(From Findlay Firefighters Local 381)

There’s a New Badge 1 in Town

With the retirement of Dave Morse, the tradition of passing “Badge 1” or the most senior firefighter continues. This morning at 0745, Dave passed on Badge 1 to Mike Metzker in front of his family, shift, and friends!

While Dave did not hold the honors for long he said it best: “it’s not how long you have the badge, just having it is the honor”.

Mike holds 30 years with the department as well, with the intention of a few more years in the saddle before retiring himself. Congrats Mikey!

The 2025 Cops & Kids Findlay Halloween Parade presented by loanDepot will be held on Tuesday, October 21, beginning at 7 p.m. on South Main Street from Sixth Street/Lake Cascades Parkway to Lima Street. 

This year’s theme is “Be a Hero, Be a Champion.” Parade participants are encouraged to highlight individuals or groups they consider champions and heroes, including community helpers, public figures, or personal role models.

“This parade is about community, creativity, and connection,” said Teresa White, director of the Fort Findlay FOP Lodge #20 Foundation. “We can’t wait to see how participants bring our theme to life.”

In the audio below, Teresa talks about some new additions to the parade this year. 

Early Bird parade registration opened on September 8 and standard registration begins on October 1, and the final deadline to register is midnight on October 14. Entries are open to families, schools, businesses, and organizations. Spots are limited and fill quickly, so early registration is encouraged. Click here to register and for more details.

Proceeds from the parade benefit the Cops & Kids Champion Fund, which supports programs that foster positive relationships between local youth and law enforcement throughout the year.

Follow updates and announcements at facebook.com/FortFindlayFOP.

Findlay’s Trick-or-Treat is scheduled for Saturday, October 25, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Parts of Hancock County are now experiencing extreme drought conditions, according to the latest map from the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Last week, Findlay was in the Severe Drought category, and, despite, the rain we’ve received this week, parts of the area have been bumped up into the Extreme Drought category as overall drought conditions in the region expand. 

The latest map, released on Thursday, September 25, shows that the northern half of Hancock County up into Wood County and the northeast corner of Putnam County, are identified in Extreme Drought, while the southern half of Hancock County is in the Severe Drought category. 

“This week’s rainfall will be too late for many area farmers,” said WTOL-11 Meteorologist John Burchfield. “Unfortunately, it looks like another very dry weather pattern is about to unfold.”

(ONN) – After a 90-day trial, the use of Tasers in Ohio’s prisons is expected to increase.

Ohio’s new prison Taser program is expanding after a trial run at a pair of facilities.

In May, the prison system director asked lawmakers for extra money to put Tasers in every prison.

At the time, the state was only days into testing them at a single facility.

Now, a new report shows what happened during that 90-day trial.

More than 600 staff members were trained with use of force incidents at the prisons dropping by half during that time.

The Findlay Police Department says a driver was issued a citation for striking a bicyclist when making a turn.

It happened in the 2000 block of Park Street at around 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

Police said Martha Powell, 79, of Findlay, was driving northbound on Park Street when she began to turn into a driveway and struck a 30-year-old man from Findlay who was southbound on Park Street on a bicycle.

Police said the man suffered minor injuries.

Police said both the bicycle and the woman’s car sustained disabling damage, and the car was towed from the scene.

Powell was issued a citation for failure to yield.

Findlay Municipal Court is providing people with driver’s license restrictions an opportunity to resolve their issues.

The 7th annual Findlay Municipal Court DUS Day Clinic will be held on Thursday, October 16.

The DUS workshop is for individuals with a suspended driver’s license to help resolve their licensing issues and get them back on the road legally.

Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome

For more information click here, or to schedule an appointment contact the Clerk’s office at 419-424-7141.

(From Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Ohio)

Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine announced a new statewide initiative designed to enroll more Ohio children immediately after birth in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio. Studies have shown that books in the home, such as the books the Imagination Library provides to children from birth to age five, and more reading can increase Kindergarten Readiness Assessment scores.

First Lady DeWine made the announcement that signing up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program is now part of the Ohio birth certificate paperwork process today during the 2025 First Lady’s Luncheon. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine also participated in the program, along with country music legend Zac Brown. 

“Research has shown that 80 percent of a child’s brain is developed by age three, so we want to get books into the home as early as possible in order to have the most impact,” said First Lady DeWine. “I am thrilled to announce that now, as part of the Ohio birth certificate process, moms and dads will learn about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio and have the chance to sign up at the hospital before they head home with their newborn. One simple checkmark will give Ohio’s little ones a great start in life.”

Imagination Library books have been available to newborns, but through this new enrollment initiative, more families will know that this program is available to them in the very first few days that their child is eligible to sign up. Enrollment at birth will result in more young children receiving the complete collection – all 60 books – that the Imagination Library offers. Opting into the program results in one age-appropriate book mailed to the child’s home every month until he or she turns five years old.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio is a book gifting program available to all Ohio children between birth and age 5. Families can sign up for free books at OhioImaginationLibrary.org.

WFIN – Currently, more than 2,400 children in Hancock County are in the program, and more than 5,500 participated in the program and aged out of it.

Above is a picture of Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine reading a book to kids in Findlay to promote Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

(From the Ohio Department of Transportation)

Winter, already?

ODOT is hiring seasonal CDL drivers to assist with our winter operations.

What You Will Do:

Perform snow & ice operations, operate heavy equipment, maintenance of traffic & flagging, and highway maintenance & repair work.

Apply online: https://dasstateoh.taleo.net/care…/oh_ext/jobdetail.ftl…

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

Do you think a career with the Ohio State Highway Patrol is the right fit for you? We are pleased to emphasize an ongoing opportunity for individuals considering a career as an Ohio state trooper to participate in our ride-along program.

The Patrol’s ride-along program is an immersive experience that offers potential recruits a firsthand look into the daily duties and responsibilities of our troopers. Participants will ride in a cruiser alongside a trooper for a day, afternoon or night shift. They will observe troopers responding to calls for service, conducting traffic stops and engaging with the public.   

“We understand that choosing a career with the Patrol is a significant decision,” said Major Michael D. Kemmer, Office of Training, Recruitment and Professional Operations Commander. “Our ride-along program is designed to give prospective applicants an authentic glimpse into the challenging yet rewarding work our troopers do every day to keep Ohio safe.”

The ride-along program is specifically geared towards individuals who are genuinely interested in pursuing a career with the Patrol. To be eligible for a ride-along, applicants must:

• Hold a valid driver’s license
• Be age 18-39
• Participate in a brief interview with the post commander before the ride-along

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is committed to recruiting and training highly motivated individuals who wish to serve their state and community by joining the next generation of state troopers.

Anyone interested in participating in a ride-along is encouraged to contact their local Ohio State Highway Patrol post. Contact information for all posts can be found here. More information regarding our ride-along program can be found here.

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Birchaven Village, a division of Blanchard Valley Health System, has been recognized as one of “America’s Best Nursing Homes 2026” by Newsweek.

One of the challenges of aging is finding the proper care from trusted sources. Families want to know that their loved ones are in good hands during a new phase of life. Nursing homes play a vital role in providing essential services, whether for general care or medical assistance in day-to-day living. Newsweek and Statista are partnering again to rank America’s Best Nursing Homes 2026 to assist seniors and their loved ones in evaluating long-term care options.

This year’s list recognizes nursing homes across the 25 states with the highest number of facilities, based on data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The top nursing homes in each state were assessed and ranked according to four key pillars: performance data, recommendations from medical professionals, accreditations, and resident satisfaction.

“We are honored to be recognized as one of America’s Best Nursing Homes 2026,” said Judith A. Bishop-Pierce, LNHA, Director of Residential Care at Birchaven. “Birchaven has long been known for providing the highest quality senior services to our community, and this recognition exemplifies our organization’s commitment to serving generations of families with compassion, dignity, and excellence.”

Birchaven Village is not just a retirement community but a home away from home. Residents enjoy all the benefits of small-town living without the demands of upkeep.

The community’s beautiful “Main Street” includes a bank, beauty salon, chapel, restaurant, and more, creating a welcoming environment for residents and their families.

Birchaven provides a continuum of care to seniors in Hancock County and surrounding counties. Individuals wishing to downsize may select from assisted and independent living apartments. Residents recovering from falls, illnesses, or surgeries benefit from Birchaven’s reputation as Findlay’s premier rehabilitation destination. Birchaven also offers long-term and specialized memory care services and adult day services to individuals needing ongoing assistance.

Call 419.425.3850 to schedule a tour of Birchaven Village. Additional information about the senior living and care options at Birchaven can be found at birchaven.org.