There are some new faces within the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Brian Siefker shared a post on Facebook welcoming Deputies Brayden Maas and Noah Becher to the sheriff’s office.

See a picture of both below.

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

The Patrol is proud to be part of Ohio’s Blue Envelope Program, a statewide initiative designed to support individuals with developmental disabilities during traffic stops and emergency situations by enhancing communication and reducing anxiety.

Participants carry a blue envelope containing key documents and information about their condition. This allows troopers to quickly understand how to best interact with the community member.

Each packet includes:

 -A blue envelope for documents and accommodation notes
 -A car decal to alert first responders
– A program overview brochure

These envelopes are available for free through your local County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

(From Hancock County Job and Family Services)

On Monday, November 17th, 2025, Hancock County Job and Family Services will be moving back into their building located at 7814 County Road 140 Findlay OH 45840. On that day JFS will be opening to the public for regular business hours at 8 am.

There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4 pm that day to celebrate the reopening of the facility. We invite the public to join us in celebrating our return home.

Due to the move, Hancock County JFS will be closing to the public at 12 pm on Friday, November 14th, 2025, at their temporary location (7746 County Road 140, 2ND Floor) and reopening at 8 am on Monday, November 17th 2025.

In the General Election on Tuesday, four people were running for two spots on the Findlay School Board.

They were Kaleb Brankamp, incumbent Matt Cooper, Katie Hite, and Jack Winans.

Unofficial results from the Hancock County Board of Elections show Cooper and Hite getting the most votes, with Hite garnering 3,071 and Cooper 2,486.

All results are unofficial until certified by the board of elections.

See more Hancock County results by clicking here, and for Putnam County results click here.

Liberty-Benton Local Schools had a proposed substitute tax levy on the ballot in Tuesday’s General Election.  

If approved, two existing emergency levies would become one continuing substitute levy.

Unofficial results from the Hancock County Board of Elections show the levy passing by a wide margin — 67 percent for to 32 percent against.

All results are unofficial until certified by the board of elections.

See more Hancock County results by clicking here, and for Putnam County results click here.

Shall a levy substituting for two existing levies be imposed by the Liberty-Benton Local School District for the purpose of providing for the necessary requirements of the School District in the initial sum of $1,424,600, and a levy of taxes be made outside of the ten-mill limitation estimated by the county auditor to require 4.74 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $166 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value for the initial year of the tax, for a continuing period of time, commencing in 2025, first due in calendar year 2026, with the sum of such tax to increase only if and as new land or real property improvements not previously taxed by the School District are added to its tax list?  If approved, any remaining tax years on any of the two existing levies will not be collected after tax year 2024 (collection year 2025).

Several Findlay City Council races were decided in Tuesday’s General Election.

In Findlay, four candidates were running for three At-Large seats on Findlay City Council.

The candidates were Jenny Fall, a Democrat, and Heather Kensinger, Reed Needles, and Brad Wagner, all Republicans.

Unofficial results from the Hancock County Board of Elections show Heather Kensinger, Reed Needles, and Brad Wagner winning one of the At-Large seats.

There were a few other contested city council races in Findlay.

In the Third Ward, Republican Carol Smith defeated Democrat Shaun Mason.

The Fourth Ward race between Republican Dan DeArment and write-in challenger Sarah Jo Pugh easily went to DeArment.

In the Fifth Ward, Independent candidate Kevin Cullen defeated incumbent Republican Brian Bauman in a close race.

All results are unofficial until certified by the board of elections.

See more Hancock County results by clicking here, and for Putnam County results click here.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding motorists of the increase in deer-involved crashes during this time of the year.

Hancock County is one of the counties with the most deer-related crashes.

The Highway Patrol says some simple tips to avoid an animal collision are: scan the road ahead, use high-beam headlights when possible, be extra cautious at dawn and dusk, and if a collision is unavoidable, brake firmly and stay in your lane – don’t swerve, as swerving could cause an even worse crash.

“Practicing safe driving habits and staying fully focused on the road increases your chances of spotting deer before it’s too late,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent.

“If you do strike a deer, prioritize your safety by moving to a secure location if possible, turning on your hazard lights and reporting the incident.”

(From Marathon Petroleum Corporation)

Marathon Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: MPC) announced that the board of directors of MPC has elected Maryann T. Mannen, president and chief executive officer and member of the board of directors, as chairman of the board, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Mannen will assume the role of chairman of the board in addition to her current responsibilities. Mannen will succeed Michael J. Hennigan, who has elected to retire as executive chairman and as a member of the board of directors, also effective Jan. 1, 2026. John Surma will continue to serve as independent lead director of the board.

“We congratulate Maryann as our new chairman of the board,” said Mr. Surma. “We are confident in Maryann’s leadership and enthusiastic about our company’s direction. We thank Mike for his exemplary service during a period of significant value creation.”

“Mike’s continued leadership and remarkable achievements have been pivotal for MPC’s positive trajectory,” said Ms. Mannen. “It’s an honor to succeed Mike as chairman of the board and to have the opportunity to build on that legacy of leadership and success, taking our performance to the next level. I appreciate the trust our board has placed in me as we look ahead to MPC’s future.”

Mr. Hennigan led MPC as CEO beginning in March 2020 and transitioned from CEO to executive chairman in August 2024. Ms. Mannen has served as CEO since August 2024, after previously serving as president from January 2024, and as executive vice president and chief financial officer between January 2021 and January 2024.

(From the Ohio Department of Transportation)

Along County Road 99, a new service road back to Jeffrey’s Antiques and other businesses is now open!

If your GPS tells you to turn where there is no road, no worries; a beautiful, newly-paved road is close by, just a little farther west of the old road.

Relocating the access road was necessary to create more space for the new diverging diamond interchange at I-75.

(From Owens Community College)

Owens Community College continues to serve as a pivotal connector in the regional education ecosystem, bringing together three four-year private universities across the greater Blanchard Valley to strengthen transfer pathways and expand opportunities for students. For the first time, the University of Findlay, Heidelberg University and Ohio Northern University joined Owens for a single event, signing or renewing articulation agreements Monday, November 3, on the Owens Findlay-area Campus in a joint ceremony celebrating collaboration in higher education.

During the event, Owens signed or renewed three Express dual admission agreements — the Oiler Express with the University of Findlay, the Student Prince Express with Heidelberg University and the Polar Bear Express with Ohio Northern University (ONU). Named by combining the respective schools’ athletic nicknames, the agreements expand seamless transfer pathways for Owens students to continue toward bachelor’s degrees. Owens also signed new pre-pharmacy options with both Findlay and ONU. Together, the four colleges are helping students save time and money while creating clear, flexible pathways to achieve their educational and career goals.

Owens opened the ceremony by sharing highlights from an enrollment study conducted by Trellis Strategies. Bryan Ashton of Trellis Strategies presented findings that examined Findlay and Hancock County labor market needs and program alignment. The study confirmed that workforce demands in the region are evolving, with increasing need for flexible academic options that meet students where they are, particularly adult learners and working professionals.

The findings also underscored both an urgent need and an opportunity: many students who chose not to attend Owens in Findlay did not continue their education elsewhere, highlighting the importance of re-engaging learners and rebuilding local pathways to opportunity.

Through the Findlay Commitment, Owens is reaffirming its long-term investment in the future of higher education in Findlay by working collaboratively with employers, schools, universities and community leaders to re-engage learners, expand opportunities and strengthen the region’s skilled workforce. As part of this effort, Owens is bolstering class offerings and reinforcing degree pathways available on the Bright Road campus. The college currently offers six associate degrees, five certificates and seven general concentrations preparing students to transfer and complete a bachelor’s degree. One example is the Associate of Science degree, which provides a strong, transferable foundation for students who plan to continue their education, including those pursuing the new pre-pharmacy pathways established through agreements with Findlay and Ohio Northern.

The Findlay Commitment represents a shared pledge to turn data into solutions by re-engaging learners, expanding access and strengthening the region’s talent pipeline through collaboration across education, business and community sectors. It also marks the beginning of an ongoing effort to align Owens’ academic programs with local workforce demand and ensure sustained opportunities for learners in the years ahead.

“We can see from the data that we have clear areas of strength, and we are restructuring the programs we offer on our Findlay-area Campus to better serve this region,” said Dr. Dione D. Somerville, Owens president.

While healthcare program enrollment continues to represent nearly one-third of the Findlay-area Campus headcount, Owens announced plans beginning in the 2026–27 academic year to add degree options in electrical, mechanical and manufacturing fields, along with an engineering transfer program and a short-term non-credit pharmacy technician certificate to support the local workforce.

“This is a defining day for higher education in our region, for Owens Community College, the University of Findlay, Heidelberg University and Ohio Northern University, and for this important region of the state,” Somerville said. “We’ve unveiled data that will guide our next steps and signed pathway agreements for our students to continue their education at outstanding universities right here in our region. The Findlay Commitment reflects that collaboration. Our commitment to Findlay and Hancock County is unwavering. We will meet the needs of today with data-informed planning and the dedication of our outstanding team on the Findlay-area Campus.”

A total of 108 students have enrolled in the Oiler Express since Owens and the University of Findlay first signed the dual admissions agreement in March 2019. In the past five academic years, 252 Owens students have transferred to Findlay to continue their studies. The institutions are renewing the Oiler Express partnership and adding a pathway for Owens students to transfer into Findlay’s pharmacy program.

“The Oiler Express partnership represents an exciting opportunity that benefits both institutions while creating meaningful pathways for students to achieve their academic and career goals,” said Dr. Kathy Fell, University of Findlay president. “Partnerships of this nature are an important part of the University of Findlay’s commitment to collaboration and student success.”

Owens and Heidelberg University are launching the Student Prince Express dual admission agreement ensuring seamless transfer for Owens students pursuing bachelor’s degrees at Heidelberg. In the past five years, 53 Owens students have transferred to Heidelberg.

“Heidelberg University has a long-standing tradition of collaboration with regional community colleges and four-year institutions to develop innovative pathways that support students in achieving their academic and professional goals. We are proud to launch the Student Prince Express with Owens Community College. This partnership strengthens and streamlines existing pathways that enable students to take the next step toward a bachelor’s degree at Heidelberg,” said Dr. Rob Huntington, Heidelberg University president.

“Expanding opportunities is ultimately about supporting transfer students, increasing accessibility and opening doors for them to continue their academic journey with confidence.  By working closely with our friends at Owens, we can ensure that every student, regardless of where they begin their academic journey, has the resources and support to complete their bachelor’s degree,” he said.

Owens and Ohio Northern University are signing a Polar Bear Express dual admission agreement and a pre-pharmacy transfer pathway, expanding opportunities for Owens students to continue their education at ONU. Over the past five years, 187 Owens students have transferred to Ohio Northern.

“We are pleased to strengthen and expand our partnership with Owens Community College to make an ONU degree accessible to more students,” said Dr. Melissa J. Baumann, Ohio Northern University president. “As a private university working for the public good, we’re committed to preparing graduates for success in their careers and life, while meeting the workforce needs of our region, our state and beyond.”

City of Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn, Blanchard Valley Health System President and CEO Myron Lewis and Whirlpool Corp. Director of Manufacturing Renato Esteves Sr. also spoke during the event, emphasizing the importance of higher education collaboration in strengthening the regional workforce pipeline.