(From Findlay City Schools)
Our Transportation Team participated in Ohio’s School Bus Safety Road-e-o regional competition on Saturday and earned the Team Spirit Award!
Congratulations to Lora Click and Steven Handler, who qualified for the state-level competition which takes place on October 18th.
Way to represent Trojan Country, Transportation Team!
The Ohio Department of Transportation is letting drivers know of a road closure in Findlay that will force many to take a different route.
ODOT says County Road 99 east of Main Street at the railroad tracks will close on Tuesday, October 7, for approximately five days for railroad crossing repairs and reconstruction.
The suggested detour from ODOT: Main St. to Bigelow Ave. to Bright Rd. to CR 212, back to CR 99.
Get more details in the Facebook post below from ODOT.
(From the Findlay Police Department)
On 10-03-2025 at 2006 hours officers responded to a possibly intoxicated driver near the 1900 block of S. Main Street.
Officers located the vehicle on Western Avenue. After observing traffic violations, they initiated a traffic stop on Western Avenue.
The operator failed to stop and a vehicle pursuit initiated.
The suspect traveled in excess of 75 miles per hour northbound on Western Avenue and eastbound on Lima Avenue.
After crossing S. Main Street, the suspect traveled southbound on Beech Ave. In the 700 block of Beech Avenue the suspect exited the vehicle and fled on foot.
He let the vehicle continue rolling without a driver. It ultimately struck a telephone pole on Beech Avenue, causing minor damage.
The officers engaged in a foot pursuit with the suspect but lost sight of him. He was located in the area shortly thereafter and detained.
After an investigation, the suspect was placed under arrest.
The vehicle was impounded as evidence. There were no injuries reported.
The suspect was identified as 21 year old Hayden Omernik of Findlay, Ohio.
He was incarcerated on charges of: Felony 4 Fleeing and Eluding (ORC 2921.331) Misdemeanor 2 Obstructing Official Business (ORD 525.07) Leaving the scene of an accident (ORD 335.12) No driver’s license (ORD 335.12)
(From Findlay City Schools)
Findlay City Schools is proud to announce that four of our Findlay High School students have been named Commended Students in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program.
According to the National Merit program, these students “represent a valuable national resource.”
We couldn’t agree more. Well done, scholars!
(Pictured left to right: Anna Vennink, Jonathan Reed, Nicholas Kasiborski, Jaycob Bosse)
(From the OHSAA)
The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) has designated the week of Oct. 6-12 as Fall Sports Officials Appreciation Week.
Officials Appreciation Week is part of the OHSAA’s Respect the Game program, which encourages sportsmanship among student-athletes, coaches, officials and spectators, and is held in conjunction with the National Federation of State High School Associations’ (NFHS) National High School Activities Month.
Athletic administrators are encouraged to utilize an OHSAA-provided public address script before all home games during the week and use their social media accounts to show appreciation for contest officials.
“We appreciate each and every one of the nearly 15,000 contest officials in the state of Ohio,” said OHSAA Director of Officiating Beau Rugg. “These individuals spend countless hours in clinics, rules meetings and professional development during the offseason to prepare for their roles, and we are grateful for their ongoing service to Ohio’s student-athletes, coaches and member schools.”
Future appreciation weeks are set for Jan. 12-18, 2026 (winter sports) and April 6-12, 2026 (spring sports).
Raise the Bar Hancock County held its 2025 Career Connections Day at Owens Community College, hosting hundreds of 8th graders from all nine Hancock County school districts.
Raise the Bar Director Tricia Valasek says this year around 800 students participated in hands-on experiences and interactive learning sessions.
As Tricia mentioned in the audio above, Career Connections Day is designed to give students practical exposure to careers and local industries while helping them build a clearer picture of possible futures.
By connecting students directly with business and industry representatives, the event helps bridge the gap between education and employment.
This hands-on experience also encourages students to consider building their futures right here in Hancock County, helping keep local talent in the community and supporting the region’s workforce growth.
(From Hancock County ADAMHS)
Hancock County’s 6th Annual Trauma Conference,”Healing Our Anxious Brain,” will be held Friday, October 17, at the University of Findlay.
The conference will feature clinical psychologist and psychology professor Dr. Catherine M. Pittman, Ph.D., HSPP, who has over 30 years of experience in treating anxiety and neuropsychological rehabilitation for brain injuries and strokes.
The event aims to provide mental health professionals, educators, and community members with insights and strategies to better understand and treat anxiety-related conditions.
Dr. Pittman’s lecture will focus on the neuroscience behind fear and anxiety, providing attendees with evidence-based tools to promote healing and resilience.
The conference will be held from 8:30 am to 12:15 pm on October 17. An optional clinical consultation will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 pm with Dr. Pittman.
Attendees will have an opportunity to meet Dr. Pittman and have her book, “Rewire Your Anxious Brain: How to Use the Neuroscience of Fear to End Anxiety, Panic, and Worry,” personally signed.
Attendees, including social workers, counselors, and other professionals, can earn three Continuing Education Credits for participating in the morning session.
Participants can register online at forms.gle/7Q692FTgZv3PbjEF.
This year’s conference is sponsored by the Hancock ADAMHS Board, Northwest Ohio Trauma Informed Care Collaborative, The University of Findlay Social Work Program, and the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services.
(From the City of Findlay)
We have some new pedestrian alleyway lighting in Downtown Findlay!
This alleyway is located between Roobarb Studios and Scramblers.
Thank you to the Downtown Findlay Improvement District (DFID) for funding this project, the Findlay Traffic Department for performing the work, and the building owners for being on board!
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office has released its monthly report for September.
The sheriff’s office said it closed 2,481 total incidents in September, which included 308 traffic stops, 30 OVI/reckless operation investigations, investigated 76 crashes and executed 42 arrest warrants.
Sheriff Mike Cortez says he’s profoundly grateful for the community’s collaboration and confident in a shared commitment to transparency, accountability, excellence, and professionalism.
The full report is below.
(From Blanchard Valley Health System)
Congratulations to Emily Ulrey, RN, for being a September DAISY Award Recipient!
Emily was nominated by a patient who was moved by her ability to turn a devastating hospital stay into a life-changing, positive experience. “The second she walked into my room, she was like a ray of sunshine and an angel of hope. Emily is the true definition of what a nurse is,” they wrote. She provided the patient with all the necessary tools to recover while also offering compassion, empathetic care, and advocacy.
Thank you, Emily, for your dedication to providing the highest-quality patient care. We are lucky to have you as part of #TeamBVHS.
Pictured (Photo one, left to right): BJ Pasztor, RN, chief nursing officer and chief operations officer of acute care services; Renee Matthews, RN, administrator of Bluffton Hospital; Matt Moser, RN, clinical manager at Bluffton Hospital; Jessica Moore, RN, director of inpatient nursing.