(From the Hancock Historical Museum)

Dust off your lederhosen and twirl into your dirndl—Oktoberfest Findlay returns to downtown for its 11th annual celebration, and this year promises more excitement than ever! Presented by WesBanco, the festival takes over Main Street from 2:00 to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 27th, transforming Findlay into a vibrant hub of German culture, music, and culinary delights.

Get ready for an action-packed day that brings the best of Oktoberfest right to Hancock County. Oktoberfest Findlay is a can’t-miss, family-friendly affair filled with live music, energetic polka dancing, hands-on children’s activities, mouthwatering German-inspired food, and fun contests. Thirsty? Choose from more than 50 varieties of German imports, local craft beers, wines, and seltzers—plus, domestic options available throughout the day.

The party kicks off at 2:00 p.m. with the high-energy sounds of Cleveland’s Deutscher Musik Verein (DMV), a powerful ensemble of 25+ musicians who will set the perfect festive tone on the main stage, sponsored by LaRiche Chevrolet Cadillac. And don’t miss the return of the legendary Fred Ziwich & His International Sound Machine at 6:30 p.m.—Ziwich, a true polka icon and International Polka Music Hall of Fame inductee, always gets the crowd on its feet.

From 2:00 to 7:00 p.m., families can explore the Kinderplatz! Kid’s Zone, where little ones can dive into German-inspired crafts and games, thanks to support from Superior Trim. Watch the OSU game at 3:30 pm at our Buckeye Watch Party, sponsored by Eastman & Smith and giveaways by Tabler Insurance. At 4:00 p.m., be part of the tradition with our spirited opening ceremony and official tapping of the firkin! Feeling competitive? Test your skills and strength from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the festival’s south end, sponsored by Werk-Brau. Sign up for classic Oktoberfest contests—including stein holding, an obstacle relay, and the bratwurst eating competition—sign-ups starting at 3:00 p.m. near the Contest Stage.

Admission is just $8 for guests 21 and over, and $4 for those 20 and under—so bring the whole crew!

For the full schedule and all the details, visit www.OktoberfestFindlay.com.

Don’t miss Findlay’s biggest one-day event —mark your calendars for September 27th, and get ready to Prost with the best!

The four candidates running for an At-Large seat on Findlay City Council participated in a candidate forum on WFIN ahead of the General Election on November 4.

The candidates are Jenny Fall, a Democrat, and Heather Kensinger, Reed Needles, and Brad Wagner, all Republicans.

The four are vying for three At-Large seats on Findlay City Council.

Current At-Large city councilmembers Grant Russel, Randy Greeno, and Jeff Wobser are not running for reelection.

The forum was held at 50 North and moderated by WFIN’s Chris Oaks.

You can listen back to the forum in the audio files below or watch the Facebook Live of the forum at the bottom of this story. 

See what other candidates and issues are on the November 4 ballot by clicking here for the Hancock County Board of Elections.

Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day on November 4.

(From Liberty-Benton Local Schools)

Liberty-Benton Local Schools earned 4.5 STARS on the Ohio State Report Card, making us one of the highest-rated districts in the area!

This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of our students, staff, and community.

THANK YOU for your continued commitment to our excellence.

Districts and schools receive an overall rating of 1 to 5 stars in half-star increments.

A rating of 4.5 stars indicates a school district is exceeding state standards.

(From the Black Swamp Area Council)

The Black Swamp Area Council is inviting youth ages 14–20 to upcoming Exploring program open houses in Findlay.  Businesses and organizations partner with the Black Swamp Area Council Exploring program to offer real-world learning opportunities to students.

“The Exploring programs provide exciting activities and mentorship for youth ages 14 – 20 looking to discover their future,” said Rochelle Manley, district executive. The events are as follows:

Sept. 24, 6-8 p.m., Marathon Petroleum, 539 S. Main St., Findlay (main lobby entrance)
Marathon IT Post 2300 prepares students for the growing field of IT, including prep for industry-recognized certification exams, cybersecurity, information technology, and more. For information about this post, email ITExplorers@marathonpetroleum.com.

Sept. 30, 5:30 p.m., Doty Dental, 811 S. Main St., Findlay
Doty Dental Post 2320 invites students to join them in a deep dive into dentistry topics such as orthodontics, dental hygienist, oral maxillofacial surgery, how to get into dental school, and more. For additional information about this event contact doty.2845@gmail.com.

In addition to the events above there are two other Exploring Posts in Hancock County. Hancock County Sheriff’s Office Post 2308 offers students the chance to explore careers in law enforcement. Participants join discussions on all aspects of the field and gain hands-on experience in crime scene investigation, canine handling, firearms safety, patrol techniques, fingerprinting, and more. If interested in this Exploring Post, contact Deputy Matt Crouch at mcrouch@vbschools.net.

Marathon Engineering Post 2370’s program teaches students about different engineering topics like civil, mechanical, electrical, computer, aerospace, and industrial engineering. All registration fees will be paid by Marathon if the student contacts engineering.explorers@marathonpetroleum.com.

For more information about the Fall Open Houses or the Exploring program, contact Rochelle Manley at rochelle.manley@scouting.org or call 567-208-5286.

(From the City of Findlay)

CONSTRUCTION 9/22-9/26:

-Twp. Rd. 77 (Western Ave.) will be closed to all traffic in sections from Twp. Rd. 80 to Trail 81 for a sanitary sewer project.

-Western/Broad Ave. will be closed to through traffic from Main Cross St. to Howard St. for sewer installation. Detour will be posted.

-Hurd Ave. will be closed to all traffic from Sandusky St. to Putnam St. for sanitary sewer replacement.

(From Van Buren High School)

Mr. Kevin Shoup, principal of Van Buren High School, announced today that David Cavera has been named a Commended Student in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. Mr. Shoup presented a Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) to this scholastically talented senior.

Cavera is one of about 34,000 commended students throughout the nation being recognized for exceptional academic promise. Although he will not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Cavera placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the competition by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

“Those being named commended students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson for NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”

Cavera joins 2025 graduate Nigel Woodall as a National Merit Commended Student. 2017 graduate Justen Stall and 2018 graduate Autumn Pisarsky previously represented VBHS as National Merit Finalists.

(From the Tiffin Police Department)

Earlier today, the Tiffin Police Department responded to a domestic dispute on Rebecca Street involving a subject who brandished a firearm before fleeing toward the wooded area near Rock Creek.

Out of an abundance of caution, the department requested Calvert High School and Heidelberg University to initiate lockdown procedures while officers, assisted by K9 units, conducted an extensive search of the area.

The search determined that the subject was no longer in the vicinity, and both lockdowns were safely lifted. At no point were students, faculty, or staff in danger.

We want to emphasize that contrary to remarks circulating on social media, there was NEVER an active shooter on either campus or any school property.

The Tiffin Police Department appreciates the cooperation of Calvert High School, Heidelberg University, and the community as officers worked to ensure everyone’s safety.

Chief Pauly

The Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce will present its 2025 Small Business Awards on Thursday, October 9 at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts.

Each year, the Chamber highlights local individuals and companies, who through their independent entrepreneurial spirit, play a vital role in building the community and the economy.

Doors will open at 3 with the ceremony beginning at 4. Click here to register to attend the event.

Good luck to all of the nominees, who are listed below.

50 North

A Queen’s Eye Cleaning

Abby Martinez – Circle P Reception Hall

Add-A-Line powered by Proforma

Aloha Shiny Windows

Amber Buena – I Am Rooted Wellness

Andrea Kramer – City Apparel+Merch

BellStores – Findlay

Bin There Dump That

Brayden Thomas – Resolute Wealth Advisor, Inc.

Brett Gies

Brook Simsa – Bless Up & Bloom Non Profit

Brooke Nissen – Focus Recovery and Wellness

Carol Metzger – Cancer Patient Services

Shelly Pehrson – Centennial Screen Printing

Chick-fil-A-Findlay

Christy Kisseberth

Clouse Construction

Coldren-Crates Funeral Home

Dan Maiorino – Valgroup

Dan Romick – Romick Wealth Management

Dietsch Brothers

Dr. Katie Frederick – Flag City Mobile Veterinary Clinic

Emily Sullivan – Awakening Minds Art

Fern Cafe

Findlay City Life

Findlay-Hancock County Public Library

Freudenberg

Furry Tales Mobile Workshop

Gabrielle Faulkner

Garner Trucking, Inc

GROB Industries

Hamlet Protein

Hancock Structural Steel

Hank Walters, Rayanna Cap, Jaylin Patterson, Jason Davis, & Carson Reese – Findlay Fresh Start

Harold E. Shuck Co.

Heather Clow

Hixon Zuercher Capital Management

Holly Craycraft/Hand + Home Co.

Hurdwell

Hysteria Co.

Jack B’s

Jason & Amanda Teter – Home Once More

Jessica White – White Willow Farm

Jill Wagner – Wasbro Rental Property, LLC and The Sherman House

Judson Palmer Home

Karen Taschler

Kari Redman

Katie Mercer- The Lavender Hour

Kaylee Schleucher

Kelley McClurkin

Kirby Overton

Krista Crates-Miller

Linda Hamilton

Main Street Deli

Metzger Breicheisen Company

Midwest Financial Planning Group

Nick Reinhart – Kreate & Reinhart Foundation

Ohio logistics

Pam Hamlin

Reineke Family Dealerships

RPM Carbide Die

Sarah Ricker

Shop Supply

Sink’s Flowers

Smarty Pants Toys & Gifts

Stef Tropf – City Life Findlay

Superior Trim

The Lifting Lab

The Wailing Onion

Thistle Exchange

Transformations Thrift Store, LLC

Two Witches and a Broom

Van Horn Hoover & Associates

Carla Benjamin – Welcome to a New Life

YMCA Early Learning Center at Cory-Rawson

(From Congressman Bob Latta)

Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5) has announced that his office will host two informational meetings for students and families from Ohio’s Fifth Congressional District regarding the U.S. Military Service Academy nomination and appointment process.

Findlay Academy Night: Thursday, October 2, 2025

Owens Community College, Findlay-area Campus

3200 Bright Road, Education Center, Conference Room 111, at 7:00 p.m. 

Elyria Academy Night: Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Transportation and Community Center

40 East Avenue, Elyria, Ohio 44035 at 7:00 p.m.

These meetings serve as opportunities for potential student candidates to be advised of the congressional nomination process and meet with representatives of the:

• U.S. Military Academy at West Point,
• U.S. Navy Academy at Annapolis,
• U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs,
• U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Points, and
• U.S. Coast Guard Academy at New London.

Application process:

Potential candidates may also obtain an application for a military service academy nomination by attending one of the informational meetings or on Congressman Latta’s website at latta.house.gov.

For questions, Congressman Latta’s office may be contacted at 419-422-7791.

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

The Norwalk Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash that occurred on Township Road 73 in Pleasant Township, Seneca County, just north of the village of Old Fort. The crash occurred on September 22nd, 2025 at approximately 7:15 a.m.

Mikayla D. Steyer, age 18, of Old Fort, OH, was driving a 2002 Ford Ranger pickup truck southbound on Township Road 73. Jeromy T. Danielski, age 37, of Old Fort, OH, was driving a 2006 Ford Escort northbound on Township Road 73. Ms. Steyer traveled off the left side of the road and upon re-entering the roadway, struck Mr. Danielski’s vehicle head on.

As a result of the crash, Ms. Steyer sustained minor injuries and was transported by EMS to Fremont ProMedica Hospital. Mr. Danielski sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Mr. Danielski had two minor children in the vehicle with him that both sustained serious injuries and were transported by Life Flight to St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Toledo.

At this time, the crash remains under investigation.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, Seneca County EMS, Seneca County Coroner’s Office, Old Fort Volunteer Fire Department, ProMedica Life Flight, and Rush Towing.