Monthly Archives: September 2022

Ohio First Lady Reads Imagination Library Book To Kids In Findlay

Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine stopped by the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library to read to kids and promote Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

The First Lady read The Very Hungry Caterpillar to youngsters during her visit and encouraged people to sign up their kids in the program.

Children enrolled in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library receive a monthly book delivery until their 5th birthday.

The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library says 52 percent of the eligible kids in Hancock County are enrolled in the program.

See video of the First Lady’s visit below and learn more about the Imagination Library by clicking here.

 

Bank Location In Findlay Could Become A McDonald’s

A property owner wants to put a McDonald’s in place of the Fifth Third Bank at the northwest corner of South Main Street and Sixth Street/Lake Cascades Parkway in Findlay.

To make the plan work, they would have to get a house on West McPherson Avenue that’s behind the bank rezoned to commercial and also get an alley vacated.

The Findlay City Planning Commission will vote on the rezoning request and alley vacation at their October 13th meeting and make their recommendation to city council which will ultimately make the decision.

If the rezoning and alley vacation are approved the property owner would then come back to the planning commission with the site plan for the restaurant.

A draft site plan submitted with the rezoning request shows three entrances to the McDonalds; one on South Main Street, one on McPherson Avenue and one on Lake Cascades Parkway.

The Findlay City Planning Commission will vote on the rezoning request and alley vacation at their October 13th meeting, which is at 9 a.m. in city council chambers.

The meeting is open to the public.

In February, the planning commission denied Kroger’s request to add fuel pumps to its location on Sixth Street, citing traffic concerns and pedestrian safety among other things.

 

 

Bill Would Make ‘Swatting’ A Felony In Ohio

A bill introduced by a state Senator would increase penalties for ‘swatting’.

Republican State Senator Andrew Brenner’s bill, and a companion bill in the Ohio House, would make swatting a third-degree felony, or a first-degree felony if someone is hurt.

The person responsible could also be required to pay thousands of dollars in restitution for costs associated with the emergency response.

Ohio’s current swatting law says false reports to emergency responders are considered a first-degree misdemeanor unless the threat involves a bomb.

Swatting is defined as when a person or group makes a false report to get a large number of first responders to one particular area.

Several Ohio schools were swatted last Friday, including Findlay High School.

 

Judge Extends Pause On Ohio’s Abortion Ban

A judge has extended a temporary block for an additional 14 days on Ohio’s ‘Heartbeat Law’ – which banned virtually all abortions after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade.

The decision by Hamilton County Judge Christian Jenkins means pregnancy terminations through 20 weeks gestation may continue in Ohio through October 12th.

Jenkins issued his first 14-day order on September 14th in a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the state’s remaining abortion providers.

They argue that the abortion ban violates protections in the state constitution guaranteeing individual liberty and equal protection, and also say the law is unconstitutionally vague.

 

Miracle League Of Findlay Receives Donation

The Miracle League of Findlay was presented with a $4,000 check from the 10th annual WKXA / 106.3 The Fox Charity Golf Scramble presented by Ohio Logistics.

Brad Koller, president of the Board of the Miracle League, says they’ll use the money to send their players to the National All-Star games that will be coming up in the future.

“We hosted one in 2018, and for the last four years we’ve been sending players to other cities and we cover their cost to attend.”

The Miracle League of Findlay provides opportunities for children and adults with special needs to play baseball, regardless of their abilities.

They held a grand reopening earlier this year after installing some new features. Get more on that by clicking here.

In the picture above are Eric “The Big Kahuna” Siewert of 106.3 The Fox, Mike Holman, Jerry Boyd, Brad Koller, Rob Martin, Eric Smith, Lisa Mansfield, Tim Babcock and Rex Howard of 100.5 WKXA.

Video of the check presentation is below.

 

State Representative Candidate Forum Being Held

The two people vying to be state representative in the 83rd Ohio House District will be participating in a forum.

The candidate forum between incumbent Republican State Rep. Jon Cross, of Kenton, and Democrat challenger Claire Osborne, of Findlay, will be held on Thursday at 5 p.m. on WFIN.

The deadline to register to vote in the fall midterm election is October 11th.

Election Day is on Tuesday, November 8th.

You can listen to the forum by clicking here. 

 

Findlay High School Hockey Day This Weekend

Findlay High School Hockey Day is coming up on Saturday, October 1st.

It will be held in the parking lot of The Cube from 2 to 4.

Findlay High School Hockey Coach Ben Patey is inviting everybody to the inaugural Hockey Day in Findlay.

 

 

 

As Coach Patey mentioned in the audio above, activities will include street hockey games, shots on net, corn hole, free tailgate food and a DJ.

Merchandise such as T-shirts, game-used jerseys and souvenir pucks will be available for purchase.

Representatives will also be on hand with information about youth hockey programs.

 

FPD: Woman Followed Vehicle, Fired Shots At It

The Findlay Police Department says officers arrested a woman for firing gunshots at a vehicle they were following.

The police department says officers were dispatched to the area of Howard Street and Broad Avenue around 4:15 Monday afternoon to investigate a report of shots being fired.

Police learned that a verbal argument began between several people at 1100 West Trenton Avenue and then continued onto Howard Street coming into the city.

Police say an ex of one of the subjects was following the other in a vehicle.

While driving eastbound on Howard Street, police say the suspect fired gunshots at the victim’s vehicle, striking the vehicle at least once.

No injuries were reported. The victim pulled their vehicle over and the suspect fled the area.

Police obtained a positive ID on the suspect and their vehicle and put out a BOLO to other agencies to be on the lookout.

Police say the suspect’s vehicle was located by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office outside of McComb and deputies performed a traffic stop on the vehicle.

The Findlay Police Department says their officers went to the scene and arrested Crystal Sons, 33, of McComb on charges of felonious assault and discharging a firearm within the city.

She was booked at the Hancock County Jail.

 

FCS Receives $100K For Active Shooter Protection System

Findlay City Schools has announced that The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees awarded the district a $100,000 grant for implementation of the SafeDefend active shooter protection system.

The Findlay City School Board approved the purchase and installation of the SafeDefend system at the August Board of Education meeting.

“The Community Foundation is focused on youth to ensure there are permanent, endowed funds to support them. As part of our commitment to young people in Hancock County, the Foundation is proud to award this grant to keep them as safe as possible in our schools,” said Brian Treece, President & CEO of The Community Foundation.

“Our vision is a lasting community impact. Supporting the district in creating a safe learning environment will go a long way in helping us achieve it.”

The SafeDefend system prepares for, notifies of, and protects in the event of, an active shooter situation.

SafeDefend trains staff and equips each classroom and common space with a safety supply box and biometric activation device.

 

 

School Board President Matt Cooper says, when activated, SafeDefend sends an instant alert (text, email or voice) to a nationwide monitoring company, select school personnel and all first responders with the exact location of the activated device.

An announcement is also made over the school’s public address system.

“We’re thrilled and grateful to The Community Foundation for supporting this safety initiative,” said Krista Crates-Miller, Interim Superintendent of Findlay City Schools.

“The safety of our staff and students are our top priority.”

SafeDefend has been installed in over 300 schools in nine states, with more than 20,000 teachers and staff for crisis management and active shooter response.

Findlay will be the first school district in Ohio to implement the system.

“The Community Foundation is proud to support this project and we hope other organizations and individuals will join us in this effort,” said Treece.

Findlay High School recently had a hoax call placed to police about an active shooter in the school, and you can read more about that by clicking here. 

 

Browns Player Injured In Crash

The Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett was hospitalized with injuries that are not life-threatening after crashing his car on Monday.

Police say Garrett lost control of his vehicle on the way home from practice and flipped it several times.

He and a female passenger, who were both wearing seatbelts, were treated at hospitals near Cleveland.

Garrett is a three-time Pro Bowler and was the first pick in the 2017 draft.