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…
Author: Kayleen Petrovia
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…
Tensions flared among the Jerome Township Board of Trustees Tuesday night as the members considered the creation of a new staff position. Disagreements emerged as two trustees advocated for the hiring of a new Roads Division employee, while another said he was not aware the position was even advertised. Ultimately, the board decided to table the proposed hiring of Travis Brinkman after Trustee Barry Adler said the topic – which was added to the agenda at the start of the meeting – took him “by surprise.” “So you’re asking to create yet another position?” Adler asked. “Yes,” responded Roads Superintendent…
While the locations and outcomes varied, three recent shootings in the area each shared one similarity: they began with situations of domestic violence or abuse. The similar roots highlight the necessity of resources for those facing violence in their homes. “We have so many good resources (in Union County) and people just don’t know,” said Tracie Nelson, clinical director at WINGS Support and Recovery. On April 30, a man began shooting from the windows of a Plain City home after officers responded to a report of a domestic assault at the residence. The shooter was injured with non-life threatening injuries…
Plain City council members spent their most recent work session discussing how they feel the village’s staff should expand to accommodate continued growth in the area. Village Administrator Haley Lupton highlighted two positions that she feels will need to be filled in the near future: economic development coordinator and management analyst. Lupton said the economic development coordinator is the highest priority, vacant position. She noted that the job description for the position was previously created, in anticipation for a staff member to be added in that role. According to a position description provided by Lupton, the individual hired will be…
Plain City council members spent their most recent work session discussing how they feel the village’s staff should expand to accommodate continued growth in the area. Village Administrator Haley Lupton highlighted two positions that she feels will need to be filled in the near future: economic development coordinator and management analyst. Lupton said the economic development coordinator is the highest priority, vacant position. She noted that the job description for the position was previously created, in anticipation for a staff member to be added in that role. According to a position description provided by Lupton, the individual hired will be…
While the locations and outcomes varied, three recent shootings in the area each shared one similarity: they began with situations of domestic violence or abuse. The similar roots highlight the necessity of resources for those facing violence in their homes. “We have so many good resources (in Union County) and people just don’t know,” said Tracie Nelson, clinical director at WINGS Support and Recovery. On April 30, a man began shooting from the windows of a Plain City home after officers responded to a report of a domestic assault at the residence. The shooter was injured with non-life threatening injuries…
After a months-long search, Plain City officials decided the best person to lead the village was the one already in place. During its most recent meeting, council voted unanimously to hire Haley Lupton as the village administrator. The decision followed an hour-long executive session with council, Mayor Jody Carney and Law Director Paul Lafayette. “We are very excited to have her,” Mayor Jody Carney said Wednesday. “It’s only going to go up from here.” Lupton was one of two finalists, narrowed down from applicant pool of 30 candidates. Lupton was appointed to the position by council in October 2021 following…
Officials at the Union County Health Department are excited about the future of the Richwood Farmers Market. The Board of Health approved a $5,000 intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Richwood to continue the Richwood Farmers Market, funded by the Ohio Department of Health’s Creating Healthy Communities grant. Director of Health Promotion and Planning Shawn Sech said the funding will be used for administrative costs associated with hosting the farmers market, as well as advertising. Several programs will take place at the Richwood Farmers Market this year. She said a high priority for the Union County Food Council is ensuring…
Jerome Township’s Trails and Parks Committee is no more, for now. In a split vote Tuesday, the Board of Trustees voted to disband the committee, pending further board action. Trustees Megan Sloat and Wezlynn Davis were in favor of the motion, while Barry Adler voted against it. “We’re not trying to get rid of it, we’re not trying to drive it into the ground, what we’re trying to do is regroup,” Sloat said. Prior to Davis’ motion, Adler detailed the work that the group has done since the previous Board of Trustees requested the formation of a Trails and Parks…
A research and development company that creates clean energy sources is ready to begin producing their fuel cells in Jerome Township. The Jerome Township Board of Trustees, Jonathan Alder Board of Education and Union County Commissioners each agreed to an Enterprise Zone Agreement that will provide Velocys Inc. with a 10-year, 75% tax abatement. Brian Cody, Vice President of Manufacturing and Technology Licensing for Velocys, said his company has developed a “small reactor” that can turn waste into fuel. He noted that his company was initially created after NASA asked Batelle Memorial Institute to research a small enough reactor that…
Plain City officials are zeroing in on a final version of a new zoning code, which they hope will add more diversity to housing options in the community. Village council recently held a joint work session with the planning and zoning commission to discuss progress on the zoning code rewrite. Kim Littleton, a senior planner with OHM Advisors, the consulting group that has steered the rewrite, said the new code will aim to promote strategies laid out in the Plain City Comprehensive Plan. “(The existing zoning code) was more a code that said you couldn’t do things than what you…
A Plain City investor who has plans to renovate several Uptown buildings is preparing to spend $2 million revitalizing another. Rayce Robinson, with FMC Investments, LLC, wrote in a tax abatement application that he plans to restore the property known as the McCune Building, though the current uses will not change. “The McCune building has a rich history that our team would like to restore and bring back to the forefront of the building, highlighting its unique architectural characteristics,” Robinson wrote in his application. He added that the existing storefronts, apartments and commercial space will be restored to “resemble its…
Plain City officials have narrowed their administrator search to two top candidates – a familiar face and a new one. Finalists for the position include the interim Village Administrator Haley Lupton and Richard Downey, who currently serves as a Village Administrator in Wisconsin. Plain City Mayor Jody Carney said the village received 30 applications for the position. She said officials hoped for 25 candidates, but “weren’t quite sure what to expect” given the availability of positions in the current job market. “We were pleased with the candidates we did receive,” Carney said. Under the guidance of consulting firm Management Partners,…
Jerome Township officials are planning to spend more than usual investing in road improvements this year. During a recent Board of Trustees meeting, the board appropriated an additional $75,000 to the roads division. “This is a very high year for us but if the work needs to be done, the money’s there to do it,” said Fiscal Officer Robert Caldwell. In total, township officials expect to spend $381,758 this year on road maintenance projects – up from the $310,158 initially budgeted. The improvements will include several paving projects, along with chip seal, microseal and patching projects. Roads Division Supervisor Breht…