(From the Hancock Historical Museum)

The Hancock Historical Museum will present the next installment of its Brown Bag Lecture Series, titled Next Stop, the Twilight Zone, on November 7 at noon at 422 West Sandusky Street in Findlay. This lecture will explore the life and work of Rod Serling (1924-1975), one of the most acclaimed writers of early television.

In the 1950s, Serling’s live TV dramas frequently tackled controversial topics, though network pressures often forced him to revise his scripts. Frustrated with censorship, Serling turned his focus to science fiction, creating, producing, and narrating The Twilight Zone. The show became famous for its unexpected plot twists and moral lessons, and this presentation will delve into Serling’s cultural significance and the ongoing popularity of The Twilight Zone.

The lecture will be presented by Charles Coletta, Ph.D., a faculty member in the Department of Popular Culture at Bowling Green State University. Raised in Cleveland, Coletta earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in literature from John Carroll University, and his Ph.D. in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University. Since 2000, he has taught courses on Television and Film Studies, Contemporary Popular Literature, and Mass Media Studies.

This interesting event will take place at the Hancock Historical Museum, located at 422 West Sandusky Street in Findlay, Ohio. The Brown Bag Lecture Series is held on the first Thursday of every month, covering a variety of topics related to Hancock County and Ohio history.

The event is free for museum members and included with regular admission for non-members. No registration is required, so attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch and enjoy an enlightening hour of history.

For more information, visit HancockHistoricalMuseum.org or call 419-423-4433.

The Findlay Police Department says a woman was injured in a crash that occurred when a vehicle pulled out in front of her.

Police say Brianna Albert, 21, of Findlay, was driving westbound on Tiffin Avenue at around 3:45 Tuesday afternoon when an SUV being driven by Delylah Hershberger, 17, of McComb, made a left turn onto Tiffin Avenue from H Street and the two vehicles collided.

Police say Brianna was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital for reported pain in her neck, stomach and knee.

Delylah was issued a citation by police.

Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene of the crash.  

(From the City of Findlay)

The City of Findlay will be picking up leaves from November 18, 2024, through December 6, 2024. City employees will collect leaves that have been placed in biodegradable PAPER bags at the curb. Plastic bags and loose leaves will not be picked up. Bagged leaves are to be placed by the curb.

Limbs that are placed beside the bagged leaves will also be picked up. The limbs will be picked up separately from the leaves.

Crews will start picking up leaves on November 18, 2024. Crews will make several rounds throughout the whole City through December 6, 2024.

Biodegradable bags are readily available at local hardware, building supply, and some grocery stores.

Raking leaves into the street has many negative aspects. Leaf piles in the street can be a dangerous temptation to children who like to play in the piles and in many areas reduce the traffic to one lane or cause drivers to drive around the piles into oncoming traffic. Piled leaves tend to wash into and clog storm sewers, causing maintenance issues and potential localized flooding during storm events. Residents who blow or rake leaves onto City streets are in violation of long-standing City Codified Ordinance 311.01(d). Complaints should be forwarded to the Police Department.

City residents may continue to drop leaves at the green waste site located at 330 North Cory Street at no charge. The current hours for the site are Tuesday through Friday 2pm-7pm and Saturday 8am-1pm, closed Sunday and Monday. Beginning November 4, 2024, hours for the site will be Tuesday through Friday 1pm-6pm and Saturday 8am-1pm, closed Sunday and Monday. Beginning November 16, 2024, Saturday hours will be 8am-4pm. The green waste site will be closed on Monday, November 11, 2024, in honor of Veterans Day and November 28, 2024, for Thanksgiving. It will be open on November 29, 2024, and November 30, 2024. The last day for the green waste site will be December 7, 2024.

The green waste site is intended for residential use only. No contractors are permitted to use this site. Only tree trimmings, brush, leaves, and grass clippings can be dumped in designated areas at the site.

The Van Buren Local School District’s income tax levy renewal was approved by voters by a vote of 53 percent for to 46 percent against. 

Shall an annual income tax of one percent (1%) on the school district income of individuals and of estates be imposed by the Van Buren Local School District, Hancock County, Ohio, to renew an income tax expiring at the end of 2025, for five years, beginning January 1, 2026, for the purpose of providing for current expenses of the school district?

Get more election results from the Hancock County Board of Elections by clicking here, and the Putnam County Board of Elections by clicking here.

Congressman Bob Latta cruised to victory on Election Day.

Unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State’s website show the Republican defeating Democrat Keith Mundy with 67 percent of the vote.

Latta has represented Ohio’s 5^th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2007.

Ohio’s 5th Congressional District is comprised of all or part of 12 counties, including Lorain, Huron, Seneca, Crawford, Wyandot, Hancock, Wood, Henry, Putnam, Paulding, Van Wert, and Mercer.

Hancock County voters approved a replacement tax levy for the care and placement of children by Hancock County Job and Family Services.

WFIN’s Chris Oaks previously spoke with JFS Director Randall Galbraith about the importance of passing this children’s services levy.

Unofficial results from the Hancock County Board of Elections show the levy passing by a vote of 51 percent for to 48 percent against.

The issue as it appeared on the ballot is as follows:

A replacement tax for the benefit of Hancock County for the purpose of the support of children’s services and the care and placement of children by Hancock County Job & Family Services, that the county auditor estimates will collect $2,116,000 annually, at a rate not exceeding 0.8 mill for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $28 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value, for a period of 5 years, commencing in 2025, first due in calendar year 2026.

All results are unofficial until certified by the board of elections. 

Findlay City Schools was unsuccessful in passing the 1 percent earned income tax levy the school district had on the fall ballot.

Unofficial results from the Hancock County Board of Elections show the levy failing by a vote of 52 percent against to 47 percent in favor.

The school district previously said, if the levy were to fail, a first phase of immediate reductions would need to be implemented and would continue into the next school year.

Get more election results from the Hancock County Board of Elections by clicking here, and the Putnam County Board of Elections by clicking here.

All results are unofficial until certified by the board of elections.

Phil Riegle defeated Alex Treece in the race for Hancock County Common Pleas Court Judge.

Riegle will take the place of longtime Judge Reginald Routson who is retiring.

Riegle is the current Hancock County Prosecutor and Treece is a public defender.

Get more election results from the Hancock County Board of Elections by clicking here, and the Putnam County Board of Elections by clicking here.

All results are unofficial until certified by the board of elections.

Republican Ty Mathews defeated Democrat Sheila Coressel in the race for the 83^rd District of the Ohio House of Representatives.

The 83^rd District of the Ohio House of Representatives includes Hancock County, Hardin County and a portion of Logan County.

Mathews previously defeated incumbent State Representative Jon Cross in the GOP primary in March.

Get more election results from the Ohio Secretary of State by clicking here, Hancock County Board of Elections by clicking here, and the Putnam County Board of Elections by clicking here.

Voters in Putnam County approved renewing tax levies for mental health, alcohol, and drug addiction treatment and prevention services, and for operating expenses for the county 911 system.

Get more election results from the Putnam County Board of Elections by clicking here, the Hancock County Board of Elections by clicking here, and the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office here.