(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding motorists of the increase in deer-involved crashes during this time of year.

Since 2019, there have been 109,507 deer-involved crashes on Ohio roadways. While 95% of deer-involved crashes only resulted in property damage, 44 crashes were fatal and resulted in 45 deaths. Additionally, from 2019-2023, 47% of these crashes occurred in October, November and December, with 22% occurring in November alone.

“Practicing safe driving habits and staying fully focused on the road increases your chances of spotting deer before it’s too late,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. “If you do strike a deer, prioritize your safety by moving to a secure location if possible, turning on your hazard lights and reporting the incident.”

The most crashes involving deer have happened in Stark (3,138), Richland (2,880), Hancock (2,725) and Defiance (2,560) counties. Combined, these four counties accounted for 10% of all deer-involved crashes. Additionally, more than 100 deer-involved crashes have happened in all but one Ohio county since 2019.

Simple tips to avoid an animal collision are: scan the road ahead, use high-beam headlights when able, be extra cautious at dawn and dusk and if a collision is unavoidable, brake – don’t swerve to stay in your lane.

Motorists are reminded they can safely dial #677 from their mobile device to be connected to the nearest Ohio State Highway Patrol Post during a roadway emergency.

A statistical map containing deer-involved crash information can be found here and additional information on crash statistics can be found on the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Ohio Statistics and Analytics for Traffic Safety (OSTATS) Dashboard.

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) is excited to announce it has acquired a new TrueBeam linear accelerator system from Varian Medical Systems, improving treatment options for patients undergoing radiation therapy at The Armes Family Cancer Care Center (AFCCC), a division of the health system.

Radiation therapy treatments are designed to damage cancer cells to prevent them from dividing, without damaging other tissue. The team providing this treatment includes radiation oncologists, radiation therapists, nurses, dosimetrists, and physicists.

The radiation oncologist determines the appropriate dose of radiation based on the type, size, and location of the tumor. A radiation therapy session typically lasts no more than 15 minutes, so patients do not receive too much radiation all at once. The new machine has shortened this treatment time for many patients.

Technology keeps improving, said Lori Hummel, RT (T), clinical coordinator, radiation oncology. Hummel has been providing radiation therapy at BVHS for 25 years. The machines available now can target the radiation more precisely than when she began her career, causing fewer side effects for patients.

“Today’s machines are much more sophisticated and sensitive than we could have imagined back then, so the process is significantly easier on the patient,” Hummel said.

“The ability to target the radiation more precisely means treatment today is not only more effective, but also creates fewer negative side effects,” said radiation oncologist Ankit Modh, MD. “One area where technological improvements make a particular difference is in brain cancer treatment. The new linear accelerator includes state-of-the-art software specifically designed to treat lesions in the brain.”

The new machine also offers more flexibility in adjusting a patient’s position, making it easier for radiation therapists to line patients up with the radiation with less discomfort.

The software can be continually upgraded. The machine is programmed with the patient’s individual treatment plan, and also incorporates “intelligent” automation.

“Offering the latest technology for radiation therapy is part of our ongoing commitment to cancer treatment at Blanchard Valley Health System,” said Amy Mills, director of oncology services. “In addition to our new linear accelerator, we have renovated our treatment area to create a calming environment for patients undergoing treatments.  This is part of a large renovation project being completed at the Armes Family Cancer Care Center.”

Associates working at the cancer center also are benefiting from these renovations. Radiation therapists are not in the room during treatment, but instead control the machine from a nearby room. These control rooms were recently redesigned to be more private and comfortable for these associates.

Mills said that Findlay is fortunate to have two state-of-the-art linear accelerators to provide patient treatments.

“We offer access to technology that mirrors larger cancer centers, but right here in a smaller community. This allows patients to remain close to home while they are receiving treatments, reducing travel time and improving outcomes,” she said.

“We take pride at the cancer center in treating patients like family,” said Adele Simon, RN, clinical office manager. “All of our associates have not only so much skill, but incredible compassion for their patients. We truly care about each and every one of them, and we are so excited now to not only offer better treatment options but also a space that feels more comfortable during this stressful time in their lives.”

“We’re very excited to be able to upgrade our technology like this,” Modh said. “We see patients from not only Findlay but throughout Northwest Ohio, and we’re happy to be able to offer them an even higher level of quality care right here in this community.”

People are encouraged to come out for the Veterans Day Parade in Findlay.

The parade will be held on Sunday, November 10 beginning at 2 p.m. on Main Street.

The parade will begin at the intersection of South Main and Lincoln Street and proceed north to the Hancock County War Memorial at North Main Street and Center Street where a ceremony will be held.

There will be speakers and the Veteran of the Year will be introduced.

Anyone who wants to be in the parade to support our local Veterans should arrive at the area of South Main and Lincoln Street from 12:30 to 1 to get in line.

See video from last year’s parade and ceremony below.

Veterans Day is on Monday, November 11.

(From the Hancock Historical Museum)

The Hancock Historical Museum will present the next installment of its Brown Bag Lecture Series, titled Next Stop, the Twilight Zone, on November 7 at noon at 422 West Sandusky Street in Findlay. This lecture will explore the life and work of Rod Serling (1924-1975), one of the most acclaimed writers of early television.

In the 1950s, Serling’s live TV dramas frequently tackled controversial topics, though network pressures often forced him to revise his scripts. Frustrated with censorship, Serling turned his focus to science fiction, creating, producing, and narrating The Twilight Zone. The show became famous for its unexpected plot twists and moral lessons, and this presentation will delve into Serling’s cultural significance and the ongoing popularity of The Twilight Zone.

The lecture will be presented by Charles Coletta, Ph.D., a faculty member in the Department of Popular Culture at Bowling Green State University. Raised in Cleveland, Coletta earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in literature from John Carroll University, and his Ph.D. in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University. Since 2000, he has taught courses on Television and Film Studies, Contemporary Popular Literature, and Mass Media Studies.

This interesting event will take place at the Hancock Historical Museum, located at 422 West Sandusky Street in Findlay, Ohio. The Brown Bag Lecture Series is held on the first Thursday of every month, covering a variety of topics related to Hancock County and Ohio history.

The event is free for museum members and included with regular admission for non-members. No registration is required, so attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch and enjoy an enlightening hour of history.

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

The Findlay Police Department says a woman was injured in a crash that occurred when a vehicle pulled out in front of her.

Police say Brianna Albert, 21, of Findlay, was driving westbound on Tiffin Avenue at around 3:45 Tuesday afternoon when an SUV being driven by Delylah Hershberger, 17, of McComb, made a left turn onto Tiffin Avenue from H Street and the two vehicles collided.

Police say Brianna was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital for reported pain in her neck, stomach and knee.

Delylah was issued a citation by police.

Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene of the crash.  

(From the City of Findlay)

The City of Findlay will be picking up leaves from November 18, 2024, through December 6, 2024. City employees will collect leaves that have been placed in biodegradable PAPER bags at the curb. Plastic bags and loose leaves will not be picked up. Bagged leaves are to be placed by the curb.

Limbs that are placed beside the bagged leaves will also be picked up. The limbs will be picked up separately from the leaves.

Crews will start picking up leaves on November 18, 2024. Crews will make several rounds throughout the whole City through December 6, 2024.

Biodegradable bags are readily available at local hardware, building supply, and some grocery stores.

Raking leaves into the street has many negative aspects. Leaf piles in the street can be a dangerous temptation to children who like to play in the piles and in many areas reduce the traffic to one lane or cause drivers to drive around the piles into oncoming traffic. Piled leaves tend to wash into and clog storm sewers, causing maintenance issues and potential localized flooding during storm events. Residents who blow or rake leaves onto City streets are in violation of long-standing City Codified Ordinance 311.01(d). Complaints should be forwarded to the Police Department.

City residents may continue to drop leaves at the green waste site located at 330 North Cory Street at no charge. The current hours for the site are Tuesday through Friday 2pm-7pm and Saturday 8am-1pm, closed Sunday and Monday. Beginning November 4, 2024, hours for the site will be Tuesday through Friday 1pm-6pm and Saturday 8am-1pm, closed Sunday and Monday. Beginning November 16, 2024, Saturday hours will be 8am-4pm. The green waste site will be closed on Monday, November 11, 2024, in honor of Veterans Day and November 28, 2024, for Thanksgiving. It will be open on November 29, 2024, and November 30, 2024. The last day for the green waste site will be December 7, 2024.

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.

The Van Buren Local School District’s income tax levy renewal was approved by voters by a vote of 53 percent for to 46 percent against. 

Shall an annual income tax of one percent (1%) on the school district income of individuals and of estates be imposed by the Van Buren Local School District, Hancock County, Ohio, to renew an income tax expiring at the end of 2025, for five years, beginning January 1, 2026, for the purpose of providing for current expenses of the school district?

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

Congressman Bob Latta cruised to victory on Election Day.

Unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State’s website show the Republican defeating Democrat Keith Mundy with 67 percent of the vote.

Latta has represented Ohio’s 5^th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2007.

Ohio’s 5th Congressional District is comprised of all or part of 12 counties, including Lorain, Huron, Seneca, Crawford, Wyandot, Hancock, Wood, Henry, Putnam, Paulding, Van Wert, and Mercer.

Hancock County voters approved a replacement tax levy for the care and placement of children by Hancock County Job and Family Services.

WFIN’s Chris Oaks previously spoke with JFS Director Randall Galbraith about the importance of passing this children’s services levy.

Unofficial results from the Hancock County Board of Elections show the levy passing by a vote of 51 percent for to 48 percent against.

The issue as it appeared on the ballot is as follows:

A replacement tax for the benefit of Hancock County for the purpose of the support of children’s services and the care and placement of children by Hancock County Job & Family Services, that the county auditor estimates will collect $2,116,000 annually, at a rate not exceeding 0.8 mill for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $28 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value, for a period of 5 years, commencing in 2025, first due in calendar year 2026.

All results are unofficial until certified by the board of elections. 

Findlay City Schools was unsuccessful in passing the 1 percent earned income tax levy the school district had on the fall ballot.

Unofficial results from the Hancock County Board of Elections show the levy failing by a vote of 52 percent against to 47 percent in favor.

The school district previously said, if the levy were to fail, a first phase of immediate reductions would need to be implemented and would continue into the next school year.

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

All results are unofficial until certified by the board of elections.