New students at the University of Findlay completed the university’s most sacred tradition; the Arch Ceremony.

More than 600 students walked through the Griffith Memorial Arch towards Old Main.

Legend has it they won’t graduate unless they don’t walk through the arch again until commencement.

This year UF is celebrating 100 years of their Arch Ceremony tradition.

Ahead of the arch ceremony, it was move-in day and we spoke with a new UF student who came a long way to become an Oiler. Click here for that story.

A lot of people came out to Donnell Stadium for the Trojan Country Kickoff celebration on Thursday afternoon to kick off the upcoming school year.

The event included activities for the kids and the introduction of the sports teams and a scrimmage by the football team.

New Findlay City Schools Superintendent Dr. Andy Hatton was blown away by the number of people that came out for the event.

The first day for Findlay City Schools students is Tuesday, August 22^nd.

See some video of the event below, which includes Dr. Hatton high-fiving the sports teams as they were introduced.

The Findlay Police Department’s body camera program is about to go live.

All sworn officers have been issued a body camera and will begin wearing them on Monday, August 14^th at 6 a.m. with the day shift.

Police Chief James Mathias says the use of body cameras will increase transparency, enhance officer safety, and increase accountability.

The body camera footage may be used in the assessment of police conduct, including instances in which force was used.

The footage can also be used for non-investigative purposes, such as training and assessing performance.

The 69 body cameras were partially paid for through a nearly $92,000 grant awarded by the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice.

Dash cameras will be installed in cruisers in early 2024.

The Findlay Police Department says a motorcyclist was injured in a crash that occurred when a car pulled out in front of him.

It happened at North Main Street and Laquineo Street around 4 o’clock Thursday afternoon.

Police said Jacob Heller, of McComb, was driving his Harley Davidson northbound on North Main Street when a Toyota Corolla being driven by Alexander McKee, of Findlay, pulled out from Laquineo Street onto North Main Street and struck Heller.

Police said the injuries Heller sustained were serious, but not life-threatening.

He was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital for treatment of the injuries.

Police said McKee was cited for failure to yield at a stop sign.

A longtime Findlay police officer who is retiring was honored by the police chief at Flag City Night Out.

Officer Tom Davis served a total of 45 years with the Findlay Police Department.

He’s pictured above holding the microphone alongside Police Chief Mathias.

Tom joined the Findlay PD in May of 1978 and served 22 years, mainly in vice/narcotics, and when he retired in May of 2000 he went to auxiliary status for the department and has served in that role for the past 23 years.

Police Chief James Mathias says the department was very fortunate to have Tom for so many years.

“He’s the symbolism of professionalism, dedication, and what it means to be a true community service member for the City of Findlay.”

The chief says Tom is always willing and ready to help out with events like Night Out and the Bicycle Rodeo and he’s even the police department’s unofficial historian.

“He still does tours of the courthouse where he dresses up as John Hancock.”

Tom has a total of 53 years of service in law enforcement.

He was a dispatcher for the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office and an officer in Tiffin before joining the Findlay Police Department.

Tom’s retirement will be effective September 3^rd.

“We appreciate all the time he’s given us and wish him well in his retirement,” the chief added.

There was a lot of activity on the University of Findlay campus on Thursday.

It was move-in day, as new and returning students moved into their housing for the new school year.

More than 600 first-time freshmen moved into their dorms on move-in day including Korah, from Kansas. (pictured above in the orange top)

We asked Korah what brought her all the way to Findlay, Ohio for college.

“They have a good Physical Therapy program and I’m playing softball here.”

Korah’s mom, Emily, says having her firstborn go to college four states away isn’t going to be easy.

“But, hopefully it’s temporary and she finds her way back to Kansas when she’s done with her degree.”

Both Korah and Emily said UF was making the move-in day experience go as smoothly as possible.

Later in the afternoon, the Arch Ceremony for new students was held and they walked through the Griffith Memorial Arch towards Old Main.

Legend has it that they must not walk back through the Arch until commencement or they won’t graduate.

(From the American Red Cross of North Central Ohio)

Todd James, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of North Central Ohio in Findlay is joining the ongoing Red Cross disaster relief operation in Hawaii.

Dangerous wildfires are burning on the Big Island and Maui in Hawaii, forcing thousands of people to evacuate, some even jumping into the ocean to escape the smoke and flames. The American Red Cross of Hawaii is there, providing shelter and comfort to those affected by the massive fires.

The fires are being fueled by strong winds from Hurricane Dora which is still hundreds of miles away. Buildings have been damaged, roads closed, thousands are without power, and phone and cell service are down, making communications extremely difficult. Much of the historic town of Lahaina is destroyed. Conditions are hampering some evacuations and hospitals are treating burn and smoke inhalation patients.

Red Cross disaster workers responded immediately, opening shelters on both islands where several hundred people sought refuge from the fires Wednesday night. The Red Cross is working with local, state and federal officials and more help is on the way.

James will be serving as an Advanced Public Affairs Team member, serving as a spokesperson for the Red Cross and communicating vital information on services available to families and communities. This is James’ 40th disaster relief operation deployment.

Voter turnout in Hancock County was very good for the statewide special election on Tuesday in which Issue 1 was defeated.

“We were excited with the turnout, it was almost 42 percent,” said Jody Beall O’Brien with the Hancock County Board of Elections.

“That was a fantastic turnout for us for an August special election.”

21,322 of the 50,896 registered voters in Hancock County voted in this special election.

Jody said the turnout in the August 2022 special election was only six percent, and the turnout for the primary in May 2023 was 12 percent.

Jody said they did a good job of communicating to voters who would have a new voting location for the special election.

And she said they were able to get enough poll workers to work the election and thanks everyone who helped out.

“Our poll workers were excited, they were tired at the end of the day but they thought it was very interesting and rewarding that so many people got out to vote.”

A Findlay highway was shut down as crews responded to a car fire.

It happened at around 5:15 Wednesday afternoon on State Route 15 / U.S. 68 southbound in Findlay, south of the Lima Avenue roundabouts and around where Western Avenue can access the highway.

Fire crews found a car fully engulfed in flames when they arrived on the scene.

It didn’t take long for fire crews to put the fire out, and then the roadway had to be cleaned up and the car towed.

One lane of the highway reopened around 6:10 p.m.

There was no word of any injuries, and no ambulances could be seen on the scene.

See video of the fire below.

(From the Ohio Department of Transportation)

The public is asked to provide comments regarding the preferred alternative for a proposed project by The Maumee Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD), in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 1, that will alter the U.S. 68 and State Route 15 interchange just south of the city of Findlay in Hancock County.

The project is needed because Township Roads 49 and 77, which currently provide access to U.S. 68, will be removed as part of the Eagle Creek Dry Storage Basin project, one of the projects included in the Flood-Risk Reduction Program currently underway by Hancock County and the MWCD.

The proposed project will:

Remove the current U.S. 68 exit ramp from State Route 15 eastbound.

Connect Township Road 80 to the ramp to provide access to U.S. 68.

Construct a new U.S. 68 exit ramp from State Route 15 eastbound.

Construct a roundabout at the intersection of U.S. 68, the new U.S. 68 exit ramp, and the eastbound State Route 15 entrance ramp.

Construction is currently scheduled to begin in spring of 2024. Additional information can be found at the project website.

Written comments regarding the project may be sent to: Ohio Department of Transportation District 1, Attn: Robert Hissong, 1885 N. McCullough Street, Lima, Ohio 45801; or to Robert.Hissong@dot.ohio.gov.

Questions and comments may also be submitted on the ODOT project website: www.transportation.ohio.gov/projects/projects/112280

Please provide comments by Sept. 8, 2023. Comments received by this date will be included in the official project documentation. All comments will be accepted at any time.