A man was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital after crashing his Jeep into Eagle Creek along Sixth Street in Findlay.

Police said Andrew Kostendt, 20, of Findlay, was driving a Jeep Wrangler eastbound on Sixth Street on Wednesday morning when he fell asleep at the wheel.

His Jeep went off the north side of the road, struck a concrete bridge railing and overturned, coming to rest in Eagle Creek.

Andrew was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital by personal vehicle for treatment of what are described as minor injuries.

He was given a citation for operating without reasonable control.

Sixth Street was shut down for a while as crews responded and the Jeep was pulled from the creek.

There was a neat sight on Lake Cascades behind the WFIN, WKXA and 106.3 The Fox Studios on Thursday.

A small flock of white pelicans could be seen making their way across the lake.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife says white pelicans are an uncommon site in Ohio and are not native to Ohio.

The Division of Wildlife says they fielded a handful of calls from people in Findlay who saw the pelicans.

Officials say people who saw the pelicans are lucky because they are uncommon to see in Ohio and won’t be here long.

Below is some video and pictures of the pelicans on Lake Cascades on the south end of Findlay.

(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 Hancock County Board of Elections in Findlay is reminding voters about the upcoming special election in Ohio on August 8^th.

State Issue 1 will be the only issue on the ballot in the special election.

If approved, it would raise the threshold for passing future amendments to the Ohio Constitution from a simple majority to 60 percent along with expanding signature requirements to qualify for the ballot in the first place.

We spoke with Jody Beall O’Brien with the Hancock County Board of Elections about the special election.

As Jody mentioned in the audio above, many voters will have a new polling location for the special election.

This is due to spaces that would normally serve as polling locations, such as churches, holding bible schools over the summer or undergoing construction projects, preventing them from serving as polling locations as usual.

Jody says affected voters will receive a piece of mail from the board of elections letting them know what their polling location will be on August 8^th.

Jody said they are in need of poll workers and anyone interested in helping out should contact them.

The voter registration deadline is July 10^th, and early in-person voting begins on July 11^th.

Between now and the 250th anniversary of American independence, the Ohio History Connection will be unveiling historic murals on barns across the state, and one was dedicated Wednesday morning near Marietta in southeast Ohio.

The new mural along State Route 821 features Commodore Abraham Whipple from the American Revolution.

He helped lead the US Navy against Britain’s royal navy.

The mural features the USS Columbus.

Whipple was one of the founders of Marietta where he built sailing ships.

The mural is located at 2015 State Route 821, just south of exit 6 on Interstate 77.

(picture courtesy of Ohio History Connection)

(From Family Resource Center)

Family Resource Center has developed a program designed to address the emergency basic needs of individuals in Hancock County.

“People need to have their basic needs met before they can start to make healthy choices,” said Cristina Christensen, Criminal Justice Program Supervisor at Family Resource Center.

“Without access to food, shelter, or clothing, a person’s mental health suffers right alongside their physical health. It is crucial to emphasize that meeting basic needs is a fundamental, bedrock step in improving an individual’s mental health.”

Funded with support of a grant from The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, the program will distribute bags full of emergency items such as no-prep foods, first-aid supplies, a sleeping bag, pillow, and blanket, a portable fan, a few clothing items, a poncho, and one additional item that is being included after the results of a survey among clients served suggested it.

“We asked about the most useful item for individuals, and surprisingly, it was a phone charger. So, we made sure that every bag has a phone charger including cords for the most common types of phones,” said Christensen.

Family Resource Center will distribute the emergency need bags upon request.

“We are grateful for the support of the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation in addressing emergency basic needs within our community,” said John Bindas, President & CEO of Family Resource Center.

“We believe that by addressing these fundamental needs, we can help pave the way for long-term positive change in the lives of our clients.” To learn more about Family Resource Center, visit www.frcohio.org.

The Hancock Historical Museum’s Ice Cream Social that’s held after the Findlay 4^th of July Parade each year was a big hit again this year. (video below)

As soon as the parade wrapped up the line started growing outside the museum of people waiting to purchase some ice cream or a root beer float.

People then enjoyed their cool treat on the porch of the Hull House or on the grass.

The museum’s facilities were open with free admission.

During the ice cream social the museum handed out flyers reminding people of the Outdoor Classic Movie on August 19th featuring Back to the Future.

The Ohio Department of Transportation says a project will close State Route 568 east of Findlay.

ODOT says State Route 568 between Township Road 253 and Township Road 196 will close on Monday, July 10^th for approximately five days for a culvert replacement.

The suggested detour can be seen in the tweet below and by clicking here.

(From Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development)

Hancock County has been named the #1 County in Site Selection magazine‘s inaugural edition of America’s Best Counties. This achievement recognizes Hancock County’s outstanding success with business facility location and expansion projects on a per capita basis.

For almost 70 years, Site Selection magazine has been a leading authority in assessing economic development efforts of states, metros, and micropolitan areas. The rankings provide insights for companies and site selection consultants into the effectiveness of communities in fostering economic growth and opportunities for business. Site Selection editors had never looked at project data through a county lens – until now.

The #1 County ranking for Hancock County is a testament to its exceptional performance in attracting substantial company facility investments. Site Selection tracked these projects from January 1, 2022, through Q1 2023, capturing the growth and development that has taken place during this period.

“This achievement speaks to the hard work and dedication of local business, community leaders, and economic development partners who have created an environment conducive to success,” said Dan Sheaffer, Director of Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development.

Site Selection’s top-ranking underscores the outstanding collaboration between public and private sectors, business-friendly policies, and skilled workforce making it an ideal destination for any company seeking growth and expansion opportunities.

“This recognition further reinforces our position in northwest Ohio as a premier location for business investment,” said Commissioner Tim Bechtol of Hancock County. “Our community has worked tirelessly to cultivate an environment that fosters innovation, nurtures entrepreneurship, and supports business growth.”

Earlier this year Findlay again was ranked as the top Micropolitan community in the United States.

The Findlay Police Department said a man died after getting knocked down by a vehicle.

It happened in the 900 block of Sherwood Drive at 10:25 Monday night, according to police.

Police said James Firth, 66, of Findlay, was walking westbound along the south side of the 900 block of Sherwood Drive when a vehicle that was accidentally put in reverse rolled at idle and knocked him down.

Firth was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital with a head injury and died at the hospital.

Police said the operator of the vehicle was 86-year-old Jack Kaiser, of Findlay.

Police said a citation is to be issued after the investigation concludes.