UPDATE – A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for 1 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. 

Click here for the details. 

The advisory below has expired. 

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Findlay and Hancock County are included in a Winter Weather Advisory issued by the National Weather Service.

The Winter Weather Advisory goes from 1 a.m. Saturday until 10 a.m. Saturday.

Mixed precipitation is expected.

Total snow accumulations up to one inch and ice accumulations less than one tenths of an inch.

Drivers should plan on slippery road conditions.

Snow will overspread the area overnight into Saturday morning and change quickly to a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.

This mixed precipitation is then expected to change to rain by late morning as warmer air at the surface and aloft overspreads the area.

Then on Sunday, snow showers are expected to develop with 1 to 2 inches of snow possible.

Get the latest forecast, weather alerts, and road levels here and school delays/closings here.

(From Awakening Minds Art)

Awakening Minds Art (AMA) is bringing an electrifying evening of music and entertainment to Findlay with its Dueling Pianos fundraiser on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Hancock Hotel.

Featuring the high-energy performance of “T” and Rich Dueling Pianos, guests will enjoy an interactive, crowd-pleasing show filled with music, laughter, and unforgettable moments—all while supporting AMA’s mission to provide therapeutic and educational art programs for individuals of all ages and abilities.

Tickets are now available:

General Admission: $60 per person, includes snacks and desserts.

Reserved Table for Eight: $480, includes eight reserved seats and eight drink tickets.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available for businesses and individuals looking to support the cause:

‘AMAzing’ Headlining Sponsor – $3,000 (1 available)

‘Happy Little Piano’ Sponsor – $1,500 (1 available)

‘Let There Be Dancing’ Sponsor – $1,000 (2 available)

‘Giving Tree’ Sponsor – $750 (3 available)

Each sponsorship package includes reserved seating, drink tickets, and various levels of recognition in event promotions and marketing materials.

Proceeds from the event will directly support AMA’s programming, ensuring continued access to inclusive and impactful art experiences for the community.

To purchase tickets or secure a sponsorship, visit https://awakeningmindsart.org/pianos.

For more information, please contact: Emily Sullivan, executive director at Emily@awakeningmindsart.org  or Jordan Hamilton, board member, hamiltonj@bluffton.edu.

(From Dr. Bill Kose with Blanchard Valley Health System)

Amid these dreary, cold February days, we at Blanchard Valley Health System encourage community members to take care of themselves mentally as well as physically.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of major depression with a seasonal pattern. The decrease in sunlight in the winter can cause the body to produce too much of some hormones while decreasing other chemicals, leading to fatigue, irritability, and sleep disturbances.

Keep in mind that there are things that can help. Stay active, eat healthy, and maintain as regular a sleep routine as you can. Many people benefit from exposure to full-spectrum light. Make it a priority to spend time outside on those rare days when the sun is shining. Remember that this is an illness, and treatment such as counseling and medication may help.

Keep socializing with others. This can be a challenge not only because of the lack of sunlight but also for people with SAD and for all of us. When it’s cold and icy outside, people tend to stay home. This intense flu season also leads to isolation.

However, we need to remain connected to other people to function at our best. Loneliness can lead to depression and anxiety. It also can make it more likely a person will develop heart issues, diabetes, or dementia. It is important that we connect with others as much as we can.

Help others to connect, too. If you are part of a prayer circle, support group, or any other kind of network dedicated to offering people comfort and support, please make an extra effort to check in these days. If, for whatever reason, meeting up in person isn’t possible, stay in touch with loved ones however you can. Call them or reach out on social media.

Finances can cause stress around this time, given that higher heating bills and taxes will soon be due. Often, even people who tried to budget for holiday shopping found they overspent in December. If this sounds familiar, keep in mind that you’re not alone. This is a very giving community, and individuals and organizations are eager to help.

If you know someone you love is struggling financially, check in on their emotional well-being. Make sure your older neighbors can get the food they need. Bridge Bereavement Services at BVHS can offer education and support if grief or loss is a concern.

This can be a gloomy and discouraging time of year. Perhaps you set an ambitious New Year’s resolution on Jan. 1 and now feel like you’ve made no progress. Or maybe you especially love the Christmas season and, now that it’s over and there are still several weeks to spring, feel let down.

These stresses are understandable and may lead people to wonder, “Why wouldn’t I be depressed under the circumstances?” However, if this distress is affecting your ability to function, I urge you to seek treatment to help you feel better.

Your primary care provider may be a great place to start. He or she can prescribe medication or recommend lifestyle changes and refer you to counselors or psychiatrists for further treatment. A pharmacist may also be helpful if you have noticed a change shortly after starting a new medication since prescription drug interactions can affect mood.

BVHS is here to help. We have therapists who can provide counseling, psychiatrists, and other providers who can prescribe medication. Blanchard Valley Hospital also has a nine-bed psychiatric unit on the premises. Throughout Northwest Ohio, our primary care offices work closely with psychiatry and other specialties. Please call our physician referral line at 419.422.APPT to make an appointment.

Keep in mind that the days are getting longer, and spring is on the way.

William Kose, MD, JD

Vice President of Special Projects,

Blanchard Valley Health System

(From Visit Findlay)

Restaurant Week returns for the eighth year in Findlay and Hancock County.

Nineteen locations are participating with restaurants offering three-course meals on a prixfixe menu at different price points.

Diners are encouraged to try something new or support their favorite restaurants during this special week.

Restaurant Week will take place during dinner hours from Monday, February 17 until Sunday, February 23.

Price points for the participating restaurants are $15, $25, $35, and $45 per diner, and vary per restaurant.

Those interested in taking part in Restaurant Week simply need to visit the restaurant of their choice during dinner hours and ask for the Restaurant Week Menu.

Diners will then select one option per course and be charged the restaurant’s set price.

Restaurant Week highlights the excellent dining options in a range of prices in Findlay and Hancock County.

Included in Restaurant Week this year are restaurants in Arlington, Bluffton, and Vanlue.

Prices do not include tax, gratuity, or drinks; however, many locations are running drink specials.

Restaurants will also be serving their regular menu.

No tickets are necessary, but reservations are suggested at many locations.

Menus and hours are subject to change without notice.

For a complete list of participating restaurants, hours, and their menus, go to VisitFindlay.com/RestaurantWeek.

(From the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)

We would like to congratulate Deputy Crouch on seven years of dedicated service in the SRO’s.

His successful completion of advanced school-based law enforcement training at OSROA’s Annual Conference, and his fourteen years of membership in the Ohio School Resource Officers Association.

With his dedicated service he is being recognized as a Master School Resource Officer.

Thank you for all that you do—your hard work and dedication are truly appreciated! Keep up the great work!

(From the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts)

We invite you to Inspire Your Heart with Art for the month of February.

Art has the power to inspire, uplift, and connect us all. At Marathon Center for the Performing Arts (MCPA), we are proud to bring this transformative power to life right here in our community.

Whether you’re drawn to the thrill of a live performance, the joy of community engagement, or the lifelong benefits of arts education, MCPA is here to offer something for everyone.

We invite you to join us in celebrating creativity and community. Inspire Your Heart with Art this month and explore our upcoming events, learn about our outreach initiatives, or discover how you can make an impact by supporting the arts at our website, MCPA.org.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation)

A new fund was recently established at the Foundation to support homeless youth or youth transitioning out of foster care to improve their wellbeing.

The Dick and Jane McCleary Fund for Homeless and Foster Youth was established in memory of Dick by his wife Jane.

To learn more or donate to the newly established fund visit: https://www.community-foundation.com/…/dick-and-jane…

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce)

Applications are being accepted for the 2025-2026 Hancock Youth Leadership (HYL) program.

Affiliated with the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, HYL is an investment in the future of Findlay and Hancock County. Its purpose is to enhance knowledge and develop leadership skills in a select group of high school students, motivating them to become positive role models, active and committed to their civic responsibilities.

Students attend monthly sessions, beginning with a team-building retreat in August. Session topics include agriculture, health and human services, arts and media, diversity, business and economic development, justice and law, and volunteerism.

HYL is open to Hancock County and Findlay City Schools students, including those who are homeschooled, beginning their junior year in fall 2025. Applications are available online at www.FindlayHancockChamber.com/HYL. Completed applications must be submitted by Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

 For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce at 419.422.3313, email djenkins@FindlayHancockChamber.com, or visit www.FindlayHancockChamber.com/HYL.https://findlayhancockchamber.com/HYL/

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

The Ohio State Highway Patrol will be joining forces with members of the 6-State Trooper Project to focus on speed, safety belt and OVI enforcement on Interstate 75.

The three‐day initiative will begin Friday, February 14 and will continue through Sunday, February 16. The campaign will include the Kentucky State Police and Michigan State Police. The remaining members of the 6-State Trooper Project, Indiana State Police, Pennsylvania State Police and West Virginia State Police, will not participate.

Last year, during the same 6-State initiative, the Patrol cited 454 drivers for speed-related violations and 44 for safety belt infractions. The Patrol also charged six with OVI. The 6-State Trooper Project is a multi-state law enforcement partnership aimed at providing combined and coordinated law enforcement and security services in the areas of highway safety, criminal patrol and information sharing.

(From the Ohio Department of Health)

The Ohio Department of Health is reporting the state’s first probable human case of influenza A(H5), also known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), or bird flu. An adult male Mercer County farm worker who was in contact with deceased commercial poultry was infected with the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers the current risk of bird flu for the general public to be low. However, people with close and prolonged, unprotected contact with infected birds are at greater risk.

Guidance for the General Public

The risk of acquiring bird flu to the general U.S. population is low. The best way to prevent bird flu is to avoid direct contact with wild birds or sick or dead poultry or other animals.

Contact your local health department or local veterinarian for further guidance before you approach sick or dead poultry or wild birds. 

Commercial poultry owners should practice good biosecurity and prevent contact between their poultry and wild birds, specifically migratory waterfowl. 

Avoid handling sick birds or other animals and immediately report unusual signs of disease or unexpected deaths to Ohio Poultry Association at (614) 882-6111 or the Ohio Department of Agriculture at (614) 728-6220 or after hours at (888) 456-3405. 

According to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, best biosecurity practices for commercial poultry owners include:

• Prevent Contact with wild birds and waterfowl.Keep birds indoors when possible. Add wildlife management practices around your farm. hpaifactsheet_wildlife-biosecurity.pdf (usda.gov)
• Keep visitors to a minimum.Only allow those who care for your poultry to have contact with them and make sure they follow biosecurity principles.
• Wash your hands before and after contact with live poultry.Use soap and water. If using a hand sanitizer, first remove manure, feathers, and other materials from your hands.
• Provide disposable boot covers (preferred) and/or disinfectant footbaths for anyone having contact with your flock.If using a footbath, remove all droppings, mud or debris from boots and shoes using a long-handled brush BEFORE stepping in. Always keep it clean.
• Establish a rodent and pest control program. Deliver, store, and maintain feed, ingredients, bedding and litter to limit exposure to and contamination from wild animals.
• Use drinking water sourced from a contained supply (well or municipal system).Do not use surface water for drinking or cleaning. 
• Clean and disinfect tools and equipment before moving them to a new poultry facility.Trucks, tractors, tools and equipment should be cleaned and disinfected prior to exiting the property. Do not move or reuse anything that cannot be cleaned.
• Look for signs of illness. Monitor egg production and death loss, discoloration and/or swelling of legs, wattles and combs, labored breathing, reduced feed/water consumption.

More information about best biosecurity practices can be found on both the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) websites.

Background on Bird Flu Cases in Humans

Nationally, there have been 68 confirmed human cases of HPAI in 11 states since the beginning of 2024, which included one death in Louisiana. All but three of these cases involved exposures related to commercial agriculture and related operations or wild birds. In Ohio, one dairy herd and numerous poultry flocks have been infected since the outbreak began in 2022.

There are no known cases of human-to-human transmission.

“While the risk to Ohioans is low, the best way to prevent bird flu is to avoid unprotected exposures to sick or dead birds or to their environment,” said ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA. “People should avoid direct contact with poultry or wild birds and take proper precautions, including reaching out for guidance regarding personal protection and safe handling, if you must be around sick or dead birds.”

Additional Information

It is safe to eat properly cooked poultry and pasteurized dairy products. Generally, people should follow food safety practices – poultry, eggs, and beef should be cooked to a safe internal temperature to kill bacteria and viruses. The CDC’s safer foods table contains a complete list of safe internal temperatures.

If people have been exposed to a sick or dead bird, they should monitor themselves for any new respiratory symptoms and contact their healthcare provider or local health department should they develop symptoms. Ohioans can report sick or dead wild birds to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) at 1-800-WILDLIFE and sick or dead poultry to the ODA at 614-728-6220.

More information on HPAI can be found on both the ODH and ODA websites.