News

“God told me to”
News
A mobile crime processing unit from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is shown outside of 1482 Meadowlark Lane Monday after 27-year-old Micaiah Swindler called 911 to report he had murdered his father. Swindler is currently in the Tri-County Jail on a $1-million bond facing a charge of murder. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kevin Behrens)
In 911 call suspect says higher power told him to kill father
By Michael Williamson 
April 22, 2025
The suspect apprehended for a stabbing in Mill Valley has been charged with murder after telling dispatchers God told him to do it. On Monday, Marysville Police charged Micaiah Immanuel Swindler, 27, ...
Jerome comprehensive plan work continues
News, Plain City News
By Kyle Meddles 
April 21, 2025
Jerome Township continued discussion on its comprehensive plan – between the trustees and members of the community – but any conclusion will have to wait until May. Before the regular meeting of the b...
School district honors Good Apples
Marysville School Board, News
By Chad Williamson 
April 21, 2025
The Marysville School District gave out its Good Apple Awards recently. The awards are given annually to volunteers and organizations from each school who have made significant contributions to the sc...
Suspect in custody after fatal stabbing
News
Law enforcement officials gather outside a property on Meadowlark Lane following a report of a fatal stabbing at the residence at 12:34 p.m. Monday. The Marysville Police Division reported that one male was found deceased in the home and another male was taken into custody. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kevin Behrens)
By From JT Staff Reports 
April 21, 2025
Editor's note: This story has been updated from a previous version. A suspect is in custody after a report of a fatal stabbing on Meadowlark Lane in Mill Valley. At approximately 12:34 p.m. Monday, th...
Workers take in smoke in Amazon site fire
News, Plain City News
The Amazon data center at 8565 Industrial Parkway, which is currently under construction in Jerome Township, suffered smoke damage after a fire occurred in an HVAC unit inside of the building. Officials are still investigating the cause and extent of the damage. Five injuries caused by smoke inhalation were reported and one individual was transported to OSU. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
By Kyle Meddles 
April 17, 2025
The Amazon data center, currently under construction on Industrial Parkway, suffered smoke damage after the inside of an HVAC unit was on fire Thursday morning. Jerome Township Fire Chief Doug Stewart...
Dispatchers play crucial role when lives are on the line
News
By Michael Williamson 
April 17, 2025
When people think of first responders, they often think of the people showing up to a scene with lights and sirens. They don’t always think of the 911 dispatchers who take those calls. Nate Coffield w...
Students passionate about saving arts
Local News, Marysville School Board, News
The Marysville students pictured above were among about 40 who spent two hours Monday night at The Rock Church calling voters to generate support for the district operating levy on the May 6 ballot. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson)
Young levy volunteers envision future if May measure fails
By Chad Williamson 
April 16, 2025
On a warm day earlier this week the sounds of teams competing at the Marysville High School athletic fields drifted a few hundred feet to a church that held a few dozen other students also focused on ...
JA seeks voter support for bond issue
News, Plain City, Plain City News
Ballot roundup
By Michael Williamson 
April 16, 2025
Jonathan Alder Local Schools will be on the ballot next month with a bond issue. The district will be asking residents to pass a 5.12-mill bond request for construction, which will total $70,625,000 t...
Charter changes aim to empower citizens, schools
News
By Michael Williamson 
April 16, 2025
On May 6, Marysville residents will be asked to consider two amendments to the city’s charter. Changes were organized and proposed by the Supporting Marysville Amending Referendums TIFs (SMART) Coalit...
Area churches list Easter services
Local News, News, Society
By From JT Staff Reports 
April 16, 2025
Area churches invite the public to attend special Holy Week activities and Easter services across Union County. Beloved United Methodist Church Maundy Thursday service – April 17, 6 to 7 p.m., at Phar...
Hot garbage
News
By Aleksei Pavloff 
April 16, 2025
It was pretty chilly on Tuesday, but not cold enough to need a trashcan fire for warmth. First responders were able to quickly contain this small fire in front of Fiesta Grande on North Main Street. (...
Venezuelans face deportation after offense
News, Police Beat
Pair tried to open ATM at bank
By Kyle Meddles 
April 15, 2025
Two Venezuelan men arrested in Richwood for attempting to crack an ATM are now facing deportation orders. Renny Moises Sojo-Delgado, 26, and Mario Nicolas Perez, 27, both out of Chicago, Illinois, wer...
City council votes 4-3 to allow medical waste facility
Marysville City Council, News
By Michael Williamson 
April 15, 2025
The much discussed biomedical waste sterilization business was given the green light to proceed but not without some disagreement between Marysville City Council members. The board voted 4-3 to pass l...
Richwood Opera House up for sale again
News
By Kyle Meddles 
April 15, 2025
The Opera House will be hitting the buyer’s market for a second time, which will be the last straw for some village council members. At the regular meeting of Richwood Council on Monday, Opera House C...
Richwood man charged with rape of young relatives
Court News, News
Grand jury indictments
By Kyle Meddles 
April 14, 2025
A Richwood man is facing as many as 98 years in prison for raping three female children that were under the ages of 10. The Union County Grand Jury has charged Michel Brian Nelson, 65, of 130 E. Blagr...
Local “In Your Easter Bonnet” competition
News
By From JT Staff Reports 
April 14, 2025
Suzanne McNeal, left, Juanita Miller, center, and Lisa Harden, right, show off their bonnets during the First Annual “In Your Easter Bonnet” Competition at The Avalon Theatre Sunday. The fundraising e...
Project hits warp speed
News, Plain City, Plain City News
Plain City will see some 4,500 housing units over the next several years and village officials have broken down where those developments will be. The areas in green are projects that are active and under construction. The projects in blue are in the planning or approval process. While many of the developments are residential, some are also commercial such as the blue 500-acre project north of the village. (Graphic submitted)
Plain City development years ahead of schedule
By Michael Williamson 
April 11, 2025
Some residential development projects in Plain City are building faster than anticipated. One of those projects, Darby Station, the 500-unit development along Route 161, is actually years ahead of sch...
Resident of Philippines charged with illegal voting
Court News, News
Grand jury indictments
By Kyle Meddles 
April 11, 2025
A Marysville woman is being charged with voting illegally. The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Jelanie Tumilap Neff, 36, of 1880 Welsh Place, charging her with one count of illegal voting, a four...
Jonathan Alder students meet with astronaut during Space Night
Education, News, Plain City, ...
Ohio astronaut Don Thomas talks to students at Canaan Middle School April 4 as part of the district’s second annual Space Night. Visitors got to explore rocket building, a simulation of Mars exploration and interactive learning about planets and constellations. (Submitted photo)
By From JT Staff Reports 
April 11, 2025
Jonathan Alder Local School District students and families reached for the stars at the Second Annual Space Night on April 4 at Canaan Middle School. The community event, sponsored through Amazon's pa...
Richardson notes highlights of state budget
News
By From JT Staff Reports 
April 11, 2025
Editor’s note: The following release comes from the office of Tracy Richardson. ––– State Representative Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville) voted yesterday in support of Am. Sub. House Bill 96 – the Hous...
Airport to replace weather monitoring system
News
By Kyle Meddles 
April 10, 2025
The Union County Airport is making improvements to its weather monitoring and other systems after its board approved a new construction project. At the regular monthly board meeting on Tuesday, airpor...
National protest on a local level
News
By From JT Staff Reports 
April 10, 2025
Organizers estimate that 125 individuals took part in the local Hands Off protest at the Union County Courthouse and on Coleman's Crossing Saturday. Across the country, more than 1,400 organized event...
Automated voice hits scanner airwaves
News
System will help expedite emergency dispatching
By Michael Williamson 
April 9, 2025
The Union County Sheriff’s Office is currently testing a feature that could save time and effort on 911 calls. Those who occasionally tune into the scanner to hear Union County dispatch services might...
Good samaritan charged with drunk driving
News, Police Beat
By Kyle Meddles 
April 9, 2025
A man was arrested for drunk driving Tuesday night after helping a runaway girl make it back home. Brian P. Savage, 45, of Dublin, was arrested for operating a vehicle while under the influence (OVI) ...
Clamp on federal funds hits North Lewisburg projects
News
By Chad Williamson 
April 9, 2025
Plans of any type were seemingly unwelcome at Tuesday night’s North Lewisburg Village Council meeting. Residents learned that plans to apply for financial backing through a pair of government programs...
Early voting gets underway
Local News, News
Leigh Ann Shepherd, pictured at right, and Colleen Ramge, center, both of Marysville, sign in Tuesday at the Union County Board of Elections. Early voting started this week and will run through Sunday, May 4 ahead of the election on May 6. According to the board, more than 270 votes were cast, including absentee votes, as of Tuesday afternoon. See the article for more dates and times. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kyle Meddles)
By Michael Williamson 
April 9, 2025
Early voting started Tuesday and the Union County Board of Elections is looking for additional workers to help at the polls. Director Brandon Clay said this year, many of the workers who have done wor...
Raises considered for council, law director
Marysville City Council, News
By Michael Williamson 
April 9, 2025
Marysville City Council is considering a salary increase as well as an increase for the city’s law director. Tara Maine, the human resources director, told the board that she recommends bumping the pa...
Spring in Ohio
News
By From JT Staff Reports 
April 8, 2025
The weekend reminded area residents that spring weather in Ohio can be a very mixed bag, as heavy rainfall and flooding Friday and Saturday gave way to overnight snowfall on Sunday. Above, the driver ...
JTFD cancels truck order after delays, price hikes
News, Plain City, Plain City News
By Kyle Meddles 
April 7, 2025
Price increases and delays cause the Jerome Township Fire Department to look elsewhere to add a new fire tanker to its inventory. At the regular meeting of the trustees last week, Jerome Township vote...
Initial work on logjams pays small dividends
News
By Michael Williamson 
April 7, 2025
Did the logjam removal work impact flooding of Mill Creek this weekend? Union County Engineer Jeff Stauch said it did, but only slightly. “Unfortunately, there’s just no great way to tell how much of ...