The Ohio Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to give snowplows room to work when they’re clearing the roads of snow or treating them with salt.

ODOT said on Tuesday that two snowplows have already been struck in 2024.

“The second plow strike of ’24 happened in Paulding County early this morning when a driver attempted to pass a snowplow,” ODOT said on social media.

“More ice and snow are expected this week. Give plows plenty of room to work and yourself plenty of travel time.”

ODOT’s Matt Bruning is reminding everyone to give plows room to work.

He’s also reminding everyone to obey the state’s move over law, which requires all drivers to move over to an adjacent lane when approaching any vehicle with flashing or rotating lights parked on the roadside.

If moving over is not possible due to traffic or weather conditions, or because a second lane does not exist, motorists should slow down and proceed with caution.

(ONN) – The U.S. Supreme Court will not review a case about blocked railroad crossings.

Ohio and 19 other states asked the court to review the case which would have allowed local prosecutors to go after railroads who block crossings.

As of now, there are no federal statutes governing how long a train can block a crossing.

According to the Union County prosecuting attorney, blocked railroads are a major safety issue.

(From Whirlpool Corporation)

Whirlpool Corporation announced today that it has entered into agreements with One Energy to add onsite wind and solar power at its Findlay and Clyde, Ohio operations. 

The company currently has nine onsite wind turbines at four of its Ohio plants in Findlay, Marion, Greenville and Ottawa.

Combined, those turbines supply 22 percent of the electrical needs for those facilities. These two projects are among the largest behind-the-meter renewable energy projects in the U.S., and once complete will ensure the Clyde and Findlay plants receive at least 70 percent of their energy needs from onsite renewable energy.

The expansion project involves three additional turbines at the company’s Findlay operations, bringing its total number of onsite turbines to five. This will be the first introduction of onsite renewable energy for operations in Clyde, Ohio with the construction of three turbines. A ground solar array will also be installed at each location. The two projects combined will create 40.8 megawatts of renewable energy, bringing Whirlpool Corp. into the top 25 percent of companies on the Environmental Protection Agency’s national Green Power Partnership list.

“Our focus on sustainability goes back over 50 years, and these new onsite installations are a significant step toward achieving our net zero target by 2030 for our operations,” said Pam Klyn, Whirlpool Corporation’s executive vice president of corporate relations and sustainability.

“Sustainability is deeply embedded in our values, and we’re very excited to be making this announcement today.”

The solar and wind projects are expected to be online and operational by early 2025. Each turbine that Whirlpool Corp. has installed to date provides scholarship money in conjunction with One Energy.

For the six new wind turbines, six additional $5,000 scholarships will be awarded per year to students in the local area pursuing a two or four year degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

(From the Ohio Department of Transportation)

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) will close the rest areas on U.S. 23 in Wyandot County and U.S. 30 in Van Wert County on Thursday, Jan. 11, for demolition and replacement.

The work is anticipated to close the rest areas for approximately one year. The locations will be entirely closed with barricades, including the parking lots. 

In Wyandot County, the northbound rest area is located near the village of Carey (mile marker 20.5), and the southbound is located near the city of Upper Sandusky (mile marker 17). The rebuild in Wyandot County will replace all existing structures and construct additional parking areas.

The Van Wert County rest areas are located on U.S. 30 near the village of Convoy (mile marker 8.5). The Van Wert project will replace all existing buildings and resurface parking areas.

The new facilities are expected to open in 2025.

The contractor for both projects is Mosser Construction, Fremont. The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) is administering the construction contracts.

The new structures will be a lodge-style design with everything under one roof, including larger restrooms with adult changing tables, a lobby area with vending and regional tourism information, and an attached and covered outdoor picnic area. Included in the new design are landscape upgrades that include Ohio native plants.

ODOT District 1 Deputy Director Chris Hughes notes that with the closures of the rest facilities, larger numbers of commercial trucks in the area may park for extended periods along highway entrance and exit ramps. 

“We don’t anticipate any issues with the expected increase in trucks parked along ramps, but it is something to be aware of as a passing motorist,” he said.

Through the inconvenience during the closures, Hughes hopes the end result will remain the focus. “We’re excited to provide a fresh and welcoming travel experience for all motorists,” said Hughes.

The nearest open rest areas on U.S. 23 will be those just south of the city of Marion, and on U.S. 30, those to the east in Allen County, near State Route 65, north of the city of Lima.

In May, Governor Mike DeWine announced a plan to update 33 rest areas across 17 locations with all new buildings. Additional parking is also being added where possible. Ohio has 85 rest areas located along major highways, not including those maintained by the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission.

(From Blanchard Valley Center)

Blanchard Valley Center (Hancock County Board of Developmental Disabilities) will host a series of networking events that will be free and open to the public in 2024.

Nadine Weininger, with Blanchard Valley Center, says the first event of the series will be held Jan. 24, 5:30-6:30 p.m., at Blanchard Valley Center, 1700 E. Sandusky Street, Findlay. The topic will be, How did I get here and where do I go next? A panel of parents will discuss their journey of navigating life with a child who has a developmental disability.

Each event will include a 30-minute question-and-answer period, followed by an open house for networking with representatives from resource agencies.

“When we were working on our strategic plan and collecting feedback from stakeholders, we had parents, including board members, who said they wanted opportunities to network with families dealing with similar situations,” said Blanchard Valley Center Superintendent Kelli Grisham. “This gives them the chance to not only talk to other parents or caregivers, but to tap onto other resources, such as recommended doctors or facilities.”

Topics for additional networking events will include:

-Transition and Summer Work. This event will focus on young adults, ages 14-22, as they navigate life after post-secondary education.

-Special Ed 101. A parent panel will discuss their experiences working with local school districts, IEPs, and what involvement looks like.

The dates for the additional sessions are April 10 and August 14, respectively.

“We often hear that parents will receive a diagnosis for their child and don’t know where to turn,” Grisham said. “Understanding the world of developmental disabilities can sometimes be daunting. We want to invite families to these networking events to help in that process. It will give people an opportunity to communicate with a professional, and those with lived experience, in a relaxed environment.”

The City of Findlay has been preparing for the solar eclipse of April, 8th 2024 which is now less than three months away. 

Findlay is within the path of totality and will experience a total solar eclipse of an estimated 3 minutes and 44 seconds beginning at 3:10 p.m.

Service Safety Director Rob Martin says ensuring it’s a safe and enjoyable event for everyone is all about the planning and getting everyone on the same page.

However, there are still many unknowns.

“We know we’re going to have an influx of people, but how many people, we don’t know.”

Rob says from talking to other communities Findlay’s size that have experienced similar eclipses, the city’s preparing for an influx of 3 to 4 times the city’s population.

He says their preparations are focusing on getting safety services ready and the flow of traffic.

Rob’s asking people to be patient as it likely won’t be easy to get around town on the days leading up to and on the day of the eclipse.

He says schools will either not hold classes that day or will do so remotely, to prevent school buses from being on the road at around the same time the eclipse will be happening.

The Solar Eclipse Task Force, which is a collaboration of many local entities, has created a website with information about the eclipse.

The American Red Cross says the blood supply is at such critically low levels they are declaring a nationwide emergency.

The number of donors is at a 20-year low and with a loss of 300,000 donors since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Officials says emptier shelves could force hospitals to make excruciating decisions.

The Red Cross supplies about 40 percent of the blood for the United States and says, while all types of blood donations are needed, type o and platelets are most urgently needed.

Upcoming blood drives in the area include two on Friday; at the Hancock County Red Cross at 125 Fair Street in Findlay from 9 to 3, and at Arlington High School from 8 to 12:30.

Get more information on upcoming blood drives by clicking here.

(From the University of Findlay)

Ten University of Findlay students are the 2023-24 recipients of more than $60,000 through the Business Affiliates Scholarship Program. This University program offers academic scholarships to Oiler students who have graduated from a Hancock County high school or who are employed by Hancock County businesses.

This year’s scholarship recipients are: Lea Pessell, intervention specialist education major from Arcadia; Hanna Breidenbach, exercise science major from Forest; Kayla Reinbolt, business administration-marketing major from Bascom; Adam Hornak, computer science-data analytics major from Slovakia; Cassie Arnett, business administration-marketing major from Piqua; Abigail Hatch, doctor of pharmacy major from Findlay; Samantha Barnette, echocardiography major from West Salem; Audrey Dewey, intervention specialist education major from Cygnet; Owen Styer, computer science major from Kenton; and Nick McCracken, environmental, health, safety, and sustainability major from Findlay.

“We appreciate the many local businesses who are supporting, recruiting, and employing UF graduates,” said Brittany Beltz, ’15 ’23, UF director of corporate engagement, who coordinates the program. “Their efforts are nurturing the talents of new generations of Oilers who choose to establish their careers and lives in the Findlay area.”

The program is administered by the University’s Business Affiliates advisory board, a group of eight Findlay and Hancock County business leaders working with the UF Advancement office.

Erin Schwiebert, chair of the advisory board, said the generous support of Business Affiliates members helps to alleviate the financial burden of students as they pursue their academic endeavors.

“We believe this is a unique opportunity for area companies to impact the aspirations of UF students while contributing to the growth of the local business landscape,” she added.

The Business Affiliates Scholarship Program has secured nearly $700,000 in scholarship contributions during the past 22 years and impacted the financial well-being of 300 UF students financially since its inception in 2001, Beltz noted.

“We are so proud of our UF graduates who have evolved into valuable members of our community,” she said.

For more information on Business Affiliates, visit the program website or call the Advancement Office at 419-434-4008.

Area law enforcement agencies took to social media to honor their ranks during National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on Tuesday.

“Today we join citizens across our country to celebrate the men and women in law enforcement in recognition of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. A special thank you to our officers here at the Findlay Police Department and those that serve Hancock County,” the Findlay Police Department posted on its social media.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office posted, “We would like to thank all law enforcement nationwide, locally and especially our employees at the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office for their dedication and service to the community. We appreciate you all!”

Above is a picture of a Findlay police officer handing out candy during trick-or-treat. 

(From the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)

As winter weather approaches, we would like to remind everyone of what each advisory level means.

A Level 1 Weather Alert means roadways are hazardous, drive with extreme caution.

A Level 2 Weather Advisory means roadways are extremely hazardous with blowing and drifting snow and/or flooding. Only those who feel it is necessary to travel should be on the roadways.

A Level 3 Weather Emergency means most roadways are closed and extremely hazardous. Employees should comply with workplace policies or contact their employer. Violators may be cited.

At any time a level is issued, please tune in to your local media for updates or scan the QR code that is displayed, and it will take you to our website with links that you can select for local news and school closings or delays.

Please do not call our office for weather or level updates; during severe weather, our dispatchers are very busy handling emergency calls.

If you must travel, Have emergency supplies in your vehicle (blankets, water, food, etc.).

Keep all electronic devices charged and ready to go.

Please be patient with emergency personnel, as the demand will be high for all services.

Thank you for your patience.

Remember, you can always get the latest forecast and advisory levels by clicking here, and school closing and cancellations by clicking here.