(From Liberty-Benton Local Schools)

There’s nothing like the first day of school!

 Welcome back to all of our students, staff, and families.

Let’s soar together into a fantastic 2025–26 school year!

(From the City of Fostoria)

If you notice individuals in neon safety vests carrying handheld computers around town, don’t worry—they are certified arborists with Davey Resource Group, here on behalf of the City of Fostoria.

These professionals are conducting a citywide tree inventory, an important step in building and maintaining a healthy, sustainable urban forest. The inventory will help us better manage our trees, plan for future planting, and ensure our community enjoys the many benefits trees provide for years to come.

The arborists are permitted to be in public spaces to complete their work and will be out and about starting today until around mid-September.

*Please note that these arborists are taking inventory of public trees only, not residential owned trees.

We appreciate your cooperation and support as we take this step toward a greener, healthier Fostoria!

(From the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts)

This year’s Day of Giving is extra special. Marathon Center for the Performing Arts is celebrating 10 years of enriching our community through unforgettable performances, impactful arts education, and powerful community programs.

On Tuesday, August 26, we invite you to join us in raising the curtain on the next decade of the arts at MCPA.

Your support on this day will help us:
• Expand arts education and inspire the next generation
• Increase access to live performances for all in our community
• Invest in the future of our region’s cultural life

Together, we can ensure that the magic of the performing arts continues to thrive for years to come.

Save the date, spread the word, and join us on August 26 at MCPA.org/Donate

If your donation form arrived early, you don’t have to wait!

Send it back to MCPA or give online at MCPA.org/Donate

(From the Office of the Ohio Attorney General)

In indictments filed this week by the office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, 10 Medicaid providers are accused of stealing a combined $1.9 million from the government health-care program for the needy.

Nine home-health aides and one provider of home-delivered meals face varying felony charges of Medicaid fraud and theft for allegedly billing Medicaid for services they did not provide. Two of the defendants alone account for more than $1.7 million of the alleged fraud.  

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, an arm of Yost’s office, investigated the cases and secured the indictments in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

“Would-be thieves ought to think twice before setting their sights on Medicaid dollars,” Yost said. “Our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is always on the lookout for sticky-fingered criminals to bring to justice.”

Among those indicted:

• Gabrielle Trudell Carn, 36, of Columbus, was removed from a client’s plan of care in February 2024 but allegedly continued to bill for 10 hours of services almost daily for six more months, causing a $33,368 loss for Medicaid. 
   
• An unusually high number of claims for home-delivered meals drew investigators’ attention to Terri Cotton, 54, of Cleveland. Records spanning more than two years show that she regularly billed Medicaid for up to 100 home-delivered meals a day for each of her four clients. The loss to Medicaid totaled $1,271,639.
   
• Records show that Shylynn Flint, 24, of Blanchester, billed for services when she was traveling in Las Vegas and for dates on which she had canceled or missed shifts, leading to a $5,217 loss for Medicaid.
   
• Two clients reported that Toya Hale, 52, of Canton, failed to provide services, but a third client claimed that Hale never missed a shift. Through a review of Cash App transactions, investigators determined that Hale and the third client were engaged in a kickback scheme. Additionally, some services in Hale’s billing records overlapped with her other job at the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. The loss to Medicaid totaled $10,204.
   
• Creshawnda Hughes, 33, of Akron, allegedly billed often for more hours of services than she provided, claiming reimbursement for up to eight hours per shift when she had worked only two hours. The loss to Medicaid totaled $25,900.
   
• Airline and hotel records show that Regina Johnson, 34, of Avon, was traveling in Florida, Massachusetts and Texas on dates she billed for services, leading to a $20,140 loss for Medicaid. When confronted by investigators, she confessed to submitting the fraudulent claims.
   
• Yolanda Knox, 50, of Dayton, allegedly billed for services when traveling, when clients were not home, and on holidays and weekends when she did not work. In some cases, Knox sent her adult children to provide services on her behalf. The loss to Medicaid totaled $56,666.
   
• Sirina Powell, 50, of Canton, allegedly used her mother’s name and provider credentials to bill Medicaid for services, including some that were never provided. According to clients, Powell also went by her mother’s name when providing services. The loss to Medicaid totaled $5,758.
   
• Records show that Juan Watson, 36, of Cleveland, often billed for 16 hours of services per day, but clients reported receiving services that lasted only a few hours. Additionally, Watson allegedly billed for services when he was traveling out of state. The loss to Medicaid totaled $431,579.
   
• A service recipient reported that Cheyenne Williams, 61, of Cleveland, stopped providing services in March 2024, but records show that she continued to bill Medicaid for 10 more months. Williams also allegedly billed for holidays she did not work. The loss to Medicaid totaled $19,726.

Ohio’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, which operates within the Health Care Fraud Section, collaborates with federal, state and local partners to root out Medicaid fraud and protect vulnerable adults from harm. The unit investigates and prosecutes health-care providers who defraud the state Medicaid program and enforces the state’s Patient Abuse and Neglect Law.

Indictments are criminal allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proved guilty in a court of law.

(From the City of Findlay)

The City Income Tax Department will be closed on Thursday, September 4, 2025, from 12:00 pm-2:00 pm for staffing training purposes.

Tax return forms will still be available on the City’s website by visiting www.findlayohio.gov/incometax.

Documents may still be dropped off in the drop box in the parking lot south of the Municipal Building, or in the drop box inside the Municipal Building doors as the drop boxes are attended to each day.

(From the Hancock County Naturalists)

The Hancock County Naturalists will host their next monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at Oakwoods Nature Preserve, 1400 Oakwood Ave., Findlay. The evening’s featured program will focus on bats, with guest speaker Scott Butterworth, district manager for the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

Butterworth will share general information about bats, then spotlight species native to Ohio and their importance to the ecosystem.

Butterworth grew up near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Science and a Master of Science in Wildlife Management from Penn State University. He worked for the West Virginia Wildlife Resources Section for nearly a decade, including time with the Nongame Wildlife Program. Since 1997, he has served with the Ohio Division of Wildlife and is now the District Manager covering 20 counties in northwest Ohio from the District Office in Findlay.

Membership and events are open to those aged 15 and older. Annual membership fees are $15 per adult, $20 per couple, and $10 for youth. For more information, contact Jane Riker at 419-306-3697 or emaggin117@aol.com. The group’s website is hancockcountynaturalists.org.

The Hancock County Naturalists, a membership organization, was established to further the study of the fauna and flora of Hancock County and the surrounding area and to participate in selected conservation and educational projects.

(From the Findlay Family YMCA)

Men Who Cook is BACK!

But will it be the return of the brisket mac-and-cheese?

Spend your Saturday, Nov. 1, with us at the Findlay Inn & Conference Center for food, football, and fun in support of a great cause.

Your participation supports the Open Doors Community Scholarship Campaign, which helps families in need access YMCA memberships and vital programs.

This year, local amateur and professional cooks will dish out tailgate-themed fare, all competing for the coveted winner’s apron (and your tips)!

With Coach Cliff Hite as our emcee, a cash bar, and football on the big screens, it’s going to be a night to remember.

Get your tickets now and help us open more doors for our community: https://tinyurl.com/yc3mz5kx

-Save the date: Saturday, Nov. 1

-Findlay Inn & Conference Center

-Who will earn your tip?

(From Owens Community College)

Owens Community College president Dr. Dione Somerville welcomed in a special year with the State of the College address, delivered at both campuses on Monday. The 2025-26 academic year is the 60th anniversary of Owens providing education and training to northwest Ohio.

Owens opened in 1965 as part of Penta County Technical Institute with 200 students, becoming Michael J. Owens Technical College in 1972 and finally Owens Community College in 1994.

During her speech, Dr. Somerville mentioned the more than 500,000 students who attended Owens for credit in its history.

“Milestones like this are rare, and they give us the chance to reflect, honor and look ahead,” she said. “We’ve navigated challenges that have reshaped higher education, including an enrollment cliff, a global pandemic and challenging legislation. And yet, through it all, Owens has remained steadfast. We’ve never lost sight of who we are or why we exist: to provide life-changing education and build stronger communities.”

The college has activities and celebrations planned throughout the school year to honor its 60 years. It started with an update of the college timeline on the walls of College Hall and includes a special commemorative commercial, featuring Owens alumni Dr. Angela Jackson, an optometrist, Al Mitchell, a nurse, and Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn.

More information on Owens’ 60th anniversary, including an updated list of events, can be found at owens.edu/owens60.

Coming on the heels of the exciting announcement of Owens’ first bachelor’s degree last week, Somerville talked about the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Completion Program. As it has done many times before, Owens has stepped up to help fill a need in the region, this time with a shortage of qualified nurses.

The BSN will be built on Owens’ well-established Associate of Applied Science in Nursing and will allow bachelor’s degree-seeking students to complete the BSN coursework online, making it a flexible, accessible option for busy professionals.

“This new program marks a bold step forward for both Owens and the region as we aim to meet growing workforce demands and expand access to affordable, high-quality education,” Somerville said.

The keynote speaker was Dean Monske, president and CEO of Regional Growth Partnership Northwest Ohio. Monske spoke about the importance of Owens training and educating the workforce in the region and its longstanding partnerships in various industries. Avi Zaffini, the president and CEO of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges, was also in attendance and spoke.

Dr. Somerville also recognized the winner of the Presidential Teach Award, Dr. Genesis Downey, a professor of English and director of the Honors Program. Downey received her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Toledo, a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan and a Doctorate of Philosphy with a focus in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University. She started at Owens as an adjunct faculty member in January 2002 before becoming a full-time faculty member eight months later. The Presidential Teaching Award selection is based on quality and innovation in teaching and commendable service to the college and/or profession. … Eligible faculty must be full-time tenured or tenure-track and have been with the institution for at least 1 full academic year.

Dr. Somerville also used the six objectives of the college’s strategic plan to highlight some of the recent successes and future plans:

Building a community of belonging

• Owens has been designated as a Voter Friendly Campus for 2025-26 by the Fair Election Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, demonstrating the college’s commitment to helping student register, stay informed and exercise their right to vote.
• Owens will welcome author Marian Schembari as the special guest for this year’s The BIG Read. Schembari is the author of “How an Autism Diagnosis Finally Made Me Whole,” the book being read during the yearlong event.

Expanding our partnerships

• Owens will welcome high school students on campus in October for the annual Jill of All Trades, which offers hands-on experiences to young individuals and introducing them to the possibilities of a career in the skilled trades.
• Owens continues a strong partnership with the Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium, which supported the development and deployment of STEM summer camps at the college.
• This year, Owens joined with four other Ohio community colleges in receiving a share of a $5.7 million U.S. Department of Labor grant to train the next generation of manufacturing engineers and technicians.

Developing an agile framework

• Starting with Summer 2025 registration, Owens moved its student interface to Workday Student. It is the primary system of record for all student services, including course registration, advising, financial aid, student finances, grade submissions, transcripts and degree awarding.
• A feasibility study of the Findlay area is wrapping up. It will help Owens understand the current enrollment patterns at the Findlay-area Campus and explore opportunities for increased enrollment. Findings and recommendations will be released later in the Fall 2025 semester.

Deepening employee engagement

• The Employee Engagement Committee, which meets monthly throughout the year, has assisted in multiple events around campus, including the Health and Wellness Fair, Meal of Thanks, Healthcare Education Center Open House, Employee Service Awards Recognition and Toledo Pride Parade.

Ensuring a sustainable organization

• The new Healthcare Education Center represents a commitment to preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals for the region and beyond. With cutting-edge labs, modern classrooms and hands-on training environments, the Center gives our students the opportunity to gain the skills and confidence they need to succeed in high-demand careers.

Telling our story

• The award-winning Conversations podcast, where Owens president Somerville talks with a local or regional leader, is in its fourth season and continues to gain followers.
• The Owens.edu website is undergoing a redesign to make it more modern and user-friendly with more visuals and easier-to-navigate icons.

(From Liberty-Benton Local Schools)

GARNER TRUCKING NIGHT is almost here!

Join us this Friday, August 22, 2025, at Liberty-Benton Schools as we celebrate our partnership with Garner Trucking, Inc., the proud sponsor of our brand-new video scoreboard, generously gifted by the Brumbaugh Family Trust!

The Ottawa-Glandorf Pot is already at $1,000 and expected to grow to over $6,000 by the drawing at the end of the 3rd quarter — you won’t want to miss your chance!

-Gates open at 5:30 PM

-Game kicks off at 7 PM

Hosted by the LB Athletic Boosters and the School – thank you to all our amazing sponsors! #WeAreLB

The City of Findlay has received a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry to hire an urban forester to conduct a risk assessment of trees within the city, create action plans to implement a Community Forestry Management Plan, and train city staff and the Shade Tree Commission.

The city says, if there are trees that are identified that need to be removed for safety/maintenance issues, the Urban Forester and Public Works Department will follow ODNR best practices to do so, which is a strict requirement of the grant guidelines.

The city says up to 300 trees could be replaced, many of which have been unmanaged and are in decline and pose a hazard for overhead and underground utilities as well as infrastructure like streets, curbs, and sidewalks.

Part of the grant funds will be used to plant 300 trees.

Findlay residents may request a tree on the city’s website through the Request a Tree Program.

The program planted 374 trees in 2024.

The Shade Tree Commission’s next meeting is September 3 at 3:30 p.m. at 318 Dorney Plaza Room 310.