The group Allen Township Neighbors is inviting people to attend a town hall on Wednesday, May 29 at 7 p.m. at Van Buren Presbyterian Church at 207 West Market Street.

At the meeting, the group says it will be discussing why it is important that it zone Allen Township and how as a community it can better control stable growth between commercial and residential/agricultural.

“The residents of Hancock County, particularly those in unzoned townships, need to be aware and informed of the current situation Allen Township is facing.”

The group says Allen Township is fighting to remain intact, despite multiple annexations and proposed large-scale industrial changes. 

“If the residents of Allen Township want their neighborhood to be around for the next generation, considering zoning is necessary,” the group said.

The town hall meeting will be held at the Van Buren Presbyterian Church at 207 West Market Street in Van Buren on Wednesday, May 29 at 7 p.m.

Findlay’s Memorial Day Parade was held on Monday.

People lined both sides of West Main Cross Street as the parade made its way from downtown to Maple Grove Cemetery.

At the cemetery, a service was held at the War Memorial.

“We hold their names in high esteem as ones who were willing to trade their lives for others, so today we honor the fallen.”

You can see video of the service below.

The Findlay Police Department says a bomb squad was contacted after someone reported finding a grenade in the home of a late relative.

On Monday afternoon police were dispatched to 2772 Kellybrooke Court for a found grenade that may have been stored by a late relative, and located inside the garage.

The item appeared to be a WW2-style hand grenade.

The Lima Bomb Squad was contacted and responded to the scene.

The bomb squad was able to carefully collect the grenade and transport it off-site for a safe detonation/disposal.

The Findlay Police Department is investigating a shooting that left an 18-year-old dead.

The police department said it received a call at 6:40 p.m. on Sunday that a male had been shot in an alley off of the 100 block of Howard Street.

Officers arrived and located a male in the alley with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the chest.

Officers began rendering aid and performing CPR.

The male was transported to Blanchard Valley Hospital by Hanco EMS where he succumbed to the gunshot wound.

The deceased individual was identified as 18-year-old J’vion Zimmerman of Port Clinton.

Police say a person of interest in the shooting has been identified and is being sought for questioning.

The person of interest is a juvenile and police aren’t releasing their name at this time. 

An investigation is underway but no arrests had been made as of 3 a.m. Monday.

Updates will be provided as the investigation progresses, police said.

McComb Elementary students in grades K-6 participated in their first Community Service Project Day. 

“As a Leader in Me School, we know our students are leaders and work to not only grow them academically but in all areas including leadership and helping others,” said 4^th Grade Teacher Kathy Miles.

The students, along with staff, McComb officials, and community members worked on projects around the school and the village of McComb. 

Kindergarten, 1^st and 2^nd graders worked on campus picking up sticks and trash and planting flowers.

The 3^rd and 4^th graders cleaned up McComb Union Cemetery to get it looking nice for the weekend Memorial Day program.

At the park, the 5^th graders cleaned the pool chairs and equipment while the 6^th graders did yard work and painting around the village.

The City of Findlay says it has delivered around 350 trees to people who requested a free tree from the city since the city announced the opportunity in February. 

Lori Ciallella, who lives on South Main Street, took advantage of the program and got two new trees.

As Lori mentioned in the audio above, she says she’s lost six trees to storms over the past six years so the free tree offer from the city came at a good time.

The city will come out and mark any underground utilities and plant the tree, mulch around it and place a water bag on it.

The City of Findlay and Findlay Shade Tree Commission have allocated a total of $100,000 in federal funds to utilize for community tree planting in 2024.

Residents within the Findlay City limits can request a tree by visiting FindlayOhio.gov and selecting Request a Tree on the homepage.

The Findlay Shade Tree Commission was created in 1978 by Findlay City Council to address the need to care for Findlay’s aging urban forest.  

The Shade Tree Commission’s responsibilities are to provide leadership in the selection, promotion, planting and care of trees in public areas like street right-of-ways, parks, cemeteries and other city properties, as well as hazardous tree removal.

Findlay recently earned the Tree City USA designation for a 42^nd time.

(From the Findlay Police Department)

As you head out around the Memorial Day holiday, you’ll likely see more law enforcement on the roads as part of Click It or Ticket.

This campaign, from May 20 – June 2, reminds drivers and their passengers of the importance of buckling up and the legal consequences – including fines – for not wearing a seat belt.

In 2022, 11,302 passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts.

Among the young adults (18 to 34) killed, 60% were unbuckled — one of the highest percentages for all age groups.

Always Remember to Buckle Up.

For more information: https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/click-it-or-ticket

(ONN) – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is calling a special session of the Ohio Legislature to solve the problem of getting President Joe Biden’s name on the November ballot.

The governor says getting Biden’s name on the ballot is an easy legislative fix and called it unacceptable that the Ohio House has not already taken action.

To be on the ballot, Biden’s name has to be certified before Ohio’s August 7th deadline.

Biden won’t be formally nominated until the Democratic National Convention held later in August.

That special session will happen on Tuesday.

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Norwalk Post is investigating a fatal crash involving a train in Loudon Township, in Seneca County.

The crash occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Thursday on U.S. 224, just west of U.S. 23.

The preliminary investigation showed a Kia Soul, operated by Ellen Atherton, 72, Arlington, was driving northeast on U.S. 224 and went through a lowered railroad gate arm.

The Kia was struck by a northbound CSX train and pushed off the left side of the roadway, before striking a utility pole.

Ellen Atherton and the front-seat passenger, Rex Atherton, 75, Arlington, suffered fatal injuries at the scene.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, Bascom Joint Fire District, Bascom EMS, Seneca County EMS, Seneca County Coroner’s Office, CSX Police Department, Seneca County Community Emergency Response Team and Keller Brothers Enterprise. The crash remains under investigation

ZF Active Safety US Inc. says it has informed employees of the planned closure of its Findlay manufacturing facility located at 1750 Production Drive.

The Findlay Plant manufactures brake control units.

The timing of the closure is anticipated to be in the second quarter of 2025.

“We are announcing well ahead of the plant ending dates to give employees more certainty regarding the future and allow them to prepare for new employment. The company will support them in seeking new employment while the plant closes out their customer commitments,” ZF said in a statement provided to WFIN News.  

Dan Sheaffer, Executive Director Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development, says ZF, the economic development office, and Raise the Bar and other workforce partners will support the affected workers in seeking new employment as the plant closes out its customer commitments.

Sheaffer added that the ZF building and its strategic location offer an opportunity to locate and source another manufacturer in the automotive space.

ZF said the reason for the closure is that the serial production contracts for the Brake Controls product have ended and the carry-on business has been sourced to another supplier.

The closure will impact approximately 215 ZF employees and approximately 35 external agency workers.