(From the City of Findlay)

The City of Findlay is performing numerous construction projects throughout the city. The status of some of the projects is weather and contractor schedule permitting. Listed below are some of the projects and the restrictions that result from the ongoing projects. These restrictions are in effect from September 30, 2024, until further notice.

GARFIELD AVENUE – N. Main Street to railroad – Garfield Avenue will be closed to through traffic from N. Main Street to the railroad for waterline replacement.

GEORGE STREET – N. Main Street to railroad – George Street will be closed to through traffic from N. Main Street to the railroad for waterline replacement.

ALLEN AVENUE – N. Main Street to railroad – Allen Avenue will be closed to traffic from N. Main Street to the railroad for waterline trench repair.

MIDLAND AVENUE – N. Main Street to railroad – Midland Avenue will be closed to traffic from N. Main Street to the railroad for trench repair.

S. BLANCHARD STREET – Sixth Street to Pearl Street – S. Blanchard Street will be closed to through traffic from Sixth Street to Pearl Street for waterline installation.

TR 99 – Distribution Drive to TR 230 – TR 99 will be closed to through traffic from Distribution Drive to TR 230 for sewer installation.

TR 230 – CR 212 to TR 99 – TR 230 will be closed to through traffic from CR 212 to TR 99 for road reconstruction.

LIMA AVENUE – Ra-Nik Ct to Payne Avenue – Lima Avenue with be reduced to one lane with traffic control lights from Ra-Nik Ct to Payne Avenue for sanitary sewer installation.

WASHINGTON AVENUE – Sixth Street to Olive Street – Washington Avenue will be closed to through traffic from Sixth Street to Olive Street for storm sewer installation.

Motorists are advised to avoid these areas if possible. Short delays are expected in these areas over the next week. The Engineering Department will release updates on information and schedules when it becomes available. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about any of these projects at 419-424-7121.

(From the Tiffin Police Department)

We’re excited to announce that the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Program is back at the Tiffin Police Department!

Officer Chris Perry and Officer Alec Traxler have recently graduated from D.A.R.E. Instructor Training and are ready to start working with our local students.

Their primary audience will be fifth and sixth graders, but our officers are trained to instruct K-12 programs as well. Not only will Officers Perry and Traxler teach in the classroom, but you’ll also see them interacting with students during lunch or recess.

These officers were carefully chosen for their excellent communication skills and their ability to connect with students. They’ve been trained by specialists in education and psychology to deliver the D.A.R.E. curriculum in a way that’s both engaging and effective.

The D.A.R.E. program, originally developed in Los Angeles, is co-sponsored by the Ohio Attorney General, the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Ohio Department of Education. It’s supported by local law enforcement and school districts across the state.

Previous D.A.R.E. Officers for the Tiffin Police Department where Jan Fabian, David Pauly, Julie Brothers, and Fred Stevens. By teaching essential life skills to our students, we believe we’re giving them the tools they need to confidently “Just Say No” to drugs.

Congrats to Officer Perry and Officer Traxler on this achievement!

Chief Pauly

(From the Findlay Police Department)

On 9-30-2024 at approximately 0105 hrs. officers were dispatched to Circle K (100 Crystal Ave.) for a report of a possible Robbery that had taken place at another location.

The victim claimed a male got into a vehicle he was in, pistol whipped him, and stole cash from him.

The victim was driven from the scene of the Robbery to the area of Circle K, where he called 911.

The victim was injured as a result of the robbery and was transported to Blanchard Valley Hospital for treatment of a head wound and later released.

Persons of interest were spoken to and a possible suspect was identified.

This matter is currently under investigation.

The Findlay Police Department says a bicyclist was injured when they were hit by a vehicle.

It happened in the 3300 block of North Main Street at around 8:20 Saturday night.

Police say Caleb Dutton, 20, of Findlay, was operating an electric bicycle northbound on North Main Street when he was struck from behind by a vehicle.

The vehicle then fled from the scene. No description of the vehicle was provided in the police report. 

Police say Dutton was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital for an apparent head injury.

The crash remains under investigation.

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Licensing and Commercial Standards Section, in partnership with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), recently collaborated to enforce state and federal laws pertaining to commercial motor vehicles on four major interstates, covering hundreds of miles of roadway in Ohio.

The high-visibility enforcement blitz focused on enforcing licensing and commercial standards across Interstate 70, Interstate 71, Interstate 75 and Interstate 80. The initiative began at midnight on August 18 and continued through 11:59 p.m. on September 13.

Troopers, enforcement inspectors, and PUCO inspectors collectively issued 1,108 citations and conducted 2,014 inspections throughout the initiative, identifying serious violations such as faulty brake systems, damaged tires with missing or snapped lug nuts, and load securement issues. During that time, there were decreases in commercial vehicle-related crashes along each interstate, with reductions of up to 81% compared to 2023.

“Through our combined efforts with PUCO, we are committed to making our roadways safer for all motorists,” said Captain Aaron J. Reimer, Licensing & Commercial Standards Section Commander. “By focusing on commercial motor vehicle safety, we not only work to reduce crashes and save lives but also ensure that commerce can flow safely and efficiently through our state.”

This collaborative initiative is the latest example of the Patrol and PUCO’s commitment to reducing commercial vehicle crashes and enhancing road safety through proactive enforcement and public education.

(From the Tiffin Police Department)

What a great morning for the annual Walk and Roll to School!

Once again this year, Tiffin University and Washington Elementary School hit the streets for a fantastic event!

Hundreds of students, staff, and teachers from Washington K-1 Elementary, along with Tiffin University staff and student-athletes, joined forces with community members, the Tiffin Police Department, and Tiffin Fire/Rescue Division.

It was an awesome way to get some exercise, enjoy fresh air, and show the power of community spirit.

Thanks to everyone who made it a success!

Chief Pauly

(From Van Buren Local Schools)

Mr. Kevin Shoup, principal of Van Buren High School, announced that Nigel Woodall has been named a Commended Student in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program.  Mr. Shoup presented a Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) to this scholastically talented senior.

“Nigel is a brilliant young man who is always willing to take on challenges and is determined to achieve academic excellence through hard work,” Principal Shoup said. 

Woodall is one of about 34,000 commended students throughout the nation being recognized for exceptional academic promise.  Although he will not continue in the 2025 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Woodall placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2025 competition by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

“Those being named commended students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson for NMSC. 

“These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation.  We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”

(From the Elbert Dubenion Drive Planning Committee)

The Village of Bluffton will recognize Bluffton University’s most famous athlete in a ceremony at noon, Friday, Oct. 4, with the unveiling of Elbert Dubenion Drive.

The Drive covers a section of Bentley Road in front of Bluffton University’s Salzman football stadium from the Yoder Recital Hall parking lot to the intersection of Bentley and Elm Street. The ceremony will take place near the recital hall portion of the Drive.

The ceremony, open to the public, will include the unveiling of Drive signs and a brief program recognizing Dubenion, a 1959 Bluffton College graduate, who played for nine seasons with the Buffalo Bills professional football team. He is the only Bluffton athlete to play professional football. Following his playing days, Dubenion served as a college scout for the Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, as well as working for the Bills.

Bluffton mayor, Richard Johnson, will read a proclamation and several teammates, will speak. Members of Dubenion’s family will also attend.

The group launching the project includes teammates who played football with Dubenion and fans who watched him play during his college years from 1955 to 1958.

One of the alumni committee members is Jim “Spike” Berry,  who quarterbacked the Bluffton College Beaver football team during the Dubenion era at Bluffton.

 In his first year at Bluffton, Dubenion worked on the Bluffton village street crew. As a town celebrity, downtown business owners were among his most loyal fans, making him the most recognized Bluffton student for a generation of those community leaders.

Among his college-era achievements was being named first team Small College All-American in 1958 and was among 33 players selected to play in the College All-Star game in 1959 against the Baltimore Colts. As a member of the Buffalo Bills, Dubenion played in the 1964 NFL Pro Bowl. He holds the record for the longest reception in AFL playoff history with a 93-yard TD. He is also a member of the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame.

 Dubenion died at age 86 on Dec. 26, 2019, at his residence in Westerville, Ohio. His wife, Marilyn, is also a Bluffton College graduate.

 Members of the planning committee are Tom Benroth, Jim “Spike” Berry, Jim Buffenbarger, Charles Buroker, Larry Copeland, Everett Collier, Don Hostetler, Gene Long,  Ronald Lora, Mary Ramseyer, Richard Ramseyer and Fred Steiner.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation)

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation Board of Trustees approved $72,485 in grants for mental health projects. Eight local organizations will receive these grants.

“Mental health continues to be a priority for Hancock County, and your Community Foundation as a result,” said Brian Treece, President & CEO of The Community Foundation. “These grants demonstrate Hancock County’s commitment to coming together to support our friends, family and neighbors in need of mental health care. Each of these grants will help improve the quality of life in that way.”

Community Mental Health grants are awarded annually. Funding for these grants comes from the Community Mental Health Fund, Esther Buckingham Fund for Mental Health, Jeffrey and Ginger Jones Family Fund, and Lai Wei-zwei and Lai Hung Tsu-mei Fund, all funds held at The Community Foundation. A committee of community members and Foundation representatives reviews and recommends the requests for funding. Additional unrestricted funds were used to support this round of grantmaking to meet the local need.

Family Resource Center was awarded $28,185 for the Helping the Helpers program.

Findlay YMCA was awarded $20,000 for early childhood occupational therapy support.

FOCUS Recovery and Wellness Community was awarded $5,000 for the LOFT Peer Pals program.

Hancock County ADAMHS Board was awarded $6,710 for office network improvements.

Hancock Public Health was awarded $2,400 for the Building Connection in the Community program.

NAMI of Findlay was awarded $3,500 for the Never Too Manly for Mental Health program.

Sight Center of Northwest Ohio was awarded $1,680 for a low vision/blindness peer group.

Welcome to a New Life was awarded $5,000 for positive engagement activities.

“Mental health is a critical measure of overall health,” said Kimberly Bash, Chief Community Engagement Officer at the Foundation. “We’re proud to partner with donors and local nonprofit organizations to make this work happen.”