Local Archived News

Ballot set for November election
By Mac Cordell, Marysville J-T reporter
The Union County Board of Elections approved a slate of issues and candidate for the upcoming Nov. 8 General Election.
Voters all across Union County will be voting to renew a countywide sales tax of one quarter of one percent. In 2021 the sales tax generated $3,382,479.48. Through Aug. 17, the tax has generated $2,306,749.31.
That money is split evenly between the county engineer and senior services.

North Union avoids staffing shortages
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
As students prepare to return to the North Union Local Schools District on Sept. 7, the superintendent announced that the district has fully staffed its bus fleet, food service department and educational department.
“We’ve actually had a good response to those postings,” Superintendent Richard Baird said.
He added that bus drivers have moved into the district, which has helped fill the fleet.

Union County well represented at the 2022 Ohio State Fair
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
Union County was well represented at the 2022 Ohio State Fair with 38 livestock participants, including youth and adult exhibitors.
Kyle Stacklin, Wyatt Stacklin, Morgan Evans, Emma Arver, Wyatt Arver, Kinley Balzer, Kylee Balzer, Camdyn Burns, Troy Buyer, Chloe Dickey, Danielle Eades, Holly Eades, Michaela Eades, Linsey Eddy, Emma Griffey, Anna (Christina) Headings, Dennis and Rebekah Headings, Julianne Headings, Stephenie Headings, Sylvia (Madeline) Headings, Roger High, Colby Hoffman, Olivia Jenkins, Glade Jolliff, Audrey Lahmers, Ava Lahmers, Elaina Lahmers, Phelps Farms/Dave Phelps, Avery Poling, Silver Mist Quietcove, Noah Rausch, Evangeline Reidman, Austin Schlosser, Caden Smith, Allison Stacklin, Heidi Walls, Ethan Wendt and Dan Westlake competed in the livestock events at the annual fair, which took place July 27 to Aug. 7 at the Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus.

Services, name offered for new Memorial facility
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
Memorial Health’s Board of Trustees learned the name of the new facility planned for southeastern corner of the county, as well as what service lines it will offer, Thursday night.
The $25.5-million, 40,000-square-foot, two-story medical office building planned near the intersection of U.S. 42 and U.S. 33 will be called the Memorial Jerome Medical Center.

Multidistrict sanitary system moves forward
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
A multidistrict wastewater plant between Magnetic Springs and Richwood is in the planning stages.
On-site treatment systems (septic tanks) for treatment and disposal of wastewater in Magnetic Springs have been failing for several years, according to documentation from the Union County Health Department. The majority of the on-site wastewater treatment systems discharge leachate to the storm sewer systems of the village.

Commissioners discuss pause in solar application process
By Michael Williamson, Marysville J-T reporter
County officials have questions about the progress of some solar project applications after one of the regulatory boards put a pause on reviewing requests
Earlier this year, PJM, the electric grid operator that oversees energy project applications, put a two-year pause on reviewing requests from solar companies, citing a need to catch up on backlogged applications before new ones could be reviewed.

New COVID-19 booster shots to be available through UCHD
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
On Aug. 31, the FDA authorized updated COVID-19 booster shots in advance of the fall. The Union County Health Department cannot start administering these new boosters until the CDC issues recommendations for who should receive it.

Family-fun activities planned throughout Richwood on Sept. 17
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
Richwood has a day of activities for all ages planned on Saturday, Sept. 17.
In the morning, the annual Ruth Woods Fun Run begins at Richwood Lake, 4 Lynn St., at 9 a.m.
“The Ruth Woods Fun Run is a fundraiser that honors the legacy of our founder, Ruth Woods,” said Susie Pfarr, executive director of The Richwood Civic Center. “The Richwood Civic Center was founded in 1962. All proceeds go back into providing activities and advocacy for our seniors.”

Richwood Fair Livestock Sale has special moment
Gesture raises enough to construct ramp on grandstands
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
An unforgettable moment took place at the 130th Richwood Independent Fair Livestock Sale on Labor Day, Sept. 5, as roughly 85 bidders donated a total of $10,000 to support a junior fair exhibitor’s project.
As Zane Copas entered the show arena to sell his market rabbits, Auctioneer Johnny Regula announced that he would donate all the proceeds from the sale to the senior fair board for the construction of an ADA-compliant ramp at the grandstands at the Richwood Fairgrounds. Copas, who uses a wheelchair, has a mission to make the fairgrounds more accessible for himself and others.

Village establishes sewer plant fund
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Village of Richwood Council passed a resolution on Monday to establish an enterprise Magnetic Springs Sewer Fund and to transfer $20,000 from the village’s general fund to the Magnetic Springs Sewer Fund for the multi-district sanitary system.

Union County home values jump
By Michael Williamson, Marysville J-T reporter
Tentative property valuations for Union County are now available to area residents to review online.
Auditor Andrea Weaver released the information Tuesday on the auditor’s website which includes those tentative property value estimates for homes across the county.

Suicide/overdose deaths to have new reviews
By Michael Williamson, Marysville J-T reporter
With suicides on the rise in Union County, local officials are broadening the scope of how they review deaths from suicide and drug overdoses.
County commissioners approved a measure on Wednesday that would pair suicides and overdoses together, creating a Hybrid Fatality Review Committee for analyzing the two issues.
County Health Commissioner Jason Orcena said with cases on the rise, and the state’s statutory approval, it made sense for the county to form a hybrid committee.

Leesburg dept. officially joins joint fire district
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Township of Leesburg officially joined the Northwestern Joint Fire District on Thursday, Sept. 15.
Trustees of the Leesburg, Liberty, Taylor and York townships met for a special meeting in conjunction with the Northwestern Joint Fire District Board meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 14, to sign multiple resolutions regarding the merger.

Early site work to begin on practice field at North Union High School
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The North Union Board of Education approved the proposal from LeVan’s Excavating in the amount of $133,644 for early site work for the new practice field on Monday.
The cost was under the architect’s estimation, said Scott Maruniak, treasurer and CFO of the district.
“We’re excited about having LeVan’s Excavating doing this project. They’ve done numerous projects for us in the past,” Maruniak added.

Economic Development Director planning retire/rehire move
By Michael Williamson, Marysville J-T reporter
Union County Economic Development Director Eric Phillips is retiring this month but won’t be away from tending to county business for very long.
County Commissioners held a public hearing at the regular meeting Wednesday morning to discuss the process of Phillips retiring and then getting rehired back into his position as director.
Phillips said despite being at retirement age, he’s not ready to stop working with the county which he has done for the last 21 years.

Support holiday event with extension cord donations through Oct.
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
Richwood residents are asked to donate extension cords for the annual holiday light display in Richwood Park in December.
Donations of extension cords can be made until mid-October at Plotner Hardware, 365 East Blagrove Street.
The 2022 Light Up the Park event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 3, after the annual Christmas parade downtown. The parade will begin and end at the park.

Celebrate National Hunting, Fishing Day with outdoor activities
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
Join the The Heart of Ohio Fish and Game Association for outdoor activities in Marysville this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day.
Activities will include fishing instruction, a fishing derby in the ponds and trap shooting. Fishing poles are available for youth, and bait will be provided.
There will also be the Ohio Division of Wildlife archery range and the National Wild Turkey Federation BB gun range available for use. Additionally, there will be fur and trapping displays and a slingshot range. Pheasants Forever will be on-site with habitat information.

Second solar farm in U.C. seeks PILOT
By Michael Williamson, Marysville J-T reporter
Union County officials have received a qualified energy project request from the Cadence Solar Project, the second of the solar companies to request the tax exemption.
If it’s approved by the county, it would grant a PILOT, or payment in lieu of taxes, agreement to the company looking to put a 275-megawatt facility on land northwest of Marysville.

Council continues discussion about permit filing fees
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
For the second time, the Village of Richwood Council tabled a discussion to amend the town ordinance to add a fee for non-conforming use permits.
Residents who had livestock on their properties within the village before the council passed the amended zoning ordinance may apply for non-conforming use permits to have their properties grandfathered in for agricultural use.

UCHD updates strategic plan
By Kayleen Petrovia, Marysville J-T reporter
Local health department officials are honing in on a handful of goals to help serve the county as efficiently as possible.
During the most recent Board of Health meeting, Accreditation Coordinator Tim Kelley and Deputy Director of Health Promotion and Planning Elizabeth Fries shared a presentation surrounding the development of an updated strategic plan for the agency.

NUES student council fund discussed
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The North Union Board of Education recently discussed allocating money to establish a separate fund for North Union Elementary School’s student council.
During the meeting last Monday, Board President Brian Davis asked why the elementary student council does not have an individual account in the district’s general fund, while the middle and high schools have their own funds.
“We have just never established that fund. It’s always run through the elementary 018 fund,” said Scott Maruniak, treasurer and CFO of the district.

Pavers available to honor veterans
Editor’s note: The following content is supplied by Marie Bouic of the Veterans Remembrance Committee.
The Veterans Remembrance Committee will host the Veterans Day Program on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 2 p.m. on the courthouse lawn at the Union County Veterans Monument and Plaza.
The monument was first dedicated on Armed Forces Day, May 19, 2007. There is still time to purchase pavers for this year’s ceremony. Anyone can purchase a paver or give as a gift certificate for their veteran. There is also still room for families or organizations to purchase pavers for the walkway to the monument. Pavers may be purchased at the Union County Foundation, www.unioncountyfoundation.org or 126 N. Main St. The purchase deadline for this year’s ceremony is Friday, Oct. 14, and personal or business tax deductible contributions are welcome anytime throughout the year for the perpetuity of the plaza and can also be made to the Veterans Remembrance Fund, c/o Union County Foundation.