Letter from William Kose, MD, JD, Vice President of Special Projects, Blanchard Valley Health System
As the days get shorter and cooler, community members should be aware that multiple infectious diseases will be more prevalent, including COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). If you are someone who always gets vaccinated, here’s a reminder that this is the time of year to do so. And, if you aren’t, now could be a great time to start.
A Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) test will take place at 2:20 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4.
FEMA, in coordination with the FCC, will conduct a nationwide test of both Wireless Emergency Alerts and the Emergency Alert System. The WEA test alert will be sent to mobile phones nationwide.
On October 2 The Findlay Courier reported that a Bluffton man has been sentenced in Hancock County Common Pleas Court to 16-18 years in prison for rape and sexual assaults of a child.
The man, Jeffery A. Ludwig, 66, of 451 County Road 33, Bluffton, pleaded guilty to the offenses, which occurred between 2010 and 2015, involving a victim less than ten years old.
The offenses occurred between August 2010 and November 2015. Ludwig is now classified as a Tier III sex offender.
Tip line newly staffed by trained crisis response professionals
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced several enhancements to the state's free Safer Ohio School Tip Line (1-844-SAFEROH) that will make it easier for Ohioans to report school safety concerns.
In addition to calling and texting the tip line, Ohioans anywhere in the state can now report school safety information through a new smartphone app and online web form.
"Not everyone wants to make a phone call or send a text--some are more likely to report concerns by sending a message through an app or website," said Governor DeWine. "We're making these upgrades so that it's as simple as possible for all Ohioans to quickly and anonymously report any potential school safety threats in a manner that makes them comfortable."
The new Safer Ohio School Tip Line smartphone app, available both on iOS and Android devices, and the online web form include pre-populated prompts to help users quickly upload information.
Dorothy (Beck) Couch, 96, of Bluffton and formerly of Sandusky, OH, passed away peacefully early Wednesday evening, September 27, 2023, in the Bridge Hospice unit at Blanchard Valley Health Center, in Findlay, OH.
She was born on March 29, 1927, in Ravenna, OH the daughter of Hugh George and Georgia Mae (Werner) Beck. She graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor's degree in Education. Dorothy was a teacher in the Sandusky Public School System for nearly 35 years, retiring in 1985. Prior to Sandusky city, she had taught in Portage, Summit, Marion and Sandusky Counties.
The League of Women Voters of the Lima Area will hold an informational meeting on human trafficking “Signs to Look For” on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at Shawnee United Methodist Church, 2600 Zurmehly Road.
The guest speaker will be Brittany Reyes from Crime Victim Services. This meeting is open to the public.
