Two people were injured when a vehicle crashed into a creek on the south side of Findlay.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office said an SUV was traveling south on US68/SR15 on Monday morning when it exited on the ramp to go south on US68.

The vehicle lost control and slid off the left side of the wet roadway, hit a tree, and came to rest in Eagle Creek.

The three people in the SUV, who were from Raleigh, North Carolina, were able to get out of the vehicle on their own.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office said two of them were transported to Blanchard Valley Hospital for minor injuries.

Hancock County EMA also responded to the scene due to the vehicle entering the creek.

There was also a jackknifed semi a few miles away, and you can get more on that by clicking here. 

Two new firefighters have joined the Findlay Fire Department.

Seth Lortz and Dylan Neff were sworn in by Mayor Christina Muryn on Monday morning.

“Please join us in welcoming firefighters Seth Lortz and Dylan Neff!” the city posted on its Facebook page.

(From the City of Findlay)

The City of Findlay is performing numerous construction projects throughout the city. The status of some of the projects is weather and contractor schedule permitting.

Listed below are some of the projects and the restrictions that result from the ongoing projects. These restrictions are ongoing through August 18, 2023.

STATE ROUTE 568 – 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.

BYAL AVENUE – Harrison Street to Morrical Blvd – Byal Avenue will be closed to through traffic from Harrison Street to Morrical Blvd for waterline installation.

MAIN STREET – Greenlawn Avenue to 6th Street – S. Main Street will be reduced to one lane in each direction from Greenlawn Avenue to 6th Street for Storm Sewer installation. There will be temporary no parking on Main Street in this area.

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 Community Foundation)

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation is pleased to welcome two new members to the Board of Trustees.

Bill Conlisk and Alissa Preston have joined the board in 2023.

“We are pleased to add Bill and Alissa to our board of community leaders,” said Patty Lucas, Foundation Board Chair.

“Both of them brings a unique skillset, commitment and passion for the community to assist the Foundation in advancing our mission of improving the quality of life for all in Hancock County.”

Bill is retired from Marathon Petroleum Corporation. He started at Marathon in 1975 in accounting, eventually moving up to division controller and then Manager of Administrative Services.

Additionally, Bill has served on many nonprofit boards, including American Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Association, Blanchard Valley Health System, Marathon Center for the Performing Arts, Susan G. Komen of Northwest Ohio, and United Way of Hancock County.

Alissa is Director of Hancock County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Her previous experience includes roles at the Chamber of Commerce, Arts Partnership, and Experience Columbus.

Alissa’s volunteer service includes Findlay Rotary, Findlay Service League, Hancock Leadership Alumni, Ohio Travel Association, University of Findlay Alumni Board of Governors, and several others.

“I am grateful for Bill and Alissa’s willingness to be part of the board. Both of them are incredibly talented and I’m looking forward to working with them,” said Brian Treece, Foundation President & CEO.

“Our board is a critical part of our operations. Together, we work toward our vision of a lasting community impact.” Bill and Alissa take the board seats of Richard Kirk, who served from 2018 to 2023, and Garry Peiffer, who served from 2009 to 2023.

Additional board changes include new executive officers: Patty Lucas, Chair; John Livingston, Vice Chair; Beverly Dowling, Treasurer; and Kelly Shroll, Secretary.

(From FOCUS Recovery and Wellness Community)

The Ohio Division of Liquor Control has awarded $58,100 to three nonprofit organizations in the state, including the FOCUS Recovery and Wellness Community in Findlay. The funding will help raise awareness about alcohol-related harms to the public and provide education for vulnerable groups, including those under the legal drinking age of 21.

FOCUS, located at 509 W. Trenton Ave., offers free support and resources to anyone impacted by mental health, addiction, or trauma issues in Hancock County. The agency’s alternative youth center, the LOFT, offers a safe space for youth including those impacted by mental health, addiction and/or trauma-related issues.

FOCUS Executive Director Brooke Nissen said the funding will be used to support the LOFT and “promote social connections and create opportunities for alcohol awareness for Hancock County youth.” She said FOCUS will collaborate with the Family Resource Center’s youth prevention staff to provide educational information about alcohol and provide the youth with a trip to Cedar Point Shores.

“This would not be possible without the Division of Liquor Control’s Support,” she said.

A semi jackknifed on US68/SR15 in Findlay a little south of the flyover ramp from Interstate 75.

The crash happened at around 12:30 Monday afternoon.

Traffic was being diverted off the roadway and onto the Lima Avenue roundabouts where traffic could get right back on US68/SR15 to go southbound.

There was no immediate word on any injuries.

Roads were slick on Monday from some steady rainfall.

The Hancock Historical Museum’s Outdoor Classic Movie Night is coming up.

This year’s movie is Back to the Future, starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd, and will be shown on Saturday night, August 19^th.

“Bring a lawn chair and your favorite beverage and enjoy this classic movie in the Hancock Historical Museum’s parking lot projected on a big screen!” the museum said.

“We will be having a costume contest, so dress as your favorite Back to the Future character! John King, graduate assistant from the BGSU Pop Culture Library, will be speaking beginning at 7:30 p.m. There will also be a DeLorean onsite for the perfect photo op!”

The museum parking lot will be closed to vehicles and guests are encouraged to park on Sandusky Street or in nearby public lots.

The movie will begin at 8:30 p.m.

The event is free and there will be historical information before and discussion after.

See the full list of 2023 Classic Movies being shown by the museum by clicking here. 

Ottawa-Glandorf’s Colin White has committed to playing college basketball at the Ohio State University in 2024.

The 6-6 180 pound forward made his decision over the weekend on 247Sports which you can see below.

White said he’s been an Ohio State fan his entire life and the coaching staff believes in him as an athlete and as a person.

White has helped lead the Ottawa-Glandorf Titans to back to back state title games.

https://twitter.com/ColinWhite21/status/1690840320756297728

The Fostoria police chief was able to grab a gun away from a woman suffering a mental health crisis and threatening to harm herself.

Chief Gabe Wedge said officers found the woman lying in a garden south of the Best Western Hotel at around 4:15 Friday morning.

He said the 30-year-old had a gun pointed to her head and was threatening to harm herself.

After several hours of talking with the woman, Fostoria Police Sergeant Kent Reinbolt, providing cover with a ballistics shield, and Fostoria Police Chief Gabe Wedge were able to close the physical distance with the woman and that’s when Chief Wedge was able to grab the firearm away from the woman.

No injuries were reported as a result of this incident.

The woman was taken for medical treatment for her mental health condition.

No criminal charges are being filed at this time, the chief said.

“Deputy Petree did an amazing job talking with the female keeping her calm, as she continued to point the weapon at herself with her finger on the trigger,” Chief Wedge said.

“It provided for me and Sergeant Reinbolt to close the gap with the female, so we could access the situation further, which led me to being able to get ahold of the weapon and get it pointed away from her, in a safe direction, should she have chosen to squeeze the trigger. The teamwork between local law enforcement in this area is truly amazing. Anyone watching this would have thought all of us had known each other and practiced this for years, the way we worked in tandem; when in fact, for some of us officers, it was the first time we had met each other.”

Chief Wedge added that this goes to prove that the Crisis Intervention Training that law enforcement officers in Ohio are undergoing is paying off in a big way.

It was a great morning for flying at Flag City BalloonFest Friday morning and News Director Matt Demczyk had a chance to head up into the sky with one of the pilots.

Jonny Hodge pilots Disco Lemonade and says he’s been around balloons his entire life.

“That’s my father right there,” Jonny said, pointing to the Star Ryder balloon in the sky in the distance that’s piloted by his dad James “Art” Hodge.

And Jonny says in a few years his son will start training to become a hot air balloon pilot.

We asked Jonny what he likes most about hot air ballooning.

“The people, right there there’s a perfect example, you got people out at 8 o’clock in the morning in their driveway excited to see the balloons come over. You land in a neighborhood like this and you’re gonna have a dozen or so kids come out and check out the balloon.”

A big “thank you” to Jonny for the smooth flight.

Flag City BalloonFest runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Findlay’s Emory Adams Park.