Author: Mac Cordell

A Delaware man could be facing more than five years in prison after allegedly causing a crash that injured another man. The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Justin Michael Vanhoesen, charging him with one count each of aggravated vehicular assault and possession of drug abuse instruments. According to court documents, at about 12:30 p.m., Oct. 22, Vanhoesen was driving a 2006 Ford Fusion on U.S. 42 near Harriott Road, in Jerome Township. “He went left of center and hit a box truck and then hit a mailbox,” Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said. He said the driver of the…

County officials and employees will be participating in an active shooter drill Thursday at the Union County Office Building. The trainings, similar to this one recently held at Marysville High School, teach participants to run, to hide, and to to use available objects to barricade themselves away from a potential threat. (Photo submitted) –––– The Union County Office Building, 233 W. Sixth St., will be closed from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday. “We recognize this can be a little bit inconvenient, but we don’t want someone coming in off the street, seeing something and getting the wrong idea about…

The destructive nature of shaming I recently watched an interview with, of all people, Monica Lewinski. The interviewer, John Oliver, was doing a feature on shaming. He talked about how it can be useful if it gets a shameful person or entity to change their ways. He also talked about how it can be unwarranted and overwhelming. He referenced a woman suing her nephew because she fell while trying to hug him and broke her wrist. On the surface, she seems like the worst aunt ever. But in the backstory we learned that the woman’s health insurance could only cover…

Municipal County Fail to reg – Joshua D. Berninger, Dublin, $58 fine, $85 costs. Seat belt – Jonathon D. McAdams, Springfield, $30 fine, $66 costs. Assured clear distance – James M. Scanlon, Dublin, $58 fine, $85 costs. Fail to reg – David I. Collins, 2358 Trophy Drive, $58 fine, $85 costs. Fail to control – Ryan P. Keber, VanWert, $58 fine, $85 costs. Seat belt – Mariama Bah, Columbus, $30 fine, $66 costs. Fail to control – Robert J. Biondi, Lutz, FL, $55 fine, $88 costs. Speeding – Paul E. Knox, Cable, $75 fine, $85 costs. Speeding – Brendan M.…

A Mill Valley man, arrested with drugs and multiple assault style guns, could be facing nearly three decades in prison. The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Timothy Conley, 50, of 1178 Nutmeg Dr. Conley is charged with one count each of illegal manufacture of drugs, trafficking in hashish, trafficking in marijuana, possession of hashish, possession of marijuana, corrupting another with drugs and two counts of unlawful possession of a dangerous ordnance. The grand jury also added gun specifications to seven of the charges. Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said the investigation began after a tip that came into Crime…

While Jerome Township officials and residents are looking to curb noise pollution, they aren’t sure they can do it. At Monday night’s meeting of the Jerome Township Board of Trustees, the trustees discussed legislation that would prohibit “Jake brakes” in the township. He said state officials have offered to place signs on U.S. 42 at both ends of the township and the Madison and Delaware county lines. “They aren’t going to put up any more signs,” Trustee Ron Rhodes said, noting there are seven miles of road between the lines. “How much good do you think those signs are going…

Plain City is planning to move away from using the Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA) and bringing income tax collection into the village. RITA collects income taxes for many Ohio municipalities that have an income tax but no tax department. Plain City has used the agency to collect income tax from residents since 1995. Village Administrator Nathan Cahall said RITA’s “niche” is serving small communities. Cahall said the agency takes “a little bit north of 3 percent” as a collection fee. That fee also includes legal costs. In 2017 RITA collected about $2.02 million in revenue and charged $60,572 in…

Municipal Court Speeding – Leah Schroeder, Dublin, dismissed, traffic diversion program completed, $143 costs. Fail to reg – Kirby C. Rawlins, 2107 Fawn Meadow Drive, $58 fine, $85 costs. Assured clear distance – Lucas Bowlus, Columbus, $58 fine, $85 costs. Speeding – Joshua Mahler, 163 Northcrest Drive, $58 fine, $85 costs. Speeding – Melissa A. Acosta, Marion, dismissed, traffic diversion program completed, $143 costs. Fail to yield – Zachary O. Palombo, 1443 Tarragon Drive, $58 fine, $85 costs. Fail to display – Nathan Moceri, Russells Point, $58 fine, $85 costs. Fail to reg – Joshua R. Ryan, Columbus, $58 fine,…

Officials at Jonathan Alder showed the Angst documentary to students, teachers and the community. A community wide forum was also held to discuss and raise awareness around anxiety. (Photo submitted) –––– Editor’s note: This is the second in a year-long series of articles by the Journal-Tribune titled Stella’s Cloud. The series is an effort to raise community awareness of the county’s rising suicide rate. The first of the stories was published on Jan. 12. ––– During the first weeks of 2015, a pair of student suicides shocked the Jonathan Alder community. In the wake of those tragedies, members of the…

The Union County Commissioners are leasing their farm ground. The county recently accepted a bid from Darrison Cook to farm 72 acres of county ground. County officials said the county owns 66 acres on County Home Road and “the rest is spread out on some other areas,” said County Administrator Tim Hansley. Cook will pay $185 per acre to farm the land. The bid was more than $40 above the only other bidder, Lee Farms. Hansley said that county officials worked closely with the Ohio State University Ag Extension Office to create a set of best practices form managing the…

Plain City officials are starting the process of asking for volunteers to help shape the future government. At a work session following Monday’s Plain City Village Council meeting, the body authorized solicitor Paul Lafayette to draw up paperwork asking residents if they want the village to become a charter city or remain a statutory community. Village Administrator Nathan Cahall said he believes the 2020 census will reveal Plain City has crossed the threshold of 5,000 residents and will change from being a village to a city. He said the census will take place in early 2020 and results would likely…

Municipal Court Fail to reg – Elizabeth Norton, VanWert, $58 fine, $85 costs. Fail to display – Billy H. Baisden, Columbus, $58 fine, $85 costs. Speeding – Tejinder S. Pandher, Twinsburg, $55 fine, $88 costs. Speeding – Trevor Sterling, Elida, $58 fine, $85 costs. No OL – Ann E. Kellum, Marion, $58 fine, $88 costs. Speeding – Emily J. Weber, Hilliard, dismissed, traffic diversion program completed, $143 costs. Speeding – James S. Herold, 1431 Cinnamon Drive, $58 fine, $85 costs. Speeding – Kara L. Richer, Sudbury, ON, $58 fine, $85 costs. Window tint – Jeffrey A. Long, 696 Rainbow Drive,…

Union County deputies are shown near the emergency room entrance at Memorial Hospital today as they assisted in attempts to bring a combative patient under control. The man had slipped his restraints and climbed into the ceiling and had instigated a three-hour standoff on Monday. (Journal-Tribune photo by Will Channell) –––– For the second time in two days, police have been called to Memorial hospital. On Monday, a man was taken to Memorial Hospital, 500 London Ave., and barricaded himself in a room. On Tuesday, the same man was able to get loose and climbed into the hospital’s ceiling. The…

Municipal Court OVI – Ryan L. Jones, Dublin, $1500 fine, $730 susp., $211.30 costs, 120 days jail 105 susp., OL susp. 2 yr. Marked lanes – Ryan L. Jones, Dublin, dismissed, $28 costs. OL forfeit – Holly Davidson, Marion, $150 fine, $315 costs. OVI – Curtis S. Wilgus, West Mansfield, $750 fine, $365 susp., $165 costs, 30 days jail 27 susp., OL susp. 1 yr. Turn signals – Curtis S. Wilgus, West Mansfield, dismissed, $28 costs. Fail/reinstate – Jonathan T. Voss, 252 Dogwood Drive, dismissed, due to plea to companion case, $113 costs. No OL – Jonathan T. Voss, 252…

A Westerville man could be facing nearly a decade and a half in prison after allegedly abusing the disabled man who was in his care. The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Yusuf Sankoh, 34, of 864 Tradewind Dr., Westerville. Sankoh is charged with one count each of felonious assault, assault and abduction. Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said Sankoh had been hired to care for a 55-year-old, developmentally disabled individual. He would often work overnight in the man’s home. “Because of his developmental disability, he needs a caregiver, which the family pays for, around the clock,” Phillips said. He…