The Findlay Police Department says two people were injured in a rear-end crash on Tiffin Avenue.

The crash happened around 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon in the 2000 block of Tiffin Avenue.

Police say Jessica Carver, 41, of Cygnet, crashed at a high rate of speed into the back of an SUV that was stationary in traffic waiting to continue westbound on Tiffin Avenue.

Police say Carver suffered serious injuries and was taken to the hospital, while a passenger in the vehicle that was struck, Elaine Bettenhausen, 64, of Fostoria, was also injured and taken to a hospital.

Police said Carver was issued citations for assured cleared distance and driving with an expired license.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is letting drivers know that there will be some lane closures on Interstate 75 through Findlay.

ODOT says the lane closures will be from Monday through Thursday, November, 13-16 between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. for the outside lanes.

And on Friday and Saturday night, November 17-18 between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. for the center lane.

The lane closures are necessary for a surface treatment to increase friction.

Get more details here and below.

People lined Main Street in Findlay for the Veterans Day Parade on Sunday afternoon.

The parade made its way north and ended at the Hancock County War Memorial where a ceremony was held.

Ralph Reynolds, Junior Vice Commander for the Findlay VFW and Vietnam War Army Veteran, spoke at the service.

When it comes to honoring our Veterans, he said it doesn’t matter what branch of the Armed Services you served in, or whether it was during wartime or peacetime.

“What matters is these men and women stepped up and put the boots on when they were called, and took the oath to defend our America at any cost, that’s what a Veteran is.”

Get more of Reynolds’ remarks and see some video from the parade in the video below.

(From the Big Ten Conference)

The Big Ten Conference announced today that the University of Michigan has been found in violation of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy for conducting an impermissible, in-person scouting operation over multiple years, resulting in an unfair competitive advantage that compromised the integrity of competition.

Big Ten Conference Agreement 10.01 states in part that “The Big Ten Conference expects all contests involving a member institution to be conducted without compromise to any fundamental element of sportsmanship. Such fundamental elements include integrity of the competition, civility toward all, and respect, particularly toward opponents and officials.”

As a penalty imposed on the institution, the University football team must compete without its Head Football Coach for the games remaining in the 2023 regular-season, effective immediately. This disciplinary action shall not preclude the University or its football team from having its Head Football Coach attend practices or other football team activities other than the game activities to which it applies. For clarity, the Head Football Coach shall not be present at the game venue on the dates of the games to which this disciplinary action applies.

The Big Ten Conference will have no additional comment at this time.

The Marion Township Trustees have announced that leaf pick-up will begin in residential areas on Monday, November 13^th.

The trustees point out that only loose leaves, piled at the curbside, will be picked up.

Bagged leaves will not be accepted.

Trustees say the equipment is unable to reach leaves placed more than three feet from the curb and will not be picked up if further away.

The crew picking up the leaves will make one pass and will not return to any area a second time.

Weather permitting, leaf pick-up will be completed by November 30^th.

Time is running out to register for Camp FUN, a free day camp designed for area youth who have been impacted in some way by addiction.

The camp will be held Saturday, November 18th from 10 to 4 at First Presbyterian Church at 2330 South Main Street in Findlay.

Camp FUN (Friendship, Understanding and Nurturing) is open to youth between the ages of 9 and 17.

The purpose of the camp is to provide a positive, encouraging and supportive experience for youth.

It will be a day filled with exciting activities.

Parents or guardians can register their child online by clicking here.

There is no fee to attend the camp.

(From Explore Bluffton)

The 37^th annual Blaze of Lights holiday celebration, including the lighting of the Ream collection of vintage Christmas Folk-Art, is scheduled for Saturday, November 25 in downtown Bluffton, Ohio. The Ream display and thousands of lights in the surrounding trees are available for nightly viewing on the lawn of Bluffton Presbyterian Church, 102 N. Main Street, Bluffton from November 25 through January 1.  The community joins in the Blaze spirit with numerous residential holiday light displays and folk-art decorations throughout the Village located off I-75.

Activities on November 25 include Small Business Saturday specials at downtown businesses and carolers on Main Street.  One of the largest holiday parades in the area begins on Snider Road at 5 PM and travels up Main Street to College Avenue. Following the parade, entertainment will be offered on the main stage.  At 6:30 p.m. the lighting ceremony will begin with the reading of the Christmas story followed by the lighting of the Ream display.

After the parade, you can visit Santa, ride the Romick Railway, ride the Allen County RTA Trolley for a tour of decorated homes all at no charge.  Johnny Appleseed Park District will also be on hand at the Senior Citizens Center with displays and a project for the kids.

The Blaze After Lighting returns this year with selections of beer, bourbon pours, spiced wine, and hot chocolate, along with local food vendors and live country music by Wastin’ Neon under a heated tent on Vine Street.

The Blaze of Lights celebration is sponsored by the Village of Bluffton and Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce.  For more information about the event, visit www.explorebluffton.com or contact Jim Enneking, Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce executive director at 419-369-2985.

Community Calendar announcement

Saturday, November 25 – Bluffton’s 37^th Annual Blaze of Lights celebration starts at 4PM on Main St., Bluffton, OH with groups of carolers wandering down Main Street.  The parade begins at 5 PM, followed by entertainment on the main stage.  At 6:30 PM the lighting ceremony will begin with the reading of the Christmas story and lighting of the Ream Christmas folk-art display.  Visit with Santa, ride the Romick Railway, visit with Johnny Appleseed Metroparks, and tour the lights of Bluffton on the trolley.  Afterwards enjoy an evening of country music under a heated tent.   The event is free and open to the public.

The youngsters at Findlay’s Chamberlin Hill Elementary honored Veterans during their 26th Annual Veterans Day Program on Friday.

The Veterans were treated to a variety of performances from the students and lunch from Harlan’s BBQ.

The 5^th graders performing the ‘Armed Forces Medley’ can be seen below.

There was also artwork in the hallways the students made honoring Veterans.

And in the afternoon, there was a parade outside the school for Veterans to drive through.

Findlay’s Veterans Day Parade is Sunday beginning at 2 p.m.

The Findlay Police Department says a driver was tased after ignoring a police officer’s commands after leading police on a pursuit.

Police say a vehicle traveling southbound on South Blanchard Street ran the stop sign at Blanchard Avenue at 6:14 Thursday night.

The officer who witnessed the traffic violation attempted to stop the vehicle but the driver refused and continued driving down Blanchard Street at speeds of 60 miles per hour.

The vehicle turned to go westbound on Sixth Street, running the red light and going left of center.

Speeds on Sixth Street reached 70 miles per hour until the vehicle turned to go northbound onto South Main Street, running another red light.

Police say the vehicle reached speeds of 50 miles per hour on South Main Street before turning left onto Locust Street and finally stopping at the intersection of Locust Street and Liberty Street.

Police said the driver, identified by police as Natalie Strahm, 42, exited the vehicle and began yelling at the officer and did not follow commands.

Police say she took several steps toward the officer and tried to get back in her vehicle and that’s when the officer deployed a taser on her and she was taken into custody.

There were no vehicles struck or injuries during the pursuit, which went about 1.5 miles.

Strahm was taken to the Hancock County Jail and booked on charges of failure to comply and obstructing official business.

(From the City of Findlay)

On Thursday, November 9, the Findlay City Council Water & Sewer Committee voted to support the Administration’s proposal to raise water rates as of January 1, 2024. Though not required by Ordinance, as Water Rates are a function of the Administration and may be changed at anytime by the Service-Safety Director, the Administration felt it was important for Council to be informed and recognize why the change is needed.

The new inside usage rate will be $4.01 per 100 cubic feet. See the chart for new water rates.

For example, the average two-person residential property will see an annual cost increase of approximately $70 (base rate + usage) for those paying inside water rates. “We recognize that every penny our residents earn is valuable. We have spent over a year evaluating how to best address the Water Fund needs while also limiting the impact to our users as much as possible,” said Findlay Service-Safety Director Rob Martin.

Water rates have not increased since 2011. As water revenues have remained flat, expenses have increased 13% since 2012. The cost of chemicals used to treat water increased by over 40% in 2022 and has remained high, and materials such as pipes, hydrants, and other water system components have increased between 25%-40%. According to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA), since 1997 Ohio municipalities as a whole have averaged nearly a 4% annual increase. In an average bill comparison study released in 2019 by the OEPA (see graph below), Findlay’s bill comparison was 51% lower than the Ohio Average. Had the City followed the State trend and increased rates by 4% annually since 2012, City base rates would be 10% higher than the current proposal.

To maintain the existing high-quality water plant and services, infrastructure requires routine preventative maintenance and capital improvements. In 2023 alone, the Operating Budget was ~$9,700,000 and the Projected Revenue was $8,731,199. Since 2019, the Findlay Water Department has delayed over $6.6 million in needed capital improvement expenses in order to maintain solvency in the Water Fund. They also invested nearly $1 Million of American Rescue Plan Act Funds towards needed improvements such as a Generator and CO2 Tank replacement.  The Water Fund is an Enterprise Fund and is therefore separate from the City’s General Fund. Enterprise Funds are to be self-sustaining funds with revenues covering operating expenses, capital needs, and long-term improvements.  Despite rising costs of materials, labor, and maintenance, the Findlay Water Department has successfully managed expenses to maintain a minimum balance of nearly $1.5 Million which is required under the City Ordinance, and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Regulation additionally this allowed the City to complete the Water Transmitter Project which was necessary prior to making any rate adjustments.

During the Committee meeting Thursday, the Administration stated that part of this rate increase is not just meeting current demands and projected routine capital needs but also preparing the fund for future significant investments that may be necessary on the plant which will be 100 years old in 2031.

Moving forward, the Administration plans to implement a formal Rate Review Process which would occur annually to determine what, if any, rate changes are necessary to avoid significant rate increases like this in the future. The Annual Water Fund Report would involve: reviewing operational cost variability in relation to revenues; ensuring the minimum reserve balance required by the OEPA aligns with operational cost projections; ongoing evaluation of capital needs for maintenance of current infrastructure and system growth demand; evaluation of debt policies; and evaluating short-term priorities while positioning the Findlay Water Department for long term sustainability.

“The City of Findlay realizes the immense value in maintaining our water treatment and distribution system,” says Service-Safety Director Rob Martin. “In order to continue to provide this community service at the lowest cost possible we must evaluate the sustainability of our Water Fund on an ongoing basis and make adjustments regularly. As we look forward this is a necessary step in ensuring this service remains both now and for generations to come.”

“Our team has been working diligently the past few years to make upgrades necessary to then be able to fully evaluate the sustainability of our Water Fund. Unfortunately, we are at a point in time where we can no longer delay making a rate change,” said Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn.

Additionally, in the Water & Sewer Committee meeting, Mayor Christina Muryn reiterated that the City of Findlay is not looking to sell the Water Treatment Plant. “The Findlay Water Treatment Plant is an immense resource that we must continue to protect and leverage to both ensure high-quality, low-cost water for our residents and also use as an economic development tool. The recent conversations about selling surplus water to surrounding communities have generated a variety of misinformation. It is critical that residents understand that selling the water treatment plant or relinquishing control from the City government is not, and has never been, a discussion point under my Administration. Water Treatment Plants are very expensive to operate and I believe that having further conversations on how the City may be able to generate revenue to help offset the City resident’s cost burden is worthwhile. Any conversations are always focused on prioritizing existing City of Findlay water users.”

More information visit www.FindlayOhio.gov.