Cory-Rawson Schools were placed on a soft lockdown this afternoon at 1:22 p.m. out of an abundance of caution from a police situation within the area. Students were required to remain indoors. They have since been taken off the lockdown and school is on a regular dismissal.

According to Deputy Brooks of the Hancock County Sheriff’s office, an area resident of Cory-Rawson Schools reported someone walking in the area west of the school this afternoon. Deputies responded to the area and did not see anyone or any suspicious activity.

This response was due to an incident which occurred Thursday evening.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol Post 87 in Bowling Green released the following statement:

Yesterday, September 21,  the Bowling Green Post was notified of a stolen Dodge Durango driving southbound on Interstate 75 in Toledo.

Troopers from the Bowling Green Post located the Durango driving southbound on I-75 near Bowling Green at approximately 8:39 p.m. A few minutes later, troopers initiated a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled and a pursuit ensued. Troopers from the Findlay Post successfully deployed stop sticks, but troopers lost sight of the vehicle as it drove southbound at a high rate of speed on I-75. The vehicle was located in the rest area south of Findlay just before 9 p.m., where officers established a perimeter after it was reported that the suspect ran into the woods. A plane from the Patrol’s Aviation Section responded to the scene to assist. Officers concluded the search for the suspect just before 10 p.m. after checking the area and responding to possible sightings of the suspect.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted during the incident by the Findlay Police Department and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident remains under investigation and anyone with information regarding the identity of the driver is asked to call the Bowling Green Post at (419) 352-2481.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a short public survey regarding the services it provides.

The sheriff’s office is inviting people to click on the link in the Facebook post below to answer a few questions.

Among the questions, people are asked how they would rate their satisfaction with the sheriff’s office’s professionalism and responsiveness to community needs.

People filling out the survey are also asked what they see as the greatest opportunities over the next two years as well as the biggest challenges.

The sheriff’s office says it will use the feedback from the survey to help improve its services to the community.

(From the Hancock Park District)

If you have a passion for photography or if you want to learn, come along on a hike with fellow photographers to capture the beauty of our parks through the lens of the camera. We will hike the trails taking photos of scenery, wildlife, plants, and anything else that would make an interesting subject. All skill levels and camera types are welcome.

Riverbend Recreation Area, Big Oaks Activity Area, Shelter 3. Saturday, October 14^th 9-11 AM. Ages 16 and up. Free; registration is not required.

Riverbend Recreation Area is located at 16618 Township Road 208, Findlay. For complete information about upcoming programs and events, view the Programs & Activities Calendar at www.HancockParks.com or call the park office at 419-425-7275.

(From Bluffton Historian/Author Fred Steiner)

Does Bluffton ooze ghosts? You’ll soon find out.

Just in time for Halloween, “Where Bluffton’s Ghosts Sleep,” the latest book by Bluffton author Fred Steiner, will be available for the first time in a book signing from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Bluffton Senior Citizens Center, 132 N. Main St.

With a subtitle “Unexpected stories from a small Ohio town,” the 196-page book includes what Steiner says is “every unexpected and cryptic Bluffton epic ever imagined.” This is Steiner’s fifth Bluffton-based history book.

“You will meet ghosts from Bluffton’s Maple Grove Cemetery, Harmon Field, Bluffton University, Riley Creek, the Swiss Settlement, from Ada and area ghost towns,” said the author.

“You’ll also discover some very interesting characters including Hezekiah Bloomfield Hubbell whose Shifferly Road tombstone was once the spookiest place in Allen, Hancock and Hardin counties.”

The book contains nine chapters retelling Bluffton stories across the time frame. The earliest involve native Americans who were exiled from Allen County in the 1840s. Stories follow that era covering many decades all the way to the present, involving the Bluffton Middle School ghost.

Among stores in the unexpected category include:

• An 1860s woman’s fear of being buried alive – it almost happened
• Five bodies buried in the same grave during a typhoid epidemic
• A UFO spotted 24 years before Roswell
• A Sunday Bluffton church service attended by members of the KKK
• Description of a Bluffton location where hoofed animals regularly went to die
• 300-plus bodies uncovered in a native American burial mound, not far from Bluffton

The book will soon be available in several Bluffton businesses including the Senior Center and from the author.

The following PowerPoint presentations, open to the public, featuring stories from the book take place in October:

• Thursday, Oct. 5, noon – Hancock County Historical Museum, Findlay
• Tuesday, Oct. 17, 6 p.m. – Bluffton Public Library
• Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2:30 p.m. – Bluffton Senior Citizens Center
• Thursday, Oct. 19, 7 p.m. – Ada Public Library

The book is available at $24.95.

Some 150 volunteers from local businesses and corporations participated in United Way of Hancock County’s Fall Days of Caring events this week.

Days of Caring works by having nonprofits and other agencies submit projects, and then volunteer teams register to help, and the United Way matches up the two groups.

On Wednesday afternoon we stopped by Camp Berry south of Findlay where a group from Marathon Petroleum was helping to clear brush, mulch trails, and split wood.

We asked Toby Brubaker why he wanted to participate in Days of Caring.

“Just helping out the community. Camp Berry has been around the Findlay area for a long time and anything we can do to help out, and definitely get out of the office is a great opportunity.”

Toby says this is his first Days of Caring in Findlay with Marathon but he previously participated in Days of Caring in San Antonio with Marathon.

This fall, volunteers completed 20 projects for 14 agencies, totaling 600 service hours, a value to the community of nearly $20,000, based on Independent Sector’s national value of a volunteer hour of $31.80 for 2023.

“That is money organizations can save to put directly toward their mission and services,” the United Way said.

This fall’s 21 volunteer teams represent: Marathon Petroleum Corp., Amazon, City Apparel + Merch, Findlay Municipal Court, Danby Products Inc., First National Bank of Pandora, Blanchard Valley Health System, Hancock County Democrats, Northwestern Mutual, Freudenburg-NOK Sealing Technologies, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP), Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. – Findlay Plant, Domino’s Pizza, and United Way of Hancock County’s Volunteer Connections.

For more information about Volunteers United, UWHC’s volunteer center and the variety of ways you can get involved, visit liveunitedhancockcounty.org/volunteersunited.

The Findlay Police Department says two people were injured in a crash that occurred when one of the drivers failed to yield while making a turn.

The crash happened a little after 5 p.m. Wednesday at Tiffin Avenue and Woodworth Drive.

Police say Richelle Reynolds, 34, of Findlay, was westbound on Tiffin Avenue and turned left onto Woodworth Drive when her car collided with a car that was eastbound on Tiffin Avenue being driven by 84-year-old Janet Fahl, of Findlay.

Both drivers were taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital.

Police said Janet sustained serious injuries and Richelle minor injuries.

Richelle was cited for failure to yield and expired registration.

The Findlay City Schools Homecoming Parade will be held on Friday.

The Homecoming Parade will take place beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday along South Main Street, from Lincoln Street to Stadium Drive, ending at Donnell Stadium where the King and Queen will be crowned ahead of the football game against Springfield.

The Homecoming Dance will be Saturday night at the high school.

The Findlay High School Homecoming Court is listed and pictured below.

Top Row (L-R): Matthew Guthrie, Will Cordonnier, Baret Helms, Jeremiah Spiceland, Jackson Zinna.

Seated (L-R): Lauren Gayhart, Corinne Seager, Molly Crates, Adelyn Metzger, Jenna Moyer.

(From the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)

Once again, scammers are becoming more active. We have had several calls from citizens who have gotten calls claiming to be from our office, and threatening to arrest them if they do not pay a fine/fee.

Please do not give out personal information and do not pay them anything. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office will not call and threaten to arrest, or ask for money.

Please be cautious with callers, and again, DO NOT GIVE OUT INFORMATION OR MONEY to someone you don’t know.

A Hancock County man who pleaded guilty to murdering his wife last week has learned how long he’ll be behind bars for the crime.

On September 13^th, Brian L. Ziessler, 67, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of murder in Hancock County Common Pleas Court.

He was originally indicted on a charge of aggravated murder in November of 2021.

Deputies arrived at 16777 Township Road 205, east of Findlay and near the reservoirs, on November 15^th, 2021 to find Sherri Ziessler, 59, dead of multiple gunshot wounds.

On Wednesday, Ziessler was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. He’ll be eligible for parole after serving 15 years.

“I do want to thank the Sheriff’s office and BCI for their hard work in this case.  We appreciate their efforts to help get justice for Sherri,” said Hancock County Prosecutor Phil Riegle.

“Specifically I would thank Detective Robin May, Lt. Jason Seem, Sgt. Kris Otto, Retired Det. Barry Boutwell, Dep. Brad Sealy all of HCSO, S.A. Dave Hammond, Dr Jon Sprague, Kevin Kramer BCI, and Det. Kevin Spieker FPD. They all went above and beyond in their efforts on this case.”

(From the City of Findlay)

The City of Findlay Water Treatment Plant has had reports of a Taste and Odor event in which you may experience an earthy taste to the water.

Please be aware that the water is not harmful and no water quality parameters have been exceeded.

Additional treatment has begun to mitigate the taste and the Treatment Plant will continue to monitor and adjust the treatment to minimize the overall effects to the system.

If you have any questions or concerns please call the Water Treatment Plant (419) 424-7193 and speak with the Lab.

Thank you for your understanding in this matter.