(ONN) – The Ohio Department of Transportation says popped tires are on the rise this summer.

More drivers in Ohio are finding nails in their tires, especially near construction zones.

AAA Ohio says a lot of cars have come in with nail damage lately, particularly around busy construction areas.

Documents from ODOT show hundreds of drivers have filed damage reports.

AAA officials say construction is causing the problem.

If you have damage from driving on Ohio’s interstates, you can file a claim with ODOT.

(ONN) – The new fiscal state budget bill is on its way to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

It includes a $1.1 billion income tax cut.

The plan is to lower the state’s top income tax rate and implement a single flat tax rate of 2.75 percent.

The state will also offer $600 million from the unclaimed funds program for a new Cleveland Browns football stadium.

Republicans say they’re putting $635 million more into public education than in the last two years. But, critics say schools will lose money.

Now, it’s up to Governor DeWine to either approve or veto the budget, and he can also line-item veto certain provisions he does not like.

(From the Humane Society and SPCA of Hancock County)

Pepe who was part of our Heroes and Hounds, left on trial a couple weeks ago.

His family saw him with our Firefighters and had to meet him!

He’s been such a good boy that they had to make him a forever part of their home!

(From the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts)

Tri the Arts camp is designed for children and teens with special needs (siblings can join too!) and typically-developing peer volunteers who are ready to experience the extraordinary benefits of the arts in a fun, safe, and encouraging environment!

This 4-day camp is an exciting fusion of musical, visual, and performing arts and is a collaboration with Awakening Minds Art and Heartstring Melodies Music Therapy Services.

Camp registration, along with volunteer information can be found at awakeningmindsart.org/tri-the-arts

(From the United Way of Hancock County)

United Way of Hancock County and City Apparel are teaming up to deliver lunch, kindness and community impact, all in one stop.

Community members are invited to stop by City Apparel + Merch, 116 E. Main Cross, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 26 to get lunch from The Wailing Onion’s food truck. While waiting for their food, diners are encouraged to write a quick note of gratitude to a local veteran. All supplies will be provided.

City Apparel hosts Do Good Thursdays every week of the summer, through Labor Day. A rotating fleet of food trucks visits the business weekly from 11:30 to 1:30, with a portion of each week’s sales donated to United Way’s Halt Hunger Initiative. Do Good Thursdays has generated nearly $2,600 toward the United Way’s local food security efforts over the past two summers.

(From the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall Fostoria Committee)     

The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will be in Fostoria June 26-30, 2025.

The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall is a 3/5 scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall was dedicated on Veterans Day in 1982. Its purpose is honor those who served and sacrificed during the Vietnam War.

The original was designed by Maya Lin. She was 21 years old at the time. Etched into the black granite are the names of more than 58,300 American service members who lost their lives during the Vietnam War. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall is the most-visited memorial on the National Mall in Washington, attracting more than 5 million people each year.

The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will be at the Fostoria Community Schools, 1001 Park Ave. The Wall’s visit to Fostoria is especially significant as 2025 is the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. The Traveling Wall is a program of the Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard in Brevard County, Florida.

The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will arrive in Findlay early on the morning of June 26, a Thursday. It will leave from Findlay Reineke Ford at approximately 9:00 a.m. It will proceed on South Main St. and turn east on Center St. which becomes Tiffin Ave. then the route goes left onto Fostoria Ave. (State Route 12). It will travel through Arcadia on SR12 and into Fostoria (Lytle St.), taking a left at the Mid-Block, turning west on South St. and proceeding north on North Countyline St. The route will turn left on Park Ave. and on to the Fostoria Community Schools. The public is encouraged to line the route and participate in its arrival in Fostoria.

The Vietnam Wall frequently travels with a motorcycle escort comprised of individual riders and groups like the American Legion’s Legion Riders and the Black Swamp Veterans Motorcycle Club. Event organizers are anticipating an escort of 200 or more motorcycles.

Once the Wall arrives, some two dozen volunteers will assemble its panels. The Wall stands 6 feet tall and measures 300 feet from end to end. The Vietnam Wall in Washington is 493 feet long and 10 feet tall at its highest point.

Event organizers will have a trailer nearby for security volunteers and to serve a first aid station. There will be at least two volunteers working two-hour shifts providing 24-hour security as long as the Wall is in Fostoria. In addition, the Fostoria Police Department will regularly patrol the Wall.

Visiting the Wall can be an emotional experience for Vietnam veterans who lost comrades-in-arms and for family members who lost loved ones. There will be counseling services on site for anyone who needs them.

The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall’s visit to Fostoria is made possible because of the generous support received to date from many Fostoria and area individuals, businesses and organizations, including the Fostoria Amvets Post 69, the Fostoria Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 440, the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation, the Fostoria Eagles Aerie 430, the Fostoria Police and Firefighters Benevolent Funds, and the Fostoria High School National Honor Society.

The amount owed the Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard to transport the Wall here has been raised. The committee is continuing to raise funds to meet local expenses, including lodging for the individuals accompanying the Wall. In the event that there are unspent funds once the Wall has left Fostoria, those funds will be donated to the Seneca County Honor Bus which is also a 501-c-3 organization.

Also on display will be the Eyes of Freedom traveling memorial. Eyes of Freedom is dedicated to the service and sacrifice of all who have answered our Nation’s call. It specifically honors “Lima Company” from central Ohio. L-Co. lost 22 Marines and one Navy Corpsman in Iraq in a four month period in 2005. Eyes of Freedom also brings awareness to “The Silent Battle,” the struggle many veterans have with post-traumatic stress disorder and the issue of suicide among veterans. It is estimated as many as 22 veterans commit suicide each day.

Opening ceremonies will take place at 4 p.m. on June 26, the day the Wall arrives in Fostoria. The Star Spangled Banner and the hymns of each branch of the service will be performed by the Fostoria Community Band. It is planned that there will also be remarks by local officials and Sgt. Major Steve Kosinski.

(picture courtesy of the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall on Facebook)

The Marathon Center for the Performing Arts says all tickets are now on sale for its Mainstage Series lineup it revealed a few weeks ago.

The lineup includes The Book of Mormon on September 25, 2025, Straight No Chaser on October 17, 2025, Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol on December 4, 2025, Richard Thomas in Mark Twain Tonight! by Hal Holbrook on February 22, 2026, and Chris Thile on April 8, 2026.

This is the 10^th anniversary season of MCPA’s Mainstage series.

Click here for more details.

(From the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)

On Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 2004 hours, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single vehicle injury crash on CR 2 East of TR 177 in Madison Township.

Through investigation it was learned Kenneth Reed (65 y.o. male) of Lima, OH was operating a 1995 Honda Goldwing WB on CR 2. Kenneth struck a deer near TR 177, causing him to travel off of the right side of the roadway. Kenneth was ejected from the motorcycle, and not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Kenneth was transported to Blanchard Valley Hospital in critical condition. Kenneth later succumbed to his injuries.

Assisting at the scene was Appleseed EMS, Blanchard Dunkirk EMS, Jackson Forest Fire and EMS, Northern Hardin County Fire, Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office and Dick’s Towing.

(From the Hancock County America 250 Committee)

Dear Community Members, The City of Findlay and Hancock County are excited to join America in celebrating its 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. Planning is underway across the nation—and right here in Findlay-Hancock County—to honor this historic milestone.

In Ohio, the America 250 Commission was established through Ohio Revised Code 149.309 on March 1, 2022. The Commission’s mission is to collaborate with all 88 counties to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate a meaningful commemoration of the United States’ founding—while highlighting the powerful role Ohioans have played in shaping our nation’s past, present, and future.

From Findlay to Arlington, Bluffton to McComb, every village and city has its own story to tell. Now is the perfect time for businesses, service organizations, schools, non-profits, festival committees, and community leaders to begin making plans for how they’ll take part in the America 250 celebration. We invite you to share how you or your organization plan to celebrate or share any ideas for celebratory initiatives you would like to see in our community.

Please fill out the survey here: https://visitfindlay.com/america-250/public-suggestions/

Please share this message with anyone in your network who is passionate about history, community, and country. Whether you have time, resources, ideas—or all three—your involvement will help shape a lasting legacy.

We look forward to coming together to instill local pride and patriotism while honoring the past and inspiring future generations.

(From the University of Findlay)

The University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum will host its annual Art Camp, formerly the Young Artist Workshop, on July 28 to August 1, for area grade school and middle students.

Based on a theme of “Fantasy,” children will learn about the fascinating world of picture book art in a fun, exciting way with instruction from Mazza staff and local area teachers.

The young artists will create daily art projects using different techniques and media inspired by original illustrations from picture books. At the end of the week, families are invited to attend a reception to honor their young artists.

“Our goal is to give the students a sneak peek into the picture book world, focusing on art techniques that will embrace their curiosity and individuality,” said Amanda Davidson-Johnston, education manager at the Mazza Museum. “They will try new techniques promoting out-of-thebox thinking by using an array of media.”

Open to children in grades 4 to 8, as of fall 2025, the cost is $175. The camp will take place Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a family reception from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Friday. Enrollment space is limited and provided on a first come, first served basis.

Registration includes:

• All project materials
• Five separate art projects with a Fantasy twist
• Art Camp T-shirt
• Activities in the Mazza Museum and the Joseph and Judith Conda STEAM Education Center
• Certificate of completion

To register, visit the Mazza Museum’s Events page online at www.mazzamuseum.org/events/. For questions regarding the camp, including scholarships to help with the cost, contact Amanda Davidson-Johnston at 419-434-4777 or send an email to amanda.davidsonjohnston@findlay.edu.