(From the Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office)
SCAM Alert – we have been notified that someone is calling individuals stating that they are Deputy Holloway and that the person should call them back on a direct number of 419-757-8056.
While we do have a Deputy Holloway he is NOT making these calls.
If a Deputy calls someone they would be instructed to call our main business number of 419-294-2362 and then be forwarded to that deputy.
Please do NOT give them any personal information.
(From Blanchard Valley Health System)
Congratulations to Stacey Tooman, RN, for being a July DAISY Award Recipient!
Stacey was nominated by a mother who brought her 4-month-old son to Blanchard Valley Hospital to be treated for RSV. She noted that Stacey went above and beyond to ensure that she and her son were comfortable during their stay. Those small actions made a big difference in helping the family feel cared for and prioritized.
“Her combination of professionalism, knowledge, and compassion made a lasting impression on us. She is an incredible nurse who deserves to be recognized for the outstanding care she provides,” said the nominator.
Thank you, Stacey, for your dedication to providing outstanding care. We are lucky to have you as part of #TeamBVHS
Pictured (left to right): Jessica Moore, RN, director of inpatient nursing; Kayla Tyree, RN, clinic manager of orthopedics and neurology; Stacey Tooman, RN; BJ Paztor, chief nursing officer and chief operations officer of acute care services; Christy Frymyer, orthopedics and neurology educator.
(From the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation)
All four local pools have just one free day left!
As part of our Fun for All series, The Community Foundation is excited to continue free admission at Arlington Swimming Pool, McComb Pool, Mt. Blanchard Pool, and Riverside Pool
The dates listed below are subject to change based on weather conditions.
Village of Arlington, Ohio, Village Of McComb – Ohio, Village of Mt Blanchard and Findlay YMCA received a grant from the Foundation to make these free pool days possible.
(From the Hancock County Solid Waste Management District)
NEW DONATION BIN LOCATION – South End….
Hancock County Building – 401 Olive Street – currently collected Monday & Thursdays.
*Remember to break down your boxes to accommodate more materials and put all items inside the containers – nothing on the ground, please. – Thank you
There are now 18 total recycling locations in Hancock County with the Recycling Hub located at the old Litter Landing location of 1720 East Sandusky Street in Findlay.
(From the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce)
The Hancock Leadership Class of 2026 is now accepting project proposals from the community!
If your organization has a need or idea that could benefit from a hands-on, collaborative class project, we encourage you to submit a bid for consideration.
Let’s work together to make a lasting impact in Hancock County!
The class project of the Hancock Leadership Class of 2025 was to beautify the area surrounding the Allan H. Davis Judicial Center on West Main Cross Street in downtown Findlay by planting flowers and shrubs.
(From the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)
Come join us on September 7th for our 5K Foot Pursuit – In Pursuit of Suicide Awareness!
Runners and Walkers Welcome!
Sign up here: https://runsignup.com/…/5KFootPursuitInPursuitOfSuicide…
You Matter. will be joining us to help raise awareness.
Read about their journey below of how a life changing moment is helping them change lives!
“In 2018, our 16 year old son, Brady, tragically lost his life to suicide. His story, like many others, highlights the urgent need for open discussion about mental health.
We were heartbroken and devastated. We were left with so many unanswered questions: Why did this happen?
There were no signs at all.
Following Brady’s death, we realized that it was crucial to raise awareness about suicide and mental health.
We were aware of the stigma surrounding mental health, and we were uncertain if anyone would join our cause. However, the overwhelming support we received from the community demonstrated that every contribution matters in our mission to spread awareness.
Many people are facing deep emotional pain. We need safe places where they can talk openly about depression and mental illness. These conversations are important for creating understanding and support in our communities. It’s time to encourage those who suffer to share their experiences and seek the help they need.
We are hoping to help get those conversations started.
At You Matter. we are committed to fostering open discussions about challenging topics. We understand the struggles parents face when talking to their children about suicide. We welcome the curiosity of younger ones asking, “What does You Matter. mean?” and empathize with the older generation who may feel hesitant to discuss depression. Together, we can make these important conversations easier and more approachable, empowering everyone to share their feelings and connect with one another.
Although we do not understand why this has happened, we choose to place our trust in our Lord.
The world is broken and hurting, yet together, we can spread hope to those in need.”
Together, let’s share the message of:
“It’s Not Weak To Speak – You Matter.”
Brooke & Rod Dudgeon
You Matter, Inc Founders
(From the Bluffton Historical Society)
Bluffton History Day is almost here!
It will be held on Saturday, August 9th from 10 to 1 at Buckeye Park.
Join us and Board & Brush Bluffton, OH for displays, presentations, activities, entertainment and food!
Celebrating Bluffton and railroad history!
(By Myron Lewis, President & CEO, Blanchard Valley Health System)
This week, Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) had the honor of hosting Senator Jon Husted for a thoughtful discussion on the future of healthcare in rural Ohio. His visit was more than a courtesy call, it was a genuine demonstration of leadership and concern for the communities we serve every day.
In an era where rural hospitals face mounting challenges—financial, operational, and demographic—it matters when elected leaders take the time to listen and learn directly from those on the front lines. Senator Husted’s presence in Findlay and his willingness to sit down with our leadership team was not just appreciated, it was necessary.
Rural hospitals are, quite literally, lifelines. In our region of Northwest Ohio, BVHS serves over 100,000 households across eight counties. We’re not just a place to receive care. We’re a critical part of the community fabric. And yet, like many rural health systems across the state, we’re feeling the squeeze.
During our time with Senator Husted, we outlined the harsh economic realities we face. The rising cost of everything—from medical supplies and pharmaceuticals to food service, utilities, and staffing—has not been matched by the reimbursements we receive for providing care. For Medicare patients, hospitals like ours are reimbursed less than 80 cents on the dollar. That means we’re at a $99.2 billion shortfall nationwide that makes it increasingly difficult to keep services accessible and local.
Add to that the shifting payor mix and the fact that more patients are delaying care due to their own rising household costs, and the equation becomes both concerning and unsustainable. Rural hospitals don’t operate with the financial cushions of larger urban systems. We walk a fine line between sustainability and sacrifice.
That’s why Senator Husted’s visit and his voice is so necessary—not only for BVHS but for the community we serve. Alongside Senator Bernie Moreno, he championed the Rural Health
Transformation Program, which secured $1.3 billion for rural hospitals through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. That’s a win for every rural family in Ohio who depends on local care like us.
During my conversation with Senator Husted, his message was clear: rural doesn’t mean forgotten. He came not with prepackaged solutions but with questions, curiosity, and an open ear. That kind of leadership is rare—and it’s what we need more of.
We left the meeting with a renewed sense of purpose and a shared commitment to keep moving forward, together. At BVHS, quality care is our most important job. But it’s not a job we can do alone. It requires partnerships between providers, communities, and policymakers alike.
I’m grateful to Senator Husted and his team for investing their time here. I’m also grateful to the providers, associates, and volunteers at BVHS who continue to deliver exceptional care despite extraordinary pressure. And I’m hopeful—because when government listens, and health systems collaborate—real progress is possible.
We’re not asking for special treatment. We’re asking for a fair shot. Rural Ohio deserves healthcare that is close to home, high in quality, and built to last. With continued advocacy and innovative partnerships, we can make that a reality.
The work is far from done, but this week reminded me that we are not alone in the fight. And for that, I’m thankful.
Myron Lewis, President & CEO, Blanchard Valley Health System
(From Owens Community College)
The first part of Devin Davis’ story reads like a tragedy filled with drug addiction, prison time and undiagnosed mental health conditions.
As Davis has proved, though, how our stories play out are up to us. Sometimes, it just takes a little help.
A little more than a decade after leaving Owens Community College under academic probation, Davis is completing his studies at the Findlay-area Campus this summer, and he’ll graduate with an Associate of Arts in general education with a 4.0 GPA.
“Coming back to Owens was a great chance for me to make amends to them and myself,” Davis said. “Coming here, being transparent about my problems, being transparent about needing help and asking for it … all of the things that I was doing that really helped me are things successful college students are supposed to do in the first place.”
Davis, a Findlay native, first attended Owens as an 18-year-old in 2011. At that time, he was struggling with substance use and mental health issues, so he admits that showing up for class and doing his school work fell by the wayside.
He was also living on his own for the first time and learning how to take care of himself, so it was little surprise when he failed his first semester. He was given a probationary warning, and his academics didn’t improve from there.
The time between leaving Owens and coming back was full of self-discovery for Davis. He got sober in 2014, but with family members who struggled with the same problems, Davis found himself in prison. It was during those three years that Davis said he started to work on himself.
While he was handling his problems with substance use and mental health conditions, he got his CDL while incarcerated and never thought he would return to school. Even through everything else he’d overcome, he thought college was a bridge too far.
“At that time, I didn’t think I could come back. I told myself I would live successfully in another way,” Davis said.
Driving trucks paid the bills, but Davis wasn’t fulfilled. After being sober for around nine years, he started working part time at a substance use mental health facility, the Findlay Recovery Center. Positive feedback from the clients and clinical director gave Davis the chance to start facilitating groups. It wasn’t long before they wanted him to come on board full time.
Davis took a pay cut to follow the path he was destined for. He got his Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant license. He kept getting great feedback. Saying that the relatability helps, he uses his experiences when he facilitates groups.
“When I share my story and see people nodding their head, not only am I getting paid to do that, I’m getting a level of acceptance and healing,” Davis said. “I feel less alone in the rooms I’m speaking in. One of the things I struggled with growing up was feeling misunderstood, feeling alone in a room full of friends. Now I’m having more self-awareness and sharing it with people so they know they’re not abnormal.”
Wanting to do more to help others, Davis realized he would need more education. So, he took a brave first step and contacted Owens.
While he was initially on academic jeopardy upon his return to Owens, he appealed it by writing a letter to explain how life circumstances influenced his poor performance, along with records and proof to back up his claims.
His redemption at Owens wasn’t done there, though; he also received academic forgiveness, which wiped the past failing grades from his academic record.
Davis is now well on his way to his ultimate goal of becoming a social worker, “like the one who showed me I could do this.” He wants to be the type of person he needed when he was lost.
“The idea of seeing me getting through that, getting an idea of what I truly want, having that guidance to get there and doing it in the most effective way time-wise and cost-wise, was very effective in moving forward in those goals,” Davis said.
“The fear and doubt pop up — Am I too old for this? I failed before; can I even do this? That reason ‘why’ I wanted to move forward gave me the encouragement I needed.”
Davis said it was important to utilize the support available at Owens, including the faculty, academic advisor and financial aid advisor. To do otherwise would feel like he was wasting his time.
“Watching Devin struggle through all of his classes in the beginning to becoming an academic success story was a great experience for me,” said Janet Tornow, academic advisor at Owens. “As his academic advisor, it was a pleasure working with Devin in his program of study and watching him graduate with a 4.0 GPA.”
He will walk during commencement ceremonies at Owens in December. Five months later, he’ll receive his Bachelor degree in social work from the University of Findlay. His plan is to then pursue a master’s degree at Bowling Green State University.
While still working at Findlay Recovery Center, Davis said he’d eventually like to work with the re-entry population of individuals who are transitioning back into society after a period of incarceration.
While explaining how important it is for those individuals to learn how to readjust to society and know what resources are available to them to help prevent them from slipping into old habits, Davis fairly succinctly summed up his own journey.
“You do what you always did, you’re going to get what you always got,” Davis said. “Who is there to show them any different?” To learn more about the Owens Findlay-area Campus, please visit owens.edu/locations/findlay.
(Devin’s picture courtesy of Owens Community College)
(From the Ohio Library Council)
The Ohio Library Council (OLC) is proud to announce Kristy Szkudlarek, Read for Life Coordinator at the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library, as the recipient of the 2025 Service Excellence Award. This statewide award honors library employees who provide exceptional service and create meaningful, lasting impacts within their communities.
Szkudlarek has led the library’s Read for Life (RFL) program since 2014, demonstrating unwavering dedication to literacy and lifelong learning. Under her leadership, the program has more than doubled in size, reflecting her strategic growth and deep community engagement. Her efforts have created a lasting impact in Hancock County, particularly through her adaptability and compassion in serving vulnerable and diverse populations.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Szkudlarek moved swiftly to transition the RFL program online, ensuring that adult learners could continue their education and literacy support without interruption. As the region saw an increase in migrant populations, she proactively expanded volunteer recruitment and training to meet evolving community needs. In 2023, she launched the innovative Language for Life program—offering 16-week sessions that support non-native English speakers on their journey to fluency.
In addition to her work with Read for Life, Szkudlarek has also served as the library’s Social Media Coordinator for the past five years, strengthening the library’s digital presence and outreach efforts.
“Kristy Szkudlarek exemplifies what the Service Excellence Award is all about,” said Michelle Francis, Executive Director of the Ohio Library Council. “With empathy, creativity, and resilience, she connects with people where they’re at, changes lives and makes the library an even stronger part of the community.”
Szkudlarek will be formally recognized during a special ceremony at the OLC Convention and Expo on November 19 at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland.