(From the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library)

Calling all plant enthusiasts! Come swap plants and chat with other plant lovers on Saturday, May 10 from 1 to 3.

The first half hour will be for those donating plants to get their first pick.

Any extras after are free to all. Houseplants, perennials, and annuals are all accepted.

We will be on the sidewalk in front of the library, or in case of rain, in the Bookmobile Garage to the rear of the library off of North Cory Street. 

-Plants must be healthy and pest free
-Cuttings and seedlings are welcome
-No invasive species
-Please label plants
-Must be in soil or water

(From the University of Findlay)

The University of Findlay will host Commencement ceremonies for 2025 graduates on Saturday, May 10 in the Koehler Fitness and Recreation Complex.

The Class of 2025 is comprised of 861 students, ranging from the age of 18 to 56, and has completed 19 associate degrees, 453 bachelor’s degrees, 284 master’s degrees, and 120 doctoral degrees.

By college, there are 61 graduates from the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; 156 from College of Business; 82 from College of Education; 282 from College of Health Professions; 50 from College of Pharmacy; and 242 from College of Sciences.

Graduates come from 21 countries and 35 states, including 500 from Ohio. There also are 15 veterans or currently-serving members of the U.S. military in this class.

Two College Credit Plus (CCP) students are graduating from high school this month – and graduating from UF with an Associate of Arts in General Studies, gaining a jump start on their college careers.

The Class of 2025 joins 27,748 living alumni of Findlay College and University of Findlay around the world.

Paul Worstell, MBA ’99, retired president of Pro-Tec Coating Co., will speak at the morning graduate ceremony and receive an honorary degree. After 26 years working with US Steel in Pittsburgh, Paul became president of PRO-TEC Coating Company, a joint venture of US Steel and Kobe Steel Japan in Leipsic, Ohio. He retired in 2010 and went on to serve as a business coach and as CEO of the Findlay Family YMCA. At the University, he has served as a Dana Chair, a member of the College of Business Advisory Board, and an advisor for the Fukui educational exchange program. In 2015, he was named a UF Distinguished Alumnus.

At the afternoon undergraduate ceremony, Emmy Award-winning author/illustrator Marc Brown will address the graduates. He is the creator of the beloved “Arthur” books and PBS children’s series.

Brown recently donated the majority of his original artwork – more than 1,000 pieces – to the University’s Mazza Museum.

He will also give a free presentation, open to the public, at 7 p.m., on Saturday, May 10 in the TLB auditorium of the Winebrenner Building on the UF campus. For more information on the evening program, visit oilers.findlay.edu/marc-brown.

Doors will open at 8 a.m. for the graduate ceremony, with the formal procession to begin at 9 a.m. For the undergraduate ceremony, doors will open at 2 p.m., and the formal procession begins at 3 p.m. Following each ceremony, graduates will participate in Findlay’s long-standing tradition of marching back through the Griffith Memorial Arch.

Commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live by UFTV on its YouTube Channel, UFTV Productions.

A Baccalaureate Worship Service will take place at 6 p.m., Friday, May 9 in the TLB auditorium of Winebrenner to honor and support the graduating Class of 2025 with encouragement and prayers. The Christian faith-based ceremony invites all participants to reflect, celebrate, and send the UF graduates forward with hope and blessings.

(From the United Way of Hancock County)

Over 850 volunteers are spread out at project sites throughout the county during United Way of Hancock County’s Days of Caring event this week.

The biannual volunteer event matches employees of area corporations and small businesses with nonprofits and other service agencies in need of some extra hands. Spring Days of Caring will run May 5-9, with 861 volunteers working to complete 85 landscaping, building, organizing, painting, planting and construction projects for 32 different organizations.

A total of 94 volunteer teams will work in four-hour shifts at locations throughout Hancock County. Days of Caring teams will also support home projects that have been vetted by Backyard Mission Trip.

The volunteers will complete 3,444 service hours, a value to the community of about $119,820, based on Independent Sector’s national value of a volunteer hour of $34.79 for 2025. That is money organizations can save to put directly toward their mission and services.

“As a nonprofit, we know the immense value just one volunteer can bring to an organization,” said United Way of Hancock County CEO Kelley McClurkin. “It’s exciting to think about the impact over 850 volunteers can make in a community in a week, and soon we’ll be able to see the results of their hard work throughout Hancock County. Thank you to everyone who has opted in to this great week of service.”

United Way of Hancock County will host a second opportunity to participate in Days of Caring from Sept. 15-17. A separate registration will open for those dates later this year.

Volunteers United, United Way’s in-house volunteer center, placed over 10,000 volunteer hours in 2024. Visit liveunitedhancockcounty.org/volunteersunited for more information about Days of Caring or how you can get involved with other local volunteer efforts.

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) will hold a community open house showcasing its new Wellness Park campus from 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 8.

This community event will feature a ribbon-cutting with the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce.

Guided tours will be available, allowing community members to learn about the comprehensive care offered at Wellness Park. Conveniently located near I-75 on the north end of Findlay, the campus brings together primary care and a variety of specialties at one centralized location.

Services offered include primary care, pediatrics, endocrinology, diabetes management, rheumatology, orthopedics, podiatry, sports medicine, pediatric rehabilitation, and various rehabilitation therapies (physical, occupational, and speech). BVHS also offers imaging and laboratory services right on-site.

Wellness Park aims to address the growing challenges of chronic conditions like diabetes while expanding primary care options.

The site features an expanded Julie A. Cole Rehab & Sports Medicine with an on-site gym area along with a dedicated pediatric rehab space for occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, and behavioral health therapy.

Wellness Park is located at 3401 and 3411 Wellness Way, Findlay.

For more information, please call 1.833.509.WELL or visit bvhealthsystem.org/wellness

The votes cast in the Allen Township zoning resolution issue on Tuesday’s Primary Ballot will be counted on Tuesday, a judge ruled.

Hancock County Common Pleas Court Judge Jonathan Starn Tuesday morning issued a decision overruling a request by One Power Company to temporarily prevent the counting of votes on the issue.

However, One Power Company’s efforts to nullify the votes will proceed and a pretrial hearing in the case will be held on Wednesday afternoon.

Learn more about the zoning resolution Allen Township residents are voting on Tuesday by clicking here.

(From the Ohio Department of Transportation)

HANCOCK COUNTY: STATE ROUTE 568 CLOSURE

SR 568 on the southeast side of the city of Findlay will close Thursday, May 15, for approximately 60 days to rehabilitate two bridges:

• Over the Blanchard River between TT 234 and CR 236
• Over Glauner Ditch between CR 236 and CR 237

Truck detour: SR 37 to SR 15 to SR 330, back to SR 568

NOTE: SR 37 will reopen before SR 568 closes.

Visit us on OHGO.com for the latest highway information:

https://www.ohgo.com/nw-ohio?lt=41.014088779928635&ln=-83.62334229595541&z=13&ls=incident,construction,construction-future,camera

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Area youth can participate in “Grief Trails,” a specialized day camp designed to support children and teens who have experienced the loss of a loved one.

“Grief Trails” is sponsored by Bridge Home Health & Hospice, a division of Blanchard Valley Health System, and will take place this July at Challenged Champions Equestrian Center in Ottawa, Ohio.

This year’s program will offer two age-specific sessions, one on Monday, July 21, and the other on Monday, July 28.

Registration for the program is required by Monday, June 2.

To learn more about “Grief Trails,” please visit https://bvhs.info/4l74Mtm today.

(From the Findlay Fire Department)

Why is it important to have working smoke detectors? To practice an escape plan?

To sleep with the bedroom doors closed?

Because the amount of time we have to escape a house fire has been greatly reduced.

Fire Inspector Eric Wilkins on the importance of working smoke detectors.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says a vehicle crashed into the Pilot Travel Center at 11471 State Route 613 at the Van Buren exit of Interstate 75. 

It happened at approximately 12:25 p.m. on Thursday.

The sheriff’s office says Brandon Stengle, 36, of Toledo, lost control of his vehicle while exiting from southbound Interstate 75, crossed State Route 613, entered the parking lot of the Pilot and crashed through the side of it.

Stengle was transported to Blanchard Valley Hospital for his injuries.

The sheriff’s office said the Pilot sustained major damage from the impact.

No customers were in the store as it was closed for renovations.

The crash remains under investigation.

(above pic courtesy of Elizabeth Knott)

(From the State Fire Marshal)

Investigators with the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal have determined that a house fire in Wyandot County last Sunday was caused by arson. They are now seeking tips from the public to help identify those responsible.

At 2:26 a.m. on Sunday, April 27, 2025, the Wharton Fire Department was dispatched by the Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office to a structure fire at 16264 Township Highway 45 in Wharton.

When firefighters arrived on scene, they found a vacant house fully engulfed in flames, most of which had collapsed into the basement and crawlspace. Firefighters worked quickly to extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported.

During the investigation, the fire was determined to have been intentionally set.

A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered by the Blue Ribbon Arson Committee for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Anyone with information is urged to contact the State Fire Marshal’s tip line at 800-589-2728 or the Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office at 419-294-2362. All tips will be thoroughly investigated.