Category Archives: WFIN Top Story

Trinity Lutheran School Celebrating 75 Years

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church and School in Jenera is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its school.

Principal and Staff Minister Jeffrey Falck says they’ll be celebrating with a special church service on Sunday, May 19.

We’re excited to celebrate 75 years of God’s blessings in allowing us to provide a Christian Education to our church families and anyone in the Jenera community and surrounding area. 

The congregation was established in the late 1800s and the discussion to start a Christian Day school started to pick up around 1938. After World War 2, the members determined the time was right to begin the school, and the school officially started in the 1948-1949 school year, operating out of the church basement since no permanent school building existed.That first year started with 72 students in Kindergarten through 8th grade and one full time teacher.  We have since expanded to include preschool classes to children as young as 3.

The current school building includes additions from 1951, 1968, and the 1984 addition that includes classrooms, kitchen facilities, and a full-size gym used for our many extra curricular activities throughout the year.

We are blessed with a staff of 6 full-time teachers and a principal and an enrollment of 66 this school year.

A service of thanksgiving will be held this Sunday, May 19 at 10:30 AM with a 1997 graduate Pastor Silas Schmitzer preaching and the school children singing two songs. All are welcome. People are welcome to check us out on Facebook by searching Trinity Lutheran School Jenera or going to our website at tlcjenera.org

 

New Hometown Hero Banners Join Others Previously Displayed

The City of Findlay put up the Hometown Hero banners along Main Street ahead of Memorial Day and the 4th of July.

This batch of banners includes 106 in total and 18 new ones.

The new banners are located on the west side of Main Street from Front Street up to the Hancock County War Memorial at Center Street.

The new banners displayed are of James Bish, Mike Crawford, David Davis, Sr., Richard Earl Ebert, Richard Gerald Ebert, Glenn Farmer, Robert Grant, Bert Meyers, Dale A. Miller, Felipe Pina Jr., Gregory Pope, Michael “Mick” Reed, Eugene Reinhart, Jack Reynolds, Monte Sampson, Roger Thomas, Mark Tiell, John Wallace.

Mayor Christina Muryn says City of Findlay recognizes the great sacrifice that our military members make in serving our country. 

 

 

She says the Hometown Hero banners honor local members of the military and include active, retired and deceased service members.

The banners will be displayed through the end of July 2024. The following are banners that will be displayed: James Bish, Marlo Brannan, Herman Baughman, Donald Brumley, MD, Robert Brown, Robert Bushong, Charles Clapper, Michael Colquitt, Mike Crawford, Julian Davis, David Davis, Sr., Donald DePuy, James DePuy, Thomas Diller, Cyrus Dillinger Jr., Gerald Droll, Trey Dukat, Richard Earl Ebert, Richard Gerald Ebert, Glenn Farmer, Alfonso Gonzalez, Jr., Robert Grant, Todd Hicks, David Karcher, William Kiser, Derek Kistler, Richard Krout, Charles Leatherman, Rollie Leatherman, Ben Leonard, Fred Leonard, James Logsdon, Richard Long, Barry Lord, Josiah Lord, Ben Lunn, Lester MacGregor, Harold Main, Donald Mathias, John Mathias, Richard Mathias, Merle May, Michael May, Douglas McDaniel, Larry McDaniel, Leo McKee, Paul McKinniss, Richard Mestrez, Bert Meyers, Norman Meyers, Ervin Miles, Dale A. Miller, Donald Misamore, Richard Muzy, Ivan Nesler, Francis Norton, Rex Orians, Wilson Parish, Jeffry Patterson, Caleb Peeples, David Pelphrey, George Phebus, Gary Phillips II, Felipe Pina Jr., James Anthony Poignon, II, Gregory Pope, Jerry Quinlan, Michael “Mick” Reed, Eugene Reinhart, Jack Reynolds, Harry Routson, Monte Sampson, Carl Schneider, George Schneider, Lawrence Schneider, Otto Schneider, Andrew Schultz, Maurice Schutz, Jack Smith Jr., Daniel Snyder, James Speck, Sr., Craig Spieker, Virgil Stechschulte, Cloyce Steegman, Robert Stimmel, Allen Straight, Jerry Street, Jeffrey Sullivan, Terry Sutherland, Roger Thomas, Mark Tiell, Arthur Tighe, Richard Ulrich, Louis Urschalitz, Mary Urschalitz, Norbert Urschalitz, William Urschalitz, Fred Van Voorhis, John Wallace, Drew Whitacre, Alvin Wilkins, Francis Wilkins, Kenneth Wilkins, Leland Wilkins, Myrl Wilkins, Robert Windle.

The City of Findlay displays banners recognizing the United States Military Service Members at various times throughout the year with the most prominent times being May, July, and November. For more information on recognizing an active, retired, or deceased service member, please visit www.findlayohio.com/hero or contact the Mayor’s Office at 419-424-7137.

“It is our desire to continually recognize the military service members who have given so much of themselves to serve our country. This is one small way we can do that and show our communities strong support of those who serve, our country, and our community. I felt this was a great way to utilize a prominent location downtown to recognize individuals in our community that fought to protect our freedoms,” said Mayor Christina Muryn.

 

UPDATE – Ohio Teen Wanted In Connection With Swatting Incidents

UPDATE – Brayden Grace was located in Columbus and arrested.

(ONN) – A teenager with ties to Columbus is wanted by the FBI in connection with swatting incidents.

That’s when a person makes a false threat like a shooting or a bomb threat to get law enforcement to respond.

18-year-old Brayden Grace is said to have been part of an online group called Purgatory that would do that.

One of their targets was an Ohio casino.

Grace has ties to the Columbus area.

Retired FBI special agent Harry Trombitas says these are extremely serious crimes.

https://twitter.com/FBICincinnati/status/1791143316676903345

 

Van Buren Education Foundation Unveils ‘Founder’s Wall’

The Van Buren Schools Education Foundation unveiled its Founder’s Wall project.

Working with Rowmark, a committee of Van Buren students created the Founder’s Wall.

“We are particularly excited about our Founder’s Wall as it both celebrates our community members who made donations in our first year, as well as displays the remarkable skills of our students.”

“It is entirely their design and construction, from the creation of the logo to the name plates of our donors.”

During the project, the students got to tour the Rowmark facility and learned about laser engraving, sublimation, and the products and processes used to create their donor wall.

The Founder’s Wall is prominently displayed in the entrance of Van Buren High School.

The Van Buren Schools Education Foundation was formed in February 2023 as a community organization with the mission of providing the means to support the transformation of ideas into impactful experiences for Van Buren Local Schools.

Since the fund was established, we have raised over $80,000. The fund will grow in perpetuity and be used to distribute grants to teachers and organizations within the Van Buren School community.

 

City: All Outdoor Warning Sirens Working

The City of Findlay Street Department tested the city’s outdoor warning sirens on Wednesday morning, but you probably didn’t hear it.

That’s because the 16 sirens were each tested separately and for a very short time.

The city performed the testing because four of the sirens stopped working when they were sounded during the tornado warning on May 7.

All 16 sirens are now working properly and the city said it believes it was an issue with older radio equipment that caused the four sirens to stop going off on May 7.

Monthly, Findlay and Hancock County test their outdoor warning sirens at 10 a.m. on the first Monday of the month and all 16 sirens worked during that test.   

Anyone with questions can contact the Street Department at (419) 424-7181 or publicworks@findlayohio.gov

 

New Bill Would Crack Down On Drone Trespassing/Voyeurism

(ONN) – A new Ohio bill could crack down on trespassing and voyeurism with drones.

A bill cosponsor, Republican Representative Brian Lampton, says there’s no state law right now regarding the use of drones over private property.

This bill would give law enforcement the authority to go after someone who flies one on any private property without permission.

 

 

The bill would also prohibit voyeurism.

A drone operator couldn’t spy, eavesdrop, record, photograph or livestream you in a place where you have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

 

BVHS Auxiliary Awards Student Scholarships

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

The Blanchard Valley Health System Auxiliary recently awarded 11 $1,000 scholarships to students in Hancock and surrounding counties interested in pursuing a health-related career.

The 2024 BVHS Auxiliary scholarship winners include: Ella Armstrong (Bluffton High School), pursuing a nursing degree at Goshen College; Jacob Barnhart (Findlay High School), pursuing a health sciences degree at The Ohio State University; Brooke Camper (Bluffton High School), pursuing a nursing degree at Cedarville University; Molly Crates (Findlay High School), pursuing a biomedical engineering degree at The Ohio State University; Emma Hoffman (Ottawa-Glandorf High School), pursuing a nursing degree at Bowling Green State University; Paige Maas (Ottawa-Glandorf High School), pursuing a nursing degree at Bowling Green State University; Christian Price (Fostoria High School), pursuing a pharmacy degree at the University of Findlay; Iris Schorsch (McComb High School), pursuing a nursing degree at Owens Community College; Kaytlynn Schroeder (Leipsic High School), pursuing a nutrition and dietetics degree at Bluffton University; Cora Sterling (Findlay High School), pursuing a nursing degree at Ohio Northern University; and Adelaide Wilt (Findlay High School), pursuing a pre-medicine/biology degree at Miami University.

Monies for the scholarship fund are derived from the annual membership dues contributed by Auxiliary members.

To learn more about scholarships offered through Blanchard Valley Health System, please visit bvhealthsystem.org/scholarships.

 

 

New Law Could Increase Penalties For Sextortion Crimes In Ohio.

(ONN) – A new law could increase penalties for sextortion crimes in Ohio.

Ohio lawmakers are working to stop an online crime that’s leading to teen suicide.

Braden’s Law is named after Braden Marcus, a 15-year-old Olentangy High School student.

He died by suicide after falling victim to sextortion in 2021.

The FBI reports more than 13,000 sextortion cases of minors since Braden’s death.

 Braden’s Law would make sextortion a first, second and/or third degree felony in ohio.

“If you’re one of those terrible, evil people that are thinking about committing this crime, maybe you’ll think again,” said State Rep. Brian Lorenz of Powell.

Sextortion is defined as ‘the practice of extorting money or sexual favors from someone by threatening to reveal evidence of their sexual activity.’

Millstream Speedway Announces Dates For Highly Anticipated Return

(From Millstream Speedway)

Millstream Speedway is excited to announce the dates for its highly anticipated return in 2024.

Millstream Speedway has a rich history, dating back to its opening in 1952. Over the years, it has hosted some of the biggest names in racing and has become a fan-favorite destination for its fast-paced and adrenaline-pumping races.

Under new ownership for the first time in over 20 years, MS Properties and Matt & Beth Cogley have been working hard to get Millstream Speedway ready to welcome dirt racing back to the Findlay/Hancock County area.

“It’s been a real labor of love, and we have been so blessed with the many volunteers who have come out to help us get the facility back in shape!” said Beth Cogley.

 

 

After an eight-year hiatus, the speedway will host three special events that are sure to thrill fans and racers alike.

The racing will begin with Ohio Sprint Speedweek Night 8, brought to you by Ohio Logistics on Friday, June 14, 2024. That night will feature the FAST on Dirt winged 410 sprint cars and the USAC Midwest Thunder Midgets. Gates will open at 4 and racing will start at 7 pm. Tickets are on sale at MyRacePass.com.

Next the Great Lakes Sprint Series will invade on Sunday, August 25, 2024 with the Great Lakes Super Sprints (360 cu in winged sprint cars), the Great Lakes Traditional Sprints (the original wingless sprint cars), and the Great Lakes Lightning Sprints (1,000 cc sprint cars).

Garner Trucking proudly sponsors the closing night of the Cogley’s inaugural season on Sunday, October 6, 2024 with the Great Lakes Super Sprints, Stocks vs. Trucks, and Late Models.

Millstream Speedway is located at 7805 Township Road 95, a little northwest of Findlay. 

You can follow the progress on their Facebook page or email millstreamspeedway@gmail.com for more information.

 

Fallen Hancock County Law Enforcement Officers Honored At Memorial Service

The Hancock County Law Enforcement Memorial Service was held at the Fallen Officers Memorial at the Fort Findlay FOP Lodge 20 on Romick Parkway in Findlay.

The ten officers from Hancock County law enforcement agencies who have died in the line of duty were remembered and honored with their names spoken aloud and a flower placed at the memorial for them.

The speaker at the Hancock County Law Enforcement Memorial Service was Mrs. Vaune Akers, the wife of Findlay Officer Doug Akers who died by suicide in 2018, and she’s dedicated to reducing the mental health stigma among first responders.

“It’s okay to talk about it, the conversation has to happen. It shouldn’t be hidden. It shouldn’t be tucked away. Their struggles are real and we have to acknowledge them and tell them it’s okay, you are going to struggle, you are going to need help eventually and it’s okay to ask for it.”

 

 

In addition to her professional and familial responsibilities, Mrs. Akers is deeply involved in volunteer work with FIRST H.E.L.P., a non-profit organization committed to reducing the mental health stigma among first responders and providing support to the families of those lost to suicide. 

Get more from our conversation with Vaune in the video of the memorial service below.