Station 211, the Jerome Township Division of Fire’s first new fire station in 31 years, is pictured above. The firehouse is located at 11840 Ewing Road, off Ravenhill Parkway. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kayleen Petrovia) — Jerome Township Division of Fire Chief Doug Stewart gestures toward the bay, which can be seen through an opening in the training mezzanine. Firefighters can repel and rope train from the mezzanine using tie-outs on the floor of the bay. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kayleen Petrovia) — The kitchen area of Jerome Township’s second fire station, Station 211, is pictured above. The open concept room is…
Author: Kayleen Petrovia
Pictured above are Heartstring Stereo band members Dane Marsack, Charlie Orwig, Jeremy Cottam, Matt Hawkins, Vanessa Veneziano and Erik Anderson. The band, which originally formed at Honda, now records and performs its own original music. (Photo submitted) — Each song played by local indie-rock band Heartstring Stereo is a reminder of the hidden talents of coworkers and neighbors. “You never know what talent the person sitting next to you has,” said Vocalist and Guitarist Erik Anderson. The group, which has written and released original music since forming in 2018, had a rag-tag beginning of sorts within the walls of Honda…
Staying in your “comfort zone” means different things to different people. Some people tend to thrive in chaotic situations and feel perfectly comfortable with the adrenaline rush that comes with something new. Others more like myself feel most confident when they know what to expect, how to plan and feel prepared for it. There are surely many things about me that reflect this, but I wanted to look into one popular habit that might sum it up. Over the past couple of years, I’ve heard more and more people talk about their “comfort show.” There’s no question at all that,…
As residents at the Ohio Reformatory for Women walk into the prison’s new mental health facility, they see two words inscribed in the flooring just past the front door: “hope instilled.” The words are part of a phrase said to be often used by ORW’s second warden, Marguerite Reilley, for whom the building is named. Reilley was hopeful that, while incarcerated, the women would develop “the spirit of hope instilled.” Her legacy continues nearly a century after she started her tenure at ORW, as Gov. Mike DeWine said, like anyone in the state, incarcerated women deserve “the opportunity to live…
The graphic above illustrates a preliminary site plan for just under 114 acres along Route 161 that developer PC 161 Holdings intends to construct a mixed residential/commercial development upon. The road to the farthest right in the graphic is Route 161, while the diagonal road to its left is Warner Road. (Graphic submitted) — Plain City officials are preparing for a new commercial and a mixed commercial/residential development, each along major thoroughfares into the village. During council’s most recent meeting, the board unanimously approved a rezoning that would pave the way for “The Spot” on U.S. 42, and a pre-annexation…
Officials at the Ohio Reformatory for Women held a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday for the new Marguerite Reilley Mental Health Outpatient Treatment Mall and Residential Treatment Unit. Governor Mike DeWine, at center, and Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Annette Chambers-Smith, at right, are pictured listening to ORW Social Work Supervisor Tara Nickle give a tour of a residential treatment unit within the building. The new facility replaces the current mental health building, which was built in 1949, and will serve as an all-in-one center with outpatient, day treatment and inpatient services combined under one roof, said ORW Warden…
As Plain City officials continue to discuss the future of the Uptown Historic District, council members said they would like to keep the Design Review Board in place to govern it. During a joint work session with the Planning and Zoning Commission and DRB on July 5, Zoning Inspector Derek Hutchinson recommended eliminating the Design Review Board but keeping some historic requirements in place. At the time, several council members voiced support for keeping both DRB and the Uptown Historic District but reworking the code surrounding it. At Monday’s council meeting, however, Council member Kerri Ferguson said she did not…
Following several decisions that were contentious among residents and others that were appealed by developers, Plain City Council may choose to eliminate the village’s Design Review Board – and possibly the Historic District – entirely. “Do we want a historic district and how strict do we want it?” Zoning Inspector Derek Hutchinson asked council. During a joint work session between council, the Planning and Zoning Commission and Design Review Board, Hutchinson laid out the challenges DRB faces. DRB members are tasked with reviewing applicant projects and plans for the Uptown Historic District to ensure they comply with standards included in…
Plain City Council recently took additional steps to pave the way for an “age-focused” development that will bring more than 450 new units to Lafayette Plain City Road. At their most recent meeting, council members voted to annex 122.468 acres on Lafayette Plain City Road into the village from Darby Township. Council also held a public hearing to rezone just over 112 acres of that land from Darby Township Agricultural District to Planned Residential District, although no members of the public spoke on the matter. Council also heard a first reading of an ordinance to rezone the land. The land,…
Plain City Council members are considering whether to limit the length of stays at the Pastime Park Campground in an effort to keep the site open year-round while curbing any issues that may stem from it. During the most recent council meeting, members heard the first reading of an ordinance that would limit campers to staying at Pastime Park for a maximum of six months out of any 12-month period. Parks and Recreation Director Linda Granger told council that the Parks and Recreation Committee chose the six-month limit after considering safety, revenue and aesthetics. She said she researched other campgrounds…
Plain City Police Department Sgt. Tharon Prather, at right, is pictured giving bicyclists a signal to keep riding through Safety Town once the streetlight turned green. Plain City Elementary School hosted the village’s Safety Town this week, through which incoming kindergarteners become acclimated to the school building and meet the “helpers” of the community, like police officers, deputies, librarians and parents. The miniature town allows the students to ride bikes and act as pretend drivers so they can learn how to cross roads safely. Please see Plain City News on page 8 for more Safety Town photos. (Journal-Tribune photo by…
A proposed tax abatement for an Uptown redevelopment project led Plain City Council to debate the larger question of whether the village is business friendly. “It can be said we are not pro-business because we are not supportive enough,” Mayor Jody Carney said. A Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) abatement application from Tim Dawson and Lisa Bonta, the owners of the former Rialto Theatre at 251 W. Main St., prompted council to debate whether development needs to be incentivized in the Uptown. Council member Michael Terry said dilapidated buildings like the Masonic Temple and the old elementary school lead him to…
A West Central inmate was apprehended following a pursuit Sunday after he escaped from the facility Saturday. Matthew I. McKenzie, 34, of Sidney was charged with one count of escape, a felony of the third degree, following the incident. He was being held at the Tri-County Regional Jail Tuesday. According to reports from the Union County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were sent to West Central Community Correctional Facility, 18200 Route 4, at 2:53 a.m. Sunday in reference to an inmate who officials believe escaped on Saturday. UCSO Chief Deputy Tom Morgan said West Central officials realized McKenzie escaped following a headcount…
On a recent trip to the bookstore, I was greeted by the typical, “Hi there! Can I help you find anything?” Before I could even decline, the employee said, “If you’re looking for Colleen Hoover’s books, we have a display on a table right past this section.” If you haven’t heard of her, Colleen Hoover’s books are insanely popular on social media, especially among teenaged to early-20s women. She is essentially the author that sparked “BookTok” a.k.a. the realm of the TikTok app where readers go to find recommendations and reviews. I’m sure I fit the exact demographic of shoppers…
Union County Health Department officials said a proposed strategic plan for the agency highlights “a commitment to who we have been as we explore how we need to change and grow.” Deputy Director of Health Promotion and Planning Liz Fries and Accreditation Coordinator Tim Kelley presented the Board of Health on Wednesday with the strategic plan that will guide UCHD through Fall 2026. Kelley said about half of the health department’s staff participated in the creation of the plan. They began by “exploring who we are” and establishing UCHD’s mission, vision and values. Kelley said he was encouraged by the…