With the Christmas holiday fast approaching, the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) is reminding all drivers to prioritize safety and responsible decision-making while traveling and celebrating with family and friends.
“You can help make the holidays safer for those around you by simply being an alert and responsible driver,” said Governor DeWine. “This Christmas, and throughout the year, I encourage all drivers in Ohio to put their seatbelts on, put their phones away and put their full focus on the road.”
To promote roadway safety and reduce fatal and injury crashes across the state, the Patrol will be conducting a five-day Christmas holiday reporting period from midnight on Wednesday, December 24 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 28. Throughout this time, troopers will be increasing visibility and focusing enforcement efforts on impaired driving, speeding, distracted driving and safety belt violations.
During the 2024 Christmas holiday reporting period, which ran for two days, there were three fatal crashes, resulting in three deaths. Of those crashes, one involved alcohol and/or drugs, and of the two fatalities in which safety belts were available, both drivers were unbelted.
In that same timeframe, the Patrol made 44 impaired driving arrests, issued 84 citations for safety belt violations and issued 31 citations for distracted driving.
“Every driver has the ability to make our roads safer this holiday season,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. “We will have zero tolerance for impaired or reckless driving to stop preventable crashes before they happen.”
Anyone traveling on Ohio’s roadways is encouraged to be an active part of traffic safety. If you see an impaired or reckless driver, safely call #677 to connect directly with a Patrol post.
Across Ohio, there are 50 Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Service boards, representing all 88 counties. When Precia Stuby was hired as the executive director of Hancock County ADAMHS in July 1997, she was the youngest ADAMHS executive director in the state.
Today, with 28 years in, she is the longest serving.
Stuby, a career-long advocate for mental health, announced her retirement, effective March 6, 2026.
Stuby was on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks to discuss how much has changed since she took over.
ADAMHS Board Chair Jim Darrach said Stuby has been a guiding light for this community since 1990.
“Countless lives in the city and county have been positively impacted by her tireless work for those with addiction and mental health diagnoses,” he said.
Darrach noted Stuby ‘s accomplishments serving the residents are well known locally, but she has also gained national recognition for her groundbreaking work here in Hancock County.
Seeing opportunities to bring state and federal grants to this area, he said Stuby has been responsible for approximately $20 million in program funding coming back to Hancock County.
“These funds allowed for expansion of treatment programs without having to ask voters for an increase in levy millage over the past 20 years,” he said. “The ADAMHS Board expresses our gratitude to Precia for her countless hours, her compassion and her dedication, and wishes Precia much happiness in her retirement.”
In all, Stuby’s career in social work and public mental health and addiction systems spans 43 years, 35 of which were at ADAMHS, where she served 7 years as deputy director before taking the helm as executive director in 1997.
Along the way, she has led Hancock County’s Recovery-Oriented System of Care (ROSC) transformation, spurred community coalition building, increased recovery housing, and
secured significant federal and state funding to enhance the system of care for Hancock County residents.
Over the years, she received numerous awards including the Leadership Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Ohio, the National Association of Social Workers, Ohio Chapter, Lifetime Achievement Award, the Athena Award, was named “Public Health Champion of the Year” by the Findlay City Health Department, is a past board president for the Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities.
Stuby, a master’s degree-level licensed social worker with a passion for inclusion, evidence-based service delivery, and lifelong learning, has been a steady advocate for at-risk populations in Hancock County.
Mary Beth Dillon, vice chair of the ADAMHS Board, has worked with Stuby for over 20 years in various roles. Dillon said she admires Stuby’s focus on “following the science and using evidence” to develop strategic plans for new and innovative programs and services.
“She is skilled in bringing community members together to work on shared issues and achieve goals that benefit the residents of Hancock County,” Dillon said. “Her creativity and tenacity in obtaining and maintaining funding for the Board and the agencies we serve are remarkable. Words cannot adequately express our appreciation for her service to the Board and the community.”
As executive director, Stuby has supervised a seven-person staff, managed contracts, budgets, and property, and served and advised the 18-member volunteer ADAMHS board on policy and program decisions.
Stuby earned her degree from Ohio State University. Her first positions were as a medical social worker at St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima (June 1983 to May 1988) and deputy director of residential services at Allen County Child Welfare Services (May 1988 to March 1990).
Stuby first joined the ADAMHS staff in 1990 as deputy director, hired by Phyllis Putnam, the first executive director of Hancock ADAMHS. As deputy director, Stuby would help secure a grant to establish the Hancock County Community Partnership, one of Ohio’s oldest prevention coalitions.
She became executive director in 1997 after Putnam’s retirement.
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.
University of Findlay student Kaitlyn Froelich is the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award (Ages 18-23) from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Northwest Ohio chapter.
Froelich earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from UF in 2025 and currently is pursuing her doctoral degree in occupational therapy at the University, while working as a cardiac ICU nurse at Blanchard Valley Hospital in Findlay.
“When Katie is not studying or working, she generously gives of her time through many campus offices and community organizations,” said Kenneth McIntyre Jr., vice president of University advancement. “Her positive attitude radiates a generous nature that extends to fellow UF students, prospective students and their families, and area residents in need.”
She is very involved in UF’s Campus Ministry program, gives tours to new students through the admissions office, serves as an orientation leader, and is a member of the Student Nursing Association and the Students of Occupational Therapy Association. Katie also is the student representative from the College of Health Professions to the Alumni Board of Governors.
Her volunteer work further includes being a member of STRIDE (Students Teaching Respect for Individuals with Disabilities Everyday), a club that volunteers and raises disability awareness on campus and in the community.
In addition, Froelich has volunteered with many organizations that help residents in Northwest Ohio and beyond. She has volunteered with Gliding Stars of Findlay for four years, helping teach individuals with disabilities how to ice skate, bolstering their confidence and social skills, and encouraging them.
She volunteers with Findlay’s City Mission, helping to prepare and serve food to people in need. Since her freshman year, she has been part of multiple Backyard Mission Trips that aid residents of Hancock County by helping them with yardwork and community cleanup.
During Spring Break for the past four years, she has volunteered at numerous camps, including Camp Otyokwah in Ohio, Camp Sonrise Mountain in Maryland, and Camp Yolijwa in Pennsylvania. She assists the camps with labor they cannot afford so they are ready to welcome campers each summer.
Furthermore, Froelich was one of 144 UF graduates in May who earned a Philanthropy Cord to wear at Commencement as a symbol of their commitment to the Oiler culture of philanthropy. The program requires a contribution to a class scholarship benefiting incoming freshman in the fall, volunteering for a minimum of six hours, and attendance at a philanthropic learning event.
“All of this clearly illustrates her mature understanding of philanthropy and her commitment to giving back on a local and national scale,” McIntyre noted. “We are so proud of Katie’s success in the classroom, in the community, and in giving of her time, talent, and treasure.”
Froelich was presented the award November 12 at the 38th annual National Philanthropy Day celebration in Toledo, attended by more than 500 area development professionals. The Greater Toledo Community Foundation also presented a grant to Gliding Stars of Findlay in recognition of her dedication to her community.
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Pictured from left are: UF President Katherine Fell, Ph.D.; Ken McIntyre Jr., vice president of University advancement; and award winner Kaitlyn Froelich.
(By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Sheriff’s Office Public Relations Coordinator)
Christmas came a little early to the Seneca County Jail. On Dec. 20, about 20 members of the Seneca County Jail Chaplaincy Committee gathered in the jail’s training room to pack Christmas gift baskets for inmates.
The gift baskets were filled with a variety of gifts, including activity books, pencils, toothpaste, deodorant, chips, and candy bars.
The committee has been donating gift baskets to the jail for 30 years.
“Every single person housed in the jail gets one,” said Cpl. Barbara Brooks, who helps organize the event with Chaplaincy Committee Chairman John Bergman from Bible Baptist Church.
Cpl. Brooks distributed the gifts later that day. The jail currently houses about 150 inmates, and the committee packed about 165 bags. Cpl. Brooks kept the extra packages for people who will arrive during the week.
“I get a lot of thank yous,” Cpl. Brooks said. “For some, this is the only Christmas gift they’ll get.”
The Seneca County Jail Chaplaincy Committee is an ecumenical group comprised of representatives from several different local churches. It was formed in 1994 by Sister Jackie Doepker with a mission to minister to inmates. The group has been providing Christmas gift baskets since then.
“We’ve done this every year, except the COVID year,” said Sister Maureen Studer, who has been part of the Chaplaincy Committee since its second meeting in 1994.
Providing Christmas gifts is a small part of the Chaplaincy Committee’s impact in the jail. Every weekday, a member of the committee visits the jail to offer one-on-one visits with inmates. The visits are voluntary and give the inmates an opportunity to talk to clergy about anything that is on their mind.
The committee hosted religious services in the jail for many years, but they were discontinued under a previous administration during COVID.
“When Sheriff (Fredrick) Stevens came in, he allowed us to do one-on-one visits,” Sister Maureen said. “We’re glad the Sheriff came in and let us do them.”
The weeknight ministry is having a strong impact on the inmates.
“Any inmate who wants to can see clergy,” Bergman said. “We’ve had good success with the one-on-one. They appreciate it so much.”
Bergman is grateful to be a part of the Chaplaincy Committee. He was initially uneasy about working in a jail setting, but sitting in a jail service several years ago changed his heart.
“The inmates were so quiet. They were focused on the preaching,” Bergman said. “That’s the first day my ‘wanter’ was changed. God changed what I wanted to do. This is what I want to do now.”
Committee member Wendell Rogers helps the committee obtain Bibles through Rock of Ages Prison Ministries, and the Bibles are distributed to inmates for free. In early December, the group provided two Christmas cards and stamps to each inmate so they could send cards to family for the holidays.
No tax dollars are used for any of the Chaplaincy Committee’s projects, including the Christmas gift baskets. The gifts were donated by local businesses, churches, and committee members.
The gift baskets bring a little holiday cheer to inmates who will spend Christmas behind bars, away from family. Several of the jail staff will also spend Christmas away from family. Cpl. Brooks worked on Thanksgiving, and she will work on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. The inmates are lucky to have her and the other compassionate staff there on the holiday.
“On Thanksgiving, I spent a good half hour with an inmate who was having a hard time,” she said. “I talked with him. It’s hard for them to be away from family on a holiday.”
Smell and taste disorders can be overlooked, yet they can significantly affect a patient’s quality of life, nutritional status, and overall well-being.
These sensory deficits may present subtly but can be early indicators of underlying health conditions or contribute to broader health challenges, particularly in older adults.
To learn more about smell & taste disorders, the causes, and how they affect patients’ lives, read this week’s Weekend Doctor Column, written by Jeremy Mascaro, PA-C, a physician assistant specializing in otolaryngology at ENT Specialists of Northwest Ohio. Read it now at bvhs.info/wdc122025.
UPDATE: The issue has been resolved, according to the sheriff’s office.
(From the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)
The County 911 Coordinator was notified of an issue with wireless 911 calls.
Wireless 911 calls are not connecting properly and may not allow you to hear the 911 dispatcher. This outage seems to be affecting multiple counties in Ohio, Should you have an emergency and cannot contact 911 please try our non-emergency numbers.
Hancock County Sheriff (419) 422-2424 and the Findlay Police Department (419) 424-7150. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and Findlay Police Dept. also has text to 911 that is available and is working. At this time, we have no time frame for when services will be restored.
Joint Release by: Lt. Jason Morey of the Findlay Police Dept. and 911 Coordinator Brian Stozich of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office
Findlay firefighters helped brighten the holidays for several local kids and their families.
The Findlay Fire Department again this year participated in the Shop with a Firefighter program, in conjunction with Findlay Hope House and Walmart.
WFIN News Director Matt Demczyk spoke with Travis Bohn about how much the event means to the children and the firefighters.
As Travis mentioned in the audio file above, firefighters took some children Christmas shopping at the Walmart on Tiffin Avenue, which donated $3,000 for the event. The firefighters union donated an additional 1,000, and in additional to that, they passed the boot around the fire stations and collected money for a nice gift basket for each family.
Firefighters, their wives, and other volunteers could be seen walking through the aisles with the kids as they bought gifts and essentials for their family members and themselves.
Millstream Area Credit Union volunteers then wrapped up the gifts for the families.
