The Hancock Park District is educating people on how to identify animals based on their scat.

What is scat you ask?

The Hancock Park District explains in the following news release.

“Nature’s Virtual Classroom: Stupendous Scat!” will promote learning from home via a HPD staff-produced video on the Hancock Park District’s YouTube Channel. In this class, children will learn about scat and the animals it comes from. Scat, nature’s way of saying poop, is a way to help identify an animal. Some animals, such as the weasel, leave their scat where everyone can see it. Other animals, such as the woodchuck, make it hard to find. Learn how scat differs from an herbivore to a carnivore and how to identify animals in Northwest Ohio based on their scat. This class will also provide craft ideas for making animal scat at home. Viewers will be able to watch from the comfort and safety of their own home and at a time that works best for them. You can access the video more than once, giving you multiple opportunities to enjoy the experience and the expertise of the presenter. Although recommended for ages six to 10, each program will engage a variety of age levels.

Five Hancock County residents died of COVID-19 in the past week.

The Wednesday numbers from Hancock Public Health show that there have now been 81 deaths from the virus, an increase of five from last Wednesday.

Active cases dropped from 402 on December 23rd to 272 on December 30th.

On Wednesday, 26 people in Hancock County were hospitalized from the virus, a drop of 12 from last Wednesday.

Statewide, there have been more than 690,000 cases and more than 8,800 deaths during the pandemic.

Governor DeWine has announced that the Ohio Department of Health will be extending the state’s COVID-19 curfew again.

This 3-week extension means the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew will remain in effect until at least January 23rd.

DeWine said the curfew is being extended again because it’s still unclear what effect the holidays will have on COVID numbers for hospitals and healthcare systems.

The curfew originally went into effect on November 19th.

The governor reminds people that the curfew does not apply to those who are going to and from work or have a medical emergency or need medical care.

And he says the curfew is not intended to stop people from getting groceries or going to a pharmacy.

He says picking up carry-out or a drive-thru meal and ordering delivery is permitted, but establishments must stop serving food and drink at 10 p.m.

Get more on the curfew here.

Curfew ➡ @OHDeptofHealth is extending the 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. statewide curfew for another three weeks until January 23, 2021. This is b/c we don’t yet know what effect the holidays may have on our hospitals and health care systems, so we must continue to be cautious. pic.twitter.com/mVDaBYB0vx

— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) December 30, 2020

A woman was struck by a car in a downtown Findlay intersection on Tuesday afternoon.

It happened at 12:23 p.m. Tuesday at the intersection of South Main Street and East Sandusky Street.

The Findlay Police Department says Dorothy A. Jones, 72, of Findlay, was walking across South Main Street in the crosswalk on the north side of the intersection when she was hit by a car that was turning from West Sandusky Street onto South Main Street to go northbound.

Police say the car was being driven by Franklin D. Schrum, 58, of Findlay.

He was issued a citation for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

Dorothy was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries that are not life-threatening.

A witness at the scene told WFIN News it looked like the car struck the woman’s foot.

A pop-up testing site for COVID-19 will be available in Bowling Green on Wednesday, December 30th.

The Ohio Department of Health says anyone can get a free test and no appointment or referral is necessary.

Quantities may be limited.

The pop-up testing site will be at the Wood County Fairgrounds from noon to 4 on Wednesday.

The Wood County Fairgrounds is located at 900 West Poe Road.

For details on other upcoming testing opportunities click here.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says someone is claiming to be with the sheriff’s office in an attempt to scam people.

The sheriff’s office says a resident notified them that a person claiming to be a Sgt. Jack left a message for her saying she needed to call him at the sheriff’s office to “work some things out.”

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says their number showed up on the woman’s caller ID, but the scammer left another number for the woman to call back.

The sheriff’s office says this is a scam and reminds people to never give out information if you receive a similar call.

Anyone with a question can call the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office at 419-422-2424.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says fewer people were killed on Ohio’s roadways this Christmas holiday, as compared to the previous two years.

The Patrol says nine people were killed in seven crashes on the state’s highways during the Christmas holiday this year.

12 people were killed in 2019 and 11 in 2018.

More than half of the people killed during the Christmas holiday this year were not wearing a seat belt.

The Patrol says wearing a seat belt remains the single most effective thing people can do to protect themselves in a crash.

OVI arrests were way up over the Christmas holiday this year.

The Patrol says troopers removed 142 impaired drivers from the roadways this year, which is an increase of 137 percent from last year.

The Patrol says the increase in OVI arrests is due to more people drinking to relieve stress during the pandemic and holiday season, and extra diligence on the part of their troopers in looking for impaired drivers.

See the county-by-county breakdown by clicking here. 

Are you on Santa’s naughty or nice list? Always designate a sober driver to get you home safely after drinking so you don’t wind up with coal in your stocking — or worse. Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. pic.twitter.com/nK0FTLwdJS

— Ohio State Patrol (@OSHP) December 25, 2020

Two people were injured in a crash at South Main Street and Lima Street in Findlay at around 3:30 Monday afternoon.

The Findlay Police Department says Ivorie Garnes, 21, of Findlay, was driving a Hyundai Sonata northbound on South Main Street and was stopped for traffic, waiting to turn westbound onto West Lima Street.

Police say Garnes failed to yield the right of way when turning left and was struck by a Ford Explorer that was southbound on South Main Street.

Garnes, and the driver of the Explorer, Megan Burke, 30, of Tiffin, were taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital with minor injuries.

Police say Garnes was issued a citation.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

Boy Scout Troop 322’s annual Christmas Tree pick up is scheduled for Saturday.

Troop 322 is based in Findlay and is part of the Arrowwood District, Black Swamp Area Council.

The Troop said they have more than 100 trees to pick up and they’re still taking registrations.

The registration deadline is Thursday, and then trees will be collected on Saturday from 10 to 2.

People who have signed up should leave their tree at the curb.

The troop is asking for a $5 donation per tree.

To sign up to have your tree picked up and for more information click here.

In January of 2020, the fundraiser brought in $1,300 for the troop.

Blanchard Valley Health System says Dr. William Kose, vice president of special projects, was one of the first BVHS associates to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. (above pic courtesy of BVHS)

“I’m really excited to be able to get the vaccine, this is the light at the end of the tunnel,” Kose said after being inoculated against the coronavirus.

Kose says the vaccine is safe and has been well-studied.

“I highly encourage members of the community to consider getting the vaccine. It could save your life or the life of a loved one,” Kose added.

Hancock County’s initial shipment of the vaccine was received on Monday, December 21st and included 500 doses of the Moderna vaccine.

A vaccination clinic was held for Hancock County EMS personnel at the fairgrounds on December 23rd. (video below)

Hancock County health officials anticipate the vaccine to be available to anyone who wants it in early March.