(From the City of Findlay)

On Monday, October 7, 2024, the northbound lane of Crystal Avenue between Winfield Avenue and Scott Avenue will be closed for street repair.

This closure will be from 8am-12noon.

Motorists are advised to avoid this area

(From the Ohio Department of Transportation)

Interstate 75 will be rerouted and County Road 99 will close overnight according to the schedule below to set the structural steel beams for the new westbound County Road 99 bridge.

 Wednesday night, Oct. 9 – Saturday morning, Oct. 12. (The schedule below applies to all three nights.)

Interstate 75 southbound:

8 p.m. – Traffic will be reduced to one lane.

11 p.m.-5 a.m. – I-75 southbound traffic will be rerouted onto the CR 99 southbound ramps.

I-75 northbound ramps will remain operational.

During this time CR 99 over I-75 will be closed to traffic.

5 a.m. – I-75 and CR 99 are expected to return to full operation.

Monday night, Oct. 14 – Thursday morning, Oct. 17. (The schedule below applies to all three nights.)

Interstate 75 northbound:

8 p.m. – Traffic will be reduced to one lane.

11 p.m.-5 a.m. – I-75 northbound traffic will be rerouted onto the CR 99 northbound ramps.

I-75 southbound ramps will remain operational. 

During this time CR 99 will be closed to traffic.

5 a.m. – I-75 and CR 99 are expected to return to full operation.

County Road 99 will close over I-75 during beam setting operation dates listed above, 11 p.m.-5 a.m.

Detour: U.S. 224/Trenton Ave. to Main St. to Center St. to Tiffin Ave. to Bright Rd. to Fostoria Ave. to CR 236 to CR 212 to CR 99.

The detour map will be published here Monday, Oct. 7: ODOT District 1 detours

The new interchange at 75 and County Road 99 will be a Diverging Diamond interchange which shifts the eastbound and westbound traffic to the other side of the bridge at signalized crossovers which eliminates left turns across traffic and the traffic signals for left turns. (design below)

The benefit is that all traffic can enter the interstate in a free flow movement to the ramps which reduces the long start and stop times of trucks at signals.

A successful example of a DDI is located in Perrysburg at I-475 and State Route 25.

Three seats on the Supreme Court of Ohio will be in play in the November 5 election.

Incumbent Justice Michael Donnelly, a Democrat, is being challenged by Hamilton County Judge Megan Shanahan, a Republican.

Shanahan stopped by the WFIN Studios to discuss her campaign ahead of attending the Hancock County GOP’s First Friday Luncheon.

We asked her why she wants to be on the Ohio Supreme Court and what are the biggest contrasts between herself and her opponent.    

We reached out to Justice Donnelly and our conversation with him is below including his reaction to Shanahan saying he legislates from the bench. 

In the other races, incumbent Justice Melody Stewart, a Democrat, is being challenged by Justice Joe Deters who decided to run against Stewart instead of for his current seat.

The two people facing off for Deters’ open seat will be Dan Hawkins, a Republican on the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas and Lisa Forbes, a Democrat on the Eighth District Court of Appeals.

The Ohio Supreme Court currently is 4-3 majority Republican.

(From the Cincinnati Reds)

The Reds have hired Terry Francona as their new manager, announcing on Friday morning that they have agreed to a three-year contract with a club option for 2028.

Francona, 65, who stepped down as Guardians manager after the 2023 season, returns to the dugout having managed three teams over a 23-year career. He has a 1,950-1,672 record with the Phillies (1997-2000), Red Sox (2004-2011) and Guardians (2013-2023). He led the Red Sox to World Series titles in 2004 and 2007.

Francona’s hiring comes 12 days after the Reds parted ways with David Bell.

In six seasons under Bell, Cincinnati went 409-456 (.473), never finishing above third place in the National League Central outside of the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign (31-29 record, second-place finish).

With young and rising stars like Elly De La Cruz, Hunter Greene, Spencer Steer and Matt McLain, as well as promising prospects like Rhett Lowder, the Reds are looking to take the next step and reach the playoffs following a full season for the first time since 2013.

Francona’s reputation precedes him. Upon taking the helm in Boston in 2004, he led a Red Sox team that hadn’t been able to get past the rival Yankees to an ALCS upset before its first World Series title in 86 years. Boston won another title under Francona three years later, and overall, he guided the Red Sox to the postseason five times in his eight seasons as manager.

In 2013, Francona became manager in Cleveland, leading that club to the postseason for the first time in six years. In ’16, Cleveland reached the World Series, but lost in seven games to the Cubs. Overall, Francona became the winningest manager in Cleveland history, going 921-757 with six postseason appearances in 11 years. He also won three American League Manager of the Year Awards in that span (2013, ’16 and ’22).

Following the 2023 season, Francona stepped down as Guardians manager due to health reasons, but said he hoped to return to baseball in some capacity when healthy again.

Francona played for the Reds in 1987 as part of his 10-year playing career.

(From the Ohio High School Athletic Association)

The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) has designated the week of Oct. 6-12 as Fall Sports Officials Appreciation Week.

Officials Appreciation Week is part of the OHSAA’s Respect the Game program, which encourages sportsmanship among student-athletes, coaches, officials and spectators.

“We are grateful to the men and women all across the state who serve as contest officials,” said OHSAA Director of Officiating Beau Rugg. “Officiating is a commitment, and these individuals deserve our appreciation and respect not only for their work on the field and court, but also for the hours they spend in clinics, rules meetings and professional development during the offseason.”

Athletic administrators are encouraged to utilize an OHSAA-provided public address script before all home games during the week and use their social media accounts to show appreciation for contest officials.

Future appreciation weeks are set for Jan. 12-18, 2025 (winter sports) and April 6-12, 2025 (spring sports).

(From the Hancock County Engineer’s Office)

Fenson Contracting, LLC notified our office that they will be closing Madison Township Road 66 to traffic between TR 32 and TR 31 for a culvert replacement starting Monday 10/7/2024. 

This project is expected to last approximately 2 weeks. 

Naturally, the schedule is weather dependent and subject to change.

(From the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts)

Get ready to tap your toes and sing along as MCPA proudly presents The Music Man, a delightful musical that has captivated audiences for generations.

The Music Man will be presented on October 4 and 5 at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts.

Performances will be at 7:00 p.m. October 4, and 2 p.m. October 5.

This production is sponsored in part by Ohio Logistics.

The Music Man, written by Meredith Willson, tells the charming story of con artist Harold Hill, who plans to swindle the unsuspecting residents of River City, Iowa, by posing as a boys’ band leader.

Little does he know, his plans will be derailed by the town’s librarian, Marian Paroo, leading to unexpected romance and community spirit.

The show will include beloved musical numbers such as “76 Trombones,” “Goodnight, My Someone,” and “Till There Was You.”

There are more than 60 youth in grades 6-12 involved in the on-stage cast and technical crew.

Collectively, these students represent 11 area schools and homeschools.

The Music Man is directed by Kristina Rowe.

The production team also includes Zachary Thomas, music director and Timothy Frost, choreographer.

Tickets are on sale now. Advance ticket prices are $16 for adults, $13 for senior citizens & students. $1 from each ticket will go towards the Youtheatre College Scholarship.

All seats are reserved seating. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact MCPA Box Office by calling 419-423-2787 or visiting www.mcpa.org. MCPA is located at 200 W. Main Cross St, Findlay. Box Office hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Music Man is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). This program is made possible in part by state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio Arts Council (OAC).

The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Craig VanRenterghem at education@mcpa.org.

Leaders of local organizations gathered to discuss the serious need for more childcare in Findlay and Hancock County.  

Among those who spoke at the meeting was Kimberly Bash with the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation.

She says more than 1,000 kids are waiting on childcare lists and for every available slot there are six children waiting. 

Findlay Family YMCA CEO Stephanie Parsons also spoke at the meeting.

The YMCA recently held the groundbreaking for its new Early Learning Center which will serve 320 children.

Randy Gailbraith with Hancock County Job and Family Services also spoke on the state of local childcare.

(From the Findlay Rotary Club)

The Findlay Rotary Club will present its 2024 Golden Apple Awards at a ceremony on October 16th.

The club selected three teachers from the elementary level, three teachers from the middle school level and two teachers from the high school level to compete for the award.

The finalists will be announced at the annual Golden Apple Awards Dinner on October 16, 2024.

The finalist at each level receives the Golden Apple Award along with a $2,500 cash prize. Second and third place semi-finalist each receive a $250 cash prize. Finalists also accept an invitation to join the Golden Apple Academy, a group consisting of all past Golden Apple Award finalists.

At the elementary level, the semifinalists are: Heagan Sparling, Kindergarten at Liberty Benton; Jena Meloy, Kindergarten at Whittier; and Jayson Schube, 4th grade at Bigelow Hill.

At the middle school level, the semifinalists are: Angel Buck, 6th Grade Social Studies at Glenwood Middle School; Andy Honse, Band at McComb; and Maryann Holderman, Science at Riverdale.

At the high school level, the semifinalists are: Amy Teders, English at Liberty Benton; and Tyler Smith, Science at Findlay High School.

The Findlay Rotary Club accepted nominations for the award from students, parents, administration, colleagues and the community-at-large through the beginning of April.

Nominees are required to be a current teacher in the Findlay area or a Hancock County school and have at least three years of experience.

Nominated teachers submit a resume, a teaching philosophy essay, and two letters of recommendation to the Rotary Community Selection Committee who selected this year’s semifinalists. A second group of members from the Rotary Final Selection Committee interviews and conducts classroom visits to determine the finalists.

Below is a picture of last year’s winners, and you can learn more about them by clicking here. 

The Findlay Rotary Club was founded in 1920 and is a member of Rotary International, an association of Rotary clubs around the world, which today numbers almost 32,000 clubs in over 200 countries. The Rotary Club of Findlay was founded by the city’s leaders in 1920, and continues with the leaders of today. The club also sponsors the Rotaract Club at The University of Findlay.

(From the Cops & Kids Findlay Halloween Parade)

Findlay and Hancock County invite the community to nominate candidates for King and Queen for the 2024 Cops & Kids Findlay Halloween Parade presented by loanDepot. These individuals should exemplify the Halloween spirit by excelling in home decoration, costume planning, or participating in Halloween-related events and activities.

To nominate someone, visit fortfindlayfop20.org/halloweenparade and click on “Nominate our King and Queen”. Nominations will be accepted until midnight on October 8. This is an opportunity to recognize someone who truly embodies the Halloween vibe.

The Halloween Parade committee will make the selection based on nominations. The crowned King and Queen will not only wear their regal accessories but also play a special role during the Halloween Parade. They will be seated at State Bank Judges’ Square, where they will join the panel of judges in evaluating parade entries and contributing to the decision-making process.

The annual Cops & Kids Findlay Halloween Parade presented by loanDepot is Tuesday, October 22, starting at 7 p.m. on S. Main St. between Sixth St. and Lima St. Parade registration closes on October 15 at midnight. Parade proceeds benefit the Cops & Kids Champion fund, ensuring continued support of law enforcement and their increased positive interactions with youth in Hancock County.

Volunteers are also needed for the event. Volunteer positions and sign-ups are on the parade website. Click the volunteers button. https://www.fortfindlayfop20.org/halloweenparade