A semi crashed on Interstate 75 northbound under the new County Road 99 overpass and caught on fire.

The crash happened at around 6:30 Wednesday night.

“The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2000 Volvo VNL, driven by 40-year-old Khaled Saleh, of Dearborn Michigan, was traveling northbound on Interstate 75, when the commercial vehicle had an equipment failure,” The Ohio State Highway Patrol said. “The commercial vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway and struck a concrete wall. The commercial vehicle caught on fire as it traveled against the concrete wall before stopping under the County Road 99 overpass.”

The crash shut down the northbound lanes as firefighters responded and put the fire out.

The center and left lanes eventually reopened, but the right lane was to remain closed overnight. 

The Ohio State Highway Patrol said there were no injuries involved.

The Ohio Department of Transportation said the bridge appears to be okay, but the contractor will be inspecting it to make sure.

The new diverging diamond interchange was anticipated to open the afternoon of Monday, November 17.

(picture courtesy of Brian Nye)

Former Findlay High School Boys Basketball coach Jim Rucki has been nominated for the Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award.

Coach Rucki finished his career in 2024 with an overall record of 545 wins, including a record of 385-178 at Findlay High School.

“With 385 wins, no losing seasons in 25 years, and Hall of Fame honors, Trojan legacy at its finest,” Findlay Trojan Sports said on its Facebook page.

Findlay Athletic Director Nate Weihrauch says Coach Rucki devoted his life to teaching and guiding our youth and has spent countless hours preparing his team for success on and off the court. 

(WTOL-11) – Tiffin City Schools will soon be looking for new leadership.

Current Superintendent Jerry Nadeau announced he plans to retire, effective December 8th.

He posted on the district’s Facebook page saying he plans to focus on “his family’s health and time together.”

The school board praised Nadeau, highlighting the contributions he made to foster a positive environment for student success.

The board says it will now begin developing a transition for leadership.

(From the Children’s Museum of Findlay)

The truth is, we’ve got some work to do — but she’s officially ours!

The NEW home of your Children’s Museum of Findlay:

11600 CR 99, Findlay, Ohio

We can’t wait to bring PLAY back to life for our community.

A special thank-you to our Board Members, donors, and community champions who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this happen.

You may not have seen it all unfolding, but there were so many dedicated hands and hearts making sure this dream stayed alive.

More to come — WE GOT THIS!

(From Bowling Green State University)

Bowling Green State University is located in what WalletHub recently named the No. 1 best small college town in Ohio and among the top 10 in the Midwest for 2025, reaffirming Bowling Green, Ohio, as the right place to provide students with a quintessential college experience.

In addition to being located in an ideal college town, BGSU also empowers students with the right in-demand programs and is the right size to offer all the opportunities of a large school, yet small enough so that each student can actually take advantage of the experiences.

In WalletHub’s latest rankings, the personal finance company named the city of Bowling Green as one of the nation’s best small college towns based on three primary factors: access to academic and career growth opportunities, social environment and overall affordability. From its celebrated small shops and restaurants to its close-knit community, Bowling Green fits the bill in every category for this year’s rankings.

“There is incredible momentum at Bowling Green State University, and being located in such a welcoming, supportive and safe community like Bowling Green that embraces the University is, in large part, why more and more students want to join our learning community,” BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers said. “From its great local businesses to its engaging year-round events and activities, we have long known that Bowling Green is one of the best small college towns in the nation. This recognition reaffirms our longstanding connection with the city, which provides multiple opportunities for students and residents to connect with one another, both on campus and in the community.”

“This recognition highlights what we in Bowling Green already know – that our community and University share something truly special,” Bowling Green Mayor Mike Aspacher said. “The close collaboration between the City and BGSU has created an environment where innovation, opportunity and a strong sense of belonging come together to make Bowling Green an outstanding place to live, learn and grow. Being named Ohio’s best small college town is a reflection of the pride we take in our community, our partnership with the University and the welcoming spirit that defines Bowling Green.”

As Ohio’s best small college town, Bowling Green offers multiple ways for students to engage with and be part of the broader community, serving as the right place for a true college experience.

Through a longstanding connection with BGSU, the city of Bowling Green has collaborated with the University throughout the years on multiple signature events to ensure students are welcomed in the community, including RallyBG on Main, Black Swamp Arts Festival, Firefly Nights, BG Farmers’ Market and the BG Community Holiday Parade.

Bowling Green also provides students and residents with ways to support their health and well-being with four distinct parks, a city pool, a community center and year-round special events and programming. The city also serves as a main entrance to the Slippery Elm Trail, a 13-mile asphalt multi-use trail for walking, bicycling and in-line skating.

Along with its latest accolades, the city of Bowling Green has also been recognized as one of the safest college towns in the nation, the No. 3 most-popular college town in America and as an Ohio Magazine Best Hometown multiple times.

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Golden Apple Volunteer Spotlight

Chloe Hattery is a first-year biology student on a pre-physician assistant (PA) track at Ohio Northern University. She joined the Golden Apple volunteer program to gain hands-on experience interacting with older adult patients. Through her participation, she has developed strong patient communication skills and enhanced her bedside manner. She finds joy in visiting patients, offering companionship, and getting to hear their life stories.

The Golden Apple volunteer program provides students with the opportunity to gain practical experience working with older adult patients during their stay at Blanchard Valley Hospital. Volunteers are responsible for spending time with patients, engaging in various activities with them, and ensuring they feel safe and supported throughout their stay.

Interested in joining? Visit bvhs.info/GoldenAppleApplication and apply today!

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

After three straight years of declining traffic fatalities, Ohio’s traffic safety partners are joining forces to make sure 2025 marks a fourth.

However, recent data shows traffic deaths are trending close to last year’s pace.

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), and Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) are urging drivers to make safe choices behind the wheel — put down distractions, drive sober, buckle up, and obey the speed limit — as part of a year-end safety blitz. 

Safety officials have several enforcement and education efforts planned through the end of the year. 

(From the Ralph D. Cole American Legion Post 3)

The Ralph D. Cole American Legion Post 3 in Findlay recently donated more than $17,000 to several local charities and community organizations, pushing its total charitable giving for the year to over $50,000.

These donations reflect the Post’s ongoing commitment to supporting veterans, youth programs, and community initiatives that strengthen Findlay and the surrounding area.

“Supporting our community is at the heart of what we do,” said Clark Lamme, Commander of Post 3. “Every dollar we donate comes from the support of our members, volunteers, and community partners who help us live out the Legion’s mission every day.”

Founded in 1919, the Ralph D. Cole American Legion Post 3 has proudly served the Findlay community for more than a century. The Post continues to uphold the four pillars of the American Legion — Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism, and Children & Youth — through volunteer efforts, events, and charitable contributions.

In addition to its community service, Post 3 invites the public to visit for lunch, served Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Post is open to everyone, and proceeds from meals and events help support its charitable programs throughout the year.

For more information about the Ralph D. Cole American Legion Post 3 or to learn how to get involved, please visit rdcolepost3.org.

(From the Tiffin Police Department)

Congratulations, Officer Andrew Stevens!

The Tiffin Police Department is proud to recognize Officer Andrew Stevens for successfully completing the rigorous Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) certification program!

In law enforcement, a DRE (Drug Recognition Expert) is a highly trained officer who specializes in identifying drivers impaired by drugs other than or in addition to alcohol. Using a detailed 12-step evaluation process, DREs assess vital signs, eye movement, coordination, and other indicators to determine the type of substance causing impairment.

This certification is no easy feat. There are only 255 certified law enforcement DRE’s in the entire state of Ohio. It requires over 200 hours of advanced training, hands-on field evaluations, and successful completion of both academic and practical testing. DREs play a critical role in keeping our roads and community safe, especially in cases where alcohol is not the cause of impairment.

Please join us in congratulating Officer Stevens on this outstanding professional achievement and his continued dedication to the safety and well-being of our community!

Chief Pauly

(From the University of Findlay)

As more Americans are adding cryptocurrency to their wallets, these digital age dollars will be the theme of the November 21 “Fridays at Findlay” presentation at the University of Findlay.

Andrew Burchwell, executive director of the Ohio Blockchain Council, will give a presentation on “Cryptocurrency: Origins, Use, Security and Its Future,” followed by a question-and-answer session.

“The 21st century economy is predicated on the use of innovative tools like cryptocurrencies,” Burchwell noted, adding that he will explain how the cryptocurrency system works, how it is bought and sold, what a stable coin is, and much more.

People with no prior knowledge of cryptocurrency, those who are skeptical based on issues that have arisen in its early evolution, and those who already own digital assets will all find this presentation of interest.

The Ohio Blockchain Council, headquartered in Columbus, leads industry advocacy efforts for Bitcoin, digital asset mining, and blockchain technology.

Burchwell is an accomplished program manager with over a decade of experience advancing energy technology commercialization, infrastructure development, and public-private partnerships. He also has managed public-private partnerships across government and NGO partners including the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, World Bank, and others.

The event is open to the public and will take place in the Winebrenner Building, TLB Auditorium on the UF campus. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. for a breakfast buffet with the presentation from 7:50 to 9 a.m.

Sponsored by WesBanco, the Fridays at Findlay lecture series encourages continued educational opportunities for members of the community, the campus, and alumni.

Register online by Nov. 19 at www.findlay.edu/FridaysAtFindlay or call University Advancement at 419-434-5334 for more information. The fee is $12 for adults and $6 for students.