(ONN) – An advocacy group is hoping to change the minimum wage in Ohio.

The Ohio Capital Journal reports that Ohioans could have a chance to vote to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026.

Raise the Wage Ohio is collecting signatures to put a proposed constitutional amendment on this year’s ballot that would raise the minimum wage to $12.75 an hour starting Jan. 1, 2025, and then it would go up to $15 an hour starting on Jan. 1, 2026.

It would also get rid of Ohio’s tipped wage.

Ohio’s current minimum wage is $10.45 an hour for non-tipped employees and $5.25 for tipped employees.

They need to collect more than 413,000 signatures by July.

(From the Findlay Police Department)

Officers were dispatched to the 100 block of E Foulke Ave. at 4:22 Saturday morning for reports of several shots fired in the area.

Upon initial investigation, it was determined several shots were exchanged between individuals and damage to property was discovered.

At this time, no injuries were reported.

No arrests have been made due to the ongoing criminal investigation.

If there is anyone with information, please contact the Findlay Police Department.

Longtime Findlay Trojans Boys Basketball Coach Jim Rucki is retiring.

“Thank you Coach Rucki for devoting your career to teaching & guiding the youth of Findlay and spending countless hours preparing your teams for success on & off the court,” the school said on Facebook. 

Coach Rucki finishes his career with an overall record of 545 wins including 385-178 at Findlay High School.

“We wish you and your family the best in retirement.”

In 2022 we spoke with Coach Rucki about reaching 500 career wins, and you can get that story by clicking here. 

Athletic Director Nate Weihrauch provided the following statement on Coach Rucki:

Coach Rucki is a tremendous coach who has dedicated himself to the philosophy of education-based athletics where he pursued excellence in every aspect.

Coach devoted his life to teaching and guiding our youth and has spent countless hours preparing his team for success on and off the court. 

Coach Rucki could always be found in his office after hours or scouting other teams to ensure his team was ready for any scenario.

Coach Rucki earned an overall record of 545 wins including 385-178 in Findlay; earned multiple league, sectional, and district titles and numerous state, district, and league coach of the year honors.

Most importantly, Coach Rucki loved working with kids and teaching them the game of basketball. 

Coach has an unwavering commitment to the community of Findlay, Findlay Athletics, and Trojan Basketball. 

His 545 career wins and 25 consecutive years with a winning record at Findlay are impressive. 

Still, the most impressive feat has been the inspiration, character, integrity, values, and life lessons he taught our young people that will impact them for a lifetime.

Not only has Coach impacted our youth but he has impacted our department as a mentor and loyal and faithful friend. 

We certainly wish Coach, his wife Eileen, and their family the best in retirement.

(From the Office of the Ohio Governor)

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that he is activating the Ohio Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to support local communities before, during, and after Monday’s solar eclipse, which could draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to Ohio.

“There is no better place to experience the eclipse than in Ohio, the Birthplace of Aviation and the heart of aerospace,” said Governor DeWine. “While we are confident that our local communities have fully prepared for the influx of spectators, having our Emergency Operations Center at the ready will allow us to immediately respond if any unexpected needs arise.”

Beginning on Sunday, staff members from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio Emergency Management Agency, Ohio Adjutant General’s Department, Ohio Fire Marshal’s Office, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, and the departments of transportation, natural resources, administrative services, and job and family services will assemble at the EOC in Columbus to organize resources for local partners who request support.

The EOC activation follows the executive order issued by Governor DeWine last month that directed all state departments and agencies to be prepared to support local communities during the eclipse. Ohio EMA has been coordinating with state, local, and private partners to prepare for increased demands on gas, food, shelter, traffic, and cell phone service since 2021.

“We usually don’t have this much notice for a large-scale event, but the eclipse has been hundreds of years in the making, so that helped make our jobs a little easier,” said Sima Merick, director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency. “Our EOC teams will be watching traffic cameras, weather radar, and monitoring local needs through contact with our county partners, and we stand ready to provide resources as needed.”

In addition to the EOC activation, the Ohio State Highway Patrol will increase staffing levels and activate its aviation unit to enhance traffic safety services and emergency response on Ohio’s highways. Troopers will be available to support local law enforcement agencies on request and will be ready to assist motorists in the days leading up to and after the eclipse. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources will also increase its law enforcement staffing levels at its 23 state parks and five wildlife areas that are in or near the path of totality. 

The Ohio Department of Transportation will be fully staffed on the day of the eclipse to assist with traffic control and adjust traffic signal timing near popular viewing areas as needed. The Ohio Turnpike’s toll booths, service plazas, and maintenance buildings will also be fully staffed, and the turnpike will be monitored by tow truck operators to provide roadside assistance to stranded motorists. Portable message signs will be placed at various locations to keep travelers informed about traffic incidents and driving conditions. 

The 2024 Hope House Benefit Auction ‘Hope Shines Bright’ will be held on Friday, April 12 at the Hancock Hotel.

Development Director Laurie Poland was on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks to discuss the event and how their organization helps homeless and impoverished individuals and families in Hancock County.

With the help of dedicated volunteers and generous donors, Hope House assists with securing safe and affordable housing for over 3500 individuals each year.

Born out of the need for homeless services for women and children in 1990, Hope House now provides a continuum of services that help individuals and families locate and permanently maintain housing. In addition to the Hope House Shelter, Hope House serves as the Front Door for housing assistance in Hancock County out of its offices in The Family Center.

Get more on Hope House and their upcoming ‘Hope Shines Bright’ benefit auction by clicking here.

(WTOL) – 15-year-old Jaylah Perry was shot and killed in Toledo last month.

Now, her organs are saving other’s lives.

Kara Steele is director of community services for Life Connection of Ohio.

“Despite the circumstances of her death, Jaylah had the last word. She was able to save lives through organ donation which is an incredible life-saving legacy.”

Perry’s family decided to donate her organs through Life connection of Ohio and now six people in different states are recipients.

Life Connection of Ohio says one person has the ability to save up to eight lives with organ donation and 125 more with tissue donation.

(From the United Way of Hancock County)

United Way of Hancock County is honored to recognize Brian Kreinbrink as its 2023 Jeri Bjorling Distinguished Volunteer of the Year for his exceptional and wide-ranging service, whether it be a hands-on project in the field or offering expertise on several boards of directors.

The award is presented each year to an individual who has demonstrated dedication and willingness to serve the community through their overall involvement with United Way as a volunteer and leader, as well as with other organizations in the nonprofit sector. Kreinbrink was honored for his service at United Way of Hancock County’s Annual Meeting on March 27.

Kreinbrink currently serves as treasurer of the United Way of Hancock County Board of Directors, and has served on the board since 2019. He is also chairman of the finance committee and is a member of the administrative advisory committee. Kreinbrink has served as an Impact Team member — meaning that he helps review grant submissions for funding — and has participated in Days of Caring, United Way’s communitywide service event, for several years. Kreinbrink also served on United Way’s campaign cabinets in the 1990s, helping to distribute and collect campaign materials.

“In his role with the finance committee, Brian has strengthened and improved our financial management operations, created a financial dashboard so effective it is an example now being used by other nonprofits, has successfully managed our investments, and reinforced the overall health of our finances,” said Angela DeBoskey, CEO of United Way of Hancock County. “He spends a great deal of time physically present at meetings adding insight, but on top of that, hours and hours looking over numbers and doing prep work for these meetings. We can’t thank him enough for the incredible impact he has made.”

Kreinbrink, director of treasury and financing risk at Marathon Petroleum Corp., enjoys lending his expertise to nonprofit financial management. With 19 programs currently being supported, he appreciates the unique position of the United Way to address the county’s greatest needs in a diversified way.

“Accounting is looking back, finance is looking forward,” he said. “Maybe that is why I like working with nonprofits — you get to see the whole picture, investigate, check how you did on the back end and prepare for the future.

“I really have come to appreciate the broad nature on how what we do (at United Way) can have an impact and that it can move and change depending on what the community needs assessments says.”

In addition to board service, Kreinbrink enjoys helping in the field, volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, Backyard Mission Trip, and United Way’s Days of Caring. His most memorable Days of Caring project was helping to erect a huge Vietnam Memorial Wall, a travelling exhibit which came to Findlay last spring. His group carried stone pieces across a field and set them into place, assembling the wall.

“It was pretty impactful to be a part of that, setting up for veterans to be able to come and see it. You could see the names on the wall coming together as you were building it. It was a lot of responsibility. You think of the sacrifice they made.”

Throughout the community, Kreinbrink has served on the board of directors, often as president or treasurer, for American Red Cross, Findlay Family YMCA, Open Arms Domestic Violence & Rape Crisis Services, and City Mission. He is currently a member of the finance committee for Blanchard Valley Health System.

Kreinbrink highly recommends volunteering to anyone considering it. He started volunteering because he wanted to make a difference and give back to his community, yet there were additional benefits. He has made close friends through service, and feels he has become a better person, too.

“I would treat volunteering the same way I would if I were talking to a young professional at Marathon — don’t pass up an opportunity,” he said. “The more you push yourself to do things through work or volunteering, you end up getting more out of it than you could ever imagine. You just have to find what fits you, and that’s going to be different for everyone. I have gotten more out of it than I have given … it has made my life better.”

The Distinguished Volunteer of the Year Award has been presented since 1981 and was renamed in 2012 in memory of Jeri Bjorling. Bjorling was chair of the United Way of Hancock County’s Board of Directors when she passed away. She was a remarkable volunteer, leaving an indelible impact throughout the community through her involvement both with the United Way and a wide range of service organizations. She was a difference maker in the truest sense.

(From One Energy)

One Energy will begin controlled restarts of its fleet of wind turbines.

On January 22, 2024, a single blade fell from a wind turbine at one of the Company’s projects in Findlay, Ohio.

No one was injured by the event and no part of the blade or debris field left the Company’s property.

The fleet has not been operating while the Company conducted, with the aid of independent engineers and research institutions, a root cause assessment of the incident and a systematic evaluation of every turbine in its fleet.

The Company has determined that there was an abnormality with the bolted flange assembly that connects the blade to the hub.

The issue was not caused by the blade, the internals of the bearing, or the blade bolts.

The flange abnormality led to a higher than intended load transfer to the blade bolts which resulted in them fatiguing much faster than designed.

The fatigue loads eventually led multiple bolts to have a cascading failure that resulted in the blade completely separating from the turbine and falling to the ground.

The Company has inspected every major bolted flange in each of its wind turbines as part of the investigation.

Every single field-installed bolt has had, or will have, its torque rechecked before each turbine begins operating again.

One Energy will begin restarting the turbines in its fleet that do not have the abnormality.

The Company is replacing every single blade bolt in the turbines that have or may have an abnormality.

The Company is also correcting the abnormality in affected turbines. This 100% bolt replacement will restart the fatigue life of the bolts, and this correction in the flanges assemblies will ensure that the bolts are properly loaded going forward. In conjunction with the independent engineers and research institutions’ support, the Company has developed new monitoring programs and testing programs that it plans to implement and share with the wind industry.

These new methods will allow the Company to gain industry-leading insights into the real-time loads on its bolts and the conditions of its flanges going forward.

“This should not have happened, but it did. Our safety protocols and the siting of this turbine ensured that this mechanical event was contained entirely to our property. Our job as the owner of these turbines is to zealously learn from this event. Our responsibility is to share what we have learned from this event with the rest of industry so they can learn from this event as well and we can all end the culture of secrecy about failures.” -Jereme Kent, CEO.

The Company is assembling long form reports and will share those reports with the public and industry once they are fully assembled and reviewed.

(From the City of Findlay)

City of Findlay offices will be closed on Monday, April 8 due to the Total Solar Eclipse.

The Mayor’s office will be accessible that day by calling (419) 424-7137 or by email mayor@findlayohio.gov.

The City Income Tax Department will have extended hours from 8:00am-6:00pm on Tuesday, April 9-Friday, April 12.

E-filing and tax return forms will be available on the City’s website at www.findlayohio.gov/incometax.

Documents may be dropped off in the drop box in the parking lot south of the Municipal building.

The following locations will be closed to vehicular traffic as of 5:00pm on Sunday, April 7 and will re-open at 6:00am on Monday, April 8: Emory Adams Park, Swale Park, The Cube facilities.

Water access will be closed at the Findlay Reservoir as of 5:00pm on Sunday, April 7 and will re-open at dawn on Tuesday, April 9.

Pedestrians will be able to access the upper walking paths during this time.

The Findlay Cemetery gates will close at 8:00pm on Sunday, April 7 and re-open at 7:00am on Tuesday, April 9.

The Solar Eclipse Task Force, which is a collaboration of many local entities, has created a website with information about the eclipse.

And, Visit Findlay has a lot of great information on their website as well. 

The City of Findlay Green Waste Site opened for the season on Tuesday, April 2^nd.

The Green Waste Site is located at 330 North Cory Street, behind the Public Works Department building, with the entrance near the railroad tracks off North Cory Street. Follow the arrow boards.

Hours are Tuesday – Friday 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information on the location, visit www.findlayohio.com.

The green waste site is for yard waste disposal (such as leaves, brush, limbs, grass) and is available to City of Findlay residents only at no charge.

The green waste site is intended for residential use only. No contractors are permitted to use this site.

Only tree trimmings, brush, leaves, and grass clippings can be dumped in designated areas at the site. Absolutely no bags, trash, or debris other than leaves, brush, limbs, and grass will be accepted.

The City of Findlay will not be responsible for any damage or injury to vehicles or equipment resulting in the loading or unloading of yard debris, mulch, or dirt.