(From the Fort Findlay FOP Lodge 20 Foundation)

Since 2002, local law enforcement officers have been shopping with children in need, creating holiday memories while providing essentials and gifts. Four years ago, the Fort Findlay FOP Lodge 20 Foundation transitioned from a national program—where a portion of donor dollars went elsewhere—to a fully local approach, ensuring every dollar raised stays in Hancock County to benefit local kids. While this transition has ensured that support stays within the community, it also means that the program relies more heavily on the generosity of individuals, businesses, and organizations in our area.

“Inflation and increased costs have impacted everyone, including this program,” said Teresa White, development director of the Fort Findlay FOP Lodge 20 Foundation, which organizes the event. “We’ve always done our best to provide for as many children as possible, but the demand and the cost of items have grown significantly.”

Last year, officers shopped with 140 children giving them $200 each to spend on toys, clothing, and other essentials, with local school districts helping to identify participants in need. This year, rising prices and a growing number of children in need have stretched resources thin.

The program has touched countless lives, including one local family who shared how much it meant to them. “This program has been a blessing for us,” said a parent of a past participant who wished to remain anonymous. “Not only did it help us provide essentials during a tough time, but the experience of shopping with an officer gave my child a sense of excitement that was very special. It showed them that our community cares, and I’ll forever be grateful for that.”

“The heart of this program is the connection between the children and the officers,” White continued. “We want to ensure every child has a positive experience and leaves with the items they need to thrive, but we can’t do it without support from the community.”

Donations of any size can make a difference. Contributions help provide children with the funding they need to shop while fostering positive relationships with law enforcement.

To support Cops & Kids, donations can be made online at fortfindlayfop20.org/cops-and-kids or mailed to Fort Findlay FOP Lodge 20 Foundation, P.O. Box 1335, 1769 S. Romick Pkwy., Findlay, OH 45840. The Fort Findlay FOP Lodge 20 Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; all donations are tax-deductible. For more information, contact White at copsandkidsfindlay@gmail.com or 1-833-LODGE20 (563-4320).

About the Fort Findlay FOP Lodge 20 Foundation: The Foundation funds initiatives like Cops & Kids Go Shopping, supporting active, retired, and fallen law enforcement members and their families while fostering positive relationships with the community through youth and family programming.

Findlay High School Student Leadership will be holding a ‘Pictures with Santa’ event.

It will be held on Saturday, December 7 from 9:30 to noon at Findlay High School.

Admission and pictures are free, and people are encouraged to bring along the whole family for a fun time.

There will also be activities for the kids, cookie decorating, and more.

Some FHS Student Leadership students were on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks to discuss the fun holiday event.

The new Hancock County Judicial Center building is nearly finished.

The Hancock County Commissioner’s office says construction is essentially finished and now they’re working on things like occupancy permits and elevator inspections.

The county is hoping to take possession of the building in December and move in offices in January and then hold a ribbon-cutting after they’re settled in. The groundbreaking for the building was held in June of 2023. 

Commissioner Tim Bechtol says the new three-story building at 209 West Main Cross will house Probate and Juvenile Court which are currently located in a building just east of that location.

As Bechtol mentioned in the audio above, juvenile probation offices will be on the second floor and adult probation on the first floor.

The Domestic Relations Court will also be moving from the courthouse into the new building.

CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, will also move its offices into the new building.

The new facility is named the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center after the longtime judge for the Probate and Juvenile Court.  

There will be staff parking behind the building and the Hancock County Commissioners said they have come to a long-term deal with MCPA to use the northwest corner of their parking lot for public parking.  

As for the current Probate/Juvenile Court building, Commissioner Tim Bechtol has said he’d like to remove the additions that were added to it over the years and preserve the original historic structure, but what will happen to it has not yet been decided.

(From Findlay High School)

Thank you to all the FHS Staff, Students, and all of Trojan Country for your donations to Turkeys for Trojans!

Because of you we will be supplying 100 Thanksgiving meals to our families.

You all are appreciated!!!

And shout out to Asst. Principal Don Williams for being a good sport and rocking the Turkey costume today due to raising the most money!

(ONN) – A new bill introduced in the Ohio House aims to increase nurse staffing in the state’s hospitals.

Supporters of the bill say it would hold hospital executives accountable, ensuring that there is enough staff to take care of patients properly.

Opponents of the bill argue that it would make existing nursing shortages worse.

Ohio Nurses Association President Rick Lucas says turnover is the problem in Ohio’s nursing industry.

If the bill doesn’t get passed by the end of session in December, it will be brought back in 2025.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Alliance)

The Findlay-Hancock Alliance and Economic Development Board of Directors have named Chris Keller the Executive Director of Economic Development effective December 1, 2024.

Keller, Director of Strategic Initiatives, was selected from a pool of candidates to replace Dan Sheaffer as the Executive Director.

Sheaffer stepped into the role of CEO and President of the Findlay-Hancock County Alliance on August 1, 2024.

As Executive Director, Keller’s responsibilities will include supporting retention and expansion of existing companies; leading efforts to strategically attract new investment; addressing workforce-talent initiatives and small business support.

“I am honored and excited to take on the role of Executive Director for Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development. In my role as Director of Strategic Initiatives I was able to make important connections with community leaders and actively engage in many fruitful projects,” Keller said.

“I look forward to utilizing these experiences and my previous leadership experience to drive growth and prosperity for our community.”

“Chris, as a Findlay native, brings to this role a tremendous amount of community engagement and leadership experience,” said David Blatnik, chair of the Economic Development Advisory Board and Manager, State Government Affairs at Marathon Petroleum.

“This experience makes Chris an excellent choice to lead the economic development organization.”

The City of Findlay is considering allowing recreational marijuana dispensaries in the city.

Findlay City Council passed a recommendation to allow commercial zones in four parts of the city where the dispensaries could be located; Tiffin Avenue, I-75/West Main Cross, Trenton Avenue west of I-75, and I-75 and County Road 99.

There currently still is a moratorium on dispensaries in the city but that would be rescinded if a final decision is made by city council to allow them.     

The dispensaries will require a change to the zoning code and the change would have to be approved by city council. 

(From the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office)

We are once again asking our communities for assistance, we are seeing an increase of building B & E’s, thefts from vehicles and theft of tools in the area of rural Columbus Grove.

If you see anything suspicious or have information please do not hesitate to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (419) 523-3208.

The City Mission of Findlay is expanding its Warming Center to serve more people.

“We’re thrilled to announce an important step forward in our mission to serve those experiencing homelessness,” said Mission Executive Director Kathryn Bausman.

She says their Warming Center will soon transition into a low-barrier shelter, providing not just warmth, but a safe, welcoming space where individuals can access shelter without unnecessary obstacles.

“This will be a 365 day a year low-barrier shelter,” Bausman told WFIN.

Kathryn says people can come in with no background checks, drug testing, or alcohol checks which would keep some people away who needed help.

As she said in the audio above, they hope to have the low-barrier shelter open in mid-December.

The City of Findlay is working on an ordinance that would prohibit homeless camps on public property.

The ordinance would be up for consideration at the next city council meeting.

Below is a letter Findlay Service-Safety Director Rob Martin provided city council at its recent meeting.

Over the last several years, the Administration, under the direction of Mayor Muryn, has worked very hard to address the unhoused population in the community.  The Unhoused Coalition has made great strides bringing the local stakeholders together to streamline efforts to provide access to available resources and provide local services to people in need. 

With that, there is still a group of individuals, for varying reasons, that choose not to accept help when it is offered. 

Some of those individuals have a tendency to build camps on City property or use street benches and other public spaces as their camp. 

Findlay Police and Zoning Enforcement have made great attempts to combat these behaviors, but have been met with resistance from the campers based on a Federal ruling on anti-camping rules. 

In 2018, a Federal case challenged anti-camping rules in Grants Pass, Oregon which ruled that the rules were unconstitutional. 

For the last six (6) years, that ruling has limited the ability to hold homeless campers accountable for camping in public locations. 

In June of 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States rules that people without homes can be arrested and banned for sleeping in public spaces as they are potentially a threat to health and public safety, and that of their own. 

With the new ruling comes a local opportunity to marry the efforts of the Unhoused Coalition with holding homeless campers accountable. 

The intent is not to incarcerate, but rather educate the homeless and provide them access to shelter and care through local resources. 

If they choose to be non-compliant, law enforcement now has the ability to hold them accountable. 

The intent is to create a balance for individuals who find themselves in these situations while maintaining safe and healthy public spaces for all citizens and visitors. 

The proposed ordinance language creates structure around the process. 

The Administration has collaborated with the City Mission, Family Resource Center, the Police Chief, Zoning Enforcement, Municipal Court Judges, and City Law Director’s Office to assure all had input on the recommended course of action moving forward. 

As this change is implemented, the impacts will be evaluated and will adjust as necessary.