The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library had a renewal tax levy on the ballot on May 6.

Unofficial results from the Hancock County Board of Elections show the levy passing handily with a little more than 75 percent of the vote.

Library Director Sarah Clevidence thanks the community for supporting the library, which she says is a place where everyone belongs.

The levy is for current expenses that the county auditor estimates will collect $875,000 annually, at a rate not exceeding 0.5 mill for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $12 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value, for five years, commencing in 2025, first due in calendar year 2026.

There were many Findlay City Council races in the May 6 Primary Election and a lot of new faces.

City Council has three At-Large members.

Current At-Large city councilmembers Grant Russel, Randy Greeno, and Jeff Wobser did not seek reelection.

Five Republicans were vying for those three spots to be on the ballot in the General Election in November.   

Unofficial results from the Hancock County Board of Elections show that Heather Kensinger, L. Reed Needles, and Bradley Wagner were the top three vote-getters.

Jenny Fall, a Democrat, was unopposed in the primary and automatically advanced to the fall ballot.

In the First Ward, the race between Nichole Coleman and Holly Frische was very close with Coleman winning 258 to 246, or 51.19 percent to 48.81 percent.

In the Second Ward, BJ Preston defeated Michael Gentry by garnering 63 percent of the vote.

In the Third Ward, Carol Smith defeated Patricia Klein with 57 percent of the vote.

In the Fourth Ward, Daniel DeArment ran unopposed.

In the Fifth Ward, Brian Bauman defeated Kimberly Meador with 57 percent of the vote.

In the Sixth Ward, Rodney Phillips defeated Haydee Sadler with 64 percent of the vote.  

In the Seventh Ward, Danny DeLong defeated Brody Yingling by a vote of 303 to 276.

There is the possibility that one of the primary winners could face a write-in challenger in the fall and the deadline to file is August 25.

All results are unofficial until certified by the board of elections.

Blanchard Valley Center, the Hancock County Board of Developmental Disabilities, had a renewal levy on May 6 ballot.

Unofficial results from the Hancock County Board of Elections show the levy passing with 71 percent of the vote.

BVC’s Nadine Weininger thanks the community for its continued support.

The renewal tax is for the benefit of Hancock County residents for the purpose of providing for the operation of community programs and services authorized by the Hancock County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Get more election results from the Hancock County Board of Elections by clicking here, and the Putnam County Board of Elections by clicking here.

A proposed zoning plan was voted on by residents of Allen Township in Hancock County in the May 6 Primary Election.

Unofficial results from the Hancock County Board of Elections show the measure passing with more than 58 percent of the vote.

The ballot language of the issue is below:

A Resolution enacted under Chapter 519 of the Ohio Revised Code, governing the unincorporated portions of Allen Township, Hancock County, Ohio, for said purposes to establish the Township as an agricultural district; to regulate the location and use of structures, and lands for trade, industry, agriculture, residence and for public and semipublic or other specified uses; and to regulate yards, courts, and open spaces; to regulate the density of population and providing for changes in the regulations; defining certain terms; providing for enforcement; establishing a Board of Zoning Appeals; and imposing penalties for the violation of this Resolution.

On Election Day a judge ruled that votes cast in the Allen Township zoning resolution issue would be counted on Tuesday.

Hancock County Common Pleas Court Judge Jonathan Starn Tuesday morning issued a decision overruling a request by One Power Company to temporarily prevent the counting of votes on the issue.

However, One Power Company’s efforts to nullify the votes will proceed and a pretrial hearing in the case will be held on Wednesday afternoon.

Findlay City Schools had a 1 percent earned income tax levy on the May 6 ballot, the same measure that voters turned down last November.

Unofficial results from the Hancock County Board of Elections show the levy passed by a vote of 66.77 percent for to 33.23 percent against.

Ahead of the primary, the school district said if the new 1 percent earned income tax levy passes in May, it would stabilize the district’s financial future, ensuring continued support for academic programs, staffing, and student services.

The Findlay City Schools Board of Education had said a second phase of budget reductions would be necessary should the May 6 levy not pass.

The reductions would have been in addition to the $6 million in reductions approved for the 2025-2026 school year following the unsuccessful levy in November 2024.

Get more election results from the Hancock County Board of Elections by clicking here, the Putnam County Board of Elections by clicking here, and the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office by clicking here.

All results are unofficial until certified by the board of elections. 

Findlay City Schools issued the following news release about passage of the levy:

On May 6, voters in Findlay approved a 1% earned income tax levy, providing a critical
and sustainable funding source for Findlay City Schools. This levy is the first voter-approved increase
in operating revenue from the community since 2004 and marks a pivotal moment in securing the
district’s future.

“This is a hopeful and transformative day for our students, staff, and families,” said Dr. Andy Hatton,
Superintendent. “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. This successful levy passage is a testament
to the belief our community holds in the power of education. This victory belongs to everyone who
envisioned a sustainable future for our schools and worked tirelessly to make it a reality. We are truly
humbled by your support.”

The district must still move forward with the $6 million in reductions already approved for the
2025–2026 school year. These reductions are necessary after the failure of the November 2024 levy.
However, the passage of this new measure prevents an additional $4 million in projected cuts for
2026–2027 and brings much-needed financial stability.

“The passage tonight reflects our community’s commitment to our students, teachers, and staff in
Findlay. To say that I am extremely proud would be an understatement,” said Matt Cooper, President
of the Findlay City Schools Board of Education. “Now we must forge a path forward to reach the high
expectations of our community by being the best school district in Ohio while continuing to be fiscally
responsible. As a district we must set a higher standard and focus on a well-rounded education with
first class academic expectations, experiences, and opportunities for our students that will broaden
their knowledge and abilities.”

Findlay City Schools sincerely thanks the community for its trust and support. The district remains
committed to transparency, accountability, and excellence in education. More information about the
levy and district finances can be found at www.fcs.org.

(From Cory-Rawson Local Schools)

The Cory-Rawson Local Schools Board of Education is excited to announce the appointment of Tony Fenstermaker as the next Superintendent of Cory-Rawson Local Schools, effective August 1, 2025.

Mr. Fenstermaker brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to student success to our district. His career in education spans over 24 years, beginning as an English Language Arts teacher. He has also served in significant administrative roles, including assistant principal at Upper Sandusky Exempted Village Schools, superintendent at McComb Local Schools, and treasurer at North Baltimore Local Schools. This diverse background provides him with a valuable understanding of the many facets of school district operations.

The Board of Education is confident that Mr. Fenstermaker’s experience and dedication to education make him an excellent fit for our district. We are particularly impressed with his innovative thinking, his fiscal responsibility, and his drive to win every day. We believe he is well-prepared to lead Cory-Rawson Local Schools into the future.

Mr. Fenstermaker is eager to join the Cory-Rawson community while working alongside and leading our staff, students, families, and community members.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Tony Fenstermaker. We are excited about the future of Cory-Rawson Local Schools under his leadership.

(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 2025 BVHS Auxiliary scholarship winners include: Olivia Coutinho (Van Buren High School), pursuing a degree at Bowling Green State University; Kate Ernst (Arlington High School), pursuing a degree at Bowling Green State University; Hayden Gillig (Liberty-Benton High School), pursuing a degree at Miami University; Catalina Jimenez (McComb High School), pursuing a degree at Indiana Wesleyan University; Isabelle Jolliff (Liberty-Benton High School), pursuing a degree at the Ohio State University, Daniel Jung (Findlay High School), pursuing a degree at the Ohio State University; Ryleigh O’Dell (Findlay High School), pursuing a degree at Miami University; Maria Oliveira (Van Buren High School), pursuing a degree at the Ohio State University; Adrian Stechschulte. (Findlay High School), pursuing a degree at Miami University, Addison Williams (Liberty-Benton High School), pursuing a degree at the University of Toledo; and June Essinger (Bluffton High School), pursuing a degree at Oberlin College.

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.

(From the Findlay Police Department)

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls, as Police Week. Currently, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, DC to participate in a number of planned events which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Next Monday (May 12th) the Fort Findlay F.O.P. Lodge # 20 will host the Hancock County Fallen Officer’s Memorial Service at 6:00 PM. This service is dedicated to the memory of those 10 officers in Hancock County that made the ultimate sacrifice while serving and protecting those in Hancock County.

This years guest speaker will be Pastor Ken McBeath, who will be speaking to the importance of the chaplaincy program in law enforcement. Please join us next Monday evening at the Findlay FOP Lodge located at 1769 S. Romick Parkway. See the Fort Findlay FOP page for additional details.

(From the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)

National Correctional Officers and Employees Week has been set aside to recognize and celebrate the work of these often overlooked or underappreciated and frequently scrutinized individuals.

We applaud the commitment of our officers to perform their duties with pride and serve their community with honor within these walls.

Thank you for everything you do — your dedication and hard work are a vital part of what makes our agency strong and successful!

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library)

Calling all plant enthusiasts! Come swap plants and chat with other plant lovers on Saturday, May 10 from 1 to 3.

The first half hour will be for those donating plants to get their first pick.

Any extras after are free to all. Houseplants, perennials, and annuals are all accepted.

We will be on the sidewalk in front of the library, or in case of rain, in the Bookmobile Garage to the rear of the library off of North Cory Street. 

-Plants must be healthy and pest free
-Cuttings and seedlings are welcome
-No invasive species
-Please label plants
-Must be in soil or water