Local Archived News

Escaped inmates still on the run
Authorities are looking for a pair of West Central Correctional Facility inmates who fled through an open door before climbing a 12-foot fence to escape Saturday.
“We started taking residents in October of 1999, and this is the first time we’ve had residents do this,” said West Central Executive Director David Erwin.

Farm Bureau partners with students
By Richwood Staff reports
Two projects to attract middle and high school students to careers in agriculture have been announced by the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation. One project entails Central State University agriculture students introducing agriculture careers to middle school students.
In the second, the Ohio FFA Foundation will develop curriculum to recruit high school students into ag-related careers.

National Fire Safety Week set
By Sherryl Sheets
Randy Riffle, fire chief of Northern Union County Fire and EMS District, wants everyone to be aware of the National Fire Safety Week, Oct. 7 through 13.
He and the fire staff invite the public to an open house on Sunday, Oct. 7. The event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. at the firehouse, located at 602 N. Franklin Street in Richwood.

Autonomous vehicle technology comes to Union County
Automotive world focuses on Honda’s Smart Intersection
By Mac Cordell, Marysville JT reporter
“Did you see that?” Ohio Gov. John Kasich asked Thursday morning. “Wow.”
Kasich was responding to the demonstration of a car that notified its driver of a pedestrian crossing the street from around the corner.

Two killed in Route 31 crash
By Mac Cordell, Marysville JT reporter
A man and woman are dead following a three-car crash in northern Union County on Wednesday.
Conner Miller, 20, of Mount Victory, and Michael Musser, 59, of Lima, were pronounced dead at the scene of a crash on Route 31 in Washington Township Wednesday afternoon.

Providers receive training
Editor’s note: The following release is provided by the United Way of Union County
The United Way of Union County, along with The Council for Union County Families, Community Services Association, 2-1-1 Helpline and The Housing Coalition of Union County held “No Wrong Door” training last month. The training helps equip front line social service providers with valuable information to direct those in need to appropriate resources.

School board hears many presentations at meeting
By Sherryl Sheets
The evening was one of many different topics, provided by several different people. Vice president Jean Wedding took charge of the meeting in the absence of president Dennis Hall.
The first presentation was by Mike Nicholson, an associate with the Batelle For Kids organization. It is a not-for-profit group who works with school districts and is considered a learning hub for schools. They offer their assistance to administrators and staff.

Veterans Day set at North Union Elementary
The students at North Union Elementary School are preparing to pay tribute to community heroes during their annual Veterans Day celebration.

Residents invited to participate in Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
By Richwood Staff reports
The Richwood Police Department and the Northern Union County Fire and EMS District have responded to several calls of possible overdoses within the village.
Now is the time for every household to dispose of unwanted and expired medications that are in medicine cabinets or drawers. Disposing of these drugs will keep them out of the hands of drug abusers and children and possibly save someone’s life.

Village to pick up bagged leaves
Village employees will gather bags of leaves left curbside on Mondays.

Council swears in new council member and police officer
By Sherryl Sheets
The Monday night regular meeting of the Richwood Village Council began with Mayor Scott Jerew swearing in Laurie Elliott. The Grove Street resident was chosen to fill the vacant seat of Von Beal, who resigned from council a few months ago.

Trustees select Cook as new fire chief
By Sherryl Sheets
Fire Chief Jim Hall informed the Leesburg Township Trustees that he was retiring as the fire chief after many years of service. He will continue to be a volunteer fire fighter for the local department, but was ready to turn the reigns over to a younger chief.

Voters have several selections on November ballot
By Sherryl Sheets
Voters in northern Union County will have state and local items to vote on when they arrive at the polls Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Village to stop brush pickup
Richwood village employees will be preparing their trucks and equipment for the winter season, so the last day that they will pick up brush to be chipped will be on Monday, Oct. 29.

Two vying for seat as county commissioner
By Mac Cordell, Marysville JT reporter
This year’s Union County Commissioner election is shaping up as a contest between established Marysville and the new growth in Union County.
Voters will choose between former Marysville Mayor, Republican Christiane Schmenk, and Arizona native, Democrat Tiffanie Roberts, of Dublin, to replace long-time commissioner Gary Lee.

Health department seeking renewal levy with a bump
By Jacob Runnels, Marysville JT reporter
The Union County Health Department (UCHD) made sure to enlighten residents at many township and village meetings this summer about its upcoming levy.
UCHD health commissioner Jason Orcena has traveled to as many meetings in the county as he could to let people know about the department’s plan to renew its 0.75-mill levy with a 0.15-mill increase. He said he wants to make it “as easy as possible to answer questions” for residents on what the levy will support and what the UCHD does.

Facts on the NUCFD fire levy
By Sherryl Sheets
When voters from the Richwood 1 and 2 districts, Claibourne, Jackson and York 4 and 5 districts get to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 6, they will see a 3.9 mills levy request for the Northern Union County Joint Fire and EMS District (NUCFD). The additional 3.9 mils for a continuing period of time will pertain to fiscal year 2018 and will be first due in 2019.

Finding local support for Issue 1 difficult
By Mac Cordell, Marysville JT reporter
Next month, Ohio voters will decide the fate of State Issue One.
According to the initiative’s ballot language, the proposed constitutional amendment would “reduce penalties for crimes of obtaining, possessing, and using illegal drugs.”
Supporters say the proposal will reduce the number of people in prisons for low-level, nonviolent crimes, such as drug possession and non-criminal probation violations.
Opponents say that if it passes, the legislation will give Ohio some of the most liberal drug laws in the country.