Residents at the Ohio Reformatory for Women take off at the start line of the MS Walk held at the prison Tuesday morning. The three-mile race was the culmination of a fundraising effort through which women at ORW raised nearly $5,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The event was the first fundraiser run or walk during which guests were able to accompany inmates, and the first since 2019. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kayleen Petrovia) — For the first time within the prison’s walls, dozens of incarcerated women at the Ohio Reformatory for Women sat outside with their friends and family,…
Author: Kayleen Petrovia
Despite staffing shortages throughout the area, the Plain City Aquatic Center has thrived throughout the 2022 season. Plain City Parks and Recreation Director Linda Granger said the pool has even more employees than in a typical year, as memberships are up. “The funny thing about it is, I don’t think there’s any magic formula,” she said. She said the success of the Aquatic Center is likely a “combination of a lot of factors.” Plain City hires pool employees beginning at 15 years of age, Granger said. The parks director said jobs at the pool draw young employees for a number…
A number of community members spoke in opposition to Plain City’s planned wastewater treatment plant expansion, most with the concern that it will promote new development that harms the environment. “No snowflake wants to think it was the one to start the avalanche,” said Ecologist and Antioch College Professor Kim Landsbergen. “But that is where we are.” The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held an information session and public hearing Monday regarding its proposal to issue a permit for the expansion of the Plain City Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) from an average flow of 0.75 million to 1.5 million gallons…
Following a mid-year review, Plain City Council members said they have made significant progress on their annual goals but may need to tweak some of them. Council dedicated its July work session to reviewing 2022 goals and brainstorming preliminary goals for next year. Council President Michael Terry called it “basically a hold-ourselves-accountable discussion.” The group marked several of their objectives as “completed,” including hiring a new village administrator and creating a communication and technology committee. The top-priority goal for the year was hiring an administrator by May 31. Following an extensive search led by a consultant, council hired interim Administrator…
The Jerome Township Trustees grappled with how much control they should have over the action of department heads, as they voted against hearing a presentation from Fire Chief Douglas Stewart Tuesday. The board voted unanimously to table a presentation regarding the recommended purchase of a new aerial ladder truck from Pierce Manufacturing. Trustees Megan Sloat and Barry Adler earlier said they were amenable to hearing Stewart’s presentation, though they likely would not immediately take any action, but Trustee Wezlynn Davis pushed aggressively to stall it entirely. As the first slide of his presentation was on screens in the township hall…
Plain City Council approved a recent resident request with the stipulation that it does not set a precedent for the future. Council voted 4-1 to vacate the alley between 127 and 141 W. Main St., with Council member Frank Reed dissenting. Council member James Sintz was absent from the meeting. Building owners Eric Medici and Mark Troyer sent a letter to council in late May requesting the village vacate the unnamed alley, which would shift the responsibility to maintain the area to the private owners. “We’re very interested in getting things fixed there,” Medici told council at the meeting. In…
Plain City Council unanimously approved a zoning text and development plan amendment for Subarea D of the Darby Station residential development, pictured above. Subarea D, which sits on 30.6 acres of the 335.83-acre development along Route 161, is marketed toward “empty nesters.” (Graphic submitted) — A request to modify a portion of the plans for Darby Station prompted residents to speak out about a piece of the development separate from the application – the new roundabout on Route 161. “It’s like putting 20 pounds of potatoes in a 10-pound bag. It just doesn’t work,” said Fred Yoder, a local farmer.…
Part-time firefighters at the Jerome Township Division of Fire will go from the some of the lowest paid in the region to among the highest. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously during its most recent meeting to increase pay for part-time firefighters with a basic EMT certification to $18 an hour and $18.67 for paramedics. Jerome Township Fire Chief Douglas Stewart said the department has struggled to compete with nearby stations. Prior to the vote Tuesday, JTFD paid $12 per hour for part-time EMTs and $12.50 for paramedics. Stewart noted that mowers and plow drivers for the Roads Division are…
“Gentlemen, turn and talk – go,” Triad Elementary School Principal Lee Claypool told her students Thursday evening. These students were not the typical children in her classroom, though. Instead, they were the members of the Board of Education. Claypool spent Thursday evening’s meeting giving a mock lesson to demonstrate how Triad teachers are implementing new strategies required by the “Dyslexia Supports” legislation signed by Gov. Mike DeWine. The principal said dyslexia is a learning disability that causes students to experience challenges with a lack of word recognition, poor spelling and difficulties decoding the meanings of words. To demonstrate a lesson…
Like many employers throughout the nation, the Union County Health Department is taking extra steps to attract new staff members and to keep the ones they have. “We’re finding recruitment and retention to be fairly difficult,” said Health Commissioner Jason Orcena. During its most recent meeting, the Board of Health voted unanimously to approve a resolution that will implement a 3% cost of living allowing increase for all staff members, along with a scheduled market adjustment in pay for certain positions. “I think it would be appropriate because how many times do you turn on the news and hear, ‘inflation,…
The Union County Women, Infants and Children (WIC) office, within the local health department, recently became a drop-off location for the OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank. Pictured above are WIC Administrative Assistant Linda Wolcott, WIC Breastfeeding Peer Sara Bayless, WIC Registered Dietician Mani Syar, OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank Outreach and Operations Coordinator Chris Smith and WIC Director for Delaware, Morrow and Union Counties Lauren Robinson. (Photo submitted) — While a nationwide infant formula shortage has left some families scrambling, a number of Union County moms are working to ensure babies have the milk they need. The Union County WIC office, within…
Plain City Mayor Jody Carney, pictured at center, recently presented a proclamation to the Jonathan Alder softball team recognizing its finish as the D-II state runner-up. Carney presented the proclamation on World Softball Day, and told the team, “There’s so many girls that are looking up to you.” Senior Second Baseman Danielle Robbins thanked the community and credited their support with helping the team make such a strong championship run. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kayleen Petrovia)
Plain City Council is ready to move forward with street improvements, and move their public works equipment into a new facility. During their most recent meeting, council members unanimously approved a bid from Strawser Paving to complete projects for the annual road resurfacing program. The village received two bids for the base program, which will include improvements to six roads. Strawser Paving Company submitted a quote of $234,180, compared to Decker Construction Company’s price of $277,284.10. Village Administrator Haley Lupton said Tuesday that the program will include improvements to Smith Place, Jackson Boulevard, Wesley Street, Washington Avenue, John Street and…
Local law enforcement officials are warning residents to be careful with their charitable giving after two boys were reportedly scamming residents under the guise of a church fundraiser. Marysville Division of Police Captain Don McGlenn said two boys were allegedly going door-to-door in the southern portion of Mill Valley and The Arbors on June 9, “pretending to sell raffle tickets” as part of a fundraiser for the United Methodist Church. McGlenn said the boys asked for $2 per ticket or a bundle of tickets for $10. Then, they wrote down each donor’s name and phone number and told them they…
A local Boy Scout is taking on a Jerome Township project that is more than a century in the making. Noah Cook is creating a time capsule to be placed in the Jerome Township Soldiers Monument, as part of his Eagle Scout project. Trustee Chair Megan Sloat explained that Cook is going to spearhead the project, which she initially took on when she was elected to the board several years ago. Sloat explained that the original monument was dedicated in 1913. At the time, local residents created a time capsule that was placed inside and marked to be opened in…