(From the United Way of Hancock County)

Registration is open for volunteer teams looking to lend a hand and agencies seeking help with projects through United Way of Hancock County’s Fall Days of Caring.

The three-day volunteer event will take place Sept. 22-24.

During Days of Caring, nonprofits, schools and government agencies submit projects such as landscaping, cleaning and organizing, painting, general repairs, or even planning an event. Employees of area corporations and small businesses volunteer to help, and the United Way matches up the two groups for four-hour shifts. This saves local agencies thousands of dollars in money that can instead be allocated toward programming and other critical services.

More information and signup forms for both teams and agencies can be found at www.liveunitedhancockcounty.org/days-caring.

Registration is due by Sept. 10, and volunteer teams can expect to be matched with their project by Sept. 16.

(From the Ohio High School Athletic Association)

The Ohio High School Athletic Association and its six District Athletic Boards have awarded $200,000 to 200 recent high school graduates as part of the OHSAA’s Scholar-Athlete Scholarship Program.

In addition, the OHSAA has sent $1,250 to each member high school, a grand total of $1,020,000, to assist with items needed by each school’s athletic department. The money comes from the OHSAA’s Athletic Enrichment Fund, which was established in 2023 for the purpose of providing a financial contribution to each member high school’s athletic department to assist with costs of equipment, uniforms, game transportation, officials and improving student sportsmanship and adult fan behavior.

Each of the 200 scholarship recipients, who were selected by their respective District Athletic Boards, will receive a $1,000 award. This marks the second straight year that $200,000 has been distributed to 200 students; both totals are the highest in the college scholarship program’s 31-year history.

 “These scholar-athletes represent the very best of high school athletics,” said OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute. “Our District Athletic Boards, Board of Directors and OHSAA staff congratulate them on all their accomplishments and wish them well as they work toward their educational and career goals.”

 

Scholar-Athlete Selection Process

Scholar-athlete recipients are selected based on a point system which rewards students for: grade-point averages, class rank, community service activities, varsity letters earned, and individual and team athletic honors. The number of scholarship recipients from each district is based upon the number of schools within the district. The recipients were selected by special committees within each of the OHSAA’s six athletic districts. Individuals who receive athletic scholarships from NCAA Division I or II institutions or appointees to military academies are not eligible for an award.

2025 OHSAA Scholar-Athlete Scholarship Recipients

 

Southeast District (18)

Averey Cottrill, Lancaster Fairfield Union

Abbie Deeds, Coal Grove Dawson-Bryant

Elijah Ford, Ironton High School

Walker Fowble, Oak Hill

Carson Free, Bainbridge Paint Valley

Ava Heller, Thornville Sheridan

Ethan Hochstetler, Wheelersburg

Addison Jackson, Stewart Federal Hocking

Miller McKenzie, Wheelersburg

Jacey McKnight, Marietta

Jaekyn Ridout, Lucasville Valley

Maggie Risner, Minford

Jayce Rothwell, Seaman North Adams

Dylan Shupert, South Webster

Olivia Tabler, Stewart Federal Hocking

Timberlyn Templeton, Racine Southern

Mia Vastine, Wheelersburg

Tucker Williams, Jackson

 

Northwest District (40)

Ryan Adelsperger, Old Fort

Libbie Baker, West Unity Hilltop

Tate Bender, Lima Shawnee

Grace Blonde, Tiffin Columbian

Meredith Bockrath, Kalida

Brayden Brickman, Bascom Hopewell-Loudon

Sidney Brickner, Bascom Hopewell-Loudon

Olivia Broering, Coldwater

Haylie Brunner, Sandusky Perkins

Rebekah Case, Lucas

Anthony Clark, Perrysburg

Blake Coleman, Tiffin Calvert

Josh Cornell, Port Clinton

Cody Depweg, Coldwater

Lillian Farmer, Norwalk

William Frimel, Minster

Brady Griggs, Arlington

Abe Hermes, Milan Edison

Raegan Hutchison, Waynesfield-Goshen

Emma Kelbley, Fremont St. Joseph Central Catholic

Thomas Koh, Lima Shawnee

Tyler Lammers, Leipsic

Rees Lewis, Shelby

Kacey Like, McComb

Adria Miller, Rockford Parkway

Harper Myers, Haviland Wayne Trace

Nova Okuley, Defiance Tinora

Samuel Paeth, Fremont St. Joseph Central Catholic

Bryce Puckett, Carey

Eric Sander, Pemberville Eastwood

Alec Schaublin, Defiance Tinora

Jay Schroeder, New Knoxville

Zachary Shawberry, Tiffin Columbian

Jacob Siebeneck, Kalida

Kate Simmons, Findlay

Ava Stammen, Minster

Grace Stieber, Monroeville

Avae Unrast, Maria Stein Marion Local

Laura Valette, Perrysburg

Joseph Webb, Vermilion

 

Northeast District (55)

William Anderson, Ashtabula St. John

Logan Ash, North Canton Hoover

Kendra Berger, Creston Norwayne

Ryan Bridenthal, Canton GlenOak

Brooklyn Cavey, Seville Cloverleaf

Carson Clase, McDonald

Madeline Crooks, Ashtabula Edgewood

Nayeli Cruz, Apple Creek Waynedale

Anthony Derubeis, Richfield Revere

Chloe Dostal, Massillon Perry

Alesha Felix, Loudonville

Madisyn Fisher, Brookfield

Kylie Flere, McDonald

Gradyn Flynn, Chagrin Falls Kenston

Joe Fox, Wellington

Tristan Franks, Apple Creek Waynedale

Mia Gaffney, Canfield

Sydney Harbour, Canton GlenOak

Jacsyn Hilliard, Alliance Marlington

Avery Horning, Alliance

Josie Howard, Solon

Elizabeth Jackson, Columbiana

Grace Johns, North Jackson Jackson-Milton

Brooke Lehmkuhl, Wellington

Layla Lemin, Akron Ellet

Gianna Lenahan, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit

George Libecco, Solon

Kendall Lower, Canal Fulton Northwest

Kaylee Lusk, Massillon Jackson

Andrea Maddox, Hanoverton United

Sean McNulty, Massillon Jackson

Parker Metsker, Creston Norwayne

Aaron Miedel, Kidron Central Christian

Andrew Naugle, Akron Coventry

Lena Piktel, Bay Village Bay

Sadie Poudevigne, Chagrin Falls Kenston

Jane Rathbun, Rocky River

Emily Ridgeway, Kirtland

Hadassah Rivera, Lowellville

Lucas Ryan, Alliance Marlington

Beyla Sadler, Fairport Harbor Fairport Harding

Allyson Schultz, Richfield Revere

Drew Shapiro, Canfield

Drew Slone, North Jackson Jackson-Milton

Chloe Smith, Austintown Fitch

Elizabeth Spalding, Austintown Fitch

Aiden Stecker, Salem

Prince Tran, Amherst Steele

Alysa Troyan, West Salem Northwestern

Beatrice Ullom, Bay Village Bay

Charles Vatolin, Bay Village Bay

Kaleb Wayt, Orrville

Andrew Whitfield, Girard

Ava Williams, Elyria

Olivia Williams, Mayfield

 

East District (17)

Aleigha Busse, Duncan Falls Philo

Ryan Cassidy, Minerva

Russ Dickinson, Toronto

Drew Gasber, St. Clairsville

Micah Hardesty, Warsaw River View

Carson Long, New Philadelphia

Adrienne Lowe, St. Clairsville

Ellie Mason, New Philadelphia

Nicholas Norman, Byesville Meadowbrook

Julia Sciarretti, New Philadelphia Tuscarawas Central Catholic

Jamie Smith, Hannibal River

TyLynn Smith, Cadiz Harrison Central

Lexy Starner, Millersburg West Holmes

Isabelle Stoldt, Dover

Marabelle Thornberry, Byesville Meadowbrook

Nathen Wright, New Philadelphia Tuscarawas Central Catholic

Riley Zamensky, New Concord John Glenn

 

Central District (28)

Jathan Agrawal, Lewis Center Olentangy

Cowin Becker, Galion Northmor

Delainy Boles, Marion Elgin

Isaac Brady, Columbus Wellington School

Joshua Byers, Danville

Emalene Chevalier, Lancaster

Tiana Estrada, Delaware Olentangy Berlin

Theo Falkenhain, Gahanna Columbus Academy

Lincoln Gardner, Powell Olentangy Liberty

Kara Glesenkamp, Delaware Hayes

Thomas Haley, Columbus Bishop Watterson

Paul Knapke, Hilliard Davidson

Andy Li, Gahanna Columbus Academy

Xiaoxuan Li, Westerville South

Kristina Ma, Columbus School for Girls

Marinn McGuire, Caledonia River Valley

Samantha Morris, Columbus School for Girls

Christian Moulton, Powell Olentangy Liberty

Sydney Opfer, Howard East Knox

Neela Ramachandran, Worthington Thomas Worthington

Christopher Ritchie, Mechanicsburg

Tyler Roof, Columbus Bishop Ready

Chaz Sakala, Delaware Hayes

Maria Stack, Powell Olentangy Liberty

Keelin Swisher, Grandview Heights

Logan Whitney, Howard East Knox

Avery Williams, Newark Licking Valley

Caroline Zeiger, Gahanna Columbus Academy

 

Southwest District (42)

Maggie Anderson, Covington

Emily Aselage, Tipp City Tippecanoe

Sophia Bajwa, Botkins

Cameron Barclay, Milford

William Bertoli, Loveland

Carson Brown, Botkins

Rowan Brown, Hamilton Badin

Owen Canan, Bradford

Caroline Chernock, Hamilton Ross

Ryan Coyle, Cincinnati Country Day

Aliou Diallo, Lockland

Kyle Edelmann, Anna

Laura Fagan, Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame

Daniel Fogt, Hamilton Ross

Ashlyn Gearhardt, Piqua

Miley Goetz, Kettering Archbishop Alter

Annabelle Hageman, Cincinnati Oak Hills

Kellen Hart, Kettering Archbishop Alter

Emma Hartmann, Morrow Little Miami

Avery Jackson, Jackson Center

Vincent Jensvold, West Carrollton

Ben Lehman, Cincinnati St. Xavier

De’Andreiona Lichtenberg, Jackson Center

Taran Logwood, West Liberty-Salem

Evelyn Metze, Cincinnati Mariemont

Elise Moeller, Cincinnati Ursuline Academy

Ayva Moore, Cincinnati Oak Hills

Nathan Moser, Monroe

Kennedy Muhlenkamp, Fort Recovery

Avery Roethlisberger, Franklin Bishop Fenwick

Jacob Schmitmeyer, Russia

Brayden Seibert, Bethel-Tate

Kaitlyn Senger, Cincinnati Mercy McAuley

Natalee Shafer, Mason

Addison Shappie, Russia

Craig Stanford, West Liberty-Salem

Elizabeth Staudter, Anna

Will Stevens, Cincinnati Mariemont

Addison Swope, Clarksville Clinton-Massie

Grace Taylor, Brookville

Mahima Vasa, Milford

Cale Wilson, Clarksville Clinton-Massie

Hancock County Overdose Awareness Day will be held on August 21 from 10 to 2 at Dorney Plaza in front of the Findlay Municipal Building.

“Come join us in remembrance of those we lost this past year to overdose and to celebrate those that have survived an overdose.”

Free Narcan, testing, and survival bags will be available.

The following agencies will be attending the event:

BVH MOMS

Hancock Public Health

FOCUS

Family Resource Center

Spero Health

Armada Recovery Services

Path Behavioral Health

Ohio GuideStone

A lot of people came out to Findlay’s Riverside Park Tuesday night for Flag City Night Out.

“Flag City Night Out is a free, family-friendly event that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods a safer, better place to live,” the police department said.

Flag City Night Out gives the public a chance to interact with safety services (Police, Sheriff, Fire, EMS, and others) on a one-on-one basis and get a look at the equipment they use.

In the picture above some youngsters check out a Findlay Police Department SUV.

There was also plenty of free food and activities.

Below is video of a Taser demonstration in which Findlay Police dispatcher Sara Morris volunteered to be tased to show the crowd the effects a Taser has on an individual.

(From Findlay High School)

 It’s almost that time again, Trojans! 

Check out these important Back-to-School Dates for Findlay High School and Findlay City Schools as we gear up for an amazing 2025–2026 school year:

August 6 – Schedule Pickup (Grades 10–12)
 10th Grade: 8:00–9:30 AM
 11th Grade: 10:00–11:30 AM
 12th Grade: 1:00–2:30 PM

August 8 – 9th Grade Orientation & Student Pictures
 Last Names A–K: 8:00–10:00 AM
 Last Names L–Z: 12:00–2:00 PM

August 14 – First Day of School for grades 1 – 12.  

Preschool and Kindergarten:
8-14-25 (A-K) and 8-15-25 (L-Z)

Get more back-to-school information for Findlay City Schools by clicking here.

Let’s make 2025–2026 a year to remember!

(From the Hancock County METRICH Drug Task Force)

On 8/6/25 at approx. 0500hrs the Hancock County METRICH Drug Task Force assisted by the Findlay Police Department Emergency Response Team (ERT) executed a narcotic search warrant at 332 ½ Rector Ave.

The search of the residence yielded 265 suspected pressed Fentanyl pills, two guns one of which was reported stolen from the City of Findlay, and multiple items indicative of drug trafficking were also located.

As a result of the search the following person was arrested and incarcerated at the Hancock County Justice Center:

Jama’ee Curtis (age 31)

332 ½ Rector Ave

Findlay, Ohio

Charge: Warrants through the Hancock County Sheriff’s Officer two counts of trafficking F3, Fresh charges of receiving stolen property F4 and possession of Fentanyl F1.

Additional charges of drug trafficking in drugs are expected at the conclusion of this investigation.

The Hancock METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit is supported by METRICH in Mansfield, OH and funded in part by the Office of Criminal Justice Services.

METRICH Crime Tip Hotline: 419-52-CRIME (419-522-7463) or download the METRICH enforcement unit mobile app to “Submit a Tip.”

(From the Hancock County Parkinson’s Network)

The Hancock County Parkinson’s Network (HCPN) has approved funding for two local projects aimed at providing support and enhancing the quality of life for individuals and caregivers affected by Parkinson’s disease.

The first project, from 50 North, will enhance their Parkinson’s exercise initiative. This program includes advanced, specialized training for instructors and the introduction of two tailored exercise classes for individuals at different stages of Parkinson’s. The initiative will also include essential equipment purchases and an ongoing evaluation process to track progress in mobility, mood, and confidence.

“We are proud to support 50 North’s initiative, which aims to increase the accessibility and effectiveness of exercise programs for those living with Parkinson’s in our community,” said Barb Matheny, Founder of the Hancock County Parkinson’s Network. “This program is an important step toward providing more comprehensive care and support for those affected by Parkinson’s disease.”

The second project, from Awakening Minds Art, is the Creative Connection: Art for Parkinson’s program. This community-based initiative will provide monthly, one-hour therapeutic art sessions for individuals with Parkinson’s and their caregivers. The program, which will be held at 50 North and a local nursing home, focuses on process-based visual art using adaptive tools. The goal is to improve fine motor coordination, emotional well-being, and foster a meaningful connection between participants and caregivers.

“Art has shown significant benefits for individuals with neurological conditions, and we are thrilled to support Awakening Minds Art’s program to provide creative engagement that helps improve the well-being of those living with Parkinson’s and their caregivers,” Matheny added.

Both initiatives aim to increase community awareness and improve the lives of those affected by Parkinson’s disease in Hancock County.

The Hancock County Parkinson’s Network remains committed to its mission of empowering individuals affected by Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers through education, programming, and support.

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Future nurses in the making!

Blanchard Valley Health System recently wrapped up its second annual Future Nurse Camp.

The camp gives students a hands-on look at the heart of healthcare, and we are proud to support the next generation of compassionate, skilled caregivers!

Interested in joining #TeamBVHS?

Visit bvhealthsystem.org/careers to view and apply for our open positions.

This year will mark the 25^th anniversary of Flag City BalloonFest in Findlay.

BalloonFest will be held on August 8th, 9^th, and 10th at Emory Adams Park.

BalloonFest is a free, family-friendly event that features food vendors, live music, Glow Encounter, a kids’ zone with inflatables and games, and much more.

There will also be hot air balloon rides and helicopter rides, weather permitting.

Some attractions and events at the BalloonFest have fees. All main attractions are free to attend.

Get more information about BalloonFest by clicking here and see some video from previous years when WFIN’s Matt Demczyk went up on a media flight below.

(From Marathon Petroleum)

Marathon Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: MPC) today reported net income attributable to MPC of $1.2 billion, or $3.96 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2025, compared with net income attributable to MPC of $1.5 billion, or $4.33 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2024.

The second quarter of 2025 adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (adjusted EBITDA) was $3.3 billion, compared with $3.4 billion for the second quarter of 2024. Adjustments are shown in the accompanying release tables.

“Our second quarter results reflect actions we have taken to deliver on our strategic commitments,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Maryann Mannen.

“In refining, our team delivered 97% utilization and 105% margin capture; and we remain constructive on the long-term outlook. We have advanced our portfolio optimization for today and the future with MPLX’s announcement of a $2.375 billion midstream acquisition in the Permian and MPC’s $425 million divestiture of its partial interest in ethanol production facilities. We believe execution of our strategic commitments will position our integrated system to deliver industry-leading capital returns and offer a compelling value proposition for our shareholders.”