Local Archived News

Local police depts. may be impacted by vehicle delays
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
Local police departments may be affected by the shortage of police cruisers in production at Ford, as certain parts remain in limited supply.
“The automotive industry continues to be confronted by supply chain shortages. Ford is working diligently to ensure our police vehicles are delivered on a timely basis to meet customer demand,” said Elizabeth Kraft, the North America communications manager at Ford Pro.

NU responds to social media threat
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
Superintendent Richard Baird and the North Union Local Schools District administration responded to a report of a threat on social media in a letter to the North Union community on Sunday.
According to the letter, the North Union High School administration “received notification very late Friday evening that a student had communicated on social media a reference to bringing a weapon” to the high school on Monday.

LifeWise makes headway in area
By Michael Williamson, Marysville J-T reporter
Marysville may soon join other local school districts in allowing for religious-based education outside the classroom if a new policy is approved by the Board of Education.
School officials heard the first reading of a measure that would establish the district’s Released Time Religious Instruction (RTRI) policy at the recent October board meeting.

Magnetic Springs’ new levy really isn’t
By Mac Cordell, Marysville J-T reporter
The Village of Magnetic Springs is in danger of losing the money it needs to survive.
On Nov. 8, voters in Magnetic Springs will vote on a new 5-mill levy to help pay for current operating expenses. If passed, the five-year levy will cost the owner of a $100,000 home $175 per year and is expected to generate about $15,297 per year.
Village officials, however, stress that while the levy is listed as new, residents have been paying the tax already for years.

Simon Shover honored as “Voice from the Stone”
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Union County Veterans Remembrance Committee hosted the annual Veterans Day Program on Sunday afternoon on the Union County Courthouse lawn at the Veterans Remembrance Monument and Plaza.
During the ceremony, Simon Shover, a War of 1812 veteran and prisoner of war (POW), was memorialized as the “Voice from the Stone.”

Fire department raises wages to retain, recruit employees among competition
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Northern Union County Fire and EMS District (NUCFD) unanimously agreed to raise wages for full-time positions to help retain employees.
The board voted to increase the wages at the regular board meeting in October in an effort to be more competitive with surrounding fire departments.
“We don’t pay as much as Marysville and Marion,” Chief Randy Riffle said in an interview last Friday.

Community celebrates veterans with events
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Richwood community is honoring all veterans with events this week.
North Union Elementary School students will pay tribute to community heroes during their Veterans Day celebration on Friday from 9-10 a.m. at the elementary school, 420 Grove St. Any veteran, who served during peace or war time, is invited to attend this special assembly. Those interested in attending are asked to contact the school at 740-943-3113. Veterans are asked to arrive by 8:30 a.m. so the assembly can begin promptly at 9 a.m.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 870, American Legion Post 40 and VFW Ohio Charities invite all local veterans to the Veterans Day no-cost brunch on Friday from 10 a.m. to noon. Each veteran is welcome to bring a guest. Veterans do not need to be a member of any veteran organization, including the VFW or American Legion. Crowbar and Grill will prepare scrambled eggs, sausage with gravy, sausage patties, fried potatoes and coffee. No reservations are required. The VFW Post 870 is located at the corner of North Franklin and Blagrove streets.
Veterans Day is a joyous day to celebrate all veterans, past, present, active duty, reserves, guard, peacetime and wartime. Flags are not lowered to half-staff on this day. Call Gail DeGood-Guy for more information at 740-943-3604.

Richwood to be featured in ODH multimedia campaign
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Village of Richwood will be featured in a marketing campaign to promote active transportation in rural Ohio.
Tamisha Matus, Creating Healthy Communities coordinator at the Union County Health Department, said she was contacted by the Toole Design Group, which is working on a project for the Ohio Department of Health.
“There is an interest in improving the library of good photos of people walking, biking and rolling. As we thought about this, we were also aware there is an inaccurate perception that people in rural communities don’t travel that way,” said Catherine Girves, principal planner at the Toole Design Group. “We thought this would be an opportunity to invest in images that correct that inaccuracy. Richwood is an ideal place to show that.”

County to rework facilities department
By Michael Williamson, Marysville J-T reporter
Union County is restructuring its facilities team and creating a new position to share some of the responsibilities of the current manager.
Union County Human Resources Director Ginger Yonak said the new position would greatly assist the county’s facilities manager, Jimmie Inskeep.
“We’ve identified, over the course of the past couple of years, since Jimmie has been in the position of facilities manager, that there is not a clear back-up,” Yonak said. “So, we’ve been taking a look at the structure for facilities and we’d like to recommend some restructuring.”

Voter turnout strong; village’s street levy passes
By Mac Cordell, Marysville J-T reporter
More than 25,000 Union County residents made their voices heard as part of the general election on Nov. 8.
Overall, 25,228 Union County voters, about 58% of eligible voters, cast a ballot in the general election.
“That was higher than the last like election, so that is positive,” said Brandon Clay with the Union County Board of Elections.
Even with the high voter turnout, officials said election day went well.

Rep. Richardson retains statehouse seat; U.S. Rep. Jordan wins easily
By Mac Cordell, Marysville J-T reporter
Republican Tracy Richardson has been reelected to represent Ohio’s 86th District, which includes all of Union and much of Marion counties.
According to unofficial results from the board of elections offices in Union and Marion counties, Richardson, the incumbent, earned 26,045 votes with Barbara Luke, a Democrat, earning 11,786 votes.

Council gets first look at 2023 budget
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Village of Richwood Council approved the first reading of the 2023 budget on Monday.
According to the budget resolution, the 2023 estimated total revenue available will be nearly $3.4 million and the temporary appropriations will be roughly $3.2 million.
The budget resolution shows about $1.5 million in carryover from 2022.

Solar project access roads completed
By Michael Williamson, Marysville J-T reporter
Acciona/Union Solar has finished the installation of access roads in its project area, so residents should see a reduction in construction traffic.
At last Wednesday’s regular meeting of the Union County Commissioners, Acciona Development Manager Brian Dunneback updated the board on the solar project’s progress and current status going into next year.
Dunneback said the roads are 100% complete and construction is moving south to north through 16 areas that span Washington and York townships.

Richwood Opera House committee discusses roofing material options
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Richwood Revitalization Committee discussed material options to repair or replace the roof of the historic opera house and town hall during its meeting on Thursday.
The current roof is slate and has been leaking from age and breakage over time. The water damage to indoor trusses has been addressed. The committee plans to hire a company to install a temporary rubber roof over the slate to prevent further leaking in the near term. The committee has agreed a total roof replacement is necessary to extend the useful life of the facility as the committee plans to restore the building for community use.

Richwood woman indicted for breaking and entering, theft
By Mac Cordell, Marysville J-T reporter
A former employee could be facing nearly a decade in prison after allegedly repeatedly breaking into Denny’s Pizza and Drive Thru in Richwood.
The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Barbara Lee Cox, 45, of 125 W. Bomford St., Richwood, charging her with three counts of breaking and entering, three counts of safecracking and one count of petty theft.

ACCIONA donates to Hope Center, Marysville Food Pantry
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
ACCIONA Energía, leader in renewable energy and developer of the Union Solar Farm in Union County, has announced donations to support the Hope Center and the Marysville Food Pantry.
As part of the company’s Social Impact Management (SIM) program, ACCIONA Energía supports organizations in the areas where it operates. The SIM program aims to support nonprofit organizations providing services in education, social initiatives and environmental stewardship.

Task force in process of drug round-up
By Mac Cordell, Marysville J-T reporter
A Union County Grand Jury has indicted 20 individuals as part of an alleged drug operation in northern Union County. On Wednesday, members of the Union County Multi-Agency Drug Enforcement (M.A.D.E.) Task Force arrested seven individuals from the Magnetic Springs area and three individuals from the Richwood area. Union County Sheriff Jamie Patton said the other individuals have not been arrested yet and the indictments remain sealed.
Those arrested include Thomas Welsh, Caseie Stidham, Cully Vogt, Andrea M. Woodworth, Heather A. Hampton, Kenneth S. Sprague, Kylee M. Edwards, Michael A. O’Bryant, Stephanie D. Reiss and Mark A. Cromlish.

UCHD monitors illnesses in area
By Kayleen Petrovia, Marysville J-T reporter
As cold and flu season arrives, the Union County Health Department is working to prevent a variety of illnesses in the community.
During the recent Board of Health meeting, UCHD officials discussed preventative measures against COVID-19, the flu, RSV and measles.

Coalition encourages safe driving this Thanksgiving
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
This Thanksgiving holiday, the Safe and Sound Coalition of Union County is teaming up with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to make sure community members make it to the Thanksgiving table.
With the Thanksgiving holiday kicking off a very merry time of year, it’s essential to take some time to remember that buzzed driving is drunk driving.
If plans to celebrate include alcohol, community members are advised to plan for a sober driver.

County looks to beef up 911 system north of Marysville
By Michael Williamson, Marysville J-T reporter
Union County officials are looking to update the 911 system north of the City of Marysville.
The updates would extend north along Route 4 to the radio tower between Blues Creek Golf Course and Kaiser Road.
Currently, the system is fitted with a series of copper wires, which County Administrator Bill Narducci said are “getting old” and “difficult to maintain.”