A Cleveland Browns fan with terminal cancer got his dying wish.
Tom Seipel is a die hard fan from Columbus and with help from quarterback Baker Mayfield and his wife Emily, he got to see the Browns earn a playoff spot last weekend.
He also got to meet the Mayfields thanks to the Angry Browns Fans podcast.
Seipel says he hopes his illness and story encourages people to spread love to others.
Supporters of President Donald Trump who rallied outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday clashed with police officers and breached the building, forcing a lockdown with members of Congress inside.
The clashes began as Trump and his allies held a rally pushing the Senate to not certify the election for President-elect Joe Biden.
The protesters pushed ahead of barricades and a wall of police officers in riot gear to get into the building.
Inside, the Trump supporters, many of whom were not seen wearing face coverings, waved “Trump 2020” flags, shouted chants and moved freely.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued a statement calling the situation an embarrassment to our country.
DeWine’s full statement is below.
President Trump is calling on protesters who have stormed the U.S. Capitol to go home.
In a video posted online, Trump said there has to be peace.
He continued to call the election fraudulent and stolen.
A high-speed pursuit went through Findlay on Interstate 75 before finally ending about 40 miles south of Findlay.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol says troopers tried to stop Cortez Larkin, 38, of Columbus, for a speeding violation on Interstate 75 near Bowling Green on Tuesday night but he refused to pull over and a pursuit ensued.
A registration check revealed that the Ford Escape Larkin was driving was stolen.
The pursuit went under State Route 12 in Findlay at 9:37 p.m., and as you can see in the video below the suspect was driving without headlights.
Troopers were able to deflate Larkin’s tires with tire deflation devices but he kept driving on the rims.
Troopers performed a rolling roadblock near Cridersville and Larkin intentionally struck a trooper’s cruiser.
A trooper then performed an immobilization maneuver and the pursuit ended.
Troopers took Larkin, and passenger Kaneasha De Ann Price, 37, of Columbus, into custody without further incident.
Larkin has been charged with speeding, failure to comply, receiving stolen property and tampering with evidence.
He had multiple felony warrants out for his arrest.
Both Larkin and Price were booked at the Wood County Justice Center.
Two Highway Patrol cruisers were damaged during the pursuit.
The incident remains under investigation and additional charges are pending.
Fresh Encounter, a supermarket management company in Findlay, is expanding its operation into Florida.
President and CEO Michael Needler Jr. says the company has acquired 51 stores from Save A Lot in the Tampa market.
The acquisitions will double Fresh Encounter’s store count. The stores will continue to operate under the Save A Lot banner.
Needler tells WFIN News this is a good move for Fresh Encounter and Needler Enterprises.
“Because we’ll be able to develop a little further scale, and the more scale that we get the better we’ll be able to compete with the big-box stores.”
He says the Fresh Encounter family of companies has a culture that prioritizes being positive, appreciative and resilient and they’re eager to bring their new 51 stores and 1,000 employees into that culture.
“That’s what we try to do, we try to delight our customers, nourish our communities and inspire pride in our team.”
Fresh Encounter operates stores throughout Ohio, including the Great Scot stores in Findlay, as well as in eastern Indiana, Kentucky and now Florida.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol pulled over and arrested a chronic OVI offender in Findlay.
The Patrol says Tremell De Wayne Foster, 45, of Findlay, was observed speeding on Interstate 75 southbound near County Road 99 on January 2nd.
Troopers pulled him over and determined that he was under the influence of alcohol.
Field sobriety tests were conducted and Foster was placed under arrest for felony OVI.
The Patrol says Foster has been charged with OVI seven times in the past 15 years and his driver license has been suspended since 2003.
“Impaired driving is something troopers take seriously,” said Lieutenant Matthew R. Crow, Findlay Post commander.
“It is not worth risking your life or others by getting behind the wheel impaired.”
He says, last year, troopers from the Findlay Post removed 121 impaired drivers from area roadways.
The public is encouraged to call #677 to report reckless or impaired drivers.
#ImpairedDriving is never a good idea! Troopers from the @OSHP Findlay Post arrested Tremell De Wayne Foster for felony OVI. He has been charged with 6 previous OVIs in the past 15 years. The Patrol reminds you to #Designate a sober driver because it is just not worth it! ??? pic.twitter.com/eylYfSvgZB
— OSHP_NWOhio (@OSHP_NWOhio) January 5, 2021
Family Video is closing its remaining 250 stores nationwide, including the one at 1500 North Main Street in Findlay.
“While we have faced digital competition from Netflix and others for years, nothing has been as devastating to our business as Covid-19,” said District Manager Scott Jaynes.
He says their liquidation sale is underway and the store will completely close when they sell through their remaining product of movies, video games, CBD products and store fixtures.
Jaynes anticipates that taking about six weeks.
“We are very thankful to have been able to provide entertainment for many family movie nights, and want to thank the people of Findlay and our incredible staff for the many years of support and service,” said Keith Hoogland, CEO of Highland Ventures, LTD, the parent company of Family Video.
He says Family Video has served the Findlay community with all of their entertainment needs since 1998.
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says a driver was charged with OVI after causing a crash just outside the city limits of Findlay. (video below)
The crash happened at 2:08 Monday afternoon on County Road 180 a little south of Sandusky Street/State Route 568.
The sheriff’s office says Andrew B. Smith, 31, of Findlay, was southbound on County Road 180 in a Ford Contour when he went left of center and struck a northbound Honda CR-V.
Both vehicles ended up on the east side of County Road 180 and had to be towed.
Hanco EMS and Vanlue Fire responded to the scene.
Both drivers were treated at the scene.
The sheriff’s office says Smith was cited for a marked lanes of travel violation and also charged with OVI.
Cleveland Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski, two other coaching staff members and two players have tested positive for COVID-19.
The team facility is closed as contact tracing takes place.
The Browns announced on Twitter that the team will consult with the league and medical experts to determine the appropriate next steps.
Special Teams Coordinator Mike Priefer will serve as acting head coach.
The Browns are scheduled to play the Steelers in the playoffs on Sunday.
We were informed this morning that Head Coach Kevin Stefanski, two additional members of the coaching staff and two players have tested positive for COVID-19.
Our contingency planning calls for Special Teams Coordinator Mike Priefer to serve as the acting Head Coach. pic.twitter.com/Mhh9Zt1e4d
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 5, 2021
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has signed a bill that eliminates a person’s “duty to retreat” before using force in self-defense.
Cleveland.com reports that Senate Bill 175 was fast-tracked through the Ohio General Assembly last month by the governor’s fellow Republicans.
The “stand your ground” legislation makes Ohio the 36th state that doesn’t require people to retreat before they can justifiably hurt or kill someone in self-defense.
Lawmakers previously removed the duty to retreat in a confrontation in one’s home or vehicle, known as “castle doctrine.”
Senate Bill 175 expands the castle doctrine concept to almost any place where a person is lawfully allowed to be.
“I have always believed that it is vital that law-abiding citizens have the right to legally protect themselves when confronted with a life-threatening situation,” DeWine said in a statement that you can read below.
DeWine also said that he was very disappointed that the legislature didn’t include in the bill the provisions he proposed to make it harder for dangerous criminals to illegally possess and use guns.
The governor added that he signed the bill in the “spirit of cooperation” with the newly seated 134th Ohio General Assembly.
Opponents of “stand your ground” laws say they allow people to shoot first and ask questions later.
Full statement on SB 175 ⬇ pic.twitter.com/tS9iwUbXc3
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) January 4, 2021
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting 10 deaths on Ohio’s roadways during the 2020-2021 New Year’s holiday, according to provisional statistics.
Two fatalities were the result of not wearing a safety belt when available, four were OVI-related and five were pedestrians.
The four-day reporting period began at midnight Thursday, December 31, 2020 and ran through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, January 3, 2021.
Four fatalities were recorded during the two-day reporting period last year.
Troopers made 3,979 traffic enforcement contacts; including 303 OVI arrests, 115 distracted driving and 478 safety belt citations.
The public is encouraged to continue using #677 to report dangerous or impaired drivers, as well as drug activity.
A statistical analysis of the Patrol’s enforcement activity over the holiday is available here.
Ten people were killed on Ohio's roadways during the New Year's holiday. Of the 10 fatalities, four were OVI-related. Troopers made 3,979 traffic enforcement contacts; including 303 OVI arrests, 115 distracted driving, and 478 safety belt citations. https://t.co/tK79KyChSL pic.twitter.com/Vu5jWy5HsE
— Ohio State Patrol (@OSHP) January 4, 2021