wants to thank the public for their assistance, which moved the investigation forward and ultimately led to the arrest of Trigg and Jervis. Both were charged with tampering with evidence, a felony, and incarcerated at the Multi-County Correctional Center in Marion, and both could face additional charges.

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

No one likes to admit to getting older, yet it happens to us all. But it may be a more meaningful experience if you think seriously about what you want and where you want to live. Even seniors with no health issues may find that living in a retirement community, offering a continuum of care, simplifies their life.

Deciding to move when you are ready, rather than being forced to move because of health issues, gives you more control over the process. Downsizing can take time. And, if your children grew up in the home where you live, they too will have memories there. So, you may wish to have conversations as a family.

It was deeply instilled in my generation that owning our own home was the “American Dream.” So, many of us may be emotionally attached to our homes on a deeper level than younger homeowners.

At the same time, it takes a great deal of time to keep up a home. In a senior community you will not have to worry about the work of the home and yard. Someone else will cook and clean. Someone else will fix anything that might break. Even if you are in good health and you are capable of doing these chores, you may prefer having more time to yourself just to enjoy your retirement.

In addition, a community can provide security and companionship that you won’t find living alone. Forming social bonds is vital to our health and happiness, and it’s very important, as we get older, not to isolate. Seniors who are widowed or divorced might especially benefit from the chance to make friends more easily. Even casual conversations may help you feel less alone.

But couples, too, can benefit from being around others their age. Who knows? You might just find a new close friend or a social circle to talk about common interests.

For example, when a new resident moves into Birchaven, a division of Blanchard Valley Health System, associates survey them to get a good sense of their interests so that activities are centered around the individual. Activities might include movies, playing cards, and adult coloring books, among others.

Additionally, residents with disabilities, such as hearing or vision loss, are assisted to make sure they’re included. Team members also pay attention to residents’ spiritual needs so they can practice their faith in a way that feels comfortable and meaningful in this setting. The goal is always to make residents feel truly at home.

If you do later develop health issues requiring more intense care, you can segue from one type of living to another. That way, you would receive the new services you need but still be on the same campus, with people familiar with you and your history. This may be especially important if one spouse requires more care than the other. They would still be close enough that it would be very easy for the healthier spouse to visit often.

If a person needs medical care, nursing and medical staff are available right on-site. Social workers, too, are available to help individuals adjust and assist with any other concerns.

Making this move may not feel easy, but there are teams of skilled professionals able to help each person. A senior community may set the stage for a whole new, enjoyable chapter of your life.

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

The Black Swamp Area Council held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for Yammine Lodge at Camp Berry on Tuesday afternoon. (video below)

The new lodge has been designed with multipurpose functionality in mind.

Meeting spaces in the lodge are large enough to host volunteer and youth training education, merit badge courses, Scouting-related meetings/receptions, and year-round use for corporate meetings and family gatherings.

We spoke with Executive Director Marc Kogan after the ribbon cutting.

Users of the meeting space will have access to a catering kitchen, Wi-Fi and audio/visual equipment to support their functions.

Also included in the design is a business center for camp administrative staff and the camp director.

The Findlay Hancock County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for the new lodge and video of it can be seen below.

Yammine Lodge is located at Camp Berry at 11716 County Road 40 a little south of Findlay.

A Fostoria man authorities said provided the illegal drugs that led to a man’s overdose death was sentenced to prison.

Kegan Woodland, 31, was sentenced to 12 to 16 years behind bars after pleading guilty to nine counts including trafficking in heroin, corrupting another with drugs and involuntary manslaughter.

In January of 2021, Fostoria police responded to an address on Sandusky Street on the report of a deceased man and officers found Dwaine D. Sexton, 50, dead of an apparent overdose.

During the investigation, police said it was determined that Woodland provided the illegal drugs that contributed to Sexton’s death.

The City of Findlay is updating residents on the several construction projects that are ongoing throughout the city.  Listed below are some of the projects and the restrictions that result from the ongoing projects. The restrictions are ongoing June 19, 2023, through June 23, 2023. The status of some of the projects is weather and contractor schedule permitting.

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 County Road 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 milling and paving.

ADAMS STREET – Western Avenue to Portz Avenue – Adams Street will be closed to through traffic from Western Avenue to Portz Avenue for curb replacement.

BREEZEWOOD DRIVE – Brookside Drive to Dead End – Breezewood Drive will be closed to through traffic from Brookside Drive to Dead End for curb replacement.

BEECH AVENUE – Lincoln Street to Hancock Street – Beech Avenue will be closed to through traffic from Lincoln Street to Hancock Street for curb replacement.

CRANBERRY LANE – Cranberry West to Hunters Creek Drive – Cranberry Lane will be closed to through traffic from Cranberry West to Hunters Creek Drive for curb replacement.

CRANBERRY WEST – Cranberry Lane to Autumn Drive – Cranberry West will be closed to through traffic from Cranberry Lane to Autumn Drive for curb replacement.

EBEN AVENUE – Blanchard Avenue to Crystal Avenue – Eben Avenue will be closed to through traffic from Blanchard Avenue to Crystal Avenue for curb replacement.

Motorists are advised to avoid these areas if possible. Short delays are expected in these areas over the next week.

The Engineering Department will release updates on information and schedules when it becomes available. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about any of these projects at 419-424-7121.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development office)

Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development (FHCED) along with Findlay City Schools is pleased to announce the facilitation of a significant real estate transfer in Findlay, Ohio.

Lincoln School, a historic landmark within Findlay City Schools, is set to be repurposed through a partnership with Trivium Development, a Columbus-based development company.

“This collaboration will help to transform the iconic building into a vibrant mixed-use project, incorporating office, retail, and residential spaces,” stated Paul Sears, Chairman of the Blanchard Valley Port Authority.

With a wealth of experience in repurposing decommissioned schools, Trivium brings a strong track record to the table.

“Their expertise and vision will breathe new life into the historic building, preserving its heritage while revitalizing the one hundred fifteen year old site,” said Matt Cooper, President Findlay City School Board.

“The partnership between Findlay City Schools, Blanchard Valley Port Authority and Trivium represents a powerful alliance committed to the economic growth and redevelopment of infill spaces,” said Dan Sheaffer, Director of Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development.

The proposed mixed-use project is set to revitalize the site by offering a dynamic blend of office, retail, and residential spaces. The development will create a hub for local businesses, providing opportunities for entrepreneurship and economic growth. Additionally, the inclusion of residential units will enhance the area’s livability, attracting new residents and fostering a broadened sense of community in the heart of downtown Findlay.

The Blanchard Valley Port Authority and Trivium Development are eager to embark on this transformative journey together. “By repurposing Lincoln School, we are not only preserving a piece of local history but also assisting Findlay-Hancock Economic Development and breathing new life into a storied site,” said Tim Spencer, President Trivium Development.

Trivium Development also has plans to construct a mixed-use building on the long-vacant Arygle lot in downtown Findlay, and you can read more about that by clicking here.