Off The Hook
December 30, 2016

Happy New Year

By Melanie Behrens

The earliest recorded festivities to honor a New Year’s arrival dates back to 4,000 years ago in ancient Babylon. At that time, it was celebrated in late March at the time of the vernal equinox when there’s an equal amount of sunlight and darkness. Then Julius Caesar got into the act because he ...

Off The Hook
The legend of Werewolf Lane
By Melanie Behrens 
September 25, 2020
Editor’s note: The last article J-T columnist Melanie Behrens was working on before her death April 30 was the following story about Werewolf Lane. The information was supplied by Leroy Cook, who coll...
Off The Hook
Take a penny, leave a penny
By Melanie Behrens 
May 1, 2020
Copper pennies are the smallest increment in our money. And now, monetarily, they’re actually worth almost nothing. Many times in stores and businesses you will see a little jar that says, “need a pen...
Off The Hook
Pocket watches gave them their start
By Melanie Behrens 
April 24, 2020
I came across some information of how a once great retailer got its start and was surprised at the name disclosure at the end. I hope you too will enjoy this. If you were in the market for a watch in ...
Other news
MHS, JA boys grapplers compete at Maumee
Sports
Marysville’s Griffen Beery (blue) scrambles with Sheridan’s Luke Skinner (white) during a match at 150 pounds. The competition came during the Maumee Classic. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kevin Behrens)
MHS, JA boys grapplers compete at Maumee
By Aleksei Pavloff 
January 20, 2026
Marysville and Jonathan Alder were among the more than 60 schools represented in this year’s edition of the Maumee Bay Classic boys wrestling tournament. The tournament, as it has been, was hosted by ...
NU grapplers tie for fourth at Wasserbeck; Triad wrestler wins
Sports
Triad’s Garret Bollack (top) sprawls on Pleasant’s Aaron Hibar (bottom) during the finals match at 150 pounds at the Don Wasserbeck Classic. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
NU grapplers tie for fourth at Wasserbeck; Triad wrestler wins
By Bob Putman 
January 20, 2026
It was not quite the finish North Union wrestling coach Garret Andrews was looking for Saturday at the Don Wasserbeck Classic wrestling tournament. “We finished fourth overall and that is an improveme...
Jonathan Alder girls cagers top Tecumseh in OT
Sports
Jonathan Alder freshman Ellioitt Hecht goes up for two of her team-high 20 points on Saturday against Tecumseh. JA won the game in overtime. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Jonathan Alder girls cagers top Tecumseh in OT
By Tim Miller 
January 20, 2026
A pair of rebuilding girls basketball teams tangled Saturday afternoon in the Jonathan Alder High School gym. Both the JA Lady Pioneers and Arrows from Tecumseh faced off in the Central Buckeye Confer...
JA will mark 20th anniversary of girls state title hoop team
Sports
Jonathan Alder junior Lauren Prochaska, right, dribbles against a Zanesville opponent in a game during the 2005-2006 season. School officials will honor members of the 2005-2006 team on the 20th anniversary season of their Division III state championship. The recognition will come on Wednesday at halftime of the current Lady Pioneers’ home game against Columbus Bishop Ready. (Journal-Tribune photo photo by Tim Miller)
JA will mark 20th anniversary of girls state title hoop team
By Tim Miller 
January 20, 2026
Jonathan Alder High School’s athletic department will mark a special occasion on Wednesday evening. The school’s current girls basketball team will step away from Central Buckeye Conference competitio...
Area high school bowlers compete during matches
Sports
Area high school bowlers compete during matches
By Aleksei Pavloff 
January 20, 2026
The North Union bowling teams had a busy weekend as they hosted Indian Lake on Friday at Dragon Lanes and on Saturday went to HP Lanes in Columbus for the Worthington Christian Warrior D2 Preview. The...
NU ladies club Shawnee
Sports
NU ladies club Shawnee
By Bob Putman 
January 20, 2026
A 25-point first quarter was more then enough to get North Union going on Saturday in a Central Buckeye Conference girls hoop game at Shawnee. The Lady Cats went on to a 71-26 victory over the Lady Br...