Join us for Fridays at Findlay on October 3, 2025.
Fridays at Findlay is a lecture series hosted by the University of Findlay, designed to encourage educational opportunities for the community.
Myron Lewis, MSW, MBA, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of Blanchard Valley Health System, will speak on the topic, “Are You Healthier than Healthcare? A Fresh Look at Personal Health, the Healthcare Industry, and How Both Impact Your Local Health System.”
BVHS will be offering free screenings for high blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar checks beginning at 7 a.m. Breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m.
For more information and to register, please visit bvhs.info/4nn9iVq.
This past week I participated in the @usmayors leadership meeting hosted by USCM President @mayordavidholt.
Topics included federal housing policy, community safety, and a signing of the Oklahoma City Declaration, a document America’s Mayors are signing to show their commitment against political violence.
@mayordavidholt said it best, “If everyone in American political life affirmed their commitment to the principles in this declaration, we would see a dramatic shift in this country, and it is time for that shift,” said U.S. Conference of Mayors President David Holt, Mayor of Oklahoma City.
“We as mayors believed this was the time and place to set an example, and I sincerely hope others in positions of responsibility will consider making similar public commitments.”
(From the US Conference of Mayors)
In a powerful show of political unity and stewardship, more than 40 Republican, Democratic and Independent U.S. mayors signed a declaration on Friday to de-escalate our politics and reject violence and dehumanizing rhetoric. Calling it the Oklahoma City Declaration, the mayors signed the agreement at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, the site of the deadliest act of domestic political violence in living memory, as members of the U.S. Conference of Mayors gathered in the city for their annual fall leadership meeting.
“This scar in downtown Oklahoma City reminds us of the traumatic and tragic outcomes of political violence. With this declaration, we reject political violence and recommit to the American experiment,” they wrote.
In the ten-point declaration, the mayors celebrated America’s democracy as “an outlier in human history” and an “alternative to political violence” that has “unleashed unprecedented freedom, prosperity and innovation upon the entire world.” However, they also acknowledged its fragility, saying it requires three fundamental values: pluralism, compromise and persuasion through debate. Without a commitment to these qualities, our unique form of government drifts toward dehumanization and, ultimately, violence.
Across the declaration’s tenets, the signatories condemned violence. They defended civility. They rejected dehumanizing language. They refused to demonize groups. They vowed to avoid apocalyptic rhetoric. They promised to defend the truth. They celebrated restraint. And they underscored everyone’s shared humanity, saying “we are humans first, Americans second, and partisans last.”
“If everyone in American political life affirmed their commitment to the principles in this declaration, we would see a dramatic shift in this country, and it is time for that shift,” said U.S. Conference of Mayors President David Holt, Mayor of Oklahoma City. “We as mayors believed this was the time and place to set an example, and I sincerely hope others in positions of responsibility will consider making similar public commitments.”
The mayors saw a special obligation to make this declaration and uphold these values because they play a special role in America. “Running a city demands constant action and results. And so, every day, mayors guide our residents through these democratic processes, respecting pluralism, seeking compromise, and using the art of persuasion.”
The initial signers of the declaration were: Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken, Arlington (TX) Mayor Jim Ross, Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz, Carmel (IN) Mayor Sue Finkam, Columbia (MO) Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, Columbia (SC) Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, Columbus (OH) Mayor Andrew Ginther, Edina Mayor James Hovland, Edmond Mayor Mark Nash, Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn, Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall, Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper, Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, Kansas City (MO) Mayor Quinton Lucas, Kent Mayor Dana Ralph, Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman, Moore Mayor Mark Hamm, Mount Vernon (NY) Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler, Redmond Mayor Angela Birney, Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett, San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart, West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero, USCM CEO & Executive Director Tom Cochran.
The Declaration will now be shared with mayors nationwide so that they can add their names in support.
The full text of the Oklahoma City Declaration is available here.
(ONN) – Driver’s ed laws in Ohio are changing, impacting a majority of young adults who don’t have their license yet.
Anyone 18 or older used to be able to bypass driver’s education to get their license if they successfully passed their driver’s test.
But, on September 30, that age will now raise to 21.
This is part of a new law which will require everyone younger than 21 years old to go through the same driving education – 24 hours of classroom training, eight hours behind the wheel with an instructor, and 50 hours of driving with an adult.
Driving instructors say this law should help minimize crashes involving 18 to 21 year olds.
The Hancock County Parkinson’s Network is accepting grant applications from individuals, nonprofits, and agencies in Hancock County for projects, programs, and initiatives that align with its mission of providing education, resources, and support to individuals and caregivers affected by Parkinson’s disease.
The grant offers funding of up to $5,000 for initiatives that aim to make a positive impact in the local Parkinson’s community with a total of $10,000 available for this grant period. Applications must be completed online via the Hancock County Parkinson’s Network website at hcparkinsonsnetwork.org/grants.
The deadline for submission is November 14, 2025, and award decisions will be communicated to applicants by December 31, 2025.
Grant recipients will be required to use the funds within one year and provide a report on the outcome of their project, detailing whether objectives were met.
-River Rd. will be closed from Stanford Parkway to Broad Ave. at 8am on Monday, September 29th for sewer repairs. It will be reopened on Tuesday, September 30th at 3pm.
-Twp. Rd. 77 (Western Ave.) will be closed to all traffic in sections from Twp. Rd. 80 to Trail 81 for a sanitary sewer project.
-Hurd Ave. will be closed to all traffic from Sandusky St. to Putnam St. for sanitary sewer replacement.
-Sherry St. will be closed to all traffic from Sixth St. to Pearl St. for a sanitary sewer project.
-SR 568 will be maintained with portable traffic lights from Trail 237 to TR 242 for the installation of Greenway Trail Phase 3.
Please contact the Engineering Department with any questions (419) 424-7121.
Sergeant Justin Nowak conducted a traffic stop in the area of Hall and Oak Street on Saturday night after observing a vehicle strike a curb while making a turn. The vehicle, a 2013 Ford Focus, was operated by Jeremy Hull, 43, of Tiffin.
During the stop, criminal indicators were observed, and the Sandusky County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit was requested to assist, as Tiffin’s K9 team is currently out of state in training. The K9 gave a positive indication, leading officers to conduct a search of the vehicle and its occupants.
During the search, Randy Perkins, 59, was found to be in possession of suspected narcotics. Officers recovered approximately 29.6 grams of suspected Fentanyl and 3.4 grams of suspected cocaine from Perkins.
Hull was cited for striking a curb with his vehicle. A backseat passenger, Dustin Neikirk, 39, was also present but was not charged at this time. Charges are pending against Perkins for possession and trafficking of narcotics.
This case highlights the importance of proactive policing and interagency partnerships. The quick response by Sergeant Nowak and the assistance of the Sandusky County K9 played a critical role in removing dangerous narcotics from circulation. Fentanyl poses a grave threat to the safety of our community, and we remain committed to protecting the public through diligent enforcement efforts.
The case remains under investigation, and further charges will be reviewed by the Seneca County Prosecutor’s Office.
CR 99 east of Main Street at the railroad tracks will close Wednesday, Oct. 1, for approximately five days for railroad crossing repair and reconstruction.
Detour: Main St. to Bigelow Ave. to Bright Rd. to CR 212, back to CR 99. (see map)
Paving of CR 99 will impact traffic in October and November.
CONTINUING TRAFFIC IMPACTS
CR 99 is restricted to one lane in both directions.
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.
Hancock County students had the chance to step into the world of entrepreneurship at our Entrepreneurship Career Expo!
Hosted at the University of Findlay, the expo highlighted the process of entrepreneurship across multiple industries, from idea to launch to growth. Students explored how creativity, resilience, and innovation turn into real-world business opportunities.
This event was also the kickoff to our 2025–2026 Career Expo Series, where students will continue exploring different industries and discovering the many career paths available right here in Hancock County.
A huge thank you to the presenters and partners who made the day possible and to the students for bringing their energy and curiosity!
