(From the Tiffin Police Department)

The Tiffin Police Department has extended the application deadline for its annual Citizen’s Police Academy.

The Tiffin Police Department Citizen’s Academy is for area citizens who are interested in learning more about how their police department operates and the policing challenges our community faces. The Academy training consists of classroom and hands on training, with emphasis on student involvement. The program is designed to develop positive relations between the police and the community through education.

Classes are meeting now and held every Sunday afternoon, from 12:30 PM until 3:00 PM. No classes will be held on Easter Sunday. Graduation will be on May 26th, 2024 at 2:00 PM. Participation requires a commitment to attend a majority of the class dates. Classes will be held in the Tiffin Police Department training room. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid Ohio driver’s license or ID card. Applicants must agree to a background check.

If you are interested in participating in the Citizen Academy, please pickup an application packet at the Tiffin Police Department, 51 E. Market St., Tiffin, Ohio.

Please contact Sgt. Jared Watson at 419-447-2323 or email jmwatson@tiffinohio.gov with any questions.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation)

Today is Dale Dorney’s birthday, and if anyone deserves a birthday salute, it’s him.

Who could have imagined all the good that would come from the $2.2 million gift he left to form the Foundation?

Dale’s gift has been improving the quality of life in our community ever since.

The Dorney Fund alone has awarded more than $11 million in grants.

Dale’s legacy continues to grow with each passing year. Happy Birthday!

Learn more about Dale and his gift by clicking here.

The Ohio Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting regarding the upcoming construction of the new interchange at Interstate 75 and County Road 99 on the north end of Findlay.

The meeting will be held at Owens Community College on Bright Road on Tuesday, April 16^th at 1 p.m.

The new interchange will be a diverging diamond interchange (DDI), which shifts the eastbound and westbound traffic to the other side of the bridge at signalized crossovers which eliminates left turns across traffic and the left-turn traffic signal phase. The benefit is that all traffic can enter the interstate in a free-flow movement to the ramps. (video below)

A successful example of a DDI is located in Perrysburg at I-475 and State Route 25.

The project will construct an additional bridge to the south of the existing County Road 99 bridge over I-75. The new structure will provide three westbound lanes.

Additional improvements will be made along the County Road 99 corridor at the intersections with Technology Drive, Speedway Drive, and Ventura Drive.

A shared-use path for bike and pedestrian traffic will be constructed along the south side of County Road 99 and will utilize the original bridge structure for crossing over I-75.

“This project ensures the expected economic growth in this area of the county will be supported by the infrastructure,” said Chris Hughes, ODOT District 1 deputy director. He cited the support of officials with the city of Findlay and Hancock County as critically important in moving the project forward. “We’re grateful to the city and county for seeing the need for a modern interchange design at this location,” he said.

Construction will begin early this spring and conclude in 2026. 

More information can be found on the project website: I-75/CR 99 interchange improvements | Ohio Department of Transportation

Findlay City Schools is reminding students and parents that there will be no school for students on Monday, March 18^th.

That day will be a professional development day for staff members.

“A quick reminder: There is no school for students on Monday, March 18 while our staff members dive into professional development opportunities!”

According to the school district calendar, spring break will be Thursday, March 28^th to Monday, April 1^st.

And there will be no school on Monday, April 8th because of the eclipse. 

Click here to see the full school district calendar.

(From the Office of the Ohio Governor)

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued a proclamation today declaring a state of emergency across 11 counties impacted by last week’s severe weather. 

The counties include: 

Auglaize, Crawford, Darke, Delaware, Hancock, Licking, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Richland, Union.

The declaration orders all relevant State departments and agencies to lend their services, equipment, supplies, and personnel as necessary to assist in the response and recovery effort. Agencies providing support include the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Emergency Management Agency, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and Ohio Department of Administrative Services.

In addition, Governor DeWine activated the Ohio National Guard to help Logan County officials with the clean up of storm debris on public property. An assessment team from the 200th REDHORSE Squadron was deployed to Logan County this morning to conduct an assessment of needed support. 

In the video below, Rick Marshall describes what it was like when the tornado rumbled over his Hancock County property and nearly destroyed his barn.

The Findlay Police Department Officer of the Year and Civilian of the Year ceremony was held at City Hall.

Recognized were Police Officer/Detective – Christopher Brickner and Civilian – Stephanie Whitted.

Detective Brickner was honored with the award for showing his dedication to his career and putting his professionalism on display on many occasions.

On one such occasion, Brickner located a vehicle suspected of assisting two escaped inmates from Wood County and was able to recover evidence and obtain confessions from the occupants as to their involvement in the escape.

Stephanie Whitted received the award for taking great pride in her work as the CALEA Accreditation Manager and always being up for any challenge.

Both are showed pictured with Police Chief James Mathias. 

Get more details in the award letters below.

(From the United Way of Logan County)

The United Way of Logan County has launched the Indian Lake Tornado Relief Fund to help meet the immediate and long-term needs of Logan County families impacted by the March 14 storm.

Please make your gift here. 100% of your gift to the Indian Lake Tornado Relief Fund goes to help our neighbors and our community recover. Thank you for your generosity.

If you would rather send cash or check, please send to:

United Way of Logan County
Indian Lake Tornado Relief Fund
653 S. Main St.
Bellefontaine, OH 43311

(From the Office of the Ohio Treasurer)

Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague today announced the $15 million purchase of a two-year, fixed-rate Israel Bond.  

“Today’s purchase carries on Ohio’s long-standing tradition of investing in Israel Bonds,” said Treasurer Sprague. “With their strong, competitive interest rates and solid repayment history, these bonds continue to provide a valuable investment for Ohio.”  

The bond will mature in two years, on March 1, 2026, with an interest rate of 5.09%. Since Israel Bonds was established in 1951, Israel has maintained a perfect record of interest and principal payments. 

Since 1993, every Ohio Treasurer has invested in Israel Bonds, joining more than 115 other state and municipal public employee pension and treasury funds. After the purchase, the Ohio Treasury now holds a total of $262.5 million in Israel Bonds, continuing Ohio’s standing as one of the largest government holders of these bonds in the United States. This purchase brings Ohio’s total purchases to $327.5 million since Treasurer Sprague took office.  

(From the Fostoria Police Division)

Congratulations K9 Creed and Officer Cole Noftz on graduating from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Canine Academy.

We know it took a lot of hard work, but your unit is already becoming a huge asset to the police department and the Community of Fostoria!

The National Weather Service has confirmed the details of the tornado that touched down in southwest Hancock County on Thursday night.

The tornado damaged several homes and farm buildings and tossed some grain silos along Township Road 29.

The NWS says the tornado had an EF-1 rating with peak winds of 100 miles per hour and had a max width of 100 yards.

The tornado was on the ground for 3.3 miles from 7:30 to 7:36 p.m. Thursday.

There were no injuries from the tornado.  

In the video below, Rick Marshall describes what it was like when the tornado rumbled over his property and nearly destroyed his barn.