Local Archived News

Drunk driver gets six-years for homicide
By Mac Cordell, Marysville JT reporter
A local man will spend the next six years in prison, with no chance of early release or ever holding a driver’s license for causing the death of a Richwood woman.
Gerald Keeton, 46, of 6 Main St., Magnetic Springs, entered an Alford Plea of guilty last Thursday to one count each of aggravated vehicular homicide and operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them.

Cole Stiffler earns Eagle Scout Award
A Richwood teenager is the newest among Union County’s growing list of Eagle Scouts.
Cole Stiffler, 18, son to Mike and Brandy Evans of Richwood, and a senior at North Union High School, earned the rank of Eagle Scout on March 11.

Health department urges precaution against mumps
Submitted by Union County Health Department
The Union County Health Department is urging residents to take precaution against mumps, after an outbreak that was linked to The Ohio State University is now considered a community-wide outbreak. Additionally, the Union County Health Department is currently investigating suspected mumps cases in Union County.

Spring Basket Giveaway begins
By Sherryl Sheets
There’s no better way than to welcome Spring by registering for the Spring Basket Giveaway!
Many local businesses encourage residents to enter their name, phone number and address when they come into their establishments. No purchase is necessary to enter the drawing.

North Union Schools report possible case of mumps
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
The North Union School District received notice Monday from the Union County Health Department regarding a suspected case of the Mumps. A North Union student was recently diagnosed as having a case of the mumps. There are two tests required to confirm a suspected case. The first test was positive. Unfortunately, the second test has a higher level of inaccurate results. As such, that secondary test was not performed.

You are invited to our open house!
By Sherryl Sheets
The Richwood Banking Company, board of trustees and staff are inviting the public to an open house of their new operations building, located at 24 E. Blagrove Street. The event will be held on Friday, April 11 ,from 3 to 7 p.m. A formal ribbon cutting will take place at 3:30 p.m.

Non-profit training seminar set
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
The United Way of Union County, in partnership with Holbrook & Manter CPAs, will be hosting a free, charitable, nonprofit training seminar featuring Dean Pulliam from the Central Ohio Better Business Bureau. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, April 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Union Rural Electric in Marysville in the community meeting room.

Local churches host Easter Services
By Sherryl Sheets
Area churches are inviting the public to attend upcoming Easter Services.
Palm Sunday services, held on Sunday, April 13, at 7 p.m., the public is invited to a non-denominational service at the Fulton Creek Friends Church for the annual Festival of Praise service. Area choirs and individuals will be performing. A quartet called “The Joyfulaires” will also be performing that evening. A free will offering will be taken and the money will be used by the Richwood Area Ministerial Association to provide turkeys and hams during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays for families less fortunate.
The public is encouraged to attend services at the Richwood First Baptist Church, located at the corner of E. Ottawa and N. Clinton Streets. The event begins at noon. Pastor Joe Rhea, of the First United Methodist Church, will be the speaker for the service. A free light lunch will follow the service in the social room.
Below is a listing of area churches and their free events, open to the public:
•Richwood First Baptist Church-Sunday, April 20, Easter Sunrise Service-7 a.m. followed with a breakfast; Sunday School 9:30 a.m. and Easter worship service at 10:40 a.m. (corner of N. Clinton and E. Ottawa Sts.)
•Advent Christian Church-Easter Sunday, April 20, at 10:30 a.m. with a special sharing service. (Claibourne Road in Claibourne)
•Richwood First United Methodist Church-Thursday, April 17, for Maundy Thursday Seder meal, 6:30 p.m. (reservations required); Sunday, April 20, 8 a.m. Sunrise Service at 8 a.m., breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and Easter worship service at 10:30 a.m. (18 S. Fulton Street)
•Union Baptist Church-Sunday, April 30, Sunrise Service at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast to follow. Easter morning service at 10:30 a.m. (Route 739, west of Essex)
•York Center United Methodist Church-Holy Thursday, April 17, a self-guided journey to the cross and beyond, come when you can. Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. followed by breakfast. Cantata “The Day He Wore My Crown" at 9:15 a.m.(28179 Route 739)
•Bethel United Methodist Church-Saturday, April 19, at 2 p.m. for Easter Egg Hunt (28941 January Road)
•Rush Creek United Methodist Church-Sunday, April 20, at 11 a.m., Cantata “O What A Savior.”
•Magnetic Springs United Methodist Church-Maundy Thursday, April 17, 7 p.m. (113 Olive Street), Easter service, Sunday, April 20, at 10:30 a.m. with Easter egg hunt following
•Pharisburg United Methodist Church-Sunday, April 20, Sunrise Service, 7 a.m. with breakfast following, Easter service at 9:15 a.m. (corner of Routes 4 and 347).

You booze during prom season, you lose
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
Agents with the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s (ODPS) Ohio Investigative Unit are commending those parents and teens who make the wise and mature decision not to participate in illegal and dangerous behavior, such as providing alcohol to minors and consuming underage.

Let’s talk about hunger in our communities
By Sherryl Sheets
The Richwood Banking Company, board of trustees and staff are inviting the public to an open house of their new operations building, located at 24 E. Blagrove Street. The event will be held on Friday, April 11 ,from 3 to 7 p.m. A formal ribbon cutting will take place at 3:30 p.m.

Primary Election set for May 6
By Sherryl Sheets
Registered voters are reminded that the Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, May 6. Various parties are seeking your vote for their candidates from state to local officials. Below is a list of state candidates voters will choose from on May 6.

Be a volunteer...and pay it forward
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
Longtime United Way board member Mike Rose remembers his fondest moment as a volunteer.
“The most rewarding experience I have had with United Way, occurred about five years ago on Community Care Day,” he said. “Along with several co-workers, I was helping to insulate a basement for an elderly gentleman in northern Union County. This gentleman was so thrilled to have us there helping him, and he spent much of the time telling us all about his collections of ‘treasures.’ I couldn’t have been more pleased with that day. We were all happy to help him and he was just as tickled that we were there.”

Empty house goes up in flames
By Sherryl Sheets
An unoccupied house at 27328 Kinney Pike was in the process of being remodeled, when itmysteriously caught fire Saturday morning at approximately 3:30 a.m. Neighbors saw the flames and called 911.

Hall of Fame seeks nominees
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame recognizes special veterans who continue to serve in their local communities after their military service is over. If you know of someone who should be recognized, don’t delay. The deadline to submit a nomination is Monday, June 30, for this year’s class of inductees.

Names for jury duty released
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
Names of jurors for the May 2014 term have been drawn for the Union County Court of Common Pleas. The list of names below will be subject to jury duty through August, 2014.

Pharmacy welcomed by community
By Sherryl Sheets
Approximately 11 years ago, Sieg’s Drugstore closed their doors due to retirement. Last week, Richwood Pharmacy opened their doors to the public.

Students demonstrate new math
By Sherryl Sheets
North Union sixth grade students showed school board members a new math program they are using during the Monday night board meeting, held at North Union Middle School.

Voters will have issues to decide
By Sherryl Sheets
Voters will convene at their polling places Tuesday, May 6 for the Primary Election. There will be many people running for positions and several issues for voters to decide.

Two injured in one vehicle accident
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
A one-vehicle accident sent two teenagers to hospitals Saturday. The incident happened on Hoskins Road, near Sivey Road.
According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, at 4:11 a.m., sheriff’s deputies, Northern Union County Fire and EMS District and the Ohio State Highway Patrol were called to the accident on Hoskins Road.

Chamber of Commerce salutes community leaders
By Sherryl Sheets
The Union County Chamber of Commerce held their annual Salute to Leaders banquet, recognizing community leaders in the county. This is an opportunity to recognize outstanding citizens in a variety of areas. Listed below are those who represent northern Union County and were selected as leaders.

Council discusses peddlers, solicitors and canvassers
By Sherryl Sheets
To help protect the citizens of Richwood, council is looking to update their ordinance regarding peddlers, solicitors and canvassers in the village.
A proposed ordinance was given to each council member at Monday night’s meeting, explaining what a person or a group of people who go door-to-door is allowed to do by law. In some cases, a yearly license fee may be required.

FFA presents “whole grain heros”
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
The North Union FFA chapter had received a $500 grant from the Ohio Small Grains Commission. That grant was used to purchase boxes of cereal and they were donated to the local Richwood Emergency Assistance Program (REAP) Food Pantry.

Annual Rabies Vaccination Clinics
Each spring in Union County, local veterinarians volunteer their time to help protect our community from rabies by offering low cost rabies vaccination clinics. On Sunday, May 4, from 1 to 4 p.m., local dog and cat owners can once again stop by one of four Union County locations to get their pets vaccinated against rabies for only $8 a pet.

Take a Walk for Life
By Sherryl Sheets
The Pregnancy Care Center of Union County is inviting the public to take part in the third annual Walk4Life event held Saturday, May 3. This year, the event will begin at the Richwood Fairgrounds, 1 Gill Street in Richwood. Registration is at 9:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m.