On Thursday, September 26, 2024, at approximately 12:22 hrs., the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of a vehicle that crashed into a residence in the 6000 block of N. Co. Rd. 33, Pleasant Township, Tiffin, Seneca County, Ohio. Deputies and multiple surrounding Fire/EMS rescue personnel responded to the scene and discovered the vehicle and residence were engulfed in flames.
The preliminary investigation revealed a vehicle was traveling eastbound on North County Road 33 at a high rate of speed when it failed to negotiate a curve, and the vehicle went off the roadway, striking the residence at that location. The resident was home and inside the residence at the time of the crash but was uninjured.
Anterius D. Thomas, 23 YOA, Tiffin, Ohio, was cited for Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated, Failure to control, and Driving Under Suspension. Thomas was transported to Tiffin Mercy Hospital by EMS rescue personnel, while the passenger, Reece Frisch, 22 YOA, Tiffin, Ohio, was transported by life flight to Toledo ProMedica Hospital.
The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, are investigating the traffic crash.
“While Fire Rescue personnel were attempting to suppress the fire, ammunition from inside the residence started to ignite from the fire. I am grateful to report that NO Fire/EMS rescue personnel, Deputies, or bystanders were injured during the incident.” Sheriff Stevens said.
On 09-26-24 at 1101 hours the Findlay Police Department received a 911 call from a child caller stating they were at Donnell Middle School and someone had a gun, before hanging up the phone.
All available FPD patrol officers responded to Donnell Middle School and began searching for the cause of the call.
It was determined that there were no active emergencies going on in the school.
As a precaution, school administration activated a lock down while the matter was investigated.
Through investigation of the call that was made, a juvenile female, 11 years old, was determined to be in possession of the phone that was used to make the call.
She was a student of Donnell Middle School.
She was located and confessed to making the hoax call.
The juvenile was placed under arrest and is incarcerated at the Wood County Juvenile Justice Center for ORC 2917.31 Inducing Panic, a Felony of the 2nd degree.
Due to the age of the female, her name is not being released at this time.
Findlay City Schools will have an income tax levy on the fall ballot.
On November 5th, voters in the school district will decide whether to approve a 1 percent earned income tax levy for the purpose of paying current expenses.
The school district points out that it has not received any new operating funds for almost 20 years and property tax funds don’t go as far as they used to and it will see a reduction in state funding next school year.
“Investing in our schools is investing in our community’s future. The Findlay City Schools Board of Education voted to place a 1 percent earned income tax issue on the November 5, 2024 ballot to keep Findlay City Schools excellent. The district has extended the last new operating levy 19.5 years, which means they are paying 2024 bills with 2004 dollars,” according to the website voteforfindlayschools.com which has plenty of information about why the levy is necessary.
Superintendent Dr. Andy Hatton points out that an earned income tax levy will not impact things like social security and pensions as a traditional tax would.
Findlay City Schools says it will begin running a deficit this year and expects its cash balance to run negative in fiscal year 2026 if a levy isn’t passed.
The school board said this is the best mechanism to proceed to get new operating revenue into the district because it is earned income tax and it will grow with inflation and won’t be held flat like property tax.
The Findlay City Schools Board of Education says an exceptional school district is essential to the vibrancy of Findlay. It attracts new businesses, fosters economic growth, and upholds the high standards the city is known for. A strong education system is a key component of the community’s long-term prosperity. Findlay prides itself on being a place where families want to live, businesses want to invest, and children are provided with the best opportunities for success. The Findlay City School District has achieved a high standard of education that has been vital to families and the community’s continued growth and success.
Increasing FCS’s revenue is vital to ensuring that the excellence of Findlay City Schools continues to deliver educational quality for parents and drive the community forward.
Maintaining Excellence in Challenging Times: Findlay City Schools struggles to keep pace with growing expenses as inflation outpaces revenue growth. Like most school districts, Findlay City Schools receives mostly flat funding from the State of Ohio based on the most recent state budget from Ohio’s school funding model. This requires the District to rely on the community through voter-approved levies to help offset inflation and sustain operations.
Findlay City Schools has stretched local tax support for nearly twenty years, with the last operating levy passed in November 2004. This has led Findlay Schools to have one of the lowest current residential tax costs in the region. The new state funding formula indicates Findlay has a greater local ability to support a larger portion of the funds needed to educate our students than is currently being generated. The new state funding formula looks at a community’s ability to support local schools using both property and income tax and then determines state support to augment the local ability to generate funding. State funding will not be increased to compensate for lack of funding at the local level.
Full Transparency and Expert Consultation: To ensure the community receives accurate, objective, and verifiable information, the district has brought in a consultant with expertise in school finance sustainability. This consultant has been working with the team to clearly communicate the urgency and validity of the need for additional operating funding. By providing expert insights, the district is committed to transparency and accountability in demonstrating why this levy is critical and creating a tax policy.
The Need: Findlay City Schools needs to increase their operating income to sustain the current level of excellence and quality of education. The finance team, working with the Board and its finance expert, determined a 1.00% earned income tax will deliver an increase in revenue that will not only meet the current needs of the District but carry it forward for the foreseeable future.
The Critical Role of the 1.00% “Earned” Income Tax: The revenue generated by this levy is essential to sustaining the educational excellence that the community values. It supports programs, services, and rising operating costs, ensuring students continue to receive the high-quality education that is key to their success. It also supports the District’s long-term goal to become financially sustainable over longer periods of time, as well as providing tax relief to residents who are on fixed incomes, retired, or soon to be retired. An “earned” income tax is specifically designed to minimize the future cost of taxes to our community’s older residents.
Impact of Levy Failure: If the levy is not approved, a first phase of immediate reductions will need to be implemented, continuing into the 2025-26 school year. These cuts will negatively affect the district’s ability to maintain its current level of excellence in programs and opportunities, directly impacting students and families.
The Board of Education will have to enact the following likely consequences:
Phase One: Initially Proposed Reductions (School Year 25-26):
Reduce staff by 27 teaching positions, including Teachers on Special Assignments, using a combination of average salaries since the reductions will be in the future and by not replacing projected five retirees.
Reduce additional 12 staff by eliminating Middle School Block Teaching for Math and Language Arts
A minimum of five administrators will be reduced.
Athletic supplementals and non-athletic supplementals will be reduced
Cutting the purchased service expenditures related to the Leader in Me Program and reducing professional development.
Reduce Kindergarten staff by returning to half day kindergarten
No busing to high school and maximum amounts for walking
Reduce 15 support staff positions
These likely reductions are subject to change based on retirements and resignations, changes to enrollment, or other circumstances.
Phase Two Proposed Reductions (School Year 26-27):
Should the Board continue to be unsuccessful in securing additional operating funding, a second round of likely cuts would need to be implemented in FY27, of an additional 4 million dollars.
Reduce the teaching staff up to additional 26 positions
Reduce up to an additional 25 supplemental positions
Reduce up to an additional 4 administrative positions
Reduce security guards by up to 8 positions
Close all buildings by 6:00 p.m. and end busing to all events
Police responded to a 9-1-1 call of a potential threat towards Donnell Middle School on Thursday morning.
According to the mayor’s office, the Findlay Police Department received a 9-1-1 call that a gun was seen at the middle school. There were no shots fired and no one was injured.
Findlay City Schools say police searched the building to verify there was no threat and all students are safe. There was no gun found.
The Level 2 Lockdown the school was on was then lifted.
“The school day will continue as scheduled, and we will have enhanced safety measures in place for the remainder of the day,” the school district said.
The Hancock Public Health Flu and Covid Booster Vaccine Clinics will be mobile throughout Hancock County, Ohio starting September 24th, 2024, until October 21, 2024.
Mobile clinic days and times will be posted regularly on the Hancock Public Health website as well as the Facebook page.
Days and times will vary.
This Saturday, September 28th, 2024, will be the second Mobile Vaccine Clinic from 9am-12pm at the Hancock County Fairgrounds.
If any person is unable to attend these Mobile clinics, they can make an appointment or walk-in for a Flu or Covid vaccine any Friday in October between 9am-11am and 1p-3pm.
To make an appointment they can call 419-424-7441 and select option #2. Hancock Public Health is located at 2225 Keith Parkway, Findlay, Ohio 45840.
The Hancock Park District has acquired Cooper Pond located on County Road 144, north of and adjacent to Oakwoods Nature Preserve. The property was donated by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
Cooper Pond is currently closed to the public, and it will remain closed until site cleanup, ground maintenance, and building demolition occurs. Eventually, the Meadowlark Trail will be expanded through the native prairie and wetland restoration area in Oakwoods Nature Preserve with a connection to Cooper Pond. When that happens, fishing (catch and release), hiking around the 12-acre pond, picnicking, birdwatching, photography, and other forms of passive outdoor recreation will be afforded.
The long-term plan for Cooper Pond, how it will be used, managed, maintained, and improved will be the subject of a Cooper Pond Master Plan. Stay tuned for more information about a new and exciting destination at Oakwoods Nature Preserve.
The state has announced that nearly three dozen communities will receive funding to complete critical infrastructure and neighborhood improvement projects that enhance the quality of life for Ohioans.
More than $18.2 million in Neighborhood Revitalization and Critical Infrastructure grants will be awarded to 34 communities for projects such as upgraded water and sewer infrastructure, road and sidewalk replacement, park improvements, recreation enhancements, new fire trucks, and more.
Among the grants, Findlay will receive $386,500 to replace the storm sewer system along Carnahan Avenue.
The double-brick sewer, built in 1888, is deteriorating and causing collapses in the road.
Hancock County will receive $232,200 to assist Rawson with a sidewalk improvement project to increase pedestrian mobility across the village.
“This type of infrastructure may not always be visible, but its impact is felt every day,” said Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik.
“These projects will strengthen the foundation of our communities, making them safer, more resilient, and better prepared to be Ohio’s next great economic success story.”
The grant awards are funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant program.
The event will be held on October 4th at Owens Community College in Findlay.
More than 800 Hancock County 8th graders will have a chance to meet with dozens of area employers.
Career Connections Day gives students an opportunity to engage with local employers based on their career interest/assessment results.
Raise the Bar Director Tricia Valasek and Workforce Program Specialist Ashley Stepec-Bibler were on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks to discuss the event.
The event expands upon Hancock County’s successful Manufacturing Day (occurring in 2018, 2019, and 2022) to now include employers representing the diversity of career clusters present throughout Hancock County.
Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County will officially finish construction of its 60th and 61st homes during a Home Dedication ceremony open to the public on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 4:30 p.m.
The ceremony will be held at the build site, located in the 1700 block of Bishop Lane, Findlay, Ohio. The program for the dedication will include a blessing, words from the new homeowners, the Butler and McMaster families, as well as comments from Wendy McCormick, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County and Kelly Croy, Habitat’s Board President.
The Butler family consists of a single mother and her daughter. Their housing situation left them cost burdened due to continued high rent increases. Additionally, their living conditions were unsafe with no ventilation in the bedrooms and an exterior door in the daughter’s bedroom. For the past two years the Butler family has been working with Habitat for Humanity after seeing several close friends go through the process. After a year of financial education and savings they were chosen to be a Partner Family. They are forever grateful that everyone at Habitat chose to put their faith into them and grant this opportunity. They have gained so much knowledge already in the program and cannot wait to move into their own home!
The McMaster family consists of a single mother and her two sons. For a number of years, they struggled off and on financially. For almost a year they lived with family and friends. After a lengthy search, they found a landlord willing to accept their housing voucher. Six years later the landlord sold the duplex, and the new landlords raised the rent an $250 monthly. Their previous landlord suggested they apply for Habitat. Within the past year, with the help of the Financial Opportunity Center, their credit score has risen more than 80 points and they are living within their budget and saving. This opportunity allows them to not only have a home, but a legacy!
These are the third and fourth homes to be built by Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County in 2024. They are the first two of 20 homes Habitat will build in the Krystal Ridge Addition neighborhood by the end of 2027. Both homes were each built in just 10 weeks by nearly 300 volunteers representing many corporate build teams and organizations that enable their employees and team members to take part.
Through donations of money and materials and volunteer labor, Habitat is able to build a Habitat Home and sell it at an affordable price. These families qualified as a low-income family unable to qualify for a conventional loan who were willing to partner with Habitat and complete at least 400 sweat equity hours.
Habitat for Humanity is accepting applications from families now for new homes. To apply for a home or a home repair, visit habitatfindlay.org or call 419-429-1400.
