A bomb squad was called in after a Tiffin resident found a grenade while cleaning out their basement.

It happened in the 300 block of Elm Street on Thursday afternoon.

Police say the resident was looking through some boxes that hadn’t been opened in 40 years when they came across what appeared to be a hand grenade similar to the “pineapple” grenades associated with the US military in WWI, WWII and the Vietnam War.

It could not be determined if it was a live grenade, training grenade or a replica so the Toledo Bomb Squad was contacted to remove it.

Tiffin Police said they have no information about whether it was a live grenade or not.

The police department thanked the Toledo Bomb Squad for their help.

A few months ago a grenade was found in a Hancock County field and you can read more about that by clicking here.

Findlay and Hancock County are included in a Flood Watch issued by the National Weather Service.

The Flood Watch goes through Saturday morning.

Forecasters say flooding of rivers, creeks and low-lying and flood-prone locations caused by excessive rainfall is possible.

Multiple rounds of showers and storms on Friday and in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday could drop very heavy rain at times.

Get the latest river levels by clicking here and forecast by clicking here.

The Findlay Police Department says someone tried to rob the Subway restaurant in downtown Findlay on Thursday night.

Police said a male suspect entered the restaurant at 608 South Main Street at 6:22 Thursday night and told the employees that he needed $100.

When the suspect was not given any money he ran out of the back of the business and threatened to come back and shoot up the place.

No one was injured during the attempted robbery.

Police said the suspect was wearing a green stocking hat and had a bandana covering his face.

The incident remains under investigation.

The Findlay Police Department says officers found illegal drugs on a man during a traffic stop.

It happened in the 200 block of Crystal Avenue around 2:15 Thursday afternoon.

During the traffic stop, police say a front seat passenger, Samuel Greer, was observed to have suspected methamphetamine spilled on the front of his pants and some on his hands.

A torn piece of plastic was also observed sticking out of his waistband, police said.

Police removed Greer from the vehicle and placed him under arrest for possession of meth and tampering with evidence.

Police say a search of Greer uncovered an additional 27 grams of methamphetamine and half a gram of suspected fentanyl.

Greer was booked at the Hancock County Jail for possession of drugs and tampering with evidence.

Some area fire departments received some good news regarding grants they applied for.

The Southwestern Hancock Joint Fire District says it has been awarded a $661,904 grant through the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program.

The grant money will be used to replace one of their engines.

The volunteer fire district said this is their second award with Ohio First Responder Grants.

The Vanlue Fire Department says it was also awarded an AFG grant it applied for.

They will be receiving a $50,000 grant which will be used to purchase a Cascade System, which is a compressor and fill station, allowing them to refill all of their air bottles for their self contained breathing apparatus air packs.

“This is a huge purchase for our department, to which we will receive tremendous benefits from. I want to thank Mickey Smith with Ohio First Responder Grants and his staff for all of their time and assistance in preparing and submission of our grant application!” said Chief Mark Price.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation)

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation is pleased to announce its advocacy program has resulted in over $6.9 million in government funds.

This return is 35-times the investment of $200,000 granted by the Foundation for this work.

“Our advocacy work focuses on helping Hancock County nonprofits develop relationships with elected officials and policymakers at every level of government and identify and secure public funding,” said Brian Treece, President & CEO of the Foundation.

“These efforts have already leveraged millions of dollars and we know this investment will continue to benefit local organizations for many years to come.”

The Foundation began working with Williams Nonprofit Consulting in 2018 to train local nonprofits on advocacy and created a cohort of organizations to work more in-depth.

When the pandemic began in 2020, the Foundation used grant funding to engage a consultant to work on behalf of local nonprofits. That success led to the continuation of our advocacy work, and even more dollars for organizations in our community.

“The Community Foundation would like to thank Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn, Hancock County Commissioners, State Representative Jon Cross and State Senator Rob McColley,” said Treece.

“They have been an integral part of this process, dedicating time to working with nonprofit organizations and securing funding.”

Some of the projects funded by the Foundation’s advocacy work include: • Blanchard River Watershed Partnership received $160,000 from the City of Findlay and the Hancock County Commissioners for the ecological restoration of the Riverside Dam and reservoir area. • Creation of the Nonprofit Resilience Program to streamline the distribution of more than $420,000 to nonprofits during the early stages of the pandemic in partnership with Mayor Christina Muryn. • More than $1 million for over 20 nonprofits through the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program. • Local, state and federal funding for childcare providers, arts and culture organizations, housing, emergency food distributions, environmental groups and more.

“Our work with The Community Foundation and Williams Nonprofit Consulting has set our organization up for years of success and more importantly generations of impact,” said Lauren Sandhu, Executive Director of Blanchard River Watershed Partnership. “We are grateful to the Foundation, Jennifer Williams and the elected officials who have rallied behind us for making this investment happen.”

In addition to funding, The Community Foundation’s advocacy efforts have also increased awareness with elected officials at the local, state and federal levels including a tour of The Family Center and housing discussion with U.S Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and a conversation about food security issues in Hancock County with Sen. Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) that led to a donation from Campbell’s to the West Ohio Foodbank valued at more than $130,000.

“The Foundation is continuing its advocacy work with Williams Nonprofit Consulting including assisting nonprofits getting started with advocacy and securing funding for the Hancock County community,” said Treece. “There are several major projects in the works and funding opportunities. We are looking forward to all that we can accomplish in partnership with our elected officials.”

Bluffton’s calendar will read 1933 in the village’s first-ever Bluffton History Day on Saturday, August 12th, recalling the 90^th anniversary of the Dillinger bank robbery in Bluffton.

“In August, 1933, John Dillinger and gang members held up the Citizens National Bank taking $2,100,” said Bluffton Historian Fred Steiner.

“The FBI called Dillinger Public Enemy Number 1, giving Bluffton its 20th century 15 minutes of fame. That fame continues in its ninth as the robbery placed Bluffton forever in the Dillinger legend.”

The schedule of events is below.

• 9 to 11 a.m. – Information table at Bluffton Farmers’ Market

• 9 to 11 a.m. – Book signing, 90^thanniversary edition of “Four Guys Walk Into a Bank… and the rest is Bluffton oral history”

• 10 a.m. – Free matinee of “Public Enemy,” featuring Johnny Depp, at Shannon Theatre

• 11 a.m. and noon – Retelling of the Bluffton Dillinger robbery by Fred Steiner in front of Citizens National Bank

• 1930s-era model vehicles to be displayed on Main Street

• 4 p.m. to midnight ­– Greenhorn Restaurant on Vine Street events

4 p.m. to midnight, Prohibition-era cocktails, street food and regular menu In the atmosphere of a 1930-era Speakeasy

6:30 p.m. – Retelling of the Bluffton Dillinger robbery by Fred Steiner

7 p.m. – Music by Jesse Henry, Bluffton native, performing The Ballad of John Dillinger

Nancy Corle-Agner and Phil Gratz will perform following Jesse Henry

Several family members of eye-witnesses to the Dillinger robbery will be introduced and will stand in their place as the 11 a.m. and noon retelling event is underway.

 Among those persons include:
• Jenny Bogart Donges as Harry Bogart, her grandfather

• Marilyn Murray Shelly as Dode Murray, postmaster, her great-uncle
• Neil Hauenstein as Edgar Hauenstein, pharmacist, his grand nephew
• Jim S. West as James and Bob West, working across from the bank, son of James and nephew of Bob West

People are being reminded to watch out for their pets as temperatures rise into the mid 90s on Friday with a heat index around 105. A Heat Advisory will be in effect.

Natalie Reffit, with the Humane Society and SPCA of Hancock County, says the biggest thing to remember is to never take your pet in a hot car with you.

“Just please leave them at home during the heat. They will be much safer at home, a car can heat up very, very fast.”

Natalie says if your dog is going to be alone at any time in your vehicle just leave them at home in the air conditioning.

She says if you do take your dog for a walk make sure to do so early in the day or late in the day when the heat isn’t as bad.

If your dog is outside for any amount of time she says to make sure they have plenty of shade and fresh water.

Signs of heat distress in a dog include excessive panting, vomiting and diarrhea.

She says older dogs and short-nosed dogs like pugs and bulldogs are less tolerant of the heat.

When it comes to cats, she says beware of opening your house windows too wide because a cat could push the screen out and fall out and get lost.

The entire State of Ohio will be under a Heat Advisory on Friday.

The Heat Advisory will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, July 28.

In Findlay and Hancock County, the high temperature is expected to be around 95 with heat index values as high as 104.

The high temps and high humidity could cause heat illnesses to occur.

People are advised to drink plenty of water, stay in the air conditioning if possible, and check on relatives and neighbors.

Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.

Click here for the latest forecast and weather alerts.

People are reminded that if it’s too hot for them it’s also too hot for their pets.

The City of Findlay has changed the date for the upcoming Wags & Walks event due to very warm weather in the forecast.

The event will now be held on Thursday, October 5th, from 6 to 7 p.m. instead of Wednesday, July 26.

The upcoming event will give people a chance to get outside and get active and possibly also make a connection with a shelter dog.

Dogs from the Humane Society and SPCA of Hancock County who are longing for their ‘furever’ home will be part of the Wags and Walks event at Emory Adams Park.

The event coming up on Thursday, October 5th, from 6 to 7 p.m. is part of Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn’s Move with the Mayor campaign.

“The mayor wants to get people active, at least 30 minutes of activity, and what better way than to walk a shelter dog,” said Natalie Reffitt with the Humane Society at a previous event.

People will have the chance to take a shelter dog for a walk around the park to see if they make a connection.

The event will be held at the shelter house next to the Fort Findlay playground.

People are welcome to bring their own pets.

Click here to see what animals are currently up for adoption at the Humane Society and SPCA of Hancock County.