Plain City News

Roundabout a factor in JA planning
Education, News, Plain City News
Jonathan Alder officials are working on facility planning ahead of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s planned roundabout project at U.S. 42 and Price-Hilliards Road near Canaan Middle School. ODOT has three possible roundabout configurations for the Madison County intersection, including the one shown above, which adjusts the alignment of the roadways for cars to enter at an angle. (Graphic submitted)
By Michael Williamson 
December 13, 2025
More than a month after Election Day, Jonathan Alder is ready to hit the ground running on its planned construction project. The board of education had its first regular meeting this week since vote t...
Saving the bulls
News, Plain City, Plain City News
A driver on U.S. 42 called in a barn fire on Wells Road at 3:34 p.m. on Nov. 28. Pictured above, smoke bellows from the building, which is a European-Union certified bull barn at Select Sires housing priceless, genetically-gifted bovines. Officials said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. (Photo submitted)
Firefighters, employees rescue high-value animals at Select Sires
By Kyle Meddles 
December 10, 2025
For most people, Black Friday is a day to sit around with a belly full of turkey and do some online shopping, but for staff at Select Sires, the day after Thanksgiving was a race to save ten of its pr...
Memorial, Plain City clear the air
News, Plain City, Plain City News
Melanie Ziegler and Spence Fisher with Memorial Health spoke to Plain City council and residents Monday about the recent inaccurate reports of all medical services leaving town (Journal-Tribune photo by Jack Christian)
Report of health system leaving the village squashed
By Jack Christian 
December 9, 2025
Memorial Health officials attended the most recent Village of Plain City Council meeting Monday to address what they described as a misunderstanding in the community regarding their ongoing move to Je...
Jerome Township considers future plans for older fire station
News, Plain City, Plain City News
By Jack Christian 
December 6, 2025
Following the November election that saw voters approve the fire levy, the Jerome Township Board of Trustees recently spent time reviewing a feasibility study for Station 210. The document outlines po...
P.C. walks back comments about memorial
Local News, News, Plain City News
By From JT Staff Reports 
December 5, 2025
Editor's note: The following release was provided from the Village of Plain City in reference to a recent disagreement with Memorial Health. The Village of Plain City would like to provide an importan...
Memorial Health says Plain City not left without medical coverage
Local News, News, Plain City, ...
By From JT Staff Reports 
December 2, 2025
Memorial Health officials say they plan to attend the next Plain City Village Council meeting to answer questions and provide information related to concerns raised at a previous meeting. At a meeting...
P.C. officials concerned with loss of medical providers
Local News, News, Plain City, ...
"Right now, we are monitoring Plain City becoming a bit of a medical desert." - Jason Stanford, Plain City Development Director
By Jack Christian 
November 27, 2025
Plain City officials said they are bracing for a significant shift in local health care access as Memorial Health prepares to leave the village, raising concerns about the availability of essential me...
P.C. man indicted on 60 felonies
Court News, News, Plain City, ...
By Kyle Meddles 
November 21, 2025
Following a case of voyeurism, a Plain City man has been charged with 60 felony counts after allegedly filming and possessing videos of a minor in a state of nudity. The Union County Grand Jury has in...
Recount coming after JA bond flip flop
Education, News, Plain City News
Provisional, absentee count pushes issue to approval by three votes
By Michael Williamson 
November 17, 2025
Editor's note: This story has been updated from a previous version. After provisional and absentee votes appeared to flip Jonathan Alder’s bond issue to a victory by just three votes, district officia...
Plain City intersection studied for redesign plan
Local News, News, Plain City News
By Jack Christian 
November 15, 2025
As Plain City moves forward with its long-term planning efforts, community infrastructure, particularly street improvements, continue to be one of the village’s highest priorities. The Village of Plai...
Alleged sex offender faces new cases
Court News, Local News, News, ...
Grand jury indictments
By Kyle Meddles 
November 14, 2025
Two underage females came forward in a case accusing a Plain City man of rape and other sexual acts after he had already been charged in a sex offense involving a minor. Anthony David James, 20, whose...
JA mulls legal action against Smarra
Education, Local News, News, ...
Union County Treasurer Andy Smarra, pictured above at right, explains to the Jonathan Alder Board of Education Tuesday why he sent a tax letter out to residents late last month. Alder officials criticized Smarra’s actions, suggesting he impacted the outcome of the district’s recent bond issue. (Journal-Tribune photo by Michael Williamson)
Board feels letter from county treasurer damaged levy attempt
By Michael Williamson 
November 12, 2025
Jonathan Alder is considering possible legal action against the Union County Treasurer. Following a tense back and forth between the officials Tuesday night, the board of education approved a measure ...
Walking path officially opens at Harry Wolfe Park
News, Plain City News
In the drone photo above, taken by the Union County Sheriff’s Department, the new walking path can be seen around the pond at Harry Wolfe Park in Jerome Township. (Photo submitted)
By From JT Staff Reports 
November 10, 2025
Jerome Township held a ribbon cutting campaign for its new mostly grant-funded walking trail at the Harry Wolfe Park. The township applied for an Ohio Department of Natural Resources Recreational Trai...
Plain City street projects continue
News, Plain City, Plain City News
By Jack Christian 
November 8, 2025
Plain City officials are continuing to address ongoing street and infrastructure projects as the village adapts to growth and the increasing need for roadway improvements. One of the most noticeable u...
Jerome voters pick Adler, Watson
News, Plain City News
By Jack Christian 
November 5, 2025
The Union County Board of Elections has released unofficial results following Tuesday’s election. Incumbent Trustee Barry Adler will retain his seat on the Jerome Township Board of Trustees after rece...
JA issue faces second slim defeat
Education, News, Plain City, ...
After 16-vote loss in May, bond issue comes up 12 votes short
By Michael Williamson 
November 5, 2025
Early tallies for the Jonathan Alder bond issue show that it failed by another narrow margin, according to the unofficial election results. Vote totals show the measure being defeated by just 12 votes...
Election day at JA
News, Plain City News
By Michael Williamson 
November 5, 2025
Voters walk into Jonathan Alder High School on Election Day Tuesday morning to cast their votes. Alder was just one of several entities in the area with measures on the ballot. (Journal-Tribune photo ...
Plain City to seek grant for Pastime Park work
News, Plain City, Plain City News
By Jack Christian 
November 4, 2025
Plain City officials have announced plans to apply for funding through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Land and Water Conservation Fund Program, a state-administered initiative aimed a...
Facility measure back before JA voters
Education, News, Plain City News
By Michael Williamson 
October 27, 2025
Editor's note: This edition contains the final installments of the Journal-Tribune's pre-election series detailing issues and candidates that will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot. Jonathan Alder is return...
Five running for seat on Jerome Township Board of Trustees
News, Plain City, Plain City News
By Jack Christian 
October 24, 2025
Five candidates are running for two seats on the Jerome Township Board of Trustees. Barry Adler is seeking to hold onto his seat, while Andrea Watson, Henry Vynalek, Zach Haughawout and Aaron Grabovic...
Individuals recognized for lifesaving efforts in Jerome incident
News, Plain City, Plain City News
Several individuals were honored for their life saving efforts during a cardiac incident in Jerome Township on Sept. 29. Those recognized were, from left to right, dispatcher Andrew Clemans, medical director Dr. Eric Cortez, firefighter Taryn Roston, battalion chief Justin French, firefighter Joe Pheifer, firefighter Ben Farbacher, battalion chief Christine Zimmer, firefighter Isabela Roush, Dublin Methodist staff member Annette Kertesz and Dr. Todd Cardwell, a cardiologist at Dublin methodist hospital. (Journal-Tribune photo by Jack Christian)
By Jack Christian 
October 22, 2025
Jerome Township officials paused their regular business Tuesday night to recognize the first responders and medical personnel involved in saving a resident’s life during a recent cardiac emergency. Fi...
JA library features hands-on stations
Education, News, Plain City News
By Michael Williamson 
October 20, 2025
Plain City Elementary students demonstrate new innovation stations in the school’s library recently evening during the October Jonathan Alder Board of Education meeting. Elevated Innovation Stations b...
Two withdraw from races
Local News, Marysville School Board, News, ...
The lower left corner of this sample ballot from the Union County Board of Elections shows five candidates running for Marysville School Board, though one was withdrawn from consideration. Bob Sements has dropped from the race and in Jerome Township candidate Jay Regula has also withdrawn. The announcements came too late to be taken off the ballot, so voting machines will carry signs noting that votes for the two individuals will not be tallied. (Graphic submitted)
Names still on ballot, but votes for them will not be counted
By From JT Staff Reports 
October 15, 2025
Marysville and Jerome Township each saw a candidate remove themselves from races in the upcoming election. Jay Regula in the Jerome Township Trustee race and Bob Sements in the Marysville School Board...
Tolles students assist at semi crash
News, Plain City, Plain City News
Tolles students pictured from left to right are Logan Faulkner, Dylan Shields, Seth French and Luke Self. (Photo submitted)
By From JT Staff Reports 
October 6, 2025
Several Tolles Career and Technical Center students put their training into action when they stopped to help a semi-truck driver injured in a crash this week. At about 11:45 a.m., Tuesday, at the exit...
Seasonal closure of Pastime Park draws concerns
News, Plain City, Plain City News
By Jack Christian 
September 26, 2025
Plain City board members were met with pushback at Monday’s board meeting regarding the recently approved legislation that enacts a seasonal closure of Pastime Park. At the village council meeting on ...
Old Ranco site to become park
News, Plain City, Plain City News
The former Ranco site off U.S. 42 near Plain City, will become the village’s newest park, according to an announcement Wednesday. The village announced that the property has been deemed safe by the Ohio EPA and the village will take ownership of the 66-acre property. (Photo submitted)
By Jack Christian 
September 25, 2025
For years, the former Ranco property outside Plain City sat vacant but officials say they have new plans for the site. The village announced Wednesday that it has reached an agreement with Schneider E...
Bus driver shortage hits JA
Education, News, Plain City News
By Michael Williamson 
September 20, 2025
Jonathan Alder is having no luck finding additional bus drivers to fill its routes. At the September board of education meeting, district officials stressed that unless they can find some backup, subs...
Jerome Township connector trail advancing
News, Plain City News
By Jack Christian 
September 19, 2025
Jerome Township has selected a contractor that will build a connector trail linking Harry Wolfe Park to a nearby neighborhood. Following the required bid process, trustees voted at Tuesday’s regular b...
Stormwater concerns raised in Jerome Village area
Local News, News, Plain City News
By Michael Williamson 
September 16, 2025
A Jerome Township resident says a lack of stormwater regulations in Jerome Village could mean legal issues for Union County. Scott Sonnenberg, who lives on Wells Road between two portions of the Jerom...
Data sinners
News, Plain City, Plain City News
On April 17 earlier this year, the Jerome Township Fire Department responded to the Amazon data center at 8619 Industrial Parkway for a fire, where they experienced access issues, delays and multiple safety violations. Responders stayed on-scene for 36 hours alongside units from ten other fire departments. The fire resulted in five workers sustaining injuries and an estimated loss of $50 million in fire damages. (File photo)
Jerome Twp. data centers creating heartburn for fire department, little benefit
By Kyle Meddles 
September 13, 2025
In the lead up to a nine-month moratorium placed on data centers by the Jerome Township Trustees, the Jerome Township Fire Department has been putting pressure on Amazon after they have refused to add...