Jerome Township trustees approved a development plan for the first phase of a residential development south of U.S. 42 called Jerome Park. The project will feature townhouses, illustrated above, as well as single-family homes. In later phases, commercial properties are proposed along U.S. 33. (Graphic submitted) On the same night Jerome Township trustees approved two new developments, they certified referendum petitions for another. At the most recent trustees meeting, the board unanimously approved a development plan for the first phase of Jerome Park as well as plans for Pioneer Crossing. Jerome Park is planned to be a residential development located…
Author: Kayleen Petrovia
The idea of “citizen journalism” is something I’ve never been completely sold on. I frequently reflect on a debate from one of my college journalism ethics classes as to whether people documenting an event online should really be considered “journalists.” I didn’t – and still don’t – think I’d been designated as this elite storyteller for society but if journalism didn’t require some kind of training, why exactly was I in that class anyways? I certainly see the value of the online platforms and the ability they give all kinds of people to share information. They provide access to knowledge…
Union County Health Department officials are pivoting as the demand for COVID-19 vaccine begins to decline. “Metaphorically, we’ve hit a number of walls over the past couple of weeks,” Union County Health Commissioner Jason Orcena said Wednesday during the Board of Health meeting. He said there has been a “slowdown” in local vaccine demand that mirrors trends seen throughout the state. Initially, 1,000 appointments would fill within a couple hours, he said, but slots are now open almost a week after opening. “We thought it would trail off in April,” Orcena said. “It just fell off a cliff in April.”…
Ohio Reformatory for Women officials and staff broke ground Wednesday for the new Residential Treatment Unit and Outpatient Treatment Mall. The facility will provide mental health services for women incarcerated at ORW. Pictured from left are Katie Nixon, ORW deputy warden of special service; Ernie Moore, deputy director of the Office of Prisons; Kevin Stockdale, deputy director of the Office of Administration; Stuart Hudson, ODRC assistant director; Teri Baldauf, ORW warden; Annette Chambers-Smith, ODRC director; Chyqulynn Jefferson, ORW deputy warden of operations; Cheryl Lyman, deputy director of the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission; Kelly Storm, ODRC behavioral health operations director; Tara…
A group of Brock Road residents recently spoke out in opposition to a proposed residential development called The Homestead at Scotts Farm. The trustees will render a decision May 5 on the rezoning of the property. If approved, it would pave the way for the 248 single-family homes depicted above. (Graphic submitted) A group of Brock Road residents pleaded with Jerome Township Trustees Tuesday to slow development in the area. “Many of the people in the community are standing up and saying, ‘Enough,’” said Heather Sargent. A number of her neighbors also spoke out in response to a rezoning application…
Reading practice Triad Elementary School Second Grade Teacher MaryBeth Roose, at left, practices reading with one of her students. Staff members are finding creative ways to practice coronavirus safety measures while educating students. Though students wear face masks during class, they occasionally take them off while sitting between a clear divider so they can mimic their teacher’s mouth when pronouncing new words. (Photo submitted) Triad board members and staff gathered for an in-person, public meeting Thursday for the first time in nearly a year. The group met face-to-face in the new community room for the monthly Board of Education meeting.…
Jerome Township is one step closer to building a second fire station. The Board of Trustees called a special meeting Tuesday to sign an agreement with a third-party construction administrator. IAP Government Services Group will oversee the construction of a new fire station, remodel of the existing fire station and construction of a new salt barn. The company charges 8.5% of the project’s design and construction costs for their services. Fire Chief and Director of Departments Douglas Stewart brought the potential agreement before the trustees at their April 6 meeting, after meeting with the company multiple times. At the time,…
Plain City Council is working to determine how it can support local organizations and events without choosing favorites. Organizers of Rock the Clock and the Plain City Farmers Market recently asked council to support their events. Though council members expressed interest in doing so, at their most recent work session they were unsure of how they could legally – and fairly – assist certain events. Mayor Jody Carney said the village has historically paid for the stage that is used for performances at Rock the Clock. She said she has talked with event organizer Tim Dawson about the village expanding…
A number of local appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine will be affected by a pause in use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Governor Mike DeWine advised all vaccine providers Tuesday morning to temporarily stop using the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. The guidance followed a statement from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommending a “pause” in use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine following “extremely rare blood-clotting events of six people in the U.S. after receiving the vaccine.” The Ohio Northern University Mobile Clinic, which has been providing shots at the Union…
The Union County Convention and Visitors Bureau 2021 Business Plan emphasizes two key initiatives – branding and signage/wayfinding. UCCVB Director Karen Eylon said the objectives have been highlighted to increase tourism and travel-related business in the county. Depicted above are illustrations of new signage concepts, though a design firm has not yet been hired. (Graphic submitted) Union County officials are working to boost tourism and travel-related business throughout each part of the county. Union County Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Karen Eylon recently shared the 2021 UCCVB Business Plan with city, village and county elected officials. During Plain City Council’s…
In celebration of Earth Week 2021, the Union County Courthouse lights will “go green.” Union County Development Services Manager Jason Stanford said the new look is a reminder of the importance of taking care of the planet. “We want it to be a reminder that our environment is precious and very important to all of us,” he said. Stanford said the Union County Economic Development office “toyed with promotions in the past” to celebrate Earth Week. He said the group was looking forward to planning events for the holiday’s 50th anniversary last year, but they were dashed by the COVID-19…
Karen Kier, a Marysville High School graduate and professor of clinical pharmacy at Ohio Northern University, draws a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine into a needle while sitting in the ONU HealthWise Mobile Clinic. The 38-foot RV will transport vaccines to the Union County Fairgrounds every Wednesday in April and May, to be administered by ONU pharmacists, interns and students. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kayleen Petrovia) Now a professor, Karen Kier returns to Marysville with ONU’s mobile vaccine clinic Karen Kier can pinpoint the exact moment that determined the course of her life. She was a junior at…
Plain City officials are considering 2021 budget changes that could divert more funding toward Uptown improvements. Village Administrator Nathan Cahall presented council with proposed supplemental appropriations during Wednesday’s work session. He explained that the “funding outcomes” for the Noteman Road project allow the village to consider other street or storm water improvements. Before the 2021 budget was passed, officials proposed upsizing and replacing the storm sewer lines in the area, lining the sanitary sewer lines, replacing the water mains and a complete “mill and fill” repaving of the entire roadway. Cahall said the funding requests were split between two sources.…
Jerome Township officials are asking residents for patience as they work through the growing pains of new technology. “It’s definitely a work in progress,” Trustee Chair Megan Sloat said. The trustees began livestreaming their meetings via Facebook at the start of the pandemic after purchasing a new camera and microphones. However, the group has cycled through audio equipment as residents often express their difficulty hearing certain speakers while viewing online. Trustee C.J. Lovejoy said he was receiving texts from residents throughout the meeting advising they could not hear individuals using certain microphones or headsets. In response to the complaints, officials…
Almost two years ago, early in my time at the Journal-Tribune, I took photos and wrote a story about the Union County Health Department’s drive-thru flu shot clinic. At the time, a drive-thru clinic of any kind was a completely new concept to me. When I spoke with health officials about the clinic, I learned that it had another benefit aside from helping protect the community from the flu. It was essentially a practice drill in the case that they would ever need to conduct mass vaccinations during an outbreak of some sort. Actively preparing for a pandemic was so…