(From the Humane Society & SPCA of Hancock County)

Santa came to visit yesterday, and one of our special pups got her Christmas Wish!

River, who had been with us one year to date yesterday. Won the heart one of our AMAZING volunteers.

Jason and his Wife, knew they could not fight it any longer. They had to make her a permanent member of the family!

We are so grateful and beyond overjoyed, to share with you all…River and her new Dad!

She did it! She FINALLY found where she belonged!

We wish you all a Very Merry Christmas!!!

(From the Office of the Ohio State Fire Marshal)

Nearly 200 fire departments will soon have access to additional funds to upgrade their emergency radio communication equipment. The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal has announced the recipients of the 2026 MARCS (Multi-Agency Radio Communications Systems) Grant. During this grant cycle, 198 fire departments representing 63 counties across Ohio have been awarded a combined total of nearly $4 million.

A complete list of MARCS Grant recipients is available here. Upon signing agreement letters, the selected fire departments will receive the funds in early 2026.

The MARCS radio system provides statewide, secure, reliable public service wireless communication for first responders. The system allows first responders to seamlessly communicate with each other, as well as with other agencies that may be responding to an incident. Costs to acquire and operate the advanced MARCS radio system technology can be significant, which highlights the importance of these grants in helping to ensure fire departments of all sizes are able to access these valuable tools.

“This grant funding is a major resource for fire departments across Ohio, especially since it helps give them access to MARCS radios that they might not otherwise be able to purchase,” said Ohio State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. “These radios help first responders better serve Ohio communities and protect those who call them home.”

The MARCS Grant is available annually to fire departments with service areas of 25,000 residents or less. Up to $50,000 per department is available through the grant. Priority funding goes to departments applying as part of a regional or countywide effort, as well as departments that show they are prepared to immediately begin using the MARCS radios upon receiving the funds.

Since 2020, the Division has awarded more than $24 million to fire departments across the state specifically through the MARCS Grant program, and an additional $13 million through its other grant programs to support equipment and training needs at departments.

For additional details on grant funding, visit the Division’s interactive Grants Dashboard at com.ohio.gov/SFMDashboard.

(ONN) – There will no longer be a grace period for mail-in ballots in Ohio.

Governor Mike DeWine signed a law that will require all ballots to arrive by the time the polls close on Election Day.

Exceptions can be made for certain voters like overseas residents and U.S. service members.

Previously, Ohio law allowed ballots that were postmarked by Election Day to still count if they arrived within four days after Election Day.

(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.