An early Saturday morning fire caused extensive damage to a Findlay residence at the corner of W. Edgar and Chapel Drive. The fire was discovered around 5:30 am when smoke alarms went off.
The fire started on a back porch which allowed flames to travel up into the soffits before smoke triggered the alarms.
Dr. Richard Deerhake is the homeowner and was in the house at the time of the fire and able to escape the flames.
No dollar estimate of damage was provided.
A lot of people attended Hancock County Sheriff Michael Heldman’s retirement celebration on Friday afternoon to thank him for his many years of service to the citizens of Hancock County.
It was held at the Old Mill Stream Centre at the Hancock County Fairgrounds.
Heldman retires as the longest-serving sheriff in Hancock County history at 28 years.
He has served the citizens of Hancock County as a member of the sheriff’s office for an extraordinary 52 years.
In the video below, Heldman tells WFIN one of the things that stands out to him as he reflects on his career is how the community comes together during difficult times such as floods.
Heldman’s final day on the job will be Sunday, January 5th.
Hancock County’s new Sheriff will be Mike Cortez.
Click here to learn more about the new sheriff, and see video of Sheriff Heldman’s retirement celebration below.
(From the Findlay Police Department)
On 01-03-2025 at 1211 hours Officers were dispatched to Dick’s Sporting Goods for a retail theft. The suspect was an adult female, later identified as Angelica Delao of Toledo, Ohio. She left the store with stolen merchandise and traveled to CR 99 in Findlay, Ohio, where FPD Officers were able to locate her vehicle.
A traffic stop was attempted but the suspect (pictured below) failed to stop and entered northbound I-75. A vehicle pursuit was initiated. The vehicle pursuit traveled along I-75 northbound at speeds of approximately 100-115 miles per hour. Ohio State Highway Patrol was contacted for assistance and joined the pursuit.
The suspect left I-75 and continued eastbound on SR 582 in Wood County, Ohio. Speeds maintained at/near 100 miles per hour.
The suspect then went northbound on SR 199, followed by westbound on Roachton Road near Perrysburg, Ohio. Perrysburg Township Police Department and Rossford Police Department assisted with the pursuit at/near this point.
The suspect went northbound on N. Dixie Highway in Perrysburg, Ohio before heading northbound on I-475 and merging on to northbound I-75. Speeds were maintained at 100+ miles per hour. The suspect vehicle made contact with a civilian motorist’s vehicle on the highway near this area. No injuries were reported.
The suspect continued northbound on I-75 and exited at Collingwood Blvd in Toledo, Ohio. Shortly thereafter it was slowed down due to heavier civilian traffic. Rossford Police Department initiated vehicle to vehicle contact with the suspect. This spun out her vehicle. The suspect then rammed a Perrysburg Township Police Department vehicle, before being boxed in and stopped. Angelica was then taken in to custody without incident.
The pursuit went approximately 46.5 miles over 29 minutes. Angelica Delao is currently incarcerated at the Hancock County Justice Center. She is being held on a charge of Theft (Felony 5) and Fleeing and Eluding (Felony 3). An additional charge of Felonious Assault (Felony 2) on a Police Officer is being requested.
(From the United Way of Hancock County)
United Way of Hancock County is accepting applications for a maximum scholarship of $8,000 through Feb. 3, 2025.
The Secor Scholarship, established as a memorial to the generosity of Steven and Doris Secor, is awarded annually to a high school senior in Hancock County who has a 3.5 grade point average or higher and plans to attend an accredited institution of higher learning, full time, to pursue any undergraduate field of study in the subsequent academic year. Candidates must exhibit a strong emphasis on service, leadership and character, with these components evaluated through the scholarship application and essay and a required letter of recommendation.
The award for the first academic year will be $2,000 and may be renewed annually for three additional years for a total of $8,000.
The United Way of Hancock County Foundation designates a Secor Scholarship selection committee comprised of current and past United Way board members who evaluate applications, interview finalists, and select one scholarship recipient each year. Students related to anyone on the selection committee or United Way of Hancock County paid staff are ineligible to apply.
The application can only be completed digitally; no paper applications will be accepted. Access the application and more information at https://www.liveunitedhancockcounty.org/programs/secor-scholarship
For additional guidance, contact Brenna Griteman at marketing@uwhancock.org or 419-423-1432.
(ONN) – The Haslam Sports Group has announced that it is moving forward with its plans for a domed stadium for the Browns outside of Cleveland.
The Cleveland Browns say they’re moving forward in the process to build a new domed stadium in Brook Park.
In a statement from the Haslam Sports Group, they explained that the team has executed a clause to solidify the future purchase of the land for the new Huntington Bank Field enclosed stadium and mixed-use development.
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb recently announced he plans to invoke the Modell Law to prevent the team from leaving downtown.
(ONN) – Police can now charge a hefty price for bodycam footage now that a new law has taken effect in Ohio.
Governor DeWine has signed a bill into law that will allow police departments across the state to charge up to $75 per hour of body camera video requested under the state’s public records law.
The law allows law enforcement to recoup man hour expenditures associated with reviewing, obscuring and redacting videos for release.
Ohio journalists and private citizens will bear the burden of that cost which could run into hundreds of dollars per case.
It should be noted that the fee is permissive and not mandatory.
(From the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation)
In the spring of 2024, Van Buren Local Schools received a $6,000 grant to bring the Tunnel to Towers Mobile 9/11 Exhibit to over 900 students from Cory-Rawson, Liberty-Benton, Riverdale and Van Buren.
Students met two retired New York City Fire Department captains who participated in rescue efforts at the World Trade Center site.
They were able to touch pieces of the building structure that were on display, see artifacts salvaged from the buildings, and learn about the individuals who lost their lives in the building collapse.
This experience profoundly impacted the students’ lives.
(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting two fatal crashes resulting in three fatalities on Ohio’s roadways during the 2024-2025 New Year’s holiday, according to provisional statistics. The two-day reporting period began at midnight on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, and ran through 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
Of the three fatalities, one was OVI-related and two were pedestrians that were struck. During the reporting period, troopers made 1,474 traffic enforcement contacts; including 77 OVI arrests, 73 distracted driving and 159 safety belt citations.
The public is encouraged to continue using #677 to report dangerous or impaired drivers, as well as drug activity. A statistical analysis of the Patrol’s enforcement activity over the holiday is available here.
(From The United Way of Hancock County)
Are you a numbers person who likes giving back to your community?
United Way of Hancock County is rallying volunteers as it prepares to once again facilitate free tax preparation services for qualifying community members.
United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides free income tax preparation to qualifying individuals who live or work in Hancock County. Volunteers are needed to greet clients as they arrive for their appointments and to prepare and file taxes electronically through the IRS.
No prior tax experience is needed. Training materials are provided free of cost, and all volunteers receive in-person training and certification. Ongoing support is provided by experienced team members.
Client appointments will be offered at 50 North and the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library from February through April. Volunteers may commit based on their availability.
Beginning Jan. 22, community members may call the VITA direct phone line to schedule their appointment. More details, including that phone number, will be released in January.
For more information or to sign up as a VITA volunteer, contact United Way of Hancock County Information Manager Bridgit Phillips at 419-423-1432 or accounting@uwhancock.org.
(From the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library)
WinterREAD, a reading program that gives participants a chance to win amazing prizes, will soon return to the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library. Readers can register to join the winter fun at findlaylibrary.readsquared.com beginning January 6.
WFIN spoke with Children’s Services Librarian Sarah Cramer about their WinterREAD program.
WinterREAD registration is open to all ages, infant through adult. This winter, the library is again using an online platform, READsquared, for participants to keep track of their reading progress. Participants can earn great prizes by logging reading, or completing fun activities. If you prefer not to track your reading online, there will be paper forms available at the library to log reading progress. The prizes can be viewed at findlaylibrary.org/winterread.
Families are invited to join in reading together, and to attend programs such as Family Book Bingo, which can be attended via Zoom or in person at the library. Participants that wish to play bingo must register for the programs at findlaylibrary.org/events by clicking on the event for the registration form. There will also be a Book Bingo Night for teens.
Adults can enjoy book discussions, CrafterWork, and learn more about being healthier in the new year. Please check the library’s website at findlaylibrary.org/events for more information on programming.
Be sure to check the library’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/fhcpl for updates, surprises, and entertaining WinterREAD fun. For more information, please call the library at 419-422-1712 or check our website at findlaylibrary.org.
