Off The Hook
April 10, 2020

It was the year 1955

By Melanie Behrens

I remember 1955 pretty well, considering it was 65 years ago. How could it be that long ago?
I was in the fifth grade and my teacher was Mrs. Barlow. Funny how you always remember your teachers’ names. Girls wore saddle shoes, you know the black and white variety that laced up, and white socks that...

Off The Hook
By Melanie Behrens 
September 25, 2020
Editor’s note: The last article J-T columnist Melanie Behrens was working on before her death April 30 was the following story about Werewolf Lane. The information was supplied by Leroy Cook, who coll...
Off The Hook
By Melanie Behrens 
May 1, 2020
Copper pennies are the smallest increment in our money. And now, monetarily, they’re actually worth almost nothing. Many times in stores and businesses you will see a little jar that says, “need a pen...
Off The Hook
By Melanie Behrens 
April 24, 2020
I came across some information of how a once great retailer got its start and was surprised at the name disclosure at the end. I hope you too will enjoy this. If you were in the market for a watch in ...
Fraker steps down as FHS girls hoops boss
Sports
By Tim Miller 
March 30, 2026
Saying it’s time to step down, Landon Fraker has resigned as the head girls basketball coach at Fairbanks High School. “There are a few reasons why now is a good time,” Fraker told the Journal-Tribune...
Panther girls look to defend OHC, district track titles; boys team hopes to climb ladder
Sports
Members of the Fairbanks High School boys and girls track and field teams are from left, front row, Clara Andrews, Caelyn Breneman, Sadie Miller, Claire Berry, Charley Shope, Geniveve Conley, Sydney Nicol, Chloe Nicole, Hadley Premuda and Alexis Wojcehowicz; second row, Hanna Niehaus, Mia Pagan, Sophie Bostwick, Christy Headings, Lilly Davison, Stephanie Headings, Mollie Thrush, Elizabeth Phillippo, Lailynn Burns and Audrey Lahmers; third row, Denny Morton, Brady Adams, Ava Lahmers, Luna Acampora, Alyssa Tobe, Olivia Patrick, Marick Shaffer, Corina Seaborne, A.C. Clark, Ihan Muftah and Malachi Robbins; fourth row, Maddox Eagon, Andrew Sorg, Kendall Crozier, DJ Litzke, Carson Shope, Zach Niehaus, Brennan Pfeffer, Triton Rhodes, Carter Woody and Jackson Burns; fifth row, Elton Bailey, Jacob Williams, Trey Wilson, Austin Gerty, Daniel Thomas, Ben Zahn, Craig Irvin, Tommy Dellinger, Max Winter and Tyler Ketterer; sixth row, coaches Matt Clark, Joel Premuda, Patrick Bailey, Benjamin Schaffer and Jonathan Sorg. Not pictured, head coach Mike Van Winkle. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sarah Vollrath)
By Tim Miller 
March 30, 2026
Fairbanks’ girls track and field team is looking to defend its Ohio Heritage Conference and district titles from the 2025 campaign. The Lady Panthers have a number of seniors who have the opportunity ...
Lettermen return for Lady Panther softball team
Sports
Members of Fairbanks’ varsity softball squad are from left, front row, Maddi Sines, Abby Russell, Macy Rhine, Sadie Schalk, Sydney Chandler, Ryanne Sancho and Avery Arnold; second row, Lanay Sommers, Lexi Grant, Claire Meihls, Kyah Hendren, Peyton Morris and Elizabeth Gregory; back row, assistant coach Alexia Smith, assistant coach Josie Duncan, Sage Wittenburg-Conley, assistant coach Randy Rausch and head coach Amy Sines. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sarah Vollrath)
By Tim Miller 
March 30, 2026
There are several lettermen returning for a Fairbanks softball squad that finished as the Division V regional runner-up last spring. The Lady Panthers compiled a 24-3 record and claimed titles in the ...
Fairbanks baseball team looks to move up ladder in Ohio Heritage Conference
Sports
The Panther varsity baseball squad is pictured from left, front row, Owen Woody, Williams Stice, Nate Meihls, Mason Rausch, Troy King and Nolan Baker; second row, Carson Reames, Cooper Phelps, Kade Pfeffrle, Reid Phelps and Liam Rhea; back row, head coach Josh Rine, Carter Sites, Konnor Ohler and assistant coach Rick Queen. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sarah Vollrath)
By Tim Miller 
March 30, 2026
Fairbanks’ varsity baseball squad hopes to move up the ladder in the Ohio Heritage Conference North Division. The Panthers posted a 5-11 OHC mark and finished in fifth place during the 2025 campaign. ...
Months of New California roadwork begins
Local News, News, Plain City News
Construction barrels line the northwestern side of Industrial Parkway in Jerome Township, reducing the roadway down to one lane. The northbound lane closure is part of the months-long project to widen U.S. 42 and add turn lanes to Industrial Parkway. (Journal-Tribune photo by Michael Williamson)
By Michael Williamson 
March 28, 2026
Work has started on the large-scale New California intersection improvement project in Jerome Township and Union County officials said there are already some concerns with traffic. Administrator Bill ...
Plain City progressing on path to utility aggregation
News, Plain City, Plain City News
By Jack Christian 
March 28, 2026
The Village of Plain City conducted the first reading of its new gas and electric aggregation program at a recent council meeting, marking another step toward implementation. The program will be admin...