Children’s Mentoring Connection of Hancock County is in need of volunteers to help out with their school-based mentoring programs.

“If you’re a high school student or older, you can make a positive impact by spending just an hour each week at a school that suits your schedule,” said Executive Director Stacy Shaw.

“Engage in games, foster connections, impart leadership skills, and, most importantly, have fun! Join us at Donnell, Glenwood, Wilson Vance, Bigelow Hill, or Cory Rawson.”

For more details, reach out to Stacy at stacy@cmchancock.org or call at 419-424-9752.

A man was arrested for drug trafficking and drug possession in Wyandot County.

The Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office says Jason Michael Wyomic, 40, was located at a residence on County Highway 215 in Forest and taken into custody.

During his arrest, the sheriff’s office said detectives located drug paraphernalia and other items indicative of drug use inside the residence.

A search warrant was obtained for the residence and authorities say they found suspected methamphetamine and other items associated with drug trafficking.

The case will be submitted to the Wyandot County Prosecutor’s Office and additional charges are expected.

Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County held a Raise the Wall Ceremony to mark the beginning of construction of home builds number 56 and 57.

The Raise the Wall Ceremony took place at 524 North Cory Street in Findlay.

House 56, the Bennington family home, is being funded and built by the employees of Marathon Petroleum Corporation.

House 57, the Lowry-Haas family home, is an Apostle Build, funded and built by area churches and their parishioners.

Executive Director Wendy McCormick thanked the many volunteers who help make these projects possible.

The two homes will be completed simultaneously and will be Habitat’s second double build of the year.

More than 300 volunteers have been secured to build each of the new homes in just six weeks.

The two homes are the third and fourth homes to be built in 2023.

Habitat has the commitment to construct two double builds in 2023 to provide additional workforce housing to stabilize and strengthen more families within the community.

(ONN) – Larry Householder has been transferred to Oklahoma to begin his time in federal prison.

The 64-year-old Republican, and former speaker of the Ohio House, had been held in the Butler County jail in southwest Ohio since he was sentenced in late June to 20 years for his role in the largest corruption scheme in Ohio history.

He was recently moved to the federal transfer center in Oklahoma City, according to Bureau of Prisons records.

Householder, from southeast Ohio’s Perry County, was not granted a request to be released during his appeal.

Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges, a former chair of the Ohio Republican Party, were convicted in March of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise involving bribery and money laundering.

Borges was sentenced to five years and is serving at a federal prison in Michigan.

(ONN) – Ohioans will decide in November whether to enshrine abortion rights in the Ohio Constitution, but the wording that will appear on the ballot is now the subject of a legal fight.

The group pushing for abortion rights to be protected in Ohio is now suing the Ohio Ballot Board for the language used on the November ballot.

In the lawsuit it says the ballot language used to describe the amendment that will be on the ballot this fall is unlawful and an effort to mislead voters.

The lawsuit has been filed with the state supreme court.

A lot of people attended the grand opening celebration and ribbon-cutting for Liberty-Benton’s new Elementary/Middle School.

“It is indeed a great day to be an Eagle,” said Superintendent Bruce Otley.

“To see so many familiar faces coming in today enjoying this space that they helped us create.”

Bruce said the entire building is beautifully made and some of the notable features are the 800 seat performing arts center and the use of natural lighting throughout the building.

People also had a chance to check out the newly renovated high school next door.

We talked to Bruce about how the Liberty-Benton Local Schools campus along County Road 9 and State Route 12 continues to grow.

“The sky’s really the limit, whatever the future holds we’ll be ready.”

The school year begins on Tuesday, September 5th.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library)

The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library has partnered with the University of Findlay, University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum, University of Findlay’s Phi Alpha Honor Society, and the University of Findlay’s Sigma Tau Delta Honor Society to bring New Perspectives: A Living Library to the Mazza Museum on October 17, 2023 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Books can educate people through fascinating stories of human experience. Every now and then, you may be lucky enough to pick up an unforgettable adventure that peels away all but the very nature of human beings, exposing the commonality among us all. Long-held biases and beliefs fall away, and you are left with a new understanding and a fresh perspective, all because you read a new story.

Assistant Director of the library Joel Mantey says the event is about breaking down those barriers of preconceived notions of who someone is and what their story is.

New Perspectives: A Living Library seeks to engage our community in conversation by providing a non-judgmental environment for people to speak one-on-one with those they might otherwise never have the chance to meet – people who may have different life experiences, stories, or beliefs. Participants will have 30 minutes to listen to each storyteller’s personal story and ask questions they might normally feel uncomfortable asking. These interactions will help participants and storytellers build a better understanding of each other as human beings through conversation and engagement.

This year’s New Perspectives event expands on previous years’ Human Library experiences and empowers community members to share their amazingly unique stories, no matter their circumstances. Creating a safe, judgment-free learning platform where personal conversations can challenge stigma and stereotypes echoes the library’s mission to treat all equally, respectfully, and with a friendly attitude.

The library is seeking volunteers to be storytellers for this program. If you are interested in being a volunteer and sharing your story, please contact Melody Flick at mflick@findlaylibrary.org or the visit the library’s website at www.findlaylibrary.org for an online application.

The Findlay Police Department is warning residents of a scam.

The police department says people are going door to door and claiming to be collecting money for the City Mission.

The police department says City Mission does not utilize door-to-door solicitation and is not aware of anybody doing it for them.

“If someone comes to your door claiming to be from the City Mission and wanting a monetary donation, please do not give and contact the FPD,” the police department said on its Facebook page.

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Birchaven Village, a division of Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS), will be hosting “Talk About It Tuesdays: An Educational Series for Active Seniors” throughout the fall.

This series features speakers on a variety of topics related to senior health.

All sessions will occur from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at The Heights at Birchaven, located at 15100 Birchaven Lane, Findlay.

The upcoming schedule for Talk About It Tuesdays is as follows:

September 19 – “Step Into Strength in September.” Participants will learn to strengthen and motivate their bodies and minds with Jim Steffen of Jim’s Gym in Findlay. They will also limber up with chair exercises with Luk Boggs, activity coordinator at Birchaven Village.

September 26 – “Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls.” Shannon Long, COTA/L, Healthpro-Heritage and Birchaven Rehabilitation, will present on this important topic.

October 3 – “Eating Well and Staying Healthy.” This session will include a cooking demonstration by Tim Cooper, executive chef at Birchaven Village, and a presentation on healthy eating habits with Sophia Smith, RDN, LD, wellness dietitian at BVHS.

October 10 – “Medicare 101.” Essential Medicare basics and deadlines with Susan Sanders, community liaison, Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP).

Seating is limited. To register, call 419.424.3000.

Chopin Hall’s Mobile Food Pantry, in conjunction with the West Ohio Food Bank, will be holding a food distribution at St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church in downtown Findlay.

The drive-thru food distribution will be held on Thursday, August 31^st at the annex just west of St. Andrew’s Church at 120 West Sandusky Street from 2 to 3:30.

People with a question may call Chopin Hall at 419-422-6401.

Click here for the list of other upcoming food distributions from Chopin Hall.