Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn issued a proclamation declaring June 2024, as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Findlay, and calling upon all citizens to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.
LGBTQ+ Spectrum of Findlay held its Findlay Pride event last weekend.
You can read the mayor’s full proclamation below.
(From Dr. Bill Kose with Blanchard Valley Health System)
With the start of summer, many of us are encountering more people at barbecues, outdoor festivals, and other activities. After the winter season when people tend to isolate more, it’s so enjoyable to see spring turn into summer and a more social time of year.
When we are around other people, there’s a higher likelihood that we might encounter some emergency. So, the start of summer is also an excellent time to discuss being prepared.
Learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid ensures you will be better equipped to handle a medical emergency, whether the person affected is a family member, friend, or stranger. Many people get CPR certified and never have to use their training – but if you do, you will be glad you have it.
With CPR training, laypeople can help save lives by caring for the person until an ambulance arrives. The more time that passes without such care, the worse the outcome will likely be.
The training will help you recognize when you need to intervene. It may also help you stay calm in an emergency because you will know what to do and how to recognize symptoms.
It’s also a good idea to learn to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). These are more prevalent than ever at schools, businesses, churches, and other places where people gather. If someone suffers a cardiac arrest, their likelihood of surviving increases when there’s an AED nearby and people who know how to use it.
People may hesitate when it comes time to act, afraid of doing the wrong thing. However, Good Samaritan laws protect individuals who are acting in good faith.
If it has been some time since you took a class, please refresh your knowledge. The curriculum changes over time, as data indicates what is most effective. For example, the standard CPR training now uses only compressions, without the breathing that was a part of the class before.
Today, more people in more situations routinely get trained, including not only employees working in certain jobs but even many high schoolers. However, we would encourage people who aren’t required to get this training for work to do so on their own. The more of us who are prepared, the higher the likelihood that someone on the scene can step in during any particular emergency.
People who live or regularly spend time out in the country may especially want to consider getting trained, simply because they are further from a hospital. If ordinary citizens in rural areas can care for one another until the EMTs can take the patient to a hospital, outcomes are likely to be better.
Residents of rural areas may also encounter different types of emergencies than those living in a city like Findlay, such as farming-related injuries.
In addition to CPR, getting trained in basic first aid can also be helpful. Learning the Heimlich maneuver to help someone who is choking just could come in handy at a restaurant.
Of course, depending on your situation, it may also help to get educated on outdoor hazards like poison ivy or on how to help someone having an allergic reaction or experiencing anaphylaxis.
Blanchard Valley Health System offers CPR classes to community members. We encourage everyone to take the class. After all, you never know when you might be at a picnic or on a plane and find this training is needed. You could save a life.
William H. Kose, MD, JD
Vice President of Special Projects,
Blanchard Valley Health System
(From the Office of the Governor)
Governor Mike DeWine announced the 2024 expanded Sales Tax Holiday will take place from Tuesday, July 30 until 11:59 p.m. Thursday, August 8.
In conjunction with the Ohio General Assembly, Governor DeWine expanded the length of Ohio’s Sales Tax holiday to 10 days and will allow tax-free purchases made in-person or online on all eligible items of up to $500.
“Ohio’s sales tax holiday, historically, has been meant to help families buy clothing and school supplies for the upcoming school year,” said Governor DeWine. “This expanded sales tax break will help Ohio’s families with back-to-school necessities as well as other substantial purchases during a time when so many household budgets are being strained.”
Previous sales tax holidays ran three days, included only school-related items, and offered much lower purchase price limits ($75 maximum on an item of clothing; $20 per item of instructional material and/or school supplies).
Ohio’s sales tax holiday allows tax-free purchases made in-person or online. It does not include an exemption from sales tax for services or any purchase of watercraft, outboard motors, motor vehicles, alcoholic beverage, tobacco, vapor products, or any item that contains marijuana.
(From Findlay City Schools)
We are so excited to host Hancock County’s Summer Lunch Program, offering FREE lunches to everyone under 18 years old this summer! Adult Meals are available for $4.25!
Mondays-Thursdays (with a meal to take home for Friday!)
11:30-12:30
Glenwood Middle School
There will be activities provided each day, so this is more than just a meal…it’s fun, too!
We have so much incredible help to make this amazing summer opportunity available:
Thank you to United Way of Hancock County, Findlay YMCA Feed-a-Child, and the Hancock County Family and Children First Council for your support, as well as the support of our entire community to take care of our kids when they’re away from school for the summer.
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help regarding a hit-skip crash.
The sheriff’s office says an older model Crown Victoria struck the side of the Eagle Township building at 9054 County Road 37 on March 24th, causing damage.
The sheriff’s office said the vehicle fled the scene to DNC Hydraulics where the suspect and vehicle were picked up by a second person.
Anyone who recognizes the vehicle or individuals in the pictures is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 419-425-8477 or the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office at 419-424-7097.
The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation has announced the schedule for its ‘Fun for All’ series of free community events for the summer.
According to the Community Foundation’s website, the June events are as follows:
June 7 – National Movie Night
5 – 8 p.m.
50 North
Registration required: Find Yourself at 50 North, Findlay, Ohio
June 17 – Symphony Storytime
10 a.m.
Findlay-Hancock County Public Library
June 23 – Art Class for Families – Painting on Unique Surfaces
3:30 p.m.
Awakening Minds Art
Space is limited, and registration is required: Community Programs — Awakening Minds Art
See the full summer schedule by clicking here.
“We’ve heard time and time again that finding affordable, family-friendly activities is a challenge in Hancock County. The Community Foundation is proud to provide Fun for All to help bridge the gap,” said Community Foundation President and CEO Brian Treece.
Brian says the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation is thankful to its community partners for making the events possible.
The Fun for All series started in January 2023 and that year more than 10,000 people attended events such as Family Movie Nights at MCPA and Free Play Days at the Children’s Museum.
(ONN) – Former Republican Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder was arraigned from federal prison on state charges.
Ten new felony counts were recently brought against him by the state.
Householder did not speak as his defense entered a not guilty plea. His bond was set for $100,000 and a pretrial hearing is set for June 24th.
Householder is currently serving 20 years for his role in the $60 million FirstEnergy bribery scheme, the largest corruption case in state history.
The state’s case charges two former FirstEnergy executives, ex-CEO Chuck Jones and senior vice president Michael Dowling, on a combined 22 counts, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, bribery, telecommunications fraud and money laundering.
Both have pleaded not guilty.
Another man the state charged, Sam Randazzo – former chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, pleaded not guilty before dying by suicide last month.
Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges, a former chair of the Ohio Republican Party, were both convicted in March 2023 of a single racketeering charge each, after a six-week trial.
Borges was sentenced to five years in prison for his role.
Two others, Juan Cespedes and Jeff Longstreth, pleaded guilty.
A third man, the late statehouse lobbyist Neil Clark, pleaded not guilty before dying by suicide in 2021.
(From Hancock Public Health)
5 Hancock County organizations participated in this year’s Quick Click Challenge for seat belt awareness.
Click it or Ticket awareness period started last week and goes to the end of the month.
Stay Safe and Buckle Up!
Did you know that wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of serious injury or death by nearly 50% in a car accident?
It’s a simple action that takes just a few seconds but can make all the difference.
Let’s set a good example for our friends and family by always wearing our seat belts and encouraging others to do the same.
Your safety and the safety of your loved ones depend on it.
The WINNER for 2024! Ohio State Highway Patrol Findlay Post with a time of 38:20 seconds.
(From the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library)
The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library invites the community to join in on the joy of reading with the 2024 Summer Reading Program,“Adventure Begins at Your Library”!
Join us at the main library on June 3 at 10 AM for a special kick-off party! There will be special SummerREAD activities from 10 AM – 1 PM and again from 4 PM – 6 PM.
Come and enjoy our obstacle course, face painting, inflatable archery and more!
The library’s Brittany Lutes was on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks to discuss their SummerREAD program.
The kick-off party at the Arlington Branch is scheduled for June 8 from 11AM – 2 PM, and will include games, crafts and snacks. Enjoy exciting summer activities and programs at the library that encourage curiosity all summer long. Participants are encouraged to celebrate the “Adventure Begins at Your Library” theme and share in the adventure of reading!
SummerREAD registration begins on June 3, and is open to all ages, infant through adult at findlaylibrary.readsquared.com.
The library is providing a free gift book to all early literacy, children, and teen registrants. This summer, the library is again using an online platform, READsquared, for participants to keep track of their reading progress.
Participants can earn great prizes by logging reading, writing a review, or completing fun activities. There will be weekly drawings for amazing prizes.
If you prefer not to track your reading online, there will be paper forms available at the library to log reading progress.
The new Findlay High School Boys basketball coach has been announced.
“FHS Athletic Department is excited to announce Coach Ryan Grose as our FHS Boys Basketball Coach! We are excited to have him join Trojan Country!!” the athletic department said on Facebook.
Grose has some huge shoes to fill – those of longtime Findlay Trojans Boys Basketball Coach Jim Rucki who finished his career with an overall record of 545 wins including 385 at Findlay High School.
Findlay City Schools Athletic Director Nate Weihrauch says Coach Grose has had great success at previous stops at North Union and Marysville and is excited that he is now a Trojan.
“Coach Grose comes to Findlay with a wealth of knowledge in the game of basketball, but most importantly will bring the same set of values and characteristics we teach within our athletic department in the Findlay City School District.”