In memory of fallen Findlay Police Captain Allen D. McGown, mourning bands will be worn all day by all sworn Findlay Police Officers on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, from 0001 hrs. until 1159 hrs. Capt. McGown drowned while attempting to rescue a woman during the Great Flood of 1913, in which parts of the city were under six feet of water. His boat capsized as he attempted to rescue the woman from her flooded home. His body was located floating in front of the Hancock County Courthouse approximately five hours later. Captain McGown was survived by his parents, six brothers, and one sister.
Approximately 500 people were killed in Ohio as a result of the flood, including Officer William Sexton, of the Columbus Police Department.
We remember Capt. McGown for his ultimate sacrifice for the safety and protection of citizens in the City of Findlay.
Capt. McGown’s name is represented on the local memorial at the Ft. Findlay Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #20 on S. Romick Parkway, and also at the Officer Down Memorial Page, as are Officers and Troopers in Hancock County who have died in the line of duty. ODMP is the largest law enforcement memorial in the country, and its presence online enables supporters to learn about and honor fallen heroes regardless of their geographic location. The ODMP will continue to expand its offerings in constant service to its primary mission: honoring those officers who have died in the line of duty in the U.S.
Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County will officially launch their biggest build year yet and begin construction of three homes during a Raise the Wall ceremony on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. The event is open to the public.
The new homeowners, the Summers (Home #62), the Gault (Home #63) and the Greiner (Home #64) families, will share their journeys followed by a countdown where they and their families will raise the first walls of each of their own homes simultaneously. The ceremony will be held at the build site, located in Habitat’s new neighborhood in the 1700 block of Bishop Lane in Findlay, Ohio.
These are the first three of six homes to be built by Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County in 2025. They are the third, fourth and fifth of 20 homes Habitat will build in the Krystal Ridge Addition neighborhood by the end of 2027. The first two homes were built in the fall of 2024.
“This year we are celebrating 25 years of building community in Findlay and Hancock County, and we can’t be more excited,” says Wendy McCormick, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County. “We can’t wait to get started on our biggest build year yet with the spring builds!”
For the three families who will be new homeowners in June, working alongside 225 volunteers on each of their homes during the next 10 weeks will be life transforming. The Summers, Gault and Greiner families qualified as a low-income family unable to qualify for a conventional loan, who are willing to partner with Habitat and complete at least 400 sweat equity hours and purchase their home at an affordable price.
For Kara Summers and her two daughters the idea of “home” once felt more like a wish than a certainty. Kara works as a State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA), caring for others even as she dreams of becoming a nurse herself. Despite her determination, life has thrown its share of obstacles her way. Affordable housing in Findlay was either way too expensive or simply unavailable. One afternoon, Kara came across a newspaper article about Habitat for Humanity’s Financial Opportunity Center (FOC). Something about the program resonated with her. Kara became the very first FOC coaching client in 2021. After paying down debts and stabilizing her employment, Kara and her girls were selected as a Habitat Partner Family. For the Summers family, their new home represents security, stability, and a place to grow.
For seven years, Amanda Gault and her 12-year-old daughter have called her parents’ basement home. The space was full of love, but it wasn’t their own. The houses Amanda could afford to purchase needed significant repairs – more than she could take on. The stress of not having their own home weighed heavily on her. Amanda’s mom had been urging her to look into Habitat for quite some time. Finally, in January 2024, Amanda took a leap of faith. From that first meeting with Habitat, Amanda began to feel hope again. She learned how to manage her spending with guidance from the Financial Opportunity Center (FOC). Together, they started to feel more in control of their future. Now, as construction is beginning, Amanda knows this home will be more than a place to live. It’s a fresh start, a foundation for their future, and a space where they can create new memories together. It will be “a place to call home.
Chris Greiner’s journey is one of unwavering resilience, love, and the quiet strength of a mother who never gave up. Born and raised in Findlay, her life has been anything but easy, but her heart has always been full of hope, determination, and an unbreakable drive to create a better life for her family. She raised her twin children as a single parent, always working full-time – sometimes even holding down two jobs just to make ends meet. Despite the challenges, Chris made sure that her kids had everything they needed: food, shelter, and love. Even though she worked tirelessly, the dream of owning her own home always felt out of reach, a distant star just beyond her grasp. She spent years working so hard, and now, after so many setbacks, she is finally going to have a home of her own, a place where her children, her grandchildren, and even her cat can thrive in a space that is hers and hers alone.
Build volunteers work under the guidance of construction professionals, and alongside other volunteers and future Habitat homeowners. Pre-registration to volunteer is required by calling 419-429-1400 x5, emailing volunteer@habitatfindlay.org, or signing up on the website habitatfindlay.org. No skills or tools are necessary to volunteer.
Through donations of money and materials and volunteer labor, Habitat is able to build a Habitat Home and sell it at an affordable price. Major sponsors for the Spring Build include The Reinhart Foundation, Kreate, ADP, Marathon, Whirlpool, National Lime & Stone, the City of Findlay, GSW, Kershner Excavating, McNaughton-McKay, Ohio Logistics, The Shelly Company, State Farm – Dan Maciejewski and Van Horn Hoover & Associates.
The most recent housing study released last year indicated the Findlay community needs 150 single-family homes, costing less than $200,000, constructed during the next five years. Families seeking to become homeowners in the Krystal Ridge Addition can apply with Habitat for Humanity by visiting habitatfindlay.org or calling 419-429-1400.
The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library is excited to announce the addition of Wonderbooks to its collection, offering a unique and engaging way for children to experience reading. Wonderbooks are a revolutionary combination of traditional print books with built-in audio players, designed to foster a love of reading and improve literacy skills.
Wonderbooks make reading an interactive and immersive experience. Each book features a pre-loaded audiobook that children can listen to as they follow along with the text. This multi-sensory approach helps to improve reading comprehension, vocabulary, and pronunciation. With easy-to-use controls, children can independently navigate through the stories, promoting confidence and a sense of accomplishment.
Key Features of Wonderbooks:
Built-in audio player with pre-loaded audiobook
Three modes: Read-Along, Learning, and Sing-Along
Easy-to-use controls for independent reading
Durable and child-friendly design
“We are thrilled to bring Wonderbooks to our community,” said Heather Rhoads, Community Relations Coordinator. “These innovative books provide an accessible and engaging way for children to develop their reading skills. The combination of reading and listening helps to reinforce learning and makes reading a fun and enjoyable activity.”
Wonderbooks offer Three Distinct modes:
Read-Along Mode: Children can listen to the story while following along in the book, enhancing reading comprehension and fluency.
Learning Mode: This mode focuses on educational content, helping children learn new words and concepts.
Sing-Along Mode: Some Wonderbooks are equipped with sing-along mode so children can enjoy singing along to songs related to the book’s theme, making learning fun and interactive.
The library is committed to providing resources that support literacy and lifelong learning for all ages. Wonderbooks are a valuable addition to the children’s collection, offering a unique and effective way to engage young readers.
Visit the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library to explore the Wonderbook collection and discover a new way to experience the joy of reading.
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says a woman had to be flown from the scene by a medical helicopter after crashing her vehicle.
The sheriff’s office said Amanda Rife, 41, of North Baltimore, was northbound on County Road 140 at Township Road 113 in Allen Township at 2:10 Monday afternoon when her SUV went off the right side of the roadway.
The vehicle struck the ditch and a utility pole before coming to rest upside down on the roadway.
Rife was ejected from the vehicle and sustained incapacitating injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.
FHS Youth and Government students spent the first few days of their spring break at the Ohio Statehouse for the Ohio Youth and Government Conference in committee meetings and on the house and senate floor debating bills and presenting their own.
They spent time deciding the constitutionality of bills, lobbied for causes, and walked away with two bills signed into “law” by the youth governor…as well as individual awards including
-outstanding senator
-outstanding media delegate
-outstanding lobbyist
-graduation cords
FHS students also received offers to attend the national conference, and an FHS student was elected to the position of secretary of state for next year’s conference.
All of these students are eloquent, insightful, and have great ideas. They are incredible representatives of FCS and our future!
Another opportunity to work with our public safety partners and watch and learn on some life saving measures should we ever have a grain bin emergency. It is important for our deputies to get this type of training as they will most likely be one of the first responders on scene and understanding the dangers of grain bins. thank you very much to Green Springs FD and for Commissioner Frankart and his wife for hosting this important training at their farm!
Seneca County Sheriff’s Deputies attend Grain Bin Rescue Training
By Sheri Trusty, Public Relations/Community Engagement Coordinator
Green Springs Fire Department Lieutenant Jack King said there isn’t enough time for First Responders to train for every emergency they will face. That makes every training opportunity priceless.
The importance of training is why four Seneca County Sheriff’s Deputies took the time to attend the Grain Bin Rescue Training provided by the Ohio Fire Academy on March 22. The training was hosted by the Green Springs Fire Department at Ridgeview Farms, a rural Clyde farm owned by Seneca County Commissioner Bill and Janet Frankart.
The training was organized by King and Green Springs Fire Department Chief Greg Lowe.
Over 50 First Responders from ten departments in Seneca and Sandusky counties attended the training, where they received hands-on experience on the Ohio Fire Academy’s Grain C.A.R.T. (Comprehensive Agricultural Rescue Trailer). The Grain C.A.R.T. provided a simulated rescue operation, allowing First Responders to practice rescuing a mock victim engulfed in real corn.
They practiced every step of the rescue, including utilizing grain tubes that are built around a victim to remove the grain pressing around them, as well as the auger that quickly removes the grain from the tube.
“It was interesting to learn how they actually get the grain out,” said Seneca County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Messer.
Messer, Sergeant Kevin Reinbolt, Deputy Luke Cantu, and Deputy Chris Potter attended the training to prepare them for possible grain bin emergencies in the county because it is likely a deputy will be the first person on scene.
“It was nice to know the procedure so we know what to do if they need assistance during a rescue,” Sergeant Reinbolt said.
The Sheriff’s Office often works collaboratively with First Responders across the county.
“We work alongside them all the time,” Deputy Cantu said.
That collaboration can save lives during a grain bin rescue. There are many reasons a farmer will enter a grain bin. They may need to check the condition or level of the grain, repair bin machinery, or control infestations, among other reasons. When a farmer is trapped, the rescue requires trained First Responders and specialized equipment.
The grain tubes can be used for other situations as well, including emergencies at quarries and during major waterline installation projects, like a current project that, when finished, will connect water from the Sandusky River in Old Fort to Beaver Creek Reservoir.
“We don’t have enough time to train for everything,” King said. “Every call is different. Nothing is the same, so you have to be prepared.”
The Ohio State Highway Patrol Norwalk Post is investigating a one vehicle traffic crash that occurred on March 23, 2025, at approximately 11:08 AM, on County Road 36 near Township Road 159 in Seneca County.
William John Sheeley, 78, of Tiffin, OH was driving a 2022 Ford Edge north on County Road 159 when he ran off road left, traveled through a field, struck a ditch, crossed County Road 36 and came to final rest. Mr. Sheeley was transported from the scene by Seneca County EMS to Tiffin Mercy Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased and the crash remains under investigation
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted by Seneca County EMS, Clinton Township Fire Department, Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, D and D Towing.
