The National Weather Service has issued a Frost Advisory for some counties in northwest Ohio.

The advisory includes Putnam, Allen and Henry Counties and goes from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Forecasters say temperatures have the potential to fall as low as 35 degrees which would result in the formation of frost.

Sensitive outdoor vegetation could be killed if left uncovered.

For Findlay, the low temperature overnight into Saturday morning is forecasted to drop to around 40 degrees.

Then the weekend is looking sunny with highs in the mid 60s.

A Frost Advisory in effect later tonight as temps drop into the mid to upper 30s under clear skies and light winds. Remaining dry otherwise. pic.twitter.com/2J25tS5RSo

— NWS Northern Indiana (@NWSIWX) September 18, 2020

The Ohio Department of Health has released its Halloween safety guidelines for celebrating the holiday during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They strongly recommend against haunted houses, hayrides or other events where large numbers of people will be gathered.

If parents want to take their kids trick-or-treating, officials recommend they wear masks, keep a social distance and wipe down all packages of candy.

Governor DeWine says the state isn’t issuing any Halloween mandates, and is instead leaving it up to individual communities to decide whether to hold Halloween activities.

The City of Findlay is planning on having trick-or-treat on Halloween and is currently working with Hancock Public Health on the guidelines.

The Findlay-Hancock County Halloween Parade has been canceled.

Hancock County has now had nine residents die from the coronavirus.

The ninth death was revealed in the latest COVID-19 data released on Friday by Hancock Public Health.

Health officials say, as of Friday, there have been 650 total cases of the virus in the county and nine deaths.

39 of the cases are active which means the patient is currently under quarantine or isolation.

Hancock Public Health says 55 people have been hospitalized from the virus in Hancock County since the beginning of the pandemic.

As of Friday, four people were currently hospitalized.

Hancock County is still at level 2, or orange, on the state’s COVID-19 alert map.

Putnam County is at level 3, or the red level.

The Findlay Police Department is investigating after a Circle K was robbed early Friday.

Police say a man entered the convenience store at 2727 North Main Street at around 2:10 Friday morning.

After a few minutes in the store, police say he ordered the clerk to open the register and give him the money from it.

The clerk complied and then the suspect ordered the clerk to the back of the store before leaving in an unknown direction.

The clerk was not injured and no weapon was used in the robbery.

Responding police officers checked the area but he was not located.

The suspect is described as an hispanic man, standing about six feet two inches with a stocky build and likely in his late 30s or early 40s.

He was wearing a black t-shirt, khaki shorts, a black baseball hat and a black face mask with white lettering.

Anyone who may have information about the robbery can call the Findlay Police Department at 419-424-7150.

Findlay High School has postponed its Homecoming Parade and Dance.

The school says the events cannot be held this fall due to the pandemic.

The high school says it will still celebrate the Trojan spirit during Homecoming Week with a variety of events to recognize their athletes and student groups, show their Trojan pride, and support the football team to victory against Lima Senior on October 2nd.

The football and volleyball teams recently had their seasons put on hold because a player on each team came down with COVID-19 and the rest of the players had to go into quarantine.

The varsity football team will not play Central Catholic Friday night or against Clay the following week as scheduled.

Barring no more coronavirus cases, the next game will be October 2nd at home against Lima Senior.

The volleyball team’s next game that will be allowed to be held will be on September 29th, barring no more cases.

Live music is returning to the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts in a unique way.

MCPA says the Findlay-based Irish folk band The Athen Ry will be performing an outdoor concert on Friday, October 9 at 5:30 p.m.

MCPA says, adopting the socially distanced model of a “pod” concert, people can purchase a 10-foot circle in the parking lot from where they will be able to enjoy the show.

All circles will be general admission and can accommodate up to four people for a single ticket price.

Get more details on the show and purchase tickets here.

Hancock and Putnam County stayed at their previous levels on the latest COVID-19 alert map that was released on Thursday.

Hancock County remains at level 2, or the orange level, while Putnam County is still at level 3, or the red level.

Putnam County is one of only five counties that are still red.

According to state data, Putnam County has had 509 cases and 19 deaths as of Thursday

Hancock Public Health was reporting 635 total cases and eight deaths from the virus as of Wednesday

Health officials continue to urge people to wear a mask, wash their hands and follow social distancing guidelines.

Updated Ohio Health Advisory System Map:

Continuing at Red:
Butler
Mercer
Montgomery
Portage
Putnam

Decreasing Red to Orange:
Preble
Summit pic.twitter.com/39n2LwkcQS

— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) September 17, 2020

While fans aren’t being allowed in Ohio Stadium for the Buckeyes’ home games, the stadium won’t be completely empty.

The players might not hear those huge crowds, but at home games, they’ll still be hearing the sounds of The Best Damn Band in the Land.

The Ohio State Marching Band plans to play.

Marching band members are being fitted with special musicians’ masks and covers for their instruments.

Now, they just need to figure out how to spell out their signature Script Ohio from six feet apart.

(above picture courtesy of Columbus Wired)

The Findlay Mall has been sold to a retail investment group from New York state that converts aging malls into multipurpose centers that include entertainment, shopping and dining components.

Tim Mayle, director of Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development spoke with the new mall owners and says they share the same thoughts on the mall’s future.

Mayle says the new mall owners, Kohan Retail Investment Group, take struggling malls and repurpose the vacant spaces with non-traditional tenants.

He says Kohan’s plans for the mall could include everything from a restaurant component, a call center, to entertainment like laser tag and even drone racing.

He says a residential component is even a possibility.

Kohan’s website says they see the future of aging malls as a community setting where entertainment, shopping, and food come together.

Kohan purchased the mall from J.J. Gumberg, of Pittsburgh who had managed the mall since the mid 80s.

Two Findlay High School sports seasons are on hold after a couple of players tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Findlay City Schools COVID-19 daily-reporting dashboard shows, as of Wednesday, two students have the virus and 109 others are being quarantined.

The school district says one of the students is on the football team and all football games and practices are suspended and cannot resume until Saturday, September 26th.

So the games against Central Catholic on September 18th and Clay on September 25th will not be played.

The next varsity game will be October 2nd at home against Lima Senior.

The freshman team will continue to practice for the home game against Central Catholic this weekend as they were determined not to have had close contact with the infected player.

The other student who has the virus is on the volleyball team and the entire program is under quarantine.

The next volleyball game that will be allowed to be held will be on September 29th at home against Defiance.

The school district says it recognizes the disappointment in the cancellations, but it’s important to follow the instructions provided by Hancock Public Health to keep students safe and healthy.