(From the Office of the Ohio Treasurer)

Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague has announced the latest round of Compass Award honorees for 2024. The annual recognition program commends organizations, programs, and individuals across the state who are working to guide Ohioans toward financial literacy and empowerment.

“Whether you’re in grade school or well into your retirement years, access to quality financial education can help you navigate some of life’s most daunting decision points,” said Treasurer Sprague. “This year’s Compass Award honorees are enhancing our state and their communities by empowering people with the knowledge to succeed in the workplace, manage personal finances, and plan for long-term success. We’re proud to honor these three organizations for making a genuine difference in the lives of Ohioans and helping them to take better control of their financial future.”

The 2024 Compass Award honorees are:

LISC Toledo

Local Initiatives Support Corporation Toledo (LISC Toledo) works closely with service-oriented organizations and community partners to create opportunities for individuals throughout the Greater Toledo area. LISC Toledo fosters economic growth and household stability by providing direct funding and technical assistance to small businesses, supporting affordable housing by leveraging grants and supporting neighborhood revitalization, and assisting individual growth through their Income & Wealth building program.

The Income & Wealth building program uses their trademark Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) model to give Toledo residents a pathway toward improving their financial health and literacy. The FOC offers services such as employment assistance, financial education & coaching, and access to income supports. In 2023, the LISC Toledo FOC network served more than 2,300 people and over 800 individuals achieved at least one key financial outcome.

Montgomery County Reentry Career Alliance Academy

In Montgomery County, the Reentry Career Alliance Academy (RCAA) provides personal and career development curriculum to individuals reentering society following release from incarceration. The four-week program – which serves nine cohorts each year composed of 15-20 participants per cohort – consists of 29 workshops with topics covering financial literacy, housing, education, healthcare, and more. The financial literacy series of workshops are facilitated in partnership with Day Air Credit Union and the office of Montgomery County Treasurer John McManus and provide participants with critical information about basic budgeting, building and managing credit, tax compliance, and much more.

Scarlet and Gray Financial

Scarlet and Gray Financial is a financial coaching program available through The Ohio State University’s Office of Student Life. The program has received national recognition and utilizes a peer-to-peer model where trained students deliver coaching to other students on various money-related topics. Students participating in the program have access to a variety of workshops and online courses. Through these sessions, the students work together to develop goals, create spending plans, and establish next steps to achieve greater financial stability and success.

To see a full list of previous Compass Award honorees and to learn more about other financial literacy programs from the Ohio Treasurer’s Office, visit our website.

(From the Findlay Police Department)

On 9-4-2024 at approximately 2358 hrs. an officer attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a traffic violation.

The suspect vehicle fled from the officer northbound on N. Main St. from Ellis Ave., eastbound on W. Bigelow Ave., northbound on CR 139, eastbound on CR 97, northbound on CR 140 into Wood County, eastbound on Deweyville Rd. and then northbound on Mitchell Rd.

The suspect vehicle came to a stop at the intersection of Mitchell Rd. and Belmore Rd. where the two occupants fled from the vehicle into a cornfield to the east.

Officers formed a perimeter around the cornfield with deputies from the Wood County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol.

A FPD drone was deployed to assist in search efforts. The OSP Aviation Unit was also contacted and responded to the area.

Once on scene, the OSP helicopter unit was able to locate a suspect laying down in the cornfield. The subject was ordered out of the field and detained for investigative purposes.

The aviation unit continued searching the cornfield, but was unable to locate the second suspect.

Officers searched the area in the cornfield were the first suspect was located and found items belonging to the suspect along with suspected illegal narcotics.

The suspect later admitted the items belonged to him and he was placed under arrest and incarcerated at the Hancock County Justice Center.

This matter is still under investigation.

No injuries were reported as a result of this pursuit, which went approximately 11.3 miles and lasted 8 minutes.

(From the City of Findlay)

City of Findlay officials are pleased to announce that they have established a 12-month fixed-rate of $0.515/ccf for members of the natural gas aggregation program. The fixed rate will run through the October 2025 billing cycle. Residents and small commercial customers can expect a letter from IGS Energy to arrive shortly after September 5, 2024. The letter will explain the rate, terms and conditions of the offer. The natural gas program was approved by voters in 2002 and is available for residents and small businesses in the City.

The City of Findlay is pleased to make this rate available for its residents and small businesses. The fixed-rate will give price protection and budget stability for the next term. As before, the City of Findlay program has no early termination fee.

Eric Burns, Director of Aggregation of Independent Energy Consultants, said, “Residents and businesses should carefully read their letter from IGS Energy. Residents who are currently participating in the program will receive an “opt-out” letter, and do not need to take any action to remain in the program. Residents who have not chosen a supplier and receive their gas supply from Columbia Gas of Ohio will also receive an “opt-out” letter. If they wish to be added to the program, they should simply do nothing and they will automatically receive the new rate.”

The aggregation program is simply another option for you to consider, and it is important that residents make themselves aware of the other options available to them, specifically:
• The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio provides a list of other publicly available offers on their website, www.energychoice.ohio.gov. Anyone considering those supply offers should be aware of any early termination penalties, fixed monthly charges, or automatic renewal provisions that can quickly offset any perceived savings.  The City of Findlay program includes none of the above.
• The utility’s supply rate the Standard Choice Offer (SCO) is a variable rate option. It follows monthly market conditions and trends up and down throughout the year.

Again, the City of Findlay would like to remind residents that the program is simply another option for City of Findlay residents and small businesses to consider in their efforts to manage their energy costs.

The City of Findlay is pleased to have made this program possible. Residents should contact IGS Energy at 877-353-0162 if they have any questions regarding their letter or status in the aggregation program.

Click here to see a sample letter residents will receive.

(ONN) – Ohio and six other states have filed a lawsuit to block the Biden administration’s new student loan forgiveness plan.

That plan was expected to roll out this fall.

The seven Republican-led states are claiming they have documents showing the Department of Education intends to provide some of the student debt relief as early as this week.

The lawsuit claims that would violate a statute prohibiting the education secretary from implementing a rule sooner than sixty days after its publication.

The six other states involved in the lawsuit are: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, and North Dakota.

Fostoria Police Detective Brooks Hall has been named 2023 Officer Of The Year at the Fostoria Police Department.

“Thank you for all of your continued hard work, dedication, and commitment to the City of Fostoria!” the police department said on Facebook

In 2023 Detective Hall handled cases involving felonious assault, arson, robbery and many others.

He also uploaded the department’s cold case murder files with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation giving those cases a better chance of finding justice someday.

“Most importantly, Detective Hall maintains an open-door policy to the other patrolmen and is a huge influence and mentor to them,” said Police Chief Gabe Wedge.

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting 15 people lost their lives in 15 traffic crashes during the Labor Day reporting period, which began Friday, August 30 at midnight and ended Monday, September 2 at 11:59 p.m.

During the Labor Day holiday reporting period, Ohio saw a 37.5 percent decrease in fatal crashes.

In those fatalities in which safety belts were available, seven were unbelted. Ohio’s safety belt law remains a secondary violation; however, troopers continued to have zero tolerance during the holiday reporting period when motorists were stopped for other violations and were found not wearing their safety belt. Throughout the reporting period, troopers issued more than 2,000 safety belt and child safety seat citations.

Additionally, six of the fatal crashes were OVI-related. Troopers also made 378 arrests for impaired driving and 50 for drug-related charges. The Patrol responded to 519 crashes and made 25,674 traffic contacts in total. Troopers also issued 930 citations for distracted driving and provided assistance to 1,829 motorists.

A statewide breakdown of enforcement and crashes during the Labor Day reporting period can be found here.

Motorists are encouraged to call #677 to report impaired drivers or drug activity.

(ONN) – The Cleveland Browns have announced a new 20-year partnership with Huntington Bank that includes the naming rights for the stadium, now called “Huntington Bank Field.”

They say the naming of Huntington Bank Field makes the bank the anchor investor in the existing or new home of the Browns for the next 20 years.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslem stressed what’s most important thing is the long-term relationship they now have with Huntington Bank.

The stadium became known in 2013 as “FirstEnergy Stadium” after the browns agreed to a partnership with Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp.

Controversy over FirstEnergy’s partnership with the Browns ensued as a result of the company’s involvement in the House Bill 6 bribery scandal.

The Browns formally announced a mutual agreement to end its stadium naming rights deal with FirstEnergy in April of 2023.

(From the Hancock Historical Museum)

Take a break from your routine and join us at the Hancock Historical Museum for our monthly Brown Bag Lecture Series! On Thursday, September 5th at noon, we are pleased to welcome Heather Schalk, Manager of Volunteer Services at Blanchard Valley Health System, as our featured speaker.

Heather Schalk has dedicated the last 15 years of her career to non-profit volunteer engagement, including 12 years managing the volunteer program at Blanchard Valley Health System. In her role, she oversees approximately 165 volunteers and 170 Auxiliary members. Heather is a Certified Director of Volunteer Services (CDVS) and currently serves as the President of the Ohio Hospital Volunteer Management Association.

During her lecture, Heather will take us on a journey through the history of the Blanchard Valley Health System’s Auxiliary, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. This session promises to be a nostalgic walk down memory lane, highlighting key milestones and the deep-rooted history of the Auxiliary. As Heather notes, “We have such selfless, passionate members in our community; celebrating the 75th year of the Blanchard Valley Health System’s Auxiliary is truly a reflection of that philanthropic spirit.” You may even recognize some familiar faces or experience a bit of nostalgia from the past!

The Brown Bag Lecture Series is held at noon on the first Thursday of each month and features a variety of topics relevant to Hancock County and Ohio. This event is free for museum members and is included with regular museum admission for non-members. No registration is necessary.

For more information, please visit Hancockhistoricalmuseum.org or call 419-423-4433.

(From the Findlay Police Department)

With the closure of Rite Aid stores across the state and prescriptions being transferred to other stores such as Walgreens, scammers are seeing this as an opportunity to get your personal information.

Scammers are calling individuals, claiming to be representatives with other pharmacies and are offering to help with the transition between stores.

They then ask for your personal information, such as date of birth, Social Security number, and Medicare number. They then use this information to steal your identity.

If you receive such a call, decline to answer the questions and hang up.

If you feel the call may be legitimate, you can contact the pharmacy yourself at a trusted number, or in person.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal crash that happened south of McComb.

The crash happened Tuesday morning at the intersection of State Route 235 and County Road 96.

The sheriff’s office says Colt Eck, 30, of Findlay, was eastbound on County Road 96 in a Ford Explorer when he ran the stop sign at 235 and struck a Ford F-150 that was northbound on 235 and being operated by 45-year-old Timothy Brown, of McComb.

Both vehicles overturned and came to rest in a field. Brown was ejected from his vehicle.

The sheriff’s office said both drivers were taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital and Brown was pronounced dead at the hospital and Eck suffered minor injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.