(From the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office)

On Friday, September 6, 2024, the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a vehicle on fire at the front of a residence in the 5000 block of North State Route 53, Tiffin, Ohio. Deputies and the Old Fort Fire Department arrived at the location and provided sufficient suppression action to ensure no further spread of the fire. After the fire was extinguished, the vehicle was discovered to be a 2021 KIA Forte, registered owner a William Vance Jr., Tiffin, Ohio, that was reported stolen from a Wall Street residence out of Tiffin, Ohio. It was also discovered that the vehicle was possibly deliberately set on fire.

Investigators from the Ohio State Fire Marshall’s Office were also called in to investigate the alleged Arson investigation involving the stolen vehicle.

Upon further investigation, Deputies and Officers from the Tiffin Police Department identified a male subject by the name of Austin T. Adams, 38 YOA, Fremont, Ohio, who reportedly had taken the vehicle from the Wall Street residence without the consent of the owner.

Adams was arrested for Theft of a Motor Vehicle and transported to the Seneca County Jail, where he is being held.

“The immediate collaboration between our Office and the Tiffin Police Department was instrumental to apprehending the suspect moments after the alleged Arson, and we are now following up on the entire investigation with the State Fire Marshall’s Office. A job well done by all!”…. Sheriff Stevens said.

(From the Findlay Police Department)

Officers were dispatched to 1226 S. Blanchard St on 09-07-24 at 0053 hours for a report of an intoxicated male with a firearm threatening family members.

Dispatch also advised he threatened to shoot the police if they came to the house.

Officers arrived on scene. Two officers went to the rear yard of the residence on the outside of a wooden privacy fence.

They made contact with the suspect, Neil Gomez, who was inside the fenced in yard. Neil yelled at them and began running towards them with a rifle in hand.

The officers retreated to the train tracks to the rear of the back yard. Another officer approached the north side of the property from the front of the residence and located Neil hanging over the north edge of the fence towards the rear of the property with his rifle aimed towards the initial officer’s location.

This officer gave Neil commands, surprising him with his presence. Neil then retreated back over the fence where he dropped his rifle and raised his hands in the air.

Neil was taken into custody without further incident.

Neil’s rifle was found to be loaded with a full 30 round magazine, a round in the chamber and switched to fire.

The red dot scope on the rifle was also activated and the lens covers were removed.

Neil also had 3 – 30 round mags in his pockets, all of which were loaded.

After further investigation Neil is currently incarcerated for Domestic Violence – threats ORC 2919.25c, weapons while intoxicated ORD 549.03a, and felonious assault on a police officer ORC 2903.11(a)(2).

No injuries were sustained by officers or other involved parties during the incident.

(From the Great Lakes Guardianship Services Board)

The Great Lakes Guardianship Services Board (the Board) is pleased to announce Cheryl Miller as its inaugural Director.

The Board is a new agency under the administrative function of the Hancock County Probate Court.

This entity acts as the legal Guardian for adult residents in Hancock, Ottawa, and Wood County who have a substantial mental impairment or developmental disability, who have been declared incompetent by the Hancock, Ottawa, or Wood County Probate Court, and who have no other qualified person or agency willing or able to serve as Guardian.

The Board is a collaborative effort between Hancock, Ottawa, and Wood County Probate Courts, Hancock, Ottawa, and Wood County Boards of Developmental Disabilities and Hancock, Ottawa, and Wood County Boards of Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services, Ottawa County Department of Job and Family Services, Wood County Committee on Aging and Wood County Department of Job and Family Services.

Guardianship Service Boards were created by the authority of House Bill 595 and delineated in Ohio Revised Code Section 2111.52.

This new law provides Courts the opportunity to create service boards in collaboration with community partners to serve vulnerable adults in the community.

Ms. Miller has been professionally serving specialized and vulnerable populations for over twenty years and is honored to serve the community in this capacity.

Ms. Miller has bachelor’s degree in Gerontology, and holds licenses as a Federal Marketplace Navigator and Community Health Worker.

(From the Ohio Department of Transportation)

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) invites the public to a meeting to review and share feedback on improvements to address safety issues at the U.S. 23 and State Route 294 intersection east of the village of Harpster, in Pitt Township, Wyandot County. (map below)

Meeting Details:

-Date: Thursday, September 19

-Time: 6-8 p.m.

-Location: Upper Sandusky High School Auditorium, 800 N. Sandusky Avenue

The meeting will begin with a short presentation followed by an open house period during which the project team and exhibits will be available.

The project will construct a full diamond interchange at the U.S. 23/State Route 294 intersection. A preliminary alignment has been designed and will be shared at the public meeting. ODOT is seeking public feedback prior to advancing the layout into detailed design.

The construction year is yet to be determined, but it could be as early as 2027. 

In 2018, ODOT conducted a comprehensive study to enhance safety at the at-grade intersections along the U.S. 23 corridor. Based on the study’s findings, ODOT is now proceeding with the recommended construction of an interchange to significantly improve intersection safety.

Currently, studies are ongoing to determine the impacts the project will have on the environment, utilities, and adjacent properties.

(From Flag City Honor Flight)

Flag City Honor Flight (FCHF) is preparing for its 28th mission on September 10, 2024, to take 87 Veterans, primarily from the Vietnam War era, to Washington, D.C., to visit memorials built in their honor.

This will be the third of four flights scheduled for 2024. The fourth flight will be on November 12. 

This flight is sponsored by Marathon Petroleum, a dedicated partner of Flag City Honor Flight since 2014. As part of the sponsorship, employees will serve as Guardians to Veterans on this flight, allowing them to witness the impact firsthand—an opportunity made possible through the flight sponsorship.

“Flag City Honor Flight has been providing our area’s Veterans with these extraordinary opportunities for years, and we are proud to support them in their mission,” said Ashley Goecke, Advanced Community Relations Representative at Marathon.

“Marathon and its employees are grateful to our Veterans for their service to our country, and we consider it a privilege to help make these flights possible.”

In addition to sponsoring this flight, Marathon Petroleum will host the 2024 Spirit of Freedom 5K Run, Walk, Ruck on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM EDT at their headquarters, 539 S Main St., Findlay, Ohio. Organized by Marathon and their Veterans employee network, HONOR, the race is open to the community.

Departing from Toledo Express Airport in the morning, Veterans will embark on a one-day trip of a lifetime. The itinerary includes visits to the Iwo Jima Memorial, Korean Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, WWII Memorial, and Arlington National Cemetery. Veterans do not pay to fly.

Flight Details:
5:30 a.m. – Veterans & Guardians arrive at Grand Aire Hangar
7:30 a.m. – Depart Grand Aire Hangar for BWI (Baltimore, MD)
11:20 a.m. – Tour WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War Memorials
3:00 p.m. – Attend Changing of the Guard Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery
8:30 p.m. – Arrive at Grand Aire Hangar & Welcome Home celebration

Flight Highlights:
1 Bronze star with Valor
1 Vietnam Cross of Gallantry
3 Female Veterans
4 Veteran with Air Medals, one of which has 19 Air medals.
6 Purple Hearts

Welcome Home Celebration:
The public is invited to a Welcome Home celebration to honor returning veterans.
● Doors Open: 7:00 p.m.
● Flight Expected: 8:30 p.m.
● Location: 11777 W. Airport Service Rd, Swanton, OH 43558

Attendees are encouraged to wave flags, cheer loudly, and shake hands with returning Veterans.

Mission: Flag City Honor Flight ensures that all Veterans, from World War II through Vietnam, have the opportunity to visit the memorials in Washington, D.C., honoring their service and sacrifices for America’s freedom.

ABOUT FLAG CITY HONOR FLIGHT: Flag City Honor Flight Inc. is a 100% volunteer-run 501c3 organization dedicated to providing Veterans in Northwest Ohio and surrounding areas with the opportunity to visit their war memorials in Washington, D.C., at no cost. Annual flights are supported by charitable donations and an enduring commitment to honoring America’s heroes.

Officials say, due to construction, the Hancock County Job and Family Services and OhioMeansJobs Hancock Building at 7746 County Road 140 will be closed to the public on September 10 and 11.

The agency says it will still be providing services on those days, just not in person.

Hancock County JFS is currently sharing space with OhioMeansJobs while the JFS building at 7814 County Road 140 is under construction. 

According to the JFS website:  Due to construction, the JFS office located at 7814 CR 140 is currently unavailable for use and all JFS lobby traffic is being directed to the OhioMeansJobs-Hancock County office located in the building north of the JFS building. The phone lines are currently unavailable at the JFS office.

There are also 2 drop boxes available for use: one is located just inside the OMJ main entrance and the other is located at the end of the main drive for the OMJ office off County Road 140.

(ONN) – A proposed merger between two large grocery chains is under scrutiny in federal court.

Ohio-based Kroger is trying to buy Albertsons in a $25 billion deal.

It would be the largest grocery store merger in US history.

Both of their CEOs are saying a merger would better position the companies to compete with Walmart and Amazon and lower prices.

The Federal Trade Commission halted the merger saying it would actually raise prices by reducing competition.

A Kroger senior director admitted the grocery giant already raised prices for eggs and milk.

Since then, the CEO of Kroger has insisted prices would come down if the chains merge.

(From Raise the Bar Hancock County)

Raise the Bar Hancock County® announces the release of a new video series spotlighting in-demand education and human service careers in Hancock County. This initiative continues Raise the Bar’s effort to enhance workforce development and support local talent in pursuing rewarding careers.

The video series provides a close-up look at the opportunities available within several people-oriented sectors.

Each video aims to inspire and inform students, job seekers, and community members about the careers that are essential to the county’s growth and prosperity.

Area Employers and Professions Spotlighted: 1. Findlay Family YMCA Early Learning Professionals 2. Findlay City Schools K-12 Paraprofessionals 3. Millstream Career Center Instructors 4. Findlay-Hancock County Public Library Youth and Adult Learning Staff 5. Family Resource Center and Hancock County Job and Family Services Case Managers

“Our community’s best asset is our people,” says Tricia Valasek, Raise the Bar’s executive director. “Taking the time to develop people from infancy through adulthood is one of the best investments we can make. It’s imperative that we continue to create awareness and fill a pipeline of individuals who can take on this rewarding task. It is because of this demand that we focused our initial these five targeted careers.”

Each video in the series features local professionals in the field, offering viewers a glimpse into the daily responsibilities, challenges, and rewards of these careers. The videos also provide information on the education and skills required, potential career growth, and the impact these roles have on the community.

“Supporting our children is vital for the growth and prosperity of our community. Childcare workers are truly the workforce behind the workforce,” shares Kari Redman, the Findlay Family YMCA Childcare Development Center Director.

Raise the Bar highlighted the YMCA’s childcare team in one of their videos because of the growing demand for early learning/childcare options in the community. Valasek points out that the YMCA, like other licensed facilities in Ohio, requires specific staff-to-child ratios depending on age.

“Adding spots for infants, toddlers, and school-aged children requires our childcare facilities to hire more trained and qualified staff. We need to build this career sector quickly.” The video series is available on Raise the Bar’s YouTube channel (@raisethebarhancockcounty7737).

Raise the Bar also intends to release individual videos on its social media platforms and to the schools for use with their career programming.

An 18-year-old has been indicted by a Hancock County Grand Jury in connection with a fatal shooting in Findlay in May.

Court records show Peyton S Howard, 18, is facing charges of voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter, both first-degree felonies, as well as charges of having a weapon against a court order and tampering with evidence.

On May 26, the Findlay Police Department received a call that a male had been shot in an alley off of the 100 block of Howard Street.

The male, 18-year-old J’vion Zimmerman of Port Clinton, was transported to Blanchard Valley Hospital by Hanco EMS where he died from the gunshot wound.

Howard was 17 at the time of the alleged shooting and his case was recently bound over from juvenile court to Hancock County Common Pleas Court and he was indicted.

His arraignment date in Hancock County Common Pleas Court has not yet been set.

(From the City of Findlay)

The City of Findlay Shade Tree Commission has two openings for members. The terms will expire 12/31/2025. Meetings are currently held the first Thursday of the month at 11:30am in the Mayor’s Conference Room on the 3rd Floor of the Municipal Building. The Commission meets at least 8 times per year. Members must live within City limits.

The Findlay Shade Tree Commission was created in 1978 by Findlay City Council to address the need to care for Findlay’s aging urban forest. Members of the Shade Tree Commission are appointed by the Mayor to three-year terms. The Commission operates with guidance from the Shade Tree Ordinance 913 and coordinates with the Public Works Department.

The Shade Tree Commission’s responsibilities are to provide leadership in selection, promotion, planting, and care of trees in public areas like street rights-of-way, parks, cemeteries and other City properties, as well as hazardous tree removal.

If you are interested in being considered, please reach out to the Mayor’s office via phone (419) 424-7125 or via email mayor@findlayohio.gov.