The 2022 Union County Fair, which took place from July 24-30, saw another successful Junior Fair Livestock Sale, as six reserve champion records fell on Saturday. The Junior Fair Livestock Sale has been setting records almost annually among grand and reserve champions. According to a report from Richwood Banking Company, which clerks the sale, a total of 303 participants sold animals at this year’s fair, up from 300 in 2021. This year, 30 participants showed chickens, one participant showed a dairy product, 20 participants showed ducks, 33 participants showed dairy feeders, 48 participants showed goats, 51 participants showed hogs, 29…
Author: Ally Lanasa
Brad Gillis, of Night Ranger, is pictured shredding the guitar at the All Ohio Balloon Festival at the Union County Airport in 2015. The hard rock, pop metal band is returning for its third performance at the 2022 festival on Thursday, Aug. 11. (File photo) — Third time’s the charm for Night Ranger at the 2022 All Ohio Balloon Festival, following appearances in 2015 and 2017. Brad Gillis, guitarist of Night Ranger, said he recalls performing at the festival “because of all the crazy balloons I saw.” He added that in 2015 there was a bomber aircraft at the airport,…
The Village of Richwood Council voted 4-2 to accept the modified agricultural use regulations on Monday, failing to meet the required supermajority to approve or deny a proposed ordinance. Council members Pat Morse and Donnie Ridgeway dissented. Specific zoning ordinance changes require a supermajority vote with five out of six members in favor or in dissent. The council may act on the proposed ordinance until Aug. 10, which is 30 days after the planning commission voted to send it to council. Currently, the zoning ordinance allows farm animals within the village limits. If the council does vote again and the…
The Richwood Revitalization Committee agreed to ask Jeff Meyer of Meyer Restoration Inc. for a quote to temporarily tarp the opera house’s clock tower area to prevent water damage from the leaks. According to the treasurer’s report, the committee has $2,282 in the $22 for 2022 campaign fund after Council member George “Soapy” Showalter gave a significant donation. In addition, $4,073 has been donated at Richwood Coffee. “We are averaging around $200 to $250 a month” in donations from Richwood Coffee, said Treasurer Rachel Shadel. The opera house line item also has $10,787. “We have not been invoiced for Meyer…
North Union Local Schools District Treasurer and CFO Scott Maruniak informed the school board about the general timeline for the natural grass turf project at a recent meeting. “We just got back the well test, which was sent to the consultants to help review those numbers as far as whether the current pump is sufficient for the irrigation system,” Maruniak said. He believes the project will go out to bid in August and be conducted in phases. Maruniak said the plan is to excavate the new practice field behind the field house this September. Then, in October, new grass will…
Keagan Nicol, ringman for the auctioneer, excitedly jumps into the air as he helps increase the bid of an animal during the 2021 Union County Fair Junior Livestock Sale. Nicol’s energy led to multiple broken records at last year’s sale. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson) With dreams of becoming an auctioneer, Fairbanks alumnus Keagan Nicol has gained experience by serving as the ringman for the auctioneers, Harley and Hal Jackson, for two years at the Union County Fair. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson) From 4-H participant to ringman for the auctioneer, Keagan Nicol has been heavily involved in the Union…
Country singer-songwriter Niko Moon, pictured, will perform at the 2022 All Ohio Balloon Festival on Friday, Aug. 12, with opening act Shane Stephens Band and support act Ashley Best. (Photo submitted) — Niko Moon guarantees a “Good Time” at the All Ohio Balloon Festival on Friday, Aug. 12. “The mentality of the music is what makes it Niko Moon music. First and foremost, it’s got to be positive,” Moon said. “I like to make people feel good.” Moon’s debut album, “Good Time,” was released in August 2021, with 14 songs, including radio hits like “Paradise To Me” and the title…
As the Union County Commissioners prepare to vote on the tax option for two solar companies in the North Union Local Schools District, the school board sought clarification on the financial impact of the solar farms. Commissioner Chris Schmenk said the commissioners plan to make the decision about granting the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreements to the Cadence and Acciona solar projects in two to four weeks at a regular meeting. She added that the commissioners will approach the PILOT agreements on a case-by-case basis. Schmenk told the North Union Board of Education on Monday that North Union…
The North Union Board of Education has decided to divide the responsibilities of the chief academic officer among the superintendent and staff rather than fill the vacant position. Dr. Erika S. Bower has resigned from her role as the chief academic officer of North Union Local Schools, effective July 31. The school board accepted her resignation at its March monthly meeting. Bower has been appointed as the next superintendent of Ridgedale Local School District in Marion, replacing current Superintendent Robert Britton. Bower will begin her new position on Aug. 1 for the 2022-23 academic year. Superintendent Richard Baird explained that…
The Richwood Planning Commission voted 4-1 to send a final version of a proposed zoning amendment to regulate livestock to the council for consideration, with Mayor Scott Jerew dissenting. Jerew suggested the commission ask the council members if they would like to prohibit all livestock in the village before continuing with a zoning amendment. “If the council says, ‘Yes, we want livestock in the village,’ then we come back and start hashing all this out because we’ve wasted two or three or four meetings trying to figure out something that I think council is going to vote down,” he said.…
The board of the Leesburg Township Fire Department tabled discussion on the invitation to join another fire district after a firefighter raised concerns Tuesday. The board has expressed the intent to merge with the Northwestern Joint Fire District in Raymond to improve response times and manpower. Bill Lowe, township trustee and fire district board member, said the three townships that make up Northwestern have approved Leesburg joining. Lowe added that the Northern Union County Fire and EMS District (NUCFD) has also offered an informal invitation to merge departments. “Currently, it was looking much better to us over at Northwestern,” said…
The Leesburg Township Fire Department, the Marysville Division of Fire and the Union County Sheriff’s Office responded to a camper on fire at the Shell station on Route 4 in the Pharisburg area on Monday afternoon. The fire destroyed the camper and damaged the attached vehicle. No injuries were reported. (Photo submitted) — The Leesburg Township Fire Department and the Marysville Division of Fire were dispatched for a report of a camper on fire at the Shell gas station, 23255 Route 4, in Pharisburg, on Monday at 2:54 p.m. David Hawkins, assistant chief of the Leesburg Township Fire Department, said…
The Village of Richwood Council wants to encourage healthy transportation around the municipality through walking or biking. Tamisha Matus, a Creating Healthy Communities coordinator at the Union County Health Department, said she can allocate $7,500 to $10,000 in grant funding to develop an active transportation plan for the village. Matus explained that active transportation means using “physical strength to get from point A to point B without the use of a car.” The active transportation plan would include maps, a sidewalk inventory and a bike access inventory “to help bolster any funding applications moving forward,” Matus said. “I really think…
The Richwood Revitalization Committee voted to ask the Village of Richwood Council to authorize the hiring of Triad Architects not to exceed $42,100 for the opera house revitalization project. Brent Foley, partner and director of architecture and design at Triad Architects, met with the committee via Zoom recently. “I think you guys are in the phases of really trying to figure out how best to approach the project, really to nail down the scope, nail down the budget and nail down a timeline, right?” Foley said. “That really is what the intent of our proposal is geared towards.” Foley said…
Superintendent Richard Baird recently informed the North Union Board of Education about improvements being made within the district to address shortcomings in student achievement. During his superintendent report at a recent meeting, Baird focused on the areas of programming, wellness and community engagement. According to student achievement data, North Union students are struggling with writing and literacy skills, which Baird said is in part a result of remote learning during the pandemic. “Writing affects every single area of learning,” Baird said. Teachers are adapting instruction to meet the needs of students. “I would describe it as a challenge, but it’s…