Hancock County officials recently offered an update on the opioid crisis in the county.

Precia Stuby, Director of the Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services says they are seeing a drop in the number of people abusing opioids.

“And for the first time in several years we’re seeing a reduction in the number of overdose deaths.”

After a high of 30 in 2017 and 21 in 2018, she says the county’s overdose deaths will be lower again this year.

Stuby says, while fewer people are using opioids in Hancock County and dying from overdoses, we’re still in crisis mode.

“As long as we have individuals who are overdosing and dying it’s still a crisis.”

Stuby says the two big changes they’ve made in battling the opioid crisis are: they’re building more services for people to support someone who is struggling, and they’re offering more outreach and engagement instead of waiting for people to come in and ask for help.

“While we’ve made some progress, we’re nowhere near out of the woods yet,” Stuby said.

For resources on dealing with addiction or helping someone with addiction click here. 

(ONN) – The Republican who leads the Ohio House remains skeptical about Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed changes to address gun violence.

The Columbus Dispatch reports House Speaker Larry Householder has expressed “deep concerns” about the plan, including proposals that could increase background checks and make it easier to punish people who sell firearms to people who are prohibited from having guns without checking their background.

Householder says, though background checks would be optional, they’d seem mandatory for sellers to avoid bearing negligence if they skip such checks.

DeWine says he believes his proposals will get results, protect people’s rights and be able to pass the Republican-led legislature.

A man was injured when he rolled his vehicle into a cornfield west of Findlay.

The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says it happened at around 5:37 Saturday morning on US 224 west of State Route 186 in Liberty Township.

The sheriff’s office says the driver, 60-year-old Ricky Schroeder, of Findlay, was going west on 224 when he went off the north side of the road and rolled several times before coming to rest in a cornfield.

Schroeder was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital by HANCO EMS.

He was wearing his seat belt.

The sheriff’s office says the crash remains under investigation.

Blanchard Valley Health Systems has joined up with the Mayo Clinic Care Network to help patients.

BVHS president and CEO Scott Malaney said that it is a wonderful opportunity for both patients and healthcare providers under BVHS.

Dr. Mark Larson works with the Mayo Clinic Care Network and explained that being a member has numerous benefits.

This includes being able to e-consult with medical experts about complex patients for advice, having access to medical studies and papers, and live video conferences with fellow experts.

Larson said that the best part is that it comes to no extra cost to patients. Malaney explained that BVHS will pay an annual subscription fee.

Malaney added that the partnership will have no organizational or structural effects on BVHS.

Sunny Farms Landfill will be holding an open house on Saturday.

The Review Times is reporting that the landfill says the open house is another step towards becoming more connected to the people in the Fostoria area.

The landfill finally received its 2019 operator license in August after several complaints left the facility’s future up in the air.

The open house will be from noon to 4 on Saturday at the landfill at 12500 West County Road 18 in Fostoria.

Get more here.

A fitting and touching tribute was held for a Findlay man who could always be seen riding his bike around town.

More than 100 people took part in a bike ride in memory of Kenny Bender, who was hit by a car while riding his bike on September 27th and later died.

Chris Clapper organized the event and was blown away by how many people showed up.

“If he was here, he would be smiling, so…this is just great.”

Clapper says Kenny was a good person and a great Special Olympian.

The bike ride, which had a full police escort, went from 1 Amazing Place on East Foulke to Upper Room Church of God on West Bigelow where Kenny’s visitation was held.

Many riders were wearing shirts that read “Ride On Kenny.”

Arrangements are being handled by COLDREN-CRATES FUNERAL HOME in Findlay. Memorials may be given to Hancock Handlebars Bicycle Club, P.O. Box 232, Findlay, Ohio 45840 in memory of Kenny Bender. This helps support the Findlay Police Dept. annual bicycle rodeo to purchase helmets and safety equipment for young riders.

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The Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce has announced its Small Business Award winners for 2019.

A variety of well-deserving businesses and individuals were recognized, Legacy Lawn & Pet, which won the Customer Service Champion of the Year award.

“I preach customer service every day to my employees, and my former boss preached the same thing to me that customer service is what will separate us from other businesses,” said manager Matt McGuire, who accepted the award. (pictured below)

He says you have to get good at feeling out customers, to see if they need help finding something or if they just want to be left alone to shop by themselves.

McGuire says he’s been with Legacy Farmers for 17 years.

The Small Business of the Year award for 2019 went to HEAPY. (pictured above)

The Small Business Person of the Year award was presented to Andrew Yates of Yates Management.

See the full list of winners here.

(ONN) – Two juveniles, ages 15 and 16, are being held at a detention center in Lancaster, charged with reckless homicide for the death of a woman in September at Hocking Hills State Park in southeast Ohio.

According to the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office, they were able to interview these two juveniles and they say investigators were able to obtain a confession related to this incident.

September 2nd was the day Victoria Schafer died. The 44-year old was on the stairs near Old Man’s Cave at Hocking Hills State Park when a section of a tree fell on top of her.

Investigators say there is evidence suggesting the incident was not a natural occurrence.

Lauren Fix is a famous car care specialist and she joined us on WFIN to talk about getting your vehicle ready for winter.

Lauren said it is important to make sure you won’t have issues seeing by checking your headlights and windshield wipers and replacing them if needed.

She added that it is important to enter the season on fresh oil to protect your engine.

Lauren recommends using synthetic oil because it will last longer and do a better job of protecting your car.

You can learn more about car care from Lauren Fix on her website.

The Findlay Police Department says a driver was ticketed for running a red light and causing an injury crash.

It happened at around 8 o’clock Thursday morning at West Trenton Avenue and Interstate 75.

Police say Brandon Sadler, 26, of Findlay, was going west on West Trenton Avenue in his truck when he went through a red light and hit a car that was getting onto West Trenton from Interstate 75 southbound.

The driver of the car that was struck, 58-year-old Lora Manon, of Bryan, suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

Sadler was issued a citation for running a red light.