(From the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office has received multiple calls in reference to another scam going around.
For example, the scammers are using phrases like “legal trouble” and “missed court dates”.
The scammers may even state that they are from our office.
Do not give out personal information over the phone!
We do not contact you and demand money.
Please continue to be cautious when answering unknown phone numbers.
(From Hancock County Naturalists)
The Hancock County Naturalists will host speaker Scott Bechtel, a retired computer programmer turned nature photographer, who will present a talk on North American hummingbirds at their monthly meeting on October 10th at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Doc Phillips Discovery Center at Oakwoods Nature Preserve, 1400 Oakwoods Lane. The meeting is free and open to the public to those 15 and older.
Bechtel’s presentation will explore various aspects of these fascinating birds, including:
-How he became interested in hummingbird photography
-The species of hummingbirds found in North America
-Fascinating facts and information about hummingbirds
-Migration, courtship, and nesting behaviors
-His experiences as a co-leader of hummingbird photography workshops in British Columbia
-The practice of hummingbird banding
-Tips on feeding hummingbirds
In addition to his in-depth knowledge, Bechtel will showcase beautiful photographs of these colorful and energetic birds, offering attendees a visual treat.
Scott Bechtel is a self-taught nature photographer based in Hancock County, focusing on landscapes and wildlife. Since beginning photography in 2011, he has developed a passion for capturing birdlife, particularly Bald Eagles and owls, and his favorite subject, hummingbirds. Bechtel has photographed 14 of the 15 hummingbird species regularly residing in North America.
In addition to his photography, Bechtel co-leads a hummingbird photography workshop in the Canadian Rockies and enjoys woodworking, often incorporating hummingbirds into his carvings and automaton creations. He has previously shared his love of hummingbirds with audiences at local nursing homes.
The Hancock County Naturalists, a membership organization, was established to further the study of the fauna and flora of Hancock County and the surrounding area and to participate in selected conservation and educational projects. Membership and events are open to those aged 15 and older. Annual membership fees are $15 per adult, $20 per couple, and $10 for youth.
For more information, contact Jane Riker at 419-306-3697 or emaggin117@aol.com. The group’s website is hancockcountynaturalists.org.
(above picture courtesy of Jane Riley Riker from the Hancock County Naturalists Facebook page)
A man who meant a lot to his hometown of Findlay has died.
Chuck Younger passed away on September 28 at the age of 92.
WFIN spoke with Chuck’s son, Scott, who shared a few anecdotes with us and said his dad “will be greatly missed and was sharp as a tack right until the end.”
Chuck was Executive Vice President for Continental Cablevision and was very active in Findlay which you can read about in his obituary on coldrencrates.com.
Chuck was the past President of the Findlay Area Arts Council, board member for the Findlay-Hancock County Area Chamber of Commerce, trustee for the United Way of Hancock County, counsellor for the Service Corps of Retired Executives of the Small Business Association, president of the public advisory board for WBGU-TV, board member of Family Service of Hancock County, board member for the Council on Domestic Violence, Dana Chair executive-in-residence for the University of Findlay, Vice President for the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation Advisory Committee, and a board member for the Benton Ridge Telephone Company. Chuck was also the “Golden Voice of the Trojans” – announcing boys’ and girls’ soccer games for Findlay High School for almost 30 years. He and Mariann contributed to dozens of charitable organizations in their community.
According to his obituary on coldrencrates.com a celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Inurnment will take place in the First Presbyterian Columbarum, next to his wife.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Community Foundation, Younger Funds.
Online condolences can be expressed at www.coldrencrates.com.
(ONN) – Ohio’s first statewide human trafficking hotline is now operational.
The non-emergency hotline number funnels incoming tips about suspected sex and labor trafficking directly to law enforcement, connecting the caller with people experienced in investigating such allegations.
It is operated around the clock by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, whose criminal intelligence analysts assess the information and refer information to local law enforcement agencies and human trafficking task forces organized under the attorney general’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission and-or BCI’s Special Victims Unit.
The hotline number is 8-4-4-end-O-H-H-T.
Raise the Bar Hancock County will be holding its inaugural Career Connections Day.
The event will be held on October 4th at Owens Community College in Findlay.
More than 800 Hancock County 8th 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 Seneca County Drug Task Force)
On Monday September 30, 2024, the Seneca County Drug Task Force-METRICH Enforcement Unit, the Seneca County Regional SRT, and additional Officers from the Fostoria Police Department, executed a drug-related search warrant on a residence located at 424 S. Main St, in the City of Fostoria, Seneca County, Ohio, which is the residence of Lydia Rodriguez, 52 YOA.
The search warrant signed by Seneca County Common Pleas Court Judge Damon Alt, led to the confiscation of suspected Crack Cocaine, Cocaine, and possible Criminal Tools.
The investigation is presently an “ongoing” investigation.
Trafficking in Drugs, Possession of Crack Cocaine, and Possession of Cocaine, are all pending on Ms Rodriguez in the conclusion of the entire drug investigation.
Fostoria Police Department’s Canine Unit was also utilized to assist with executing the search warrant on the residence.
“The continued collaborative between the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, the Tiffin Police Department, and the Fostoria Police Department was instrumental to the success of this investigation. The Fostoria Police Department, along with the METRICH Unit, will continue to focus on the problem drug areas in our communities, and with assistance from citizens in our community, we will proactively and aggressively go after and proscecute drug traffickers; removing drugs and guns from our streets,” Chief Gabriel Wedge, Fostoria Police Department, said.
“I would encourage citizens to continue reporting suspicious activity to their local agencies or the Seneca County Drug Task Force – METRICH Enforcement Unit Crime Hotline at Local 419-443-0463, ext. 1140.”
(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 83rd 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.