(From the Village of Bluffton)

Bluffton Village Council will designate a section of Bentley Road in Bluffton as “Honorary Elbert Dubenion Drive.”

The action that took place May 28 recognizes Elbert Dubenion, 1959 Bluffton College graduate, who played for nine seasons with the Buffalo Bills professional football team. He is the only Bluffton athlete to play professional football.

Honorary Elbert Dubenion Drive will extend on the portion of Bentley Road in front of the Bluffton University football stadium. The official street name will continue as Bentley Road.

Among the group who presented the idea to the Bluffton council are persons who played football with Dubenion and fans who watched him play during his college years from 1955 to 1958.

One of the alumni committee members is Jim “Spike” Berry,  a teammate who quarterbacked the Bluffton College Beaver football team during the Dubenion era at Bluffton.

This group has several additional ideas to recognize Dubenion. Among these is a statue, a scholarship, and a ”44” jersey retirement ceremony. 

In his first year at Bluffton, Dubenion worked on the Bluffton village street crew. As a town celebrity, downtown business owners were among his most loyal fans, making him the most recognized Bluffton student for a generation of those community leaders.

Among his college-era achievements was being named first team Small College All-American in 1958 and was among 33 players selected to play in the College All-Star game in 1959 against the Baltimore Colts. As a member of the Buffalo Bills, Dubenion played in the 1964 NFL Pro Bowl. He holds the record for the longest reception in AFL playoff history with a 93-yard TD. He is also a member of the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame.

Dubenion died on Dec. 26, 2019, at his residence in Westerville, Ohio. His wife, Marilyn, is also a Bluffton College graduate.

Members of the committee involved in the various projects to recognize Elbert Dubenion are Tom Benroth, Jim “Spike” Berry, Jim Buffenbarger, Charles Buroker, Larry Copeland, Everett Collier, Don Hostetler, Gene Long,  Ronald Lora, Mary Ramseyer, Richard Ramseyer and Fred Steiner.

(From the City of Findlay)

The City of Findlay is proud to celebrate its 50^th Year as Flag City, USA.

Through a community-wide effort, spearheaded by the Women’s Division of the Chamber of Commerce, the City of Findlay was named the Flag Capital of the United States on Flag Day, June 14, 1968, a proclamation which has been made part of the Congressional Record on June 12, 1968, by Congressman Jackson E. Betts.

Findlay, Ohio, was officially declared “Flag City, U.S.A.” on May 7, 1974, by House Joint Resolution #1003, introduced by Congressman Tennyson Guyer.

We urge the Findlay community to join us in celebrating this milestone by proudly displaying American flags beginning Monday, June 10 through Flag Day on Friday, June 14, and remain on display. We hope to see flags displayed outside of every home and business. 

“The American flag is a symbol of liberty, freedom, and pride in our Country,” says Mayor Christina Muryn.

“I look forward to uniting as a community to put our patriotism on display.”

Be sure to check out the community events calendar on the Visit Findlay website www.VisitFindlay.com/events.

Families are invited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Flag City USA from 1 – 4 p.m. Sunday, June 9 at the Hancock Historical Museum.

Get more on that by clicking here. 

(From Marathon Oil and ConocoPhillips)

ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) and Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE: MRO) announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which ConocoPhillips will acquire Marathon Oil in an all-stock transaction with an enterprise value of $22.5 billion, inclusive of $5.4 billion of net debt. Under the terms of the agreement, Marathon Oil shareholders will receive 0.2550 shares of ConocoPhillips common stock for each share of Marathon Oil common stock, representing a 14.7% premium to the closing share price of Marathon Oil on May 28, 2024, and a 16.0% premium to the prior 10-day volume-weighted average price.

“This acquisition of Marathon Oil further deepens our portfolio and fits within our financial framework, adding high-quality, low cost of supply inventory adjacent to our leading U.S. unconventional position,” said Ryan Lance, ConocoPhillips chairman and chief executive officer. “Importantly, we share similar values and cultures with a focus on operating safely and responsibly to create long-term value for our shareholders. The transaction is immediately accretive to earnings, cash flows and distributions per share, and we see significant synergy potential.”

“This is a proud moment to look back on what we achieved at Marathon Oil. Powered by our dedicated employees and contractors, we built a top performing portfolio with a multi-year track record of peer-leading operational execution, strong financial results and compelling return of capital to our shareholders – all while holding true to our core values of safety and environmental excellence. ConocoPhillips is the right home to build on that legacy, offering a truly unique combination of added scale, resilience and long-term durability. With its premier global asset base, strong balance sheet and laser focus on operational excellence, ConocoPhillips’ track record of long-term investments, differentiated shareholder distributions and active portfolio management are unmatched. When combined with the global ConocoPhillips portfolio, I’m confident our assets and people will deliver significant shareholder value over the long term,” said Lee Tillman, Marathon Oil chairman, president and chief executive officer.

Note: In 2011, Marathon Petroleum Corporation spun off from Marathon Oil becoming a stand-alone refining, marketing, and transportation company, headquartered in Findlay.

Marathon Oil is headquartered in Houston, Texas. 

Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn says the sale of Marathon Oil will not have a direct impact on the City of Findlay.

Get more on the history of Marathon Petroleum by clicking here. 

Liberty-Benton third-graders traveled back in time on their trip to the Little Red Schoolhouse.

They sewed their own copybooks, practiced penmanship with quills and ink, and used slates and chalk for a math lesson.

“What a fun and educational experience!” the school district said on Facebook.

The Little Red Schoolhouse is a one-room, rural brick schoolhouse built in the 1840s where schoolchildren can go and experience a 19th-century school day.

It’s located on County Road 236 in Findlay and is managed by the Hancock Historical Museum.

(Pics courtesy of Liberty-Benton Local Schools)

(From the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office)

The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office would like to recognize a major milestone for inmate Zachery C. Foster.

Zachery recently earned his General Education Diploma or GED.

Melissa Blair is the teacher for our in-jail facility GED program.

GED is a set of tests that when passed, certify the test taker has met high-school level academic skills.

We are very proud of the eight weeks of hard work Zachery put in to complete his education and of all our staff members who worked with him to make it happen.

Zachery is the VERY FIRST inmate to earn a GED while still in our detention facility.

Our case manager, Grace Morehart, has worked hard to become a GED proctor to be able to provide this level of service in our jail.

There is no other jail in our area that have an employee proctor the GED test inside their jail facility.

Studies have shown that the quicker the GED test is taken after the course work, the higher the percentage of passing.

We currently have another inmate who is one test/subject away from obtaining his GED as well!

We have been working hard to bring these type of programs to our facility so that there are options for inmates other than just doing their time. (Stay tuned for a future press release on that!)

We realize the impact of this success extends far beyond the walls of our facility, which is why we’re committed to reducing recidivism and helping cultivate productive members and their re-integration to our community/society.

-Sheriff Stevens

(From The Ohio State Highway Patrol)

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting 14 crashes resulting in 17 deaths on Ohio’s roadways during the 2024 Memorial Day weekend, according to provisional statistics.

This is a decrease from last year, when 26 individuals were killed. The four-day reporting period began Friday, May 24 and ran through Monday, May 27.

During the reporting period, state troopers made 19,104 traffic enforcement contacts, including 361 impaired driving arrests, 61 drug arrests, 2,662 safety belt citations and 1,090 distracted driving citations. In addition, the Patrol made 9,779 non-enforcement contacts including 1,950 motorist assists.

Motorists are reminded that roadway safety is a shared responsibility and are encouraged to call #677 to report drug activity and dangerous or impaired driving.

For a statewide breakdown of enforcement and crashes during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, please click here.

(From Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County)

Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County will officially finish construction of its 58th home during a Home Dedication ceremony open to the public on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 4:30 p.m.

It will officially finish construction of its 59th home during a Home Dedication ceremony open to the public on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at 4:30 p.m.

The ceremony on June 4 will be held at the build site, located at 1408 Logan Ave, Findlay, Ohio. The program for the dedication will include a blessing, words from the new homeowner Talisha Balicki as well as comments from Wendy McCormick, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County and Kelly Croy, Habitat’s Board President.

Talisha Balicki and her two daughters will reside in Home #58 on Logan Avenue. Talisha is a single mother currently working as a state tested nurses aid at the Heritage. She began her journey with Habitat in 2021, frustrated with not having a stable place to raise her daughters.

“Home means roots being put down. A place to build memories, a place to gather no matter what age,” said Balicki. “Somewhere you’re comfortable and accepted and can always be yourself. Home is a place where my kids can always come to.”

The ceremony on June 18 will be held at the build site, located at 201 Durrell Street, Findlay, Ohio. The program for the dedication will include a blessing, words from the new homeowners Troy and Morgan representing the Daughenbaugh-Gossman family as well as comments from Wendy McCormick, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County and Kelly Croy, Habitat’s Board President.

Troy, Morgan and their two daughters will reside in Home #59 on Durrell Street. Troy currently works at ValFilm and Morgan became a substitute teacher once both of their daughters were old enough to attend school. Although they both hold steady jobs, and work together to support their family, they were still unable to afford a home on their own.

They began their journey with Habitat in 2021, admitting financial stability has always been a challenge. Their decision to partner with Habitat, and the Financial Opportunity Center, has led them to a brighter future where they have paid off extensive credit card debt, and were selected as a partner family.

These are the first homes to be built by Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County in 2024. Both homes were built in just 10 weeks by nearly 600 volunteers representing many corporate build teams and organizations that enable their employees and team members to take part.

Both homes are Signature Homes, which are financed by the donors who bought a “piece of the house” during Habitat’s 2023 Signature Fundraiser. The presenting sponsor was Marathon Petroleum Corporation. Dream Builder Sponsors were Tim & Paula Aydt, Jon & PJ Burkin, Gary & Jane Heminger, Dave & Melissa Heppner, Rick & Tracy Hessling, Lynn McCord, Rodney & Barbra Nichols, Ohio Logistics, Brian & Stephanie Partee, Garry & Kathy Peiffer, Premier Bank, Scott & Laura Rhodes, State Farm – Dan Maciejewski, and Don & Carrie Templin. Many thanks to all the corporations and organizations that provided build teams for the home.

Through donations of money and materials and volunteer labor, Habitat is able to build a Habitat Home and sell it at an affordable price. The Balicki and Daughenbaugh-Gossman families qualified as a low-income family unable to qualify for a conventional loan who were willing to partner with Habitat and complete at least 400 sweat equity hours.

Habitat for Humanity is accepting applications from families now for new homes. To apply for a home or a home repair, visit habitatfindlay.org or call 419-429-1400.

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) is pleased to support Bluffton youth with a partnership in which Bluffton Hospital dietary associates make and donate meals to children at the Bluffton Family YMCA Summer Day Camp three days each week.

“This provides phenomenal relief for families,” said Amy Byers, YMCA director. “We love that it levels the playing field. Some of our children are attending camp on scholarships, but they all receive these lunches, regardless of need. Nobody is singled out that way.”

She added that it also saves the parents time.

“It relieves burdens on families in all kinds of ways,” she said.

The 12-week day camp runs from early June through August, with an average of 35 children, ages 5-12, attending each week. Campers spend most of the day outside. Most campers are children who live in Bluffton, but some come from surrounding areas.

Each week has a theme, such as Pokemon Week, Construction Week, and Mad Science Week.

Bluffton Hospital associates have been preparing meals for children at the camp for four years.

Byers said the previous YMCA director reached out to the hospital after frequently seeing children bring lunches that weren’t substantial or filling. Some forgot to bring lunch at all.

The Bluffton Hospital dietary associates normally prepare meals for patients and their families, as well as associates at the hospital and the occasional community member.

“We’re a small kitchen with a very big heart,” said Lead Dietary Associate Eva Fensler, who oversees the program. “When the YMCA asked if we could do this, we said yes without hesitation. Kids need to be able to have a good, well-balanced meal.”

Fensler said they are mindful that children need healthy food. This includes milk or “real juice” rather than sugar-sweetened drinks, protein such as a ham and cheese sandwich, and healthy snacks like carrots or celery sticks. They avoid peanut butter in case a child has allergies, but can accommodate children with special needs, such as those who are lactose-intolerant. Children do get treats like baked chips, a fruit snack, or a cookie.

Some children, like children everywhere, are still eager to trade one lunch item for another.

“The adults at the camp witness a lot of ‘negotiations’ among the kids,” Byers said.

Many of the associates in the dietary department at Bluffton Hospital are from Bluffton.

“We are strongly committed to contributing to this community,” Fensler said. “And it feels good, in the summer, to be able to help give children something to do and a safe place to go. We’re excited to be a part of it. Every year, rather than it feeling like a chore on the to-do list, our attitude is, ‘Oh, we get to do this again?’”

The children, too, are excited about it.

“Every year the children send us homemade ‘thank you’ cards,” Fensler said. “It’s just the cutest thing.”

“We are very grateful for these lunches,” Byers said. “The kids love them, and it makes their parents’ lives so much easier.”

The Ohio Department of Transportation is letting people know that work on the new Interstate 75/County Road 99 interchange on the north end of Findlay will begin soon.

The project is reconstructing the interchange with a Diverging Diamond design and upgrading the County Road 99 corridor between Technology Drive and North Main Street.

ODOT says traffic impacts will begin on Monday, June 3^rd.

On June 3^rd, the I-75 southbound entrance ramp will close for approximately three days.

The suggested detour is I-75 north to North Baltimore to get on I-75 south.

Also on June 3^rd, on I-75 the left lane in both directions will close for bridge pier construction.

On Monday, June 10th, ODOT says Main Street at County Road 99, the north leg of the intersection, will close for approximately five days.

ODOT construction engineer Dan Niese says they chose a diverging diamond interchange because they move traffic so well.    

ODOT says a diverging diamond (DDI) shifts the eastbound and westbound traffic to the other side of the bridge at signalized crossovers which eliminates left turns across traffic and the left-turn traffic signal phase.

The benefit is that all traffic can enter the interstate in a free-flow movement to the ramps. (see video below)

The new interchange is expected to be finished in July of 2026.

Get more details on the project website by clicking here.

(ONN) – The timeframe from Memorial Day to Labor Day is what the Ohio State Highway Patrol refers to as the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer as the number of deadly crashes goes way up.

Lt. Ray Santiago says their goal is to make sure everyone gets to where they’re going safely.

“Everyone always says ‘troopers are chasing numbers’. You’re absolutely right, and that number is zero. If we can get through a day without any traffic fatalities that’s a good day.”

The Highway Patrol says Ohio saw more than 67,000 crashes during the Deadliest Days of Summer timeframe in 2023 in which nearly 400 people were killed.

The Highway Patrol is reminding everyone to drive sober, put down their phones, and pay attention in work zones.