(From Liberty-Benton Local Schools)

Liberty-Benton Elementary is proud to send 4th-grade student Hudson Matheny to the Global Amazing Shake at the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia from March 28–30!

Hudson will compete in various dynamic leadership and life skill-based stations.

Representing not only himself, but Liberty-Benton and Northwest Ohio.

This global competition will allow him to test his skills at the next level while meeting students from around the world.

We know he’ll bring back valuable experiences to share with his peers! Good luck, Hudson, and have fun!

The City of Findlay Green Waste Site will open for the season on Tuesday, April 1st.

The Green Waste Site is located at 330 North Cory Street, behind the Public Works Department building, with the entrance near the railroad tracks off North Cory Street.

Hours are Tuesday – Friday 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information on the location click here.

The green waste site is for yard waste disposal (such as leaves, brush, limbs, grass) and is available to City of Findlay residents only at no charge.

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. Absolutely no bags, trash, or debris other than leaves, brush, limbs, and grass will be accepted.

The City of Findlay will not be responsible for any damage or injury to vehicles or equipment resulting in the loading or unloading of yard debris, mulch, or dirt.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation)

Drumroll please…The first scholarships of our 30th year of awarding scholarships have been awarded!

The 2025 Gregory James Shrader Memorial Scholarship recipients are Brian Guthrie, Claire Kemmere and Samuel Dolan! Congratulations!

The scholarship was established by Jeff, Elsa and Jon Shrader to honor and remember Greg and to encourage young men and women who swim for Findlay High School to pursue their educational goals.

Since 2011, the fund has awarded 33 scholarships totaling $27,250.

(From Fostoria Police Chief Gabe Wedge)

On Monday March 24th, 2025, at approximately 6:35 PM, officers responded to the 200 block of Elwood Ave in Fostoria, for a report of shots fired. Responding officers verified that over a dozen rounds had been fired in the area but found no one to be injured as a result of the shooting. Officers did however find several bullet holes in the side of a house in the area.

Through further investigation, officers were able to identify the two individuals responsible for the shootings; In custody at this time is Caiden Essex, 18 YOA, of Fostoria; on charges of Improperly Discharging a Firearm at or into Habilitation. Additional charges are pending.

Police are currently looking for the second shooter, Javier A. Hernandez, 18 YOA, of Findlay, who is believed to be on the run. Felony warrants have been issued for Mr. Hernandez’s arrest. He is considered to be armed and dangerous. If you see Mr. Hernandez or know of his location, do not approach him, please call local law enforcement.

The two individuals are believed to have been arguing over a stolen bike, which escalated to the two individuals shooting at each other.

Police Chief Gabe Wedge

Fostoria Police Department

Flag City Honor Flight’s 2025 flight schedule includes four flights; April 1, June 3, September 9, and October 14.

Flag City Honor Flight flies Veterans to Washington DC to see the memorials that stand in their honor.

“Exciting changes are coming in 2025 to enhance the Flag City Honor Flight experience. We remain deeply grateful to our community partners, volunteers, and donors who make these flights possible,” said Steve Schult, President of Flag City Honor Flight.

Allison Quinlan, Flight Director, added, “Our board works tirelessly year-round to make these flights a reality. This year, we are proud to host four flights, honoring hundreds of Veterans who will join us on this unforgettable journey.”

Priority is given to terminally ill Veterans, followed by others in the order their applications were received. Eligibility includes those who served from World War II through the Vietnam War.

The first flight of 2025 is on Tuesday, April 1^st and the public is invited to a Welcome Home celebration at 7 p.m. at Grand Aire Hangar at 11777 W. Airport Service Road in Swanton.

(From Seneca County Sheriff Fred Stevens)

According to Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries, a “quarter century” refers to a period of 25 years.

Here’s a more detailed explanation:

Meaning:

The phrase “quarter century” is a noun that signifies a period of 25 years.

Usage:
You might use it to describe a period of time, such as “the past quarter century” or “over the next quarter century”.

Example:
“Sergeant Christopher J. Weimerskirch has worked at the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office over the past quarter century”.

Congrats to Sgt. Weimerskirch for this milestone anniversary! He started work for the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office on March 27th, 2000. He also retired from the Army National Guard as a Sergeant First Class in Oct. of 2012 so was doing double public service to not only our community but to our State and Nation!

He is currently a day shift Road Sergeant and has the added extra duty of maintaining our computer systems we use for Report Management, mobile computers in our cruisers, and Dispatcher aided software.

Thank you for protecting us here and abroad, Sgt. Weimerskirch!!!!

-Sheriff Stevens

The first annual Hancock County Food Truck Festival will be held on Saturday, March 29.

The event will be held in the parking lot of Gabes on Tiffin Avenue and serve as a kickoff to food truck season.

The event will run from 11 to 7.

Food trucks will be donating proceeds to the Fort Findlay FOP’s Cops and Kids program.

(From the Ohio Department of Health)

Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA, announced a measles outbreak in Ashtabula County and one confirmed case of a visitor in Knox County who exposed others to measles in Knox and nearby counties.

Dr. Vanderhoff said ODH and Ashtabula County have identified 10 measles cases. Nine are linked to an adult male reported last week as the state’s first measles case of 2025. None of the individuals were vaccinated.

“Given the measles activity in Texas, New Mexico, and other states around the country, we’re disappointed but not surprised we now have several cases here in Ohio and known exposure in some counties,” said Dr. Vanderhoff. “This disease can be very serious, even deadly, but it is almost entirely avoidable by being properly vaccinated. Measles is especially dangerous for young children, so I strongly urge all parents across Ohio to make sure your children are vaccinated. It is a crucial layer of protection that can save lives.” 

ODH is working with health departments in Ashtabula and Knox counties to follow up on potential exposures and to promote opportunities for vaccination. For more information, visit ashtabulacountyhealth.com and knoxhealth.com.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a measles outbreak as three or more related cases. Measles can spread quickly, and each case can lead to an additional 12 to 18 cases if people aren’t protected against the disease. The CDC reported 378 cases nationwide as of March 20.

Ohio had 90 cases of measles in 2022, when an outbreak in central Ohio totaled 85 cases. The state had one measles case in 2023 and seven in 2024.

Measles is extremely contagious and can spread to others through coughing and sneezing. It can be brought into Ohio by individuals who travel to places where measles is spreading. If people are not protected against the disease, nine out of 10 people who are exposed will become ill.

The measles vaccine (called MMR as it protects against measles, mumps and rubella) is safe and effective at preventing measles. Two doses of MMR is 97% effective against measles. If you are up to date on measles vaccine, the risk of getting sick is extremely low.

The CDC recommends all children get two doses of MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age. 

 In most instances, adults who were vaccinated against measles as children do not need any additional doses as adults. However, adults who did not receive the MMR vaccine as children or those who are unsure about their vaccination status are encouraged to talk to their healthcare provider for more information.

 Those born prior to 1957 are likely protected by previous infection.

 The measles virus can live for up to two hours in air where an infected person coughed or sneezed. If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch an infected surface and then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected. People infected with measles can spread it to others from four days before, through four days after a rash appears.

 Measles symptoms include a rash, high fever, runny nose, cough, loss of appetite and red, watery eyes. The rash usually lasts five to six days and begins at the hairline, moves to the face and upper neck, and proceeds down the body. Diarrhea and ear infections are common complications of measles. More severe complications may also occur.

 Complications from measles are more common among children younger than 5 years of age, adults older than 20 years of age, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems. As many as one out of every 20 children with measles gets pneumonia, the most common cause of death from measles in young children.

 Dr. Vanderhoff held a news conference on March 18 to discuss Ohio’s childhood immunization rates and to urge parents to get their children up to date on all recommended vaccines, including the MMR vaccine. You can find the video of that news conference on the ODH YouTube channel.

 More information about measles is available on the CDC website, including general information and the recommended immunization schedule. ODH also has a measles FAQ page.

(From Cory-Rawson Local Schools)

Cory-Rawson Local Schools held its third annual Amazing Shake event on March 26, 2025.  The Amazing Shake gives seventh grade students an opportunity to be authentically assessed on skills from their year-long Thrive class.  Thrive is based on the district’s Portrait of a Hornet attributes of communication, relationship-building, critical thinking, and resilience.

All seventh graders begin the day in the first round, the Gauntlet.  Featuring 20 stations, students perform a variety of impromptu tasks including problem-solving, solving a customer service issue, responding to a rude restaurant server, making a medical appointment via phone, and a variety of interviews.  Volunteer community partners from a number of companies and organizations judge each station.

Eleven students advanced to the second round during which students mingled with judges while eating appetizers.  Hanna’Qmori Davis, Dale Jamison, and Lilly Reese moved on to the final round.  Emceed by Sheriff Mike Cortez, the final round took place in the auditorium where the finalists were interviewed by Sheriff Cortez in front of the junior high student body and three judges.

Congratulations to Hanna’Qmori Davis who was named the winner of the 2025 Cory-Rawson Amazing Shake.  She is the daughter of Kelly Davis.  Hanna said, “This is such an honor. I’m so happy to be here.”

(From the Findlay Fire Department)

3/13/2025 was Firefighter Dustin Ruehle’s 30th anniversary on the Findlay Fire Department.

He has been “Badge 1” (the most-senior firefighter) since 2023.

The FFD is indebted to Dustin; he was the initial driving force behind our cancer-prevention program before it became a fire service priority.

Congrats on your anniversary, Dustin, and thanks for your continued service, guidance & friendship.