(From the Kiwanis Club of Findlay)

During the Ohio District Kiwanis Convention held on Saturday in Toledo, Findlay Kiwanian Richard Ulmes was announced as one of the newest members of the Ohio District Kiwanis Hall of Fame.

Richard “Rich” Ulmes has been a member of Kiwanis since 1993, joining the Findlay club in 2016 when he relocated to the area from Troy. Ulmes has taken on a variety of leadership positions at club, division, and district levels, including serving as president of the Kiwanis Club of Troy in 2001, two terms of Division Lt. Governor, and is currently an Ohio District Kiwanis Foundation Board Member.

Through his work in Kiwanis Ulmes has assisted in opening 17 new clubs and continued to mentor those members and help both the individuals and clubs grow. Ulmes is known in Kiwanis for his service-forward attitude and has a reputation for being a “do’er”. But beyond walking the walk, Ulmes is also known for identifying leadership qualities in members who do not see it in themselves, empowering them to step up, supporting them, and help guide them by being always available for assistance and always available to listen.

Also inducted as part of the 2024 class were Lima Kiwanian Robert (Bob) Day Jr. and Jak Hilborn from the Kiwanis Club of Delaware County. The Ohio District Kiwanis Hall of Fame features Ohio Kiwanians who were nominated and selected and through their Time, Talent, Dedication, and Leadership roles in Kiwanis resulted in Building Better Lives and Communities.

Ulmes is the second Findlay Kiwanian to be added to the Hall of Fame. In 2021 member Richard “Rick” Kidwell was inducted, tapped for his service as Lt. Governor, his lead on the development of Brucklacher Memorial Park, located at Hancock Historical Museum’s Little Red Schoolhouse, and his part in bringing Kiwanis Closets to life, which provide clothing for schools to support children, and a project that has inspired projects across the country.

The Ohio Kiwanis Family consists of more than 20,000 men, women, and children serving in Kiwanis, Circle K, Key Club, Builders Club, K-Kids, and Aktion clubs throughout the State of Ohio.

Chartered in 1920, the Kiwanis Club of Findlay is open to people who want to make a difference in their community and the world through service. Persons wishing to learn more about Kiwanis are encouraged to attend a meeting or visit the club’s website FindlayKiwanis.org. The club meets weekly over lunch on Wednesdays at St. Mark’s DOCK beginning at Noon.

Findlay City Council passed a 12-month moratorium on the establishment of recreational marijuana dispensaries in the city.

“I think it is a really complex topic that we don’t have all the answers on yet,” said Mayor Christina Muryn.

“And that’s why we brought forth the moratorium to kind of push pause to make sure that we get clearer guidance from the state and execute this really well for our community.”

The ordinance reads as follows:

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TWELVE (12) MONTH MORATORIUM ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ANY CULTIVATION, PROCESSING, OR DISPENSING OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA FACILITIES IN THE CITY OF FINDLAY IN ORDER FOR THE CITY OF FINDLAY, OHIO TO CONSIDER THE RAMIFICATIONS OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA AND POTENTIAL ZONING CHANGES THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

The vote was 9-1 in favor of the moratorium with Councilman Niemeyer voting against it.

The moratorium will go into effect immediately.

(ONN) – The American Civil Liberties Union has filed an appeal after a judge upheld Ohio’s gender-affirming care ban.

The ACLU of Ohio filed this lawsuit back in March, stating the law was unconstitutional.

Its legal director, Freda Levenson, says they’re extremely disappointed in the judge’s decision.

Levenson says the ban on gender-affirming care for minors goes against the freedoms they aim to protect.

“The government should not come between people and their doctor.”

Meanwhile, organizations like the Center for Christian Virtue believe the judge made the right call.

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

The Findlay Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash involving a single vehicle.

 The crash occurred on August 7, 2024 at approximately 1:26 A.M. on Interstate 75 near mile post 160 in the City of Findlay in Hancock County.

The preliminary investigation reveals a 2010 Nissan Sentra, driven by Dane Green-Moran, age 17, of Findlay, Ohio, was traveling north on Interstate 75 near mile post 160.

The Nissan Sentra swerved off the right side of the roadway and struck a guardrail and continued off the roadway and struck a ditch culvert.

The vehicle came to final rest and became fully engulfed by fire. The fire was extinguished a short time later by Liberty Township Fire Department.

Dane Green-Moran succumbed to fatal injuries at the scene of the crash.

It is unknown if a seatbelt was used, and impairment does not believe to be a factor at the time of the crash.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted by the Hancock County Fire Department and EMS, Liberty Township Fire Department, Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, Findlay Police Department and Ed’s Towing.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is letting people know that construction of the new roundabout near U.S. 68 and S.R. 15 on the south side of Findlay will begin soon.

ODOT says U.S. 68 and the S.R. 15 and U.S. 68 eastbound ramps will close Monday, August 19, for 75 days.

The suggested detour is listed below.

ODOT’s Cheri Newton explains how the project came about.

ODOT says the project is needed because Township Roads 49 and 77, which currently provide access to U.S. 68, will be removed as part of the Eagle Creek Dry Storage Basin project, one of the projects included in the Flood-Risk Reduction Program currently underway by Hancock County and the Maumee Watershed Conservancy District. 

The project will:

-Remove the current U.S. 68 exit ramp from State Route 15 eastbound.

-Connect Township Road 80 to the ramp to provide access to U.S. 68.

-Construct a new U.S. 68 exit ramp from State Route 15 eastbound.

-Construct a roundabout at the intersection of U.S. 68, the new U.S. 68 exit ramp, and the eastbound State Route 15 entrance ramp.

Get more on the project by clicking here.

(From the Bluffton Historical Society)

On Saturday, August 10, the Bluffton Ohio Historical Society will celebrate the Bluffton Fire Department with a Bluffton History Day program that recreates an 1898 photograph of volunteer firefighters shooting water over Main St. as a test of the new Village water system. 

Bluffton’s Main St. will be closed from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to create a splash zone for the demonstration that will include an early Bluffton #1 Studebaker fire truck.

The fire department program will begin at 11:00 a.m. with the ringing of the Town Hall bell, which was originally installed as a way to sound the official call to firemen.

Food and beverages will be sold including:

Chicken and BBQ sandwiches, drinks and desserts by Bluffton Presbyterian Church Fellowship Committee

Corny Brothers kettle corn

(From the City of Findlay)

On August 7, 2024, from 7am-4pm Washington Street from Liberty Street to Hurd Avenue will be closed for sanitary sewer repair.

Findlay and Hancock County are included in a Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued by the National Weather Service.

The Watch goes until 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Forecasters say storms that develop could produce 75 mph wind gusts, large hail, heavy rainfall, and a couple tornadoes are possible.

(ONN) – A child died after being struck by a vehicle in Clyde on Sunday evening.

Police in Clyde described the victim as being under the age of two.

Emergency crews attempted life-saving measures but the child succumbed to injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The circumstances leading up to the incident were not provided by authorities.

Police say an investigation is ongoing.

The Sandusky County Sheriff’s Office, the Sandusky County Coroner’s Office, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol assisted on the scene.

This year’s Flag City Night Out event, which was scheduled for Tuesday, August 6th from 6 to 9 p.m. at Riverside Park in Findlay has been postponed due to potential bad weather conditions.

“Based on the most current weather forecasts for our area, there is a chance of pop up showers, potential thunderstorms and strong winds for this evening,” said Findlay Police Officer Brian White.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we are sadly postponing Flag City Night Out for tonight and moving to our rain date of next Tuesday, August 13th at 6 pm. We apologize for any inconvenience, but we hope to see you next Tuesday!”

For those not familiar, Flag City Night Out is a free, family-friendly event that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods a safer, better place to live.

Flag City Night Out allows the public a chance to interact with safety services (Police, Sheriff, Fire, EMS and others) on a one on one basis and get a look at the equipment they use.

Flag City Night Out also serves to highlight non-profit community programs available in the community and get people in touch with the resources they need.

This year’s event will feature live entertainment, food, demonstrations, children’s activities and train rides.

Area mascots will also be on hand to participate in our 10th Annual Mascot Games, with an intermission for the Police vs. Fire Games where area youth will be paired up with officers and firefighters in a variety of games.

An inflatable obstacle course will be set up to allow children to test their skills, as well as Root Beer floats and snow cones provided by Movement Church and Kona Ice to cool off.

Area non-profit organizations will also be on hand to offer insight into what they do and connect people with resources.

For those that can’t make it, we encourage you to turn on your porch light with a blue bulb.

This is a symbolic gesture to show that you stand unified with area safety services and the fight against crime.

For more information on the National Night Out initiative you can visit https://natw.org/.