Cooper Tire is teaming up with race car driver Loni Unser to educate drivers during National Tire Safety Week.

Cooper Tire says tire safety is of key importance as more Americans have been taking road trips because of the coronavirus.

Details are in the following news release from Cooper Tire & Rubber Company.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is teaming up with professional race car driver Loni Unser to educate drivers about how to properly maintain their tires during National Tire Safety Week, which runs from August 31 – September 6. A program of the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), National Tire Safety Week comes at an important time as many Americans are choosing to take to the road for late summer travel versus other methods of transportation amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Unser, a 22-year-old female race car driver and the latest member of the Unser auto racing dynasty, will take part in a day of tire safety outreach on September 2. She will conduct a series of radio and television interviews from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the site of the legendary Indy 500 race, that will focus on sharing three important tire safety checks that should be performed monthly and before long road trips.

These important tire safety checks include:

1. Check tire inflation pressure. Having the right amount of air in your tires, or tire pressure, helps them perform as they should. This gives you better control of your car and helps your tires wear longer and more evenly. Check your tire pressure using a tire pressure gauge and ensure the pressure in each tire – including your spare – matches the ideal tire pressure for your vehicle. This is listed on the sticker inside your car door, glove box or fuel door, or in the car’s manual.

2. Inspect the tread depth. Proper tread depth helps tires maintain traction, improves handling and prevents hydroplaning. You can easily check a tire’s tread depth by performing the penny test. Put a penny in the grooves of the tire with Lincoln’s head down and facing you. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to replace the tire.

3. Check the overall tire condition. Damaged tires can shorten tire life and cause tire failure or air loss. Look at your tires to ensure they do not have cuts, cracks, punctures or bulges, or any objects lodged in the tread.

“As a professional race car driver I know that the tires on my vehicle are what’s connecting me to the road, so tire safety is top of mind,” said Unser. “But, tire safety isn’t just for the race track. It’s important for everyday drivers to know how to properly maintain their tires, and perform those checks often.”

With the pandemic leading more Americans to take road trips as an alternative to flying, now is a key time to bring tire safety to the forefront. A recent survey conducted for Cooper found 44 percent of Americans say they are taking more road trips due to coronavirus. The study also found the average American has been on two road trips already this summer and is planning another two road trips in the future. These trends are also likely to continue, as 58 percent of survey respondents said they plan to take more road trips in the future.

“Tires are often overlooked, but with more people taking road trips, it’s more important than ever to raise awareness of tire safety,” said Anne Roman, Vice President – Communications & Public Affairs. “At Cooper we design and manufacture great, high quality tires, and we are committed to educating drivers about the easy checks they can perform to help maintain their tires. National Tire Safety Week provides an excellent opportunity to bring this topic to the forefront.”

The number of overall cases went up while the number of active cases went down in the latest COVID-19 data from Hancock Public Health.

Health officials say, as of Monday, there were 520 cases in Hancock County, an increase of 11 from Friday.

Active cases stood at 48 on Monday, a drop of seven from Friday.

Active cases are patients who are currently under quarantine or isolation.

Hancock Public Health says 44 people have been hospitalized from the virus in Hancock County since the beginning of the pandemic and seven residents have died from it.

Hancock County is at level 2, or orange, on the state’s COVID-19 alert map.

The University of Findlay has broken ground on a very rare, outdoor enclosure where faculty and students will research air pollutants.

Dr. Seth Ebersviller, an assistant professor of Environmental, Safety, and Occupational Health Management, spoke at the groundbreaking.

The lab is only the sixth of its kind in the world.

It will be located at the University of Findlay’s All Hazards Training Center on Fostoria Avenue.

You can learn more about the new lab here and watch the university’s Facebook Live video of the event below.

(the above picture is courtesy of the University of Findlay)

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office wants people to know that they do not benefit from the funds that are being solicited by a certain sheriff’s organization.

The sheriff’s office says local residents are receiving donation requests from the United States Deputy Sheriff’s Association (USDSA).

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says, while the USDSA is a registered organization, none of their employees receives any type of funding, training, equipment or other benefits from the USDSA.

The sheriff’s office says the organization is not affiliated with the Buckeye State Sheriffs Association (BSSA) or the National Sheriffs Organization (NSA).

People are being asked to research any organization that solicits funds to make sure that it’s an organization you want to support.

(ONN) – Ohio’s elections chief says more than 115,000 inactive voter registrations are at risk of being removed from the state’s voter rolls after the November election.

The final, revised figure released by Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office represents the number of voter registrations that will be purged if they aren’t activated by December 7th.

You can check the list by clicking here.

LaRose says it’s important to keep the voter rolls accurate and made it clear that none of those registrations will be purged before the November 3rd election.

The removal, required by law, affects Ohioans who haven’t voted in six years.

They can stay on the rolls by taking certain actions, such as voting or confirming their address through the state’s voting website.

The Findlay-Hancock County Library will be extending its hours on Monday.

Beginning Monday, August 31st the library will be open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The library will remain closed on Sundays.

“The staff is looking forward to being able to serve our community for more hours once again,” said Joel Mantey, Adult Services Manager.

“With school starting up, it’s important to remember that the library is here with print resources, but that we have a multitude of digital resources that you can access from home 24/7. Staff would be happy to walk you through access either in person or over the phone”.

COVID-19 protocols that were instituted for when the library reopened on June 15th will remain in place, such as the wearing of masks and social distancing.

People not feeling well are encouraged to not enter the library and instead use the library’s curbside service, which is still available. You can call 419-422-1712 to make an appointment to pick up your items.

Those who work in law enforcement in Findlay and Hancock County were honored during an event on Saturday.

People who participated in the Salute To Local Law Enforcement Cruise lined up at The Cube on North Main Street and then drove up and down Main Street, passing by the Ohio State Highway Patrol Findlay Post, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and Findlay Police Department.

Many of the vehicles that participated were displaying Thin Blue Line flags in support of law enforcement as well as American Flags and honked their horns as they drove by.

Hancock County Sheriff Michael Heldman appreciates the support.

We spoke with Jamie and she told us she’s very proud of the work her husband does with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.

During the event, which was organized by the Hancock County Republican Party, Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn and Hancock County commissioners issued a proclamation declaring Saturday, August 29th Law Enforcement Appreciation Day in Findlay and Hancock County.

The proclamation urges people to join them in honoring all the men and women who are serving and have served in a law enforcement role to make the city and county a better and safer place.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says a man from Michigan died after a crash in Seneca County.

The crash happened at about 8:20 Friday night at the intersection of State Route 635 and County Road 592, in northwest Seneca County.

The highway patrol says Riccardo Thompson, of Detroit, was northbound on State Route 635 when an SUV that was eastbound on County Road 592 failed to stop at the stop sign and struck his car.

The impact sent both vehicles off the roadway and into a cornfield.

The highway patrol says Thompson was taken to a hospital in Tiffin where he died.

The highway patrol says the driver of the SUV, Emily Stall, of Findlay, and a passenger, Clarence Durliat, of Findlay, sustained minor injuries and were not transported to a hospital.

Investigators say alcohol or drugs are not believed to be a factor in the crash which remains under investigation.

Congressman Bob Latta says the United States Postal Service has agreed to send all mail from northwest Ohio through the processing facility in Cleveland instead of the “error-prone” Metroplex sorting facility in Pontiac, Michigan.

The change will take place from September 16th through November 14th.

“While I’m hopeful that this will also improve the reliability and timeliness of all of my constituents’ mail for the next few months, I would like to see this change be made permanent,” Latta said.

The congressman says getting the mail on time has been a problem in parts of the 5th Congressional District for years, not because of local post offices or letter carriers, but because of an operational problem.

He has said that at least 1,000 absentee ballots processed through the Pontiac facility were lost or delayed during the 2016 election, and that his office was contacted by several people who reported problems with the mail in the 2018 election and this year’s primary election.

A seventh Hancock County resident has died from the coronavirus.

The patient was a 79-year-old woman and a resident of The Heritage assisted living facility.

Hancock Public Health says it will be stepping up testing of all residents and staff there to contain any potential cluster.

Hancock Public Health says, as of Friday, there were 509 total cases of COVID-19 in the county, an increase of 19 from Wednesday.

The number of active cases increased by 10, up to 55.

Active cases are patients who are currently under quarantine or isolation.

Hancock Public Health says 44 people have been hospitalized from the virus in Hancock County since the beginning of the pandemic and seven residents have died from it.

Hancock County is at level 2, or orange, on the state’s COVID-19 alert map.