(The Ohio State Highway Patrol)

Are you looking for a new and exciting career in law enforcement but want to know more about the job? The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) is once again offering the unique opportunity to ride with an on-duty trooper to see if you have what it takes to join our ranks.

The Patrol’s ride-along program is an immersive, frontline experience designed to give interested recruits a real-world look at life as an Ohio State Trooper. Participants won’t just hear about the job – they will ride alongside a seasoned trooper during their choice of a day, afternoon or night shift, and experience what it’s like to respond to emergency calls for service, conduct traffic stops and engage with and serve the public.

“Choosing a career with the Patrol is a life-changing decision,” said Major Michael D. Kemmer, Office of Training, Recruitment and Professional Operations Commander. “Our ride-along program delivers an authentic look into the challenging and profoundly rewarding work our troopers do every single day.”

This opportunity is for individuals genuinely interested in exploring a career with the OSHP. To be eligible to participate in a ride-along, you must:

• Hold a valid driver’s license
• Be between the ages of 18-39
• Complete a brief interview with the Post Commander prior to the ride-along

Anyone interested in participating in a ride-along is encouraged to contact their local Ohio State Highway Patrol post. Contact information for all posts can be found here. More information about our ride-along program can be found here.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation)

Your input is vital.

If you missed one of our in-person Community Conversations this fall, here’s your chance to share your thoughts!

Take this quick survey to be entered to win one of four Amazon gift cards: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/99WXZNB

(From the University of Findlay)

After spending twenty years at the University of Findlay, including four years as the head coach, Kory Allen has decided to resign from his position. In his time at Findlay, Allen, who was the 30th head coach in program history, has been a part of 123 wins, 15 winning seasons, three NCAA Playoff Appearances, and two conference championships. He will be taking another opportunity in college coaching with details yet to be determined.

“We are incredibly thankful for Coach Allen’s two decades of dedication to the University of Findlay”, commented Director of Athletics Jim Givens. “He has played a major role in the elevation of our football program into the national spotlight and has done so while developing our student-athletes into quality young men who represent our university in a positive way. While change is always difficult, we wish Coach Allen nothing but the success as he makes this decision to move on from Findlay.” 

In four years as the head coach, Kory Allen led Findlay to a record of 33-12 (.733), the highest win percentage by a head coach at UF since legendary coach Dick Strahm. Allen’s teams never finished lower than third in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) standings and, this year, were ranked as high as eighth in the country, won a share of the G-MAC Championship, and hosted an NCAA playoff game for the first time in program history. The team this season was one of the final five unbeatens in DII and started the season 10-0, setting a program record for the most regular-season wins in the NCAA era and reached double-digit wins for just the fifth time in the 133 year history of the program.

Kory began at Findlay in the spring of 2005 as the Oilers’ offensive line coach. In his 20 years, Findlay offensive lineman earned a total of 14 all-American awards and 45 all-conference awards including four Offensive Lineman of the Year honors. Included in that group is Michael Jerrell who became the first NFL draft pick from Findlay this century and was the only Division II player selected in the draft in 2024. He then made the 53-man roster in August 2024 and remains is currently a member of the Atlanta Falcons.

Allen also spent time as the team’s offensive coordinator and, in that time, built the Oilers into a nationally-renowned unit including 2017 which was arguably the best Findlay offense of all time, a group that put up over 500 yards of offense and 45 points per game. 

(From Findlay City Schools)

Clothe-A-Child of Ohio isn’t just a program. It’s a powerful reminder of what makes our community so special.

Every year, this organization changes the lives of students across our district by helping provide them with new clothes, and along the way, it brings out the very best in Trojan Country. Volunteers from all over step up to help shop with students, and this year was no exception.

THANK YOU to Pudge the Cat for bringing along members of the Bowling Green State University football team to shop with Bigelow Hill Intermediate School. You made the day unforgettable!

And we’re deeply grateful to the incredible number of staff and community volunteers who showed up for every single PreK–8 building.

Bonus highlight: Two of our very own alumni, Reece Little and Ashton Yeager, returned to give back to the next generation.

We appreciate everyone who helped make this possible. This program is amazing. This community is even more so.

(From the Ohio Turnpike)

The Ohio Turnpike’s toll rates will increase by 2.7% on Jan. 1, 2026.

The toll rate for E-ZPass customers with passenger vehicles (Class 1) will increase to $0.073 (or 7.3 cents) per mile in 2026 from $0.071 (or 7.1 cents) per mile in 2025; and the cash/credit card toll rate will increase to $0.106 (or 10.6 cents) per mile in 2026 from $0.104 (or 10.4 cents) per mile in 2025.

The toll rate for E-ZPass customers with commercial vehicles (Class 5) will increase to $0.226 (or 22.6 cents) per mile in 2026 from $0.220 (or 22 cents) per mile in 2025; and the cash/credit card toll rate will increase to 0.284 (or 28.4 cents) per mile in 2026 from $0.276 (or 27.6 cents) per mile in 2025.

Click here for full article.

(From the University of Findlay)

University of Findlay celebrated #GivingTuesday on December 2 with the help of more than 500 donors. Setting a new campus record, 578 donors gave $203,510 to support the UF mission of preparing students for meaningful lives and productive careers.

Taking place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday is celebrated as an international day of giving, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.

UF focused on support of the student experience, and received gifts for 41 campus funds, including athletic teams, the Oilers Club (athletic boosters), and the Findlay Fund (supporting the University’s general fund).

Among the top totals, men’s basketball received gifts totaling $29,358; men’s and women’s golf, $12,050; men’s baseball, $10,622; and the Findlay Fund, $49,988, according to Madelynn Strayer ‘21, UF director of annual giving.

More than 600 Oiler student-athletes currently compete in 22 varsity sports. Last year, five teams were conference champions and 13 teams earned trips to the NCAA postseason.

“These gifts inspire our students not only by supporting their education, but by encouraging them to give back to the campus and community,” Strayer noted. “We are proud that the UF community has a rich tradition of philanthropy, fueled by generous donors.”

“Thank you to all the alumni, friends, parents, faculty, and staff for participating in this day and making a difference in the lives of so many UF students.”

The “Oiler Season of Giving” continues through December 31, inviting all Findlay alumni and friends to make a gift and prepare UF students for meaningful lives and productive careers. Visit findlay.edu/oilerseasonofgiving for more information.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library)

FHCPL staff enjoyed celebrating the end of another great year at our annual library holiday party. It gave us a chance to come together, look back on what we’ve achieved, and thank the people who make our library a welcoming and inspiring place for everyone.

A special moment of the afternoon was honoring our Outreach Coordinator, Lisa Dryden, as our 2025 Employee of the Year. Lisa’s dedication, creativity, and care for our community show in everything she does, from storytimes and book deliveries to representing the library at events across the county. Her efforts help bring library services to everyone, and we are truly grateful for her leadership.

Congratulations to Lisa, and thank you to our whole staff for a year of hard work, growth, and real impact.

(From the Office of Ohio U.S. Senator Jon Husted)

Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) joined Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Thune (R-S.D.), and Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). This bill would protect minors’ personal data on online platforms and implement safety tools for parents and minors to target any harmful online content for children.

“We’ve seen how manipulative algorithms can overwhelm kids with content that harms their mental and physical health—whether it’s self-harm, eating disorders or violent material pushed onto their feeds. Parents deserve to know when their children’s data is being shared and how these addictive, harmful algorithms work. The Kids Online Safety Act would give families tools to protect their children from content that puts them at risk. I’m proud to join this strong bipartisan coalition to make the online world safer for our kids,” said Husted.

Roughly one in five teens say that social media has hurt their mental health.

KOSA would require online platforms to provide minors with options to protect their information, disable addictive product features and opt out of personalized algorithmic recommendations.

The bill would also give parents new controls to help protect their children and spot harmful behaviors.

Husted joins the bipartisan coalition of 70 senators supporting KOSA.

Microsoft, Snap, Fairplay, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Apple, Nintendo of America, Christian Camp and Conference Association, The Foundation United, Parents for Safe Online Spaces (ParentsSOS), Snap (Snapchat), Street Grace, the American Psychological Association, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and more than 200 other organizations endorse KOSA.

This support builds on Husted’s work to protect children online. His bill, the CHAT Act, would bar minors from accessing sexually explicit and harmful content from AI companion chatbots.

Full text of the bill is available here.

A big honor for a standout on the Liberty-Benton High School Boys Soccer Team.

Aiden Hatch has been named to the 2025 High School All-American Team by the United Soccer Coaches organization.

Aiden becomes the first All-American in the school’s history.

WFIN News spoke with Soccer Coach Aaron Troyer, who says this latest honor for Aiden adds to the accolades he’s received this season.

“He’s incredibly deserving. We’re just so proud of what Aiden has accomplished, not only this year, but over his entire four-year high school career.”