August 13, 2021

Blake Bammann now third generation in his family to join Mansfield police force; Richland County Fair demolition derby; Remembering Helen Hriesik

8 minutes

Third generation of Bammanns joins Mansfield Police Dept.:

https://www.richlandsource.com/news/third-generation-of-bammanns-joins-mansfield-police-dept/article_52847f1a-fab1-11eb-88ba-9b1d7f2a52ae.html

Mowing the Graveyard: John Peter Altgeld:

https://www.richlandsource.com/area_history/mowing-the-graveyard-john-peter-altgeld/article_67643326-2402-11e5-a179-3b0823545683.html

Pavement repair project on Ohio 13 complete in Mansfield:

https://www.richlandsource.com/open_source/odot-pavement-repair-project-on-ohio-13-complete-in-mansfield/article_889aff24-bfe3-11eb-a1d3-4b465f72e182.html

Ashland County Community Foundation to create new childcare center:

https://www.ashlandsource.com/news/ashland-county-community-foundation-to-create-new-childcare-center/article_b2b94e92-f9f3-11eb-9d1d-afab5dba1723.html

Helen Hriesik:

https://www.richlandsource.com/search/?l=25&s=start_time&sd=desc&f=html&t=article%2Cvideo%2Cyoutube%2Ccollection&app=editorial&nsa=eedition&q=helen

You're listening to Source Daily: A new daily news podcast for Richland County. Join us Monday through Friday to stay up to date with what's happening in North Central Ohio. We’ll be sharing a closer look at one of our top stories, along with other news, local history, memorials, answers to your questions, and more.

Today - Blake Bammann has plenty of nearby advice if he needs it as he begins a career in law enforcement.

The 22-year-old was sworn in Wednesday as a Mansfield police officer, becoming the third generation in his family to join the local force.

2018 Lexington High School graduate, Blake Bammann said that it seems this is what everybody in the family does now.

His dad is current MPD Assistant Chief Jason Bammann and his grandfather is retired Sgt. Mike Bammann, who is still president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 32.

And the youngest Bammann, who recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati, was one of six new officers sworn in Wednesday.

Five more took the oath on Thursday, joining a department badly in need of manpower. The MPD is budgeted for 87 sworn officers and had just 72 at the end of last week.

Nine of the new 11 officers, including Bammann, will soon begin peace officer training at North Central State College, a 20-week program, which will then be followed by the MPD's own 14-week field training program.

The ceremony in City Council chambers was attended by family and friends of the new officers, as well as MPD leaders, Richland County Commissioner Cliff Mears and City Council President David Falquette.

During the ceremony Chief Keith Porch explained that being a police officer in today's environment is absolutely the toughest job in America.

Porch said the process to become a patrol officer is long, but necessary.

Bammann, who also earned a certificate in substance abuse counseling while in college, said he understands new officers are beginning law enforcement careers at a difficult time.

He said he’s confident the academy will teach the new officers all kinds of things to help keep them safe.

He also said that he doesn’t expect any special treatment, saying his dad will likely hold him to a higher standard.

Jason Bammann, who joined the department in 1999, was sworn in as assistant chief two months ago in the same City Council chambers in which his son took the oath on Wednesday.

Mike Bammann's voice was full of pride Wednesday when asked about his son and grandson.

Also taking the oath on Wednesday were Stanley Evans, Zachary Winters, Ashton Bell, Noah Waterer and Garrett Whitney. Of those, Bell is the only officer already certified and will immediately begin the department's field training program.

And on Thursday Desmond Ragland, John Lafferty, Dylan Stephenson, Austin Hall and Valerie Grayer were sworn in.

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Now, some local history…

Did you know that one of Illinois’s most notorious governors was raised in Mansfield?

Originally born in Germany, he grew up here and would go on to become one of the most powerful politicians in the United States.

A leading figure of the Progressive movement, Altgeld signed workplace safety and child labor laws, pardoned three of the men convicted in the Haymarket Affair, and rejected calls in 1894 to break up the Pullman strike by force. In 1896 he was a leader of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, opposing President Grover Cleveland and the conservative Bourbon Democrats. He was defeated for reelection in 1896.

He passed away at the young age of 54 while working in the law office of legendary attorney, Clarence Darrow.

You can read more about him and learn more about his time in Mansfield at richlandsource.com.

Next, we’re answering a question from our readers and listeners like you...

Today’s question? What’s the story with the pavement repair on Ohio 13?

Good news! A pavement repair project on Ohio 13, from Chilton Avenue to Hanley Road, is complete.

According to the Ohio Department of Transportation District 3 spokeswoman Crystal Neelon clarified that, "This was a pavement repair project, not a repaving. This project is complete."

The road is in the City of Mansfield limits, but it's an ODOT project. No city money was involved in the work.

Work began in May on the divided, four-lane highway, which serves as the southern entrance to the City of Mansfield from I-71. Lane closures north and south bound were frequent as the work was done.

Re-striping of the road was completed in June.

Motorists had reached out to Richland Source that the road surface is now more uneven in places than it was before the project was done. Motorcyclists expressed concerns about long seams of new pavement not matching up with existing pavement.

Neelon said during pavement repair projects that contractors put down paving only where needed. She said the paving will settle over time and become smooth with the remaining road surface.

The spokeswoman said the repair project was designed to maintain the several miles of highway until it's "completely removed and rebuilt in the next few years."

"It wouldn't be fiscally responsible to repave the road now and then replace it in a few years."

Is there something you’ve always wondered about Richland County that you’d like us to investigate? Check out richlandsource.com and click “Talk to Us”. Here, you can ask us anything and we’ll go out and find the answers.

Now, we’d like to take a moment to highlight two events this weekend

The Pickwick Place in Bucyrus (pronounced byoo-sai-ruhs) is holding its annual Sunflower festival this weekend. Head over for fun, games, mason jar lemonade and peach milkshakes, a flower patch by the Ohio Flower Girls, plenty of chances to take photos, and, you guessed it, sunflowers.

And at night, get ready for the Richland County Fair demolition derby. From 5 to 10 pm watch your fellow citizens ram, run into and wreck cars in six different classes. Prizes start at $800. And yes… you can test your skills by entering and you can also learn more at fairderby.com.

Next, from Knox Pages…

The Ashland County Community Foundation Women's Fund is in the planning stage of creating a new childcare option for the county.

The timeline of the project is not yet set, as it will depend on site acquisition, construction bids, licensing requirements and other factors that go into creating a licensed facility.

As previously reported, ACCF did an assessment measuring childcare needs to businesses located at or near Ashland Business Park/Industrial Park. Results revealed a desire for more accessible and affordable childcare, especially for parents working late shifts.

Funds will come from an endowment and also from customer payments. However, ACCF hopes to discount those rates through subsidies and grants available to nonprofits.

Finally, we’d like to take a moment to remember Helen Hriesik.

Helen Hriesik was born in Mansfield in 1926 to Carl and Barbara.

Helen retired as a clerk from the post office and previously worked many years as an LPN at People's Hospital. She was a very good listener and her motto for everything was "hit it head on." Helen was a widow at a very young age. After the passing of her first husband, Charles, in 1960, Helen was known for her strength and strong will.

She was easy to get along with and enjoyed camping with her children and other family members at Charles Mill Lake. Later, she married her second husband, Mike in 1980, who passed away in 1988. They loved going to Las Vegas every year for shows and gambling and enjoyed fishing at Lake Erie together. Helen liked quilting, knitting and bowling.

She is survived by her three children, grandchildren, step-grandchildren; great-grandchildren, siblings, and special sister-in-law.

Thank you for taking a moment with us to remember and celebrate Helen’s life.

Thanks for listening, join us again tomorrow!

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