(From the City of Findlay)

The City of Findlay honored 50 employees at a luncheon on March 19, 2024, for their years of service with the City for year ending 2023. The following individuals were recognized:

5 Years: Beth Baker, Fire Department; Levi Bishop, Water Pollution Control Center; Travis Bohn, Fire Department; Garrett Cornette, Street Department; Steven Curlis, Fire Department; Jake Kelley, Traffic Lights; Jason Mattox, Fire Department; Amanda Miller, Municipal Court; Kasey Schroeder, Police Department; Kristen Warren, Recreation Department; Brooke Weininger, Engineering Department; Brad Woodruff, Street Department

10 Years: Joel Borer, Water Pollution Control Center; Jeremy Carter, Water Treatment Plant; Kevin Cieplowski, Police Department; Michael Cooley, Police Department; Jordan Cramer, Police Department; Rory Ferguson, Fire Department; RJ Gonzalez, Fire Department; Kathy Hassan, Municipal Court; Mitch Heacock, Engineering Department; Donavan Hill, Fire Department; Phil Hindall, Fire Department; Cuyler McKitrick, Street Department; Matt Morgan, Fire Department; Todd Muntz, Street Department; Jason Ruhlen, Water Distribution; Grant Russel, City Council; Nick Scoles, Fire Department; Rich VanAtta, Fire Department

15 Years: John Biggs, Police Dispatch; Deidre Ramthun, Zoning Department; Brian Smith, Fire Department; Carol Toupalik, Utility Billing; Stephanie Whitted, Police Department

20 Years: Leon Caudill, Cemetery Department; Seth Cole, Water Pollution Control Center; Tim Couch, Water Treatment Plant; Dana Cramer, Storm Water Maintenance Department; Mike Gallaher, Recreation Department; Chad Weaver, Fire Department

25 Years: Ann Fenimore, Utility Billing; Bryan Miller, Water Distribution; Chris Musson, Street Department; Jeff Rampe, Fire Department; Eddie Walters, Police Department

30 Years: Greg Craven, Engineering Department; Dan Gonzalez, Sewer Maintenance Department

35 Years: Gary Dick, Street Department; Mike Stillberger, Sewer Maintenance Department.

In the primary election on Tuesday, Hancock County voters overwhelmingly approved a renewal levy for the Blanchard Valley Center – Hancock County Board of Developmental Disabilities, as well as a replacement levy for the Hancock Park District.

“To know that the community supports our mission and values the work that we do each and every day – providing services and supports to people with developmental disabilities in Hancock County – means the world to us,” said Nadine Weininger with the Blanchard Valley Center.

Nadine added that they appreciate the confidence the community has in them to provide quality services and they’ll continue doing just that.

Issue 5 : Hancock County Board of Developmental Disabilities

Renewal 2.50 Mills for the purpose of providing for the operation of community programs and services authorized by county boards of developmental disabilities, for the acquisition, construction, renovation financing, maintenance, and operation of developmental disabilities facilities for 5 years.

Issue 6 : Hancock Park District

Replacement 0.8 Mill for the purpose of maintaining, improving, developing and promoting the Hancock Park System, conserving natural resources, acquiring additional parks and developing new recreational facilities as the Hancock Park District Board of Park Commissioners deems appropriate, and enabling the Hancock Park District to support parks and recreational facilities owned or operated by townships, villages, and cities located throughout Hancock County for 8 years.

The City of Findlay did not test its outdoor warning sirens on Wednesday morning, March 20^th at 9:50 a.m. as part of the Statewide Tornado Drill.

The city says it has some scheduled maintenance and repairs of its equipment that prevented them from participating in the statewide testing on Wednesday during Severe Weather Awareness Week.

“We will be conducting our own citywide testing of this outdoor warning equipment in the near future, which will be communicated to the community in a timely manner.”

March 17-23, 2024, is Severe Weather Awareness Week is Ohio and all Ohioans are encouraged to prepare themselves for spring and summer weather hazards, including thunder, lightning, tornadoes, and floods.

Ty Mathews defeated incumbent State Representative Jon Cross in the Ohio Primary on Tuesday.

Unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office show Mathews earning more than 65 percent of the vote to 34 percent for Cross.    

The 83^rd District of the Ohio House of Representatives includes Hancock County, Hardin County and a portion of Logan County.

Mathews will face Democrat Sheila Coressel in the fall election, who ran unopposed.  

Get more election results from the Hancock County Board of Elections by clicking here, and the Putnam County Board of Elections by clicking here.

Two people were running for Hancock County Prosecutor to take over from Phil Riegle who is running for Common Pleas Court Judge.

Unofficial results from the Hancock County Board of Elections show Sean Abbott defeating Heather Pendleton.

No Democrats were running.

Riegle ran unopposed in the Republican primary for judge.

No Democrats were running.

Get more election results from the Hancock County Board of Elections by clicking here, and the Putnam County Board of Elections by clicking here.

Three people were running for the privilege of becoming the next Sheriff of Hancock County, and the first new sheriff in decades.

The candidates for Hancock County Sheriff were Mark Price, Mike Cortez, and Dan Harmon.

Unofficial results from the Hancock County Board of Elections show Mike Cortez victorious. 

No Democrats ran in the primary.

So, Cortez will take over as Sheriff from the retiring Michael Heldman who has been Sheriff since 1997 and with the sheriff’s office since 1972.

Get more election results from the Hancock County Board of Elections by clicking here, and the Putnam County Board of Elections by clicking here.

Three Republican candidates were running for the Hancock County Commissioner’s seat that opened up when Commissioner Mike Pepple decided to not run for reelection.

The candidates were Jeffrey Hunker, Holly Frische, and Jeff Wobser.    

Unofficial results from the Hancock County Board of Elections show Jeffrey Hunker winning the primary. 

Hunker will face Democrat Joshua Shaferly in the fall, who ran unopposed on the Democrat side.

Commissioner Bill Bateson, a Republican, ran unopposed in the primary.    

The other county commissioner is Tim Bechtol.    

Get more election results from the Hancock County Board of Elections by clicking here, and the Putnam County Board of Elections by clicking here.

Ohio voters on Tuesday made their choice in the U.S Senate Republican Primary between Matt Dolan, Frank LaRose, and Bernie Moreno.

The Associated Press has called the race for Moreno and the unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office show Moreno with a healthy lead.  

Moreno will now face Democrat Sherrod Brown in the fall.

This was Moreno when he visited the WFIN Studios during the campaign.

Get more election results from the Hancock County Board of Elections by clicking here, and the Putnam County Board of Elections by clicking here.

(From WTOL’s Chris Vickers)

Did you know this was a thing?

A third tornado confirmed in our area from last Thursday, March 14th.

It was rated and EF-Unknown.

The reason for the unknown rating is as follows.

During the time it was on the ground from 7:09 to 7:13 pm beginning 4 NNE Vanlue and ending 4 WSW New Riegel it did not cause any damage that could be assessed for an official rating.

So, this counts as a tornado, but just goes unknown for the rating and max winds.

There was an interesting sight in the skies over Findlay on Tuesday afternoon; three Apache helicopters.  

A big thanks to the pilot of one of the three Apache helicopters that landed at Findlay Airport for fuel after a training exercise in Utah for giving WFIN an up-close look before they took off to New York.

At the end of the video they fly over Lake Cascades and the WFIN Studios on the south end of town.

Very cool!