Local Archived News

Memorial Health to purchase two leased buildings
By Chad Williamson, Marysville J-T reporter
Memorial Health will look to purchase two large, free-standing medical office buildings it currently leases space in.
The board of trustees unanimously approved the purchase of the Memorial Gateway Medical Center, 140 Coleman’s Crossing Boulevard in City Gate, as well as the Memorial Urbana Medical Center.

Solar company, Union County officials have staring contest
Invenergy blinks
By Michael Williamson, Marysville J-T reporter
Some confusion on who will make the first move regarding a county solar project has been cleared up.
Officials with Invenergy, the company heading the Cadence Solar Project in the northern part of Union County, said they were waiting to hear a decision from the county commissioners on whether or not a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) would be granted.
The question about the PILOT has been on the table for several months and was directly addressed in a public meeting earlier this year.
Commissioners responded by saying the board was waiting on the company to formally request the PILOT first.

Guitarist reflects on Night Ranger’s 40 years of rock
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
Third time’s the charm for Night Ranger at the 2022 All Ohio Balloon Festival, following appearances in 2015 and 2017.
Brad Gillis, guitarist of Night Ranger, said he recalls performing at the festival “because of all the crazy balloons I saw.”
He added that in 2015 there was a bomber aircraft at the airport, which reminded the band of its “7 Wishes” album cover. Night Ranger even reenacted the cover shoot after its performance.

Annual Richwood Park Day returns this weekend
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
The Richwood Trailblazers are hosting the annual Richwood Park Appreciation Day on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event will be preceded by the dedication of the beach shelterhouse and the lighthouse at 10:30 a.m.

Richwood woman indicted on multiple charges
By Mac Cordell, Marysville J-T reporter
A Richwood woman has been indicted after allegedly breaking into a home, stealing two cars and crashing one of them into Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus.
The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Kasey L. Matheny, 37, of 17077 Route 739, Richwood. Matheny is charged with one count each of burglary, grand theft of a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property.

Council passes ag zoning regulations
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Village of Richwood Council voted unanimously, with Council member Reddy Brown absent, to adopt the agricultural use regulations to the zoning ordinance on Monday.
The legislation prohibits all large animals within the village. Chickens and rabbits are permitted on properties at least one-third an acre with conditions on accessory structures and enclosures.
All properties with existing animals will be grandfathered in “as long as they don’t take a break for two years or more,” said Mayor Scott Jerew.

State Rep. Tracy Richardson fends off challenger in recent GOP primary
By Mac Cordell, Marysville J-T reporter
State Rep. Tracy Richardson will face Barbara Luke in November to represent Ohio’s 86th House District.
On Aug. 2, Richardson, the incumbent, defeated challenger Michael R. Bohland in the Republican primary election. According to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, Richardson earned 3,872 votes with Bohland receiving 1,039 votes.

Niko Moon will bring feel good brand of music to Balloon Fest
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
Niko Moon guarantees a “Good Time” at the All Ohio Balloon Festival on Friday.
“The mentality of the music is what makes it Niko Moon music. First and foremost, it’s got to be positive,” Moon said. “I like to make people feel good.”
Moon’s debut album, “Good Time,” was released in August 2021, with 14 songs, including radio hits like “Paradise To Me” and the title track.

Interim Health donates to VFW Post 870, supports Veterans Day at Richwood Independent Fair
Editor’s note: The following content was supplied by Gail DeGood-Guy.
Veterans will have their special day at this year’s 130th Richwood Independent Fair with a donation from Interim HealthCare. The company decided to focus a portion of its 2022 Charitable Giving monies on veterans. The Ohio Region designated $19,800 to Veteran Recognition Events throughout Ohio. Each area partnered with a Senior Center/Veterans Group to host and assist with an event in 2022. Looking back to January of 2020, Interim HealthCare has cared for 28 veterans in Union County, many of whom reside in the Richwood area. They’ve also provided 1,420 nursing, 214 physical therapy and 67 occupational therapy visits along with 18,090 home health aide hours to Union County veterans.

Richwood woman participates in local Habitat for Humanity’s homeownership program to build house
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
Habitat for Humanity of Delaware and Union Counties is helping a Richwood woman build and purchase a home close to loved ones.
Brittany Mosher is the assistant manager of a hair salon in Delaware County. She has been cutting hair for nearly 17 years. Mosher is also the single mother of five-year-old Xavier Chadwick.

NU’s clay target club team had successful first competing season
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
Pastor Joe Rhea, who leads North Union’s clay target club sport, shared the team’s success with the North Union Board of Education on Monday.
“We have a great group of coaches (and) a great group of kids,” Rhea said.
He said, during the 2021-22 school year, there were 26 students from North Union and one student from Marysville competing.

That’s a wrap on the 2022 Balloon Fest
By Michael Williamson, Marysville J-T reporter
Another All Ohio Balloon Festival has wrapped up after three days of festivities.
The annual event put on at the Union County Airport finished up Saturday evening with some uncertain weather but Balloon Fest coordinator Kevin Behrens said this year brought a lot of positive things together.

United Way committed to literacy
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
As enrollment in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library grows statewide, the United Way of Union County is seeking contributions to continue its commitment to early literacy.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio mails children one high-quality, age-appropriate book each month from the time they are born until they turn five years old.

Area News - The Richwood Independent Fair
By Sherryl Sheets
Mark your calendars for Aug. 31 through Labor Day, Sept. 5, for the 130th annual Richwood Independent Fair. Anyone who wishes, may exhibit artwork, handcrafts, woodworking items, antique pieces, etc. during the fair by entering. The entry deadline is Saturday, Aug. 20, at 4 p.m. at the fair secretary’s office, you can mail the entries to Richwood Fair, PO Box 71, Richwood, OH 43344, or by dropping your entry form and payment in the mail slot at the fair secretary’s office before the deadline. Entry tags can be picked up at the fair secretary’s office on Saturday, Aug. 27, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Sunday, Aug. 28, 1-6 p.m. All open entries need to be in place by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 30, for judging during the week.

Franklin Street project delayed, lack of funding
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Village of Richwood Council wants answers to why an expected Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) was awarded to another municipality.
During the meeting on Monday, Council member Pat Morse said he would like to know from Village Administrator Monte Asher “or whomever in detail what happened there and why.”
“I’m not happy about that at all,” Morse said.

Commissioners OK solar PILOT plan, 2-1
By Michael Williamson, Marysville J-T reporter
After months of back and forth between residents and officials, the Union Solar/Acciona project will be granted a PILOT agreement.
At the regular meeting last Wednesday, county commissioners voted 2-1 to grant the company a payment in lieu of taxes agreement rather than deciding on a typical, asset-based tax option.

Health department considers sewer inspection changes
By Kayleen Petrovia, Marysville J-T reporter
The Union County Board of Health is considering adopting rules that include changes to the cycle on which local household’s sewer systems must be inspected.
During the board’s meeting last Wednesday, Union County Health Commissioner Jason Orcena presented a recap of proposed changes to the group.
At the July meeting, Orcena said they are “very substantial changes, but not a lot of them,” including simplified inspection cycles and the authority to implement a sliding fee scale.

TRCC serves as TechCred site
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
Tri-Rivers Career Center in Marion serves as a TechCred training site to help individuals complete tech-based credentials required for employment.
Mark Edington, robotics instructor for Tri-Rivers/RAMTEC, said Tri-Rivers was one of the first programs in the state to be recognized as a TechCred training site. Eligible training sites include universities, community colleges, technical centers and private training providers.