Local Archived News

Packed house for solar farm debate
Meeting moved as opponents, proponents share opinions
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
Property rights were at the center of a debate about imposing a restriction on future solar farms in Union County.
It was standing room only at the start of the Union County Commissioners’ special session last Tuesday, as concerned residents spilled out of the hearing room into the hallway. Upon request of the crowd, the meeting was relocated to the nearby Veterans Auditorium in the same building.
“We’re here tonight to talk basically about the restricted area of the county,” said Commissioner Steve Robinson. “That is what was advertised, so my request to you all is to keep as close as you can to that topic.”

Fourth solar farm project planned for Union County
By Mac Cordell, Marysville J-T reporter
Officials with Lightsource bp have announced plans to develop a solar farm in Union and Logan counties.
According to information from Lightsource bp, the company intends to construct a 100-megawatt solar project on a portion of 912 acres of privately owned land in Union and Logan counties. The Lightsource bp facility will be called the Acamar Solar project.

Donors support Richwood Opera House project
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Richwood Revitalization Committee announced last Thursday that it has received a $4,000 donation from local author and historian Dustin Lowe’s book sales and a $65 donation from Richwood Civic Center members.
With the donations, the committee now has $9,417 in its general fund. In addition, the committee has $2,875 in the Richwood Bank Coffee fund.

Village seeks CDBG grant
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Village of Richwood plans to apply for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), but will have to wait to do so.
Craig Mescher, a project manager at Access Engineering Solutions, said during a public meeting on Monday that another municipality in Union County has already started the grant application for this program period.

Solar farm dollars come into focus
By Mac Cordell, Marysville J-T reporter
The Union County Commissioners appear to be moving closer to a decision about the taxing structure for a local solar farm.

Local garden club to host flower, horticulture show
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Progressive Buds Garden Club is hosting its inaugural Spring Flower and Horticulture Show at Dutch Mill Greenhouse, 18443 Route 4, Marysville, on March 19 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Street funds run thin in village
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Village of Richwood Council is considering a new tax levy for street improvements.
Council member Von Beal said during the council meeting last Monday that the budget subcommittee met recently and there is “not a lot of money that can be carved out that can get dedicated to repaving streets.”

Richwood ice drop contest ends, winner recognized
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Village of Richwood Trailblazers group hosted an ice drop challenge to raise funds for improvements at Richwood Lake Park, 4 Lynn St. A Christmas tree was set on the frozen Richwood Lake in January. The tree was weighted down, so that it would become fish habitat when it sank. Community members were able to purchase a ticket for $1 to wager on when the tree would fall through the ice. The tree broke through the ice on March 1 at 3:50 p.m. The winner, Brian Davis, was recognized last Friday at 9 a.m. at the village offices on North Franklin Street for guessing the correct date. He received a $100 prize.

Rezoning paves way for homeless shelter
By Kayleen Petrovia, Marysville J-T reporter
A group of Union County officials and non-profit leaders believe the community is one step closer to alleviating its homeless crisis.

Village park committee schedules events
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
Let’s Roll, Union County! Parks and Trails Working Group will participate in the annual Celebrate Trails Day by promoting the Richwood Lake Park trail on April 23.

Council considers 3 mill levy for street maintenance
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The streets subcommittee of the Village of Richwood Council suggested council approve a 3 mill levy designated for street repair to be put on the ballot in the Nov. 8 general election.
“If we don’t get something rolling right now on streets, we’re going to be back on gravel before we’re off of council,” said Mayor Scott Jerew.

County to use federal money to clear logjam
By Mac Cordell, Marysville J-T reporter
The Union County Commissioners are pledging to use federal dollars to pay for a local problem.
At last Wednesday’s commissioners’ meeting, they talked about using money from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) to help fix the flooding issues along Mill Creek.

Motor fuel tax collection, distribution can be complex
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
Despite popular belief, where drivers stop to fill up their gas tanks does not impact how much motor fuel tax revenue areas receive.
Revenues from motor vehicle fuel and use tax are distributed among state and local governments according to a statutory formula, not geographically, for the maintenance of roads.

Board releases statement about solar
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The North Union Board of Education broke its silence, but did not say much, about a significant revenue stream through a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement with Invenergy for the approved Cadence Solar Project.
The topic of solar farms was a discussion item on the meeting agenda, but the board did not hold a discussion or take any action on Monday. Instead, the board simply released a statement pledging to support the commissioners’ decision.

UCHD reflections: Two years, four surges
By Kayleen Petrovia, Marysville J-T reporter
As COVID numbers subside locally, the Union County Health Department is reflecting on its pandemic response.
UCHD Director of Health Promotion and Planning Shawn Sech said the health department views the past two years as a story of four different surges.

UCSO sending gear to Ukrainian military
By Mac Cordell, Marysville J-T reporter
More than three dozen Ukrainian soldiers could be getting military protection thanks to the Union County Sheriff’s Office.
On Wednesday, the Union County Commissioners approved a measure to declare 37 ballistic vests and six helmets to be obsolete or unserviceable.

NU students recover from car crash
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
Two North Union students, Andrew Green and Alexander Aldamen, are recovering from serious injuries after being involved in a two-vehicle crash March 6 at 5:40 p.m. in Arlington, Ohio.
According to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office traffic crash report, Green, 16, was flown by Life Flight to St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima, Ohio, with suspected serious injuries. He was trapped in the vehicle and had to be removed by non-mechanical means, the report states.

Business interest, population exploding in Union County
By Mac Cordell, Marysville J-T reporter
Economic Development Director Eric Phillips says that in his 21 years in Union County, he has never been busier.
Phillips gave his quarterly report to the county commissioners this week. He said he has 20 active leads, not including retail, commercial or residential leads. He said the prospective companies include agriculture, data, a variety of manufacturing, logistics and distribution, medical and corporate offices.
“It is a very diverse set of companies,” he said.

Hope Center eyes possible future homes
By Kayleen Petrovia, Marysville J-T reporter
Hope Center officials are hopeful that their organization will be the next occupant of the former Kroger site on West Fifth Street.
“We’ve got so many dreams and visions for that space,” said Hope Center Director of Administration and Development Becky Bolt.
Hope Center officials recently presented their proposed plans for the site to Marysville City Council.

ODH awards NU Softball for Girls grant to offer healthier concession snacks
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette, and Kayleen Petrovia, Marysville J-T reporter
The Union County Board of Health recently approved a $2,000 grant to the North Union Softball for Girls to provide assistance on selling healthier food items at its concession stand.

Richwood Revitalization Committee plans fundraising campaign for opera house
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Richwood Revitalization Committee is working on a $22 for 2022 campaign to raise money for the restoration of the Richwood Opera House.
The goal is to raise about $5,000 over 60 days. Dates for the campaign have yet to be determined.

Gardeners spread kindness with flowers
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
Tara Harper, a gardener and owner of Thyme to Sprout Flower Farm, aims to create a domino effect of goodwill through a local team of the Growing Kindness project.
Growing Kindness was founded by Washington state flower farmer Deanna Kitchen, who with her family started delivering flowers throughout her community at doctor’s offices, retirement homes and bus stops in 2018.