A father’s gift Sometimes when you hear an uplifting story you need to get out of the way and just let it tell itself. That’s not easy for a journalist to admit. I came across this story a while ago and felt it needed a wider audience. Jesse Sepeda died on March 9 at the age of 52 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was active as a coach and organizer in the local youth baseball, wrestling and football programs. He was well known in the community and the process to rename a local ball field after him is…
Author: Chad Williamson
At Thursday’s meeting, the Marysville Board of Education approved a contract with Memorial Hospital to provide athletic training services for the district through 2027. “It’s been a great partnership,” board member Dick Smith said, noting that the athletic trainers are a “godsend” for coaches. Whereas in years past the agreement has been an in-kind type of arrangement between the two entities, the new contract comes with a substantial financial benefit to the school district. Two previous contracts have centered around the hospital providing athletic trainers for the district free of charge in exchange for various signage and advertising opportunities surrounding…
In a facility filled with surgical devices, radiology machines and lab equipment, it’s pretty easy to overlook asphalt. But, officials at Memorial Hospital recognize that all the fancy equipment inside the building means little if people can’t find a place to park. Memorial recently hired Walker Consultants to perform a parking study for the hospital. The study looked at meeting current demand, developing an strategy do deal with parking during the current construction process, and setting a goal for spaces to meet growth in the next five years. The hospital is currently in the process of constructing new inpatient and…
The Marysville Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday night to place a permanent renewal levy on the Nov. 6 ballot. If approved, the 6.56-mill renewal operating levy would not increase taxes, but would become permanent and never come before voters again. Also before voters will be an issue to shift capital improvement money into operating funds. Originally passed in 1989 and renewed five times since, the operating levy generates about $3.2 million per year. The five-year levy, set to expire in December of 2019, is the only renewal levy remaining on the district books. The levy currently collects at about 2.69…
Ohio Senate Bill 13 is a curious case of proposed legislations that seems like it shouldn’t need to exist. Introduced by state senator Charleta Tavares, a Democrat from Columbus, the bill seeks to prohibit law enforcement officers from forcing citizens to stop recording them while they carry out their duties in public spaces. It also seeks to stop police from confiscating recording devices without a warrant or subpoena. Additionally, the bill would make police liable for breaking, damaging or losing a video recording device or even destroying its video contents. The funny thing about this bill is that citizens already…
Connor MacAurthur-Senediak gets a push from John Senediak as he prepares for a trip in his kayak at the Marysville Reservoir Saturday afternoon. The family used the city’s newly installed kayak-launch platform to put three vessels in the water. The reservoir was bristling with activity over the weekend as area residents took advantage of mild weather for a variety of outdoor endeavors. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson)
According to a release from the Marysville School District, “charges are pending” against students at the district’s Early College High School (ECHS) after a drug sweep Thursday. According to releases from the school district and the Marysville Division of Police, the police K-9 unit, with the assistance of other officers, conducted the drug and contraband search at about 9:30 a.m. The sweep, which included the ECHS building and parking lot, reportedly came at the request of the school district. Police officials said the sweep took about two hours to complete. “This search occurred out of our desire to be proactive…
New renderings of the proposed Marysville stadium renovation project were displayed at an event at the high school fieldhouse Tuesday night. Pictured above is a rendering of the high school stadium created by MSA Sports which shows expanded student seating behind the north end zone and the scoreboard being moved to the south end of the field. (Image submitted) –––– Interested citizens and potential donors came together Tuesday night at the Marysville High School Fieldhouse to view the latest version of a proposed stadium project. The $8.9 million plan will renovate the existing high school football stadium, build an adjoining…
Marysville Police officers and Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers investigate a parked semi on East Fifth Street across from Leon’s Garage Sunday at about 12:30 p.m. Deputy Chief Tony Brooks said an officer noticed the semi remained parked there “over a few hours.” After further investigation, the driver, Jashar Kyron Banks, 24, of Michigan, was found in the sleeper portion of the semi’s cab. He was found to be operating the semi under a suspended license. Police are unsure why he chose to park on East Fifth Street, though Banks reportedly said “he was out of hours.” The semi was…
Columbus kerfuffle another example of public’s right to know The Columbus City School Board is relaunching its search for a superintendent, squandering money and voter trust in the process. The entire ordeal is yet another example that governmental groups should go above and beyond to conduct their business in the open. Basically, the Columbus School Board was called out by state auditor Dave Yost, who accused the members of violating the Ohio Open Meetings Act by making decisions in private. Yost essentially told the board if it went forward with a selection resulting from a closed meeting, members could be…
Pictured above, students at Marysville’s new TRI Academy list their goals on a series of blocks placed on a wall in the school. Students at the school are selected because of credit deficiencies or other issues that keep them from succeeding in a traditional classroom. They receive more one-on-one interaction with teachers and self-paced learning opportunities. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson) –––– As a teenager, Savannah was abandoned by her family in a nearby community. They moved away and left her with no home, money or even food. She was eventually taken in by a local family and was able…
Ohio State Senator Dave Burke, right, honors Marysville School District bus driver Gary Lemaster with a resolution during Thursday night’s school board meeting. Lemaster was driving a school bus which was struck by a semi during a field trip in December. The Marysville District also honored Lemaster at the meeting. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson) –––– Thursday night, Ohio State Senator Dave Burke and the Marysville Board of Education honored a district bus driver for his actions during a bus crash in December. “Heroes come in all shapes, sizes and occupations,” Burke said. On Dec. 8, Gary Lemaster was driving…
The Marysville Board of Education held first reading Thursday night on a pair of issues to appear before voters in the November general election. A presentation from district treasurer Todd Johnson, which served as a first reading on the issue, highlighted that the issues will not increase resident tax bills if approved. A 6.56-mill renewal operating levy will appear on the ballot as a continuing measure, meaning it would become permanent and never come before voters again. Also before voters is a slightly more complicated issue which will allow voters to shift capital improvement money into operating funds. Originally passed in 1989…
After four years, Marysville school officials felt they had a pretty good handle on estimating how many outgoing eighth graders would enroll at the Early College High School (ECHS). Since the building opened in 2014, yearly class enrollment numbers have hovered around 150 students, with the remaining 250 or more students opting to attend the Marysville High School (MHS). This level of enrollment for ECHS keeps the total student body at the building in the neighborhood of 600 students. And then the class of 2022 came into the picture. Next year’s ECHS freshman class bloomed to about 235 students and…
The groundbreaking ceremony for Memorial Health’s $50-million hospital expansion project brought dignitaries, donors and employees to a large tent on the northeast portion of the campus Tuesday. The expansion includes a 36-room inpatient tower and a new outpatient pavilion, both at the 500 London Ave. location. The new facilities are expected to open in late 2019. Speakers at the event included Memorial CEO Chip Hubbs, shown at right, Memorial Health Board of Trustees member Chad Hoffman, Union County Commissioner Steve Stolte, medical staff president Charlie Muncrief and Memorial Health Board Chair Nikki Conklin. Pictured above during a moment of levity…