(From the Bluffton Historical Society)

The Bluffton Ohio Historical Society is the new owner of the popular Bluffton historical website BlufftonForever.com. The announcement was made by Ron Epp, society president, and Fred Steiner, creator of the website.

As a member of the society, Steiner said he sees it as a perfect fit; “I am really happy this new organization is interested in maintaining the website.” Steiner launched BlufftonForever.com in October 2021, shortly after he retired from the Bluffton Icon and Ada Icon. Today, BlufftonForever.com has nearly 600 Bluffton historical photos and stories posted and has experienced over 35,000 viewers from 30 countries.

Epp said that the society gladly accepted the invitation to become the website’s new owner. “It fits our purpose in highlighting Bluffton’s history,” he said. “We plan to retain the historical information already on the site and will continue to add to it,” said Epp.

The Bluffton Ohio HIstorical society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit formed in 2023. All are welcome to member meetings at 7:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at Bluffton Town Hall. 

The society will make its programming debut on Saturday, August 10, when it will host the 2nd annual Bluffton History Day. The 2024 event will recreate a photo from 1897 when Bluffton firefighters first tested pressurized water from the Village water plant. The Bluffton Fire Department will demonstrate water power then and now. The singing group Four Guys and a Gal will provide entertainment and podcaster Sam Sprunger will be the event announcer.

Guests are invited to bring lawn chairs to the Bluffton Presbyterian Church lawn for activities beginning at 10:00 a.m. and an 11:00 a.m. presentation. There will be a display of vintage fire apparatus and a bucket brigade competition. Lunch by the Bluffton Presbyterian Church and food trucks will be available. Main Street will be closed from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Event sponsors include Bill Gable and GROB Systems.

For updated information on History Day and the Bluffton Ohio Historical Society, visit www.BlufftonForever.com and the society’s Facebook page.

(From the American Red Cross North Central Ohio Chapter)

The American Red Cross of North Central Ohio will hold a ribbon cutting and open house on Thursday, July 18 to celebrate the recently completed renovations to the Findlay office.

Activities begin at 10:00am with a ribbon cutting ceremony by the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, followed by an open house with tours of the building and refreshments until 2:00pm. The office is located at 125 Fair St. in Findlay.

Renovations on the Findlay office are part of a nationwide initiative by the Red Cross to update office locations across the country. “We’re very excited to share the work that’s been done to update our office and facilities,” said executive director Todd James.

“Our goal is to provide our volunteers and staff, the families we serve and our community partners who utilize our office with an accessible, comfortable and secure environment.”

James invites community members to see the updates and find out more about joining the Red Cross team. Information on volunteer opportunities will be available during the open house and Red Cross team members will be on hand to answer questions and share their experiences.

(ONN) – Former Cleveland Browns player Bernie Kosar has revealed he is dealing with some serious health issues.

The now 60-year-old former quarterback and Cleveland sports icon says he needs a new liver and has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

According to an article from Cleveland Magazine, Kosar was placed on the liver transplant list in late spring and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease back in February of this year.

The Ohio native led the Browns to three AFC championship game appearances.

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) has released a new installment of the “Our Stories” video series, featuring Julie Cole, a successful and accomplished golf professional with a heart for giving back to her community.

BVHS Corporate PR & Marketing created the “Our Stories” series to remind one another of our shared humanity, to strengthen and build bridges between people, and to teach the value of listening, and to enhance our culture.

Julie Cole tells her story in the most recent installment. As a proud Findlay native, Julie developed a fundraiser for Bridge Hospice 35 years ago that supported the mission of Blanchard Valley Health System. This annual event has now raised over $3.2 million for its beneficiaries. Each year, Julie returns to her hometown, dedicating her time and passion to this very special event.

As well as Julie herself, the video features interviews with many past and present BVHS leaders as well as members of the community touched by Julie’s generosity. This year’s Julie Cole Charity Golf Classic, which occurred June 10, is projected to raise more than $200,000 for three beneficiaries, Bridge Home Health & Hospice, Blanchard Valley Health System Wellness Park, and the Julie Cole Youth Golf Fund.

BVHS Wellness Park will offer easy access to primary care along with specialists in fields including rheumatology, endocrinology and diabetes management, orthopedic surgery, physical medicine, and rehabilitation at a new campus on the north side of Findlay beginning in early 2025. Wellness Park will be the new location of Julie A. Cole Rehab & Sports Medicine, a division of BVHS now located on Medical Drive. To watch this latest video, please visit bvhealthsystem.org/ourstories.

If you are interested in donating to community healthcare projects, please call 419.423.5457.

(From the Bluffton Police Department)

On Saturday, July 13th at 3pm, the Beyond the Call of Duty “End of Watch Ride to Remember” will be arriving in Bluffton to honor fallen Bluffton Police Officer Dominic Francis (EOW March 31st, 2022).

Beyond the Call of Duty and their End of Watch Ride to Remember is an organization out of Spokane Valley, WA that travels the country with their rolling memorial every other summer to honor the officers that were killed in the line of duty in the previous two years.

The organization stops in each community across the United States that have had a line of duty death to pay tribute to the officer, their families, and departments. The purpose of Beyond the Call of Duty “is to ensure that no officer is forgotten, that their families know their loved one has not been forgotten; and that there is recognition, support and understanding to help them heal. We also support department safety and training to help lower the number of fallen officers we see each year.”

Founder Jagrut Shah, a former deputy sheriff, says they want to show departments and their families who have lost partners and friends they are not alone. “I wanted to bridge this gap that we have and give back to the departments and let the surviving officers and their families know that their loss has not been forgotten.”

• In 2024 EOW Ride will be honoring 259 fallen officers killed in the line of duty in 2022 and 2023 at 234 different departments, beginning June 1st, 2024, and travelling 22,500 miles in 73 days.
• Information on the organization and this year’s ride can be found at www.endofwatchride.com

The rolling memorial will be arriving at the Bluffton Dairy Freeze, 595 S Main St, around 3pm and leaving around 4:30pm with a police escort through downtown Bluffton. This event is open to the public and if there are any questions, please contact Lt. Matt Oglesbee at the Bluffton Police Department 419-358-2961 ext. 110 or oglesbeem@bluffton-ohio.com

Lt. Matt Oglesbee

(From the Tiffin Police Department)

Tiffin Police responded to a 100 block Erie St. residence this afternoon (7-9-24) for a 75 year old female that had went missing from the residence.

Tiffin Police immediately launched an intensive search calling in extra officers including Drone operators, detectives, and the K9 Unit.

Numerous leads were screened by dispatchers during the search. Tiffin Fire and Rescue, Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Seneca County CERT, and ProMedica Mobile Air Unit all provided valuable assistance during the four hour search effort.

In times like this it’s nice to see the community come together and also provide valuable assistance.

It was obvious to Tiffin Police that numerous citizens were out trying to help locate the missing female. That assistance is what eventually led officers to her location.

A concerned citizen was walking an alley and thought she saw a tarp move. Upon closer inspection she noticed feet sticking out from under the tarp.

She called 911 and reported that to dispatchers. Officers quickly arrived at the location and confirmed it was the missing female.

Tiffin Fire and Rescue was called to the location to assess the victim and provide necessary medical care. The female was transported to Tiffin Mercy Hospital for further assessment where she was also reunited with close family members.

Lt. Jason Windsor

This is a press release from Raise The Bar Hancock County® announcing a new video series:

FINDLAY, OH [July 5, 2024]– Raise the Bar Hancock County® announces the release of a new video series spotlighting in-demand education and human service careers in Hancock County. This initiative continues Raise the Bar’s effort to enhance workforce development and support local talent in pursuing rewarding careers.

The video series provides a close-up look at the opportunities available within several people-oriented sectors. Each video aims to inspire and inform students, job seekers, and community members about the careers that are essential to the county’s growth and prosperity.

Area Employers and Professions Spotlighted:
1. Findlay Family YMCA Early Learning Professionals
2. Findlay City Schools K-12 Paraprofessionals
3. Millstream Career Center Instructors
4. Findlay-Hancock County Public Library Youth and Adult Learning Staff
5. Family Resource Center and Hancock County Job and Family Services Case Managers

“Our community’s best asset is our people,” says Tricia Valasek, Raise the Bar’s executive director. “Taking the time to develop people from infancy through adulthood is one of the best investments we can make. It’s imperative that we continue to create awareness and fill a pipeline of individuals who can take on this rewarding task. It is because of this demand that we focused our initial these five targeted careers.”

Each video in the series features local professionals in the field, offering viewers a glimpse into the daily responsibilities, challenges, and rewards of these careers. The videos also provide information on the education and skills required, potential career growth, and the impact these roles have on the community.

“Supporting our children is vital for the growth and prosperity of our community. Childcare workers are truly the workforce behind the workforce,” shares Kari Redman, the Findlay Family YMCA Childcare Development Center Director. Raise the Bar highlighted the YMCA’s childcare team in one of their videos because of the growing demand for early learning/childcare options in the community. Valasek points out that the YMCA, like other licensed facilities in Ohio, requires specific staff-to-child ratios depending on age. “Adding spots for infants, toddlers, and school-aged children requires our childcare facilities to hire more trained and qualified staff. We need to build this career sector quickly.”

The video series is available on Raise the Bar’s YouTube channel (@raisethebarhancockcounty7737). Raise the Bar also intends to release individual videos on its social media platforms and to the schools for use with their career programming.

Raise the Bar Hancock County® connects stakeholders to advance workforce excellence. Through collaboration with local businesses, educational institutions, and community partners, Raise the Bar® strives to evolve the paradigms of workplace opportunity to build a community where employment and career advancement are accessible and attainable.

Photo:  Sandra Velasquez, Preschool Teacher Mentor at the Findlay Family YMCA Childcare Development Center, shares her personal experience in one of Raise the Bar’s videos.

The City of Findlay has issued a press release regarding Door to Door Energy Companies not affiliated with the city possibly contacting local residents.

Findlay, Ohio – July 5, 2024: The City of Findlay recently issued solicitor licenses to several representatives of various energy companies pursuant to Section 767 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Findlay.

These energy companies are NOT affiliated with the City of Findlay in any way. They are NOT authorized to act on the City’s behalf. They are NOT authorized by the City to request to see residents’ utility bills. They are an outside, independent agency seeking your business.

Energy Harbor remains the City of Findlay’s only governmental electric aggregation utility through March 2026, and IGS Energy remains the City of Findlay’s only governmental gas aggregation utility through October 2024.

The City of Findlay does not send representatives of the governmental utility aggregation program to your door. Communication is made through the US Mail.

If you feel you are being harassed by representatives of these energy companies, please contact the Police Department at 419-424-7150.

You may also file a complaint about a utility service with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). You can reach the PUCO at 1-800-686-7826 or at https://puco.ohio.gov.

From City of Findlay Auditor, Jim Staschiak II

The City of Findlay’s published Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) for the Fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 was released at Findlay City Council’s meeting on 7/2/23.

The financial information has been taken from the 2023 City of Findlay’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. The Annual Report consists of detailed financial statements, notes and schedules as well as very detailed statistical information.

More Ohio store closing locations have been announced in the latest bankruptcy court filings for Rite Aid, including a location in Findlay at the corner of North Main Street and East Trenton Avenue. Rite Aid has another Findlay location at 301 N. Main Street. Nothing has been reported regarding that location.

Other area stores closing include:  Bowling Green, Fremont, Kenton, Lima and Tiffin.

Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2023.

This is a partial list of stores scheduled to close in Ohio: