The Findlay City Planning Commission has approved Tesla’s application to install a charging station at a Findlay gas station.

The electric charging station is planned for the Marathon Gas Station lot at 1215 West Main Cross Street.

The 12 charging stations will be located on the east end of the gas station lot and up against the west side of the car wash.

In November of 2021, a Tesla charging station opened in the parking lot of the Denny’s at 1051 Interstate Court, west of Interstate 75 and north of Trenton Avenue.

Camp 911, an interactive safety camp for kids who will be entering kindergarten in the fall and helps them learn basic safety, is being held this week.

At Camp 911 children will learn different safety lessons such as online safety, bike safety, stranger danger and much more while interacting with local first responders. 

During one of the lessons they learned what to do in case of an emergency as Tommy Trojan suffered a knee injury while dancing and a youngster called 911 and Hanco paramedics came. (video below)

We spoke with the fire department’s Beth Baker about the importance of that lesson.

The good news is Tommy will be just fine – the x-ray showed no broken bones and it was only a mild sprain.

Camp 911 is a joint effort led by local emergency response agencies, including Hanco, Findlay Fire and Police Departments, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, and Hancock Public Health.

(From The Family Resource Center)

Family Resource Center is excited to announce a comprehensive training session on the Youth Thrive framework to be held on July 12, 2024 from 9am-4pm. The training will be offered in room 117 at The Family Center, 1800 North Blanchard Street, Findlay. Lunch will be provided for participants, and registration information is available at frcohio.org.

Created by The Center for the Study of Social Policy, Youth Thrive is a research-informed framework that supports the healthy development of youth ages 9–26 by providing insights into brain and youth development based on the latest research in neuroscience, positive youth development, resilience, stress, and the impact of trauma on brain development.

Ashley Cheney, Youth Engagement Lead, says Youth Thrive identifies five key factors that increase the likelihood of adolescents developing into healthy adults.

These factors include:

• Youth resilience • Social connections • Knowledge of adolescent development • Concrete support in times of need • Cognitive and social-emotional competence

Participants will delve into these factors, exploring the relationship between brain development, social and emotional growth, and how to leverage the critical learning period of adolescence.

This training is ideal for educators, social workers, policymakers, law enforcement personnel, and other direct-service workers. It aims to equip participants with the knowledge needed to understand young people better and promote their long-term well-being.

Dangerously hot conditions will settle in in the Buckeye State next week.

A dangerous heat wave is headed to Ohio, with temperatures in the upper 90s to near 100 early next week.

Humidity will increase so heat indices will be close to 105.

Air quality may also be poor at times and people with breathing issues should limit their time outdoors and take extra precautions.

People are also reminded to keep a close eye on their pets in the extreme heat and to never leave children or pets alone in a car in such heat.

Get the latest forecast and weather alerts by clicking here. 

(From the Tiffin Police Department)

Tiffin Community

I want to take a moment to remind everyone of the importance of keeping your vehicles secure. Over the past month and a half, we have had three vehicles stolen in our community, with two of these thefts occurring in just the past two weeks. All three vehicles were unlocked with the keys located in the vehicle.

To help prevent further incidents, please follow these essential safety tips:

1. Always Lock Your Vehicle: Make it a habit to lock your car every time you park, even if you’re just stepping away for a moment.
2. Do Not Leave Keys Inside: Never leave your keys in the car, whether it’s running or not. This includes spare keys or key fobs.
3. Remove Valuables: Ensure your vehicle is free of items of value such as laptops, phones, weapons, or any other personal belongings. Visible items can attract thieves.
4. Stay Vigilant: Be aware of your surroundings and report any suspicious activity to the police immediately.

Our Criminal Division is actively pursuing leads to identify and apprehend the person or persons responsible for these thefts. Meanwhile, our Patrol Division is maintaining a heightened presence and vigilance throughout the community.

Your cooperation is crucial in helping us keep Tiffin safe. By taking these simple precautions, you can significantly reduce the risk of vehicle theft.

Thank you for your attention and commitment to our community’s safety.

Chief Pauly

(From the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office)

The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office would like to recognize another inmate, Joshua S. Lunsford, who recently earned his General Education Diploma or GED.

Melissa Blair is the teacher for our in-jail facility GED program. GED is a set of tests that, when passed, certify the test taker has met high-school level academic skills.

We are very proud of the ten weeks of hard work Joshua put in to complete his education and of all our staff members who worked with him to make it happen.

Joshua is the SECOND inmate to earn a GED while still in our detention facility.

Our case manager, Grace Morehart, has worked hard to become a GED proctor to be able to provide this level of service in our jail.

There is no other jail in our area that have an employee proctor the GED test inside their jail facility.

Studies have shown that the quicker the GED test is taken after the course work, the higher the percentage of passing.

We currently have SEVEN other inmates who are getting involved with the GED program, so it is catching on!

We realize the impact of these successes extends far beyond the walls of our facility, which is why we’re committed to reducing recidivism and helping cultivate productive members and their re-integration to our community/society.

-Sheriff Stevens

(From the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts)

The moment you’ve all been waiting for… the 2024/2025 Mainstage Series lineup is here!

Members, you can buy Season Tickets NOW at MCPA.org/Mainstage.

Not a member? Join now at MCPA.org/Member.

Season Tickets will go on sale to everyone June 14 at 11 AM.

Looking to buy tickets to just one show? Tickets for individual shows will go on sale June 21 at 11 AM for Members and June 28 for Non-Members.

A special shoutout to our series sponsors, Blanchard Valley Health System and Marathon Petroleum Corporation, with our incredible returning season sponsor, Ohio Logistics!

The Mainstage Series lineup includes Jo Dee Messina, Mandy Patinkin In Concert, and much more. See the full schedule by clicking here. 

(From the State Fire Marshal)

The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal’s Fire and Explosion Investigations Bureau continues to investigate a significant fire incident that occurred Saturday, June 8, at 8755 State Route 638 in Belle Center (Logan County) and resulted in approximately 44 equine deaths.

Upon arrival, responding fire crews encountered a structure that was heavily engulfed in flames, necessitating a substantial response from numerous mutual aid agencies. The affected structure, an approximately 60,000 sq. ft. agricultural building, was being used as an equestrian training center.

At the time of the fire, there were numerous civilians and between 40 to 50 horses in the barn. Fortunately, all civilians were able to exit the structure safely, although one individual required treatment and transport for burn injuries. While some horses were rescued, approximately 44 horses perished in the fire.

The cause of the fire remains undetermined, and the investigation is ongoing. State Fire Marshal investigators continue to work in collaboration with local authorities and other agencies.

(From the University of Findlay)

University of Findlay’s Office of Campus Safety and Emergency Management announced today that it has been recognized for excellence in policy management and training in 2023 by Lexipol, the nation’s leading provider of policy, training, and wellness support for first responders and public servants. This is the fourth consecutive year UF’s Safety and Emergency Management team has been recognized.

The Lexipol Connect program tracks University of Findlay’s performance on five metrics proven to measure success in policy management. The Office of Campus Safety and Emergency Management achieved Gold, the highest level of recognition offered, for consistent and effective policy dissemination to personnel, timely policy updates as laws change, and offer training on policies.

“Policies and training are the foundation of Campus Safety and Emergency Management operations which are essential to providing our services to the campus community. Our continuous improvement over the past four years has demonstrated our dedication to professionalism and safety. We are proud to be recognized again by Lexipol Connect for our continued efforts, “ says Chief William Spraw.

“Chief Spraw and his team have demonstrated excellence in policy and training which enhances community safety by ensuring consistent, effective response based on state and federal law and nationally recognized best practices,” added Skylar Mettert, associate vice president for safety and wellness. “This is another indication of our progressive efforts to enhance both living and learning at University of Findlay.”

For more information about campus safety, visit University of Findlay’s Campus Safety and Emergency Management webpage.

(From Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County)

Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County will officially break ground on its first neighborhood of 20 homes at 9:00 am on Wednesday, June 26.

The groundbreaking ceremony will be held on Bishop Lane in the Krystal Ridge Addition neighborhood, located on the north end of Findlay near the intersection of East Melrose and Crystal Avenues. The ceremony is open to the public.

The program for the ceremony will include remarks from Mayor Christina Muryn; representatives from the Koehler family who, along with the Croy family, are partnering with Habitat to build the neighborhood; Wendy McCormick, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County; and Kelly Croy, Habitat’s Board President; and other invited guests. Following the ceremony, Kershner Excavating will begin installing the foundation for both homes.

Currently four Habitat homes exist in the Krystal Ridge Addition neighborhood. The first two of the 20 homes Habitat will construct by the end of 2027 are homes #60 and #61 which will be built between July and September for the McMaster and Butler families. This effort emulates similar Habitat neighborhoods developed in other communities across the United States.

Funding from a variety of sources has enabled Habitat to commence the initial phase of construction. Sources include grant funding from Habitat for Humanity of Ohio which was awarded a $25 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) spending package that was signed into law by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in 2023, a gift from Jane and Gary Heminger, the Whirlpool BuildBetter Grant, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, The Larson Family, Signature Event donors, and other supporters. Habitat will continue to seek funding to construct the balance of the homes through 2027.

“We are excited about the impact this neighborhood will have in reducing the current affordable housing deficit we have in our community,” says Wendy McCormick, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County. “The most recent housing study released earlier this year indicated the Findlay community needs 150 single-family homes, costing less than $200,000, constructed during the next five years.”