(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) financial services associates are available to answer any questions or concerns regarding billing statements, including information about financial assistance that might be available.

The process of applying for financial assistance was recently simplified for the patient. BVHS has partnered with healthcare technology company Breez Health to streamline the application process.

Patients can now visit the BVHS website to apply and upload documents, which will then be sent to the Patient Financial Services (PFS) team.

“I’m excited about its simplicity,” said Brittney Larsen, credit and collections manager with PFS. “In the past, patients had to enter information manually, which was more time-consuming. This makes the process of applying for financial assistance much easier.”

“BVHS is here to serve our community with quality healthcare, but we are also committed to being exceptional throughout the organization,” said Myron D. Lewis, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of Blanchard Valley Health System. “Integrating this technology into our financial assistance programs streamlines the process of applying for financial assistance with an online platform that is easier to use. It’s just one more way we use the latest technology to ensure we can best support our community.”

Based on income guidelines, PFS associates can determine if the patient qualifies for Medicaid. If not, they may be eligible for assistance programs offered by BVHS.

“We encourage patients to start the conversation and reach out if they have any questions,” Larsen said. “We are here as a resource. Often, patients have questions about some aspect of their bill, such as what is covered by insurance and what is not. Our team is trained to explain these things and can review the bill with a patient. Sometimes, patients call their insurance company again after speaking with us and gathering more information.”

Additionally, PFS associates can provide information about available financial assistance to some patients. These associates ask questions about the patient’s income and household size and can help them apply for appropriate programs. In some cases, patients over the income levels for programs based on income might still qualify for other assistance, depending on their situation.

“If a patient has any questions, it’s better for both parties that they reach out and call us,” Larsen said. “We recognize that sometimes patients may have financial difficulties, and we may be able to help in ways they haven’t considered. If a bill is not paid, we need to resolve the situation, but we would rather discuss any issues than simply be left wondering. Please call us if you have questions and return the call if we reach out about a bill.”

In addition to discussing assistance programs, PFS associates can also review payment plan options. A payment plan of up to three months can be offered directly through BVHS, and a longer payment plan known as ClearBalance is also now an option. ClearBalance is an extended payment plan option where patients pay 0% interest through an account on the ClearBalance portal.

Larsen added that the associates in her department are happy to discuss the situation with the patient, especially if they can’t figure out an issue.

“Our associates will go the extra mile, as they want to help our patients and provide them with more information,” she said.

To apply for financial assistance, please visit https://www.bvhealthsystem.org/patient-and-visitor-information/im-a-patient/billing-and-insurance/financial-assistance.

If you have questions about a bill, please call 419.423.5310.

An individual who wishes to remain anonymous has donated $1 million towards the effort to install a monument to women’s suffrage at the Ohio Statehouse.

The Capitol Square Foundation says the donation was given in tribute to Jo Ann Davidson, the first woman to become Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives.

Davidson, who was from Findlay, died in October.

Learn more about the Ohio Women’s Monument planned for the Ohio Statehouse by clicking here.

An organization has been working again this year to give a few area families the Best Christmas Ever and their hard work is about to pay off.

The charity Best Christmas Ever helps out families who have fallen on hard times at no fault of their own.

This weekend the organization will be surprising two Findlay-area families with a custom and unique Best Christmas Ever tailored to each family’s situation. 

Jaclyn Pessel, of Best Christmas Ever, says what they do wouldn’t be possible without the generous community we live in.

“You get more out of giving than you do receiving, and you can see by how many people were here that people want to give and to help and there’s so many good people out there.”

You can learn more about Best Christmas Ever by checking out their website here and Findlay Facebook page here.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation)

A new scholarship fund was recently established at the Foundation to support a high school graduate, with a preference for Van Buren High School, pursuing agriculture or an agriculture-related field.

The Frank Farms Educational Trust Scholarship was established in memory of Merle Franks by his grandchildren Angela Middleton and Dustin Drerup. Merle Franks was born on the family farm in Van Buren. He was a third-generation farmer whose farm is still run by the family today.

To learn more or donate to the newly established fund visit: https://www.community-foundation.com/…/franks-farm…

The Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation’s North Pole Express is a holiday tradition for many and this year it is once again part of the Ohio Holiday Lights Trail.

This is the fourth year that the North Pole Express will be a featured display on the Holiday Lights Trail.

Jim Gabriel, Vice President of the NWORRP, considers their North Pole Express Findlay’s premier holiday light display.

The North Pole Express runs on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through December 29.

It’s closed on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Learn more about Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation by clicking here.

They are located at 12505 County Road 99 in Findlay.

(From Premier Financial Corp.)

WesBanco, Inc. (“WesBanco”) (Nasdaq: WSBC) and Premier Financial Corp. (“Premier”) (Nasdaq: PFC) today announced that WesBanco’s shareholders and Premier’s shareholders have each voted overwhelmingly to adopt and approve, as applicable, all proposals relating to the previously announced merger agreement for WesBanco to acquire Premier. The votes were held at the respective special meetings of WesBanco’s shareholders and Premier’s shareholders today. Approximately 85% of the votes cast at WesBanco’s special meeting voted to approve the merger and to approve the proposal to issue shares of WesBanco common stock as described in the joint proxy statement/prospectus for the special meeting, and approximately 68% of the outstanding shares of Premier common stock voted to approve the proposal to adopt the merger agreement.

“Shareholder approval is a key milestone that reflects strong confidence in the opportunities this merger creates for our communities, customers, employees and shareholders,” said Jeff Jackson, President and Chief Executive Officer of WesBanco. “With this step complete, we look forward to receiving the required regulatory approvals and then scheduling the closing of the merger, so we can bring our community commitment and the resources of a stronger organization to all of our communities.”

With the completion of this critical milestone, the companies believe the merger is on track to close during the first quarter of 2025. The transaction remains subject to the completion of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required regulatory approvals.

The merger will create a regional financial services institution with approximately $27 billion in assets, significant economies of scale, and strong pro forma profitability metrics. With complementary and contiguous geographic footprints, the combined company would be the 8th largest bank in Ohio, based on deposit market share, have increased presence in Indiana, and serve customers in nine states.

About WesBanco, Inc.

With over 150 years as a community-focused, regional financial services partner, WesBanco Inc. (NASDAQ: WSBC) and its subsidiaries build lasting prosperity through relationships and solutions that empower our customers for success in their financial journeys. Customers across our eight-state footprint choose WesBanco for the comprehensive range and personalized delivery of our retail and commercial banking solutions, as well as trust, brokerage, wealth management and insurance services, all designed to advance their financial goals. Through the strength of our teams, we leverage large bank capabilities and local focus to help make every community we serve a better place for people and businesses to thrive. Headquartered in Wheeling, West Virginia, WesBanco has $18.5 billion in total assets, with our Trust and Investment Services holding $6.1 billion of assets under management and securities account values (including annuities) of $1.9 billion through our broker/dealer, as of September 30, 2024. Learn more at www.wesbanco.com and follow @WesBanco on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Premier Financial Corp.

Premier Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: PFC), headquartered in Defiance, Ohio, is the holding company for Premier Bank. Premier Bank, headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio, operates 73 branches and nine loan offices in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Pennsylvania and also serves clients through a team of wealth professionals dedicated to each community banking branch. For more information, visit Premier’s website at www.PremierFinCorp.com.

The Findlay Fire Department says a detached garage at a residence caught on fire and they responded to put it out.

The fire department says it got the call of the fire at 430 Walnut Street at 8:04 Thursday morning.

When firefighters arrived fire was visible from the back side of the garage and firefighters quickly got to work on putting it out. The cause of the fire was not yet determined when we spoke with the fire department.

The fire department tells WFIN that the homeowner saw smoke coming from the garage and was able to get their dog out of the garage.

Damage was limited to the back side of the garage.

Hanco EMS also responded in case they were needed but they were not as there were no injuries.

The street department was contacted to deal with some ice that built up in the area from the water the fire department was putting on the fire.

(From the National Baseball Hall of Fame)

Tom Hamilton, who has called Cleveland Guardians games on the radio for 35 seasons, has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually for excellence in broadcasting by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Hamilton will be honored during the Hall of Fame Awards Presentation as part of Hall of Fame Weekend, July 25-28, 2025. Hamilton becomes the 49th winner of the Frick Award, as he earned the highest point total in a vote conducted by the Hall of Fame’s 16-member Frick Award Committee.

The final ballot featured broadcasters whose main contributions came as local and national voices and whose careers began after, or extended into, the Wild Card Era. The 10 finalists were: Skip Caray, Rene Cardenas, Gary Cohen, Jacques Doucet, Ernie Johnson Sr., Mike Krukow, Duane Kuiper, Dave Sims, John Sterling and Hamilton.

“With an unmatched love for Cleveland, Tom Hamilton has narrated the story of one of the franchise’s most successful eras since joining the team’s broadcast crew in 1990,” said Josh Rawitch, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “Guardians fans adopted Tom as one of their own as soon as he arrived in Cleveland thanks to his knowledgeable play-by-play and passionate calls of some of the franchise’s most historic moments. For a generation of listeners, Tom Hamilton is the very definition of Cleveland baseball.”

Born Aug. 19, 1954, in Waterloo, Wis., Hamilton came to Cleveland in 1990 after spending the previous three years as the voice of the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. Teaming with the franchise’s beloved former pitcher Herb Score in the broadcast booth, Hamilton soon had a front-row seat to call a resurgent team that advanced to the World Series in both 1995 and 1997.

Assuming duties as the voice of the franchise following Score’s retirement in 1997, Hamilton has partnered with Mike Hegan, Dave Nelson, Jim Rosenhaus and Matt Underwood during the ensuing decades on WWWE-AM and WTAM-AM, the longtime radio home of the Guardians.

A seven-time winner of the Ohio Sportscaster of the Year Award, Hamilton has called more than 100 postseason games and is the only broadcaster in franchise history to call three different Cleveland World Series teams.

The 16-member Frick Award voting electorate, comprised of the 13 living recipients and three broadcast historians/columnists, includes Frick honorees Marty Brennaman, Joe Castiglione, Bob Costas, Ken Harrelson, Pat Hughes, Jaime Jarrín, Tony Kubek, Denny Matthews, Al Michaels, Jon Miller, Eric Nadel, Bob Uecker and Dave Van Horne, and historians/columnists David J. Halberstam (historian), Barry Horn (formerly of the Dallas Morning News) and Curt Smith (historian).

The list of 10 Frick Award finalists was constructed by a subcommittee of the electorate that included Brennaman, Castiglione, Nadel, Halberstam and Smith. The Ford C. Frick Award is voted upon annually and is named in memory of the sportswriter, radio broadcaster, National League president, baseball commissioner and co-founder of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Frick was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1970.

For a complete list of Frick Award winners, click here.

As established by the Board of Directors, criteria for selection is as follows: “Commitment to excellence, quality of broadcasting abilities, reverence within the game, popularity with fans, and recognition by peers.”  To be considered, an active or retired broadcaster must have a minimum of 10 years of continuous major league broadcast service with a ball club, network, or a combination of the two.

The Frick Award election cycle rotates between a composite ballot featuring local and national voices whose careers began after, or extended into, the Wild Card Era in four consecutive years, followed by a fifth year featuring a ballot of candidates whose broadcasting careers concluded prior to the advent of the Wild Card Era in 1994. The cycle began with the 2023 Frick Award, with composite ballots of local and national voices continuing with the Awards through 2026 before the pre-Wild Card Era ballot is considered for the 2027 Award. The cycle then repeats.

(From the Tiffin Police Department)

Tiffin Police Department’s Detective Justin Nowak, a highly trained and skilled instructor in Defensive Tactics, generously took time out of his busy schedule to share his expertise with Jeff Smith’s Public Safety students at Vanguard-Sentinel Career & Technology Centers.

The session focused on self-defense and defensive tactics, providing the students with valuable knowledge and hands-on experience. Detective Nowak’s professionalism and passion for teaching shone through as he equipped the next generation of public safety professionals with critical skills for their future careers.

The students not only learned important techniques but also had a fantastic time engaging with an expert in the field. Experiences like this help foster strong connections between law enforcement and our community, emphasizing our commitment to education and public safety.

Thank you, Detective Nowak, for your dedication and for making a positive impact on these aspiring professionals!

Chief Pauly

The Ohio Department of Transportation is letting drivers know about an upcoming ramp closure on Interstate 75 in Findlay.

ODOT says the Interstate 75 northbound ramp to U.S.68/State Route 15/Lima Avenue will close Monday, Dec. 16, between 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to repair the guardrail.

Get more details on ODOT projects in the area by clicking here.