Raise the Bar Hancock County will be holding its inaugural Career Connections Day.

The event will be held on October 4^th at Owens Community College in Findlay.

More than 800 Hancock County 8^th graders will have a chance to meet with dozens of area employers.

Career Connections Day gives students an opportunity to engage with local employers based on their career interest/assessment results.

Raise the Bar Director Tricia Valasek and Workforce Program Specialist Ashley Stepec-Bibler were on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks to discuss the event.

The event expands upon Hancock County’s successful Manufacturing Day (occurring in 2018, 2019, and 2022) to now include employers representing the diversity of career clusters present throughout Hancock County.

A new traffic light has been put in place at an intersection just east of Findlay.

The new signal is located at the intersection of U.S. 224 and Township Road 237.

The Ohio Department of Transportation says traffic there was nearing the threshold of warranting a signal, and traffic will increase even more once further development occurs on the north side of the intersection.

ODOT says they also wanted to get the signal in place there before repairs begin on the bridge over the Blanchard River on State Route 568 which are slated for the summer of 2025 and will close State Route 568 in that area.   

(From the Office of the Ohio Treasurer)

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a perfect time to highlight the themes of independence and inclusion in the workplace. Through its STABLE Account program, the Ohio Treasurer’s office is proud to help thousands of individuals thrive in the workforce while being able to save and invest their earnings.

“National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a time to recognize and honor the countless contributions individuals living with disabilities are making to our workforce and economy,” said Sprague. “Ohio is home to many companies and job creators that are committed to creating more inclusive workplaces and exciting employment opportunities for people living with disabilities. In the Treasurer’s office, we’re proud to support these efforts and do our part to help more Ohioans achieve their dreams.”

A STABLE account is a specialized savings and investment account for people living with disabilities that allows them to save and invest money without losing eligibility for certain means-tested benefits, such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

STABLE accountholders can save up to $18,000 annually without losing federal assistance, and they can save an additional $14,580 each year if they’re employed. Earnings on STABLE accounts grow tax-free if they are spent on qualified expenses, which include housing, transportation, living expenses, healthcare, assistive technology, and more.

Under Treasurer Sprague’s leadership, the STABLE Account program has gained popularity in recent years and seen overall participation grow from fewer than 10,000 accounts in January 2019 to more than 43,000 active accounts today.

In April, Treasurer Sprague announced the launch of the STABLE Account Enrollment Incentive to encourage more eligible Ohioans to open an account. Through the incentive, STABLE Account will match the first $25 that an eligible Ohioan contributes when opening a new account. This matched contribution provides new accountholders with an instantaneous boost toward growing their money and beginning their investment journey.

The Treasurer’s office has also partnered with several private and public sector employers across Ohio to offer the STABLE Account Payroll Direct Deposit benefit to employees. Through this initiative, employers enable eligible employees to have a portion of their paycheck deposited directly into a STABLE account for themselves or a qualifying family member.

Through STABLE Account, Ohioans living with disabilities can enjoy a higher quality of life and build a strong financial future. Signing up for a STABLE account takes about 20 minutes and can be done online from home. For more information about STABLE accounts and to sign up, visit www.stableaccount.com.

Voters had a chance to hear from the candidates running for the Ohio House of Representatives 83^rd District seat; Republican Ty Mathews and Democrat Sheila Coressel, in a candidate forum on WFIN Monday night.

The forum was held at 50 North and moderated by WFIN’s Chris Oaks. 

You can listen back to the forum in the audio files below or the video below.

The deadline to register to vote is October 7 and absentee voting by mail and early in-person voting begins the following day. Election Day is November 5.

Click here for more election information from the Hancock County Board of Elections and click here for the Ohio Secretary of State’s website.

(From the Findlay Police Department)

On 9-30-2024 at approximately 2313 hrs. a pursuit was initiated by a deputy with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office within the city of Findlay limits.

Mutual aid was requested and an officer with the Findlay Police Department assisted the deputy in their pursuit.

The Sheriff’s Office terminated their pursuit in the area of Osborn Ave. and E. Main Cross St.

Other officers with the Findlay Police Department were in the area.

At approximately 2317 hours, an officer located the same suspect vehicle on W. Sawmill Rd. with its headlights off traveling south towards E. Sandusky St.

The suspect vehicle ran the stop sign at W. Sawmill Rd. and E. Sandusky St. and the officer initiated a pursuit for the observed violations.

The suspect vehicle fled from the officer eastbound on E. Sandusky St. to TR 234, south on TR 234 to TR 205, eastbound on TR 205 to CR 252, northbound on CR 252 to SR 568, eastbound on SR 568 to TR 242, northbound on TR 242 to the intersection of TR 242 and Forest Lake Dr. where the vehicle came to a stop.

The occupants were ordered out of the vehicle and taken into custody.

The driver, a juvenile, was charged with Failure to Comply with the Order or Signal of a Police Officer (F3), Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle (M1), No OL (UM), Fail to Stop at a Stop Sign (MM), and Lighted Lights at Night (MM).

The juvenile driver was incarcerated at the Wood County Juvenile Detention Center. The passenger, a juvenile, was taken into custody for Curfew and was later released to a guardian.

Additional charges may be requested against the passenger.

No injuries were reported as a result of this pursuit, which went approximately 11.8 miles and lasted 11 minutes.

Tony-winning actor Gavin Creel, a native of Findlay, has passed away.

Creel was a 1994 graduate of Findlay High School and a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance.

According to his website, Creel made his Broadway debut in the role of Jimmy Smith in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, for which he received his first Tony Award nomination, and then went on to star in the Broadway productions of HAIR, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, SHE LOVES ME, THE BOOK OF MORMON, and WAITRESS.

Creel then received a Tony Award for his performance as Cornelius Hackl in HELLO, DOLLY! starring Bette Midler.

Creel died on Monday after a battle with cancer. He was 48.

(picture courtesy of gavincreel.com, photographers Matthew Murphy and Mark Willshire)

(From the Community Enrichment Dinner)

The 2024 Community Enrichment Dinner will be held on Saturday, November 2 at 6:00pm at the Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center and will feature the play Black Angels Over Tuskegee.

Inspired by true events, Black Angels Over Tuskegee is a vibrantly energetic, emotionally captivating, award-winning drama that tells the story of six trail-blazing men who exhibited courage to excel in spite of overwhelming odds.

The play follows the collective struggle of the first African American aviators in the United States Army Air Forces as they overcame Jim Crow-era injustices with intelligence, patriotism and brotherhood as they worked towards their dreams of an inclusive and fair society.

The Black Heritage Library and Multicultural Center in Findlay is partnering with the Community Enrichment Dinner and will be providing artifacts that will be on display at the dinner.

Director Jerome Gray will also be a featured speaker at the dinner.

“The Black Heritage Library is honored to be a catalyst of change, as we join the efforts to expose students to opportunities for growth in S.T.E.M. and other areas of educational advancement,” says Gray.

“We’re very excited to bring The Tuskegee Experience to Lima for the 2024 Community Enrichment Dinner,” says CED Chairman Jerome O’Neal.

“This amazing story shows how a group of passionate people can achieve their dreams despite overwhelming obstacles. The Tuskegee Airmen’s story goes beyond race and is an inspiration to all of us. Our partners for the event are: The Black Heritage Library and Multicultural Center, Your Hometown Stations, the Bradfield Center, the Hy Ho Club, The Stalwart Magazine, and Custom Advocacy Partners.”

The 2024 Community Enrichment Dinner begins at 6:00 pm in the Civic Center’s Exhibit Hall with welcoming remarks; an update on local inclusion efforts; the presentation of awards; and a catered dinner. Following dinner, guests will go next door to the Crouse Performance Hall for Black Angels Over Tuskegee.

Tickets to the 2024 Community Enrichment Dinner include preferred seating for Black Angels Over Tuskegee.

They are $90, $100 and $110. Tables of eight and sponsorships are available.

Tickets may be purchased online at cedlima.com or the Civic Center Box Office.

The Community Enrichment Dinner is attended by a diverse crowd of more than 700 people annually. Proceeds fund programs that support diversity and inclusion in the Lima region.