(From the Tiffin Police Department)

I had the distinct honor of joining Seneca County Sheriff Fred Stevens at Tiffin University for the 2024 Naturalization Ceremony.

Together, we witnessed an incredible moment as individuals took their final, and perhaps most meaningful, step in the journey to becoming citizens of the United States of America.

Surrounded by their loved ones, these new citizens embraced the promise of their new home, and the room was filled with hope, pride, and gratitude.

It was truly a privilege to be part of such an inspiring event that celebrates the diversity and strength of our nation.

A heartfelt thank you to Tiffin University for hosting this beautiful ceremony and for inviting us to share in this special day.

Moments like these remind us of the profound gift of citizenship and the incredible stories that continue to shape the fabric of our great country.

It was a reminder of what makes this nation so special and why we should never take our freedoms for granted.

Congratulations to our newest citizens—welcome home!

Chief David Pauly

(From Findlay City Schools)

It’s a big last week before Winter Break in Trojan Country!

In addition to Winter Spirit Week, don’t forget our two-hour early release on Friday for teachers to finish end-of-quarter grades!

Monday, December 16: Rudolph and Grinch (Red and Green)

Tuesday, December 17: Winter Wonderland (blue, white, snowflakes)

Wednesday, December 18: Holiday Cheer (Holiday accessories—hats, socks, etc…)

Thursday, December 19: Holiday Sweaters (FCS Preschool Only: Fancy Day)

Friday, December 20: Long Winter’s Nap (Pajama Day)

There will be a traffic shift on County Road 99 as part of the Interstate 75/County Road 99 interchange and corridor improvement project on the north end of Findlay.

The Ohio Department of Transportation says traffic will shift to the south side of County Road 99 from Speedway Drive to North Main Street on Wednesday, December 18 to complete drainage work on the north side.

One lane of travel will be maintained in both directions.

The Interstate 75/County Road 99 project is reconstructing the interchange with a diverging diamond design and upgrading the County Road 99 corridor between Technology Drive and North Main Street to reduce congestion and improve safety.

(From the Findlay Police Department)

We were alerted to an online scam where an area resident was sent an email claiming to be from the “Violations and Fines Office”.

The title of the email states “Notice of Traffic Violation”.

The email alleges that the account holder had violated a traffic law (in this case speeding in downtown Findlay) and is required to pay a fine within 72 hours at the online payment center.

The email conveniently provides a link to direct the account holder to a payment page.

The email also states that it is an “automated message sent on behalf of the Violations and Fines Office.”

While Findlay Municipal Court does accept online payments for traffic violations, they do not send out notices of violations such as this.

For actual violations, a paper citation will be issued at the time of stop, or investigation by a law enforcement officer with directions on how to resolve it.

Please be aware of this Phishing scam and DO NOT respond to it.

Please share with those in your circles of influence to prevent them from becoming a victim.

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) financial services associates are available to answer any questions or concerns regarding billing statements, including information about financial assistance that might be available.

The process of applying for financial assistance was recently simplified for the patient. BVHS has partnered with healthcare technology company Breez Health to streamline the application process.

Patients can now visit the BVHS website to apply and upload documents, which will then be sent to the Patient Financial Services (PFS) team.

“I’m excited about its simplicity,” said Brittney Larsen, credit and collections manager with PFS. “In the past, patients had to enter information manually, which was more time-consuming. This makes the process of applying for financial assistance much easier.”

“BVHS is here to serve our community with quality healthcare, but we are also committed to being exceptional throughout the organization,” said Myron D. Lewis, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of Blanchard Valley Health System. “Integrating this technology into our financial assistance programs streamlines the process of applying for financial assistance with an online platform that is easier to use. It’s just one more way we use the latest technology to ensure we can best support our community.”

Based on income guidelines, PFS associates can determine if the patient qualifies for Medicaid. If not, they may be eligible for assistance programs offered by BVHS.

“We encourage patients to start the conversation and reach out if they have any questions,” Larsen said. “We are here as a resource. Often, patients have questions about some aspect of their bill, such as what is covered by insurance and what is not. Our team is trained to explain these things and can review the bill with a patient. Sometimes, patients call their insurance company again after speaking with us and gathering more information.”

Additionally, PFS associates can provide information about available financial assistance to some patients. These associates ask questions about the patient’s income and household size and can help them apply for appropriate programs. In some cases, patients over the income levels for programs based on income might still qualify for other assistance, depending on their situation.

“If a patient has any questions, it’s better for both parties that they reach out and call us,” Larsen said. “We recognize that sometimes patients may have financial difficulties, and we may be able to help in ways they haven’t considered. If a bill is not paid, we need to resolve the situation, but we would rather discuss any issues than simply be left wondering. Please call us if you have questions and return the call if we reach out about a bill.”

In addition to discussing assistance programs, PFS associates can also review payment plan options. A payment plan of up to three months can be offered directly through BVHS, and a longer payment plan known as ClearBalance is also now an option. ClearBalance is an extended payment plan option where patients pay 0% interest through an account on the ClearBalance portal.

Larsen added that the associates in her department are happy to discuss the situation with the patient, especially if they can’t figure out an issue.

“Our associates will go the extra mile, as they want to help our patients and provide them with more information,” she said.

To apply for financial assistance, please visit https://www.bvhealthsystem.org/patient-and-visitor-information/im-a-patient/billing-and-insurance/financial-assistance.

If you have questions about a bill, please call 419.423.5310.

An individual who wishes to remain anonymous has donated $1 million towards the effort to install a monument to women’s suffrage at the Ohio Statehouse.

The Capitol Square Foundation says the donation was given in tribute to Jo Ann Davidson, the first woman to become Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives.

Davidson, who was from Findlay, died in October.

Learn more about the Ohio Women’s Monument planned for the Ohio Statehouse by clicking here.

An organization has been working again this year to give a few area families the Best Christmas Ever and their hard work is about to pay off.

The charity Best Christmas Ever helps out families who have fallen on hard times at no fault of their own.

This weekend the organization will be surprising two Findlay-area families with a custom and unique Best Christmas Ever tailored to each family’s situation. 

Jaclyn Pessel, of Best Christmas Ever, says what they do wouldn’t be possible without the generous community we live in.

“You get more out of giving than you do receiving, and you can see by how many people were here that people want to give and to help and there’s so many good people out there.”

You can learn more about Best Christmas Ever by checking out their website here and Findlay Facebook page here.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation)

A new scholarship fund was recently established at the Foundation to support a high school graduate, with a preference for Van Buren High School, pursuing agriculture or an agriculture-related field.

The Frank Farms Educational Trust Scholarship was established in memory of Merle Franks by his grandchildren Angela Middleton and Dustin Drerup. Merle Franks was born on the family farm in Van Buren. He was a third-generation farmer whose farm is still run by the family today.

To learn more or donate to the newly established fund visit: https://www.community-foundation.com/…/franks-farm…

The Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation’s North Pole Express is a holiday tradition for many and this year it is once again part of the Ohio Holiday Lights Trail.

This is the fourth year that the North Pole Express will be a featured display on the Holiday Lights Trail.

Jim Gabriel, Vice President of the NWORRP, considers their North Pole Express Findlay’s premier holiday light display.

The North Pole Express runs on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through December 29.

It’s closed on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Learn more about Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation by clicking here.

They are located at 12505 County Road 99 in Findlay.

(From Premier Financial Corp.)

WesBanco, Inc. (“WesBanco”) (Nasdaq: WSBC) and Premier Financial Corp. (“Premier”) (Nasdaq: PFC) today announced that WesBanco’s shareholders and Premier’s shareholders have each voted overwhelmingly to adopt and approve, as applicable, all proposals relating to the previously announced merger agreement for WesBanco to acquire Premier. The votes were held at the respective special meetings of WesBanco’s shareholders and Premier’s shareholders today. Approximately 85% of the votes cast at WesBanco’s special meeting voted to approve the merger and to approve the proposal to issue shares of WesBanco common stock as described in the joint proxy statement/prospectus for the special meeting, and approximately 68% of the outstanding shares of Premier common stock voted to approve the proposal to adopt the merger agreement.

“Shareholder approval is a key milestone that reflects strong confidence in the opportunities this merger creates for our communities, customers, employees and shareholders,” said Jeff Jackson, President and Chief Executive Officer of WesBanco. “With this step complete, we look forward to receiving the required regulatory approvals and then scheduling the closing of the merger, so we can bring our community commitment and the resources of a stronger organization to all of our communities.”

With the completion of this critical milestone, the companies believe the merger is on track to close during the first quarter of 2025. The transaction remains subject to the completion of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required regulatory approvals.

The merger will create a regional financial services institution with approximately $27 billion in assets, significant economies of scale, and strong pro forma profitability metrics. With complementary and contiguous geographic footprints, the combined company would be the 8th largest bank in Ohio, based on deposit market share, have increased presence in Indiana, and serve customers in nine states.

About WesBanco, Inc.

With over 150 years as a community-focused, regional financial services partner, WesBanco Inc. (NASDAQ: WSBC) and its subsidiaries build lasting prosperity through relationships and solutions that empower our customers for success in their financial journeys. Customers across our eight-state footprint choose WesBanco for the comprehensive range and personalized delivery of our retail and commercial banking solutions, as well as trust, brokerage, wealth management and insurance services, all designed to advance their financial goals. Through the strength of our teams, we leverage large bank capabilities and local focus to help make every community we serve a better place for people and businesses to thrive. Headquartered in Wheeling, West Virginia, WesBanco has $18.5 billion in total assets, with our Trust and Investment Services holding $6.1 billion of assets under management and securities account values (including annuities) of $1.9 billion through our broker/dealer, as of September 30, 2024. Learn more at www.wesbanco.com and follow @WesBanco on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Premier Financial Corp.

Premier Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: PFC), headquartered in Defiance, Ohio, is the holding company for Premier Bank. Premier Bank, headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio, operates 73 branches and nine loan offices in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Pennsylvania and also serves clients through a team of wealth professionals dedicated to each community banking branch. For more information, visit Premier’s website at www.PremierFinCorp.com.