There were a few contested races for Findlay City Council in the Tuesday election.

In the race for Findlay City Council’s Third Ward, Beth Warnecke defeated challenger Shaun Mason.

Unofficial results from the Hancock County Board of Elections show the incumbent defeating her challenger by a tally of 1,205 to 643.

The race for Findlay City Council’s Fourth Ward saw three people vying for the position.

Dan DeArment came out on top, defeating Robert W. Love and Randy Otermat.

Fourth Ward Councilman Jim Slough was unable to seek re-election as his candidate petition was rejected by the board of elections because he didn’t get enough signatures.

Get more unofficial results from the Hancock County Board of Elections here.

There were several contested races for mayor in Putnam County in the Tuesday election.

In the Columbus Grove mayoral race, Edward Birnesser defeated Kenneth Wright by a vote of 423 to 347, according to unofficial results from the board of elections.

In the race for mayor of Leipsic, Rick Recker defeated Tony Wobler by a vote of 391 to 210.

In the Gilboa mayoral race, Peter Craig Diller defeated Michell J. Clymer by a vote of 28 to 21.

All results are unofficial until certified by the Putnam County Board of Elections.

Click here for full Putnam County results.

Ohioans on Tuesday approved a measure to legalize the use of recreational marijuana in Ohio.

The Act to Control and Regulate Adult Use Cannabis would permit controlled and regulated sales and use of cannabis for adult consumers 21 years of age and older.

Those in favor of legalization point out that it would remedy failed marijuana policy that can ruin lives based on one mistake, expand access to medical use and generate new tax revenue.

Opponents say Issue 2 would legalize an addiction-for-profit industry at the expense of families and poses a substantial health risk to all Ohioans.

Click here for more results on Issue 1 and Issue 2.

Click here for Hancock County results, and here for Putnam County results.

Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn was re-elected on Tuesday, earning her second full term as mayor.

Unofficial results from the Hancock County Board of Elections show Muryn handily defeating write-in challenger Jeffery Simon.

Mayor Muryn tells WFIN News that she’s incredibly grateful for the support of the citizens of Findlay and she doesn’t take the responsibility of leading the city lightly.

“I know that we’ve accomplished a lot over the last four years but we have a lot more work to do and I’m very excited to continue to lead the city of Findlay.”

Muryn was appointed mayor in February of 2019 to replace Lydia Mihalik who joined the cabinet of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

In May of 2019 Muryn won the Republican mayoral primary.

In November of 2019, Muryn won the general election earning her first full four-year term as mayor.

Ohioans on Tuesday approved adding an amendment to the Ohio Constitution to protect reproductive and abortion rights.

The amendment, on the ballot as Issue 1, states that “every individual has a right to make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions, including but not limited to decisions on contraception, fertility treatment, continuing one’s own pregnancy, miscarriage care, and abortion.”

The Associated Press had seen enough and called the results at around 9 p.m. with 57 percent of voters in support and 42 percent against.

Click here for more results on Issue 1 and Issue 2.

Click here for Hancock County results, and here for Putnam County results.

Some work by Columbia Gas will affect traffic at a Findlay intersection.

The City of Findlay says Columbia Gas has informed the city that it will be doing work in the area of North Main Street and Bigelow Avenue on Wednesday, November 8^th.

Columbia Gas says that intersection will be flagged from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday and drivers could experience short delays.

The Hancock Historical Museum is searching for its next Executive Director to lead the nonprofit organization tasked with preserving the rich heritage of Findlay and Hancock County.

In October, The Museum’s Board of Trustees announced that longtime director Sarah Sisser would be stepping down effective November 22^nd as she begins her new position as Executive Director and CEO of CreativeOhio.

Board Chair Susan Harms is heading up the search committee for the new director and we spoke with her about what kind of leader they’re looking for.

“We are really looking for somebody who has an appreciation for history, especially the history of Findlay and Hancock County.”

Susan points out that the museum is 100 percent privately funded so they are looking for someone who has a passion for fundraising and public speaking.

“There is a lot of support and interest in the museum and in our mission to preserve the history of Hancock County and we are hoping that there is somebody out there who is interested in taking this organization to the next level.”

Click here to read the full job description and here to learn more about the Hancock Historical Museum, which is located at 422 West Sandusky Street in Findlay.

Drivers are being reminded that nearly half of all deer-related traffic crashes in Ohio happen this time of year.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says deer become very active from late October through November due in large part to the fall breeding season.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says 47 percent of deer-related crashes happen in October, November, and December.

Drivers are encouraged to use extra caution and slow down, especially at dawn or dusk when deer are more active.

If a collision with a deer is unavoidable, drivers should brake firmly and avoid swerving, because that could cause an even worse crash.

https://twitter.com/OSHP/status/1720142601297273281

(From the City of Findlay)

Officer Bradley Fuller was sworn in this morning by Mayor Christina Muryn.

Fuller, 36, is a graduate of New Riegel High School and he also attended the Police Academy program at Owens Community College in 2016-2017; earning his OPOTA certification.

Fuller previously served at the Carey Police Department as a Police Officer for three and a half years, and most recently with the Upper Sandusky Police Department as a Police Officer for the past one and half years. Fuller will be assigned to the department’s Patrol Division.

(From the City of Findlay)

The City of Findlay will be picking up leaves from November 13, 2023, through December 1, 2023. City employees will collect leaves that have been placed in biodegradable PAPER bags at the curb. Plastic bags and loose leaves will not be picked up. Bagged leaves are to be placed by the curb.

Limbs that are placed beside the bagged leaves will also be picked up. The limbs will be picked up separately from the leaves.

Crews will start picking up leaves on November 13, 2023. Crews will make several rounds throughout the whole city through December 1.

Biodegradable bags are readily available at local hardware, building supply, and some grocery stores.

Raking leaves into the street has many negative aspects. Leaf piles in the street can be a dangerous temptation to children who like to play in the piles and in many areas reduce the traffic to one lane or cause drivers to drive around the piles into oncoming traffic. Piled leaves tend to wash into and clog storm sewers, causing maintenance issues and potential localized flooding during storm events. Residents who blow or rake leaves onto City streets are in violation of long standing City Codified Ordinance 311.01(d). Complaints should be forwarded to the Police Department.

City residents may continue to drop leaves at the green waste site located at 330 North Cory Street at no charge. The current hours for the site are Tuesday through Friday 2pm-7pm and Saturday 8am-1pm, closed Sunday and Monday. Beginning November 7, 2023, hours for the site will be Tuesday through Friday 1pm-6pm and Saturday 8am-1pm, closed Sunday and Monday. Beginning November 18, 2023, Saturday hours will be 8am-4pm. The green waste site will be closed on Saturday, November 11, 2023, in honor of Veterans Day and November 23, 2023, for Thanksgiving. It will be open on November 24, 2023, and November 25, 2023. The last day for the green waste site will be December 2, 2023.

The green waste site is intended for residential use only. No contractors are permitted to use this site. Only tree trimmings, brush, leaves, and grass clippings can be dumped in designated areas at the site.