(From the Black Swamp Area Council)

The Scouts of the Black Swamp Area Council are gearing up for an unforgettable winter adventure at the 65th Annual Klondike Derby at Camp Berry! This time-honored tradition promises to get the Scouting year off to a thrilling start with camaraderie, competition, and outdoor fun.

Event Details:
Saturday, January 18^th 

Location:
Camp Berry, 11716 County Rd 40 Findlay, OH 45840

The Klondike Derby is the perfect example of how our Scouts build team spirit, highlight their Scouting skills, and embrace the great outdoors.

The traditional first council event of the calendar year will be held on Saturday January 18 at Camp Berry.  More than 350 Scouts BSA members and adult volunteers will attend this year’s event.   This annual event pits groups of 5-8 Scouts in individual Patrols in a test of skills, agility, and endurance during a daylong event. With local Scout Troops from Northwest and West Central Ohio descending on the camp, last year there were twenty-nine sleds competing.

Each winter, the Klondike is a reminder Scouting skills do not take a backseat when the weather changes.

Patrols competed in six stations called “cities” scattered across camp.  Finally, this year there was an abundance of snow and cold.  Scouts navigated their sleds and raced against each other and the clock as with the number of participants, there were multiple waves of sleds released on to the property.  At each city there is a host for an event focused on a skill.  These range from use of a two-person saw, first aid, knot tying, tree ID’ing, nature tracking, team building, and compass course.  Each group was awarded points based on their proficiency at each station.

(From the Children’s Museum of Findlay)

So many of you have given us so many wonderful suggestions for which exhibits to keep, which exhibits we need to add, and where our new space should be! You cannot understand how amazing it is to have your positive vibes and support.

We are so close to unveiling all-of-the-things!!! If you’d like to follow updates, check-out this page: http://cmfmove.weebly.com

But….

We need more of our community’s support in order to make this new space everything we have dreamt, together.

Monetary Donations

-This is the most important item on our list! With moving into a new location, there will be costs associated with the move, construction at the new location and loss of revenue for the time that we are closed during the transition. >>> Please, visit www.cmfindlay.com/give to make a donation of any value – trust us… it ALL helps!

Volunteering Your Time

-We will be moving an entire museum to a new home plus adding new items, and that takes many hands. If you would be interested in volunteering your time (and muscles!) to move the museum, please email hello@cmfindlay.com. The initial bulk of manpower that we will be looking for will be between January 20-31, 2025.

Amazon Wish List

-We have an Amazon wish list for our move! It includes things that will help the moving process easier. View our wish list at https://a.co/c1axpWz

WFIN – The Children’s Museum of Findlay previously announced that its last day at its current location in the Findlay Mall will be January 19, as the center portion of the mall is being demolished for a new big box retailer.

(WTOL-11) – A teenager from Findlay was found shot to death in Toledo over the weekend.

The Toledo Police Department said Jaidon Mangas, 18, was shot in an alley in the 500 block of Congress Street in south Toledo on Saturday.

He was taken to UTMC, where he died.

“Trojan Country is grieving the loss of our student, Jaidon Mangas,” Findlay City Schools said.

“While we do not have any details surrounding this tragic event, we can confirm that he was a student at Findlay High School.”

WTOL spoke to Mangas’ family, which said Mangas had just turned 18 the day before.

(From Tiffin Police Chief David Pauly)

Welcome Officer Cade Garrett to the Tiffin Police Department!

Please join me in welcoming the newest member of our Tiffin community and Police Department, Officer Cade Garrett!

Officer Garrett brings prior law enforcement experience to his role and will spend the next few months in field training with our seasoned officers, preparing to serve our city with professionalism and dedication.

This evening, Tiffin Mayor Lee Wilkinson administered Officer Garrett’s oath of office in a special ceremony attended by proud family members.

Adding a personal touch, his wife Madison had the honor of pinning his badge onto his uniform.

We are thrilled to have Officer Garrett join our team and are confident that his skills and commitment will enhance our department’s mission to serve and protect the city of Tiffin.

Welcome aboard, Officer Garrett! We look forward to the positive impact you will make in our community.

Chief Pauly

Some early morning snow caused schools to cancel classes and sheriff’s offices to issue weather alerts on Monday morning.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office placed the county on a Level 1 Weather Alert on Monday morning. Get the weather alerts for other counties in the region by clicking here.  

Roadways are hazardous, drive with extreme caution.

Roadways are extremely hazardous with blowing and drifting snow and/or flooding. Only those who feel it is necessary to travel should be on the roadways.

Most roadways are closed and extremely hazardous/flooded. Employees should comply with workplace policies or contact their employer. Violators may be cited.

Findlay City Schools closed for the day as did many other districts.

Get the full list of closings and delays by clicking here.

An early Saturday morning fire caused extensive damage to a Findlay residence at the corner of W. Edgar and Chapel Drive. The fire was discovered around 5:30 am when smoke alarms went off. 

The fire started on a back porch which allowed flames to travel up into the soffits before smoke triggered the alarms.

Dr. Richard Deerhake is the homeowner and was in the house at the time of the fire and able to escape the flames.

No dollar estimate of damage was provided.

A lot of people attended Hancock County Sheriff Michael Heldman’s retirement celebration on Friday afternoon to thank him for his many years of service to the citizens of Hancock County.

It was held at the Old Mill Stream Centre at the Hancock County Fairgrounds.

Heldman retires as the longest-serving sheriff in Hancock County history at 28 years.

He has served the citizens of Hancock County as a member of the sheriff’s office for an extraordinary 52 years.

In the video below, Heldman tells WFIN one of the things that stands out to him as he reflects on his career is how the community comes together during difficult times such as floods.

Heldman’s final day on the job will be Sunday, January 5^th.

Hancock County’s new Sheriff will be Mike Cortez.

Click here to learn more about the new sheriff, and see video of Sheriff Heldman’s retirement celebration below. 

(From the Findlay Police Department)

On 01-03-2025 at 1211 hours Officers were dispatched to Dick’s Sporting Goods for a retail theft. The suspect was an adult female, later identified as Angelica Delao of Toledo, Ohio. She left the store with stolen merchandise and traveled to CR 99 in Findlay, Ohio, where FPD Officers were able to locate her vehicle.

A traffic stop was attempted but the suspect (pictured below) failed to stop and entered northbound I-75. A vehicle pursuit was initiated. The vehicle pursuit traveled along I-75 northbound at speeds of approximately 100-115 miles per hour. Ohio State Highway Patrol was contacted for assistance and joined the pursuit.

The suspect left I-75 and continued eastbound on SR 582 in Wood County, Ohio. Speeds maintained at/near 100 miles per hour.

The suspect then went northbound on SR 199, followed by westbound on Roachton Road near Perrysburg, Ohio. Perrysburg Township Police Department and Rossford Police Department assisted with the pursuit at/near this point.

The suspect went northbound on N. Dixie Highway in Perrysburg, Ohio before heading northbound on I-475 and merging on to northbound I-75. Speeds were maintained at 100+ miles per hour. The suspect vehicle made contact with a civilian motorist’s vehicle on the highway near this area. No injuries were reported.

The suspect continued northbound on I-75 and exited at Collingwood Blvd in Toledo, Ohio. Shortly thereafter it was slowed down due to heavier civilian traffic. Rossford Police Department initiated vehicle to vehicle contact with the suspect. This spun out her vehicle. The suspect then rammed a Perrysburg Township Police Department vehicle, before being boxed in and stopped. Angelica was then taken in to custody without incident.

The pursuit went approximately 46.5 miles over 29 minutes. Angelica Delao is currently incarcerated at the Hancock County Justice Center. She is being held on a charge of Theft (Felony 5) and Fleeing and Eluding (Felony 3). An additional charge of Felonious Assault (Felony 2) on a Police Officer is being requested.

(From the United Way of Hancock County)

United Way of Hancock County is accepting applications for a maximum scholarship of $8,000 through Feb. 3, 2025.

The Secor Scholarship, established as a memorial to the generosity of Steven and Doris Secor, is awarded annually to a high school senior in Hancock County who has a 3.5 grade point average or higher and plans to attend an accredited institution of higher learning, full time, to pursue any undergraduate field of study in the subsequent academic year. Candidates must exhibit a strong emphasis on service, leadership and character, with these components evaluated through the scholarship application and essay and a required letter of recommendation.

The award for the first academic year will be $2,000 and may be renewed annually for three additional years for a total of $8,000.

The United Way of Hancock County Foundation designates a Secor Scholarship selection committee comprised of current and past United Way board members who evaluate applications, interview finalists, and select one scholarship recipient each year. Students related to anyone on the selection committee or United Way of Hancock County paid staff are ineligible to apply.

The application can only be completed digitally; no paper applications will be accepted. Access the application and more information at https://www.liveunitedhancockcounty.org/programs/secor-scholarship

For additional guidance, contact Brenna Griteman at marketing@uwhancock.org or 419-423-1432.

(ONN) – The Haslam Sports Group has announced that it is moving forward with its plans for a domed stadium for the Browns outside of Cleveland. 

The Cleveland Browns say they’re moving forward in the process to build a new domed stadium in Brook Park.

In a statement from the Haslam Sports Group, they explained that the team has executed a clause to solidify the future purchase of the land for the new Huntington Bank Field enclosed stadium and mixed-use development.

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb recently announced he plans to invoke the Modell Law to prevent the team from leaving downtown.