Local Archived News

Drug task force operation results in indictments
By Mac Cordell,Marysville J-T reporter
Local law enforcement officials are taking a hard line against those who allow others to overdose on drugs.

Get ready – The school doors are about to open!
By Sherryl Sheets
North Union students and parents are invited to attend open houses at the elementary, middle school and high school, in preparation for the first day of the 2017 school year on Tuesday, Aug. 15.

Judge Richard Parrott dies
By Marysville J-T Staff
Members of the Union County legal community are mourning the death of one of their own this morning.

9-1-1 Calls in Union County
The Communications Division of the Union County Sheriff’s office is responsible for receiving and dispatching calls for service, which includes 9-1-1- calls. They also dispatch for seven Fire and EMS Departments.

Back to School shot clinic held
Ohio law requires certain vaccines are to be given to students before the school year begins. For the convenience of North Union students and parents, North Union High School (401 N. Franklin Street, Richwood) will be the site for injections for students entering the seventh and twelfth grades.

Country royalty in Union County
Clint Black ready to deliver a ‘Super Bowl’ performance at Balloon Fest
By Will Channell, J-T reporter
Thursday night at the 2017 All-Ohio Balloon Fest will be great for country music fans.
County music superstar Clint Black will be entertaining the crowd Aug. 10, at 8:30 p.m., playing both new songs and older hits.
Local band Jacked Up is set to open for Black at 5:30 p.m., then New Orleans country singer Karen Waldrup will take the stage at 7.
“I enjoy playing for people,” he said in an email to the Journal-Tribune. “Every night is the Super Bowl for me.”
With 22 number-one hits on the U.S. Billboard country charts under his belt, balloon fest goers can expect a great show.
“We’re going to do a lot of hits, a few songs from the new On Purpose CD and a couple of album cuts/fan (favorites),” Black said.
He said the lyrics on the new album were drawn from a deeper well. According to him, those deeper themes come from getting older. Folks can get wiser with age, if they’re willing to try.
“I’ve always strived to put layers of meaning into my lyrics, and with wisdom, that should be easier,” he said.
As for the performance, Black said he’ll try to keep it going at a good pace. He said for an outdoor show like the balloon fest, it’s important to keep the tempo moving at a steady pace. He said he “always think(s) of the flow and dynamics when putting a song list together.”
Festivalgoers can also expect fantastic musicianship. Black continued he has a “great band,” and said some members have been with him for more than thirty years.
“And they’ve only gotten better,” he said.
According to Black, he’s made an effort to build in opportunities in his show for his band to show off their chops. He said he’s worked hard himself to grow as a musician, and this show lets him challenge himself.
According to him, there’s no “coasting” with this performance.
Black said he’s glad the deeper style of country he plays is gaining traction in the music industry.
“I like the trend toward lyrical themes that have deeper meaning than just, ‘I can party harder,’” he said.
In the past decade, he’s seen the genre alienate longtime listeners in favor of a younger audience. He said that sort of shift has never happened before, and if the trend changes, it will be good for country music as a whole.
Personally, Black said he’s grown a lot as a musician and producer over his long career. On his new album he played nearly every guitar part, including slide guitar, which he said was “completely new and very difficult.”
“I’ve practiced very hard to become good enough to carry guitar solos on stage and in the studio,” he said. “I feel I’m much better today than even five or ten years ago. That makes it a lot more fun to hit the road with a band,” he said.
Thursday will also see Joe Boxer bring his WCOL show to the Balloon Fest. Set up right at the entrance, Boxer said he’s excited for his second year coming to the event.
“(The Balloon Fest is) just such a great community event,” he said.
Boxer will do his show from 3-7 p.m., his normal show hours. He said during that time he’ll have his standard giveaways of concert tickets and other items. Plus, event goers will have the chance to spin his prize wheel for a chance to take something home.
Boxer said last year he was “blown away” at how fun the Balloon Fest was. He said after his show, he wandered around the Balloon Fest area and saw how people loved the event.
“It was really neat just to see how people got into it,” he said.
In any case, Boxer said he looks forward to being out in the open interacting with listeners.
“I love people,” he said. “The studio can get pretty lonely.”
VIP tickets for Black are sold out, and there are 20 preferred seats left. To purchase remaining tickets, patrons can go to ticketfly.com. For more information on the fest, residents can go to allohioballoonfest.com.

Cases of H3N2v Confirmed in Union County
The Union County Health Department announced today three human cases of H3N2v have been reported in Union County. Health officials are asking people who have had contact with swine or swine exhibits to be on the look-out for flu-like illness. If individuals who have had recent contact with swine or swine exhibits develop flu-like symptoms, they are encouraged to contact their doctor and ask if flu testing is recommended.

NU grad safe after marine chopper crash
A graduate of North Union High School is safe after a marine aircraft crashed off the coast of Australia Saturday.

Help celebrate 125 years of the Richwood Independent Fair
By Sherryl Sheets
North Union students started school this week, so that means it is also time for the annual Richwood Independent Fair.

Ohigro introduces new manager
By Sherryl Sheets
The Richwood branch of Ohigro, Inc. now has a new leader at the helm. Corey Hall was named the new manager of the store July 1. He has been with the company since 2001.

Few surprises at filing deadline for November election
By Mac Cordell, J-T reporter
On Nov. 7, Union County voters will have a lot of choices to make.
Voters will decide council seats in Marysville, Milford Center, Magnetic Springs, Plain City, Richwood, Unionville Center and Dublin will be on the ballot, as will two seats on each township board of trustees and three seats on all local boards of education. Marysville’s law director seat will also be decided in November.

Council asks about foreclosure procedure
By Sherryl Sheets
During the Richwood council meeting, councilman Von Beal asked Village Solicitor Alison Boggs, “How is the foreclosure on the nine properties you submitted for us going?” Boggs replied, “I have not heard a word.”

Large egg farm eying Liberty Township
Officials and residents in Liberty Township met recently to talk about a potential egg farm in the community.

Grant will help UCHD spread radon awareness
By Jacob Runnels, Marysville J-T reporter
The Union County Health Department (UCHD) accepted its notice of award for a $60,000 grant for radon education from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) at Wednesday’s meeting.

School board hears about professional development
By Sherryl Sheets
Vickie Hoffman, Chief Academic Officer, addressed the North Union School board about professional development for teachers, aides, bus drivers, non-cerficated staff and office staff at the Monday night regular meeting.

Fair is more than just food and rides
By Sherryl Sheets
The Richwood Fair is 125 years old. Over the years, the fair has grown and added more attractions for visitors to enjoy.

North Union honored by OSBA
By Sherryl Sheets
Two members of the North Union School District community will be honored at the Ohio School Board Association Central Region 2017 Fall Conference Sept. 27.

RABA announces Customer Appreciation Day, Sept. 16
By Sherryl Sheets
The Richwood Area Business Association (RABA) announced the annual Customer Appreciation Day is set for Saturday, Sept. 16, during their August meeting. So far, there are 26 vendors signed up to participate.

Veterans invited to opening ceremony
The Richwood Fair begins today and the official opening ceremonies will take place in front of the grandstands at 6 p.m. Guests are reminded of the new location and change in time of the ceremonies.

Council gets inquiries of former town hall
By Sherryl Sheets
Over the past few months, members of the Richwood Village Council has received questions regarding the status of the former Richwood Town Hall building located at 101 S. Franklin Street. Many years ago council began discussing and researching the cost of refurbishing the structure to a figure of under two million dollars.

Labor Day publishing notice for the week
The Richwood Gazette will be published a day late, so the first paper in September will be mailed on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017 due to the Labor Day holiday on Monday, Sept. 4. Subscribers can expect to receive their newspaper on Friday, Sept. 8.