In Bowling Green, police went to social media for help in identifying a suspect in an assault and the public delivered.

According to a social media post by Bowling Green Police, the assault, which was captured on video, happened on Saturday just before 2 a.m.

In the video, a suspect is seen running down main street and approaching a group of three people walking together.

The suspect then tackled one person to the ground, stood up and fled.

After posting video of the assault on their social media, the police department says the suspect has been identified and charges are forthcoming.

The state has announced that nearly three dozen communities will receive funding to complete critical infrastructure and neighborhood improvement projects that enhance the quality of life for Ohioans. 

More than $18.2 million in Neighborhood Revitalization and Critical Infrastructure grants will be awarded to 34 communities for projects such as upgraded water and sewer infrastructure, road and sidewalk replacement, park improvements, recreation enhancements, new fire trucks, and more. 

Among the grants, Findlay will receive $386,500 to replace the storm sewer system along Carnahan Avenue.

The double-brick sewer, built in 1888, is deteriorating and causing collapses in the road.

Hancock County will receive $232,200 to assist Rawson with a sidewalk improvement project to increase pedestrian mobility across the village.

“This type of infrastructure may not always be visible, but its impact is felt every day,” said Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik.

“These projects will strengthen the foundation of our communities, making them safer, more resilient, and better prepared to be Ohio’s next great economic success story.” 

The grant awards are funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant program. 

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.

(From Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County)

Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County will officially finish construction of its 60th and 61st homes during a Home Dedication ceremony open to the public on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at 4:30 p.m.  

The ceremony will be held at the build site, located in the 1700 block of Bishop Lane, Findlay, Ohio. The program for the dedication will include a blessing, words from the new homeowners, the Butler and McMaster families, as well as comments from Wendy McCormick, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County and Kelly Croy, Habitat’s Board President.  

The Butler family consists of a single mother and her daughter. Their housing situation left them cost burdened due to continued high rent increases. Additionally, their living conditions were unsafe with no ventilation in the bedrooms and an exterior door in the daughter’s bedroom. For the past two years the Butler family has been working with Habitat for Humanity after seeing several close friends go through the process. After a year of financial education and savings they were chosen to be a Partner Family. They are forever grateful that everyone at Habitat chose to put their faith into them and grant this opportunity. They have gained so much knowledge already in the program and cannot wait to move into their own home!  

The McMaster family consists of a single mother and her two sons. For a number of years, they struggled off and on financially. For almost a year they lived with family and friends. After a lengthy search, they found a landlord willing to accept their housing voucher. Six years later the landlord sold the duplex, and the new landlords raised the rent an $250 monthly. Their previous landlord suggested they apply for Habitat. Within the past year, with the help of the Financial Opportunity Center, their credit score has risen more than 80 points and they are living within their budget and saving. This opportunity allows them to not only have a home, but a legacy! 

These are the third and fourth homes to be built by Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County in 2024. They are the first two of 20 homes Habitat will build in the Krystal Ridge Addition neighborhood by the end of 2027. Both homes were each built in just 10 weeks by nearly 300 volunteers representing many corporate build teams and organizations that enable their employees and team members to take part.  

Through donations of money and materials and volunteer labor, Habitat is able to build a Habitat Home and sell it at an affordable price. These families qualified as a low-income family unable to qualify for a conventional loan who were willing to partner with Habitat and complete at least 400 sweat equity hours.  

Habitat for Humanity is accepting applications from families now for new homes. To apply for a home or a home repair, visit habitatfindlay.org or call 419-429-1400. 

(From the University of Findlay)

What does the future hold for Ohio workplaces? Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development, will share her insights Friday, October 4, at the next presentation in University of Findlay’s “Fridays at Findlay” lecture series.

Mihalik, a member of the Governor’s Cabinet, is a 2002 University of Findlay graduate and former mayor of Findlay. She will discuss “Ohio’s Workforce of the Future,” including workplace trends and challenges and how the Ohio Department of Development is helping Ohioans to prepare for future employment.

The informative discussion will focus on skills and abilities that will be in demand, how technology and automation will affect jobs, and what businesses, workers, customers, and communities can expect.

The event, open to the public, will take place in Winebrenner, TLB Auditorium on the UF campus. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. for a breakfast buffet with the presentation from 7:50 to 9 a.m.

Sponsored by Premier Bank, the Fridays at Findlay lecture series encourages continued educational opportunities for members of the community, the campus, and alumni.

Register online by October 2 at www.findlay.edu/FridaysAtFindlay or call University Advancement at 419-434-5334 for more information. The fee is $12 for adults and $6 for students.

(WTOL-11) – Two northwest Ohio counties are warning residents about a new jury duty money scam.

The sheriff’s offices in both Wood and Lucas Counties say people have been getting phone calls and text messages about fake warrants regarding missed jury duty.

Scammers pretend to be law enforcement officers and make demands for payments.

Neither the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office nor Wood County will call about jury duty or demand money.

(From the Findlay City Schools Alumni Association)

Friday night, we gave out the Distinguished Alumni Award during halftime.

The purpose of the award is to recognize and honor graduates of Findlay High School who have made significant and noteworthy achievements as successful adults in their chosen careers and/or have served as benefactors to mankind.

Furthermore, the purpose is to give current students the opportunity to realize and appreciate the contributions made by those who have graduated before them.

Dr. Joyce Friesner Swisher was a skilled and accomplished single mother to five children and educator within Findlay City Schools.

A few highlights include becoming the Special Education Supervisor of Findlay City Schools during the 1970s and 1980s.

In addition, she and two of the learning disabilities teachers spent a summer in Baltimore, Maryland at the Johns Hopkins University to become certified in teaching the Orton-Gillingham Multi-sensory approach to reading, a method that helped her dyslexic son learn to read.

For her doctoral thesis, Dr. Swisher ran a free summer school for kids with dyslexia.

Dr. Swisher continued expanding special education access for the children in the Findlay City Schools and adults with learning disabilities who she taught in her home.

She was an adjunct professor at Bowling Green State University, Ohio Northern University and Findlay College, (University of Findlay).

She helped write and promote the perceptual motor program used by Findlay City Schools.

Dr. Swisher touched so many lives and taught so many to read who thought they couldn’t.

(From the Bluffton Lions Foundation)

About 35 supporters joined to dedicate the Bluffton Lions Way State Route 103 Path dedication Tuesday afternoon. Special music was given by a Bluffton High School Ensemble; Bluffton Administrator, Jesse Blackburn introduced Chris Hughes, ODOT District Deputy Director who congratulated the many pathway partners. Mayor Richard Johnson and Council President Jerry Cupples added their kudos and thanks. The MC for the event was Jackie Bourassa, the Bluffton Lions Foundation President.

Many donors, individuals, corporations, state agencies, and board members celebrated by cutting a ribbon and unveiling a recognition sign.

The State Route 103 Path connects numerous food vendors near the I-75/SR 103 interchange with the Village of Bluffton. Its construction represents a major improvement to the corridor entering the Village.

The State Route 103 Path is part of a master-plan to create 9.3 miles of class I pathway that completely encircles the Village of Bluffton and connects the 6 major recreation areas. The Bluffton Lions Foundation and the Bluffton Pathway Board have been consistently working on the master-plan for over 15 years. Completed pathways include Lions Way County Line Path; Augsburger Path; Bently Road Path; Bently Road North Path; Parkview Path and the Original Lions Way – on the Norfolk Southern Railway bed.

Community support is the reason these pathways exist; there have been extraordinary efforts and giving in Bluffton along with several major gifts and grants to make these paths a reality. ODOT and several other government agencies were instrumental in the SR 103 Path development.

Officials say, due to construction, the Hancock County Job and Family Services and OhioMeansJobs Hancock Building at 7746 County Road 140 will be closed to the public on October 1 and 2.

The agency says DNA testing appointments will not be affected and those with appointments should still arrive at their scheduled time.

The agency also says it will still be providing services on those days, just not in person.

Hancock County JFS is currently sharing space with OhioMeansJobs while the JFS building at 7814 County Road 140 is under construction. 

According to the JFS website:  Due to construction, the JFS office located at 7814 CR 140 is currently unavailable for use and all JFS lobby traffic is being directed to the OhioMeansJobs-Hancock County office located in the building north of the JFS building. The phone lines are currently unavailable at the JFS office.

There are also 2 drop boxes available for use: one is located just inside the OMJ main entrance and the other is located at the end of the main drive for the OMJ office off County Road 140.

(From the Alzheimer’s Association)

Echoes of Memory: Explaining the Alzheimer’s Journey will be held on October 10 at the University of Findlay.

The event will focus on the impact that dementia has on families and detail how the disease journey changes over time, and how to navigate the Alzheimer’s continuum from diagnosis to end of life.

This will be a true community event featuring local experts and organizations:

-Dr. La Mancusa, M.D. – diagnostic process

-Tim Burkart, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP, University of Findlay College of Pharmacy – medications and treatment options    

-Andrea Sensel, OTD, OTR/L, University of Findlay Occupational Therapy – home safety/modifications for people living with dementia

-Misty Schnipke, RN, Bridge Home Health and Hospice – home health, palliative and hospice care    

-Alzheimer’s Association – 10 Warning Signs of Alzhimer’s

Registration is requested by Oct. 3 by calling 419.419.5858 or emailing matorsell@alz.org.

Local vendor booths will open at 5:00 p.m; dinner served at 5:30 p.m.; presentations  from  6 – 7:30 p.m. 

“We are grateful to all our community partners and experts offering their time to educate the community on important topics related to Alzheimer’s,” said Pam Myers, senior director, programs for the Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio and Central Ohio Chapters. “This will be an uplifting event to help educate and empower families that are facing the challenges of this disease.”

There are 236,200 Ohioans 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. More than 4,900 Ohioans died from Alzheimer’s in 2021. A total of 414,000 Ohio caregivers provide 624 million hours of unpaid care each year valued at over $11.4 billion.