(From the Hancock Country Veterans Service Office)

In the fall of 2023, the Hancock Country Veterans Service Office along with the Hancock Historical Museum and Hancock Park District worked together to create the Heritage Trail Story Walk. The Trail begins at Litzenberg Memorial Woods on the county’s west side and ends at Van Horn Cemetery on the county’s east side. It connects parks, historic sites, and landmarks with over 20 miles of pavement, grass and dirt. Storyboards were installed at various points along the trail to highlight the contributions from Hancock County Veterans during various wars and conflicts.

The first four boards, featuring The War of 1812, The Civil War, World War I (The Great War) and World War II have been installed and we are happy to announce that the final four boards will be completed in 2024. Being added to the story walk this year will be contributions made by Hancock County veterans during the Korean War, The Vietnam War, The Persian Gulf War (Desert Storm) and The Global War on Terrorism (Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom).

We spoke with Nichole Coleman, Director of the Hancock County Veterans Service Office, about the new Veterans Story Walk during its unveiling in September 2023. (video below)

This trail has given us a wonderful opportunity to educate and celebrate the accomplishments of Hancock County through the Veteran Story Walk. Each storyboard includes information about a war or conflict and how Hancock County veterans served or contributed, thanks to research completed by the Hancock County Historical Museum.

“We want to make sure that we never forget about these important historic events and the part that our veterans played,” said Ed Newton, resiliency operations manager. “It gives us an opportunity to tell their story and helps us carry on our county’s rich heritage to the next generation. Our veterans enjoy telling their stories. Make sure you take time to visit our wonderful parks, learn about history and celebrate our wonderful Hancock County veterans. Maybe this will inspire you to start a conversation with a veteran to learn more about what encouraged them to serve.”

This project has been fully funded thanks to a grant from The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation. The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for all in the community. Established in 1992 as a result of an estate gift from L. Dale Dorney, The Community Foundation has granted more than $75 million to fund projects to support our community. Visit community-foundation.com or call (419) 425-1100 to learn more about how the Foundation is making a lasting community impact.

Natalie Reffitt with the Humane Society and SPCA of Hancock County was on with WKXA’s Rex Howard to discuss pet safety tips for the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8^th.

“It would be good to treat the eclipse like the 4^th of July,” Natalie said. “The 4^th of July is one of the busiest times of the year for your pet to get lost.”

Natalie says to keep your pets leashed, tagged, and indoors if you can and make sure you have current pics of your pet if they do get lost.  

She’s recommending people from out of the area who are coming here to leave their pet at home because the worst things that could happen is you bring your pet someplace new and they get lost.

Natalie says you don’t have to worry about your pets eyes during the eclipse because instinctually they’re not going to look at the sun.

If you’re going to have an eclipse party make sure they are indoors and safe and not running to the door and getting out.

The Findlay Municipal Court will be holding its 7th Annual Safe Surrender Day on Thursday, April 18th from 9 to 4 p.m.

Over the last 6 years, the Findlay Municipal Court has helped over 450 individuals and recalled over 545 bench warrants.

“The Safe Surrender event continues to be a great success for the court, law enforcement and the community.”

Individuals with active bench warrants who report to the Court on that day will not be arrested.

Instead, individuals who take advantage of this opportunity will work with designated court staff to solve their legal issues.

Some examples include:

Individuals who failed to attend a court hearing will be seen by the Judge, Magistrate or court staff that day.

Individuals who failed to perform community service will be reassigned to a work location. If the individual missed a community service contempt hearing, the hearing will be rescheduled to allow the person time to complete the community service;

Individuals who did not complete counseling for mental health or substance abuse will have their appointments rescheduled;

Individuals who did not attend a status conference will meet with a magistrate or court staff to review their financial ability to pay outstanding fines and to establish a new payment plan;

Individuals who did not report to serve a jail sentence will be issued a new date to report.

The Hancock County Public Defender will be available at the court to meet with clients.

Upon reporting to the Court on Safe Surrender Day, the warrant will be lifted and recalled from law enforcement.

This is a one day only event. Individuals who are unsure if they have an outstanding bench warrant can view a list of active Findlay Municipal Court warrants.

Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are also accepted.

To schedule an appointment or for more information call the Clerk’s office at 419-424-7141.

The date of the total solar eclipse is almost here.

“I want people to just enjoy the experience,” said Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn.

Part of being able to enjoy the experience is being prepared for the experience, and the mayor was on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks to discuss the city’s readiness for the special celestial event.

Findlay is within the path of totality and will experience a total solar eclipse of an estimated 3 minutes and 44 seconds beginning at 3:10 p.m. on Monday, April 8^th.

Officials say their preparation for the rare event has been about ensuring that it’s a safe and enjoyable event for everyone.

The City of Findlay has designated Emory Adams Park, Swale Park, The Cube, and Owens Community College as viewing locations.

People are encouraged to walk to the viewing sites if they are able, or just watch the eclipse from their own residence as traffic will likely be really bad that day as outsiders pour into the area to see the eclipse in full totality.

People are reminded to wear a pair of solar eclipse glasses during the event, except during the brief phase of totality when it will be safe to view it with the naked eye.

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. 

(ONN) – Wednesday marks the 50th anniversary of Ohio’s deadliest tornado outbreak.

It’s been a half-century since the super outbreak that spawned a massive tornado that wiped out half of Xenia and killed 34 people.

Another twister killed three people in Cincinnati’s Sayler Park neighborhood, which is holding an observance to mark the anniversary.

Get more on the tornado outbreak from the National Weather Service by clicking here.

Findlay City Schools’ Donnell Stadium is getting new turf and a new track.

Athletic Director Nate Weihrauch says the Donnell Family certainly blessed the community with such a tremendous venue in Donnell Stadium.

“We are truly thankful for the opportunity to play in the most exquisite high school stadium in Ohio, Donnell Stadium.”

He says the history of the stadium dates back to its first game in 1928 and the first night game in 1930.

Get more from Nate on the history of the stadium and the improvements over the years in the interview below.

(From the Hancock Historical Museum)

Pack a lunch and head to the Hancock Historical Museum for its monthly Brown Bag Lecture Series at 12 p.m. Thursday, April 4th discussing “Four Guys Walk into a Bluffton Bank…”, the story of Public Enemy Number 1, John Dillinger’s raid on a bank in Bluffton, presented by Fred Steiner, author, and retired journalist.

Fred says Dillinger and his gang robbed Citizens National Bank of Bluffton of $2,100 on August 14th, 1933, and that the five-minute episode became the story of the century for Bluffton residents. Fred will talk about the robbery, share eyewitness accounts and other stories that have evolved into oral history form and some that have stretched the truth.

Fred Steiner is a life-long Bluffton resident and Bowling Green State University journalism graduate. He is author of five Bluffton history books. For over 25 years he edited the Bluffton News, and later created the Bluffton Icon and Ada Icon, both community journalism websites. He retired in 2021. His website Bluffton Forever.com includes over 500 history-related photos and stories of Bluffton. He is a member of the Hancock Historical Museum, Swiss-American Historical Society, and the Bluffton Swiss Community Historical Society.

This is Fred’s third Brown Bag Lecture. Scheduled at noon on the first Thursday of each month featuring a variety of topics relevant to Hancock County and Ohio, the museum’s Brown Bag Lecture Series is free to members and regular museum admission for nonmembers. No registration necessary. For more information, visit Hancockhistoricalmuseum.org or call 419-423-4433.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for the Blanchard River in Findlay.

Flood stage is 12 feet and the river is expected to rise to above flood stage Wednesday morning to a crest of around 12.4 feet Wednesday afternoon.

It will then fall below flood stage late Wednesday evening.

Minor flooding is forecasted and some roads are closed due to high water.

Get the latest list of roads affected by high water from the city below.

A Flood Warning was also issued for the Blanchard River in Ottawa and it is in minor flood stage.

Get the latest forecast and weather alerts by clicking here, and river levels by clicking here.

(From the City of Findlay)

The City of Findlay is performing numerous construction projects throughout the city.

The status of some of the projects is weather and contractor schedule permitting.

Listed below are some of the projects and the restrictions that result from the ongoing projects.

These restrictions are in effect from April 1, 2024, until further notice.

PUTNAM STREET – Western Avenue to Portz Avenue – Putnam Street will be closed to through traffic from Western Avenue to Portz Avenue for curb replacement.

PORTZ AVENUE – Sandusky Street to Main Cross Street – Portz Avenue will be closed to through traffic from Sandusky Street to Main Cross Street for curb replacement.

IMPERIAL LANE – Saratoga Drive to Bristol Drive – Imperial Lane will be closed to through traffic from Saratoga Drive to Bristol Drive for curb replacement.

GREENDALE AVENUE – Bright Road to Sutton Place – Greendale Avenue will be closed to through traffic from Bright Road to Sutton Place for curb replacement.

LAUREL LANE – Northridge Road to Sweetwater Road – Laurel Lane will be closed to through traffic from Northridge Road to Sweetwater Road for waterline installation.

Motorists are advised to avoid these areas if possible. Short delays are expected in these areas over the next week.

The Engineering Department will release updates on information and schedules when it becomes available. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about any of these projects at 419-424-7121.

(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.