(From the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts)

Ten years ago today, MCPA welcomed its very first audience with “Kenny Rogers’ Toy Shoppe, starring Alan Thicke”, marking the beginning of a journey filled with creativity, community, and the arts.

In honor of the milestone, Executive Director Heather Clow and Outreach Coordinator Kelda Heitkamp donated cherished memories from our inaugural season to the Hancock Historical Museum, preserving the story of where it all began and celebrating the community that made it possible.

Donated items include a book of opening night and ribbon-cutting photos, an inaugural season playbill, the first Fisher/Wall Art Gallery exhibition brochure, MCPA’s community campaign brochure, and an usher vest. We’re proud to be part of the museum’s collection!

Findlay City Council passed an ordinance regarding having farm animals within city limits.

The city says the Farm Animal Ordinance establishes clear, consistent, and fair regulations for keeping farm animals within city limits, protects animal welfare and public health, addresses growing interest in backyard livestock, and provides clear standards to reduce neighborhood conflicts and enforcement ambiguity.

Get more details on the ordinance below, and by clicking here. 

ORDINANCE NO. 2025-154

AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING CLEAR, CONSISTENT AND FAIR REGULATIONS

FOR THE KEEPING OF FARM ANIMALS IN THE CITY.

BE IT ORDAINED by the Council for the City of Findlay, Ohio:

WHEREAS, Council for the City of Findlay desires to establish clear, consistent and fair

regulations for the keeping of farm animals in the City, and;

WHEREAS, Council for the City of Findlay desires to address growing community

interest in backyard livestock with the intention of providing standards to prevent

nuisance issues, protect animal welfare and public health.

SECTION 1. That effective immediately upon adoption of this Ordinance, the new

regulations on the keeping of farm animals in the City of Findlay as attached hereto

shall be active and enforced.

WHEREFORE, this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its

passage and approval by the Mayor.

NEW CHAPTER 508 – FARM ANIMALS

508.01 Purpose.

The regulations of this chapter are established to permit the non-commercial keeping of farm animals

within the City, provided that such animals are properly cared for, do not create nuisances, and are

maintained in safe and sanitary conditions. These regulations shall be enforced in conjunction with

Section 505.08 of the Findlay Municipal Code and the Ohio Administrative Code 901:12.

508.02 Small Farm Animals.

(a) Permitted Use. Small Farm Animals may be kept on any parcel within the City without limitation on

lot size or number, provided they are maintained in accordance with all other applicable regulations.

508.03 Medium Farm Animals.

(a) Lot Size. No Medium Farm Animal shall be kept on a parcel less than one (1) acre in area.

(b) Fencing. All animals shall be contained within a fenced enclosure located only within the rear yard.

(c) Shelter. All Medium Farm Animals shall be provided with shelter that complies with applicable

building and zoning setback requirements.

508.04 Large Farm Animals.

(a) Lot Size. No Large Farm Animal shall be kept on a parcel less than three (3) acres in area.

(b) Fencing and Shelter. Fencing and shelter requirements shall be the same as those set forth in Section

508.03.

508.05 Sanitation and Nuisance Standards.

(a) Animal Welfare. All animals shall be kept in a clean, healthy, and humane condition.

(b) Slaughtering. Only Small Farm Animals may be slaughtered on-site, and only for household

consumption. Such slaughtering shall not be visible from adjoining properties or public rights-of-way.

(c) Nuisance Control. The keeping of any farm animal shall comply with the nuisance provisions of

Chapter 505 of this Code.

508.06 4-H and Educational Exemption.

(a) Animals kept as part of a recognized 4-H, Future Farmers of America (FFA), or similar youth

agricultural education program shall be permitted.

(b) Written verification of enrollment or program participation shall be provided to the City upon request.

508.07 Grandfathering.

(a) Animals lawfully kept prior to the effective date of this chapter may remain as a legal nonconforming

use, provided:

(1) The number of animals or facilities is not expanded;

(2) The use is continuous and not discontinued for twelve (12) months; and

() Nonconforming rights shall transfer with the property.

508.08 Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) Farm Animals, Small – Animals with an expected adult weight of less than fifty (50) pounds,

including but not limited to chickens, ducks, rabbits, and similar animals.

(b) Farm Animals, Medium – Livestock with an expected adult weight between fifty (50) and five

hundred (500) pounds, including but not limited to goats, sheep, and similar animals.

(c) Farm Animals, Large – Livestock with an expected adult weight greater than five hundred (500)

pounds, including but not limited to horses, cows, pigs, and similar animals.

(d) Companion Animal or Pet: As defined by the Ohio Revised Code §959.131, a companion animal

includes any animal that is kept inside a residential dwelling and is dependent on humans for food and

shelter, but does not include livestock or wild animals. Examples include dogs, cats, rabbits, small birds,

hamsters, and similar animals customarily kept indoors.

(e) Livestock or Farm Animal: As defined by Ohio Administrative Code 901:12-1-02, livestock

includes equine animals, cattle, sheep, goats, swine, poultry, alpacas, llamas, and other animals raised for

human food, fiber, or agricultural purposes.

508.99 Penalty

(a) Whoever violates any provision of this chapter is guilty of a minor misdemeanor and shall be fined

not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00).

(b) In all cases, wherein, a person has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of any provision

of this chapter, the court shall, in addition to any fine or sentenced imposed upon the offender, order the

nuisance abated within thirty (30) days.

(c) Nothing in this penalty section shall prevent the City from pursuing other actions or charges under the Ohio Revised Code.

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Dementia has touched the lives of many members of our community.

In this BVHS Minute, Dr. William Kose and Lindsay Buddelmeyer, ODT, MOT, OTR/L, emphasize the need for early detection and highlight the resources available through Blanchard Valley Health System for dementia patients and their caregivers.

To view BVHS’s dementia support and resource page, please visit bvhs.info/dementiasupport.

(From Marathon Petroleum)

Marathon Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: MPC) today announced that Maria A. Khoury will join the company as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective January 19, 2026. Khoury will succeed John J. Quaid, who will remain with the company for a period of transition.

“Maria’s deep financial operations expertise and broad industry experience from 25 years as a global finance business leader, including previous roles in oil and gas, will be a strong addition to our executive team as we pursue MPC’s strategic objectives. Her proven abilities to develop competitive capital allocation, growth, financial planning, and risk management strategies will advance our efforts to continue positioning the company to deliver industry-leading cash generation and capital returns,” said Chairman-elect, President and Chief Executive Officer Maryann Mannen. “On behalf of our Boards of Directors, I thank John for his many contributions to MPC and MPLX.”

Since 2021, Khoury has served as Vice President, Group CFO Biotechnology for Danaher, a global science and technology innovator, where she has finance responsibility for Cytiva (formerly GE Healthcare Biopharma) and Pall Life Sciences, including oversight of the controllership, treasury, and tax functions. From 2017-2020, Khoury served as Vice President, Finance and IT for GE Healthcare Life Sciences, based in the United Kingdom.

Prior to her focus on life sciences, Khoury served in financial leadership positions for GE Oil & Gas in the United States and Italy from 2010 to 2017, including as CFO of GE’s Drilling and Surface division. From 1999 to 2010, she held global positions of increasing responsibility in financial planning and analysis and treasury for GE Corporate and GE Capital Treasury. Before joining GE in 1999, Khoury spent five years with Cargill, Inc., where she began her finance career.

Khoury holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Universidad Catolica Andres Bello in Venezuela, a diploma in international business strategy from the London School of Economics, and a Master of Business Administration degree in international finance from the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University.

About Marathon Petroleum Corporation

MPC is a leading, integrated, downstream and midstream energy company headquartered in Findlay, Ohio. The company operates the nation’s largest refining system. MPC’s marketing system includes branded locations across the United States, including Marathon brand retail outlets. MPC also owns the general partner and majority limited partner interest in MPLX LP, a midstream company that owns and operates gathering, processing, and fractionation assets, as well as crude oil and light product transportation and logistics infrastructure. More information is available at www.marathonpetroleum.com.

(From Bowling Green State University)

Bowling Green State University has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Top Online Colleges in its newly released 2026 rankings, reinforcing the University’s strong reputation for excellence in online education.

BGSU ranked No. 3 among Ohio’s public universities based on a survey of more than 10,000 Americans who evaluated their online learning experiences across several key areas, including organization, support, price, reputation, success and practical relevance.

“At BGSU, students become part of a supportive environment designed to provide a high-quality experience from day one,” said Curtis Brant, Ph.D., executive director for BGSU Online. “By providing career-relevant programs that foster engagement, support and accessibility, we are strengthening their connection to the University, which directly contributes to their success.”

BGSU Online, widely regarded by students and alumni for its high level of support, offers more than 70 bachelor’s, master’s and graduate certificate programs for learners at all stages of their academic journey.

From degree completion programs to graduate certificates and master’s programs, BGSU Online provides the flexibility and accessibility students need to advance in their current careers or transition to new ones.

BGSU Online students are taught by the same world-class BGSU faculty who teach on campus, ensuring a high-quality and engaging learning experience that prepares students for career advancement.

In addition to the Newsweek recognition, BGSU is the only university in Ohio and one of just six public universities nationwide to earn the Quality Matters Certification for Online Learner Support for all of its online programs.

Several BGSU Online programs have also earned individual accolades, further strengthening the University’s overall reputation for excellence in online education.

Among them is the MBA program, which is consistently recognized for its academic excellence, student experience, employment outcomes and affordability.

Earlier this year, the BGSU Online MBA program was named one of the best in Ohio and the nation by The Princeton Review for the second consecutive year, and Fortune rated it the most affordable in Ohio.

Findlay City Schools is working on restoring some of the busing services it eliminated and scaled back. 

For the current school year, there is no busing for high school students, and a two-mile walk radius for elementary and middle school students, with busing provided for those who live more than two miles from their school.

Superintendent Dr. Andy Hatton was on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks to discuss how soon some busing services might be restored and what it may look like.

Busing services were reduced after voters rejected a levy in November 2024, but in May 2025 voters approved a 1 percent earned income tax levy for the district. 

You can watch the latest Findlay City Schools Board of Education meeting in which busing services were discussed below.

(From the City of Fostoria)

The City of Fostoria is sharing a draft concept plan for the proposed decommissioning of Reservoir No. 1 as part of the East Branch Portage River Floodplain Reconnection project.

This project is intended to improve flood control, enhance water quality, and restore natural stream and wetland functions in the area.

The concept includes the creation of new wetlands, a retention pond for additional water quality benefits, and improved stream connectivity.

Get more details below.

Findlay and Hancock County are included in a Wind Advisory issued by the National Weather Service.

The Wind Advisory goes until 10 p.m. Thursday.

Forecasters say winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour will gust up to 50 miles per hour at times.

Unsecured objects will blow around and some tree limbs could come down, resulting in a few power outages.

Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles. Use extra caution when driving.

Get the latest forecast and weather alerts by clicking here.

People living on a Findlay street have dubbed their street Santa Claus Lane.

Driving down Glendale Avenue, you’ll see that just about every house has an inflatable Santa Claus on display, as well as other decorations and Christmas lights. 

And, a big sign reading Santa Claus Lane stretches across the street where you enter Glendale Avenue from South Main Street.

The decorations make for a nice drive down the street or stroll on the sidewalks to get into the holiday spirit.

(From the United Way of Hancock County)

Graduating seniors in our community can earn up to $8,000 toward their college education through United Way of Hancock County’s Secor Scholarship. Applications will be accepted through midnight on Jan. 19, 2026, with the selection to be made in March.

The scholarship is open to all high school seniors in Hancock County with a 3.5 or higher grade point average. Candidates are considered based on their academic achievements, but must also demonstrate a strong background in community service and volunteerism. These components will be evaluated through the scholarship application and essay, as well as a letter of recommendation from a trusted teacher, coach or mentor.

The award for the first academic year will be $2,000. The scholarship 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 community members and 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.