Monthly Archives: May 2020

Street Painting Event Kicks Off Pride Month In Findlay

LGBTQ+ Spectrum of Findlay held a street painting event to kick off Pride Month.

At the intersection of South Main Street and West Main Cross Street they painted an outline of Ohio colored in with rainbow colors and a star showing where Findlay is located. (picture courtesy of LGBTQ+ Spectrum of Findlay)

Executive Director Dr. Jasmin Bradley says Findlay has made progress recently when it comes to respecting the LGBTQ community.

 

She added that it’s more important than ever to speak up for marginalized voices and she’s noticing that more and more people want to be a part of that voice.

“You can see there’s people gathered around today because they want to be part of something and they know this is part of making history in Findlay.”

Sheriff’s Office Warns Of Possible Scam

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents to be alert about a possible scam.

They said they recently received some complaints from residents about suspicious calls and text messages from someone claiming to be with the sheriff’s office.

In each case the caller identified themselves as either a deputy or a detective and says they need to speak immediately.

The sheriff’s office points out that it will never text from a texting app or leave a message stating they need to “meet up” with someone.

The sheriff’s office is urging people to be mindful of such calls and to hang up and contact the sheriff’s office on the non-emergency line of 419-422-2424.

2 Injured In Rear-End Crash On Wet Findlay Road

The Findlay Police Department says two people were injured when a pickup truck slid into a car on a wet road.

The crash happened at 1:54 p.m. Friday at 1125 Tiffin Avenue.

Police say Frederick Borkosky, 74, of Arlington, was traveling eastbound when the car ahead of him went to turn into Taco Bell.

Borkosky attempted to stop, but due to the wet roads, his truck slid and crashed into the rear of the car.

Borkosky’s truck sustained little damage but the car was heavily damaged.

The driver of the car, Murtie Ferrell, 26, of Findlay, and a passenger, Thomas Brickner, 33, of Findlay, were taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital with minor injuries.

Borkosky was cited for an assured clear distance ahead violation while Ferrell was cited for driving under suspension.

 

UF Working On Plan To Safely Resume In-Person Classes

The University of Findlay is working on a plan to keep students and staff safe as they return to in-person classes for the fall semester.

Details on the Oilers Start Safe & Stay Safe plan are in the following news release from the university and there is also a video below.

As the University of Findlay prepares for in-person classes this fall, ensuring the campus community has a safe and healthy environment to live and learn in is the University’s top priority. To aid in this, the University’s Emergency Operations Team has formed a sub-committee that is meeting weekly to create the Oilers Start Safe & Stay Safe plan for the UF community.

Dave Emsweller, vice president of student affairs, explained, “the goal of the Oilers Start Safe & Stay Safe plan is to provide a wide array of resources and information related to COVID-19.” When completed, the plan will include detailed information and courses of action that the University will take to ensure the health and safety of Oiler Nation.

The sub-committee includes multiple leaders from many departments across the University, including experts from the University’s All Hazards Training Center and College of Health Professions. The group is working diligently this summer to develop plans for various scenarios in light of recent restrictions and special circumstances caused by COVID-19.

According to Emsweller, the committee is working on social distancing protocols, facility set-up, cleaning and sanitation of student housing and campus buildings, food service, event management, health checks, support services and other preventative measures.

The University’s goal is to have a plan in place for every foreseeable situation to ensure courses and services can be delivered, and students can continue working on campus towards meaningful lives and productive careers.

Regular updates of the committee’s plans will be provided on the Oilers Start Safe & Stay Safe webpage, and communicated regularly through email and the University’s Newsroom, mobile app and social media.

The campus community is encouraged to continue to email questions regarding the Oilers Start Safe & Stay safe plan to coronavirus@findlay.edu.

 

Bill Would Create Database Of People Convicted Of Buying Sex

(ONN) – The Ohio House has approved a bill to create a database of people convicted of trying to buy sex.

Supporters say the legislation backed by Attorney General Dave Yost is aimed at shining a light on traffickers who sell women and on men who purchase sex.

State Representative Rick Carfagna, a Republican from suburban Columbus, says the bill goes after the demand side of prostitution and that it could provide the deterrent needed to stop people from soliciting sex.

Individuals would drop off the database if five years pass without another conviction.

The bill goes next to the Ohio Senate, which has its own version of the legislation.

 

Ohio State Making Changes For 2020 Football Season

The Ohio State University is making changes in anticipation of a football season under COVID-19 guidelines.

OSU announced it would move to mobile-only ticketing for the fall and adjust seat selection to accommodate for social distancing at Ohio Stadium.

The new seat selection protocol will be communicated by email five business days before the first window opening so fans can view availability.

Seating will be at a premium as OSU expects to reduce capacity at the Horseshoe from more than 100,000 down to between 20,000 to 50,000 fans.

Hancock County Farmers’ Market Opens For Season

The Hancock County Farmers’ Market opened for the season on Thursday.

It will run every Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. through October in the parking lot of the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts.

Ann Boyd, the volunteer manager of the farmers’ market, says the market seems to get bigger each year.

On the first day on Thursday, she said there were 15 vendors set up, offering everything from homemade baked goods to kettle corn to knife sharpening.

She says once more vegetables come into season the number of vendors will reach the upper 20s.

Ann herself grows and sells herbs and herbal products at her area of the MCPA parking lot.

People are being asked to wear a mask and follow social distancing guidelines.

Missing Putnam County Boy’s Body Found In River

It was a sad end to the search for a missing boy in southwest Putnam County.

The sheriff’s office says the body of 5-year-old Isaac Schroeder was found in the Auglaize River near Fort Jennings on Thursday, the day after he went missing.

Hundreds of volunteers had been searching for Isaac, who was autistic.

The sheriff’s office says a volunteer rescue worker located Isaac’s body within a log jam along the river bank at 5:07 p.m. Thursday about 3/4 of a mile downstream from his residence.

The sheriff’s office extends its sympathies to the Schroeder family and also thanks the hundreds of volunteers who helped in the search.

 

Man Sentenced For Escaping Authorities On The Loose Again

A man originally charged with escaping from authorities in Putnam County is on the loose again after not turning himself in to serve his sentence.

The sheriff’s office is asking for the public to keep their eyes open for David Cole.

They say he was sentenced on a charge of escape and was scheduled to turn himself in to the Putnam County Adult Detention Facility but did not.

Additional charges are now pending.

Last September, the sheriff’s office says Cole failed to return from his court-ordered work release and was later located and arrested.

Anyone with information on Cole’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office at 419-523-3208.

 

Former Ohio Weatherman Headed To Prison For Child Porn

(ONN) – A former TV meteorologist in Columbus has been sentenced to prison after previously pleading guilty to possessing child pornography.

Mike Davis was sentenced on Thursday to a minimum of four years in prison and could serve up to six years.

Davis said before his sentencing he didn’t realize at the time that downloading and collecting thousands of child porn images was hurtful to kids.

Investigators say Davis uploaded 16,000 illegal images since 2012.

He was arrested last September.

Prosecutors said this case was among the most severe of its type they have ever seen.