Local Archived News

Avalon Theatre focus of recent OFCC meeting
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Avalon Theatre has softly opened with movie showings and the State of the City Address, but an official grand opening will take place at the beginning of August, said Sarah Barr.
Barr, the executive director of the Avalon Theatre, presented a project spotlight about the Avalon at the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) monthly meeting held there on Thursday morning.

Case highlights need for Ohio strangulation laws
By Mac Cordell, Marysville J-T reporter
Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips is saying a recent grand jury indictment highlights the need for state lawmakers to approve legislation making strangulation a crime.
Dolan Chauncey Mills, 38, of 6861 Almendinger Road, Prospect, is charged with one count of third-degree felony domestic violence related to an April 27 incident.

Richwood Farmers Market receives grant from UCHD
By Kayleen Petrovia, Marysville J-T reporter
Officials at the Union County Health Department are excited about the future of the Richwood Farmers Market.
The Board of Health approved a $5,000 intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Richwood to continue the Richwood Farmers Market, funded by the Ohio Department of Health’s Creating Healthy Communities grant.

Eagle Scout project delayed, park vandalism on rise
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The installation of a lighthouse for an Eagle Scout project is being delayed as a result of vandalism at Richwood Lake Park.
At the latest Village of Richwood Council meeting, Mayor Scott Jerew announced that cameras have been installed at the park as a result of the new playground equipment being vandalized. Jerew said suspects have also tore name plates off the memorial benches, kicked trash barrels over and destroyed the restrooms by putting mulch in the hand dryers, throwing rocks in the toilets, writing graffiti on the walls, pulling soap dispensers off the walls and wiping feces on the walls.

Area projects score big in state capital budget
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The state capital budget, known as House Bill 687 and Senate Bill 343, will provide funding for multiple community projects in the Village of Richwood at the fairgrounds, the park and the opera house.
The legislation, which was passed by the 134th Ohio General Assembly on Thursday, was sent to Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk to sign into law.

Commission makes progress on amendment to regulate livestock
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The “biggest hurdle” to regulate livestock in the Village of Richwood through a zoning ordinance amendment will be grandfathering in the existing animals and birds, said Mayor Scott Jerew.
Brad Bodenmiller, director of the Logan-Union-Champaign (LUC) Regional Planning Commission, told the planning commission last Thursday he will need to review the existing zoning ordinance and discuss the matter with Village Solicitor Julie Spain before he offers advice.

Incidents highlight need for domestic relations resources
By Kayleen Petrovia, Marysville J-T reporter
Four recent incidents of domestic abuse throughout the county, each involving firearms, have highlighted the necessity of resources for those facing violence in their homes.
“We have so many good resources (in Union County) and people just don’t know,” said Tracie Nelson, clinical director at WINGS Support and Recovery.

NUAC race returns this month
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
The North Union Athletic Committee (NUAC) is hosting the Richwood Sports Festival, a 5K run/walk and 2-mile walk on Saturday, June 18. Registration opens at 7 a.m., and the race begins at 8 a.m. As a bonus, NUAC will also be offering two new free, fun runs.

Village to service another district with upgraded sewer system
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Village of Richwood is moving forward with a multi-district wastewater plant, which will service Magnetic Springs and any future growth.
The village council approved the first reading of a resolution to adopt the Magnetic Springs-Richwood Sanitary System on Monday.

Opera House group to address ‘catastrophic’ leaks in clock tower of historic building
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Richwood Revitalization Committee voted to hire Jeff Meyer of Meyer Restoration, Inc. to search for and repair the “catastrophic” leaks in the clock tower of the Richwood Opera House.
“The leaks are large,” said Chairman Reddy Brown.

Dr. French joins Memorial Family Medicine, replaces Dr. Dunkin in Richwood
Editor’s note: The following content was submitted by Memorial Health.
Memorial Health has announced Juliet French, MD, MPH, is now treating patients at the Memorial Family Medicine | Richwood practice, where she joins fellow physician Pamela Kapraly, MD.

Proposed zoning changes to clarify ‘unknown’ properties
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
Local property owners sought clarification about how the proposed amendments to the Village of Richwood Zoning Ordinance will impact their properties during a Richwood Planning Commission public hearing on Monday evening.
Chairman Reddy Brown explained that the purpose of the proposed zoning amendments is “to clarify unknown properties from the old map that wasn’t official.”

8 townships become solar farm dead zones
By Michael Williamson, Marysville J-T reporter
Union County Commissioners approved a blanket request to stop solar farms coming into eight townships in the county.
At their weekly meeting last Wednesday, June 15, commissioners voted 2-1 to approve a resolution accepting the requests from Allen, Claibourne, Darby, Jackson, Leesburg, Liberty, Taylor and Washington townships to oppose future solar projects. The passage of the measure would ensure an automatic “no” for any future solar companies looking to bring in a site generating over 50 megawatts of power into those townships.

NUCFD increases part-time rates
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Northern Union County Fire and EMS District Board voted to increase part-time rates for medics and basics beginning July 3 during its meeting on Thursday.
Currently, medics earn $16.06 an hour and basics earn $13.76.

Baird’s report addresses improvements made district wide for student success
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
Superintendent Richard Baird recently informed the North Union Board of Education about improvements being made within the district to address shortcomings in student achievement.
During his superintendent report on Monday, Baird focused on the areas of programming, wellness and community engagement.

Local fire depts. plan to merge
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Leesburg Township Fire Department intends to merge with the Northwestern Joint Fire District. Leesburg Township Trustees Bill Lowe and Jeff Robinson informed the Northern Union County Fire and EMS District (NUCFD) Board about the plan at its meeting on Thursday evening.

Milk bank a resource for local mothers
By Kayleen Petrovia, Marysville J-T reporter
While a nationwide infant formula shortage has left some families scrambling, a number of Union County moms are working to ensure babies have the milk they need.
The Union County WIC office, within the local health department, recently became a drop-off location in partnership with the OhioHealth Mothers’ Milk Bank, which provides breast milk for babies in need.

Richwood man killed in Gator crash
By Mac Cordell, Marysville J-T reporter
A Richwood man is dead following a crash last Monday, June 20, on Route 37.
James A. Gray, 66, of Richwood, died last Monday at Grant Medical Center in Columbus.
According to a release from the Union County Sheriff’s Office, last Monday, Gray was driving a John Deere Gator north in the 24000 block of Route 37, between Askins Road and Route 4, in Leesburg Township.
While he was driving, the Gator was hit from behind by a 2003 Honda Accord. The Accord was being driven by a 17-year-old boy from Magnetic Springs.

Council encourages active transportation
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Village of Richwood Council wants to encourage healthy transportation around the municipality through walking or biking.
Tamisha Matus, a Creating Healthy Communities coordinator at the Union County Health Department, said she can allocate $7,500 to $10,000 in grant funding to develop an active transportation plan for the village.

Richwood officials undecided on how to regulate livestock
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Village of Richwood Planning Commission’s review of a proposed zoning amendment to regulate livestock led to tense discussions last Wednesday night, June 22.
The zoning amendment was drafted by Village Solicitor Julie Spain and Brad Bodenmiller, director of the Logan-Union-Champaign (LUC) Regional Planning Commission. It proposes to prohibit all livestock except for chickens and rabbits and to regulate livestock through the size of fenced acreage.

Architect chosen for opera house
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The Richwood Revitalization Committee voted to ask the Village of Richwood Council to authorize the hiring of Triad Architects not to exceed $42,100 for the opera house restoration project.
Brent Foley, partner and director of architecture and design at Triad Architects, met with the committee via Zoom last Thursday evening.
“I think you guys are in the phases of really trying to figure out how best to approach the project, really to nail down the scope, nail down the budget and nail down a timeline, right?” Foley said. “That really is what the intent of our proposal is geared towards.”

Board member wants better upkeep on NU facilities
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
North Union Board of Education President Brian Davis presented several facility projects, particularly in the high school gymnasium, he would like included in the budget during the board meeting last Monday, June 20.
His primary concern in the high school gymnasium, which recently housed the Richwood-North Union Alumni Banquet and graduation, is the failing lights.