Local Archived News

Memorial Hospital plans expansion
Will house urgent care, physical therapy, sports medicine operations
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
Growth and expansion have been two key words associated with Memorial Hospital of Union County in the last five years and that will continue as the hospital announces its plans to construct a new medical office building in Marysville.

German pleads guilty, receives sentence
By Sherryl Sheets
Richwood resident Todd German, 51, was recently sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Peter C. Economus after he pled guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.

Keeton indicted following manhunt
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
The Union County Court of Common Pleas has indicted Carl Wade Keeton, 24, of Magnetic Springs. Union County law enforcement authorities, assisted the Delaware County Adult Court Services on July 10, when Keeton was taken into custody for violating parole.

Library announces Amnesty Week
The Richwood-North Union Public Library has announced that it will offer amnesty to anyone with overdue items or fines from August 19 to 24. Fines will not be charged for any items brought back during this time, no matter how long overdue. All fines already accrued will also be waived for anyone who comes to the library in person to see a staff member about their account.
The library hopes to get back many of their materials without having to pay for replacement items. Many overdue materials are still in demand by other library patrons and the cost of these items is not always recouped. Budgets are limited and the return of popular overdue titles will allow the library’s funds to go even further by purchasing more new and unique items.

Hospital receives ADA Recognition
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
Memorial Hospital of Union County’s Diabetes Education department was recently awarded the prestigious American Diabetes Association (ADA) Education Recognition Certificate for a quality diabetes self-management education program. Memorial Hospital’s Diabetes Self-Management Education program has been continuously recognized for excellence since July 2003 and the ADA continues to believe it offers high-quality education that’s an essential part of effective diabetes treatment.

Farmers Market Festival set for Saturday
The sixth annual Farmers Market Festival will take place at the city parking lot on the corner of Sixth St. and Plum in Marysville on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The festival will also be closing Sixth Street between Main and Plum Streets.

Hey kids, are you coming to the beach party?
By Sherryl Sheets
The Richwood Area Business Association is hosting its annual beach party at Richwood Lake Saturday, Aug. 10, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Balloon Fest takes up fight against breast cancer
By LINDSAY CASTLE
While the annual All Ohio Balloon Fest has regularly supported the United Way of Union County, and will continue to do so this year, event attendees will notice displays of awareness for another great cause.
As patrons walk through the grounds of the Union County Airport Aug. 15-17, they will see a lot of pink relating to breast cancer awareness.
“This year we have the pink breast cancer ribbon hot air balloon, and the Heritage propane truck which will help fill balloons,” said Kevin Behrens, event coordinator. “We also have Kellie Pickler playing the Thursday night concert which we are really excited about.”
Pickler, who has been out on tour since winning the 16th season of Dancing with the Stars, will be taking the stage on Thursday, Aug. 15, for the first ever All Ohio Balloon Fest concert.
“We will be playing songs from the first three albums, but we have new tunes that I am excited to share,” Pickler said in an interview with the Journal-Tribune.
She said the new music is different, but doesn’t stray too far from what fans are used to. Pickler’s fourth album is expected to be released some time this fall, but concert attendees will have the chance to hear a preview of what’s on it.
“It takes two to three months to get everything ready to go, so we’re not sure what the exact release date will be yet, but it’s looking like October or November, and we’ve been putting a lot of work into it,” Pickler said.
In addition to a new album and other side projects, Pickler has also been a proponent of breast cancer awareness since her friend Summer was diagnosed last year. “I think everyone knows, or has been affected, by someone who’s had cancer,” Pickler said. “It doesn’t discriminate, and it’s something everyone should stay on top of.” Pickler, added that the phone call she received when Summer was diagnosed, “was devastating.” “Early detection is something everyone needs to be aware of,” Pickler said. “It doesn’t matter how old you are or what you look like. Even men can get breast cancer.”
Following Summer’s diagnosis, Pickler shaved her head and painted a giant pink ribbon on the side of her tour bus. She also helped organize a fundraiser for Summer in Nashville, Tenn. and continues to promote cancer awareness.
“It has been a rough year since the diagnosis by Summer has handled it with grace and has done so well despite the circumstances, and I will continue to do what I can to raise awareness,” Pickler said.
Pickler isn’t the only one participating in this year’s balloon fest with ties to breast cancer awareness.
During the balloon fest, balloonist Randy Oates will tie the pink ribbon-shaped balloon to the ground for all to see. The balloon is sponsored by the Ohio State University Medical Center James Cancer Hospital and all proceeds from the event’s tethered rides will go to the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Awareness.
This is the first year the breast cancer awareness ribbon balloon will be in attendance at the All Ohio Balloon Fest.
“The way we are doing the tethered balloon rides has changed this year, but it’s really for a good cause,” said Marie Woodford, event organizer. “We are really excited about all of the shapes coming to this year’s event but it’s neat what we are able to do through the tethered rides this year.”
Those watching the balloons get ready to launch or prepare for the nightly “glow,” will also notice a giant propane tank painted in various colors of pink. The truck, usually driven by Heritage Cooperative employee Ralph Frazier, fuels all of the balloons throughout the weekend with propane donated by the company. “Ralph often doesn’t leave until well after dark because it takes so long to fill the balloons,” said Woodford. “Heritage has been a sponsor for as long as I can remember and they always donate the propane as well as employee time, which is a lot.”
In 2009, Heritage Cooperative joined with two other local cooperatives in a yearlong campaign called “Fueling the Cure.” Heritage committed to make a minimum $10,000 corporate donation to the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer research by October 2010.
At the time, company CEO Eric Parthemore released a statement that said, “All of us have been affected by cancer in some way. We hope that our Fueling the Cure propane delivery trucks can serve as a gentle reminder to people how important cancer research is for all Ohio families and encourage our customers, employees and communities to join us in giving.”
Since the 2009-2010 initiative, the company has continued to promote early detection and breast cancer awareness with the pink trucks, and continues to support the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer.

Here comes the 121st Richwood Fair, Aug. 28 - Sept. 2
By Sherryl Sheets
The end of August usually means The Richwood Independent Fair begins. Make plans to attend the fair Aug. 28 through Sept. 2, Labor Day.

Council contracts water monitor services
By Sherryl Sheets
Richwood Village Council approved a contract with Kincaid Water Services, Inc. of Marion at Monday night’s meeting. Council members Teresa McElroy and Jennifer Huff were absent from the meeting.

Care Train 2013 Kicks Off
Care Train of Union County will kick off its 2013 season with a “Benny-fit” night hosted by Benny’s Pizza and Pub today.

Five generations to enjoy The Richwood Fair
By Sherryl Sheets
Olin Parish, 95, of Richwood, will be enjoying the Richwood Fair next week, watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren participate in many aspects of the fair.

School board learns about new report card
The North Union Board of Education learned about new changes to the state report card for all public schools at the Monday night meeting. Member Don Tumeo was absent from the meeting.

Board of Elections select jurors
The Union County Board of Elections has recently selected the jurors for Grand and Petit Jury for the September 2013 term of the Court of Common Pleas. The term runs through Dec. 31, 2013.

Marijuana plants confiscated by M.A.D.E.
From Union County Sheriff’s Office
The Union County Multi Agency Drug Enforcement (M.A.D.E.) Task Force seized 564 marijuana plants at a residence in Darby Township in southern Union County on Tuesday, Aug. 13. At maturity, the estimated value of the plants would be approximately $560,000.

Eagle Scout project supports fair
By Sherryl Sheets
This is a very important year for Steven Perkins. He’ll be a senior at North Union High School, planning for his future.Another important part of his future took place this summer as he worked on his Eagle Scout project.

The Richwood Fair begins
By Sherryl Sheets
Today begins the first day of the 121st Richwood Independent Fair.
Fair board members have worked hard, waiting for this week to arrive. A fair doesn’t just happen in a week or a month. They have been working on this year’s fair since the end of the 2012 fair, updating the grounds for additional events and lining up entertainment for six fun-filled days.

Board prepares for strategic plan
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
The Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities (UCBDD) approved themes for the 2014-16 strategic plan at its monthly meeting Aug. 19.

Council learns of a preliminary ODOT project
By Sherryl Sheets
Village Administrator Lin Hensley approached Richwood Village Council members with a letter he received from the Ohio Department of Transportation. ODOT is putting together a proposed project of removing the former brick street in the village limits that is buried under pavement on Route 47.

School district’s report card is explained
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) requires public schools to be accountable for teaching children to the best of their abilities. So to see how each school rates, the ODE gives report cards to each school district. In 2012, North Union Local Schools received an “Excellence with Distinction” rating, meaning the district passed all the indicators required by the state.

Health department suspends TB skin testing
From Union County Health Department
The Union County Health Department is suspending routine TB skin testing. TB skin tests are NOT available for routine employer and school/university admission testing at this time. The suspension in routine TB skin testing is in response to a nationwide shortage of TB skin testing solutions (Tubersol and Aplisol) and subsequent recommendations for state and federal health authorities.