(From the Hancock County Veterans Service Office)

The Hancock County Veterans Service Office currently seeks to recognize the efforts of distinguished men and women who have worn the uniform of our nation’s armed forces during any of the following:

-The Korean War

-Vietnam

-Persian Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm)

-Global War on Terrorism (Operation Enduring Freedom / Operation Iraqi Freedom)

One Veteran’s story from each of the four conflicts will be selected by a panel to be featured on the appropriate one of our next four Heritage Trail Story Walk boards.

DEADLINE for nominations is September 5, 2024.

Click here to learn more about the first four storyboards that were dedicated in September of 2023.

(From the Findlay Family YMCA)

To prepare for our Early Learning Center groundbreaking ceremony, the Findlay Family YMCA has decided to change the date for its Family Fall Fest.

The event will now be held on Thursday, Oct. 17, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., which will coincide with the Child Development Center’s annual Trunk-or-Treat.

The festival will still be held at the CDC and across the street at the Downtown Branch on East Lincoln Street.

Food, games, pumpkin painting, and more will be offered.

Findlay and Hancock County are included in a Heat Advisory issued by the National Weather Service.

The Heat Advisory will be in effect from noon to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27^th.

Heat index values into the 100s are expected.

People are being warned that the hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat-related illnesses.

People are advised to drink plenty of water and stay in the air conditioning when possible.

Take extra precautions outside and limit strenuous activities to early morning or later in the evening.

Get the latest forecast and weather alerts by clicking here.

(From Ottawa-Glandorf Local Schools)

Ottawa-Glandorf Local Schools would like to thank the OG Athletic Boosters, the Stadium Renovation Committee, the Stadium Finance Committee, and all of the businesses, groups, and individuals who have donated to the project, for their help and support in completing the new concession stand. The building looks amazing.

Thanks to these groups, we have an amazing new facility that has plenty of space for work and storage. The new concession stand will be a major upgrade for all of the groups, teams, and clubs who use the facilities for their events.

In order to help the OG Athletic Boosters with this phase and the next phases of the stadium renovation, please consider donating to the Athletic Boosters, or by purchasing a 12th Fan Raffle ticket. To purchase a ticket, please go to https://www.rafflebox.us/raffle/12fan

Again, thank you to the OG Athletic Boosters and all of their donors for your generous support in helping us build “A Home For All Titans”

Spectrum has announced the launch of Spectrum Internet, Mobile, TV and Voice services to more than 700 homes and small businesses in parts of Amanda, Big Lick, Jackson, Marion, Orange, Van Buren and Washington Township in Hancock County.

The newly constructed fiber-optic network buildout in Hancock County is part of the company’s approximately $9 billion investment in underserved and unserved rural communities, partly offset by $2 billion in government support funding.

Congressman Bob Latta was joined at the event, held at Cory-Rawson Local Schools, by other area lawmakers.

“Our rural Ohio communities welcome the necessary infrastructure to serve businesses and residents with reliable Internet access,” Latta said.  

“This construction is a welcome addition to the community and will provide greater economic opportunities for businesses and residents in Hancock County.”

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

The Ohio State Highway Patrol, along with assistance from the Findlay Police Department, and Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, conducted an OVI checkpoint on August 23rd, 2024 on North Main St. The following are the results of that checkpoint.

A total of 676 vehicles were checked from 8:00P.M. to 11:00P.M.

In that time, there was 1 vehicle that was diverted but the driver was not impaired.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol would like to remind motorists to always drive sober and never get behind the wheel of vehicle if you have been drinking or consuming any type of drugs.

(From Mia Otto)

Proud to reveal my mural for the Hancock County Fair!

Come out this week and see it in person!

This was a huge project and such a reward.

So honored to be hired to paint a mural for my city!

The was my largest project to date and I had so much fun creating this!!

Follow my art page The Art of Mia Otto.

(From the Ohio Department of Transportation)

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced that three northwest Ohio rest areas have new Storybook Trails, which are designed to inspire kids to read while being active.  

Children and their families can read a Dolly Parton Imagination Library book along a trail when they visit the Welcome Center in Wood County on I-75 southbound, and rest areas in Wyandot County on U.S. 30 eastbound and westbound. The Storybook Trails promote literacy, a healthy lifestyle, and connecting with nature when travelers take a break on their journey.  

Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine has worked to spread awareness about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, which provided books to more than 409,000 Ohio children from birth to age five in August. The Storybook Trails at rest areas provide easy instructions on how Ohio families can sign up at no cost.  

“Mike and I love reading Imagination Library books with our grandkids, and we hope the Storybook Trails at our rest areas inspire more families to read together during their travels,” said Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine. “Rest areas provide a great space to let kids burn off some energy and learn at the same time.”     

To further promote literacy, children’s books are now available for free at the Wood County I-75 southbound rest area and Welcome Center south of Bowling Green, and at both the eastbound and westbound U.S. 30 parks east of Upper Sandusky. The books were donated by ODOT employees during a recent book drive.

“Our hope is that kids will come to the parks, enjoy the Storybook Trails, and take a book with them,” said Pat McColley, ODOT District 2 Deputy Director.  

The Wood County Welcome Center includes a new paved dog walking path, additional picnic areas, and the featured book “Milo’s Hat Trick” by author Jon Agee. The Wyandot County rest areas feature the stories of “Violet the Pilot” by author Steve Breen, and “Dandelion Magic” by author Darren Farrell.   

Rest areas in northwest Ohio and across the state are also receiving some other enhancements, including perennial plants, Ohio buckeye trees, music from Ohio artists, and lots of tourist information about local attractions to explore in our state.    

Storybook Trails can also be found in nearly two dozen Ohio state parks.  

Learn more about Storybook Trails and Ohio’s rest area plan on the website. 

Hancock County Overdose Awareness Day was on Friday, August 23.

An event was held at Dorney Plaza in front of the Findlay Municipal Building in which Hancock Public Health, FOCUS, ADAMHS, and other organizations participated.

There was free Narcan, testing, and survival bags for people who attended the event.

Nicole Dailey is project coordinator and peer support supervisor at Focus Recovery and Wellness.

Kalynn Sommers, harm reduction coordinator at Hancock Public Health, says fatal overdoses are down this year and she attributes the drop to making the overdose-reversing medication Narcan (Naloxone) more available.  

She says there were 10 fatal overdoses in Hancock County in 2023 and are only two suspected fatal overdoses so far in 2024.

Hancock Public Health reminds people that they have Narcan available through Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided with Naloxone) as a way to combat the opioid overdose epidemic.

Additionally, Nalox boxes are located throughout the county where people can get Narcan if they need it.

(From the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office)

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to receive complaints about telephone scams, email scams, and mail scams.

Multiple reports have been filed where a family member needs money.

The “family member” says they are in jail and needs money to post bond (the requested money amount has been up to $20,000).

Please be aware of these scammers and do not give any personal information to anyone without 1st verifying the information.