Local Archived News

Council gets update on town hall, opera house
By Sherryl Sheets, Richwood Gazette
The Richwood village council held their Monday, Jan. 25 meeting at the village administration building with a report from the Redevelopment Committee. President Reddy Brown reported that he received a price quote for work to be done to the Town Hall, opera house.

School vaccine to arrive county-by-county
By Kayleen Petrovia, Marysville JT reporter
Teachers and school staff are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine starting Monday, but it is unlikely any Union County districts will be vaccinated until after next week.
Union County Health Commissioner Jason Orcena said he is “confident” the health department will not receive doses for any local district - Marysville, Fairbanks or North Union - next week.

County leaders to meet weekly
By Mac Cordell, Marysville JT reporter
In an effort to create more time for their staff, the Union County Commissioners are making changes to their meetings.
Beginning next week, the commissioners will meet just once a week, on Wednesdays, with the meetings to begin at 8:30 a.m. Additionally, the commissioners will meet on the first Tuesday of the month, “primarily to meet with elected officials and department heads.”

Vaccine registration to open Thursdays
Editors note: the following is provided by the Union County Health Department
Those who are 70 and older will be able to schedule their appointments Thursday to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Union County Health Department’s online scheduler, available at www.uchdclinic.org, will open at 8:30 a.m. Thursday for appointments on Friday.

Area not immune to national wave of fraudulent jobless claims
By Michael Williamson, Marysville JT reporter
Union County residents are on a long list of people nationwide falling prey to the recent and widespread reports of tax fraud.
Since the first of the year, dozens of area residents received letters or tax forms in the mail stating they filed for unemployment benefits in 2020 when no such claims were made.

NU grad and Union County resident faces murder charge
From Marysville JT Staff and AP reports
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The former police officer accused of killing Andre Hill interacted “two to three” times with Hill before the shooting and became concerned he was a burglar, the officer’s attorney said Friday, as he defended his client with never-before-heard details about the night of the fatal shooting.
The comments on behalf of now-fired Columbus Police Officer Adam Coy came as a magistrate set an unusually high bond of $3 million for the ex-officer and Coy pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges.

Union County Sheriff presents awards to Richwood Police Officers
By Sherryl Sheets, Richwood Gazette
Union County Sheriff Jamie Patton was present at Richwood’s Monday night village council meeting. He explained to council members about an event that took place Sept. 6 outside of the village limits.

Man indicted in local overdose death
By Mac Cordell, Marysville JT Reporter
An area man has been indicted on a variety of felony charges including causing the death of a Richwood man.
The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Ethan Michael Lowther, 26, of 201 Center St., Ashley. Lowther is charged with one count each of involuntary manslaughter, corrupting another with drugs and trafficking in a Fentanyl-related compound, two counts of receiving stolen property and three counts of complicity in the commission of an offense.

Union is youngest county in the state
By Michael Williamson, Marysville JT Reporter
Ohio seniors are growing in numbers according to the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA), the agency that administers programs and services to older Ohioans. Not only does Ohio have 2.5 million residents over the age of 60, but the 60-plus population is growing more than 20 times faster than the state’s overall population, according to data collected in 2019.
Despite the state trend, researchers say Union County is going in the opposite direction. The state plan, created by ODA to account for issues that arise with an aging population, shows that Union County ranks among the top ten counties in the state with the smallest percentage of residents over the age of 65.

Village officials warn to stay off the ice at Richwood Lake
By Sherryl Sheets, Richwood Gazette
Stay off the ice – that’s the message that Village Administrator Monte Asher is stressing to anyone who visits Richwood Park and Lake.
There are several Park Rules that are enforced as safety measures for everyone who comes to the park.

Union County schools to be back in class five days
From Richwood Gazette and Marysville JT Staff reports
Last Friday new brought changes in education to Union County Schools.
COVID-19 cases are stabilizing and vaccination clinics are planned this Friday at the Union County Fairgrounds for Union County school staff to receive their first vaccinations. It is hoped that all students in the area district will be back five days a week in class by early April.

Former residents share Texas experience
By Sherryl Sheets, Richwood Gazette
In the past few weeks, residents in the state of Texas have had to deal with some unfamiliar weather, which has caused a panic throughout the state.

School board hears coronavirus update
By Sherryl Sheets, Richwood Gazette
North Union Superintendent Rich Baird presented an update of how the coronavirus is affecting students at North Union. The goal has been to get the students back to Learning Level 1 before the end of the 2020-2021 school year. Since February 1, 2021, North Union elementary and middle school students have been attending school four days a week, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, with Wednesdays as remote learning days. This also gives teachers time to help vulnerable students who need extra help on Wednesdays.

Council talks about S. Franklin St. project
By Sherryl Sheets, Richwood Gazette
Village Administrator Monte Asher will meet Thursday for a Pre-Construction meeting regarding the S. Franklin St. project. Asher said that the project will begin with replacing water lines, beginning at the village limits heading north towards the uptown, going as far as the grant funds will take the project. Then the next work will include other infrastructure, such as sewer lines, etc. It was mentioned that the project is projected to begin in late March. The street will also be open for Fire and EMT runs, school bus traffic, residents living in the area and trash trucks.

County Health Commissioner encouraged by virus trends
By Kayleen Petrovia, Marysville JT Reporter
Union County Health Commissioner Jason Orcena said he is encouraged by the positive developments surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, in part due to the local mass vaccination efforts.

Memorial Health hospital changes visitor policies
Editor’s note: The following release is supplied by Memorial Health.
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Memorial Health has announced it will implement several visitation changes at Memorial Hospital, Memorial Health medical centers/service locations, Memorial Medical Group practices, and Memorial Urgent Care locations, noting the organization continues to frequently evaluate and adjust these policies based on current medical conditions and guidance.