Local Archived News

NU FFA helped plant trees ahead of Arbor Day
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
The North Union FFA class partnered with the Village of Richwood to continue the effort to restore the tree canopy in the village.
On April 24, the team came together to plant trees at the Norris Street property that was the location of the 1875 high school, the first high school in the village.

Prospect Alumni Banquet set for later this month
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
The 132nd Prospect Alumni Banquet will be held on Saturday, May 27 at the Prospect Senior Citizens Building, 318 N. Elm St., in Prospect. The social hour begins at noon and the dinner will be served at 1 p.m. An Open House displaying Prospect school memorabilia can be visited at the Prospect Township Building. 200 S. Elm St.

Union Manor killer up for parole
By Mac Cordell, Marysville J-T Reporter
Bret Vinocur, president of advocacy group Block Parole, said the story of Charles Price is one that should strike fear.
On Feb. 3, 1989, Charles Price drove to the Union Manor nursing home, broke in and began shooting. When the shots stopped, Paula Pitts, Charles Price’s wife, was dead.
“It is a miracle he didn’t kill more people, that no one else got shot,” Vinocur said.

UCHD changes COVID news
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
The Union County Health Department is moving away from regular COVID-19 updates.
In June, the department will transition to a monthly e-newsletter featuring relevant public health updates and stories from the community.

OSP updates incoming cadet requirements for new troopers
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
Anyone who has an Ohio Basic Peace Officer certification with two years of full-time (or equivalent) Ohio law enforcement experience may now apply to the Ohio State Highway Patrol as a lateral cadet with the intent of becoming a state trooper, as announced today by Ohio State Highway Patrol Colonel Charles A. Jones. Applications for a new lateral class will be accepted throughout the month of May. The new lateral cadet class is expected to begin training in September.

Richwood and Claibourne Twp. both face millage questions
By Michael Williamson, Richwood Gazette
Both the Village of Richwood and Claibourne Township may be missing out on tax dollars entitled to them by statute.
At the regular Richwood Council meeting Monday night, Union County Auditor Andrea Weaver told council that both entities are not receiving the minimum amount of inside millage entitled to each according to the Ohio Constitution. This could mean the two entities are missing out on money – more than $50,000 a year for the village alone, for example – but changing the situation could also mean an increase in taxes for residents.

Sheriff’s Office has new patrol camera system
By Michael Williamson, Richwood Gazette
The Union County Sheriff’s Office is implementing new body and dashboard cameras for deputies.
Sheriff Jamie Patton said the first set of deputies would be hitting the street with the new system in the next week or two.
“We’ve done trial runs with the system,” he said. “We’ve been doing meetings and training with key personnel to understand the system and how it works with IT and connectivity and everything.”
The Sheriff’s Office is getting the new equipment through the company Axon, which replaces the old system from WatchGuard, he said.
Patton said those previous devices were at a point where the equipment could no longer be serviced.

Chief Hill to lead Union County Law Enforcement Memorial
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
Richwood Police Department Chief Jim Hill is this year’s master of ceremonies for the 2023 Union County Law Enforcement Memorial.
Tonight, law enforcement officials will pay tribute to those who serve in the line of duty. The memorial precedes National Police Week, which starts on Sunday, May 14 and runs through Saturday, May 20. It’s held annually in May.

Richwood-North Union Alumni Association set for 104th banquet
By Michael Williamson, Richwood Gazette
The Richwood-North Union Alumni Association is gearing up for what it hopes to be another successful event.
Next month, the group will hold the 104th Richwood-North Union Alumni Banquet, which will be held at North Union High School.
Every year, the event brings together former students and families to celebrate their time in the district.
Sue Bails, the alumni association’s president, said the banquet always serves as a great way to bring the community together.

Richwood residents honored
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
Two Richwood residents will be among this year’s 14 seniors being added to the Hall of Fame.
Bob and Jeannie Hildreth are known all over Union County for their positive mindset, giving spirits and dedication to helping others. They strive to help any older adult they can.

Curriculum talk draws confusion
By Michael Williamson, Richwood Gazette
There is some confusion about where the English Language Arts curriculum selection at North Union stands.
At the May board of education meeting, Superintendent Rich Baird told the board members that staff members in the elementary school expressed their desire to move to a new curriculum system.
“Last week, they came to a pretty close consensus on Savaas MyView,” he said. “We gave that option to staff and they felt like they needed the new resources.”

U.C. seeing surging returns on interest
By Michael Williamson, Richwood Gazette
High interest rates nation-wide continue to mean good news for Union County investments.
County Treasurer Andy Smarra presented the first quarter numbers to the county commissioners at the board’s recent meeting. He said the county has made more than $800,000 in total interest in the first three months of the year.
“The most important highlight is, or what we’ve generated in interest and return on investments through the first quarter, is $832,000,” he said. “That number is in contrast to where we were a year ago when we earned $80,000.”

Low-speed vehicle rules under review
By Michael Williamson, Richwood Gazette
A new bill being written at the state level could change rules regarding under-speed vehicles for residents.
Union County Sheriff Jamie Patton said the bill would not focus on golf carts rather specify requirements for other low-speed, utility and all-terrain vehicles.
The Sheriff’s Office can easily enforce laws around golf carts but Patton said the current bill language around other low-speed vehicles isn’t as clear enough. Input from the Buckeye Sheriff’s Association, of which Patton is president, is helping Ohio legislators revise that language.

Prospect native serves aboard U.S. Navy floating airport in Japan
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
YOKOSUKA, Japan - Capt. Justin Issler, a native of Prospect, serves in Japan aboard the self-contained mobile airport and the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan.
Equipped with a full flight deck and more than 60 aircraft including attack fighter jets and helicopters, aircraft carriers are one of the largest warships in the world.
Issler attended Elgin High School and graduated in 1996.
Issler joined the Navy 22 years ago.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to fly,” said Issler. “I also have family that served as well.”
Today, Issler serves as the executive officer aboard USS Ronald Reagan.
He said skills and values learned in the Navy are similar to those found in Prospect.

Richwood officials discuss clean-up measures
By Michael Williamson, Richwood Gazette
Richwood officials are looking into measures that could clamp down on an overabundance of trash on residential properties.
On Monday night, village council members discussed the growing need for enforcement on residents who leave bags of garbage and other trash in their yards.
Mayor Scott Jerew told village counsel Julie Spain that the issue is ongoing and causing problems for the zoning inspector, Marion Bump.

New state budget crucial to health department operations
By Kayleen Petrovia, Marysville J-T Reporter
Officials from the Union County Health Department are keeping a close eye on how the state’s budget bill could affect their operations.
Health Commissioner Jason Orcena said during the most recent Board of Health meeting that he sees one provision of House Bill 33, which would establish appropriations for fiscal years 2024-2025, as a “major red flag.”
He said the bill, which has been passed by the House but is still in committee review in the Senate, would eliminate the authority of local governments to place replacement levies on the ballot.

Memorial Day celebration returns for York Twp.
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
A Memorial Day event that has been absent from area celebrations is returning this year.
The York Township Trustees have decided to bring the service back first the first time since before the COVID pandemic in 2019.
Services will be on Monday, May 29 at 9 a.m. The location will be the same as in years past, the north end of York Cemetery, just north of Route 739.
Although the road is closed, the state will open it up to Miller Road for that day.
Local resident, Nancy Wiley will be the guest speaker. Wiley was supposed to speak previously but the event was canceled.

Richwood students among grads at MTC ceremony
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
Several students from Richwood were among the more than 300 graduates at the recent Marion Technical College ceremony. The college awarded degrees and certificates to 374 students on May 12 at the Marion Palace Theatre. These graduates ranged in age from 17 to 59 years old. They came from 27 Ohio counties. They include nine military veterans and 22 high school students who received associate’s degrees at no cost to them or their families before they graduated from high school. This saved these students and their families at least a quarter of a million dollars in tuition, books and fees.

State’s Click It Or Ticket campaign supported by UCHD
From Richwood Gazette staff reports
The Union County Health Department is supporting a statewide campaign to encourage local residents to buckle up.
UCHD’s Safe Communities program is gearing up to support the State of Ohio’s Click It Or Ticket campaign.
The campaign’s goal is to increase seat belt usage across Ohio, hoping to improve upon observational findings from June 2022 that found one in five Ohio vehicle occupants did not wear a seat belt.