(From the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library)

The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library is offering the following programs starting Monday, April 29:

The Lima Symphony Orchestra presents Symphony Storytime, a unique and hands-on musical experience for children and families on Monday, April 29 at 10 a.m. in the Lindamood Room. Members of the Lima Symphony Orchestra will share stories accompanied by a musical performance, with lots of opportunities for attendees to join in the fun!

Paint a miniature masterpiece on a tiny canvas. We are offering two different sessions to allow for many artists to join us. The sessions take place Monday at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. in the Lindamood Room. This year, our theme is Spring. Art may be displayed during ArtWalk on Friday, May 3rd. Space is limited and registration is required at findlaylibrary.org/events. Click on the session you wish to attend for the registration form. Please register everyone (children, teens, and adults) who plan to paint a canvas. Children 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

The BIG Read Book Discussion is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. under the skylight in the Adult Services Department. Join us as we read and discuss Owens Community College’s BIG Read, Carry: A Memoir of

Survival on Stolen Land by Toni Jensen. Copies of the book are available at the library reference desk. More information on the BIG read at owens.edu/humanities/read/.

Teens in grades 8-12 can register to receive a Teen Tote filled with teen library books selected especially for them, along with some other goodies like snacks and bookmarks! Registrants will receive an email with a Google Form to fill out to let us get to know them better. An active FHCPL card is required to participate. (If the teen does not have a library card, they may use their guardian’s card, with their permission.) Register at findlaylibrary.org/events. Totes can be picked up at the Main Library, Arlington, or the Bookmobile.

Teen Night: Creative Writing is scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Lindamood Room. Jennifer Pullen, Associate Professor of Creative Writing at Ohio Northern University, and author of Fantasy Fiction: A Writer’s Guide and Anthology, will give a fantasy writing workshop for teens. She will guide attendees in collaboratively creating a fantasy version of NW Ohio, complete with magical creatures. Participants will then begin writing stories set in the world they have created. This program is for teens in grades 6-12.

Wednesday at 3 p.m., individuals that have registered at

libraryc.org/findlaylibrary will have the opportunity to participate in a virtual discussion and Q & A with author Douglas Brunt. He will be discussing his instant bestseller, The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I. More

information about the author and the book are available at findlaylibrary.org.

This month’s 2024: A Year of Well-Being’s program takes place on Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the Lindamood Room. Jennifer Little, a trained A.H.A. Healthy for Life Facilitator, will be presenting a series adapted from the American Heart Association’s Well-Being Healthy for Life Educational Experiences. Participants will explore food’s role in our blood sugar levels and how that affects overall health. To ensure we have enough supplies, please register at findlaylibrary.org/events.

Silent Book Club is scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Adult Services area under the skylight. Bring your own book or check out something from your to-be-read list and enjoy some silent reading time with other book lovers.

Thursday at 6 p.m. at Coffee Amici, the Writer’s Support Group will take place. Come write with us and bring your own work-in-progress or start fresh with one of our prompts.

The Spring ArtWalk Art Show is scheduled for Friday from 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. to view artwork from Hancock County and Awakening Minds Art students. Tiny Art will also be showcased during the event which was designed by local children, teens, and adults. Liberty Benton High School’s Fermata the Blue will perform at 6:00 PM and Findlay City High School’s String Factor will be showcased at 6:45 PM. Both performances will be held in the Adult Services Department of the library.

Plant Swap will take place on Saturday at 1 p.m. on the sidewalk in front of the library. Participants can come swap plants and chat with other plant lovers. The first hour will be for those donating plants to swap with others that are donating, and the second hour, all plants are free to all.

Stay in touch and keep updated at www.findlaylibrary.org, on our Facebook page, facebook.com./fhcpl, on Pinterest at pinterest.com/findlaylibrary, and on Instagram @ fhcpl.

(From Athletic Director Nate Weihrauch)

Today we had the opportunity to once again celebrate a few of our Findlay Athletes taking the next step in their life. 

Having the opportunity to play at the next level can be an incredibly rewarding experience. 

The ability to compete after high school, balancing academics while also fostering teamwork, discipline, and time management skills will be invaluable in life after graduation. 

We certainly wish each of our student-athletes the very best and look forward to their development and growth at the collegiate level.

Katelyn Stechschulte: Ohio Northern – Track and Basketball

Esmeralda Schroeder – Sienna Heights – Girls Wrestling  

Christian Rose – Ohio Northern – Bowling/Football

Elijah Johnson:  Football – St. Ambrose, Iowa

Baret Helms: Ohio Northern – Football  

Katelyn Stechschulte: Ohio Northern – Track and Basketball

Katelyn is a multi-sport athlete who is a four-time letter winner for track and a three-time letter winner for basketball. She is a three-year starter for the Lady Trojans basketball team. Her athleticism, work ethic, and defensive tenacity helped guide her team to 4 consecutive winning seasons, 3 sectional titles, and a district-runner-up finish this past season. Katelyn is a fierce competitor and a leader on the floor and on the track. During her junior year, Katelyn earned first-team All-league and academic honors in the TRAC and third-team Northwest District honors. This past season, Katelyn earned second-team All-League and academic honors in the NLL and third-team Northwest District honors. She was selected to participate in the District 8 and the Fostoria Boosters All-Star games. While in track she is currently second all-time in Findlay History in the long jump as she looks to break this record this season and is also the current record holder in the 4×100 relay.  What is even more impressive than her athletic accomplishments, is that Katelyn is an outstanding student and caring individual who is a leader amongst her peers. Katelyn is a tremendous role model and exemplifies what it means to be a student/athlete and a Findlay Trojan.  Congratulations Katelyn.

Esmeralda Schroeder – Sienna Heights – Girls Wrestling

Esmeralda has been a two-year letter-winner for the Trojan wrestling team and a two-year Regional qualifier.   In her senior season, she had 21 wins including 19 by fall and 1 technical fall.  This resulted in a record-setting Bonus Point Win Percentage of 95%.  This success did not come by accident.  Esmeralda has focused heavily on wrestling both at FHS during the season and Freestyle wrestling in the off-season.  In addition to her work on the mat, Esmeralda has also excelled as a student at FHS achieving all academic honors and is one of the reasons for the FHS Girls Wrestling team receiving Academic All-Ohio Honors over the past two years.  We could not be prouder of her and look forward to the next chapter in her life.  Congratulations! 

Christian Rose – Ohio Northern – Bowling/Football

Christian put in the time and effort last offseason to become a varsity player for the bowling and football teams.  In our first season as a varsity sport at Findlay High School for Bowling, he is 1 of 7 boys to be involved in the bowling program both years of its existence. Christian had a high game this year of 198 and a high 2-game series of 339 during league play this year. Christian is also a scholar athlete who excels in the classroom. He is also a member of Boy Scout Troop 304 where he earned his Eagle Scout award and in his spare time also works at Subway.  Congrats to Christian and his family. We look forward to seeing Christian’s growth in his next chapter as a collegiate athlete. Thank you, Christian! 

Elijah Johnson:  Football – St. Ambrose, Iowa

Elijah was a three-year letterman who made an impact during the 2022 season after he moved positions from Linebacker to Defensive End to help the team. Elijah might not say it out loud or always showed it but he cared so much about each and every one of his teammates and wanted to see Trojan Football be successful. Like every player he hated losing more than he loved winning. During his 2023 season, he appeared in all 11 games and finished with 15 tackles and 5 tackles for loss as a defensive end.  His leadership and play led the Trojans to the NLL title this past season.  I have always appreciated Elijah and he will be missed.  We wish him success in this new chapter in his life.  Congratulations Elijah!  

Baret Helms: Ohio Northern – Football

Baret Helms is a two-time letterman for Trojan Football.  Baret had an incredible off-season and led by example in the weight room.  He was part of our 2023 Leadership Group and a four-year member of the FFe and FHS Choir. Before the season, Baret had a scary injury that put his first Varsity opportunity at risk but if you know the tough-as-nails Baret like we do you knew nothing was going to stop him. He went on to start all 11 games and become a true leader of our Defensive Backfield. He commanded the attention of the others, he kept everyone together.  He finished the year with 33 Tackles – 1 INT – and 4 Pass break-ups while helping to lead the Trojans to the NLL Championship this past season. While all of this is impressive, NOTHING is more impressive than Baret’s 4.0 he has been able to maintain during his High School Career. He is the True definition of a Student-Athlete.  Congratulations Baret as we look forward to following you in the years to come.

(From Findlay City Schools)

On April 16, 2024, the City of Findlay Police Department received a phone call at 9:31 AM, from a person who stated they were armed and had students held hostage in a 2nd-floor bathroom at Findlay High School (FHS). This was not a 9-1-1 call, but was received on a police administrative number. This is often indicative of a call being placed from outside the local area. However, all such calls are taken seriously, and Police officers arrived on scene three minutes later, immediately entered the school and began a search.

A teacher activated the SafeDefend system from within FHS and a Level 3 lockdown was initiated. This activation was due to the law enforcement search and the teacher’s belief there may be a threat in the building. The SafeDefend system initiates an immediate and robust response from public safety agencies.

After the initial search of the building, the incident was determined to be a hoax, or swatting incident. A primary and secondary search of the high school, Millstream and surrounding area found no weapons or suspects, and there were no injuries reported.

Both Findlay City Schools (FCS) and responding agencies are aware of false or incorrect information being disseminated on social media. At no time during this incident were any shots fired, and no one was transported to the hospital. One window was broken inside the school, a result of students barricading in a classroom. Students and teachers have been trained in the recommended “Run, Hide, Fight” model, and part of this training is to use items in the classroom to protect and defend the room from any intruder.

FCS and local agencies are dedicated to the safety and well-being of students and staff. The close collaboration between all stakeholders is vital, and will continue as we address the lessons learned from this response. While this hoax may have been stressful and upsetting to our community, it provided participating agencies an opportunity to debrief on many things that went as planned, and some that did not. We will use this incident to refine & improve, and to provide public education on certain aspects of the response. These aspects are as follows:

Communication: We understand the need for rapid communication to the public. However, during any emergency, collecting accurate information takes time. First responders work as rapidly as possible to locate and to mitigate the emergency, but it is not instantaneous. Releasing inaccurate information creates more confusion in an already stressful situation, and could cause delays in the emergency response. We realize this causes frustration to our community, especially the parents of our students. Please understand that we must first address the highest priority, which is the safety of our students and staff. It is impossible for anyone, especially FCS administrators or on-site first responders, to send out real-time information. Details must be collected, analyzed, and vetted by law enforcement prior to being released, which all takes time. In an actual emergency, the entire area is potentially a crime scene, and incorrect information released publicly may hamper the investigation.

Perimeter Information: As part of the preplanned response, a perimeter was established around the school. This task is the responsibility of City of Findlay public works personnel, utilizing trucks and barricades to control the intersections. Traffic was stopped or re-routed at these locations. It is important for our community to know the purpose of this perimeter is to increase safety for everyone, including parents and the general public. If there is an actual active shooter or threat, we must keep the public from entering the area. We also must keep vehicles from driving by the incident, not only for their safety, but also to allow for free movement of first responder vehicles. As difficult as this request is, we ask the community to understand and abide by the perimeter, remain calm and allow first responders to focus on the incident.

Reunification: Although it was not necessary at this swatting incident, part of the preplanned response to an active shooter or threat incident include dedicated “reunification sites.” These are locations that are easily accessible, yet removed from the incident location, and will be protected by law enforcement. In an actual emergency response, students will be bussed from the rally points and school to the reunification sites. These sites are the only location where parents are able to pick up students after a real event. Teams of FCS administrators will be monitoring and verifying student pick-up. Two preplanned reunification sites within Findlay will be utilized during an actual incident. If a school is north of the Blanchard River, the reunification site will be The Cube, at 3430 North Main Street. If a school is south of the Blanchard River, the reunification site will be the Millstream Centre Building at the Hancock County Fairgrounds, at 1017 E. Sandusky Street.

Student Pick-Up: Anticipating the logistics of student pick-up at reunification sites is part of the preplanning process. All parties involved are doing everything they can to protect the lives of our students and staff, which requires a specific process for verification and accountability. Students must leave with the proper people. We understand that parents want to get their children as quickly as possible, yet we ask parents to exercise patience and compassion. The reunification process is necessary to ensure student safety.

Additional Information: The SafeDefend system is designed to give first responders immediate and specific information, including the specific location of a threat. It uses an alarm and audible recording to inform students and staff of the emergency and also informs everyone that police officers will arrive almost immediately. The system also provides administrators and teachers accurate information to decide whether to run or hide, or prepare to fight.

We realize that additional training and drills are necessary to best prepare our students and staff. Students need to know what SafeDefend sounds like and what it means, and how to react when the system is activated. If a student is in a bathroom or hallway, we need them to know what to do within the “Run, Hide, Fight” framework, and this takes training. Communication of any such drill will take place well in advance to parents and members of the public. We recognize that different ages and grades will respond differently, and the training will be tailored to the specific age group.

We are also investigating additional enhancements to the SafeDefend system, such as exterior notifications of a SafeDefend activation. These might include items such as strobes or speakers, which would notify students who are outside that an activation has been initiated. This will help students and parents know when the school is experiencing an issue and to get away from the building.

We would like to thank the parents and the community for their understanding through this event. While this incident was traumatic and frustrating for the public, the teachers, staff, administrators, and first responders have diligently planned a comprehensive and collaborative response. This latest swatting incident allowed us to implement that response, and it was a vast improvement to previous similar events. Findlay City Schools’ investment in the SafeDefend system and the Stratasite response-planning software is solely meant to increase the level of safety and security of the students and staff. However, we realize we can always improve, and we are committed to doing so. We want our community to be informed and confident that everything possible is being done to ensure the safety of our students.

Findlay City Schools and first responders in this community take our responsibility very seriously. We are proud of the progress we have made, yet realize that improvement is possible. We feel that the comprehensive, collaborative response planning within the Findlay City School District has set the bar very high, not just within the state, but nationally as well. We will continue to do everything possible to ensure all the students and staff remain safe within our schools.

Thank You, Findlay Community, for your continued support.

Sincerely, Board of Education Findlay City Schools, Dr. Andy Hatton Superintendent Findlay City Schools, James Mathias Findlay Police Chief, Joshua Eberle Findlay Fire Chief

(From the Hancock County Veterans Service Office)

The upcoming Veterans Empowerment Spring Fair provides an opportunity for area veterans and their families and friends to learn about local resources, helpful organizations, and employment opportunities.

The event will be held on April 27 on the campus of Owens Community College from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Community Education & Wellness Center.

Nichole Coleman, director of the Hancock County Veterans Service Office was on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks to discuss the event. 

A range of resource organizations will have information booths with representatives available to tell visitors about their programs in areas ranging from wellness and finances to home/environment, growth, and life resources.

This Spring’s Veterans Empowerment Fair (in addition to the various resource booths) will be about “Getting Healthy for Summer”.

The Veterans Empowerment Spring Fair is open to the public. This free event is proudly sponsored by Guaranteed Rate, a Fremont-based mortgage and loan company with locations in Findlay. Guaranteed Rate is a trusted USO partner and VA loan expert.

For more information, visit hancockveterans.com or CALL 419-424-7036.

The National Weather Service has issued a Freeze Watch that includes Findlay and Hancock County.

The Freeze Watch will be in effect from late Wednesday night through Thursday morning.

Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 28 degrees are possible.

Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.

People should take steps to protect tender plants from the cold.

Get the latest forecast and weather alerts by clicking here.

(From the Hancock County Second Chance Coalition)

Second Chance Month is observed every April and is a national effort to raise awareness of the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction and unlocking second chance opportunities for people having completed their sentences to become contributing citizens.

The Second Chance Coalition of Hancock County is inviting the public to an awareness event on Thursday, April 25, 2024 at The Dock at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 800 South Main Street, Findlay, Ohio.

Doors will open at 11:00 a.m. and feature information and resources for individuals rebuilding their lives after incarceration.

We spoke with Hancock Public Health’s Cheryl Miller about the event. 

A light lunch will be provided, and you will hear personal accounts of local individuals who have navigated barriers to rebuild their lives in Hancock County.

The Hancock County Second Chance coalition was created to highlight the challenges formerly incarcerated individuals face when they return to the community.

Many formerly incarcerated individuals strive to be fully contributing members of their communities and struggle to overcome the negative stigma of being a criminal.

It is a core belief of this coalition that every person has value in our community and together, as a community, we can help rebuild lives.

Many local and regional agencies to provide information and resources for those who are working through barriers post incarceration.

Among those agencies are the Hancock County Court of Common Pleas, the Findlay Municipal Court, Legal Aid of Western Ohio, Hancock County Job and Family Services, Habitat for Humanity’s Financial Opportunity Center, Welcome to a New Life, Hancock Public Health, Focus Wellness & Recovery, and the Veterans Service Office to name a few.

For questions, please contact Cheryl Miller (567) 250-5192 or email at cmiller@hancockph.com.

(ONN) – A hot summer could be on the way in Ohio and a new heat index system will help alert citizens to potential danger.

A new color-coded heat warning system relies on magenta to alert Americans to the most dangerous conditions they may see this summer.

The National Weather Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention presented a new online heat risk system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors with a seven-day forecast that’s simplified and color-coded.

The Farmers Almanac predicts an early summer this year with some of the hottest temperatures in recorded history.

(From Findlay City Schools)

This is 6th grader, Zane Snyder, who wanted to give back for Earth Day and reached out to make sure he was able to clean up Glenwood Middle School!

Shout-out to Zane, his family and friends for helping our facility look spectacular!

He truly showed integrity and his heart in giving back to his school!

(From the City of Findlay)

Join us for the ribbon cutting of the HAN-Greenway trail!

The event will take place on the path near the CR 236/SR 568 intersection on Thursday, April 25 at 8:30 am.

After the ceremony, attendees are encouraged to join Mayor Muryn for a walk along the trail as part of the Move with the Mayor initiative.

We hope you will join us!

(From the Ohio Department of Transportation)

It’s spring, it’s Earth Day, and it’s all happy – until you see litter, and you’re reminded of the human problem that haunts us all.

“Our highway crews are out on litter patrol all year, even through the winter when conditions allow. But come spring, litter reveals itself even more, especially as vehicle travel increases and people begin spring cleanup,” said Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks.

Since January, ODOT forces statewide have picked up over 89,000 bags of other people’s trash.

“Please do your part and keep your trash contained wherever you work, drive, or enjoy the outdoors,” Marchbanks said.

ODOT press secretary Matt Bruning added;

With Earth Day today, many of Ohio’s 1,400 Adopt-A-Highway groups will be out, honoring their pledge to keep highways in their corner of the planet clear of trash.

Diane Bovee with First Universalist Church in Lyons organized a litter pickup along their adopted section of State Route 120 in Fulton County this past weekend.

“We love doing the highway pickup. We’re among the oldest Adopt-A-Highway groups in Ohio. We have done it for close to 30 years,” said Bovee. “We’re not a small church, we’re a tiny church. We just think it’s the right thing to do.”

The Columbus Grove Lions Club in Putnam County has participated in the program since 1991. They have a scheduled pickup along their section of State Route 65 on Tuesday.

“It comes down to pride in your community. We have so many people that drive through Columbus Grove on State Route 65. It’s a good opportunity for the Lions Club to practice volunteerism,” said Tim Staley, club member.

He said when the group is out on their pickups, their community expresses appreciation. “We get a lot of thumbs-up. We get a lot of people that honk. You think of it as a thankless job, but you do take pride in it when it’s done, and it looks good.”

Staley said ODOT helps them carry out their dedication to public service. “They’ve been great to work with. They provide us all the trash bags, the safety vests to wear, and the signs to put up,” he said.

Since January, Adopt-A-Highway groups in Ohio have collected nearly 200 bags of trash.

Adopting a highway is free to groups and individuals. Groups are asked to complete at least four litter pick-up sessions per year.  ODOT provides vests, grabber tools, trash bags, and trash disposal for litter pickup sessions.

In addition to ODOT forces and Adopt-A-Highway groups, litter collection is also performed along state highways by the following:

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC) – ODOT works with 11 institutions on litter pickup along state highways. Since January, their crews collected over 24,000 bags of trash.

Interstate Business Solutions (IBS) – ODOT contracts with IBS to clean up litter in the state’s metropolitan areas (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron, Canton, and Youngstown). Since January, the IBS team has collected over 31,343 bags of trash.

Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) – ODOT contracts with CEO to pick up along roadsides, and to clean encampment areas of unhoused individuals. Since January, the CEO team has collected nearly 25,000 bags of trash.

ODOT currently spends $10 million per year collecting trash along state and U.S. routes outside municipalities and all interstates except the Ohio Turnpike.