Some local kids had a fun-filled educational adventure around Lima on Monday. Elida schools had their students out on an educational field trip as part of their dare program, which included both the Allen County Juvenile Detention Center and juvenile court. In the courtroom, the kids got to participate in a mock trial to learn about the ins and outs of how the justice system works. The students were picked for each role and were assisted by the court staff in the case of the stolen video game. A good way to make education fun.

October 22, 2024, Press Release from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost: (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Six individuals have been indicted for illegal voting in past elections, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today. “The right to vote is sacred,” Yost said. “If you’re not a U.S. citizen, it’s illegal to vote – whether you thought you were allowed to or not – you will be held accountable.”

October 18, 2024, Press Release from McDonald's: OHIO – (October 18, 2024) – McDonald's fans across Ohio have rallied in support of local high school athletic programs, raising an impressive $112,808.94 during  High School Sports Digital Fundraiser Day. This initiative allowed McDonald's Owner/Operators to contribute 10 percent of all digital sales made through the McDonald's app to designated high schools, benefiting 266 athletic programs statewide. Each locally owned McDonald’s restaurant selected a high school in their community to donate 10 percent of all digital sales on September 26. Each identified high school received a minimum of $250. This was the second year McDonald’s Restaurants hosted the High School Sports Digital Fundraiser. McDonald’s Owner/Operators in Ohio were the first to launch this type of fundraiser last year as a way to support high school athletics in the communities they serve.

LIMA, OH (WLIO) - The City of Lima is continuing their efforts to promote better neighborhoods with their annual impact grants.

The Bath Township Fire Department has a new Platoon Chief along with several new firefighters joining the department. On Monday evening inside the Bath Township Fire Station, Fire Chief Joe Kitchen swore in Brock Yingling as the department's new Platoon Chief. Yingling has been a firefighter and a paramedic with Bath Township since 2000. He also serves as the Public Safety Director at Apollo Career Center, and Yingling will be able to work with his students as their Platoon Chief.

September 4, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of State Fire Marshal: COLUMBUS, Ohio – To help ensure transparency related to its grants programs, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal has unveiled a new interactive online dashboard that allows users to easily, quickly and accurately search for grant funds that have been awarded to fire departments throughout the state. Information on the dashboard is available for each of the past five years. The new online resource is available to fire departments, media outlets and the general public, allowing easy access to up-to-date information regarding grant funding that has been awarded in support of MARCS (Multi-Agency Radio Communications), equipment and training initiatives. Additional key features of the dashboard include the ability to sort and filter grants by county and grant type, and also search for grants by individual department.

September 4, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Public Safety: (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – The Office of Criminal Justice Services announced today the certification of two Ohio law enforcement agencies for state standards established by the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board. Seventeen additional agencies achieved their recertification. Agencies completing the certification process have adopted and implemented the initial two standards regarding use of force and hiring and recruitment while the recertification process takes place on a revolving, three to four-year cycle.

August 28, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Public Safety: (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – The Office of Criminal Justice Services announces nearly $5.5 million in grant funding has been awarded to support efforts to reduce the impact of opioids, stimulants, and other substances on individuals and communities and to promote substance use awareness, prevention, and recovery. Funding from the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) will provide resources supporting the development, expansion, or enhancement of substance use deflection and pre-arrest diversion programs in diverse Ohio communities that are disproportionately challenged by high fatal and nonfatal overdose rates.

Your old books could help bring joy to others that the Area Agency on Aging service. The Area Agency on Aging is holding its first-ever book drive. They are collecting new and gently used books for adults and kids. The kids' books will be donated to schools that take part in their retired senior volunteer program. However, the adult books will be used to create a library in the new training center that the agency is putting in.

August 12, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Public Safety: (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – The Office of Criminal Justice Services announced today the certification of two Ohio law enforcement agencies for state standards established by the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board. Twelve additional agencies achieved their recertification. Agencies completing the certification process have adopted and implemented the initial two standards regarding use of force and hiring and recruitment while the recertification process takes place on a revolving, three to four-year cycle. Overall, there are 633 certified agencies throughout Ohio that have met the initial standards. Additionally, 29,686 officers (representing 90.27% of all law enforcement officers in Ohio, including most of Ohio’s metropolitan areas) are employed by an agency that is involved in some form of the certification process.