The two candidates running for Hancock County Prosecutor participated in a candidate forum on WFIN Monday night.

It was the first of four candidate forums that will be aired by WFIN in the coming weeks.

The two individuals seeking the Republican nomination for Hancock County Prosecuting Attorney in the March 19^th primary are Sean Abbott and Heather Pendleton. No Democrats are running, however, an independent candidate has up until the day before the primary to enter the race.

Pendleton was hired as assistant prosecutor by Hancock County Prosecutor Phil Riegle in 2017.

“I’ve won trials on important cases for helpless victims and I’m just getting started,” Pendleton said.

Abbott has been an active attorney for more than ten years and has practiced in more than 20 counties in Ohio. Abbott says he has served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for five years, developing a full understanding of the duties and responsibilities of the county prosecutor.

Ohio’s Primary Election is on March 19^th. See what candidates and issues are on the ballot by clicking here for the Hancock County Board Of Elections website. 

The forum was moderated by WFIN’s Chris Oaks and you can listen to each candidate’s closing statements in the audio below, and you can watch the full forum in the video at the bottom of the story. 

Upcoming forums on WFIN are listed below.

Monday, February 19

5:00 to 6:00 pm

83rd District Ohio House of Representatives

Jon Cross, Ty Mathews

Monday, February 26

5:00 to 6:00 pm

Hancock County Sheriff

Mike Cortez, Daniel Harmon,

Mark Price

Monday, March 4

5:00 to 6:00 pm

Hancock County Commissioners

Holly Frische, Jeffrey Hunker,

Jeff Wobser

(From One Energy)

One Energy Enterprises Inc., in collaboration with Marathon Petroleum Corporation, is pleased to announce the companies’ joint application for an Ohio Innovation Hubs Grant. If successful in securing, the parties intend to progress efforts to establish the Black Swamp Combinator, a pioneering innovation hub for energy technology startups, in Findlay, Ohio.

The Black Swamp Combinator seeks to develop a sustainable ecosystem for physical energy tech startups. Drawing inspiration from Northwest Ohio’s historic Black Swamp region – the birthplace of the modern oil and natural gas industry over a century ago – the Combinator aims to leverage this rich energy heritage to support future innovations.

The Combinator’s objective is to attract, nurture and expedite the growth of early-phase startups, accelerating their development into enduring energy tech enterprises. The Combinator would plan to offer significant resources, expert advice, and mentorship to early-stage companies, including support from world-class corporations, industry advisors and research institutions in the vicinity.

Jereme Kent, CEO of One Energy, remarked, “Global industrial operations are fundamentally reliant on energy, yet innovation in the power and grid sector is notably sluggish. The American entrepreneurial spirit needs to invigorate the power grid, and this Combinator is poised to catalyze that transformation.”

Dave Heppner, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Business Development at Marathon, stated, “We believe enabling continued innovation in Northwest Ohio can play an important role in supplying sustainable fuels and energy solutions for many decades to come. As the energy landscape evolves, opportunities and partnerships like the proposed Combinator are critical to advancing the development of ideas and capabilities that support continued success in the American energy industry. “

The Combinator is seeking, but has not yet been awarded, a $15 million grant from the Ohio Department of Development’s Innovation Hubs program. This endeavor is part of the broader Innovation Hubs program, designed to position Ohio and the nation as leaders in innovation.

For more information on the Ohio Innovation Hubs program, please visit https://development.ohio.gov/business/third-frontier-and-technology/innovation-hubs.

View key pages from the application here.

(ONN) – Ohio officials announced two new indictments in the bribery scandal involving First Energy, marking new developments in what’s been called the largest corruption case in state history.

Attorney General Dave Yost announcing a grand jury indicted former First Energy CEO Chuck Jones and vice president Michael Dowling.

Yost says they along with former public utilities chairman Samuel Randazzo face a combined total of 27 felony violations.

They’re accused of participating in a 60 million dollar scheme involving First Energy to fund the campaign of former house speaker Larry Householder.

Householder is currently in prison serving 20 years for his role in this scheme.

Ohio lobbyist Matt Borges is also serving five years in the scheme.

(From City Mission of Findlay)

The City Mission of Findlay is proud to announce that seven of their guests have successfully graduated from a workforce development program sponsored by Work Advance.

This state-funded grant aims to fill gaps in manufacturing employment by offering good jobs at competitive wages.

It also provides under-served individuals with an opportunity to prosper, perhaps even a second chance. Additionally, the program is designed to upskill existing employees with further training and higher wages.

To celebrate this achievement, City Mission of Findlay, Raise the Bar Hancock County, Habitat for Humanity of Findlay, Ohio, and Owens Community College Findlay, OH, organized an event for seven of City Mission’s guests who completed the Work Advance Program.

Findlay City Schools is reminding students and parents about a couple of upcoming days off for students.

The school district says there will be no school on Friday, February 16^th and Monday, February 19^th.

Friday, February 16^th is a staff in-service day and Monday, February 19^th is Presidents’ Day.

See the full school district calendar by clicking here.

(From Hancock County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services)

The Hancock County System of Care Grant is pleased to make available funds to local organizations that wish to improve or enhance programs, practices, and polices to embrace the Youth Thrive Framework.

Examples of past grant awards include the development of a youth podcast and a youth support group.

For more information about the Mini-Grant Program, including how to apply, click here.

(From the Carey Police Department)

An Officer with the Carey Police Department initiated a traffic stop for a speeding violation on February 10^th at 4:45 a.m. in the area of Vance Street and Findlay Street. The vehicle failed to stop and began to flee. Officers initiated a pursuit and the vehicle fled south to US 23 / SR 15 interchange and continued southbound on US 23. At CH 47 Deputies with the Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office deployed road spikes and the vehicle struck the spikes. The vehicle continued southbound to SR 199 and stopped.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Jamal T. Manley, 30 years old, of Delaware, OH.

Manley was arrested and charged with Failure to Comply, Speed, and Driving Under Suspension. Manley also had two active warrants for his arrest and he was incarcerated at the Wyandot County Jail.

Assisting agencies:

Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office

Ohio State Highway Patrol

Upper Sandusky Police and Fire Departments

Wyandot County EMS

Release completed by: Chief Ryan Doe

Carey Police Department

The Findlay Trojans are the 2024 conference champions in the Northwest Hockey Conference.

The Trojans defeated St. John’s Jesuit High School 5-2 Saturday night at the Cube in Findlay on Senior Night.

Up next is the OHSAA Tournament beginning on Saturday, February 17^th.

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

The Findlay Patrol Post responded to a report of a one-vehicle, fatal motorcycle crash on State Route 568, near milepost 5, in Marion Township, Hancock County, at 11:57 PM on February 9th, 2024.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office was pursuing the motorcycle at the time of the crash, after it fled an attempted traffic stop in the City of Findlay, and OSHP was requested to investigate the crash.

A 2004 Honda CBR600 RR motorcycle was traveling eastbound on State Route 568, driven by Joshua J. Hayes, 33, of Tiffin, Ohio.

The preliminary investigation shows that, while actively fleeing from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, the motorcycle traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a large ravine, before coming to final rest in a nearby field. Lifesaving measures were attempted, but Mr. Hayes was pronounced deceased at the scene.

State Route 568 was closed for approximately three hours during the investigation of the crash.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, Hanco EMS, Vanlue Fire Department, and Dick’s Towing.

The crash remains under investigation.

Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn will deliver her State of the City address on Thursday, February 29^th at 6 p.m.

It will be held at the Fischer Art Gallery at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts.

Community members are invited to attend.