(ONN) – The family of a correctional officer killed on Christmas Day last year while on duty is suing the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

The department said inmate Rashawn Cannon beat Officer Andrew Lansing to death last year inside a guard shack in the prison yard of the Ross Correctional Institution.

A lawsuit filed by Lansing’s estate claims the attack was “foreseeable” and “preventable” and alleges Cannon threatened to kill Lansing months before his death.

We reached out to the department who tell us they do not comment on pending litigation.

 (From Hancock Public Health)

Hancock Public Health will be observing six (6) mandatory furlough days as part of a cost savings initative for the remainder of 2025.

During these designated days, our office will be closed, and staff will not be working.

We appreciate your understanding as we work to manage our resources responsibly while continuing to meet the needs of the community.

(ONN) – A judge has granted a request for a temporary restraining order blocking the Cleveland Browns from using unclaimed funds to build their new stadium.

The Browns were set to start getting that money from the state on New Year’s Day.

A preliminary hearing was set for January 6th.

Attorney Jeffrey Crossman of Dann Law comments on unclaimed funds being used for the Browns’ new stadium.

The most recent state budget gave the Browns $600 million from those unclaimed funds to build a new stadium in Brook Park.

Many people have filed claims to get their money following the preliminary decision to give the Browns access to unclaimed funds.

Data from the Ohio Department of Commerce shows from June to November of this year, more than 120,000 people made claims.

Compare that to the same time last year, with only 22,000.

(From the Office of State Representative Ty Mathews)

State Representative Ty Mathews (R-Findlay) announced that Governor Mike DeWine signed a bill that will provide $40 million in targeted funding toward treatment programming for first responders experiencing a Post-Traumatic Stress Injury.

“I’m honored to have helped lead the effort behind Ohio’s historic PTSI law,” said Mathews. “Thanks to our work, tens of millions of dollars are now dedicated to mental health treatment for our firefighters, police, and EMS. This means real wages, real care, and real long-term support for those who put their lives on the line every day. It’s a victory for our first responders and their families.”​

 More specifically, the provision transfers $40 million in seed funding from the GRF to for the Post-Traumatic Stress Fund. The state’s Post-Traumatic Stress Fund will cover treatment for peace officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel who are need of care. 

 The provision was included in House Bill 184, legislation that sets various limitations on intercollegiate athlete contracts, in addition to including a number of clarifying provisions as related to the state operating budget. 

 House Bill 184 will go into effect March 18, 2026. 

(From the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)

Sheriff Michael A. Cortez wants to alert the Hancock County community to an ongoing phone scam.

Unknown individuals are calling residents while impersonating Hancock County Sheriff’s Office deputies, claiming that the recipient has missed a court date or owes fines. In some cases, the caller ID may even display the name of an actual deputy.

Please be advised:

1. These calls are NOT coming from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office
2. The caller is typically a male with a southern accent.
3. The request is a SCAM!

DO NOT provide any personal or financial information!

Hang up immediately!

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library)

WinterREAD, a reading program that gives participants a chance to win amazing prizes, will soon return to the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library. Readers can register to join the winter fun at findlaylibrary.readsquared.com beginning January 5. The program runs through January 31.

WinterREAD registration is open to all ages, infant through adult. This winter, the library is again using an online platform, READsquared, to keep track of reading progress. Once registered, participants can earn great prizes by logging reading, writing a book review, or completing fun activities. For those that prefer not to track reading online, there will be paper forms available at the library to log reading progress.

Be sure to check the library’s Facebook page at facebook.com/fhcpl for updates, surprises, and entertaining WinterREAD fun. For more information, and to view the fantastic prizes waiting to be won, visit findlaylibrary.org/winterread.

(ONN) – Sweeping property tax reform was signed into law by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine

Lawmakers say the package of five bills could save property owners $2 billion over the next three years.

“With the signing of these bills, no longer will families see dramatic spikes in their real estate taxes,” the governor said.

The legislation prevents unvoted property tax spikes by establishing a new inflation cap credit.

It also prevents increases in school district property taxes from exceeding the rate of inflation.

The laws go into effect in March.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce)

High school sophomores across Findlay and Hancock County are invited to apply for the 2026-27 Hancock Youth Leadership (HYL) program, a leadership development experience affiliated with the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce.

For more than 25 years, HYL has invested in the future of Findlay and Hancock County by helping students grow as confident leaders, effective communicators and positive role models who are engaged in their community. The program is designed for students who are curious, eager to learn and interested in building leadership and communication skills to carry into school, future careers and everyday life.

Students selected for the program participate in nine full day sessions during their junior year of high school. Monthly sessions are held during the school day and focus on interactive learning, meaningful discussion and real-world exposure to how the community operates. Session topics include city and county infrastructure, health and human services, arts and media, justice and law, diversity, business and economic development, and agriculture. Students also collaborate on a class project and complete at least one volunteer experience with a local nonprofit organization.

HYL is open to all Hancock County high school sophomores, including students enrolled in Findlay City Schools, county school districts, and those who are homeschooled. A limited number of students are selected each year to create a well-rounded class with a variety of experiences and perspectives.

Applications are available online and must be submitted by February 27, 2026. The program will begin at the start of the students’ junior year in Fall 2026.

For more information or to apply, visit www.FindlayHancockChamber.com. Questions by be directed to the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber at 419.422.3313 or by email sfoltz@FindlayHancockChamber.com.

(Blanchard Valley Health System)

Please join us in congratulating Emma Shick, RN, on being our December DAISY Award recipient!

Emma was nominated by a patient’s family, who deeply appreciated her compassionate care during their loved one’s stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). The family had to make some incredibly difficult choices on behalf of the patient, and Emma provided additional support, ensuring they had all the necessary information, time, and reassurance to make informed decisions. She comforted the family, respected the patient’s final wishes, and even took photos to document their last moments together.

Thank you, Emma, for providing the highest quality care to your patients. We are proud to have you on #TeamBVHS.

Pictured: Betsy Ditto, RN, BSN, ICU, inpatient dialysis & wound care clinical manager; Emma Shick, RN, ICU nurse; BJ Paztor, BJ Pasztor, RN, chief nursing officer and chief operations officer of acute care services; Jessica Salsbury, RN, ICU educator.

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

With the Christmas holiday fast approaching, the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) is reminding all drivers to prioritize safety and responsible decision-making while traveling and celebrating with family and friends.

“You can help make the holidays safer for those around you by simply being an alert and responsible driver,” said Governor DeWine. “This Christmas, and throughout the year, I encourage all drivers in Ohio to put their seatbelts on, put their phones away and put their full focus on the road.” 

To promote roadway safety and reduce fatal and injury crashes across the state, the Patrol will be conducting a five-day Christmas holiday reporting period from midnight on Wednesday, December 24 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 28. Throughout this time, troopers will be increasing visibility and focusing enforcement efforts on impaired driving, speeding, distracted driving and safety belt violations.

During the 2024 Christmas holiday reporting period, which ran for two days, there were three fatal crashes, resulting in three deaths. Of those crashes, one involved alcohol and/or drugs, and of the two fatalities in which safety belts were available, both drivers were unbelted.

In that same timeframe, the Patrol made 44 impaired driving arrests, issued 84 citations for safety belt violations and issued 31 citations for distracted driving.

“Every driver has the ability to make our roads safer this holiday season,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. “We will have zero tolerance for impaired or reckless driving to stop preventable crashes before they happen.”

Anyone traveling on Ohio’s roadways is encouraged to be an active part of traffic safety. If you see an impaired or reckless driver, safely call #677 to connect directly with a Patrol post.