The Union County Health Department is now offering COVID-19 booster shots to a certain group of eligible individuals. In accordance with CDC guidance, only those who completed their second Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least six months ago are eligible to receive a booster shot through UCHD. Among those, eligible individuals include: – People who are 65 years and older; – Residents in long-term care settings; – People aged 18-64 with underlying medical conditions; – People aged 18-64 who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission due to their occupation or institutional setting. Booster doses through UCHD are available…
Author: Kayleen Petrovia
The names in recent entertainment headlines have many of us flashing back a few decades. One of the many 2000s superstars all over the news is Britney Spears. While I was probably a little young to fully appreciate her superstardom, I clearly remember just how iconic the singer behind “Oops… I Did it Again” was. The song was one of the tracks on the first CD I ever had: a dual record with Britney Spears and NSYNC. I knew all of Britney’s lyrics and dance moves just like pretty much any girl around my age. 20 years later, it’s not…
While encouraged by an offer to contribute funding to traffic improvements, the Union County engineer disagreed with Jerome Township officials’ recommendations and approach to the matter. Jerome Township Trustee Joe Craft sent a letter to Union County Engineer Jeff Stauch Sept. 17, requesting the installation of a temporary traffic signal at the intersection of Industrial Parkway and Mitchell Dewitt Road by Friday, Oct. 1. The trustees signed a subsequent resolution endorsing Craft’s request on Sept. 21. The trustees offered to reimburse the county for the cost of the signal – approximately $280,000, according to Craft – using funds generated by…
The Union County Health Department is waiting on information from federal and state authorities before it begins to administer booster doses of the COVID-19 shot. UCHD has been preparing to administer booster doses, but must receive clinical guidance from the CDC and Ohio Department of Health first, according to a statement from the agency. Once guidelines are in place, UCHD will give boosters to those who live or work in Union County, or received their first two doses through the local health department. UCHD officials noted that the booster dose is only for certain groups of people who completed the…
A rezoning request Tuesday night became a debate over who has the right to live in Jerome Township. If the application is approved, approximately 51 acres would be rezoned from Rural Residential District (RU) to Planned Development District (PD) in order to develop 100 single-family homes. Though residents voiced little opposition to the design of the development itself, many opposed the potential occupants, as all 100 properties are rentals. Resident Marilyn Valois said individuals who rent, rather than own, their homes are not wanted by the current residents. “It’s just not what we want in our area,” she told the…
The Grainery, 138 W. Main Street, has been at the center of discussion surrounding the current noise ordinance in Plain City. While some residents said they feel increased noise is a fair trade for the revitalization of the Uptown district, others disagree. Council plans to hold a special work session to discuss only the noise ordinance in late October or November. (Photo submitted) With nearly every seat in council chambers filled, Plain City Council decided to “pump the brakes a little bit” on changes to the village’s noise ordinance. Mayor Jody Carney told residents that a resident committee would not…
Jerome Township Trustees approved final changes to the proposed zoning overlay that would pave the way for a new Innovation District. Trustee Joe Craft introduced an amendment that will place a $500 supplemental zoning fee on all residential units. He said the fee will be used to fund infrastructure in the township and administration of the Innovation District. With a maximum of 770 residential units permitted in the district, the fee could generate up to $385,000. Jennifer Huber, legal counsel for the township, emphasized that the fee would easily reimburse the $40,000 the township paid as part of a development…
Jerome Township is offering to foot the bill if the county engineer’s office approves a new traffic signal at a dangerous township intersection. “Jeff, the time for long meetings, traffic studies, bureaucratic delays and talk is over,” Trustee Joe Craft wrote in a letter to Union County Engineer Jeff Stauch. “The time has come for action.” The trustees approved a resolution Tuesday night, calling on the Union County Engineer’s Office to install a traffic signal at the intersection of Industrial Parkway and Mitchell Dewitt Road no later than Oct. 1, with completion by Nov. 30. A temporary traffic signal would…
According to data from the Union County Health Department, more county residents have died of overdoses this year than over the same time period in the past six years. Ten Union County residents have died through Aug. 31 this year as a result of drug overdoses. (Graphic submitted) The Union County Health Department is working to fight the impact of the opioid epidemic, as the area has already seen more fatal overdoses in 2021 than recent years. In Union County, 10 county residents have died of overdoses while law enforcement agencies responded to 31 non-fatal overdoses through August, according to…
Though no changes were made to district guidelines, a member of one Triad family asked the Board of Education to tighten COVID precautions in hopes that students can stay in school this year. “We are doing nothing to keep the schools open,” said Linda Bauder. “My question is: How bad does it have to get?” Bauder said her grandson learned virtually throughout first grade last year. She said their family’s goal was for him to be back in school for second grade. “We were very excited about starting the school year with in-school learning, but now I’m rethinking that decision,”…
Several mosquito pools in Union County have tested positive for West Nile Virus. Union County Health Department Environmental Health Director Marcia Dreiseidel said during Wednesday’s Board of Health meeting “a couple pools came back positive” following testing at the Ohio Department of Health lab. She noted that samples from around the county are regularly collected as part of the health department’s routine disease surveillance program. Samples are submitted to the state lab weekly throughout peak mosquito season. The samples that tested positive were collected between Sept. 1-8 and were from Broadway, Marysville, Milford Center, Raymond and Plain City. According to…
Jerome Township officials hosted a community forum Wednesday to discuss plans for the new Innovation District with residents. Trustee Chair Megan Sloat, Director of Departments Douglas Stewart, legal counsel for the township Jennifer Huber and Union County Commissioner Chris Schmenk sat in a circle with community members to share information and listen to concerns. Huber began by describing the proposed zoning overlay, which consists of approximately 741 acres south of Warner Road and north of the Union County/Franklin County line, between the CSX railroad tracks and Industrial Parkway, as a “cloud.” She noted that, if approved, the overlay would not…
Plain City Council tabled the first reading of a new noise ordinance Monday, instead electing to create a committee of interested parties that will review the proposal first. As was the case for the past several council meetings, a number of residents were present to push the board to tighten restrictions on noise in the Uptown district. Mike Walter, who has previously been vocal in his concern, suggested creating the committee. “We just want to be part of it in a big way because we’re affected in a big way,” Walter told council. The proposed ordinance was written following a…
Though not entirely positive, Plain City officials were receptive to feedback from residents regarding the village’s pilot parking program. During the village council meeting Monday, Murlay Drive resident Lucas Gutierrez provided negative feedback surrounding the extent of the changes. On Aug. 9, village officials launched a 90-day pilot program that reduced parking in certain areas of Cooper Lane, Dickens Lane, Carriage Drive, Lantern Lane and Murlay Drive. Street parking was temporarily restricted in these areas after village staff and representatives from the Plain City Police Department and Pleasant Valley Fire District determined parked cars obstructed the path of emergency vehicles.…
After fielding repeated criticism from residents regarding a federal lawsuit, the Jerome Township Trustees heard a compliment Tuesday night. “I feel this was the right thing to do,” said resident Barry Adler. The trustees announced during their most recent meeting that a motion was filed on behalf of the township to dismiss a civil lawsuit filed by a group of property owners and developers. Stakeholders for several residential developments that were stalled by referendums – The Homestead at Scotts Farm, Rolling Meadows, The Farm at Indian Run and the Jerome Village VN-10 development – are listed as joint plaintiffs. Together,…