(From Findlay City Schools)

Heroes in and out of the classroom.

During a routine fire drill at Donnell Middle School, teacher Ryan Sprout heard something unusual—what sounded like cries for help coming from a nearby home. Trusting his instincts, he quickly asked a fellow teacher to take his class back inside and followed the sound.

What he found was a neighbor who had fallen in her driveway and had been calling for help for over an hour in the freezing cold. Thanks to his quick thinking, and the swift support of school nurse Mrs. Herbert, emergency responders were contacted and on the scene quickly to help.

These are the kind of people who work in Trojan Country. People who don’t just teach lessons, but live them. People who step up, look out, and take care of others.

Thank you, Mr. Sprout, Mrs. Herbert, and the entire Donnell staff, for being the kind of team our students and community can count on.

(From Liberty-Benton Local Schools)

Home for the Holidays? Come tour LB!

Whether you’re a proud alum, LB family, or community supporter, if you haven’t had the chance to see the new school, field house, or high school renovations, now’s your chance!

Join us on December 29 for a Liberty-Benton Campus Tour at 10:00 a.m. or 5:00 p.m.

Sign up here: https://www.liberty-benton.org/tours

Bonus: Stick around after the evening tour to cheer on the boys’ basketball team at 6 p.m.!

A development company still has projects planned for Lincoln Elementary School and the Argyle lot in Findlay.

Trivium Development, a Columbus-based development company, has plans to turn Lincoln Elementary School into office, retail, and residential spaces, all while preserving the original structure.

“With a wealth of experience in repurposing decommissioned schools, Trivium brings a strong track record to the table,” the Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development Office previously said. 

“Their expertise and vision will breathe new life into the historic building, preserving its heritage while revitalizing the site,” said Matt Cooper, President of the Findlay City Schools Board of Education.

The company also is planning to construct a mixed-use building on the site of the old Argyle Building across from Marathon Petroleum that would include apartments and retail.

The company’s updated plans for the projects are anticipated to go before the Findlay City Planning Commission in the spring.

If you want to take a walk down memory lane, click here to read our story from 2021 about people bidding farewell to Lincoln Elementary School.

(From Findlay City Schools)

Going the extra mile—literally and figuratively!

The Findlay City Schools Board of Education is proud to recognize the outstanding dedication and exceptional efforts of Lora Click, our On-Bus Instructor (OBI) for the FCS Transportation Department.

As the only OBI in the district, Lora plays a critical role in keeping our transportation team safe, skilled, and student-ready. She doesn’t just meet expectations—she exceeds them, going above and beyond in every aspect of her role, including:

-Providing over 12 hours of intensive, hands-on training for every new driver

-Evaluating driver competency in everything from pre-trip inspections to defensive driving and emergency evacuations

-Meticulously completing the documentation required for certification

Thanks to Lora’s commitment and leadership, we’ve cut our driver training time from 6–8 weeks to just 30 days. That’s a game-changer for our ability to meet staffing needs and provide timely, reliable service to Trojan Country. Her energy, expertise, and heart for mentoring new drivers are directly impacting the strength and safety of our entire fleet.

On behalf of the entire district, thank you, Lora, for your incredible service and commitment to excellence. We’re so proud to have you leading the way!

(From Office of the Ohio State Fire Marshal)

Applications are now being accepted for the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal’s 2026 Small County Volunteer Fire Department (SCVFD) Grant. Established recently by the 136^th General Assembly via House Bill 96, the nonrenewable grant makes a total of $8 million in funding available for eligible fire departments across the state. Those departments can apply for up to $50,000 each to strengthen their operations, enhance safety, and better serve their communities.

Funding provided by the SCVFD Grant can be used for, but is not limited to, firefighter equipment and gear, rescue equipment and gear, and costs related to fire protection services. To learn more about the SCVFD Grant and to submit an application, fire departments can visit at com.ohio.gov/FireGrant. Applications will be accepted until Jan. 10, 2026.

To be eligible to receive SCVFD Grant funding, applicants must meet both of the following eligibility requirements:

• • County Population – Eligible departments must be located in a county that has a population of 70,000 or less per the 2020 U.S. Census. Those qualifying counties include Adams, Ashland, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Brown, Carroll, Champaign, Clinton, Coshocton, Crawford, Darke, Defiance, Fayette, Fulton, Gallia, Guernsey, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lawrence, Logan, Madison, Marion, Meigs, Mercer, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Preble, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Shelby, Union, Van Wert, Vinton, Washington, Williams, and Wyandot counties.

• • Volunteer Fire Department Status – Eligible departments must have a volunteer fire department status as defined under Ohio Administrative Code 1301:7-7-02, which states that at least half of the firefighters are volunteer or paid-on-call and not eligible to pay into the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund.

Departments serving multiple counties are eligible only if they are located in a qualifying small county. Non-volunteer departments, and departments in counties with over 70,000 residents are not eligible for this grant funding.

“This grant is more than just funding, it’s a lifeline for Ohio’s small county volunteer fire departments, which are the backbone of our state’s fire service,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. “These departments often operate with limited resources compared to their larger counterparts, yet they’re first on the scene when their communities need them most. With this support, we’re helping them continue their critical mission of protecting lives and property across Ohio.”

Each year, the Division of State Fire Marshal provides millions in grant funding to the state’s fire departments through other various programs like the MARCS Grant, Equipment Grants, and Training Reimbursement Grants. Additional details about these grants and their recipients can be found on the Division’s interactive Grants Dashboard at com.ohio.gov/SFMdashboard.

(From the Office of Congressman Bob Latta)

Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5) announced his nominations of students from Ohio’s Fifth Congressional District for consideration to be accepted into the United States Air Force, Merchant Marine, Military, and Naval Academies in the Class of 2030.  

“I am proud to nominate 18 outstanding students from Ohio’s Fifth Congressional District to attend one of our U.S. Military Service Academies. Each student brings unique talents and has already demonstrated remarkable readiness at this early stage in their careers. It is an honor to nominate them for consideration. I wish them the very best as they continue through the interview process, and I thank them for pursuing this path of service to our country,” Latta said.  

U.S. Military Academy 

Adam Buell, Pandora, Pandora Gilboa High School 

Jack Buell, Pandora, Pandora Gilboa High School 

Gavin Minich, Bloomdale, Elmwood High School 

Trever Blackburn, Lagrange, Military Academy Preparatory School 

Grant Swain, Norwalk, Sandusky Central Catholic High School 

Tyler Denn, Amherst, Marion L. Steele High School 

Benjamin Beard, Findlay, Liberty Benton High School 

Trevor Grzelak, Avon, Avon High School 

Eli Chevalier, Sycamore, Mohawk High School 

U.S. Naval Academy 

Tyler Denn, Amherst, Marion L. Steele High School 

Eli Chevalier, Sycamore, Mohawk High School 

Benjamin Beard, Findlay, Liberty Benton High School 

Jessica Linden, Wellington, The Ohio State University 

Patrick Fellenstein, Lorain, Marion L. Steele High School 

Edward Kessen, Delphos, Delphos St. John Catholic High School 

Prince Tran, Lorain, New Mexico Military Institute 

Jack Buell, Pandora, Pandora Gilboa High School 

Anderson Rowe, Elyria, Elyria Catholic High School 

Adam Buell, Pandora, Pandora Gilboa High School 

U.S. Air Force Academy 

Michele Smith, Avon, Avon High School 

Anderson Rowe, Elyria, Elyria Catholic High School 

Trevor Grzelak, Avon, Avon High School 

Aidan Stewart, Avon Lake, Avon Lake High School 

Anmithasri Senthilkumar, Findlay, Liberty Benton High School 

Anthony Forthofer, Oberlin, Firelands High School 

Jessica Linden, Wellington, The Ohio State University 

Gavin Minich, Bloomdale, Elmwood High School 

Eli Chevalier, Sycamore, Mohawk High School 

Edward Kessen, Delphos, Delphos St. John Catholic High School 

Prince Tran, Lorain, New Mexico Military Institute 

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 

Prince Tran, Lorain, New Mexico Military Institute 

Anderson Rowe, Elyria, Elyria Catholic High School 

NOTE: A nomination does not guarantee acceptance to an Academy; that responsibility rests with their admissions office. Additional information regarding the academy nomination and application process may be obtained from Congressman Latta’s website at latta.house.gov.  

(From Hancock County Job and Family Services)

Hancock County Job and Family Services will be closed December 24th, December 25th and December 26th, 2025.

Hancock County Job and Family Services will also be closed at noon on December 31st, 2025 and closed all day January 1st and January 2nd 2026. 

(From the Findlay Airport)

Don’t forget to mark your calendars to see the big guy… inside an airport hangar… with a cool airplane… to get some delicious hot cocoa.

Guess who is coming to the Findlay Airport on December 20th from 9am until noon?

If you guessed Santa and his elves, you are correct!!!

There will be plenty of signage directing you towards the big man himself.

Bring your wish list and your best smile to share with Santa and snap a few pictures while you’re here!

Winter break is coming up for schools.

The Findlay City Schools district calendar shows its Winter Break will go from Monday, December 22 through Monday, January 5.

Monday, January 5 will be a staff professional development day. Click here for the calendar or check it out below. 

The district calendar for Liberty-Benton Local Schools shows its Winter Break will run from Monday, December 22 through Friday, January 2.

Click here for the calendar.

(From Findlay City Schools)

We extend our deepest gratitude to Susan Russel for her eight distinguished years of service on the Findlay City Schools Board of Education!

Throughout her tenure, she demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of transparency and accountability, characterized by her meticulous attention to detail.

She consistently went above and beyond the expected duties of her office, asking the questions that needed to be asked, dedicating herself to mastering the complexities of school district operations and remaining a perpetual student of the educational landscape.

Her advocacy was instrumental in securing the financial stability of the District through her tireless support of multiple levy cycles, effectively communicating the facts and the operational needs of our schools to the public.

She upheld exceptionally high standards for student achievement and administrative excellence, driven by her deep pride in our community and the Findlay City Schools District.

We are better because of your service, Mrs. Russel. We wish you well in your future endeavors. Thank you.