(WTOL-11) – A rare earthquake in Defiance County is the largest Ohio has seen in a quarter of a century.

The earthquake Sunday morning registered as a 2.9 magnitude.

For those of you in Defiance County, you definitely felt it.

If you were in Lucas County and Wood County and Putnam County, there’s a very good chance you didn’t feel it in the surrounding areas.

It happened in southwestern Defiance County, near the Hicksville area.

That magnitude 2.9 earthquake isn’t the only earthquake we have seen in 2024.

We did experience two other earthquakes in parts of Wood County earlier in the year.

(From the Lima-Allen County Regional Planning Commission)

The Lima-Allen County Regional Planning Commission (LACRPC) received news from the office of Governor Mike DeWine that the proposed planning committee—the West Central Ohio Rural Planning Organization (WORPO)—was approved to be officially designated as its own rural planning entity under the leadership of LACRPC.

Counties represented in this designation are Auglaize, Hancock, Hardin, Mercer, Van Wert, Putnam and Wyandot. WORPO is now one of seven Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPO) in Ohio.

Colleen Barry, LACRPC RTPO Manager and Senior Planner, said, “This is an exciting time because we have been working with these counties on an official basis for two years to establish this designation. Being a part of the RTPO strengthens cooperation between agencies on a multi-jurisdictional level, which streamlines planning and creates uniformity in regional representation.”

Allen County is an urbanized area and is designated as a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and all of its MPO functions are performed at LACRPC, which has its office in downtown Lima. MPOs have access to funding at the state and federal levels to propose and execute necessary infrastructure projects. There are 17 MPOs in Ohio and are all in larger cities and more urban counties

While that is of benefit to Allen County, many other Ohio counties are deemed rural areas that have more limited resources. When smaller rural county governments work alone, their township, city and county officials have a difficult time executing transportation infrastructure needs and upgrades due to planning limitations and funding shortfalls. Because of this, much needed project dollars for roadways, sidewalks, signage, etc., are not allocated and projects must wait until local dollars can be raised.

This disadvantage in singularity sparked the idea that several counties surrounding Allen could form a committee–an alliance of sorts–that helps share ideas, plans and resources. The idea grew and, as the local MPO, 2 | 2 LACRPC began working in 2022 with officials in the seven named interested counties to establish an RTPO. These counties surrounding Allen are now collectively known as the West Central Ohio Rural Planning Organization, or WORPO.

Earning RTPO status and becoming the WORPO wasn’t simple. To be given status as an RTPO, a state’s governor has to make the official designation, and many things must happen before the application is sent to the governor. Such items include having a policy committee, having a parent organization that serves as the administrative and fiscal agent, providing planning staff, conducting public involvement, and completing a regional long-range transportation plan.

There are several new projects slated to begin in each of the WORPO’s counties in the very near future. Any person interested in the transportation planning projects of the WORPO is encouraged to follow the LACRPC Facebook and/or visit: www.lacrpc.com for more details.

(From Community Foundation President & CEO Brian Treece)

As the year draws to a close and the holiday season embraces us with its warmth and cheer, it’s also a time for reflection and giving back to the community that has nurtured us throughout the year. At The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, we believe in the power of collective generosity to spark positive change and uplift lives. This holiday season, consider transforming your charitable spirit into action through a year-end gift.

Why choose The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation for your year-end giving? Here’s how your contribution can make a real difference, plus some new ideas for year-end giving:

Amplify Your Impact: Your gift joins forces with others, creating a powerful ripple effect that touches countless lives across Hancock County. We connect generous hearts like yours with the causes that matter most, ensuring your contribution has the greatest impact.

Support What Matters to You: Whether your passion lies in education, arts and culture, environmental sustainability, or supporting our vulnerable neighbors, we offer a range of funds to align with your charitable goals.

Gavin Creel Memorial Fund: Ensure performing arts spaces will continue to empower generations of students to shine, both on stage and in life.

Jeff Wilson Memorial Fund for Industrial Arts and Agricultural Sciences: Support educational opportunities and experiences for students in the Arlington Local Schools industrial arts and agricultural sciences programs.

Create a Lasting Legacy: Consider establishing a donor advised fund or a designated fund in your name or the name of a loved one. This allows you to create a lasting legacy of giving that extends beyond your lifetime, supporting the causes closest to your heart for generations to come.

Buckland Fund for the Toledo Zoo: Support our region’s zoo in perpetuity, creating memories for families and inspiring guests to advocate for wildlife and conservation efforts.

Maximize Tax Benefits: Year-end giving brings joy to those in need and offers tax advantages. Consult with your financial advisor to explore how your charitable contributions can benefit your community and your financial planning.

Give with Ease: We provide various convenient giving options, including online donations, gifts of stock, and planned giving. Visit our website at [website address] or contact us at [phone number] to explore the giving method that best suits your needs.

Hancock County Forever Fund: Provide flexible support where it’s needed most, allowing us to address emerging challenges and opportunities in Hancock County.

Let’s come together this holiday season to weave a tapestry of generosity and goodwill. Your gift, no matter the size, can illuminate lives and strengthen the fabric of our community. Join us in making spirits bright and building a brighter future for all.

(From the Ohio Department of Commerce)

Ohio’s minimum wage is scheduled to increase Jan. 1, 2025, to $10.70 per hour for non-tipped employees and $5.35 per hour for tipped employees. The minimum wage will apply to employees of businesses with annual gross receipts of more than $394,000 per year.

The current 2024 minimum wage is $10.45 per hour for non-tipped employees and $5.25 per hour for tipped employees. The 2024 Ohio minimum wage applies to employees of businesses with annual gross receipts of more than $385,000.

The Constitutional Amendment (II-34a) passed by Ohio voters in November 2006 states Ohio’s minimum wage shall increase on January 1 each year by the rate of inflation. The state minimum wage is tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) for urban wage earners and clerical workers over the 12-month period prior to September. The CPI-W index increased by 2.4 % over the 12-month period from Sept. 1, 2023, to Aug. 31, 2024.

For employees at smaller companies with annual gross receipts of $394,000 or less per year after Jan. 1, 2025, and for 14- and 15-year-olds, the state’s minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. For these employees, the state wage is tied to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, which requires an act of Congress and the President’s signature to change.

Employers can access the 2025 Minimum Wage poster for display in their places of business by visiting the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Industrial Compliance’s Bureau of Wage and Hour website. 

(From the Findlay Family YMCA)

Celebrate 2025 a little early with us by coming to our Happy Noon Year party!

On Tuesday, Dec. 31, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., we’ll have the bounce house and other gym activities available in our East Gym, swimming from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in our East Pool, and snacks and a new year’s craft in the West Pool Lounge.

A special countdown with a balloon drop will take place at noon in the lounge!

$12 for members, $24 for non-members. Register at https://tinyurl.com/yb5eu3we

(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 6. The program runs through February 4.

WinterREAD registration is open to all ages, infant through adult. This winter, the library is again using an online platform, READsquared, for participants to keep track of their reading progress. Participants can earn great prizes by logging reading, or completing fun activities. If you prefer not to track your reading online, there will be paper forms available at the library to log reading progress. The prizes can be viewed at findlaylibrary.org/winterread.

Families are invited to join in reading together, and to attend programs such as Family Book Bingo, which can be attended via Zoom or in person at the library. Participants that wish to play bingo must register for the programs at findlaylibrary.org/events by clicking on the event for the registration form. There will also be a Book Bingo Night for teens.

Adults can enjoy book discussions, CrafterWork, and learn more about being healthier in the new year. Please check the library’s website at findlaylibrary.org/events for more information on programming.

Be sure to check the library’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/fhcpl for updates, surprises, and entertaining WinterREAD fun. For more information, please call the library at 419-422-1712 or check our website at findlaylibrary.org.

(From Bowling Green State University)

At only 20 years old, McKenna Clark is now a Bowling Green State University graduate, earning a bachelor’s degree in applied health science with a pre-physical therapy track.

The Forest, Ohio, native credits her fast-tracked December 2024 graduation to the unmatched support she received in the Thompson Working Families Scholarship Program.

“Before I applied, my mom said I should go on campus, take a look, and see the overall vibe because you can’t choose unless you’ve been there,” Clark said. “When we went on the visit and stopped in with the Thompsons, I just knew this was going to be perfect for me.”

The Thompson scholarship is need-based but is far different from the standard scholarship program.

In addition to maintaining a 3.0 grade-point average, Thompson scholars are asked to make a difference in their communities through service and to be active members of the program, which allows them to benefit from and add to a robust support system.

The program includes one-on-one meetings with a scholarship advisor whose mission is to help Thompson Scholars succeed everywhere in their lives as they navigate college and beyond.

Clark said her meetings with her Thompson Scholarship advisor, Ashleigh Diefenbach, were instrumental in helping her find her way at BGSU.

“It wasn’t just an academic advisor talking about what classes you need to take,” Clark said. “It was more like having a life advisor – you could talk about literally everything. We talked a lot about how I could find myself in the community and at school and explore ways to put myself out there.

“It honestly felt like a second family, and they would be there for me no matter what.”

Clark also received a significant boost from College Credit Plus, which allowed her to transfer credits directly to BGSU and fast-track her undergraduate studies.

By the time she arrived at BGSU, she was already set to take coursework in her major, allowing her to quickly connect with expert faculty and take classes designed to improve her skills within her field.

“Skills practiced in labs help students like McKenna gain confidence in their abilities to interact with others from a variety of backgrounds and help people understand their bodies and what they can do to improve their health,” said Dr. Todd Keylock, an associate professor of exercise science at BGSU.

“Pre-PT students are often highly motivated to learn all they can to be able to make patient’s lives better, to become more mobile, and recover from injuries.”

Clark said practicing in the field confirmed that she was on the right path.

Helping physical therapy patients regain autonomy brought victories that made the work worth the effort, she said.

“Watching my residents get back to doing what they love to do, transition independently and get back to their previous life was really inspiring to me,” she said. “I remember feeling so proud of them because I saw how hard they worked.”

As a BGSU alumna, Clark said her comprehensive experience at the University gave her the knowledge to confidently enter physical therapy school and pursue a fulfilling profession.

“It really cemented for me that this is what I wanted to do,” Clark said. “And now I know I’m capable of doing it.”

(above pic courtesy of BGSU)

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

According to provisional statistics, two people were killed in two fatal crashes on Ohio roadways this Christmas holiday. Of the two people killed, one was not wearing a safety belt. The two-day Christmas reporting period began Tuesday, December 23 at midnight and ran through 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, December 25.

During the reporting period, troopers arrested 44 people for operating a vehicle while impaired and 11 for illegal drugs. Troopers also issued citations for 84 safety belt and 31 distracted driving violations. Additionally, troopers assisted 434 motorists on Ohio roadways.

During last year’s four-day Christmas holiday reporting period, from December 22 to 25, there were 12 people killed in motor vehicle crashes on Ohio roads.

The public is encouraged to continue using #677 to report dangerous or impaired drivers, as well as drug activity. A statistical analysis of the Patrol’s enforcement activity and crash data over the holiday is available here.

(From The United Way of Hancock County)

Are you a numbers person who likes giving back to your community?

United Way of Hancock County is rallying volunteers as it prepares to once again facilitate free tax preparation services for qualifying community members.

United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides free income tax preparation to qualifying individuals who live or work in Hancock County. Volunteers are needed to greet clients as they arrive for their appointments and to prepare and file taxes electronically through the IRS.

No prior tax experience is needed. Training materials are provided free of cost, and all volunteers receive in-person training and certification. Ongoing support is provided by experienced team members.

Client appointments will be offered at 50 North and the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library from February through April. Volunteers may commit based on their availability.

Beginning Jan. 22, community members may call the VITA direct phone line to schedule their appointment. More details, including that phone number, will be released in January.

For more information or to sign up as a VITA volunteer, contact United Way of Hancock County Information Manager Bridgit Phillips at 419-423-1432 or accounting@uwhancock.org.