Episode 75 marks the Diamond Anniversary of the News Man Weekly podcast and Carl opens the show with a story that perfectly blends misery, comedy and classic Ohio stubbornness. The crew also dives into their usual weekend banter, NFL overreactions and another installment of “What’s Carl Watching?”, featuring his take on Eddie Murphy’s new Netflix documentary Being Eddie. The news rundown hits a few of the big local stories of the week — from backyard chickens and a new cannabis dispensary to high-stakes high school football semifinals.

This week’s featured guests are Mike Woogerd, Mansfield’s new parks superintendent and Louis Andres, the city’s public works director. They join Carl, Zac and Hayden to talk about the future of Mansfield’s parks, Woogerd’s background in natural resource management and what residents can expect in 2026. Andres also gives an update on the possibility of a public pool in the city. 

As always, grab a cup of Relax, It’s Just Coffee, and settle in for Mansfield’s favorite blend of news, grumpiness and community insight.

Related stories: 

• And a child shall lead them: 9-year-old girls urge Mansfield lawmakers to allow backyard chickens
• Cincinnati-based cannabis business sees Mansfield as natural next step for retail
• The Undefeateds: Shelby will take on Cincinnati Indian Hill at Sidney
• Tradition awaits: McDonald and its 100 years of football history awaits Hillsdale
• Final 4: Colonel Crawford takes aim at Ohio football powerhouse Kirtland

Intro song credit: Smoke And Drink, by Luke Watson.

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Today – Step into a world of magic and imagination as a new bookstore brings whimsy to downtown Mansfield.

Read more: https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/11/23/step-into-a-world-of-magic-rose-circle-rare-books-opens-nov-29/ 

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What does resilience look like when it’s shaped by community, compassion, and the courage to begin again?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Deb Weaver, educator, consultant, ceramic sculptor, and founder of Woven Opportunities, whose life and leadership have been shaped by both extraordinary challenge and extraordinary care. Deb shares how the Four Agreements guide her work, why presence matters more than perfection, and how emotional intelligence becomes a lifelong practice.

She also opens up about the accident that changed everything: a near-fatal collision that left her relearning how to walk, think, and rebuild her life with the help of family, friends, and strangers who simply showed up. Through that journey, Deb discovered a deeper understanding of patience, boundaries, strength, and what it truly means to be part of a village.

From standing in a Russian fishing village helping build a school from scratch, to learning to walk again in a YMCA pool, to teaching leaders how to practice clarity as kindness, Deb reminds us that resilience isn’t something we face alone. It grows through connection, one choice, one breath, and one openhearted moment at a time.

Learn more about Deb’s work at wovenopportunities.com.

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Today – A long-vacant school building in Ashland might finally have a future—but the path forward is tangled in liens, legal troubles, and a former owner now serving time.

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In this episode of Inside the Lines, Curt Conrad and Effie James open the show by paying homage to former Mansfield Hawks coach Kevin Mackey, who passed away last week at the age of 79. The duo then brings listeners up to speed on where local teams from Richland, Ashland and Knox counties stand in the high school football playoffs as regional final Friday approaches.
Conrad and James move to conversation with Galion senior QB Ayden Schmidt, who has led the Tigers to a regional final against Shelby -- the deepest Galion has made it in the postseason since 1985.
Schmidt touches on everything from his childhood and move to Galion in middle school, to the Tigers' sensational season and the opportunity to play at Arlin Field this Friday.
This episode is brought to you by Graham Auto Mall. 

Intro and outro music is "Story of the Sunflower Samurai" by local artist Vaundoom. 

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Read more:

• Hay Day: Galion twins come up big in win over Sandusky Perkins
• It’s official: Shelby-Galion football rematch coming Friday at Arlin Field

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Today – A Cincinnati cannabis company is betting big on Mansfield as its next move in Ohio’s fast-growing marijuana market, and it could be a win-win for business and the city.

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Carl kicks off Episode 74 with a quick “grumpy newsman” monologue before sliding into weekend banter, NFL overreactions and a new installment of “What’s Carl Watching?" The news of the week rundown covers three major local stories: Mansfield’s renewed debate over backyard chicken coops, a second cannabis dispensary preparing to open on West Fourth Street and significant budget-cut discussions at Madison Local Schools.

Then certified friend of the show and Ashland University historian John Moser joins us. He talks about his upcoming move to the University of Tennessee, what it’s really like taping episodes of History’s Greatest Mysteries and other TV series and how AI is reshaping college classrooms. The conversation also breaks down government shutdowns, the current political climate a year into Trump’s second term, and the state of the MAGA movement after recent news and elections. A perfect listen with a hot cup from Relax, It’s Just Coffee.

Related links: 

• Mansfield City Council to discuss backyard chicken ordinance Tuesday
• Mansfield may see second cannabis dispensary open by December
• Madison school board to vote on Mifflin closure, staff cuts next week

Intro song credit: Smoke And Drink, by Luke Watson.

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Today – Is it finally time for the chickens to come home to roost in Mansfield backyards? hat’s the question City Council is set to take up on Tuesday as it reopens a conversation that last ruffled feathers nearly a decade ago.

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In this episode, we sit down with director and writer Ryan Shealy, Associate Artistic Director at The Renaissance Theatre, and a longtime friend, collaborator, and anchor in Mansfield’s arts community. Ryan opens up about the evolution of found family, what it means to curate the people who fill your life, and how he’s learned to trust his own artistic lane after nearly a decade in professional theater.

From the quiet power of shared creative work to the loud joy of helping raise kids who aren’t biologically his, Ryan reflects on friendship, boundaries, and why building a life with people you choose is just as meaningful as the one you inherit. He also shares how theater both reflects and challenges a community and why Mansfield is braver, more curious, and more audacious than outsiders give us credit for.

At its heart, this conversation is about belonging, the art that shapes us, and the relationships that make us feel most like ourselves.

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In this week’s episode of Inside the Lines, Curt Conrad, Hayden Gray and Zac Hiser break down the third week of Ohio’s new-look postseason -- where the top seeds are holding strong and north central Ohio teams are still making noise. We start with a post-mortem on Lexington and Ashland after tough playoff losses, and look ahead to what’s next for both programs in 2026. Then the focus shifts to Shelby, which faces a high-powered Lima Bath squad led by one of the region’s most explosive offenses, and Galion who is making their deepest playoff run since the 1980s.

We preview a massive Division V showdown between Centerburg and Colonel Crawford, where the winner punches a ticket to the regional final, and check in on Hillsdale and Danville as both powerhouses look to stay on a collision course for a potential rematch. With weather on their side and four of five area teams hosting, we set the stage for another action-packed Friday night of playoff football.

This episode is brought to you by Graham Auto Mall. 

Intro and outro music is "Story of the Sunflower Samurai" by local artist Vaundoom. 

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.