(ONN) – A proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution would make it easier to sue police and other public employees. 

The Ohio Coalition to End Qualified Immunity has been approved to begin collecting signatures to qualify a proposed Ohio constitutional amendment initiative for the fall 2025 ballot.

The campaign seeks to end legal immunity for police, prosecutors, teachers and other public employees from civil lawsuits.

The group needs 413,487 signatures by the first week of July to get the issue on the ballot.

The Dayton Daily News reports that if passed, the amendment would eliminate every immunity that the government enjoys at the people’s expense.

The Ohio Department of Transportation’s Hancock County Garage on Lima Avenue in Findlay has some advice on how to drive in snowy and slick conditions.

Deidra Noel, transportation administrator for ODOT in Hancock County, is asking drivers to do their part to help their snow plow operators clear the roads as efficiently as possible.

“Just take your time and slow down, give yourself enough distance between the vehicle in front of you, especially if it’s one of our trucks. Snow coming off of a truck makes visibility even worse so just back up and give us some space.”

Noel says the Hancock County ODOT Garage has 21 trucks and is responsible for 621 lane miles in the county, including Interstate 75 from Bluffton to North Baltimore.

Noel says, as a manager, she doesn’t get to plow snow as much as she used to, unfortunately.

“It’s really fun. Everybody who works here enjoys it. It’s a public service and when you’re good at what you do, you’re proud of it.”

Click here for the latest forecast, weather alerts, and road alerts.

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

According to provisional statistics, eight people were killed in seven crashes on Ohio’s roadways this Thanksgiving holiday, resulting in the fewest deaths since 2018, when seven people were killed.

The five-day Thanksgiving reporting period began on Wednesday, November 27 at midnight and ran through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, December 1.

Of the eight people killed, three were not wearing a safety belt and one crash involved impaired driving.

During the reporting period, troopers arrested 247 people for operating a vehicle while impaired.

Troopers also issued 569 safety belt citations and 297 citations for distracted driving violations.

Throughout the holiday reporting period, troopers assisted 1,638 motorists.

A statistical analysis of the Patrol’s enforcement activity over the holiday is available here.  

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation)

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation Board of Trustees approved grants totaling $1,092,906.50 at the November board meeting. This total includes 30 responsive grants, 13 president’s discretionary grants and 57 donor-advised fund grants.

“So far this year we’ve awarded more than $3.3 million,” said Brian Treece, President & CEO of The Community Foundation. “Each dollar granted represents the investments donors make in the Foundation to support Hancock County and the grantee organizations who partner with us to improve the quality of life for all in the community.”

Responsive Grants

Responsive grants are awarded to organizations that meet community needs and match The Community Foundation’s goals and objectives. Grantseekers must submit a written grant proposal for consideration. Applications are reviewed four times per year.

Funding for responsive grants comes from our Community’s Endowment, which is comprised of Funds for the Common Good and Field of Interest Funds established by donors at The Community Foundation. The following responsive grants were approved by the Board of Trustees, made possible by our Community’s Endowment:

Arcadia Local Schools was awarded $940 to support the creation of a greenhouse by FFA students.

Black Heritage Library and Multicultural Center was awarded $1,730 to support the Hispanic Heritage Celebration as part of the Fun for All series of free community events.

Blanchard Valley Center was awarded $10,650 to support early intervention language translation resources for local families.

Blanchard Valley Health System was awarded $24,941 to train and deploy local interpreters for newcomers to ensure better health and financial outcomes.

Children’s Mentoring Connection was awarded $1,697 to support three teen-focused events through Family and Children First Council, City Life and FOCUS Recovery and Wellness Community as part of the Fun for All series of free community events.

Children’s Museum of Findlay was awarded $150 for incorporating pumpkins into a fall free play day as part of the Fun for All series of free community events.

City of Findlay was awarded three grants:

$2,500 for a video series to assist the newcomer population.

$5,265 for the city’s Christmas tree ornament decorating and free ice skating as part of the Fun for All series of free community events.

$2,500 for a video series for newcomer population assimilation support.

The Community Foundation was awarded four grants:

$5,500 for the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s AI course for local nonprofit organizations.

$10,000 for community leadership efforts, including mayors’ meetings, Community Conversations and more.

$12,000 for school foundation capacity building.

$20,000 for research on workforce and recreation in Hancock County.

Hancock Public Health was awarded three grants:

$924 for services to diabetic youth in local school systems.

$2,150 for CPR/AED training for Family Center agencies.

$15,000 for ongoing translation services.

Lima Symphony Orchestra was awarded $2,500 to support three Symphony Storytime performances at the library as part of the Fun for All series of free community events.

Marathon Center for the Performing Arts was awarded $10,023 for a free concert in Jenera as part of the Fun for All series of free community events.

Miracle League of Findlay was awarded $25,000 to leverage funding for the Miracle Park Fitness Complex near the Cube.

Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation, Inc. was awarded $1,305 for a Fall Family Fun Day as part of the Fun for All series of free community events.

Open Arms Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services was awarded $7,548 to support the expansion of services into the rural parts of Hancock County.

Raise the Bar was awarded $549 to support the expansion of the K-12 Career Engagement Immersion Continuum with local students.

Toledo Opera was awarded $10,000 to support a Family Opera on Wheels event and presentations at local city and county schools.

Toledo Zoological Society Foundation was awarded $533 for a November Funday Sunday at the Mazza Museum as part of the Fun for All series of free community events.

Village of Arlington was awarded $5,615 for a portable ice skating rink.

Village of McComb was awarded $1,056 to support a village mural related to Heart & Soul.

Village of Mt. Blanchard was awarded $678 to support Hurricane Park improvements as a Heart & Soul priority.

President’s Discretionary Grants

President’s Discretionary grants fund urgent or special requests outside The Community Foundation’s various grant cycles. The President of The Community Foundation is allocated an amount each year. These grants typically do not individually exceed $5,000. The following discretionary grants were awarded:

This year, TCF staff dedicated the 2024 president’s discretionary funds to combat nonprofit staff burnout.

Children’s Mentoring Connection was awarded $2,000 for a team-building retreat for CMC staff.

Christian Clearing House was awarded $730 for a spa day for CCH staff.

The Community Foundation was awarded $4,234 for a nonprofit appreciation day for local organizations.

Findlay Area Youth for Christ was awarded $2,079 for a staff appreciation evening.

Findlay-Hancock County Public Library was awarded $3,168 for staff logo wear.

Findlay Hope House was awarded $5,000 for the new Connecting Area Professionals of Social Services (CAPSS) program, which aims to create a sense of community for these professionals.

Findlay YMCA was awarded $1,996 for a teambuilding day for leadership staff.

FOCUS Recovery and Wellness Community was awarded $3,000 for a day of mental health supporting activities for staff.

Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County was awarded $2,450 for teambuilding day.

Hancock Historical Museum was awarded $973 for a staff appreciation day.

Marathon Center for the Performing Arts was awarded $1,770 for a staff retreat day.

NAMI Hancock County was awarded $1,400 for teambuilding activities.

Welcome to A New Life was awarded $1,200 for teambuilding activities.

Donor Advised Grants

Individuals, families or corporations establish donor advised funds to recommend grants to nonprofits they’re passionate about. The Foundation vets the nonprofits, and grants are awarded. The following donor advised grants were awarded:

57 grants to 44 organizations totaling $630,120.50.

(From the Tiffin Police Department)

I want to address a concern regarding a potential threat reported to Tiffin Middle School. Please know that the Tiffin Police Department (TPD) takes every reported threat seriously. Our priority is to ensure the safety and security of all students, staff, and our community.

This particular threat was initially observed on social media and promptly reported through the See Something, Say Something initiative. The system worked as intended, highlighting the importance of vigilance and timely communication in keeping our schools safe. After a thorough investigation by both the Patrol and Detective Divisions, TPD traced the source of the threat to an out-of-state location and confirmed it is not credible.

As you know, safety of your children is always our top concern. Tiffin Middle School will remain open tomorrow (Monday), and Tiffin Officers will have an increased presence on campus to provide reassurance and maintain a secure learning environment.

I want to thank the individual who reported the concern, the excellent work of Sgt. LaVerne Keefe and Detective Eric England, and the school’s administrative team for their quick and coordinated response. It is through teamwork and proactive measures like these that we can foster an environment where learning can thrive safely.

To our community: please remain vigilant and report any concerns to the Tiffin Police Department (419-447-2323). Together, we can ensure our schools remain safe and supportive places for every student.

Thank you,

Chief David Pauly

The new Hancock County Judicial Center building is nearly finished.

The Hancock County Commissioner’s office says construction is essentially finished and now they’re working on things like occupancy permits and elevator inspections.

The county is hoping to take possession of the building in December and move in offices in January and then hold a ribbon-cutting after they’re settled in. The groundbreaking for the building was held in June of 2023. 

Commissioner Tim Bechtol says the new three-story building at 209 West Main Cross will house Probate and Juvenile Court which are currently located in a building just east of that location.

As Bechtol mentioned in the audio above, juvenile probation offices will be on the second floor and adult probation on the first floor.

The Domestic Relations Court will also be moving from the courthouse into the new building.

CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, will also move its offices into the new building.

The new facility is named the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center after the longtime judge for the Probate and Juvenile Court.  

There will be staff parking behind the building and the Hancock County Commissioners said they have come to a long-term deal with MCPA to use the northwest corner of their parking lot for public parking.  

As for the current Probate/Juvenile Court building, Commissioner Tim Bechtol has said he’d like to remove the additions that were added to it over the years and preserve the original historic structure, but what will happen to it has not yet been decided.

(From the City of Findlay)

The City of Findlay would like to thank the Owens Community College Center for Emergency Preparedness for their assistance during the recent trauma & triage training course for the Findlay Fire Department and Hanco EMS. The three-day training took place at the STRICT Center. Owens provided the wound props, moulage, mannequins, and other practice equipment. Role players—up to 8 off-duty firefighters for each training session—made the class difficult and effective.

John Leonard, Owens coordinator for Emergency Services Technology, provided the on-site expertise aimed at making the training as realistic as possible. Findlay Firefighter-Paramedic Seth Longanbach, EMS program manager for the fire department and an EMS Instructor, provided the logistics and course preparation ahead of time.

Part of the training included running groups through scenarios that closely resembled real-world emergencies or mass casualty situations. At one of the afternoon trainings, the injuries included a fireworks accident, falling from a ladder, a stabbing and an active shooter situation.

“We want to make it stressful, like, now it’s real, it’s different than playing around with your friends,” Leonard said. “We want them to be stressed. We want that tactile experience to train their mind.”

According to Findlay Fire Chief Josh Eberle, the cooperation between local agencies and Owens Community College is one they hope to continue. “This collaboration between the Findlay Fire Department and Owens Community College really worked out well for everyone involved. The training scenarios were extremely effective, which was a result of lifelike scenarios provided by Mr. Leonard and a realistic setting in the STRICT Center. It’s a partnership we hope to continue in the future.”

(From the Hancock Historical Museum)

The Hancock Historical Museum invites the community to a festive installment of its Brown Bag Lecture Series on Thursday, December 5, at noon. This lecture will be presented by the museum’s Curator and Archivist, Joy Bennett, who brings over 12 years of expertise at the museum and nearly a decade of experience hosting classic movie nights.

Titled “Holiday Magic: A Journey Through the History of Hallmark Christmas Movies,” the presentation will uncover the origins and evolution of Hallmark’s beloved holiday films. Joy will explore the heartfelt storytelling, timeless themes, and cultural impact of these movies, showcasing their enduring role in shaping cherished holiday traditions. The lecture will also examine the influence of classic Christmas movies on Hallmark’s holiday films. By identifying recurring themes in traditional favorites such as Christmas in Connecticut and White Christmas, Joy will highlight how Hallmark has woven these elements into its signature style, creating modern classics that continue to enchant audiences.

The lecture will run approximately 45 minutes to an hour, allowing plenty of time for questions and discussion. Guests are welcome to bring their own lunches to enjoy during the program. Admission is free for museum members and $3 for non-members.

The Brown Bag Lecture Series is held on the first Thursday of every month at the Hancock Historical Museum, located at 422 West Sandusky Street in Findlay. Each lecture highlights topics of historical and cultural significance to Hancock County and Ohio.

No registration is required for this event. For additional details, contact the Hancock Historical Museum at (419) 423-4433 or visit www.hancockhistoricalmuseum.org.

The City of Findlay leaf pick-up will continue for a few more days.

It began on November 18 and will run through Friday, December 6.

City employees will collect leaves that have been placed in biodegradable paper bags at the curb.

Plastic bags and loose leaves will not be picked up.

Bagged leaves are to be placed by the curb.

Limbs that are placed beside the bagged leaves will also be picked up.

The limbs will be picked up separately from the leaves.

City residents may continue to drop leaves at the green waste site located at 330 North Cory Street at no charge.

The last day for the green waste site will be December 7.

The green waste site is intended for residential use only.

No contractors are permitted to use this site.

Only tree trimmings, brush, leaves, and grass clippings can be dumped in designated areas at the site.

A good-sized crowd braved the cold weather to watch Santa Claus himself light up the City of Findlay Christmas Tree.

Santa was joined by Mayor Christina Muryn as they lit up the tree at 6 o’clock Friday night in front of the municipal building and the crowd cheered.

Findlay First Edition then led the crowd in some carols which you can hear in the video below.

The tree is a 30-foot-tall blue spruce and was donated by Findlay residents John and Betty Lee.

The star atop the tree was made by students at Millstream Career Center in 2021.