Local Archived News

Bret Michaels excited to bring party atmosphere to Marysville
By Georgia Davis, Journal-Tribune reporter
Bret Michaels promises those who come to his Thursday, Aug. 11 show in Marysville, will have “Nothin’ But A Good Time.”
“My goal is to let people leave knowing they had a party,” Michaels said.
The lead singer of the ‘80s rock band Poison will take the stage at 8 p.m. on the opening night of the 41st All Ohio Balloon Fest.
Whether he’s playing for a stadium full of people or small crowd, Michaels said he “looks at every show the same” and “all (venues) are important.”
He said all of his concerts are “seamless” and “high energy.”
Michaels hopes to turn “a Thursday into a Saturday night” by putting on a performance of “mega-party proportions.”
Michaels grew up in a town outside of Pittsburgh, so he “loves” playing in the Midwest. He added that he sometimes likes to take his mountain bike and motorcycle out for a tour of the area.
Michaels is known as an avid Steelers fan and acknowledges the fact he will be in the midst of Bengals and Browns territory.
“When we’re here at a concert, we are a big family,” Michaels said. “Come game time, we are warriors on different sides.”
On top of playing at the balloon fest, Michaels has about 200 events scheduled for the year, which seems like a grueling and busy year for most people. Michaels said he is able to maintain this agenda due to “a little extra energy.”
“I love what I get to do so it keeps me young at heart,” he said.
Every city he performs in, Michaels leaves a donation for a charity as part of his foundation, Life Rocks.
Michaels said Operation Homefront has been able to build seven houses with money he has donated, but Life Rocks has supported numerous charities.
Michaels said he has donated money to charities since Poison “was able to rub two pennies together.”
“That charitable element has been there since day one,” he said.
He often uses the money he donates to send children to diabetes camp because Michaels himself takes five injections a day.
Along with his generosity, his love for music has been there since the beginning.
Michaels remembers the bands that got him interested in music: The Partridge Family, KISS, The Rolling Stones, The Monkees and Led Zeppelin.
“One day, I ran into this good music and I then I just started to play guitar,” he said.
The musician got his start in the glam-metal band Poison, which was popular in the mid-‘80s and into the ‘90s. Poison secured six top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The band’s power ballad “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” spent 21 weeks on the charts, four of which were spent at No. 1.
Michaels said the key to being “rocking, real and relevant” is to keep the passion alive and to “bet on yourself.”
“You’ve got to be in charge of your own career,” he said.
In 2015, Michaels released a country album titled True Grit. Even though he is “a fan of rock at heart,” he said he does like other genres of music.
“I got into music to get out of the box,” Michaels said. “I didn’t get into it to form a box.”
Michaels recently appeared on ABC’s new show Greatest Hits. The show revisits songs that were popular during a certain time period and pairs new artists with the people who sang the originals.
Michaels was featured on the night that took viewers back to the years of 1985 to 1990. Michaels opened up the show with “Nothin’ But A Good Time” and “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.”
Preferred and VIP tickets for the Bret Michaels concert are sold out. General admission tickets can be purchased ahead of time at TicketFly.com for a discounted rate of $20. Tickets will cost $30 at the gate.

Richwood to host 124th annual fair
By Sherryl Sheets
The 124th Annual Richwood Independent Fair is just around the corner so mark your calendar for Wednesday, Aug. 31, through Labor Day, Sept. 5, 2016. Plan to enjoy six fun-filled days of riding the rides, enjoying the parade, livestock shows, musical entertainment, harness races, games, tractor pulls, drag racing, demolition derby, a rodeo and so much more!

Applications accepted for Citizen Academy
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
The Union County Sheriff’s Office is now accepting applications for its next Citizen’s Academy. The eleven-week academy, beginning on September 12, is an extension of the Sheriff’s Office community education efforts and seeks to increase citizen awareness of the day-to-day operations of the Sheriff’s Office.

Beautiful balloons in the sky; an army of volunteers on the ground
Editor’s note: The following article is submitted by Robin Coffey, Campaign and Publicity Coordinator for the United Way of Union County.
Hot air balloons, reflective vests, and United Way. These three things don’t intuitively go hand-in-hand, but they will all come together to benefit the community at the 2016 All-Ohio Balloon Fest.

Man enters guilty plea to 2015 murder
By Mac Cordel, Journal-Tribune reporter
A local man who admitted killing 67-year-old northern Union County resident for drugs and guns, will avoid the death sentence.

Council gets updated on shelter house project
By Sherryl Sheets
Council heard an updated report from Cameron Troesch at Monday night’s village council meeting.

Leesburg adds new equipment to fleet
By Mac Cordell, Journal-Tribune reporter
The Leesburg Township Fire Department has a new medic unit, at least it is new to Leesburg Township.

Kelly’s Kitchen is a dream-come-true
By Sherryl Sheets
Have you ever had a dream and were able to make that dream come true?

White on first national rap tour
By Sherryl Sheets
Brad White attended North Union Schools, had moved away and later, returned to Richwood and now calls it “home.” His parents are Mike and Betty White of Richwood.

North Union School board agrees to sale of property
By Sherryl Sheets
The North Union Board of Education and the Village of Richwood are working towards an agreement in purchasing 5.37 acres of school property. The land is formerly known as ground the FFA used to farm.

Richwood Independent Fair, Aug. 31-Sept. 5
By Sherryl Sheets
Entertainment at the Richwood Independent Fair is always a highlight of the six-days of activities. The grandstands are always busy with folks coming and going from daily events held in the infield area. Fair board members are always changing the scenery for the main attraction. Listed below are some of the events that will take place Aug. 31 through Labor Day, Sept. 5.

Jurors announced for last quarter
By Sherryl Sheets
The following jurors living in the northern part of Union County, have been drawn for the September 2016 term of the Court of Common Pleas, and will be subject to jury duty through Dec. 31, 2016. You will be notified in person or by letter when to report for jury duty. Please do not be concerned until notified, as additional juror names have been drawn and will be called on an “as needed” basis. Therefore, your jury service may or may not be required.

S & J Automotive is open
By Sherryl Sheets
Nathan Kirby has been around vehicles his whole life, playing with them as a child, driving them as a teen, and now towing them. He’s expanding his fascination with vehicles, as he has opened his own business, S & J Automotive.

Albanese is named head of county senior services
By Mac Cordell, Journal-Tribune reporter
The Union County Commissioners have selected a local woman to run the day-to-day operations of Senior Services and Union County Area Transportation Services (UCATS).

Council expects new cruiser next month
By Sherryl Sheets
Richwood Village Council members heard Monday night that the new cruiser has been ordered through Bob Chapman Ford and the vehicle is expected to be delivered sometime in September.

Officials to create a county land bank
By Mac Cordell, Journal-Tribune reporter
Union County officials are in the process of creating a county land bank in an effort to help maintain property values and protect property tax revenues.

Event Schedule at Pavilion
By Sherryl Sheets
So many things are scheduled during the six-day Richwood Independent Fair, that there is the Bokescreek Sportsmen Club Pavilion, on the east side of the fairgrounds that also provides entertainment for visitors.

Medicaid tax change could cost county $450,000
By Mac Cordell, Marysville J-T reporter
A change in how the federal government pays for Medicaid could cost Union County more than $450,000 annually.

Blood donors encouraged to use RapidPass
By Sherryl Sheets
The next scheduled bloodmobile drive at the Richwood First United Methodist Church is set for Monday, Sept. 26, from 1 to 7 p.m., at 18 S. Fulton Street in Richwood. To help donors make their wait time shorter, the American Red Cross has a new program available to blood donors, called “RapidPass.”

Local milkweed pod collectors needed
Submitted by Union Soil Water Conservation District
Due to the drastic decline in the population of the Monarch butterfly, the Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative (OPHI) is seeking public involvement to collect and drop off common and swamp milkweed seedpods from established plants, Sept.1 through Oct. 30 at collection stations around the state. The seeds will be used to establish new plantings and create additional habitat for the Monarch butterfly throughout Ohio in the coming years.

Office closed Monday, Sept. 5
Because of Labor Day Monday, Sept. 5, the Richwood Gazette office will be closed and the newspaper will be published a day late. The business will resume normal office hours and printing schedule on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Have a safe holiday!