The West Ohio Food Bank is making it easier for people to find out about upcoming food distributions and special events in their area.
The food bank’s new mobile text alert system is now available.
To sign up just send a text with the word westohiofoodbank to 419-757-4981.
Then follow the prompts and enter the name of your county.
As Jason Aldrich with the West Ohio Food Bank said in the audio above, they had been using a different app but it just didn’t live up to the messaging standards they needed to let people know about when and where distributions will be happening, especially when they have pop-up distributions.
Get more information by checking out the West Ohio Food Bank website by clicking here.
Findlay High School’s award-winning show choir, Findlay First Edition, will be holding its annual Garage Sale fundraiser at the Findlay High School cafeteria.
FFE Director Kevin Manley, on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks, says the Garage Sale is the group’s biggest fundraiser of the year and proceeds go towards competition fees and the purchasing of costumes and other items needed throughout the season.
The Garage Sale begins on Thursday, July 13th with the Early Bird Sale in which people can pay $10 to be among the first to check out the items for sale.
The early bird hours on Thursday are 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The garage sale will be open to the public, free of charge, on Friday, July 14 from 8 to 6 and Saturday, July 15, from 8 to noon.
The sale takes place at Findlay High School at 1200 Broad Avenue.
People can donate gently used items to the sale on July 10, 11 and 12.
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says a teenager was injured in a motorcycle crash in the northern part of the county.
The crash happened on County Road 18 near State Route 613 at 9:55 Tuesday morning.
The sheriff’s office says Aidan Frankfather, 18, of Bloomdale, was driving south on County Road 18 on a Yamaha motorcycle when it went off the roadway.
Aidan was thrown from the motorcycle and came to rest in a field.
Aidan was transported to Blanchard Valley Hospital.
The sheriff’s office said Aidan was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, which remains under investigation.
The United Way of Hancock County says there’s still time to provide valuable input on childcare needs to help inform collaborative efforts to implement solutions across Hancock County.
Over 550 people — including parents of children in care, prospective parents, grandparents and parents of grown children — have filled out the Hancock County Childcare Survey so far.
The survey is designed to help community leaders quantify and understand gaps in current childcare opportunities. Input is still being sought, and the short survey can be filled out by clicking here.
A related survey, targeted toward HR professionals and business leadership, can be found at the same webpage. Results from both surveys will be posted to the page by late summer.
The collaborative effort is being coordinated by Blanchard Valley Health System, Hancock County Job & Family Services, Findlay Family YMCA, The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation and United Way of Hancock County, along with concerned residents. A similar process was recently carried out in McComb and led to a $1 million grant to build a new childcare facility in the village.
“We heard from our community during Community Conversations how important high-quality, affordable childcare is to residents of Hancock County. Completing this survey will strengthen the information we have to all work together to address this need,” said Brian Treece, president and CEO of The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation.
Community leaders are eager to review the results of the survey, which seeks to understand gaps in individual childcare offerings and the ways those gaps are impacting families’ employment and overall quality of life.
“Even before the pandemic, the availability of childcare was one of the biggest barriers to families wishing to return to the workforce and for employers to recruit and retain quality employees. Since the pandemic, the need for childcare has only increased,” said Randall Galbraith, director of Hancock County Job & Family Services.
“The partnerships surrounding daycare in Hancock County have netted some big wins already, and the completion of the surveys by both the public and employers will greatly assist us in targeting our continued efforts to improve the availability and quality of childcare. I strongly encourage businesses and individuals to take the time to complete the surveys. Quality data leads to quality solutions,” Galbraith added.
“During the pandemic, a key attribution came into play. That is, by ‘working together we can accomplish more.’ Participation in these surveys will help us understand our community’s needs around daycare and empower us towards solutions that strengthen the community,” said Myron D. Lewis, president and CEO of Blanchard Valley Health System.
“As one of the child development providers in our community, we recognize the importance of offering a nurturing and supportive environment for children to develop and grow while allowing caregivers to return to the workforce,” said Stephanie Parsons, CEO of the Findlay YMCA. “Our ultimate goal for childcare in the community is to fill as many gaps as possible. We know that the best way to identify those gaps is by hearing the needs directly from the families who utilize childcare services.”
Visitors to this webpage will also find a list of Hancock County childcare providers, along with a printable poster to hang in their workplace.
The Ohio Department of Transportation is seeking public comment on some upcoming resurfacing projects on U.S. 68, State Route 15 and U.S. 23 in Hancock County and Wyandot County.
ODOT is proposing to resurface the following locations in Hancock and Wyandot counties.
Resurfacing 1.83 miles of U.S. Route 68 (Hancock County) from southeast of the U.S. Route 68 and Lima Avenue interchange on the south side of the city of Findlay to the north end of the U.S. Route 68 and State Route 15 interchange. Construction activities will result in one day ramp closures at the U.S. Route 68 and State Route 15 interchange ramps. Vehicular through traffic will be detoured temporarily.
Resurfacing 10.65 miles of State Route 15 (Hancock County) from the south end of the U.S. Route 68 and State Route 15 interchange to the Hancock/Wyandot County line. Construction activities will result in one day ramp closures at the U.S. Route 68 and State Route 15 interchange ramps; and the State Route 15 and State Route 37 interchange ramps. Vehicular through traffic will be detoured temporarily.
Resurfacing 3.37 miles of State Route 15 (Wyandot County) from the Hancock/Wyandot County line to just south of the State Route 15/U.S. Route 23 and State Route 103 interchange southwest of the village of Carey. Construction activities will result in one day ramp closures at the State Route 15 and State Route 330 interchange ramps; and the State Route 15/U.S. Route 23 and State Route 103 interchange ramps. Vehicular through traffic will be detoured temporarily.
Resurfacing 1.09 miles of U.S. Route 23 in Wyandot County from the State Route 15/U.S. Route 23 and State Route 103 interchange to the U.S. Route 23 and County Road 97 intersection south of the village of Carey. Construction activities will result in one day ramp closures at the State Route 15/U.S. Route 23 and State Route 103 interchange ramps. Vehicular through traffic will be detoured temporarily.
Access for local traffic to all properties will be maintained throughout construction.
Construction is anticipated to occur in the spring and summer of 2025. Additional information about the project can be found on the project website: transportation.ohio.gov/projects/projects/107873
Written comments regarding these projects may be sent to: Ohio Department of Transportation District 1, Attn: Nate Tessler, 1885 N. McCullough Street, Lima, Ohio 45801; or to nate.tessler@dot.ohio.gov.
Please provide comments by Wednesday, July 26, 2023. To help expedite a response, please provide the project name and PID number provided above as well as contact information. Comments without contact information cannot be responded to.
Project-related issues the public may wish to comment on include but are not limited to, historic or cultural resources, ecological resources, and environmental justice issues.
Media inquiries, please contact: ODOT District 1’s public information office at D01.PIO@dot.ohio.gov; 419.999.6803.
In 2025, ODOT is planning to resurface U.S. 68, SR 15, & U.S. 23 in Hancock & Wyandot counties. 🙋♂️Do you have questions or concerns about this project❓ Learn more and tell us at https://t.co/McDZVEMOWppic.twitter.com/NVCmShOuYI
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says a woman was life-flighted from the scene of a motorcycle crash north of Vanlue.
The crash happened on State Route 568 near State Route 330 at 5:49 p.m. Monday.
The sheriff’s office says Ashley Swann, 37, of Findlay, was westbound on State Route 568 on a Harley Davidson when she went off the right side of the roadway and into the ditch, causing the bike to crash.
Swann was ejected from the motorcycle as a result of the crash.
She was life-flighted to a Toledo hospital.
The sheriff’s office says alcohol is suspected to be a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation.
A new Findlay police officer earned a class honor as he graduated from the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Basic Peace Officer Class.
Samuel Weihrauch earned the Top Firearms class honor for excelling in that area.
Findlay Police Chief James Mathias was not surprised to hear of the honor for Officer Weihrauch and says he’ll be a great addition to the Findlay Police Department.
Chief Mathias says Officer Weihrauch should be on the force by the end of the week and will begin 16 to 18 weeks of field training courses where he’ll spend time learning from an officer on each shift.
Weihrauch was sworn in as an officer for the Findlay Police Department in February and then began the 21 week course in Columbus.
40 officers recently graduated from the Highway Patrol’s 148th Basic Peace Officer Training Course and will assume duties for 19 law enforcement agencies across Ohio.
Weihrauch served in the United States Army and currently serves in the Army Reserves.
He worked at Cooper Tire before joining the Findlay Police Department.
Welcome to a New Life, a local Hancock County non-profit providing mentorship and resources to individuals involved in the Hancock County criminal justice system, is hosting its first fundraising event. The “Around the World Tour,” presented by Ohio Logistics and Denny and Janice Bishop, will be hosted at the Findlay Country Club on August 5, 2023. Doors will open at 5:30pm.
This Around the World Tour will feature delicious foods from around the world. Raffles, live music, as well as live and silent auctions will take place.
Proceeds will benefit the WNL mission to connect individuals with mentors and resources as they work to achieve a crime-free, drug-free, productive life in our community.
Those interested in attending may register at www.welcometoanewlife.org/RSVP by July 31st. For more information, call 419-455-6082.
The Around the World Tour is generously sponsored by:
Gold Sponsors: Marathon Petroleum Corporation, St. Michael’s The Archangel Catholic Parish
Silver Sponsors: Richard and Karen Zunkiewicz, Sink’s Flowers – Chuck and Paula Clapper, Bryan-Ford-Lincoln., Hall Trucking
Bronze Sponsors: Gary and Susan Gardner, Blanchard Valley Health Systems,
Findlay Quality Collision, Financial Strategies Group, Real Relationships LLC, First National Bank, Rich Rowe – Edward Jones, Friends Business Source, Coldren Crates Funeral Home, Endurica, The Reynolds Company Builders LLC, Meijer, Strategic Insight Partners, Great Scot
The University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum will hold its annual Summer Conference July 17-19.
The three-day conference welcomes teachers, librarians, and book lovers to educational and engaging presentations from some of the top authors and illustrators in the picture book industry.
Conference attendees can also choose from daily breakout sessions that are led by in-service teachers and librarians offering techniques for using picture books in fun, educational ways.
This year will also feature “John McCutcheon In Concert” on Tuesday, July 18 at 7 p.m.
McCutcheon will join his wife and conference guest speaker, Carmen Agra Deedy, for Mazza’s Summer Conference.
Three of McCutcheon’s songs have been turned into illustrated children’s books: “Flowers for Sarajevo,” “Christmas in the Trenches,” and “Happy Adoption Day!”
Like many of his songs, they celebrate family, strength, and hope.
Learn more about Mazza’s Summer Conference by clicking here.
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 through July 14th.
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 as needed for thermal striping.
COUNTY ROAD 236 – AT FIRE STATION 4 – County Road 236 will be reduced to one lane in the southbound direction at Fire Station 4 for sewer installation.
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.
People with a question about any of the projects should call 419-424-7121.
