(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Area youth can participate in “Grief Trails,” a specialized day camp designed to support children and teens who have experienced the loss of a loved one.

“Grief Trails” is sponsored by Bridge Home Health & Hospice, a division of Blanchard Valley Health System, and will take place this July at Challenged Champions Equestrian Center in Ottawa, Ohio.

This year’s program will offer two age-specific sessions, one on Monday, July 21, and the other on Monday, July 28.

Registration for the program is required by Monday, June 2.

To learn more about “Grief Trails,” please visit https://bvhs.info/4l74Mtm today.

(From the Findlay Fire Department)

Why is it important to have working smoke detectors? To practice an escape plan?

To sleep with the bedroom doors closed?

Because the amount of time we have to escape a house fire has been greatly reduced.

Fire Inspector Eric Wilkins on the importance of working smoke detectors.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says a vehicle crashed into the Pilot Travel Center at 11471 State Route 613 at the Van Buren exit of Interstate 75. 

It happened at approximately 12:25 p.m. on Thursday.

The sheriff’s office says Brandon Stengle, 36, of Toledo, lost control of his vehicle while exiting from southbound Interstate 75, crossed State Route 613, entered the parking lot of the Pilot and crashed through the side of it.

Stengle was transported to Blanchard Valley Hospital for his injuries.

The sheriff’s office said the Pilot sustained major damage from the impact.

No customers were in the store as it was closed for renovations.

The crash remains under investigation.

(above pic courtesy of Elizabeth Knott)

(From the State Fire Marshal)

Investigators with the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal have determined that a house fire in Wyandot County last Sunday was caused by arson. They are now seeking tips from the public to help identify those responsible.

At 2:26 a.m. on Sunday, April 27, 2025, the Wharton Fire Department was dispatched by the Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office to a structure fire at 16264 Township Highway 45 in Wharton.

When firefighters arrived on scene, they found a vacant house fully engulfed in flames, most of which had collapsed into the basement and crawlspace. Firefighters worked quickly to extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported.

During the investigation, the fire was determined to have been intentionally set.

A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered by the Blue Ribbon Arson Committee for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Anyone with information is urged to contact the State Fire Marshal’s tip line at 800-589-2728 or the Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office at 419-294-2362. All tips will be thoroughly investigated.

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

As temperatures rise and an increased number of motorcycles are traveling on our roadways, the Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding drivers and motorcyclists to share the road, be alert and driver sober.

While riding a motorcycle may be considered one of the more enjoyable modes of transportation, it is also one of the riskier ways to travel if not done properly. Not only does operating a motorcycle require more physical strength than a standard passenger vehicle, but they also lack a protective structure, offering the rider little to no protection in a crash. That is why it’s important for both motorcycle riders and other drivers to do their part in promoting safety on roadways across Ohio.

“Motorcycle safety is the responsibility of everyone traveling in and through Ohio,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “All motorists should always be aware of their surroundings, practice safe driving behaviors, and share the roadway.”

For the motorcycle rider, taking a training class, wearing safety equipment and riding with the proper endorsements will help protect yourself and others. Remember, Ohio law requires helmets for riders under the age of 18 and for those with less than one year of motorcycle experience. Motorcycle passengers must also wear helmets when the driver is required to do so.

Safe driving practices and cooperation from all drivers on the road is essential to assisting in the reduction of fatal crashes involving motorcycles. According to Patrol statistics, there were 20,015 motorcycle-involved crashes on Ohio roadways over the last five years. A total of 1,074 of those crashes were fatal, resulting in the deaths of 1,099 motorcyclists and 12 others.

“Every crash we prevent is a life potentially saved,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. “With warmer weather bringing more motorcycles to Ohio’s roads, every driver and rider must slow down, stay alert and commit to safe decisions.”  

It’s important for drivers to be aware of the safety challenges faced by motorcyclists, such as size and visibility. The Patrol is asking drivers to do their part by sharing the roadway and being on the lookout for motorcycles.

For more information on how to operate a motorcycle safely, as well as rider courses for new, intermediate and advanced riders, visit https://motorcycle.ohio.gov/.

As always, the public is encouraged to safely call #677 to report reckless or impaired drivers and drug activity.

(From the United Way of Hancock County)

Over 850 volunteers will be spread out at project sites throughout the county during United Way of Hancock County’s Days of Caring event.

The biannual volunteer event matches employees of area corporations and small businesses with nonprofits and other service agencies in need of some extra hands. Spring Days of Caring will run May 5-9, with 861 volunteers working to complete 85 landscaping, building, organizing, painting, planting and construction projects for 32 different organizations.

A total of 94 volunteer teams will work in four-hour shifts at locations throughout Hancock County. Days of Caring teams will also support home projects that have been vetted by Backyard Mission Trip.

The volunteers will complete 3,444 service hours, a value to the community of about $119,820, based on Independent Sector’s national value of a volunteer hour of $34.79 for 2025. That is money organizations can save to put directly toward their mission and services.

“As a nonprofit, we know the immense value just one volunteer can bring to an organization,” said United Way of Hancock County CEO Kelley McClurkin. “It’s exciting to think about the impact over 850 volunteers can make in a community in a week, and soon we’ll be able to see the results of their hard work throughout Hancock County. Thank you to everyone who has opted in to this great week of service.”

United Way of Hancock County will host a second opportunity to participate in Days of Caring from Sept. 15-17. A separate registration will open for those dates later this year.

Volunteers United, United Way’s in-house volunteer center, placed over 10,000 volunteer hours in 2024. Visit liveunitedhancockcounty.org/volunteersunited for more information about Days of Caring or how you can get involved with other local volunteer efforts.

(From Community Gardens of Hancock County)

Preparations are underway to mark and mulch the garden walkways!

Next week, volunteer teams from Marathon Petroleum Corporation will be at the Gardens as part of United Way of Hancock County‘s Days of Caring to mark the plots and get everything ready for planting and our May 9 opening date!

Click here https://forms.gle/U9LyzXt8QLpLMJTi6 to access the plot sign up form.

If you need help submitting an application or want to learn more about gardening and our plans, join us at the Family Center on Friday, April 18 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 4 – 6 p.m.

We hope to see you there!

The Community Gardens of Hancock County are located at the Family Center on Blanchard Avenue in Findlay, Ohio at 1800 N. Blanchard St.

(From the United Way of Hancock County)

We’ve crunched the numbers, and we are proud to announce that our free tax preparation service processed and submitted 1,206 local taxes this season.

This massive, volunteer-led effort was made possible through the long hours (1,860 in total!) and dedication of about 20 individuals. We cannot thank you all enough for providing this valuable service to our community!

We also send one last thank you to 50 North and the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library for hosting the VITA program for 10 weeks.

You were excellent hosts and we appreciate your partnership! Until next year!

The Marathon Center for the Performing Arts invites the public to its 2025 Fifth Third Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

It will be held on Friday, May 2 at 6 p.m.

That night is the spring ArtWalk and people are encouraged to stop by the induction ceremony as part of their ArtWalk activities.

The 2025 inductee to MCPA’s Wall of Fame is Tell Taylor.

Get more details by clicking here.

(From the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)

On Monday, April 28, Sheriff Cortez had the honor of swearing in our newest Corrections Officer, Austin Zeigler, with his family proudly in attendance.

Please join us in welcoming Officer Zeigler to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office — we’re excited to have him on board!