Crews from the Ohio Department of Transportation will be out in full force Wednesday to celebrate Earth Day with its annual clean-up event.

ODOT officials say litter along Ohio’s freeways and roads costs taxpayers nearly $4 million annually in cleanup costs.

In 2019, ODOT crews picked up more than 52,000 bags of trash along interstates, state, and U.S. routes in central Ohio alone.

Drivers are encouraged to always dispose of waste in the proper receptacles as litter can also create hazards to mowing crews and clog drains, which create flooding issues.

(ONN) – The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is trying a new way to ease the process as a record number of Ohioans file for unemployment.

While people wait for Ohio’s economy to reopen, the agency wants to ease the strain on the unemployment system.

They are implementing a new system, based on the first letter of your last name: “A”-through-“H” will be able to file on Sunday, “I”-through-“P” on Monday and so on.

The process changes on Sunday.

Dr. Amy Acton, the Director of the Ohio Department of Health, unveiled a five part plan to get Ohio through the next 18 months.

Acton on Tuesday said her goal is to not just flatten the curve, but to stay ahead of it.

She says the state can make that happen by continued social distancing, upping the number of people tested, contact tracing and excellent medical treatment.

Acton reminded everyone to continue to wear masks in public, and try to limit trips to the grocery store or pharmacy to once a week.

Meantime, Governor DeWine is tapping two of his predecessors to increase the number of COVID-19 tests given in the state.

He says former Ohio governors Dick Celeste and Bob Taft will lead a new Testing Strike Team.

They will work with leaders from the business, academic and public sectors to source testing items and expand testing capabilities in the Buckeye State.

Putnam County health officials are reporting the county’s first deaths from the coronavirus.

“It is with great sadness that we report the deaths of two of our Putnam County residents related to the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Health Commissioner Kim Rieman.

“We extend our condolences to the family and friends of these individuals.”

The patients were a man in his 80s and a woman in her 60s.

Rieman points out that the deaths were reported to the Putnam County Health Department after the data for the Ohio Department of Health daily report was retrieved.

Therefore, the ODH data for April 21st does not include the report of the deaths.

A cluster of cases was recently discovered in a senior living facility in Putnam County.

Findlay City Schools has been inviting students to share their story of how the school closure is impacting them and what they miss the most about school.

Ashlyn, a 7th grader at Glenwood Middle School, was one of the students who entered an essay in the contest.

She said school is her “happy place” and she misses her friends and being able to be face to face with the people she loves the most.

Ashlyn said that her grades have actually improved through the online schooling.

“The teachers are doing amazing at helping us get everything that we need done.”

Ashlyn concluded her essay by writing, “If it wasn’t for my school I don’t know if I would or could be the same person I am today.”

Students of all grade levels were encouraged to enter the contest, and two entries from each grade level will win a prize.

You can check out Ashlyn’s essay and many others here.

(below is Ashlyn with her volleyball teammates)

Ohio’s high school spring sports season is officially canceled.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association made the announcement Tuesday, after Governor Mike DeWine on Monday closed Ohio schools to in-person learning for the rest of the school year.

THe OHSAA already told schools that spring sports would be canceled if school facilities were closed.

OHSAA Executive Director Jerry Snodgrass reflected on the effect the pandemic has had on schools and interscholastic athletics.

“I’ve heard from so many people who have said ‘You really need to understand what this means to our kids,” Snodgrass said during the interview.

“I’m a parent. I was a coach. I grew up every day as a player and a coach wanting to play high school sports and get to the state tournament. So I do think I understand that. I also have to go with the fact that my number one concern that I have, over everything, is the health and safety of everyone involved. It’s not just our student-athletes. It’s the parents, coaches, umpires, officials, the scorekeepers. All those things enter into this. It’s a tough decision and it’s one that I and all the other Executive Directors of the other states never thought we would have to do. Never did I think this would be the case, but I’ve tried to be as prepared as I could every step of the way.”

The Findlay City Schools Board of Education has announced that Krista Crates-Miller will be the district’s new assistant superintendent.

She’ll take over that role from Troy Roth who is becoming the district’s new superintendent.

Learn more about her in the school district’s news release below.

The Findlay City Schools Board of Education announced that Mrs. Krista Crates-Miller was selected as the Findlay City Schools new Assistant Superintendent for the 2020-2021 school year at the April 20th Board of Education meeting. Mrs. Miller will replace Mr. Troy Roth, who will serve as superintendent for the district beginning August 1, 2020.

Mrs. Miller has over 25 years of experience in public education. She has served as an elementary and middle school teacher and is currently serving the district as principal at Glenwood Middle School. She is married to Mr. Mark Miller, with three children. Mrs. Miller’s family has had four generations graduate from Findlay City Schools and will soon be adding a fifth generation to the Findlay Trojan family.

In a statement from Mrs. Miller, she shared that “I could not be more excited to have the opportunity to serve the district that I love. There are no boundaries to the talent, innovation, passion, and commitment the teachers and staff of Findlay City Schools possess. It is an honor to be granted the opportunity to serve them as the next Assistant Superintendent as they grow and inspire the amazing students of Findlay City Schools every day.”

Findlay Brewing Company is releasing a new pale ale in celebration of Earth Day on Wednesday.

The pale ale is called Blanchard River Brew and can be purchased from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the taproom at 213 East Crawford Street in Findlay.

Blanchard River Brew is a pale ale brewed with Simco and Mandarina Bavaria hops.

It will be available for takeout in 64 ounce growlers and 25 ounce crowler cans only.

Those who have growlers or howlers may bring them to fill.

People can call ahead at 419-419-2739 to place an order or have it delivered from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.

Proceeds from Blanchard River Brew will benefit the Blanchard River Watershed Partnership (BRWP) which has written grants totaling more than $11 million for clean water projects benefitting the people of the Blanchard River’s six-county watershed (Hancock, Hardin, Putnam, Allen, Seneca and Wyandot).

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine says the state’s schools will remain closed for the remainder of the academic year.

DeWine says the decision not to reopen schools was made to help prevent the further spread of the coronavirus and for the continuity of student’s e-learning.

DeWine said after consulting with educators that returning students to the classroom in such a short time-frame after a month of learning remotely could be disruptive.

The governor said no decision has been made on the status of in-classroom instruction for the 2020-2021 year.

Get more on how the closure will affect Findlay City Schools here. 

A Findlay youngster is putting her sewing talents to good use during the pandemic by making face masks for family and friends.

10-year-old Heather Betts has been sewing for about two years now and got a sewing machine last Christmas.

“Mostly I’ve been making things like pillows and pillowcases for family members,” Heather told WFIN News.

But after the pandemic struck and health officials started strongly urging people to wear a face mask she and her mom had an idea.

“My mom and I decided that we were going to do some research and make some masks.”

Heather’s mom, Lesley, says Heather has made about ten face masks so far for family and friends.

“We’ve just been giving them out to anybody who wants one so when people at work say they want one she starts working on a mask for them too,” Lesley said.

Lesley has three daughters. She and one of her daughters work in healthcare while her other daughter works at a pizza shop, and Dad works for the City of Findlay.

Lesley said she’s very proud of Heather and Heather said it feels good to know that she’s helping keep people safe during the pandemic.