Monthly Archives: August 2022

Law Enforcement K9s and Their Handlers Salute K9 Tommy

Law enforcement agencies from around northwest Ohio paid tribute to an area K9 officer that had to be euthanized due to an aggressive form of cancer.

K9 Tommy worked for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and his handler was officer Jeremy Berger.

Tommy, a 7-year-old German Shepherd, performed many duties for the ODNR and the people of Ohio over his five-year career, including detecting drugs and human remains.

Sgt. Tom Miller of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says Tommy and Officer Berger have been an important part of the Northwest Ohio K9 Group.

Several K9 officers from various agencies and their handlers were on hand to say goodbye to Tommy, including Sgt. Miller and his K9 Sonny.

They saluted as Tommy’s end-of-watch call went over the radio.

“Thank you for being a good boy and protecting your partner and the citizens of Ohio.”

“Your watch has now ended, rest well.”

 

Hancock Historical Museum Showing Outdoor Movie

Inspired by their exhibit, Findlay Rocks! 1960s Garage Bands, The Hancock Historical Museum will be spending an evening celebrating the decade with a special outdoor movie.

The museum is inviting people to join them in the Hancock Historical Museum’s parking lot at 422 West Sandusky Street in Findlay on Saturday, August 27th.

“Bring your lawn chairs and we’ll provide the popcorn. We’ll have cars and music from the era, too!”

The parking lot will closed to vehicles, and visitors are encouraged to park on Sandusky Street or in nearby public lots.

Guests should bring their own lawn chairs. Vintage cars from the era will be on site.

The museum will be showing “American Graffiti,” the 1973 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by George Lucas, produced by Francis Ford Coppola, and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Harrison Ford and many more.

Set in Modesto, California, in 1962, the film is a study of the cruising and early rock ‘n’ roll cultures popular among Lucas’ age group at the time.

Through a series of vignettes, it tells the story of a group of teenagers and their adventures over the course of a night.

The movie will begin at 8:45.

Get more on the museum’s Outdoor Classic Movie by clicking here and see video of the Findlay Rocks the ’60s! exhibit below.

 

OSHP Cruiser Struck, Driver Flees Following Crash

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is seeking the public’s help in locating a pickup truck that hit a cruiser that had its emergency lights activated.

It happened at around 1:33 Friday morning on I-475 near U.S. 23 in Lucas County.

The pickup truck did not stop.

The pickup is dark-colored and will have left-side damage.

Anyone with information should contact the Toledo Post of the Highway Patrol at 419-865-5544.

The trooper jumped over the guardrail as the crash occurred and suffered minor injuries to his hands and arms.

Dashcam video from the trooper’s cruiser is below.

 

Liberty Township Fire Department Holding Fire Service Day

The Liberty Township Fire Department Association is inviting the community to its Fire Service Day celebration.

It will be held on Saturday, August 27th from 11 to 3 at the fire department at 7692 County Road 140 in Findlay.

The event will include food, games, fire safety demonstrations and more.

Events include free haircuts for kids, a bounce house and a petting zoo.

People are being asked to help “stuff the fire truck” with school supplies for Liberty-Benton Local Schools.

Get more details on the event below.

 

Community Foundation Awards Mental Health Grants

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation Board of Trustees recently approved grants in the mental health field totaling $23,584.

The grants will go to four local organizations for various projects in the field.

– Cancer Patient Services was awarded $5,000 for telehealth counseling.

– Family Resource Center was awarded $5,000 for a public safety response program.

– Findlay City Schools was awarded $7,584 for an employee assistance program and wellness day.

– Welcome to a New Life was awarded $6,000 for a positive engagement activities program.

“Mental health has been a major focus area in our community for several years,” said Brian Treece, President & CEO of the Foundation.

“Together, we raised more than $1 million for this field of interest fund. These grants are a result of that campaign and the investment of every donor. The Foundation is proud of this work and is looking forward to seeing all the lives it will impact.”

Community Mental Health grants are awarded annually.

Funding for these grants comes from the Community Mental Health Fund, Jeffrey and Ginger Jones Family Fund, Lai Wei-zwei and Lai Hung Tsu-mei Fund, and the Esther Buckingham Fund for Mental Health.

A committee of community members and Foundation representatives reviews and recommends the requests for funding.

“I am grateful to each of the committee members who was generous with their time and expertise to make these grant awards possible,” said Kimberly Bash, Chief Community Engagement Officer at the Foundation.

“The need for mental health services and support for those services continues to grow as our community works to overcome the effects of the opioid epidemic, pandemic, inflation and other adversities. The Foundation looks forward to continuing to partner with local mental health providers, nonprofit organizations and donors to do our part to meet the needs, whatever they may be.”

 

Road Widening Project In Front Of LB Schools Finished

The project to widen County Road 9 next to the growing campus of Liberty-Benton Local Schools has been completed.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Thursday and afterward we spoke with Liberty-Benton Superintendent Mark Kowalski and Hancock County Engineer Doug Cade. (video below)

They say the widening project was necessary to help the area handle the increased traffic that will be created by the new K-8 building that’s going up as well as other events on the school campus.

At the ribbon-cutting Thursday afternoon there was still some striping to be done on the road but it was to be open for traffic later in the day.

There’s a lot happening at Liberty-Benton Local Schools.

When students head back to school soon they’ll enjoy the renovations that the high school underwent over the summer.

The new elementary/middle school is expected to be ready to go for the beginning of the 2023-24 school year.

In April, the school district held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open its new Eagle Fieldhouse.

On Friday, ahead of the first home football game, the grand opening will be held for the new entryway to the outdoor athletic complex.

 

Modell Again Misses Out On Hall Of Fame

(ONN) – Controversial former Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell has fallen short of election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The man who controlled the Browns for over 30 years was not named the final nominee for the coach-contributor committee, with former Cardinals and Chargers coach Don Coryell instead getting the nod.

Modell’s reputation in Cleveland was ruined after he moved the Browns to Baltimore in 1995, claiming he “had no choice” due to his precarious financial situation, but his lack of transparency throughout the process made him a reviled figure in northeast Ohio.

Despite several lawsuits, the team left for Maryland and the Browns name, colors, and history remained in Cleveland for an eventual new franchise in 1999.

 

Matt Demczyk (WFIN)

Family Fishing Day In Putnam County

Everyone’s invited to a morning of fishing and fun in Putnam County.

Kalida Fish and Game, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Black Swamp Chapter Pheasants Forever are holding Family Fishing Day on Saturday, August 27th from 9 to noon.

The event will be held on Lake Charlie which is the larger north pond.

The lake will be open anytime that morning for people to get their spot set up.

Officials say Lake Charlie is rather large so make plans to walk or use a wagon to take your gear if you plan on going to the back side.

Small boats, canoes and kayaks can be used as long as there are no gas engines used.

Registration starts at 8 a.m. and fishing starts at 9 a.m. and goes until noon.

No fishing license is required and bait will be provided.

Lunch of grilled hotdogs, chips and drinks will be provided.

This event is open to the public and all ages.

 

$1 Million Lottery Ticket Sold In Findlay

The Ohio Lottery says a $1 million Mega Millions lottery ticket was sold in Findlay.

The ticket for the Tuesday night drawing was sold at the Eastside Party Mart in the Shell gas station at 2451 Tiffin Avenue.

The ticket matches five numbers, only missing the jackpot by not having the correct Mega Ball.

The numbers are 3, 5, 47, 67 and the Mega Ball is 7.

The Ohio Lottery posted to its social media on Wednesday asking “is it yours?”

 

Bicyclist Hit By SUV In Downtown Findlay

A bicyclist was taken to a hospital after getting hit by a vehicle in downtown Findlay, according to the police department.

The crash happened in the 200 block of South Main Street a little before 9 o’clock Tuesday morning.

Police say Davina Martinez, of Findlay, was crossing South Main Street on a bicycle within a mid-block crosswalk, when she was struck by a northbound SUV being driven by Melissa Inbody, of Arlington.

Martinez was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Inbody was issued a citation for failing to yield to a pedestrian.