(From the Office of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine)

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Charles Jones, and Ohio Department of Transportation Director Pamela Boratyn announced that traffic fatalities have decreased in Ohio for the fourth consecutive year. 

According to preliminary data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), the number of traffic fatalities in 2025 dropped approximately 3% in Ohio as compared to 2024, a difference of 32 lives. This decrease continues the downward trend in traffic fatalities that began in 2022, representing 231 lives saved across four years.

“The fact that more people have made it home to their families the past four years is certainly worth celebrating, but make no mistake — the number of people killed on Ohio’s roads remains far too high,” said Governor DeWine. “Everyone has a role in making our roads safer, and we all have more work to do.”

In 2025, there were 1,125 traffic fatalities on Ohio roadways, compared to 1,157 in 2024.

According to OSHP statistics, 23% of fatal crashes in 2025 were the result of driving off the roadway. In addition, failure to yield the right of way, unsafe speed, driving left of center, following too closely, and running a stop sign were the next top reasons for fatal crashes statewide. Although distracted driving is underreported, it is also believed to be a significant contributing factor to crashes overall. 

Failure to wear a seatbelt also remains a major factor in traffic deaths. In crashes involving vehicles outfitted with seatbelts, nearly 62% of individuals killed from 2021 to 2025 chose not to wear a safety belt, equating to nearly 2,500 people. 

“Oftentimes, fatal crashes are a preventable tragedy, so some of these people would very likely still be here today had they buckled up,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. “Wearing a seatbelt is just as important as slowing down, staying alert, and obeying the law.”

(ONN) – Ohio’s first full year of selling recreational marijuana brought big business to the state.

Records show recreational sales topped $836 million in 2025, after voters approved legalization in 2023.

Since sales began in August 2024, adult-use marijuana has cashed in more than one billion dollars.

190 dispensaries across the state currently sell both medical and recreational marijuana.

Governor DeWine recently signed new legislation, tightening THC limits, and restrictions on public use and travel.

(From the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association)

The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association ( OHSBCA) is proud to announce that Jim Rucki of Findlay High School is the recipient of the 2026 Paul Walker Award.

The Paul Walker Award is presented annually by the OHSBCA to an active coaching member of the association who has made significant contributions to high school basketball.

The award is named in honor of the late Paul Walker, the longtime coach of Middletown High School. At the time of his retirement, he had the most wins as a boys basketball coach in Ohio High School Basketball history.

Jim Rucki retired with an impressive career record of 545 wins and 258 losses over 35 seasons as a varsity head coach in Ohio, leading programs at both Rocky River and Findlay High Schools. At Rocky River, he posted a 160-71 record, winning 2 league titles, 8 sectional championships, and 2 district titles, while earning NE Ohio District Coach of the Year honors three times and the AP Division II State Coach of the Year award in 1998.

Over 25 seasons at Findlay, Rucki compiled a 385-187 record with 8 league titles, 15 sectional championships, and 2 district crowns, earning multiple NW Ohio District and District 8 Coach of the Year honors, along with the OHSBCA Coach of the Year award in 2024. ]

A respected leader and teacher of the game, Rucki’s lasting impact has been recognized through induction into the Northeast Ohio Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame and the Hancock County Sports Hall of Fame. Jim will also be inducted into the OHSBCA Hall of Fame this April.

(From Gliding Stars of Findlay)

Today, we remember and honor Larry, a longtime Gliding Stars volunteer and a familiar, trusted face at The Cube. Larry was a dedicated supporter of our program both on and off the ice, always willing to help wherever he was needed.

He supported all of the skating programs at the rink and sharpened the blades of hundreds if not thousands of skaters over the years—quietly making a difference for so many.

His kindness, generosity, and steady presence will be deeply missed by our Gliding Stars family and the entire skating community. Our thoughts are with his loved ones as we celebrate a life that gave so much to others.

Read Larry’s full obituary below.

Lawrence “Larry” Grove, of Findlay, Ohio, passed away in peace on the morning of December 31, 2025. Born in Toledo, Ohio, to Geraldine (Vonck) Grove and David Grove on October 20, 1949, he was a lifelong educator, perpetually young at heart, and deeply committed to the communities where he lived and worked.

Larry graduated from Rossford High School in 1967, where he met and fell in love with Patricia “Pati” (Kish) Grove. Larry and Pati married in 1970, and they both graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1971 with BSc degrees in Education. Larry began his 49-year education career teaching math and coaching boys’ hockey at Whitmer High School (Toledo), earning coach of the year honors one year. After completing advanced degrees at BGSU and the University of Toledo, Larry became vice-principal at Glenwood Junior High (Findlay) in 1987, and principal at Cory-Rawson Middle School (Rawson) in 1991. Larry co-founded the Findlay Digital Academy in 2004, serving as principal from the FDA’s inception until 2017, and continued working there as a part-time tutor.

Larry loved everything related to ice hockey, coaching and assisting with teams for many years, refereeing and playing goalie in the Findlay Adult Hockey League into his 70s, driving the Zamboni at The Cube (Findlay), and sharpening skates at his home business, Larry’s Skate Service. He was an amateur photographer, documenting school and community events for years and winning a newspaper photograph contest in The Courier (Findlay). His youthful passion for riding motorcycles and waterskiing while growing up on the Maumee River carried over later in life, as he enjoyed working on his BMW and Honda bikes and restoring antique outboard engines.

Larry dedicated much of his time to serving the Findlay community. He cherished volunteering with the Gliding Stars of Findlay’s adaptive ice skating programs, taught Sunday School and sang in the choir at Trinity Lutheran Church (Findlay), and was a board member at the Blachard Valley Center’s Hancock County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Larry was preceded in death by his wife, Pati; brother, David; and sister, Sarah. He is survived by his sons, Alan and Kevin; daughter-in-law, Jody; grandson, Rhen; sister, Cynthia; and sister-in-law, Victoria.

Larry and Pati’s love of teaching and community greatly inspired their two sons, Kevin and Alan, who both have established careers in education. Kevin married Jody Wetzel and gave Larry one grandson, Rhen, who has become exactly the kind of energetic middle schooler Larry loved teaching throughout his life.

A memorial service will be held on March 28th, at 2:00 p.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church, 935 W. Bigelow Ave, Findlay, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to donate in Larry’s name, his family asks that you honor his legacy with a contribution to local youth programs supporting children with special needs, or youth recreation and educational activities. A few organizations Larry supported in the Findlay area included Gliding Stars of Findlay, and Grace Speaks.

The funeral procession for Ohio State Highway Patrol Sergeant Matthew Cook made its way down Findlay and Hancock County roads on Friday before arriving at Maple Grove Cemetery.

Sgt. Cook worked at the Defiance Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and previously at the Findlay Post. 

He was named Trooper of the Year at the Findlay Post in both 2016 and 2020.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office responded to Sgt. Cook’s home in rural McComb on December 31 and found him deceased.

“Our thoughts are with Sergeant Cook’s family, the Findlay District and the Patrol family as a whole,” the Ohio State Highway Patrol said. 

See some video from the procession as it passed by the Findlay Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and under an American Flag hanging from a Findlay fire truck below, and read his obituary from Kirkpatrick-Behnke Funeral Home by clicking here.

The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library will be showing a PBS documentary about the Blizzard of ‘78’.

The Blizzard of 78 Remembered: Personal experiences of Northwest Ohio residents during the 1978 blizzard.

Stories include a helicopter rescue of an expectant mother, effects on emergency services, and the methods people used to survive without electricity and heat.

The documentary will be shown on Tuesday, January 13, at 6 p.m. in the Lindamood Room.

(From the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office)

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to receive complaints about telephone scams.

Multiple reports have been filed where a Deputy James Spencer is notifying people that they missed jury duty or a family member has a warrant and needs money to post bond.

We do not have a Deputy James Spencer that works for our office.

We do not call anyone about missing a jury duty.

We do not call people to notify them about posting a bond for a warrant.

Please be aware of these scammers and do not give any personal information to anyone without first verifying the information.

Findlay City Schools is still 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.

At the first school board meeting of the year, Superintendent Dr. Andy Hatton recommended that the district keep its current level of busing service for the remainder of the school year and focus on restoring some busing services in August.

He says they will continue to do their best to reduce the longest routes as they continue to hire drivers, and in the meantime, they’ll be testing new routes and making sure the enhancements to their software and GPS are talking seamlessly.

The school district previously mentioned February as when some busing could be restored.

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 Ohio State Highway Patrol)

No one gets into the field of law enforcement for the recognition.

It is chosen out of a sense of duty and responsibility to our communities.

Nonetheless, on #NationalLawEnforcementAppreciationDay, we want to thank every trooper and law enforcement officer who is providing a service with a purpose.

The messages shown were received via public comments on our social media.

(From the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)

On behalf of Sheriff Michael Cortez, we honor our amazing team at the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office; and all our law enforcement partners throughout Hancock County and abroad.

You are appreciated more than you know!

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

(From the United Way of Hancock County)

We’re gearing up for another tax season, and we’re looking for volunteers to join our team!

Our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides free tax preparation for people in our community who meet the federal requirements.

Volunteers are essential to this program’s success, providing the support that allows us to serve hundreds of households each year.

No tax experience is necessary, and free training and certification is provided. 

Contact Bridgit at accounting@uwhancock.org or call 419-423-1432 to learn more!