A lot of little superheroes and princesses hit the sidewalks of Findlay on Saturday for the city’s annual Trick-or-Treat.
A lot of parents got into the spirit as well, with a few creepy-looking Michael Myers ushering their kids from house to house. (see video below)
Many communities still have their Trick-or-Treat events coming up.
Get more details below.
(From Hancock County Sheriff Michael Cortez)
As many of you have seen, we’ve officially launched our new Hancock County Sheriff’s App—another step forward in our commitment to transparency, accessibility, and community engagement with all who live in or visit Hancock County.
Open communication is the foundation of transparency, and this app allows us to share information quickly, accurately, and directly with you.
To help you stay informed, I’ve created five communication channels that allow you to choose the specific areas of the county you’d like to receive notifications from:
Hancock NW, NE, SW, SE, and City of Findlay.
The press release below lists which townships are included in each channel. If you’re a resident of Allen Township, please select both NW and NE. Likewise, if you live in Madison Township, select both SW and SE.
I hope you enjoy the new app and find it helpful in staying connected with your Sheriff’s Office.
Stay well and be safe,
Michael A. Cortez
Sheriff, Hancock County
(From Van Buren Local Schools)
Wrapping up National School Bus Safety Week with a celebration!
This morning, LEADS students presented gifts to the bus drivers and shared the posters middle school students had made to celebrate the important work our drivers do every day.
This afternoon, students came together for a pep rally to recognize our amazing law enforcement officers and bus drivers who keep our students safe.
Students were praised by Hancock County Sheriff Michael Cortez for the work they have done to promote bus safety and participated in some bus-themed games to close out the week on a high note.
A huge thank-you to Deputy Crouch, our bus drivers, and our LEADS students for making this week such a meaningful reminder of how safety, teamwork, and respect go hand in hand.
*Viewer Discretion Advised – The following video shows a fatal officer-involved shooting.*
The Findlay Police Department has released the bodycam footage from the fatal officer-involved shooting on Wednesday.
At a news conference at the Findlay Municipal Building on Friday, Police Chief James Mathias said all indications at this time point to the shooting of 90-year-old Robert Norton as being a suicide by cop incident.
Chief Mathias says officers responded to 1642 Cherry Lane at 1:47 Wednesday afternoon on the report of a shooting that Norton had called in.
When officers approached the door, Norton pointed a gun through the door at officers and officers fired seven rounds at Norton, striking him.
Officers rendered aid to Norton, and he was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
The gun Norton pointed at officers was a BB gun that looked like a real gun.
Four officers were on the scene of the incident and two fired their gun. All four are on Critical Incident Leave as the Ohio BCI investigates.
Chief Mathias said he has reached out to Norton’s immediate family members to offer condolences for their loss, and says they have offered the department great support in return to the officers directly affected by the shooting.
Chief Mathias said he’s proud of these officers and all of the sworn and civilian personnel he leads daily at the Findlay Police Department.
(From the Findlay Family YMCA)
Join us as we celebrate a milestone Findlay Family YMCA expansion built to uplift our community’s kids!
Our Early Learning Center Grand Opening on Friday, November 7 will give you the opportunity to explore this beautiful, inspiring, functional new space where children will soon learn, grow, and thrive.
Bring your family and friends for guided tours, fall crafts, bounce houses, food & beverage trucks, and Y on the Fly games and activities.
(ONN) – A new Ohio Senate bill could legally put guns in the hands of more people with a Second Amendment showdown looming at the federal level.
Ohio Senate Bill 303 was introduced by Republican Senator Terry Johnson.
The bill would make it legal for eighteen to twenty-year-olds to buy handguns from licensed dealers.
The Columbus Dispatch reports that the problem is a 1968 federal law banning under 21 sales.
Nationally, thirteen states are challenging that law at the federal level as a violation of youth Second Amendment rights.
Ohio could join that fight that could end up at the Supreme Court.
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is letting the public know of a temporary road closure in Findlay.
The sheriff’s office says County Road 95 will be closed on Monday, October 27 from 4 p.m. until the conclusion of the event, for security purposes related to a speaking engagement by Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy at The Crest, located at 800 West Bigelow Avenue.
The sheriff’s office says the closure will affect the section of County Road 95 between West Bigelow Avenue and Broad Avenue to Westmoor Road.
Only authorized vehicles will be permitted access during the time of the closure.
(From the Ohio Department of Transportation)
The following ODOT construction projects are anticipated to affect roadways in Hancock County.
Interstate 75 and County Road 99 interchange and corridor improvement
The project will reconstruct the interchange with a diverging diamond design and upgrade the County Road 99 corridor between Technology Drive and North Main Street. Visit the project webpage: PID 102375.
TRAFFIC IMPACTS
State Route 15/County Road 193 intersection improvement
State Route 15 at County Road 193 between the city of Findlay and the village of Vanlue is restricted to one lane, April 7-Nov. 14, to construct an overpass on County Road 193 over State Route 15.
Visit the project webpage: PID 114008.
TRAFFIC IMPACTS
State Route 613 railroad repair, Van Buren
State Route 613 between Railroad Street and Township Road 218 in the village of Van Buren will close Monday, Oct. 27 for approximately five days for railroad crossing repair.
(From the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)
We’d like to take a moment to recognize several of our exceptional employees who were honored during our Award and Recognition Ceremonies held on October 22 and 23.
-Corrections Academy Graduates
Officer Ethan Smarr, Officer Tiffany Hartley, and Officer James Ladd
-FTO Program Completion
Officer Tim Peace and Officer Matt Groves
-B.S.S.A. Life Saving Award
Officer Jacob Nichols, Officer Ryan Matos, Officer Derek Presley, Officer Brooke Coulter, Officer BreeAnn Wentling, Officer Talor Headley, Officer Austin Lambert, Officer Austin Zeigler, Sgt. Ryan Lieb, Sgt. Lori Rizor, Sgt. Robert Keller, and Lt. Joe Hartman
-B.S.S.A. Certificate of Appreciation
Deputy Tristian Steele
-B.S.S.A. Citation Award
Sgt. Shane Heckman
Please join us in congratulating each of these individuals for their outstanding dedication, professionalism, and commitment to serving and protecting our community with excellence.
(The Ohio State Highway Patrol)
The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) is urging all Ohioans to prioritize pedestrian safety, reminding both motorists and pedestrians that safety is a shared responsibility on our roadways. This comes as the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recognize October as National Pedestrian Safety Month.
“By working together and eliminating distractions, we can make our roads safer for everyone,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “Drivers should always be on the lookout for pedestrians, and pedestrians should always be careful to protect themselves.”
Everyone has a critical role to play in preventing pedestrian crashes. By taking a few simple precautions, both drivers and pedestrians can make Ohio’s roads safer for everyone.
Tips for Drivers:
Tips for Pedestrians:
According to Patrol statistics, there have been 13,955 crashes involving pedestrians on Ohio roadways since 2020. Of those crashes, 862 were fatal, resulting in 869 pedestrian deaths. Within that same timeframe, Franklin, Cuyahoga and Hamilton counties have seen the highest number of pedestrian-related crashes.
“Preventing these tragedies is a responsibility we all share,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. “A single moment of inattention by either the driver or pedestrian can have devastating consequences. Let’s commit to creating a culture of safety on Ohio’s roads.”
For more information on pedestrian safety, visit the NHTSA’s website here.
The public is encouraged to safely call #677 to report reckless or impaired drivers and drug activity.