A semi crashed on US68/SR15 Monday morning.

The crash occurred at around 11:30 a.m. in the northbound lanes.

The semi went off the right side of the highway and crashed.

The driver was alert and was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital, WFIN News was told at the scene. 

The semi was carrying plastic pellets.

A portion of Western Avenue was closed for a while as the semi was pulled over there to be removed.

Traffic was getting by on the highway but drivers should use caution and watch for the emergency vehicles.

See some video from the scene below. 

(From the Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter)

The Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter is hosting several free programs this month, including:

Healthy Living for your Brain and Body

Wednesday, September 17, 11:30 am

Findlay YMCA, Downtown Branch, 300 E. Lincoln St, Findlay

Please register at the front desk or email asertell@findlayymca.com

• • Join us to learn about research in the areas of nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement, and use hands-on tools to help you incorporate these recommendations into a plan for healthy aging.

Healthy Living for the Brain and Body

Tuesday, September 23, 5:00 pm

Putnam County Library, 118 E. Main St, Pandora

Please call 419.523.3747, ext. 214 to register

• • Attendees will learn about science-backed lifestyle choices that may help keep the brain and body healthy as someone ages. Join to learn about research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement, and learn about hands-on tools to create a plan for healthy aging.

Introduction to Alzheimer’s

Wednesday, September 24, 5:00 pm

Leipsic Community Center, 120 E Main Street, Leipsic

To register, please call 800.272.3900

• • Enjoy a brief discussion about 10 Healthy Habits you can start today to keep your brain healthy as you age and the warning signs to monitor in yourself and others.

“These programs offer valuable information both about Alzheimer’s disease in general and the behaviors caused by dementia,” said Pam Myers, senior director, programs for the Alzheimer’s Association Central Ohio and Northwest Ohio Chapters. “Whether your family is just facing an Alzheimer’s diagnosis or you’ve been living with the disease for years, it can be challenging to know where to turn when you have questions. We can help.”

For the first time, the number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease in the U.S. is more than 7 million. That includes 236,200 in Ohio, according to the 2025 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Deaths due to Alzheimer’s more than doubled (142%) between 2000 and 2022, while deaths from the leading cause of mortality (heart disease) decreased by 2.1%. 

To learn more about Alzheimer’s or other dementia and to access free local support and resources, visit alz.org/nwohio or call the Northwest Ohio Chapter at 419.537.1999 or the 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900.

(ONN) – Childhood vaccination numbers are trending down in Ohio.

State health officials report a little more than 85 percent of kindergartners met all required shots for the 2024 to 2025 school year.

That’s a nearly 4-and-a-half percent drop from the 2019 to 2020 school year and below the 90 percent benchmark needed for herd immunity to slow the spread of disease.

Officials say more Ohio kindergartners are skipping vaccines, with non-medical exemptions rising from 2.6 percent in 2019-20 to 4 percent in 2023-24.

(From the City of Findlay)

CONSTRUCTION 9/8-9/12:

-Twp. Rd. 77 (Western Ave.) will be closed to through traffic from Twp. Rd. 80 to Trail 81 for a sanitary sewer project.

-Morrical Blvd. will be closed to through traffic from Logan Ave. to Bliss Ave. for asphalt replacement.

-SR 568 will be maintained with portable traffic lights from Trail 237 to TR 242 for the installation of Greenway Trail Phase 3.

-Western Ave. will be reduced to one lane; temporary signals will be used at Washington St. and Findlay St. to direct one lane of traffic through the area. Due to the nature of the work, expect delays when traveling Western.

Please contact the Engineering Department with questions (419) 424-7121.

(From the Findlay Police Department)

Officers were dispatched to 752 Howard St. (The Perfect Pour on the Corner) on September 6 at 2331 hours for a report of a fight in the parking lot.

Upon arrival a male was located with several stab wounds.

The male was transported to Blanchard Valley Hospital with non life threatening injuries.

After an investigation it was determined neither of the parties involved in the stabbing wished to pursue criminal charges against each other.

The Hancock Historical Museum is inviting people to step back in time during its annual open house at the Little Red Schoolhouse.

“Bring the whole family to explore a piece of Hancock County history!”

The Little Red Schoolhouse is a one-room, rural brick schoolhouse built in the 1840s, and area schools take field trips there to have their students experience a 19th-century school day.

The Little Red Schoolhouse is located at 8884 County Road 236.

The open house is on Sunday, September 14 from 1 to 4.

Learn more about the Little Red Schoolhouse and all of the museum’s buildings and facilities by clicking here.

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Wellness Park, the new Blanchard Valley Health System campus off County Road 99, is taking an innovative approach to patient care by introducing a calming room featuring adaptive color technology. This specially designed space helps reduce anxiety and improve focus in children undergoing rehabilitation, offering a transformative impact on their therapeutic experience.

“Children facing physical and emotional challenges in rehabilitation often experience heightened stress and sensory overload,” explained Becky Alexander, PT, a physical therapist at Julie A. Cole Rehab & Sports Medicine. “To address this, we now offer a calming room equipped with soft textures, minimal distractions, and dynamic lighting that shifts colors to match a child’s emotional needs.”

Research shows that different colors have distinct psychological effects, making them a valuable tool in rehabilitation settings. Cool colors like blues and greens promote relaxation and reduce anxiety, while warm colors like yellows and oranges encourage energy and motivation. Soft pinks and purples foster comfort and emotional balance, helping children feel more at ease. The ability to use adaptive color changes allows the environment to shift dynamically, supporting a child’s changing emotional and cognitive needs throughout therapy.

The benefits of these innovative calming rooms are significant. A customizable environment helps lower anxiety and stress, ensuring children feel at ease before and during therapy sessions. Specific color schemes aid concentration, especially for children with ADHD or sensory processing challenges, improving focus and engagement. Exposure to calming hues promotes self-soothing and emotional resilience, contributing to better rehabilitation outcomes.

“The new calming room at Wellness Park can enhance the overall therapy experience for our young patients,” added Alexander.

“Wellness Park was designed to expand access to comprehensive health services all in one location,” said Jenn Reese, director of the Musculoskeletal Service Line at BVHS. “From on-site x-ray and lab services to rehabilitation, and from expert primary care physicians to a range of specialty providers, this campus brings together the full spectrum of care. Families no longer need to travel to multiple locations—we’ve created a destination for healing, innovation, and convenience.”

The Julie A. Cole Rehab & Sports Medicine is located at 3401 Wellness Way in Findlay, and the phone number is 419.425.3199. For more information about the services offered at Wellness Park, please visit bvhealthsystem.org/wellness.

The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library is encouraging people who don’t have one yet to get a library card during National Library Card Sign-Up Month in September.

Library Director Sarah Clevidence says they believe there’s nothing more empowering than getting your own library card.

“It gives you access to technology, resources and services to help you pursue your passions and your dreams.”

Sarah says the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library offers books, access to technology, media resources, genealogy research information, educational programs, and so much more.

She says the library gives students the tools to succeed in the classroom and provides people of all ages opportunities to pursue their dreams and explore new passions and interests.

To sign up for a library card, visit the library and bring your photo ID and a second form of identification showing your address. 

The library says 24,566 members of the community are currently library card holders and they’d like to sign up a lot more during National Library Card Sign-Up Month.

Since 1888, the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library has connected people with the world of ideas, information, and imagination by providing access and guidance to resources to allow the citizens of Hancock County to explore, discover, and connect.

(From the Black Swamp Area Council)

Families are invited to enjoy a day of outdoor activities at Camp Berry during the annual Fall Family Fun Day on Saturday, Sept. 20. The open house runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is free to attend.

The event, held at Camp Berry, located at 11716 County Road 40 in Findlay, is open to the public and features activities such as fishing, archery, slingshots, knot tying, yard games, and more. Cub Scouts will also have the opportunity to complete their Bobcat requirements during the event.

“Fall Family Fun Day is a chance for families to explore the outdoors together while experiencing many of the activities that make Scouting so much fun,” said Rochelle Manley, Black Swamp Area Council.

Registration is encouraged. Families can register by visiting clicking “register” at the bottom of the webpage blackswampbsa.org/event/calendar.

For more information, contact Rochelle Manley at 567-208-5286 or rochelle.manley@scouting.org

(From Marathon Petroleum)

“I honestly didn’t think about it. I knew something was wrong, and someone needed my help.”

That was the immediate response from Zach Dollich, a personal safety professional at Marathon Petroleum, when asked what went through his mind as he ran toward a smoking car on the side of Interstate 75 in northwest Ohio one Tuesday morning in June.

Dollich was driving his normal southbound route when he noticed smoke rising from a vehicle on the shoulder. At first, he assumed it was a flat tire or overheated brakes.

“But as I got closer, I saw more sparks and the smoke was getting heavier,” he said. “It didn’t make sense for just a tire or brake issue. That’s when I knew it was more serious.”

He immediately pulled over.

Jumping out of his truck, Dollich ran toward the car. Small flames had begun forming under the engine compartment, and thick, dark smoke was pouring out. That’s when he saw her.

“A woman was hanging partway out of the driver’s side window,” he said. “She told me the door wouldn’t open.”

That woman was 71-year-old Linda VanDenEynde of Findlay, Ohio. She had left home early that morning to meet her cousin in Detroit, where the two planned to honor her cousin’s late husband by laying his ashes to rest.

But after her car began surging and struggling to maintain speed, she decided to turn around. Just a few minutes from home, it gave out on the side of I-75 just north of Findlay.

“I didn’t even know it was on fire,” VanDenEynde said. “I thought it was just smoke from the engine. I had the windows rolled up and was trying to call AAA. People were passing me, just going around like nothing was wrong. But Zach saw it and stopped.”

She shut off the engine. That’s when the car locked.

“I couldn’t get the doors open. I started pounding on the windows. Then I saw flames coming into the car.”

She managed to lower the window just a few inches. It was barely enough to fit her head through.

“I yelled, ‘Pull me out. Please, just pull me out.’ And he did,” said VanDenEynde. “He grabbed me and pulled me through that tiny space. I was bruised up from trying to squeeze out, but we got away from the car.”

They ran together. Within moments, her car was engulfed in flames.

“If he hadn’t stopped, I would still have been sitting in that car,” she said. “I would have died. No one else stopped, but he did. He didn’t know me, but he risked everything to save me. That kind of courage stays with you. He saved my life.”

She said that once they were safe from danger, neither of them could believe what had just brought them together. Two strangers now connected forever.

“I’ll never forget his face,” said VanDenEynde.

As they watched the flames take over the car, a Hancock County EMS supervisor who was passing by stopped and tried to put out the fire with a handheld extinguisher, but the flames were already too intense. Dollich had called 911, and emergency crews arrived a short time later.

“It all happened so fast,” Dollich said. “It was scary how quickly the car was basically gone.”

His military background, including serving nearly six years in the Army, along with his role at Marathon Petroleum, helped him stay calm and do his best to keep VanDenEynde calm, too.

Read the full story on the Marathon website by clicking here.