Local Archived News

Another robotics team qualifies for nationals
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
Students in third through sixth grades recently participateed in a new robotics competition called VEX IQ “Add It Up” last weekend. The event was held at Tri-Rivers Career Center with sixteen teams from eight area schools participating. This was the first ever Ohio Vex IQ event. In this game, teams design and program their robots to work together to score as many points as possible.

Reading is fundamental
United Way supports early childhood literacy
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
Once a month, the postman brings both three-year old Aiden Siefker and his two-year old brother Wyatt, a colorful new book with their name on it. The books are free and theirs to keep, providing hours of enjoyment and learning. The Marysville brothers are enrolled in United Way’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

Citizens learn about Sheriff’s Citizens Academy
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
In 2012, the Union County Sheriff’s Office began the Sheriff’s Citizens Academy. This twelve-week program gives participants the opportunity to learn about their local sheriff’s office through a variety of classroom and hands on experiences.

Event focuses on women’s health
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
For half a decade, Memorial Hospital of Union County has hosted a special event to focus on the health and well being of women in the community. Starting out as a fun idea, Women…At the Heart of It All, has grown into a well-attended and highly anticipated annual “girl’s night out” to help educate the women in the community on the importance of their own health while having a great time with friends.

LaRue residents care about their village
By Sherryl Sheets
When it rains, it pours, and floods, especially in the areas of LaRue and Prospect, and for years, they have endured flooded streets, houses, and yards, being displaced from their homes, schools. When the Scioto River water goes down, they regroup and start over again.

Volunteers and projects needed for Community Care Day
18th annual volunteer event set for Tuesday, May 20
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
Think spring! United Way of Union County is encouraging social service agencies, churches, civic groups, and employers to begin making plans for Community Care Day, the organization’s annual volunteer event.
With the Tuesday, May 20 event just two and a half months away, United Way is rolling out a new online registration process on its website http://www.unitedwayofunioncounty.org/commcare.php to improve the volunteer experience and the efficiency of event planning. Last year, 702 volunteers from 78 area workplaces, schools, churches, and civic organizations worked on 319 social service projects on a single day.

Fewer Ohio kids abusing Rx painkillers
Many texting and emailing while driving
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
Prescription painkiller abuse by teens dropped nearly in half during the past two years, according to the Ohio Department of Health’s 2013 Ohio Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). In 2011, 21.3 percent of students reported using prescription pain relievers or painkillers without a doctor’s prescription one or more times during their life; in 2013 that dropped to 12.8 percent. The number of Ohio’s youth who reported using heroin also decreased from 3.1 percent to 2 percent.

Council hears about proposed senior housing
By Sherryl Sheets
Andrew Chadwell, representing Estates of Onilee, LLC, addressed Richwood village council at Monday evening’s meeting. Council members Von Beal and Bill Rose were absent from the meeting.

Roll up your sleeves and give
By Sherryl Sheets
The next American Red Cross Bloodmobile will arrive in Richwood on Monday, March 24 at the Richwood First United Methodist Church, 18 S. Fulton Street from 1 to 7 p.m.

Motorcycle accident injures one
Units from Leesburg Township Fire Department and Northern Union County Fire and EMS District responded to a motorcycle accident Friday, March 7 at 4:44 p.m. The accident occurred on Route 4, near Langstaff Road, in Leesburg Township.

FFA banquet recognizes many accomplishments
By Sherryl Sheets
The North Union 46th annual FFA parent-member banquet was held Thursday, March 13, with over 300 guests in attendance at Der Dutchman in Plain City. Accolades were given to FFA members for their achievements during the year.

Leeds inducted into the Hall of Fame
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
Rob Leeds, OSU Extension Educator, Delaware County, and his wife, Christy, OSU Extension Educator in Union County, are devoted supporters of North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association (NAFDMA) - passionate advocates of farm direct marketing and agri-tourism ,were recently inducted into the NAFDMA Hall of Fame.
The Leeds, who own and operate Leeds Farm, of Ostrander were selected for the honor by the NAFDMA Board of Directors. They received the recognition during the Celebrate Excellence Banquet at the North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Convention held in Kansas City, Mo., in February.

North Union Schools working to give students a jump start in education
By Sherryl Sheets
North Union Schools are working to help students from kindergarten through their senior year, opportunities to get ahead in their education. Staff spoke to the board of education about upcoming events at the Monday evening meeting. Dennis Hall and Bryan Bumgarner, board members, were absent from the meeting. Dave Harmon, the district’s curriculum coordinator told the board of an exciting opportunities for high school students to get college credit under their belts before they graduation from high school. The district is working with Marion Technical College in a partnership where some MTC professors will teach selected college courses at North Union. The two year plan is to have instructors teach English 1200 on Tuesdays and Thursdays; Psychology 1100 on Mondays and Wednesdays and ASC 1020 (Skills for Success) on Fridays. These college classes would be taught during seventh and eighth periods Monday through Friday during the first semester.

Liquor permit violations issued
By Sherryl Sheets
The Union County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Investigative Unit investigated several liquor permit holders in Union County to see that they were in compliance. Eleven establishments were checked in northern Union County and four of the eleven were found to have allegedly sold alcohol to an informant under the age of twenty-one.

Brown earns Eagle Scout award
By Sherryl Sheets
Alex Brown, a North Union High School senior, was awarded the Eagle Scout recently. It is the highest recognition in the Boy Scouts of America. He is the son of Reddy and Michelle Brown, of Richwood. The Richwood First United Methodist Church sponsors Troop 440.
Alex has been a scout for more than 10 years. He achieved the rank of Arrow of Light in February 2007 as a member of Richwood Pack 109.

No dirt needed on this farm
By Sherryl Sheets
Doug and Jeni Blackburn are looking towards their retirement years and figured out they want to farm to help supplement their income. Only this type of farming involves fish and no dirt.

Celebrate Our Vision awards recognized
By Sherryl Sheets
The North Union Local School District recognizes accomplishments of students in various categories. The most recent awards were given Tuesday, March 18, prior to the spring music concert.

Council sets appropriations for highway project
By Sherryl Sheets
Richwood Village Council finalized appropriations, designating $40,000 to the budget for repair/replace catch basins that need fixed during the State Route 47 highway project, with the approximate start date of August 1, 2014. Completion date is set for Oct. 31.

Churches invited to share Easter Services
The Richwood Gazette will publish a listing of upcoming Easter Services from surrounding local churches to share with the public.