Village’s police chief announces his retirement
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
After roughly 15 years as the Richwood Chief of Police, Monte Asher announced he will retire on Feb. 23 during the Village Council meeting on Monday.
Asher has served at the local police department for about 25 years, rising up the ranks from auxiliary to sergeant to his current role as chief. He replaced his brother, Rick Asher, who retired as chief of police in 2007.

Union County’s illness numbers trending in right direction
By Kayleen Petrovia, Marysville J-T reporter
The Union County Health Department recently updated the community regarding the spread of multiple illnesses that had many residents on alert through the fall and early winter.
Public health officials noted that number of influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) cases have declined recently, but they are continuing to monitor other illnesses like COVID-19 and measles.

State sets deadline for contesting property values
By Michael Williamson, Marysville J-T reporter
The deadline is set for Union County residents to file an appeal contesting their real property value for tax year 2022.
Auditor Andrea Weaver’s office said the final date for filing is March 31.
In September, the auditor’s office released tentative valuations from the county’s third year valuation process, which focuses on sales data for “valid sales.”

UCBDD spending to outpace revenue by $2M
By Michael Williamson, Marysville J-T reporter
With costs higher than in recent years, the Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities is looking at spending more money than it’s bringing in in revenue.
Superintendent Kara Brown said the board is projecting to spend over $2 million more than it’s bringing in.
“That’s the life of living in a levy cycle. We’re going to save money at the beginning of a levy cycle, we’re going to spend at the end of a levy cycle,” she said. “So, we are in a $2.4 million negative spend right now.”
She said the department’s operating budget this year is $14.1 million.

Teen vaping is growing concern at North Union School District
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
North Union’s Board of Education and administration expressed concern about middle and high school students vaping during its meeting on Saturday.
Superintendent Richard Baird said the “biggest challenge with vaping” is that “it is so easy to hide it.”

Local first responders release 2022 calls of service data
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
Local first responders have released statistics about calls for service throughout 2022. 
The Richwood Police Department consists of Chief Monte Asher, Lt. Jim Hill, Sgt. Justin Baldwin and Officers Kiena Crees, Joe North, Woody Geer, Cole Brown, Cody Martindale, James Kee. Josh Rayburn continues to volunteer at the police department as the clerk.
The police department handled a total of 8,618 calls for service in 2022, a decrease from 9,475 calls in 2021. The types of calls for service include traffic, criminal and crime deterrence.

Opera House committee seeks to repair clock tower
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
Richwood’s clock tower may chime hospitality again soon.
Reddy Brown, chair of the Richwood Revitalization Committee, told committee members at a recent meeting that Mayor Scott Jerew has asked him to repair the clock.
“I inferred that that also meant get the bell ringing,” Brown said. “If we’re going to get the clock going, we might as well turn the bell on too.”
He said he will research how much it will cost to repair the clock.

NU to put emergency renewal on ballot
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
The North Union Local Schools District plans to put an emergency levy renewal on the November general election ballot.
North Union’s Treasurer and CFO Scott Maruniak recently told the board of education “it is a small emergency levy.” The levy will raise an estimated $210,000 each fiscal year. The levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home a total of $31.50 annually.
“Then to add to it, it is still eligible for homestead/rollback credit. This lowers it (to) about $27.56 annually (for homeowners),” Maruniak told the Journal-Tribune.

Hill to become Richwood chief of police in Feb.
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
Lt. Jim Hill will become the new Richwood chief of police, effective Feb. 24.
Following a brief executive session to discuss personnel on Monday, Mayor Scott Jerew recommended Hill to replace Monte Asher, who is retiring on Feb. 23. The council voted unanimously, with Council member Reddy Brown absent.
“Congratulations, Jim,” Jerew said to Hill.
Hill has been in law enforcement since 1991, and he has been serving with the Richwood Police Department since 2015. Hill is currently the second in command at the department and supervises the administrative, patrol and investigative operations of the department.

NU board members appointed to yearly committees
By Ally Lanasa, Richwood Gazette
North Union’s Board of Education members were given their yearly appointments at their first meeting of 2023.
Brian Davis was elected to serve as president of the board again, and Matt Staley was chosen to continue serving as vice president of the school board.

U.C. carries nearly $40M into 2023
By Michael Williamson, Marysville J-T reporter
Union County is beginning 2023 with nearly $40 million in unencumbered cash from last year, but officials said much of it is already spoken for.
Between the general fund and other specialty funds, the county has $39.5 million to cover appropriation requests and other encumbrances going into 2023.

Unionville Center, Magnetic Springs approved for grants
By Michael Williamson, Marysville J-T reporter
A couple of Union County villages could soon see some grant money to help with infrastructure needs.
The county commissioners recently approved Community Development Block Grant agreements that would allow for the allocation of funds to the villages of Unionville Center and Magnetic Springs for various infrastructure projects.

Cpt. Justice named Deputy of the Year
Editor’s note: The following release is supplied by the Union County Sheriff’s Office.
Union County Sheriff Jamie Patton has announced the 2022 employees of the year at the Union County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy sheriff of the year is Cpt. Mike Justice. In conjunction with receiving the deputy of the year award, Cpt.  Justice was also promoted from lieutenant to captain of the patrol division.  Cpt. Justice began his career at the Union County Sheriff’s Office in 1990 and is the first three-time recipient of the deputy of the year award having been recognized with this award in 2010, 2014 and now in 2022.

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