(From the Ohio Department of Transportation)

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 1, in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Executive Order 11988, is seeking public comments regarding the following proposed projects:

HANCOCK COUNTY

State Route 37 resurfacing (PID: 107677)

ODOT is proposing to resurface 13.52 miles of pavement along State Route 37 using the full-width resurfacing method known as echelon paving. Work will begin at the intersection of State Route 37 and County Road 172, just south of the State Route 37/State Route 15 interchange, and will continue south to the Hardin County line.

Construction activities will result in temporary roadway closures. Vehicular through traffic will be detoured temporarily. Access for local traffic to all properties will be maintained throughout construction.

Construction is anticipated to occur in the summer of 2026.

Additional information about the project can be found on the project website:

https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/projects/projects/107677

PAULDING COUNTY

State Route 111 shoulder reconstruction (PID: 117046)

ODOT is proposing to reconstruct 5.59 miles of shoulder on State Route 111. Work will begin at the U.S. Route 127 and State Route 111 intersection southeast of the village of Cecil and extend to the State Route 111 and County Road 143 intersection just west of the unincorporated community of Junction.

Construction activities will result in temporary roadway closures. Vehicular through traffic will be detoured temporarily. Access for local traffic to all properties will be maintained throughout construction.

Construction is anticipated to occur in the fall of 2026.

Additional information about the project can be found on the project website:

https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/projects/projects/117046

PUTNAM COUNTY

State Route 634 roadway reconstruction (PID: 119865)

ODOT is proposing to reconstruct and raise the profile of State Route 634 from mile marker 9.53 to 9.80 situated between Township Road J to the south and Township Road I-22 to the north.  This section of roadway is approximately one mile south of the village of Dupont.  The project will also relocate a portion of a small stream along the east side of the road in this location further away from the roadway to prevent erosion.

Construction activities will result in temporary roadway closures. Vehicular through traffic will be detoured temporarily. Access for local traffic to all properties will be maintained throughout construction.

Construction is anticipated to occur in the summer or fall of 2026.

Work along this route may occur in the regulated floodplain of the Auglaize River. Impacts to this floodplain are anticipated to be minor and result in no rise in localized flood levels. A statement of findings detailing the results of the final floodplain analysis will be made available on the project website:

https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/projects/projects/119865

VAN WERT COUNTY

State Route 116/117/697 resurfacing (PID: 107701) 

ODOT is proposing to resurface 6.57 miles of pavement along State Route 697 and 3.11 miles of pavement along State Routes 116 and 117 using the full-width resurfacing method known as echelon paving. Work will take place along:

• State Route 697 from the intersection of State Route 697 and State Route 116 to the western edge of the city of Delphos.
• State Route 116 and State Route 117 from the Mercer County Line to the Allen County Line.

Construction activities will result in temporary roadway closures. Vehicular through traffic will be detoured temporarily. Access for local traffic to all properties will be maintained throughout construction.

Construction is anticipated to occur in the summer and fall of 2026.

Additional information about the project can be found on the project website:

https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/projects/projects/107701

WYANDOT COUNTY

State Route 53 resurfacing (PID: 113044) 

ODOT is proposing to resurface 9.22 miles of pavement along State Route 53 using the full-width resurfacing method known as echelon paving. Work will begin at the Wyandot/Seneca County Line and end at the intersection of State Route 53 and State Route 67 just north of the city of Upper Sandusky.

Construction activities will result in temporary roadway closures. Vehicular through traffic will be detoured temporarily. Access for local traffic to all properties will be maintained throughout construction.

Construction is anticipated to occur in the summer of 2026.

Additional information about the project can be found on the project website:

https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/projects/projects/113044

DISTRICT-WIDE

Bridge painting on various routes (PID: 119050) 

ODOT is proposing to paint various bridges in Allen, Defiance, Hancock, and Wyandot counties.

• Allen County 
  • County Road 173 structure over Interstate Route 75 at mile marker 4.83, about two miles southwest of the village of Beaverdam.
  • Township Road 84 structure over Interstate Route 75 at mile marker 20.96, a little over a mile southwest of the village of Bluffton.
  • County Road 185 structure over Interstate Route 75 at mile marker 9.30, about 1.7 miles southwest of the village of Bluffton.
  • U.S. Route 30 twin structures over the Ottawa River at mile marker 7.00, about six miles east of the city of Delphos.
• Defiance County 
  • State Route 249 structure over the St. Joseph River at mile marker 0.09, just east of the Indiana state line.
• Hancock County 
  • State Route 103 structure over Interstate Route 75 at mile marker 0.67, just east of the village of Bluffton.
• Wyandot County
  • State Route 53 structure over U.S. Route 23 at mile marker 15.06, just north of the city of Upper Sandusky.

Construction activities will result in temporary roadway closures on the following roads:

• County Road 173, Township Road 84, and County Road 185 in Allen County
• State Route 249 in Defiance County
• State Route 103 in Hancock County
• State Route 53 in Wyandot County

Vehicular through traffic will be detoured temporarily. Access for local traffic to all properties will be maintained throughout construction.

Construction is scheduled to occur from the spring through the fall of 2026.

Additional information about the project can be found on the project website:

https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/projects/projects/119050

More information on ODOT projects can be found here.

Written comments regarding these projects may be sent to: Ohio Department of Transportation District 1, Attn: Nate Tessler, 1885 N. McCullough Street, Lima, Ohio 45801; to nate.tessler@dot.ohio.gov; or submitted on the project webpage.

Please provide comments by Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. To ensure a timely response, please provide the project name, PID number, and your contact details. Comments received without contact information will not receive a response.

Project-related issues the public may wish to comment on include but are not limited to, historic or cultural resources, ecological resources, and environmental justice issues.

(From the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)

You’re Invited!

On behalf of Sheriff Michael E. Heldman, we warmly invite you to celebrate his retirement after an extraordinary 52 years of service to Hancock County, including 28 years as Sheriff. Sheriff Heldman holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Sheriff in Hancock County’s history.

Please join us in honoring Sheriff Heldman’s lifetime of dedication, leadership, and unmatched service. Together, let’s celebrate his remarkable career and the lasting legacy he leaves behind.

Please see the invitation below for more details.

We look forward to seeing you there!

(WFIN) – Hancock County’s new Sheriff will be Mike Cortez. Click here to learn more about Sheriff-Elect Cortez.

(From the Hancock Historical Museum)

December is a magical time to visit local museums decorated for the holidays, and the Hancock Historical Museum has prepared a variety of festive offerings to celebrate the Christmas season with the community.

The holiday season at the museum begins with its monthly Brown Bag Lecture at 12 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 featuring “Holiday Magic: A Journey Through the History of Hallmark Christmas Movies,” presented by museum Curator and Archivist Joy Bennett.

Admission is free for museum members and included with regular museum admission for nonmembers.

From 5 – 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 the museum will host its annual Christmas Open House.

Guests of all ages can explore the museum’s decorated campus, enjoy crafts for children and adults, visit with Father Christmas and Mrs. Claus, hear live music, and sample seasonal refreshments.

Admission is free for members of the museum and $1 per person (cash only) for nonmembers.

The year’s final program will be Classic Movie Night at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, featuring the holiday favorite White Christmas (1954).

Admission is free to attend, and reservations are encouraged but not required.

Visitors are encouraged to stop by the museum gift shop to find meaningful, local gifts celebrating Hancock County.

Items include vintage German nutcrackers and smokers from the private collection of Waltraud Mullinger, local history books, apparel, children’s toys and unique pieces of Findlay Glass. All Findlay Glass is 20 percent off through Dec. 22.

New this year, the museum is offering gift wrapping services in exchange for a donation. Museum volunteer Mary Klein will provide wrapping services for gifts brought in by visitors while they explore the museum. Wrapping is available from 1 – 4 p.m. every Friday in December, as well as Sunday, Dec. 15 and 22. Gift wrapping is complimentary for items purchased in the museum gift shop.

The Hancock Historical Museum is located at 422 W. Sandusky St. in Findlay, Ohio. Regular hours are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 1 – 4 p.m. Sunday. The museum’s final day of operation for 2024 will be Sunday, Dec. 22. Admission into the museum is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, $2 for students and free for members. For more information about visiting the museum and upcoming events, visit HancockHistoricalMuseum.org or call 419-423- 4433.

(From Hancock Public Health)

Exciting News from Be Healthy Now Hancock County!

Hancock Public Health and the Be Healthy Now Hancock County Health Coalition are thrilled to share the progress we’re making on our current Community Health Improvement Plan!

Together, we’re working toward a healthier, stronger community.

Stay tuned and follow along for updates as we continue to make strides toward our shared goals.

Click here for more information.

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

The Bowling Green Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash that occurred on December 3, 2024 at approximately 6:57 P.M. The crash occurred on Interstate Route 75 in the northbound lane near milepost 174 in Portage Township, Wood County.

Leroy Newson, age 34, of Detroit, Michigan was operating a 2023 Toyota Camry on Interstate Route 75 in the middle lane. Daniel Soloman, age 69, of Findlay, Ohio was traveling across Interstate Route 75 on foot from the east to the west. Mr. Newson struck Mr. Soloman with his vehicle in the middle lane.

Mr. Soloman was pronounced deceased on scene by Central Joint Fire and Rescue. Mr. Newson was not injured.

Troopers were assisted on scene by Mid-County Emergency Medical Services, Central Joint Fire and Rescue, Ohio Department of Transportation and BG Towing Company.

The crash remains under investigation.

(From the University of Findlay)

Area residents of all ages are invited December 8 to join in hands-on fun and exploration at the next “Funday Sunday” program at University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum. The program, which is free and open to the public, features a theme of “Arctic Adventures.”

Guests will enjoy more than 20 activities, interactive games, face painting, planetarium shows, STEAM projects, and a visit from Santa Claus.

“If you’re captivated by all things arctic but prefer to stay warm, this Funday Sunday is perfect for you,” said Amanda Davidson-Johnston, education manager at the Mazza Museum.

The family-friendly learning extravaganza encourages artistic expression, enhances literacy, and develops critical thinking skills.

Registration is required and can be completed on the Mazza Museum’s website.

Funday Sundays take place monthly at the Mazza Museum, November through April, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The themes for Funday Sundays in 2025 are:

January 5: Lego

February 2: Game on!

March 2: Accelerate!

April 6: Farmyard Fables

For more information on upcoming events, visit the Mazza Museum’s Events page online at www.mazzamuseum.org/events/. For specific questions regarding Funday Sunday, please contact Amanda Davidson-Johnston, Mazza Museum education manager, at 419-434-4777 or amanda.davidson-johnston@findlay.edu.

New Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development Director Chris Keller was on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks to discuss her new role.

The big topic they discussed, of course, is the big box retail store that will be taking over the center portion of the Findlay Mall location.

Keller says her office has already been contacted by mall stores that will be affected and is seeking other locations for them in town.

“We’ve also received calls from people who have space available so we’re connecting those dots,” Keller told Oaks in the interview below. 

As Keller said in the audio above, the city is still not at liberty to say who the big box retailer is and their identity will be released on their timeline and no sooner.

Affected mall tenants are urged to contact the Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development Office at 419-422-3313 for assistance.  

(WTOL-11) – An investigation is underway after authorities in northwest Ohio were involved in a shooting on Saturday that killed a man.

The Defiance County Sheriff’s office says it happened around 12:30 Saturday morning after a driver failed to stop for a traffic violation.

There was a short chase near U.S. Route 24 and State Route 15 in Defiance County and into Henry and Wood County.

Troopers say at some point the driver got out of the vehicle, ran, and began firing shots.

Troopers fired back, hitting the suspect, 26-year-old Donovan Joyner, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

(ONN) – A proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution would make it easier to sue police and other public employees. 

The Ohio Coalition to End Qualified Immunity has been approved to begin collecting signatures to qualify a proposed Ohio constitutional amendment initiative for the fall 2025 ballot.

The campaign seeks to end legal immunity for police, prosecutors, teachers and other public employees from civil lawsuits.

The group needs 413,487 signatures by the first week of July to get the issue on the ballot.

The Dayton Daily News reports that if passed, the amendment would eliminate every immunity that the government enjoys at the people’s expense.

The Ohio Department of Transportation’s Hancock County Garage on Lima Avenue in Findlay has some advice on how to drive in snowy and slick conditions.

Deidra Noel, transportation administrator for ODOT in Hancock County, is asking drivers to do their part to help their snow plow operators clear the roads as efficiently as possible.

“Just take your time and slow down, give yourself enough distance between the vehicle in front of you, especially if it’s one of our trucks. Snow coming off of a truck makes visibility even worse so just back up and give us some space.”

Noel says the Hancock County ODOT Garage has 21 trucks and is responsible for 621 lane miles in the county, including Interstate 75 from Bluffton to North Baltimore.

Noel says, as a manager, she doesn’t get to plow snow as much as she used to, unfortunately.

“It’s really fun. Everybody who works here enjoys it. It’s a public service and when you’re good at what you do, you’re proud of it.”

Click here for the latest forecast, weather alerts, and road alerts.