–––– Christopher W. Simpson, 44, of Marion, and formerly of Marysville, died Wednesday, June 5, 2019, at the O.S.U. Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. He worked at both of the Wendy’s locations in Marysville and also worked at the Delaware location, but he was best known as the “Merch Man.” Serving as both merchandise manager and stage manager for the band XFACTOR1. An avid sports card collector, he could look at nearly any card and know the value right away. He enjoyed rooting for the Cincinnati Reds and the Cincinnati Bengals, but also enjoyed rooting against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Born…
Author: Michael Williamson
Fields, like this one, across Union County are not as full as usual seasons. The wet spring has made planting difficult for local farmers. (Journal-Tribune photo by Michael Williamson) –––– This farmer was photographed in a field off Route 736 near Kandel Road Friday. (Journal-Tribune photo by Mac Cordell) –––– June has arrived but the month that marks the beginning of summer might have fields looking a little less green. This spring, rain and severe weather have plagued Union County by creating flooding and oversaturating the sub-soil with rainwater, making planting season for local farmers a bit difficult. “That’s all…
Pictured above is a rendering of the future front entrance of the Union County Judicial Center, comprised of the courthouse and adjoining justice center. (Graphic submitted) –––– Union County officials gathered today to break ground on construction that will renovate the former Richwood Bank building and the entrance to the Justice Center. The county prosecutor will move into the building once it’s complete. Picture breaking ground from left: Commissioner Charles Hall, Prosecutor Dave Phillips, Judge Don Fraser, Commissioner Steve Stolte, Judge Charlotte Eufinger and Commissioner Chris Schmenk. (Journal-Tribune photo by Michael Williamson) –––– Officials broke ground Thursday for the construction…
The final plot of land in New California Hills may finally get filled. Jerome Township Trustees approved the application for the thirteenth and final phase of the development that first saw homes in the early 1970s. “One of the issues we ran into with this development is it is so old, a lot of documentation has been difficult to find,” said Mark Spagnuolo, zoning officer for the township. “We are perceiving based on the history of a 40 or 50-year old development that everything is going to be held to the same standards that we currently have at New California.”…
A schedule change at Tolles Career and Technical Center could alter arrival and departure times for some local school districts. Tolles officials are looking at adding time to the beginning and end of the school day for the 2019-2020 school year. “After discussion with our treasurer, Tammy Woods, soliciting feedback from our associate schools and coordinating internally, I will propose to the Board of Education at our June meeting that we extend the student school day by adding six minutes in the morning and six minutes in the afternoon,” said Tolles Superintendent Emmy Beeson. The change would alter the school…
The Marysville movie theater renovation group has a new team leader. Sarah Barr has been brought on as executive director for the non-profit organization that owns and operates the Avalon Theatre, according to a release put out by the organization. She is coming from Sidney where she served as executive director and oversaw the fundraising efforts and construction of the Historic Sidney Theatre building. While there, she successfully raised $3.7 million dollars to renovate and operate the 1921 vaudeville theater into a cultural arts facility. “The Marysville Uptown Theatre Board of Trustees is thrilled to have Sarah join the team.…
Construction plans for the former Richwood Bank building and Union County Courthouse are set to move forward. County Commissioners passed resolutions Tuesday granting permission to proceed on the project, which includes both the courthouse and renovations to the bank building at 249 W. Fifth St., which will eventually house the office of Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips. “We’re glad to get these resolutions passed after several false starts,” said County Administrator Tim Hansley. Construction will start next week with the bank building first before moving to the courthouse. Changes include the renovations to the interior to create office space for…
Thursday Jonathan Alder softball at Akron Firestone Stadium, 3 p.m., vs. Poland Seminary (Division II state semifinals) Friday State track meet prelims begins at The Ohio State University’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Schedule for local athletes as follows: Division III -Fairbanks’ boys 4 x 200 relay team (Nate Timmons, Trey Good, Kaleb Bosworth, Will Cochrane), 10:40 a.m.; Triad’s Dominick McFarlan and Fairbanks’ Timmons, 300 hurdles, 11:30 a.m.; Eli O’Brien of Triad, 200 meter dash, 11:50 a.m. Division II -Jonathan Alder’s Clayton Boggs, 400 meter dash, 3:10 p.m. Division I -Marysville’s Jacob Ranker, 110-meter hurdles, 5:25 p.m. and 300-meter hurdles, 6:45…
Tiger Woods hits the ball out of a sand trap at the Muirfield Village Golf Club earlier this week. Woods opened the first round of the 2019 Memorial Tournament today. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kevin Behrens)
Dr. Chrisanne Gordon has garnered national acclaim for her work involving the understanding of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and how it affects veterans returning from combat. She also happens to be located right here in Union County. Gordon has been a physician at Memorial Hospital since the mid-1980s and for the last 11 years, she has worked to expand the research, treatment, understanding and awareness of TBI. She came to Memorial Hospital from the Ohio State University hospital to set up the occupational health center and eventually became the Director of Rehabilitation Services after deciding Marysville was where she wanted…
Two topics of discussion have been continued in Jerome Township. Trustees held a special meeting on Tuesday to discuss progress on the Rolling Meadows housing development and the rezoning of a new brewery located on the eastern side of the township. “The trustees are requesting more information from the applicant,” said Mark Spagnuolo, the zoning officer in the township. “There are two parcels to the south of the golf course that they have questions about. They are also looking to get some legal documents from the developer.” Virginia Homes, the company looking at the area between Industrial Parkway and Crottinger…
Union County Auditor Andrea Weaver wants to let property owners know what they can do following damage from severe weather. Weaver sent out a release Tuesday in the aftermath of Monday’s storms informing residents of their options. According to the National Weather Service, Marysville and the surrounding area has a chance for thunderstorms everyday for the remainder of the week. “(The auditor’s) staff will inspect any building that was either damaged or destroyed by the recent severe weather if its value is $2,000 or more,” the auditor said in the release. The inspection is free and could save the property…
What good is criticism if the world is full of it? When I think of a critic, I often think of a person in a tweed jacket and maybe dark sunglasses, someone who writes for a glossy magazine or perhaps a guy who teams up with a fellow writer on a TV broadcast, talking about movies (R.I.P., Siskel and Ebert). In the past, critics of media and popular culture served as a sort of travel guide, helping viewers navigate the treacherous waters of book selection, record selection or, of course, which movie to see on an opening Friday night. Critics…
Pictured above is a collection of rusted .50 caliber machine guns found at the site of Capt. John “Blackie” Porter’s crashed plane. The site was discovered in 2011. (Photo submitted|MIA Recoveries, Inc.) –––– An Arizona man with no ties to the City of Marysville may be responsible for bringing two of its sons home. Clayton Kuhles, of Prescott, AZ, a self-proclaimed “professional adventurer” is in the process of organizing a team of explorers to go to Southeast Asia to recover the remains of Marysville natives, Capt. John “Blackie” Porter and Sgt. Harold Neibler, whose plane went down in the middle…
A confrontation during a village board meeting may end with the removal of a member. During the Plain City Village Council meeting on Monday (moved to May 20 ahead of Memorial Day), council discussed the plan of action regarding Eric Medici, the chairperson of the village’s design and review board. According to a memorandum sent out my Mayor Darrin Lane, Medici’s actions during a May 2 meeting of the design and review board “reflect poorly on the village.” Shannon Pine, a council and design and review board member, was not present at Monday’s council meeting for discussion of the issue…