Findlay Village Hardware stopped by the sponsor locations for Kahuna’s All-Star Christmas Jam to pick up their Toys for Tots boxes and deliver them.

The 9th Annual Kahuna’s All-Star Christmas Jam raised a lot of money and toys for the local Toys for Tots chapter.

The annual event featuring The Big Kahuna of 106.3 The Fox and his All-Star Band was held at Alexandria’s in Findlay on December 6^th.

“We had a great turnout, I think the biggest crowd we’ve ever had and certainly the most toys we’ve ever had donated,” Kahuna said.

There was no cover charge and people were asked to donate a new toy or make a monetary donation to Toys for Tots.

The All-Star Christmas Jam this year brought in $1,559 in monetary donations and six large garbage bags and two full Toys for Tots boxes full of toys.

“It was a great outpouring of support for the Toys for Tots program and for the band,” Kahuna added.

The Hancock County Veterans Service Office is getting the word out about their Veterans Response Team and is seeking Veterans to help out with it.

The initiative is being headed up by Daniel Harmon, an Army Veteran and former Findlay police officer.

Harmon says the program trains Veterans in crisis intervention and mental health first aid so they can co-respond with law enforcement to de-escalate situations involving Veterans as a peer.   

“We have found over the years that a peer response is the best response, because these are people that have lived experience and kind of have an understanding of what these folks are going through.”

After the situation is de-escalated the Veterans Response Team will then refer the Veteran to any resources in the community that could assist them.

Harmon says they’re looking for Veterans who want to volunteer and go through the training and be on call to assist when needed.

Veterans interested can email veterans@co.hancock.oh.us or call 419-424-7036.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is asking drivers to make a commitment to driving safely and responsibly over the Christmas holiday.

The Highway Patrol says its troopers made 58 OVI arrests over the Christmas holiday last year.

“This holiday season make a commitment to the safety of yourself and others by planning ahead to designate a sober driver.”

During last year’s Christmas holiday, there were six fatal crashes that killed 12 people.

Half of those crashes were OVI-related.

Findlay City Schools is reminding students and parents of the dates of Winter Break.

The school district says Winter Break will run from Friday, December 22^nd through Tuesday, January 2^nd.

The first day back for students will be Wednesday, January 3^rd.

Click here for the full Findlay City Schools calendar.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says a man wanted in Michigan was arrested in North Baltimore after a pursuit that began in Michigan.

On Tuesday around noon, the Highway Patrol was advised that Michigan State Police were in pursuit of a possible homicide suspect on Interstate 75 southbound approaching the state line.

Troopers responded to the area and took the lead in the pursuit near Wales Road in Northwood.

Law enforcement officers and troopers attempted to deploy stop sticks multiple times as the pursuit continued southbound, but were unsuccessful.

The suspect vehicle continued southbound on Interstate 75 and exited onto state Route 18 in North Baltimore and pulled into the Love’s Travel Stop.

The suspect fled on foot and troopers and law enforcement officers quickly took him into custody.

The suspect, identified as Ronald Lamar McLaurin, 33, of Warren, Michigan, was medically cleared at a local hospital before being incarcerated at the Wood County Jail.

He was charged with failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and receiving stolen property, both felonies.

The Ford Escape McLaurin was driving was stolen, according to authorities. 

The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted during the incident by the Michigan State Police, Perrysburg Township Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, and the North Baltimore Police Department.

The incident remains under investigation.

The Hero Day Adventure Park has announced on its website that it plans on opening a location in Findlay.

It says their indoor action parks are designed to ignite the adventurer in all of us.

Hero Day says their 20,000 square foot indoor playgrounds offer a one-of-a-kind adventure for all ages and skill levels.

Hero Day officials say they haven’t yet decided on where the Findlay Hero Day will be located and have a couple of locations in mind.  

They hope to open the Findlay location in the summer or fall of 2024.

Get more details by clicking here.

(From the City of Findlay)

Mayor Christina Muryn will be sworn in for her second term as City of Findlay Mayor on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at 10:30 am. The ceremony will take place at the Municipal Building in City Council Chambers with Judge Kristen Johnson presiding.

Mayor Christina Muryn, a Findlay native, graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Findlay in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Marketing and a minor in finance. She also is a graduate of the 2014 class of the JoAnn Davidson Ohio Leadership Institute. While at the University of Findlay, she served as student representative to the Board of Trustees, Student Government Association President (two terms), a Dana Scholar, Service Chair of Mortar Board Academic Honor Society, Vice President of Aristos Eklektos Service Honor Society, and founding member of Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society.

Prior to being Mayor, Muryn served as the Director of Business & Physician Development for Pain Management Group. Her work focused on providing alternatives to opioid use for patients suffering from acute and chronic pain. Her day to day responsibilities included such things as managing the physician development team, negotiating contracts with hospital executives and attorneys, and preparing financial forecasts for potential programs.

Mayor Muryn is a Systems, Applications & Products (SAP) Certificate Holder and Six Sigma Yellow Belt. She has been recognized numerous times for her community service and business leadership. In 2017, Mayor Muryn received the Northwest Ohio 20 Under 40 Award, and she is a recipient of the Zonta International Women In Business Scholarship.

Mayor Muryn is recognized across the country for being a common sense, approachable leader who engages with everyone to find solutions to problems. She is regularly invited to The White House and events around the world to engage in meaningful policy discussions on housing, mental health, and community safety to name a few. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Ohio Mayors Alliance, Ohio Drug Transparency and Affordability Council, the Ohio Advisory Committee for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, Energy Committee for the United States Conference of Mayors and has attended the Yale Mayors College and CEO summit annually since 2019.

Since becoming Mayor in 2019, Mayor Muryn has focused on continuous improvement of City Government recognizing that the daily activities that may not be flashy are some of the most important. She is continuing to increase investment into infrastructure including focusing on removing lead service lines which will be complete in 2024. She also believes in planning for the future and has worked with City departments to implement a 10-year Capital Improvement Plan. She also championed the Findlay Forward Strategic Planning process, implemented the Hometown Heroes program, funded the Hancock County Safety Service Simulated Tactical Response and Incident Command Training Center construction and has implemented body cameras to support the Findlay Police Department. Under her leadership, Findlay has continued to be recognized as America’s Top Micropolitan by Site Selection Magazine for the 9^th consecutive year and is set to continue to be recognized as a top place to live, learn, work and play.

Mayor Muryn married Tyler Muryn in 2014, and they enjoy spoiling their nieces and nephews, golfing, and traveling.

City Mission of Findlay says it is extremely grateful to The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation for its $250,000 grant to Martha’s House, a new shelter providing emergency shelter support for women with children.

“Their contribution will help ensure these vulnerable individuals have a safe place to stay, nutritious food to eat, and compassion,” said City Mission Executive Director Kathryn Bausman.

“With the Community Foundation’s support, Martha’s Home will be able to offer a much-needed lifeline to those who need it most.”

Kathryn says they hope to have Martha’s House open in late spring or early summer.

The Ohio Department of Health is sending out a warning to families about staying healthy before family gatherings.

Health experts say they are seeing a rise in COVID-19, RSV, and flu cases, but it’s not filling beds in the hospitals yet.

Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff says that there’s still a possibility for that to happen if people don’t take steps to limit exposure and protect themselves.

“The good news is, that while cases are on the rise, there is still time to get vaccinated.”

The Ohio Department of Health is encouraging everyone to talk to their doctor about vaccines for all three respiratory illnesses.

Children’s Mentoring Connection of Hancock County will be celebrating its 50^th anniversary in 2024.

Executive Director Stacy Shaw says they’ve connected hundreds of mentors and mentees over the years and wants to hear your story as part of their 50^th anniversary.

Stacy says she got a nice surprise in her email the other day.

“A lovely surprise of a picture of a mentor and mentee from years ago who had got together over the Thanksgiving holiday.”

Stacy was on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks and you can more of the interview below.

Stacy says they’ll be holding events throughout 2024 to celebrate their 50^th anniversary.

She says people can send their stories to her email stacy@cmchancock.org.

She reminds everyone that Children’s Mentoring Connection of Hancock County in 2022 moved to its new location in the Family Center at 1800 North Blanchard Street, Suite 126.