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
FHS cagers top Greeneview
Sports
FHS cagers top Greeneview
By Tim Miller 
December 18, 2025
A 70-52 verdict at Greeneview kept Fairbanks’ boys basketball record clean. The Panthers elevated their overall mark to 5-0. They are also 4-0 in the Ohio Heritage Conference. Nate Meihls tallied 10 o...
Wildcats drop contest to Urbana
Sports
North Union’s Nickolaus Hajjar goes into the lane against Urbana. The Wildcats fell to the Hillclimbers. (Photo submitted)
Wildcats drop contest to Urbana
By Bob Putman 
December 18, 2025
When North Union was able to get into its offense the end-of-the-play result often resulted in points. Unfortunately, turnovers plagued the Wildcats, leading to a 63-48 loss to Urbana on Tuesday in bo...
MHS girls roll past Westerville Central
Sports
Marysville’s Lain Dumbauld (20) fights for an offensive rebound against a Westerville Central defender during the second half. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
MHS girls roll past Westerville Central
By Aleksei Pavloff 
December 18, 2025
Lessons learned can pay dividends. That’s what Marysville’s girls basketball team adopted after it claimed a 58-40 win over Westerville Central. The two OCC member schools played at Central Tuesday fo...
Bowl selections will wrap up Pigskin Pickers season
Sports
Bowl selections will wrap up Pigskin Pickers season
December 18, 2025
The regular season recently concluded for the 2025 Pigskin Pickers Sports editor Tim Miller and reporter Jack Christian tied for the final week of the regular season with 6-4 records. Miller finished ...
Union County general fund revenue to grow 14% next year
Local News, News
Union County general fund revenue to grow 14% next year
By Michael Williamson 
December 17, 2025
Union County passed its budget for 2026 with some expected increases to various departments. At the regular meeting Wednesday morning the county commissioners passed both the general fund and special ...
Lights, camera, action
Education, Local News, News
Students run through their script, working to refine the show ahead of Thursday’s recording day. (Journal-Tribune photo by Jack Christian)
Lights, camera, action
Students learn the ropes in front of the camera, and behind it, to create Monarch Message
By Jack Christian 
December 17, 2025
Marysville High School students are getting a hands-on introduction to journalism and media production through a course dedicated to producing the school’s weekly morning news broadcast, The Monarch M...