Sgt. Matt Gill, Bomb Squad Commander, said, “This is a very technical job. It’s always changing. The threat always changes. We got to stay up on using our tools so that we always know how to use stuff when the time comes. Anytime there’s a suspicious package or a type call or a bomb threat at different facilities, we will respond to that. Or if families are cleaning out houses and they find old military munitions, we will respond to those.”

The Lima Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol recognized two Putnam County residents for wearing their seat belts, a decision that ultimately saved their lives. Brynne and Kristen Stechschulte received the "Saved by the Belt" award, which honors individuals whose choice to buckle up protected them during a crash.

Lima fire inspector Warren Pughsley and other fire officials are reminding Ohioans that fireworks and alcohol do not mix, as impaired judgment and slower response times can lead to dangerous or even deadly consequences.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2024 alone, 11 people were killed and nearly 15,000 sent to the emergency room due to fireworks-related injuries. 37% of those injuries were burns.

“For the engineering division, what we would like to see is different strategies to know better what concerns residents have, and just have different approaches because one size doesn't fit all,” said Ian Kohli, City of Lima engineer.

“So what we can do now is just have some people come on board and donate,” said Guy Amos Marcelin, CEO of Good Heart Ministry. “We can get enough money to buy black cement and gravel to get things done by July.”

“It’s actually a lot safer because we had potholes in the other lot that were becoming a significant problem, and it makes it easier for staff, volunteers, customers to wheel items out and load them,” said Benji Bergstrand, ReStore manager. “It’s just safer, more efficient, more attractive all around — a good thing.”

“This is really an exciting, straightforward way to show the streetscape improvements that will be coming to downtown, and to allow the public to supply their input and comment,” said Lima City Engineer Ian Kohli.

“But what the opportunity is,” said Kody Graham, head swim coach at the Lima YMCA, “is we get a chance to teach young swimmers, young people in our community, how to be safe around water. We also get a chance to interact with their parents, to share the language we use and the process we go through — how to safely enter and exit a body of water, and how to protect themselves in challenging situations.”