(From Putnam County Office of Public Safety)
Col. Grove Fd, Col. Grove EMS , Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and Putnam EMA responded to an accident involving a semi.
The driver went off the road and hit a parked vehicle.
As a reminder, in bad weather please slow down.
We would love for everyone to get to the place they are trying to get to.
Volunteers are needed to help pick up the wreaths from the Wreaths Across America event held in December at Findlay’s Maple Grove Cemetery.
Wreath clean-up will start at approximately 9 a.m. on Saturday, January 20th at Maple Grove Cemetery.
Volunteers are asked to pick up only those Wreaths Across America wreaths placed in December, leaving any other wreaths or decorations in place.
The National Wreaths Across America organization suggests that it would be helpful if volunteers bring a stick, pole, rake or something equivalent to support carrying multiple wreaths per dumpster trip.
People are advised to dress for the weather and wear gloves and waterproof footwear.
Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, President of Garner Trucking, is the coordinator of the Findlay event at Maple Grove Cemetery.
In the video below, Sherri tells us that 2,100 wreaths were placed at Maple Grove Cemetery in December, an increase of 600 from the previous December.
More than 4,000 wreaths were placed at the seven area cemeteries participating in 2023.
The mission statement of Wreaths Across America is Remember, Honor, Teach.
REMEMBER our fallen Veterans, HONOR those who serve, and TEACH your children the value of freedom.
(From Ohio State University)
Ohio State President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. today announced that Ross Bjork will become the university’s next senior vice president and Wolfe Foundation-Eugene Smith Endowed Athletics Director, pending approval by the Board of Trustees. Bjork, who has more than 30 years of experience in intercollegiate athletics, will begin his tenure as athletics director at Ohio State on July 1, 2024.
A former student-athlete, Bjork’s career in athletics administration has consistently focused on competitive success, advances in the student-athlete experience and academic excellence.
“Few athletics directors have established such an impressive and strong record of success in athletics, in the classroom and throughout the community,” Carter said. “The bar is incredibly high at Ohio State, and we have found in Ross a highly intelligent and effective leader – not to mention a fierce competitor.”
Bjork currently serves as director of athletics at Texas A&M University, overseeing more than 600 student-athletes competing at the Division I level in 20 varsity sports.
During his tenure, the school has set new records in overall grade point average, NCAA Graduate Success Rate and NCAA Academic Progress Rate. At the same time, Bjork played a leading role in launching the largest fundraising campaign in Texas A&M athletics’ history outside of the redevelopment of Kyle Field. It features the construction of an academic and wellness center, football indoor performance center and indoor track stadium, as well as a redevelopment of the Bright Football Complex.
At Texas A&M and throughout his career, Bjork is also recognized for hiring successful coaches. All three of his 2021 head coach hires had outstanding first seasons, with baseball advancing to the final four of the Men’s College World Series, women’s golf advancing to the semi-final match at the NCAA Championships and men’s golf qualifying for the national meet for the first time since 2019.
In the spring of 2021, Bjork provided input and guidance to leaders in the Texas legislature in the development of a name, image and likeness law. He then oversaw the creation of AMPLIFY and AMPLIFY Local Exchange, which equips student-athletes with education and resources related to finance, personal branding, networking and media training.
“The college athletics landscape is changing each day, and Ohio State was firmly committed to finding an athletics director who would lead us with confidence and innovative thinking into the future,” said Hiroyuki Fujita, chair of the university’s Board of Trustees. “Ross Bjork possesses all the qualities we had envisioned – and more – and I am thrilled to welcome him to our Buckeye family.”
Before arriving at Texas A&M, Bjork served as director of athletics and vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics at the University of Mississippi. When hired, he was the youngest athletics director among the Power 5 conferences. He reorganized the external relations structure, including a new partnership with IMG Properties; created the unit for Health and Sports Performance, combining sports medicine, strength and conditioning, nutrition and counseling services; and appointed executive-level administrators for academic support, finance and facilities/game operations. Also, during Bjork’s tenure, Mississippi achieved its highest Learfield Directors Cup finish in the history of the institution.
Prior to that, Bjork was the director of intercollegiate athletics at Western Kentucky University, where the institution’s athletics teams and student-athletes saw immediate success in football, men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, cross country and more. Also, under Bjork’s watch at Western Kentucky, the overall cumulative average GPA was over 3.0 for all 391 student-athletes for the first time in program history.
Additionally, he has worked on the senior athletics staffs at the University of California, Los Angeles (2005-2010), University of Miami (2003-2005) and University of Missouri (1997-2003). He began his administrative career at Western Kentucky as an assistant development coordinator in 1996.
“I have been extraordinarily blessed to be a product of college athletics as a student-athlete and fortunate to work with so many outstanding student-athletes, coaches, staff and university leaders throughout my career, and Ohio State represents the culmination of these efforts,” Bjork said. “To be a part of Buckeye Nation, along with its storied traditions and long history of achievement, is a tremendous honor and a welcome challenge for me and our family. I can’t wait to get started.”
Bjork will succeed longtime Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith, who announced in the summer that he would retire in July 2024. A national search for Ohio State’s next athletics leader began soon after, including a university search advisory committee of faculty, staff, students and Buckeyes in the greater community.
“Ross is uniquely equipped to step into our Buckeye community and make an immediate impact,” Smith said. “As I have said, Ohio State has afforded me the professional opportunity of a lifetime, and I am forever grateful. My final, important project over the next several months will be to work with Ross to ensure a smooth and effective transition with our student-athletes, coaches, department staff and university leaders.”
As senior vice president and Wolfe Foundation-Eugene Smith Endowed Athletics Director, Bjork will be a member of the university’s President’s Cabinet. Additionally, he currently serves as the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) 1st vice president and is on the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Experience Committee. He has served as part of numerous national organizations, including the NCAA Division I Working Group on Transfers and NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee, and as chair of the Southeastern Conference Awards Committee.
Bjork and his wife, Sonya, have two sons. He received his bachelor’s degree in recreation administration from Emporia State University in Kansas, where he played fullback on the football team, and earned a master’s degree in athletic administration from Western Illinois University. His mother is a native of Williamstown, Ohio, where she grew up on the family’s farm. She remains an ardent supporter of TBDBITL.
(From the Tiffin Police Department)
Please join me in congratulating these deserving public servants for their service to this community. All the named officers/dispatchers were recognized at tonight’s City Council Meeting.
Perfect Attendance:
Officer Liz Miller
Officer Kaden Wuescher
Officer Michael Moore (Not Pictured)
Community Service Award:
Officer Marcus Somers
Leadership Award:
Lieutenant Jake DeMonte
Officer Brent Riley
Officer of the Year:
Officer Andrew Stevens
Dispatcher of the Year:
Patricia McIntyre (Not Pictured)
Congrats to all of you!! I’m extremely proud to be your Chief and to work alongside each and every one of you!
Chief Pauly
HATS Transportation is having a transit development study done to learn how they can better serve Findlay and Hancock County
People are being asked to fill out the survey and let HATS (Hancock Area Transportation Services) know what they want and will support.
“Do you want fixed route service with bus stops? Let us know by taking our survey. We want to hear from as many community members as possible.”
Click here to fill out the survey, and here for the HATS website.
Preparations are underway for the final phase of the Greenway Trail project in Findlay – phase III.
Phase III will be along the north side of State Route 568 and take the trail from County Road 236 out to Township Road 241, the road with the covered bridge and entrance to Riverbend Recreation Area.
The ten-foot-wide multi-use path will be on the north side of State Route 568 and cross over to the south side at Township Road 241.
Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn says their goal is to create safe paths to increase recreational opportunities.
Construction is anticipated to take place in 2026. The city says 90 to 95 percent of the cost will be covered by the Ohio Department of Transportation with the city covering the rest.
Phase II was recently completed, taking the Greenway Trail over the Blanchard River along State Route 568 and to County Road 236.
Phase I took the trail from the downtown area along East Main Cross Street to Eastpoint Landing near Bright Road.
The new Hancock County Judicial Center Building is being named after a longtime judge for the Probate and Juvenile Court.
The new facility will be named the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center.
The new three-story, 47,000 square foot building (rendering below) will be home to Probate and Juvenile Court, which are currently located in a building just east of that location.
Construction is progressing on the new building at 209 West Main Cross Street in Findlay, next to the post office. It’s anticipated to be finished in November.
The following information about Judge Davis is from the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation which oversees the Allan H. Davis Fund.
A native of Findlay, Judge Davis graduated from Findlay High School in 1961. After graduating from Bowling Green State University and Ohio Northern University College of Law, Judge Davis began his legal practice with the firm formerly known as Oxley, Davis, Oxley in 1968 in Findlay. He worked for the firm until he began his career as a judge for the Probate and Juvenile Court.
Judge Davis served as the chairperson for the L. Dale Dorney fund of The Cleveland Foundation until 1997 and now served as a member of The Community Foundation’s Finance and Investment Committee.
Judge Davis established this fund as a donor advised fund to support his charitable giving. After his passing, he requested that the fund be used by the Foundation to support its responsive grantmaking.
(From the Ohio Library Council)
The Ohio Library Council’s Board of Directors held its first meeting of the new year on Jan. 12 and is pleased to announce that Sarah Clevidence, director of the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library, will serve as Chair of its Board of Directors, replacing Laura Lee Wilson, director of the Huron County Community Library, who will serve as Past Chair.
Mary Ellen Icaza, director of the Stark County District Library is Chair-Elect and Stacey Russell, executive director of the Muskingum County Library System is Secretary-Treasurer. All officers will serve one-year terms.
“I’m honored to serve as the Chair of the Board of Directors for OLC in 2024,” Clevidence said.
“And look forward to working with my fellow board members to ensure that Ohio’s public libraries remain the best in the nation.”
The board also welcomed newly-elected members Travis Bautz, director of the MidPointe Library System and Sandra Hedlund Tunnell, trustee with the Ashland Public Library.
Returning board members for 2024 include:
• Kathy Bach, Public Services Director, Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library
• Julianne Bedel, Director, Medina County District Library
• Aimee Fifarek, Director, Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County
• Robert Jenkins, Trustee, Dr. Samuel L. Bossard Memorial Library
• Cheryl Kuonen, Director, Mentor Public Library
• Richard Rubin, Trustee, Cuyahoga Falls Public Library
• Jennifer Slone, Access Director, Chillicothe & Ross County Public Library
“We are so fortunate to have these talented and well accomplished individuals join and serve on the OLC Board,” said Michelle Francis, executive director of the Ohio Library Council. “This is a busy time for our members. Our libraries are working hard to help teachers and students as the state transitions to the Science of Reading. They’re also expanding services to meet the unique needs of their communities. Many libraries are providing these services with less staff and from aging buildings in need of repair. I’m grateful for these volunteer leaders who have stepped up to continue our mission and to ensure that Ohio’s public libraries remain the best in the nation.”
(The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library is undergoing some changes to freshen things up and you can get more on that by clicking here.)
(ONN) – State Treasurer Robert Sprague’s office has started a new program called ‘Ohio Homebuyer Plus‘ that will help Ohioans save for a down payment.
Essentially, it’s a savings account designed to encourage home ownership.
It works by giving qualified homeowners a savings account with a higher interest rate so their money grows faster to put down a down payment on a home.
On with WFIN’s Chris Oaks, Sprague says affordable housing is a big issue in Ohio.
To participate in the program must be an Ohio resident and your savings can’t exceed $100,000.
Get more details by clicking here.
We haven’t had much snow this winter, but eventually we’ll get a winter storm that makes the roads difficult to navigate.
Findlay Police Department Crime Prevention Officer Brian White was on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks to share some winter driving safety tips.
Brian says the best thing is to stay off the roads when they’re snow-covered and icy, but if you have to be on the road make sure you clear all the snow and ice off your windshields and give yourself extra time to reach your destination so you can slow down on the road.
Get more tips from Office White in his interview with WFIN’s Chris Oaks below.
Get the latest forecast, weather alerts, and road alerts by clicking here. And get school closings and delays by clicking here.