Richland County population grew by 0.4 percent in the last decade:

https://www.richlandsource.com/news/richland-county-population-grew-by-0-4-percent-in-the-last-decade/article_a873d856-fc39-11eb-91d2-9f5237c7b657.html

Then & Now: Big Jacque on Lexington Avenue 1970:

https://www.richlandsource.com/area_history/then-now-big-jacque-on-lexington-avenue-1970/article_fc1ff92e-2a69-11e5-85a4-1b279de7f6ec.html

Where can I donate clothes, toys and household goods?:

https://www.richlandsource.com/open_source/open-source-where-can-i-donate-clothes-toys-and-household-goods/article_fc2fa0ec-4adc-11eb-8330-3f973c61068a.html

Third Street gives back with community block party:

https://www.richlandsource.com/life_and_culture/third-street-gives-back-with-community-block-party/article_2d9fe74c-fc5b-11eb-9f5f-1fad8e7091c7.html

Former Wiggin St. Elementary teacher returns to lead school as principal:

https://www.knoxpages.com/education/former-wiggin-st-elementary-teacher-returns-to-lead-school-as-principal/article_9acf6580-fab8-11eb-95ca-e7192d14b04d.html

David James Tuttle "Tut":

https://www.richlandsource.com/obituaries/david-james-tuttle-tut/article_6fbb2bfe-fc61-11eb-a404-2fc68c0e041f.html:

You're listening to Source Daily: 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 - Richland County has apparently stopped the bleeding in terms of population loss. In fact, there was an increase of nearly 500 residents.

Before we begin,

We’d like to take a moment to thank our Sponsors at First Federal Community Bank. Today, First Federal Community Bank wants you to meet Travis Smith, Assistant Vice President in Commercial Banking, as he continues to help Mansfield area business owners and investors expand their business or start a new one.  

Travis thrives on being a resource for the community to explore all of their business banking needs through a collaborative approach. Together you’ll talk about the resources available to meet your goals.  

First Federal Community Bank looks forward to collaborating with more local business, owners and investors soon. Equal Housing Lender, Member FDIC.

Now, our feature story…

Richland County has apparently stopped the bleeding in terms of population loss, according to the new U.S. Census data.

The county had 124,936 residents in 2020. It was an increase of 0.4 percent over 2010 in the nationwide count. That's an increase of 461 residents.

While it's not huge growth, it's a dramatic change over 2010. At that time the Census found Richland County's population had declined 3.4 percent.

Richland County Commissioner Cliff Mears said he was delighted to see the growth. Mears, was a long-time Mansfield City Council member who moved into the county commissioner's role in January.

He also noted that previous declines came as large industries like General Motors, Westinghouse and others closed their doors.

But he thinks that we’re past that point. Now, the smaller businesses that are here today are more stable and are able to recruit and retain workers. And people are beginning to see all the potential this place has.

State Representative Marilyn John, who represents Richland County in Columbus, said after the 2010 results, they had goals. The first goal was to stop the decline within five years. The next goal was to grow the population in the five to 10 years after that.

And now, we know they are meeting those goals.

But the local growth in the last 10 years came from increased adult population in a county that saw a decline in those under age 18.

In fact, the number of adults in Richland County grew 1.5 percent in the past decade.

Meanwhile, the number of residents younger than 18 declined by 3.4 percent between 2010 and 2020.

Why? Mears said he thinks local younger people graduating from school will often look for opportunities outside the area.

But the low cost of living, safe communities and readily available health care through OhioHealth and Avita help keep the county's appeal to adults.

And at the state level Ohio's population also increased - by 2.3 percent, making it the country's seventh largest. You can learn more about the census results by reading our full story at richlandsource.com

Before we continue… I’d like to take a moment to highlight the Ashland Source. With more than 40,000 monthly users, it’s an ideal platform to promote your product, service or event. The new dynamic ad formats help your message reach an engaged, local audience. So make sure to visit ashlandsource.com/advertise to learn more.

Now, some local history… Did you know that in the early 1970s, there was a giant statue of a man carrying 4 foot long trays loaded with sandwiches on Lexington Avenue? Advertising Jacque’s Ham, Corned Beef, and Roast Beef, the leaning nearly 3 story tall big man wasn’t to last. Though he certainly made an impression, neighbors were upset by the eyesore, and by 1972, “The Big Man with the Big Sandwich” would close up shop. Today, the statue has migrated up to Lake Erie and Marblehead where you can visit him…. Though it’s sad to say his hands and tray of sandwiches must have been lost along the way.

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

Today’s question - where can you donate clothes, toys and household goods?

Whether you're clearing out room in your closet for your new holiday gifts or getting a jumpstart on your spring cleaning, donation is a great option. But before we give you our suggestions, it’s important to note that you should always call ahead to make sure they’re able to accept your particular donation.

First up - The Domestic Violence Shelter. They’ll accept new and gently-used clothing, socks and shoes for men, women and children. They’ll also usually take personal care items.

Next - the What Goes 'Round Thrift Shoppe in downtown Mansfield accepts gently-used clothing, furniture and household items. Items should be clean and in good working condition, without tears, stains or smoke smells.

And finally - The Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a good option. Proceeds support the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate, which works to build more simple, decent, affordable homes for qualified families in our area.

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, the neighborhood clinic isn’t a typical site for block parties, but the workers at Third Street Family Health Services decided to think outside the box. And on friday - a block party with live music, food trucks and an abundance of information about local resources took place.

The event was part of National Health Center Week. Third Street has celebrated National Health Center Week in the past, but never with a block party. The organization wants to get folks to be educated about healthcare in general. They want everyone to be able to ask questions and participate in their care. And they certainly want folks to get vaccinated for COVID.

Next, From Knox Pages… For as long as Wiggin Street Elementary School’s new principal Christy Grandstaff can remember, she wanted to be an educator.

But she originally had no desire to be an administrator. But eventually Grandstaff served on the district’s leadership team, working to establish goals to meet the various needs of the district’s students. She also served as assistant principal at Mount Vernon Middle School.

Until the first of this month when she assumed her first head principal position at Wiggin Street.

She says that having already worked as an administrator during the COVID-19 pandemic, she’s learned communication is key. Grandstaff foresees addressing learning loss after remote learning as the school’s largest challenge in the coming years.

Finally, we’d like to take a moment to remember David James Tuttle, also known as "Tut", of Mansfield. Dave was born in Ashland in 1949. He graduated from Crestview in 1967. He was employed at Ohio Brass until he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving from 1969-1971. He later went on to work for Gorman Rupp for 40 years. Dave loved nature, farming and was an avid gardener. He adored his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and cherished every moment spent together. Dave was loved by many, never knowing a stranger, and had numerous friends. So thank you for taking a moment with us to remember and celebrate his life.

Thanks for listening, join us again tomorrow!

Also, make sure to head over to richlandsource.com and click be a member button to help support independent local journalism that informs and inspires.

Every contribution goes to helping us make Richland County a better place and to help keep our journalism free.

Also, if you like this podcast and want to hear more, make sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Support the show: https://www.sourcemembers.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Before we continue… I’d like to take a moment to highlight Source Brand Solutions. Many leaders struggle to figure out what marketing strategies will deliver results for their company. They waste time and money on marketing that simply doesn’t work. But the good news is, marketing doesn’t have to be this complicated. Sign up for our 3-hour course on Sept. 15 in Ashland to learn a practical framework that will teach you how to talk about your business so more people pay attention and, of course, spend money with you!

Visit sourcebrandsolutions.com/mini-marketing-course/ to learn more.

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!

Also, make sure to head over to richlandsource.com and click be a member button to help support independent local journalism that informs and inspires.

Every contribution goes to helping us make Richland County a better place and to help keep our journalism free.

Also, if you like this podcast and want to hear more, make sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Support the show: https://www.sourcemembers.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Westinghouse site: 'I think it's time we start doing some things':

https://www.richlandsource.com/news/westinghouse/former-westinghouse-site-i-think-its-time-we-start-doing-some-things/article_c9c093d4-f912-11eb-bf90-2fee619a4fa7.html

Corner store on Chestnut & South Main: 1975:

https://www.richlandsource.com/area_history/corner-store-on-chestnut-south-main-1975/article_275311a2-20c5-11e5-97b5-7fdcdc4191c6.html

Open Source: Medication-based addiction treatment available in Mansfield:

https://www.richlandsource.com/open_source/open-source-medication-based-addiction-treatment-available-in-mansfield/article_83159006-c3bb-11eb-81e1-937827e11d97.html

Knox County Career Center will not require masks in classrooms, students/staff asked to conduct daily health assessments:

https://www.knoxpages.com/education/knox-county-career-center-will-not-require-masks-in-classrooms-students-staff-asked-to-conduct/article_1b828d84-fa18-11eb-b518-574a3eafb07d.html

Rodney "Rod" D. Eddleblute:

https://www.richlandsource.com/obituaries/rodney-rod-d-eddleblute/article_fae7e2b6-f933-11eb-8ccf-5fba34327860.html

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 - The 'Westinghouse Team Force Group' is working to finally do something with the former Westinghouse site.

Richland County Commissioner Tony Vero was driving to a current industrial success three months ago when a failure from the past again rose into view.

His eyes set on a five-story, decaying failure that has sadly dominated the east end skyline at 200 Fifth Ave.

For the past three decades, since Westinghouse closed its doors locally in 1990, it’s been empty.

Vero was looking at the building known as "A", positioned snugly against the railroad tracks.

Nearby sits the “H” building, which still functions as the Mansfield Commerce Center. It’s one of 16 buildings over 42 acres that Westinghouse operated from 1918-1990.

But what did the factory mean to Mansfield? At its peak, Westinghouse employed over 8,00 workers. That was in 1955. That means about one-third of the city's wage-earning workers were employed there at the time.

Everyone in Mansfield knew someone who worked at Westinghouse, or worked there themselves.

And when Vero drove by, he said to himself, 'You know what? I think it's time we start looking at doing some things.' "

Thus began a rapid public and private effort that took a giant step forward on Wednesday.

The Richland County Land Bank agreed to a contract that could ultimately result in the cleanup of the property, or at least the demolition of a community eyesore.

In the agreement, the property owner, The Land Bank, isn’t required to accept the property when that testing is complete. But Vero said they will accept it. And that could result in the site being labeled as a "brownfield," eligible for clean-up funds.

There are apparently four sites in Richland County currently designated as "brownfields." right now

And the effort is not stopping with "A." They may also acquire other former Westinghouse properties.

Back in April, Vero said he knew "doing some things" would have to be a group effort, including Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker. So he asked Mayor Theaker if he would give permission to form the 'Westinghouse Team Force Group' and he agreed.

Theaker says the focus now is on the "A" building.

The mayor said Vero approached him "and wanted to work on somehow getting funding from the federal government." But he’s more cautious than Vero in his approach.

Why? Well, if there is contamination, it's going to fall back on the property owner to clean it up.

And there is a big fear of contamination, especially considering the factory was built long before the EPA came into existence.

Jennifer Kime, CEO of Downtown Mansfield Inc. is also a part of the Westinghouse Team Force Group. Kime happens to have a relationship with the Coffman family who owns the property.

She explained that the family is very interested in preserving Mansfield history.

And when the group thinks about the bigger picture here they feel this could be the single largest project to date in terms of size and importance to the community.

But the first step is to do the environmental analysis and then begin discussing what comes next at the site.

Still, it's exciting to think what the next 10 years could be like.

Read our full story at richlandsource.com

Now, some local history… Mansfield used to be full of little "Mom & Pop" neighborhood stores. One of the ones we profiled a few years ago was on the corner of South Main and Chestnut Streets.

This one started in the 1920s and mom and pop were Mrs. and Mr. Woodard who had what was called a ‘medicine store,’ that sold sweets, cigars, newspapers and medicines.

In the 1950s new owners added the soda fountain counter and sold groceries. In the 60s it was called Premer’s, then the N&K Variety Store. The last few years the place carried groceries it was called Bob & Chick’s Corner Store.

In 1975 the corner store made its last stand as Silver Dollar Hobbies & The Old Curiosity Shop. The space made a brief encore appearance about 10 years ago as Baby Face Antiques, and now it rests quietly awaiting perhaps another chance.

You can read more about the store and see pictures at richlandsource.com.

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

Today’s question? What’s the story with substance abuse in Richland county?

Well… unfortunately substance abuse remains a pressing issue in Richland County. Fortunately, there are resources available.

According to the Richland County Opiate Board, 2,686 people received treatment in Richland County for substance use disorder during fiscal year 2020 --  and 1,673 of those people received treatment for an opiate use disorder.

Joe Trolian, the board’s executive director, confirmed that between 2,500 and 3,000 people seek addiction services each year through the publicly-funded Richland County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board. Those figures don't include individuals who seek help through privately-funded agencies... or those who seek no help at all.

Trolian told us that "The addiction problem as a whole is still pretty significant in Richland County" and noted the abuse of substances like heroin and over-the-counter medications has decreased, but use of fentanyl and fentanyl mixed with methamphetamines has increased.

Treatment facilities in the Mansfield area include the Mansfield Comprehensive Treatment Center, Mansfield UMADAOP, Healing Hearts Counseling Center, BrightView and Third Street Family Health Services. To learn more use the link in our show notes.

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

First, Friday is… you guessed it… Friday the 13th. And there’s a ghost walk and haunted history tour at Landoll’s Mohican Castle in Loudonville at 9pm. You’ll learn more about the spectral inhabitants of Heyd cemetery and try to make contact with the spirits that call the castle home.

And then on Saturday at 3pm, head over to the Gorman Nature Center for a community drum circle. Bring your own drums, rattles, lawn chairs, and of course your family and friends. Suggested donations are $5 and go towards the Nature Center itself.

Next, from Knox Pages…. Knox County Career Center Schools released its back-to-school plan to parents and students Tuesday evening, including COVID-19 health guidelines that follow the guidance set by other Knox County districts.

KCCCS will not be mandating mask-wearing in the classroom, but the district highly recommends staff and students wear masks. The district includes KCCC high school, KCCC preschool and Knox Technical Center.

Superintendent Kathrine Greenich told us: “We got opinions from our board, from our administration and then also because six schools feed to us, we looked at what all of our other schools were doing”.

While staff and students are not required to wear masks in KCCCS classrooms, Tuesday’s press release states students should still have a mask with them at all times and that they’re still required by federal law to wear masks on all buses.

Finally, we’d like to take a moment to remember Rod Eddleblute.

Rod was born in Crestline to Clyde and Peggy and graduated from Ontario High School.

He knew what a hard days work was and had a tremendous work ethic. He was the owner of Rod Eddleblute's Garage for more than thirty five years. A good role model,

Rod lived his life as an example. He loved his wife, his children and his grandchildren. He made sure they were unfailingly taken care of. A generous man, he was willing to help anyone with a need. He had a quick wit, and was very direct and to the point. You always knew where you stood with Rod. He was very social and enjoyed sharing a beer with friends at The Finish Line Bar and Grill. He enjoyed dirt track racing while sponsoring many teams over the years.

He leaves behind his wife of 16 years, Sue, his sons, his daughter, his step children, his grandchildren, his brothers and sisters, many nieces and nephews, and many other family and friends.

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

Thanks for listening, join us again tomorrow!

Also, make sure to head over to richlandsource.com and click be a member button to help support independent local journalism that informs and inspires.

Every contribution goes to helping us make Richland County a better place and to help keep our journalism free.

Also, if you like this podcast and want to hear more, make sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Support the show: https://www.sourcemembers.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Free, fun 'Finances 101' available to Richland County students:

https://www.richlandsource.com/news/free-fun-finances-101-available-to-richland-county-students/article_a16ae1a0-f55c-11eb-bba6-a7be3bee7435.html

The Star Theatre 1919:

https://www.richlandsource.com/area_history/the-star-theatre-1919/article_cf20f372-1918-11e5-a805-174c677a10f1.html

Will you wear a mask again?:

https://www.richlandsource.com/open_source/poll-will-you-wear-a-mask-again/article_7830ca54-efd3-11eb-aa3c-2702e4a6508a.html

Mansfield firefighters battle South Main Street house blaze:

https://www.richlandsource.com/news/gallery-mansfield-firefighters-battle-south-main-street-house-blaze/collection_c238c652-f955-11eb-b711-678af58a69fc.html

The Salvation Army Ashland Kroc Center distributes most food in 2020:

https://www.ashlandsource.com/life/the-salvation-army-ashland-kroc-center-distributes-most-food-in-2020/article_2a097354-f6bc-11eb-b809-0364b52a9b3e.html

Shawn Michael Todd:

https://www.richlandsource.com/obituaries/shawn-michael-todd/article_3ba67f3c-f93f-11eb-96f4-eb6b32162a2e.htm

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 - An area mom and Directions Credit Union are bringing a real-world personal finance lesson to Mansfield later this month.

It’s often said experience is the best teacher -- but when it comes to finances, foreknowledge pays off.

That’s why an area mom and Directions Credit Union are bringing a real-world personal finance lesson to Mansfield later this month.

Finances 101 will have two sessions on Aug. 28 at Mansfield Senior High School. It’s designed to immerse high school students in the types of financial decisions that may come their way after graduation.

Mansfield mother of four, Teana Skyes, says this isn’t really a class. It’s not a workshop. Rather it’s a life-sized simulation of the game of life.

During the game, participants are assigned a job and salary based upon their interest. Then they’re challenged to pay the bills with money to spare.

The program was originally created by members of the northwest chapter of the Ohio Credit Union League. It’s designed to be entertaining, but also as realistic as possible.

The game includes 12 stations that cover expenses like housing, health care, transportation, insurance, utilities and groceries. Every student is required to pay their taxes and set aside some savings money before beginning the game. And depending on their career choice, they may also have student debt.

Jenni Paramore of Directions Credit Union said students are often shocked by the price of necessities.

Some stations involve an element of choice -- like choosing whether to buy or rent a home or which car to purchase. Others offer a peak into the unexpected costs the real world might throw at them.

Dice rolls determine if each player has a spouse, whether that spouse works and how many children they have. And students pick a card to see if they have self-pay, employer-funded or no health insurance.

One of the questions they’re asked at the end of the day is -  'Do you have money left because you made good choices or because you got lucky?'

The first session will be open to any junior, senior or recent high school graduate in Richland County. And the second session will be reserved primarily for Tyger athletes.

Having a separate session for athletes was an intentional choice by Sykes, who is married to Tyger basketball coach Marquis Sykes.

She explained that oftentimes, athletes need to be encouraged that they're more than athletes and to think beyond high school, think beyond even their collegiate experience.

While not currently working in the finance world, Sykes has always been interested in personal finance and graduated with a degree in actuarial science from the Ohio State University.

During the pandemic, she even started a video series on Facebook called Tea Time to educate others on financial literacy.

Her live videos covered topics like SMART goals, budgeting, debt consolidation, credit, investing and student loans. One of her videos garnered 700 views.

Learn more about how you can participate by reading our full story at richlandsource.com

Before we continue, we’d like to thank our sponsors at Richland Public Health… When we stopped wearing masks to prevent covid 19… that was a big change. What hasn’t changed is that the virus is still with us and coronavirus variants are easily spread among unvaccinated people. Richland Public Health urges you to find a no cost local covid 19 vaccination provider at richland health dot org.

Do your part so we can all enjoy Richland County TOGETHER.

Now, some local history…

If you wanted to take in a movie in the summer of 1919, all you had to do was stroll down North Main, not far from Fourth Street, and fork over a nickel at the Star Theatre. That year you could have seen a terrific Gloria Swanson silent film called "Don’t Change Your Husband."

It was such a hit she did a sequel the next year called "Why Change Your Wife?"

The Star Theatre opened in 1910 with an appropriate large star-shaped sign with 5 cents in the middle and prospered for 15 years until 1925, lowering its curtain gracefully before talking movies forced all the old nickelodeon theaters out of business.

Today, you can visit the building that housed the theatre and the business that occupies its place: the What Goes Round thrift shop.

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

Two weeks ago, we asked our readers a question... Will you wear a mask again?

What a difference two weeks makes. When we asked that question, the CDC had just  announced that it was recommending vaccinated and unvaccinated Americans wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of "substantial" or "high" community transmission.

At that time, Ohio had a “moderate level” of transmission. Not anymore. Today, viral transmission is very high and the pace of Delta Covid infections is increasing. 36% of Richland and Ashland county residents and 35% of Knox County residents have received one dose of the free covid vaccine. Those are some of the lowest rates in the state. And today Richland County is at a “high” vulnerability level, Ashland and Knox counties are “Medium”.

So, back to two weeks ago... we asked our readers who will put on a mask again. The results mirrored our vaccination rates. 34% of readers said they’d put masks on again and 66% said they wouldn’t.

But with the Delta variant spreading more easily and quickly now, it’s unclear what’s in store in terms of mask mandates. And CDC director Rochelle Walensky has repeatedly said there is a "pandemic of the unvaccinated" because unvaccinated people make up the vast majority of patients hospitalized with the disease.

Our poll is still open, so make sure to participate and see the most recent results by using the link in our show notes.

Also, to schedule a vaccine appointment near you, go to coronavirus.ohio.gov.

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 the fire fighters who battled the blaze on South Main Street on Monday.

Crews from around the city responded Monday afternoon to a house fire that sent smoke billowing through the area, into the downtown, and shut down the street to traffic. No injuries were reported and firefighters worked to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby structures. More than a dozen off-duty firefighters were called in while Springfield and Madison township fire departments handled a few EMS runs.

Next, The Salvation Army Ashland Kroc Center distributed more food in 2020 than it has in any year since its inception.

In all, 479,000 pounds of food went to Ashland County residents in 2020 through the Kroc Center’s food pantry, commodity supplemental food program, and hot meal programs, according to data collected by the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

To learn more, volunteer, or support the Ashland Kroc Center, please visit www.ashlandkroc.org

Finally, we’d like to take a moment to remember Shawn Todd.

Shawn Michael Todd is able to hear for the first time in his life. He passed into joyous freedom with his Savior.

Shawn was born to John and Betty and lived in Mansfield most of his life, graduating from Mansfield Senior High in 1971. He was employed at the former Geyer’s and E&B Market on 4th street for 20+ years and also worked at Eldridge Plastics.

Shawn was born completely deaf which was a very difficult disability in the 1950’s and 60’s. Sign language wasn’t taught to deaf children or their families at that time so communication was challenging to say the least. Still, he overcame this challenge with a naturally happy disposition and a great sense of humor. In his youth he was athletic and enjoyed cycling, running, racquetball, weightlifting and walking, a habit he carried into his later years, walking thousands of miles in all weather.

Shawn is survived by his wife, Serah Mutalemwa, his father, his brothers, sisters, numerous nieces and nephews, and his lifelong friends.

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

https://www.richlandsource.com/obituaries/shawn-michael-todd/article_3ba67f3c-f93f-11eb-96f4-eb6b32162a2e.html

Thanks for listening, join us again tomorrow!

Also, make sure to head over to richlandsource.com and click be a member button to help support independent local journalism that informs and inspires.

Every contribution goes to helping us make Richland County a better place and to help keep our journalism free. Also, if you like this podcast and want to hear more, make sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Support the show: https://www.sourcemembers.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New royalty crowned at 2021 Richland County Junior Fair:

https://www.richlandsource.com/life_and_culture/new-royalty-crowned-at-2021-richland-county-junior-fair/article_502e5708-f8b9-11eb-9b46-1ffb7f521497.html

'Steeler Nation:' College class leads to award-winning music video for Mansfield man:

https://www.richlandsource.com/life_and_culture/steeler-nation-college-class-leads-to-award-winning-music-video-for-mansfield-man/article_47301e80-f39f-11eb-890b-77ae62ed1c17.html

Native Son: Mansfield's Missing Mound:

https://www.richlandsource.com/area_history/native-son-mansfields-missing-mound/article_1387b34e-135f-11e5-81a4-77ae845890dd.html

Open Source: Can I use a band-powered speargun to fish in Ohio?:

https://www.richlandsource.com/open_source/open-source-can-i-use-a-band-powered-speargun-to-fish-in-ohio/article_e8d8538c-72cc-11eb-861c-73afbcef7be1.html

'Steeler Nation:' College class leads to award-winning music video for Mansfield man:

https://www.richlandsource.com/life_and_culture/steeler-nation-college-class-leads-to-award-winning-music-video-for-mansfield-man/article_47301e80-f39f-11eb-890b-77ae62ed1c17.html

Christie Irene Mills:

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

 

 

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 - The newest royals in the succession of the Richland County Junior Fair assumed their titles on Sunday evening at the John Hartz Building. 

Madison Parks of Richland County Round-Up 4-H and Shelby FFA was crowned the 2021 Richland County Junior Fair Queen, while Evan Stuart of Crestview FFA was crowned King. 

Their crowns were awarded by 2020 Queen Natalie Snyder and King Cory Myers. 

The Junior Fair Queen and King are considered fair ambassadors. That means they’ll mentor the younger generations, help out with this year's fair activities, and travel to other county fairs in Ohio. 

Parks is a recent graduate of Shelby High School. She’s currently attending The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute, majoring in graphic design and minoring in agricultural communications. She started with the junior fair program eight years ago, showing hogs. 

We spoke to Dr. Judy Villard Overocker, the 4-H Extension Educator, who said that Parks has such a love for children. She's one of the camp counselors, and she teaches kids from juvenile traffic court. Parks also has a passion for helping other people. 

Stuart is a junior at Crestview High School, and first got involved with the Richland County Fair in 2010. He enjoys the familiarity of the fair, and the kind faces he sees every year. He works extra time in the office and is very dedicated. 

Overocker also told us that last year's pageant and coronation took place outdoors because of COVID-19 restrictions. And besides youth shows, no other events were allowed at the fair… but this year, they’ve gotten back to normal. She joked that being indoors again with air conditioning is certainly nice. 

But Overocker noted that the spirit of this program has never wavered. And to her, it feels more like home now because they’re back in the regular facility. 

First runners-up were Caroline Tilton of Muddy Creek Clovers 4-H and Clear Fork FFA, and Carson Abbott of Ring Raiders 4-H and Shelby FFA. 

Before we continue, a quick message from our sponsors at Black Belt Pro Fitness...

It’s back to school season! Did you know that regular practice in the martial arts has been shown to improve focus, goal-setting and academic performance? 

The team at Black Belt Pro Fitness, Mansfield’s premier martial arts studio, is all about helping kids and teens become healthier and more confident in all areas of life. They teach self-control and self-respect above any physical technique... and of course, they make it fun too! Right now they have classes for kids ages 4 and up. They also have membership options for the whole family. Visit them blackbeltprofitness.com to learn more.

Now, some local history…

In 1886 JC Woley approached Henry Hedges downtown and asked if he could dig a hole on some land that Hedges inherited on the east end of First Street down by the tracks. 

Hedges said he didn’t mind. He figured it was an archaeological probe. But Woley wasn’t looking for Native American relics or prehistoric bones, he was digging for gold.

Why? A strange tale was circulating Mansfield’s north end in various bars, saloons and drinking establishments. A story of some rich guy who got paranoid about banks and buried his wealth.

Somehow word leaked out and reached the ears of a nosy reporter for the Mansfield Herald. He found Woley with a pickaxe and broke the news. Poor Woley came back the next morning to work on his dig only to discover it no longer existed. The mound was gone—shoveled to oblivion and flattened.

You can read more about this story and see pictures at  richlandsource.com.

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

Today’s question? Can you use a band-powered speargun to fish in Ohio?

It's not a question often asked of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. But a Richland Source reader asked, so we pursued an answer. 

The best answer is a qualified yes, but only for forage fish, according to Jamey Emmert, communications specialist for the ODNR Division of Wildlife.

According to the Ohio Administrative Code, it's lawful to take only forage fish while skin diving with a snorkel or while scuba diving in any water owned or controlled by the division of wildlife or in any other water area where skin or scuba diving is lawful.

Still, it’s always best to check first. Forage fish are sheepshead, carp, grass carp, silver carp, black carp, big-head carp, quillback, suckers, bowfin, gar, buffalo, gizzard shad, and goldfish.

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 Daniel Roemer. What started as a college film class assignment, turned into an international-award winning music video.

Over the weekend, "Steeler Nation" won the award for Best Comedy Music Video at the Munich Music Video Awards. It's also been selected as a finalist in the NewFilmmakers New York Film Festival.

All of which came as a pleasant surprise for the filmmaker. 41-year-old Roemer said he certainly didn’t plan on it becoming anything major. 

It's just the latest hit for Roemer, an "overnight" sensation who spent a decade and a half working in the film industry in Los Angeles after graduating from Mansfield Christian High School.

Roemer had about three months to get the video done. He enlisted local friends under the umbrella of his Zero Gravity Media company and went to work.

Even while creating "Steeler Nation," Roemer has continued work on his passion project, a feature-length film, called "Chaser," which is also shot locally.

Check out the full story and the video at richlandsource.com!

Next, From Knox Pages The Loudonville Village Youth Building, which first opened in 1955, was built entirely by volunteers.

Now, a local Eagle Scout candidate is following the building's history and renovating it through the same means — with volunteer labor and supplies. 

17 year old Loudonville scout, Camden Stanton, has decided to renovate the youth building for his Eagle Scout service project.

Through the Eagle Project, youth in Boy Scouts of America are challenged to demonstrate leadership while also completing a project that benefits their community.

And while the Eagle Project is a requirement to achieve the top rank, Stanton views the project as a moral obligation on his part. The Loudonville community regularly donates funding and space to Stanton’s troop. Stanton says he's simply returning the favor.  

He plans to make changes both inside and outside the building. 

On the main level, he’ll sand and refinish the floor as well as replace window screens. In the basement, he plans to repaint the walls and potentially replace the ceiling tiles.

Stanton hopes to complete these renovations by the end of August or early September.

And he won’t be completing these changes entirely on his own. Other Scouts, friends, family and community members will be helping him, and he is continuously looking for additional volunteers. 

Finally, we’d like to take a moment to remember Christie Irene Mills of Mansfield, who passed away unexpectedly on August 5th.

Christie was born in 1977 in Mansfield. She was talented, full of love, and had a heart of gold. Christie always saw the good in others. She never met a stranger and could light up a room with her spark. Nana was a cherished role that Christie held in life, and one she greatly loved and found much joy in. Christie even knew sign language and did it for the singing at church. She also wrote poetry, and loved to collect retro items, Elvis and Marilyn Monroe memorabilia.

Christie is survived by her husband, Ralph, her children, her granddaughter, her step daughters, her step son, her step granddaughter, her brother, her mother and step father, and numerous step brothers, step sisters, and cousins.

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

Thanks for listening, join us again tomorrow!

Also, make sure to head over to richlandsource.com and click be a member button to help support independent local journalism that informs and inspires. 

Every contribution goes to helping us make Richland County a better place and to help keep our journalism free. 

Also, if you like this podcast and want to hear more, make sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Support the show: https://www.sourcemembers.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rowe drew national attention from Esquire, Bill O'Reilly before his tragic death in Mansfield:

https://www.richlandsource.com/news/rowe-drew-national-attention-from-esquire-bill-oreilly-before-his-tragic-death-in-mansfield/article_4080ff96-f78c-11eb-8f01-67136e258f41.html

The Little Chef from Tappan:

https://www.richlandsource.com/area_history/the-little-chef-from-tappan/article_8fb29372-085f-11e5-bf75-973de97c1109.html

Korean War Veterans Association of Richland County announces new officers:

https://www.richlandsource.com/open_source/korean-war-veterans-association-of-richland-county-announces-new-officers/article_49fa67da-f6c7-11eb-bd2b-6bc77ca0fe5c.html

Mansfield woman's leap of faith leads to artistic growth in city:

https://www.richlandsource.com/life_and_culture/mansfield-womans-leap-of-faith-leads-to-artistic-growth-in-city/article_7d7a9722-f6c4-11eb-86d4-b7cd9ae2e581.html

Conceptual drawings released of Fredericktown's streetscape project:

https://www.richlandsource.com/news/conceptual-drawings-released-of-fredericktowns-streetscape-project/article_a35bc7b6-4a20-5d9e-baca-de9ab7d46639.html

Julie Godbey:

https://www.richlandsource.com/obituaries/julie-godbey/article_c556f5d4-f6f3-11eb-9472-1f4a22ab33eb.html

 

 

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 - 38 year old Sean Rowe died last week after an hours-long standoff in Mifflin Township. Exactly what occupied Rowe’s mind in the moments leading up to his violent end might never be known, but a deeper look into his background reveals a multi-layered character who drew national attention.

We’d like to take a moment to thank our Sponsors at First Federal Community Bank. Today, First Federal Community Bank wants you to meet Travis Smith, Assistant Vice President in Commercial Banking, as he continues to help Mansfield area business owners and investors expand their business or start a new one.   

Travis thrives on being a resource for the community to explore all of their business banking needs through a collaborative approach. Together you’ll talk about the resources available to meet your goals.  

First Federal Community Bank looks forward to collaborating with more local business, owners and investors soon. Equal Housing Lender, Member FDIC.

38 year old Sean Rowe was on a mission when he died. 

On Wednesday he wielded two machetes when police officers opened fire after an hours-long standoff on Peterson Road in Mifflin Township.

But a deeper look into Rowe’s background reveals a multi-layered character who drew national attention.

Around six years ago, the 38-year-old U.S. Army veteran founded a guerilla group geared toward traveling to Syria to end the Islamic State once and for all. He called it Veterans Against ISIS — and it attracted national media attention at the time.

The plan was to recruit veterans to travel to the Middle East and lend a hand to ISIS-opposition forces.

And it was a mission Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly tried talking Rowe out of in a May 2015 televised interview.

The caliphate was declared dead by the Syrian Democratic Forces in 2019. It's unclear if Rowe’s group ever took any action. The group’s website no longer exists and its presence on social media is extinct. 

O’Reilly even sasy to Rowe at one point “I don’t want to see your head on a stick”.

Rowe, an eight-year U.S. Army veteran, had another slightly different mission as well — one he was still pursuing through Veteran Rehab and Refuge.

His obituary explained that he had a heart to help other veterans who were struggling with depression and PTSD like himself. He wanted to build a retreat and business selling microgreens for veterans where they could be safe and productive.

But Rowe started getting into trouble with the law in August 2017, when he was charged for loitering and prowling, and resisting an officer without violence in Florida. 

The charges stemming from that encounter were eventually dropped.

A couple months later, he was charged with reckless driving and operating a motorcycle without a license. The reckless driving charge was eventually dropped, but the judge ordered nine months probation, a letter of apology, advanced driving school and counseling. 

And at some point, Rowe moved to Ohio.

Most recently he was living with his girlfriend, Jeannette Koehler, in a house in Mifflin Township. 

And videos posted on Rowe’s YouTube channel reference an alleged “conspiracy” involving Koehler and her ex-husband.  

The ex-husband began receiving death threats from Rowe through texts and social media. And things began to get worse. He had an encounter with law enforcement on July 4th, and then again on July 6th.

On July 30 Koehler was arrested. 

Then Wednesday, after more citizen complaints, Richland County police decided to confront Rowe again. 

This time Rowe had a new mission --- saying he will die protecting Koehler. 

It was a mission that no longer involved national media, the Kurdish peshmerga or helping other veterans. It was a mission that involved only him, his machetes and a dozen officers armed with powerful weapons.

Before we continue… I’d like to take a moment to highlight The Source Member Program. Memberships support daily reporting and research-driven solutions stories. Real world impact happens regularly in the form of community discussions and events. 

We believe you deserve to be confident in your community’s news. So Visit SourceMembers.com to join.

Now, some local history…

During Mansfield’s industrial heyday, one of the most far-reaching brand names was Tappan.

People all over the country had Tappan stoves, and when they looked closely—behind the porcelain front panel—they saw another proud name: Mansfield, Ohio.

Their mascot was homegrown in Mansfield too, a cartoon chef. In the Tappan offices and assembly lines he was known as ‘Tappy.” Tappy came to life on a drawing board at the Wayne Street advertising department in the early 1930s and his first appearance soon after.

Once Tappy had found his niche in the public imagination, he started showing up everywhere: on cookbooks, in department stores, on the walls of appliance shops. 

But Tappy was about to experience the perils of fame and early outsourcing. In 1950, Tappan opted to outsource their salt and shakers to Japan… and when they arrived, Mansfield residents found them too different. Ultimately Tappy found himself relegated to history.

You can read more about Tappy at richlandsource.com.

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

Today’s question focuses on the Korean War Veterans Association of Richland County who have announced new officers. 

The Korean War Veterans Association of Richland County Chapter #51 has announced its new officers… and we’re excited to highlight them today.

for the Fiscal Year 2021-22 the President is Dale Walker, the Vice President is Lorin Vance, Secretary is Jay Haar, Treasure is Roy Anderson, Sgt/Arms is Dave Bell, and Chaplain is Gail Eddy.

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 Allison Pence, who took an artistic leap of faith three years ago, leaving behind a full-time teaching position to pursue her own true vocation.

And as she transitioned from teaching to doing, Pence began creating and selling her own paintings. She even purchased and revamped her own mobile art studio. 

Then along came murals. She and fellow local artist Robin Shoupe created the "Cosmic Crosswalk" on a mid-block crossing on West Fourth Street in 2019.

And since then she’s completed about 65 murals, which can literally be seen all over Mansfield.

Her efforts have coincided with a growing local desire for public art, including the recent creation of a Mansfield Public Arts Commission.

Next, From Knox Pages…

Fredericktown's streetscape project will be completed as a single-phased project, instead of two phases as originally proposed. The street improvements remain slated for completion by the end of 2023. Construction will likely begin that summer.

Fredericktown received its first grant installment from the Ohio Department of Transportation in the amount of $922,000 in 2019, and received an additional $470,000 from ODOT this past June. 

The approximately $1 million grant will fund pedestrian safety improvements and revitalization efforts.

The grant is provided through ODT’s Transportation Alternatives Program, which funds projects that improve non-driver access to public transportation and community improvement activities. 

Make sure to visit knoxpages.com/ to check out the conceptual drawings

Finally, we’d like to take a moment to remember Julie Godbey. Julie was born in 1958 in Mansfield. She worked many years as a waitress. Julie was a devoted grandmother who found her family to be very important in her life. She attended Crossroads Community Church, and loved music. She also played Bingo and was a very patriotic lady. Julie gave in death as she always did in life, as her final act was to give the gift of life through organ and tissue donation.

She leaves behind her children, her grandchildren, her parents, her niece and nephew, and numerous aunts and cousins. She’ll be greatly missed. Thank you for taking a moment with us today to remember and celebrate Julie’s life. 

Also, make sure to head over to richlandsource.com and click be a member button to help support independent local journalism that informs and inspires. 

Every contribution goes to helping us make Richland County a better place and to help keep our journalism free. 

Also, if you like this podcast and want to hear more, make sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Support the show: https://www.sourcemembers.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mansfield City Council approves free, public wi-fi proposal for downtown:

https://www.richlandsource.com/news/mansfield-city-council-approves-free-public-wi-fi-proposal-for-downtown/article_71550de0-f527-11eb-b461-a3ed5e9a23a5.html

The Voegele Home on Park Avenue West 1894:

https://www.richlandsource.com/area_history/the-voegele-home-on-park-avenue-west-1894/article_0ceaf85c-097d-11e5-89e9-93e84a548584.html

Open Source: What happened to the plan to extend the Trimble/Cook road walking path?:

https://www.richlandsource.com/open_source/open-source-what-happened-to-the-plan-to-extend-the-trimble-cook-road-walking-path/article_41c09b94-e41a-11eb-96e9-b314ca7c97b3.html

Events:

https://www.richlandsource.com/local_events/

Former Ashland University athlete captures Olympic gold medal in pole vault:

https://www.richlandsource.com/sports/former-ashland-university-athlete-captures-olympic-gold-medal-in-pole-vault/article_f47d201f-f686-56e2-9921-7167495cf709.html

Helen Louise Freer:

https://www.richlandsource.com/obituaries/helen-louise-freer/article_0f5c12d4-f5fc-11eb-8712-337d43529de6.html

 

 

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 - James Weiner didn't hold back Tuesday evening while telling Mansfield City Council about a proposed free, public wi-fi system in the downtown. And the city’s IT director said that out of all the projects he’s brought forth over the years, he’s the most excited about this one.

The enthusiasm was infectious earlier this week as the council opted to move forward with the project to bring public wifi to downtown. They gave the $47,626 project unanimous approval.

The vote came after Weiner and  Downtown Mansfield CEO Jennifer Kime told council the proposal is just the first phase of a longer-term, "Smart City" approach.

It’s another project that came out of Mansfield Rising ... A lot of other communities have it, and Kime explained it’s something that helps the city keep up with other communities.

The wi-fi coverage area would encompass land from East Fifth Street on the north and Park Avenue East on the south with east-west boundaries of South Adams Street and Main Street.

And funds for the project will come from the Downtown Improvement Fund. That fund was created by the City Council in 2018 to fund projects by adding $5 to the cost of local motor vehicle registrations.

Kime said the project will attract more visitors and more community events and also offer greater broadband equity.

The city is partnering with Northwest Regional Systems, a Mansfield company that has installed wireless internet systems around the country.

And Northwest owner Patrick Simon said his company has done about two dozen similar-size projects.

Barring shipping delays of equipment, Simon has said he hopes to begin installation in September.

The ultimate goal for a "Smart City" is the creation of an urban area that uses different types of electronic methods and sensors to collect data. That way insights gained from the data can be used to manage assets, resources and services efficiently. It will all be used to improve the operations across the city.

Before we continue… I’d like to take a moment to highlight Source Brand Solutions. Many leaders struggle to figure out what marketing strategies will deliver results for their company. They waste time and money on marketing that simply doesn’t work. But the good news is, marketing doesn’t have to be this complicated. Sign up for our 3-hour course on Sept. 15 in Ashland to learn a practical framework that will teach you how to talk about your business so more people pay attention and, of course, spend money with you!

Visit sourcebrandsolutions.com/mini-marketing-course/ to learn more.

Now, some local history…

The Voegele (pronounced Vaguely) Building on North Main Street is a well-known landmark -- today a residential complex but originally built for warehousing and manufacturing. What you might not know is the man behind it.

Charles Voegele was born in Germany in 1854, made his way to Mansfield and eventually worked at a candy company in New York. When the candy company exploded killing 13, Voegele personally saved five women who worked there.

He returned to Mansfield and built the Stevens, Voegele & Dinning Confectionery Company and went on to found the Ideal Electric and Manufacturing Company, Barnes Manufacturing, the Mansfield Savings Bank, and even become mayor.

You can read more about him and see pictures of his grand home at 514 Park Avenue West at richlandsource.com.

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

Today’s question? What happened to the plan to extend the Trimble Cook road walking path?

Richland Source reader Lori Ramey recently asked us for an update… especially since there have been many close calls on Woodland from speeding cars.

And Ramey and her husband aren’t the only ones who are concerned for pedestrians and cyclists. She explained that her husband's actually seen people almost be hit and put their hands on the hood of somebody's car. 

So what’s going on? Well, it’s complicated...

Mansfield City engineer Bob Bianchi once proposed a bike trail along Woodland Road, but that project was abandoned due to a lack of public support. 

Then, when Mansfield constructed the Trimble and Cook road multi-use path in 2017, Bianchi proposed an addition that would run parallel to Woodland Road towards Marion Avenue.

Right now, the trail dead ends where Woodland and Andover Roads meet.

But despite Bianchi’s best efforts, the Woodland Road project is not moving forward, because to extend the path the city would have to build on private property.

Still, City officials still hope to one day continue the path network in a different direction.

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

First, the Mansfield Gay Pride Association is holding their 7th annual Pride Festival in Central Park downtown tomorrow. The parade starts at 11am and a full line up of events ranging from Drag Queen Story Time to DJ Doug Ferrell spinning until 7pm. Entry is free.

Next, on Sunday, get out there and meet legendary actor Sam Jones of Flash Gordon (and Ted) fame. He’s been in 65 films and hundreds of television shows. Sam will be at Operation Fandom on East 4th Street in Mansfield from 11am to 3pm.

Next, Former Ashland University track & field star Katie Nageotte won the gold medal Thursday in the women's pole vault at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Nageotte, a 30-year-old from Olmsted Falls, Ohio, cleared 4.90 meters - that’s 16 feet, 1 inch. 

News reports said it was a remarkable comeback for Nageotte, who almost failed to clear her opening height. After that she only two misses the rest of the way.

Nageotte competed at Ashland University in 2013-2014. 

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

Louise married Paul Freer, Jr. in 1947. She met him as a pre-teen at Pilgrim Church where she served as a Sunday school teacher, missions chair, and sang in countless groups. She was an active member for over 80 years. Louise had a heart for children’s ministry and sewed bears, bunnies and even clothing for the kids in the church. Louise will be remembered as a naturally giving person with a generous and thoughtful spirit.

She worked with her husband and father-in-law at Freer & Son Coal Yard in Mansfield for about 15 years until her boys were school age. She then became Assistant to the Treasurer for Mansfield City School’s Board of Education and retired in 1988 after 27 years of service.

She had many gifts. She was a talented vocalist, and she was also a gifted painter. Her art was featured in local exhibits. Louise enjoyed working outside in her garden and tending to her beautiful flowers. And her chocolate chip cookies were so good they won an award!

Her church family and her own family were the most important things in her life. She referred to her boys as “my three sons“ and her grandkids will forever be repeating her Grandma-isms with a favorite being a “bunch of shinola.” She will be dearly missed and never forgotten.

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

Thanks for listening, join us again tomorrow!

Also, make sure to head over to richlandsource.com and click be a member button to help support independent local journalism that informs and inspires. 

Every contribution goes to helping us make Richland County a better place and to help keep our journalism free. 

Also, if you like this podcast and want to hear more, make sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Support the show: https://www.sourcemembers.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shots fired in Peterson Road standoff:

https://www.richlandsource.com/news/shots-reportedly-fired-in-peterson-road-standoff/article_fd890a98-f557-11eb-95a9-533b8b3cadea.html

The Rustic Footbridge in South Park:

https://www.richlandsource.com/area_history/the-rustic-footbridge-in-south-park/article_c9d878d6-2999-11e5-915b-ab4727e2b57a.html

Open Source: Knox Lake construction completed, will open by end of month:

https://www.richlandsource.com/open_source/open-source-knox-lake-construction-completed-will-open-by-end-of-month/article_d8fcf223-fadd-5222-9ebe-732d46609059.html

6 Ashland-area athletes earn William M. Emery, M.D. Athlete of the Year awards:

https://www.ashlandsource.com/sports/6-ashland-area-athletes-earn-william-m-emery-m-d-athlete-of-the-year-awards/article_5ad15e04-f548-11eb-a788-839f836d39f2.html

Events:

https://www.ashlandsource.com/local_events/

 

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 - One man died yesterday after being shot by police officers during an hours-long standoff on Peterson Road. 

The Richland County Sheriff's office said it attempted to serve warrants around 1:30 p.m., but the confrontation turned violent when the man threatened officers with several weapons and barricaded himself inside the house.

Richland County Sheriff's Office, Mansfield Police and SWAT were all involved in a standoff yesterday - Wednesday, August 4th, that ended with a series of gunshots.

The Mansfield Police Department SWAT team, a unit that features officers from multiple jurisdictions, was on the scene.

Sheriff Steve Sheldon said the deputies were serving the man an arrest warrant on a felony charge and a search warrant for the house at 3340 Peterson Road.

So what actually happened? Well, it’s still unclear. In the hours before and during the standoff at 3340 Peterson Road, the suspect had posted videos to his YouTube channel. In the video footage you can see an armored SWAT vehicle in the man's front yard, and law enforcement can be heard in the background asking the suspect to "come out with your hands up." 

However, in that same video the man says he’s not going peacefully and muses "where's my machete" off-camera while the SWAT team continues to communicate in the background. 

He also says that men are trying to grab him, and he’s done nothing wrong...he’s preparing for war.

Then, in another three-second video posted at approximately 4 p.m. yesterday the man is shown with tears in his eye. Reporter Dillon Carr observed gas being shot towards the house about 15 minutes before that.

We looked into records from the Richland County Auditor, and the property at 3340 Peterson Road is owned by Margaret Puckett and Jeannette Koehler. 

And jail records from the Richland County Sheriff's Office show that Jeannette M. Koehler was booked in jail on July 30th on charges of carrying a concealed weapon, expired registration and improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle. 

On the suspect's YouTube channel he refers to Koehler as his wife, and claims she was arrested on false charges. He even references an alleged "conspiracy" within the Richland County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Steve Sheldon said officers tried negotiating with the man for hours.

He explained that the Allied Special Operations Response Team entered the residence at one point and the man threatened the officers while being armed with weapons.

Sheldon said Paul Webb Jr., a Mansfield police officer, and Rod Roose, an Ontario Police officer, fired the shots.

Per protocol, the officers have been placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation led by the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation. 

We spoke to a local hunter who had interacted with  the suspect over the weekend.

The local hunter was Kenric Smith, of Lucas. Smith said he saw the man on Peterson Road on Sunday wearing nothing but camouflage pants and carrying a machete and a pistol-grip 12-gauge shotgun. 

Smith said he spent time with him until midnight Sunday night, drinking together. 

Ultimately the man was taken to OhioHealth Mansfield, where authorities said he died from his injuries.

Sheldon said no officers were injured during the shooting.

Had the man been arrested, Sheldon said he would have been charged with a felony and up to six misdemeanors. 

Now, some local history…

One hundred years ago, a Sunday afternoon in Mansfield might have included a picnic in South Park, a stroll through the wildflower gardens in the south end of the grounds, and a visit to a picturesque rustic footbridge.

South Park was created in 1888 when Senator John Sherman donated a piece of scenic farmland on the far west end of town to the city. Within weeks, a commission had created plans to turn the wooded hills and ravines into an urban park setting: access roads were laid out on the grounds, a gully was filled on Brinkerhoff Avenue to create the broad front lawn, and a picnic pavilion was built.

The park was an instant and terrific success. In August of 1892, The Weekly News even called for the Park Commissioners to make a streetcar depot on Park Avenue at the Brinkerhoff entrance to the park in order to accommodate the crowds of folks visiting. 

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

Today’s question? What’s going on with Knox Lake?

Good news for those who enjoy the recreation opportunities of Knox Lake. The water level of Knox Lake had been rising since mid-May after being lowered a year ago for dam construction -- which is now complete.

Austin Levering, Ohio Department of Natural Resources wildlife officer for Knox County, said that the lake was fully accessible to the public at the end of June.

ODNR’s goal for the construction was to stabilize the spillway in case of a maximum flood.

They’ve also installed new gates to control lake levels and riprap to prevent erosion, as well as smoothing out the back side of the dam for easier walking and mowing accessibility and the installation of new boat ramps. The project, funded by the motor gasoline tax received by the Ohio Division of Wildlife, cost $4.6 million.

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

First, help Richland County kids get ready for school by donating supplies and “stuffing the bus” at the Ontario Walmart. Sales tax for school supplies is suspended this weekend to give parents an extra reason to shop and it’s a great time to make sure kids in our area are prepared to learn. You can show up and donate August 6th and 7th from 9am to 3pm.

Next, on Saturday night get ready for live professional wrestling at the Malabar Gymnasium in Mansfield. ASWA Professional Wrestling promises a night of “thrills, chills, and bone crushing spills”. Tickets start at $8 and front row seating is already sold out. Be safe and enjoy a night of fun for the whole family. Doors open at 6pm and the action starts at 7.

Next, from Ashland Source…

Six Ashland area student-athletes are at the top of their games. They’ve been selected to receive scholarships totaling $5,000 from the 4th annual William M. Emery Athlete of the Year Awards Program. The award comes from University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center and honors the contribution “Doc” Emery made as the volunteer team physician at Ashland College where he established the school’s sports medicine major.

Winners were chosen by a selection committee based on their academic achievements, sports participation and success, and future personal and career goals.

On the men’s side, Congratulations go to overall winner Jevin McQuate, runner-up, Ty Williams, and honorable mention Logan Huffman. And on the women’s, overall winner Sydnet Simonson, runner up Grace Vermilya, and honorable mention Kayla Vistucis.

Finally, we’d like to take a moment to remember the life of Robert Troupe of Mansfield.

Robert served in the U.S. Navy for five years and worked as a setup operator for over 30 years at Rable Machine. He previously worked for Shelly's Smith and Sons Towing Service. Robert would do anything for anyone and was always a phone call away. He loved fantasy golf and anything to do with racing, especially flat track dirt bikes and drag racing. He enjoyed motorcycles and owned his first Harley Davidson in 2008 and later bought himself a Polaris Slingshot.

Robert is survived by his significant other, his mother and father, siblings, his son, and step-children.

Memorial contributions may be made to OhioHealth Hospice. The family would like to give a special thank you to the workers of OhioHealth Hospice for all their kindness and care shown towards Robert.

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

Thanks for listening, join us again tomorrow!

Also, make sure to head over to richlandsource.com and click be a member button to help support independent local journalism that informs and inspires. 

Every contribution goes to helping us make Richland County a better place and to help keep our journalism free. 

Also, if you like this podcast and want to hear more, make sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Support the show: https://www.sourcemembers.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want to adopt Charmer and others like him? RCF grant will help reduce the cost

https://www.richlandsource.com/news/want-to-adopt-charmer-and-others-like-him-rcf-grant-will-help-reduce-the-cost/article_b2230026-f45e-11eb-a5a4-7b545cceddbc.html

Then & Now: Ohio Bird Sanctuary 1946

https://www.richlandsource.com/area_history/then-now-ohio-bird-sanctuary-1946/article_075e53ae-03d6-11e5-8d0b-d7da3ebdff06.html

Open Source: Will decorative arches be lit as part of Mansfield's Main Street improvement plan?

https://www.richlandsource.com/open_source/open-source-will-decorative-arches-be-lit-as-part-of-mansfields-main-street-improvement-plan/article_3debccac-c90b-11eb-a776-7b61ae59bb15.html

Centerburg's Ellis receives Distinguished Citizen Award

https://www.knoxpages.com/thrive/centerburgs-ellis-receives-distinguished-citizen-award/article_6b43462a-f3f5-11eb-b56a-f7b5d0f67e09.html

Obbie Jarrell

https://www.richlandsource.com/obituaries/obbie-jarrell/article_f905972e-eeeb-11eb-b398-2ffed6bd5589.html

Transcript:

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 - Want to adopt a dog? Well, you’re in luck… an RCF grant will help reduce the cost.

Thanks to a grant from the Richland County Foundation, the adoption of pups will get cheaper!

On Tuesday, Richland County commissioners voted to accept a $250 donation from the We Above Me Alex Switzer Memorial Fund. It’s money that will be used by county Dog Warden Missy Houghton to defray costs associated with adopting dogs trained in the prison program.

In the program, inmate handlers take dogs from the shelter, as well as a couple of area humane societies, and take them to the prison for basic training.

Houghton says they focus on basic obedience commands and manners -- sit, stay, heel, walking on a leash and getting into a crate.

The training process can take four to eight weeks, depending on the dog.

Currently, a dog named Charmer is the only dog in the program from the county dog shelter.

And Charmer will soon be ready for adoption from the Richland County Dog Warden's Office!

Charmer is between 1 and 2 years old and has a slight neurological problem that causes him to lose his balance sometimes.

Right now, the cost to adopt a dog from the shelter is $169. That includes neutering, microchipping, a license for the first year, and the dog's DLPPP vaccine, which protects against distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus.

And in the case of Charmer, and other dogs that go through the MANCI Cell Dogs program, that cost will be reduced. 

Houghton said the shelter currently has 40 dogs in its case with more than 20 currently available for adoption.

If you are interested in adopting Charmer or another dog from the shelter, call (419) 774-5892.

And make sure to visit us at richlandsource.com for photos of this adorable pup.

Before we continue, we’d like to thank our sponsors at Richland Public Health… When we stopped wearing masks to prevent covid 19… that was a big change. What hasn’t changed is that the virus is still with us and coronavirus variants are easily spread among unvaccinated people. Richland Public Health urges you to find a no cost local covid 19 vaccination provider at richlandhealth.org. 

Do your part so we can all enjoy Richland County TOGETHER.

Now, some local history…

Did you know that Richland County’s Ohio Bird Sanctuary wasn’t always a haven for avian wildlife? Not long ago the nature preserve was home to a different kind of wild… thousands of screaming Boy Scouts each summer.

Known for 50 years as Camp Avery Hand, the rolling and wooded hills above the Clear Fork Reservoir were established as a Scout reservation in 1941 when the group outgrew their campground at Fleming Falls northeast of Mansfield.

While the eagles of today are different from the Eagle scouts of yore, you can visit, walk the trails, participate in educational programs, and help injured feathered friends return to the skies.

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

Today’s question? Will decorative arches be lit up as part of Mansfield's Main Street improvement plan? 

Today’s question was posed by John Leach who had fond memories of the lighted arches in Mansfield along Main Street many years ago.

We reached out to city engineer, Bob Bianchi, to ask if the feature would return. The answer… maybe!

The two planned arches are at the intersection of Main and South Park and Main and North Park. They’re exploring the possibility of lighting them both.

But, Bianchi explained that the lighted arches used to be every 100 feet up to Fifth Street... and due to the expense it wouldn’t be feasible to replicate that look today.

The Mansfield City Council approved a two year design and engineering effort that may ultimately lead to a $7.5 million dollar project to improve the road.

And in May, K.E. McCartney and Associates in Mansfield were awarded about $1 million to do the design and engineering services for the project. When it’s all said and done, Bianchi hopes that Federal and state grants will cover 75 percent of the costs.

While still in the early stages, the hope would be to help make downtown Mansfield a destination for residents and visitors alike.

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 Deb Napier.

It’s been 5 years since she lost the love of her life. But now, every time she helps a young couple begin their journey into married life, she feels him by her side.

Napier is a professional wedding officiant. She’s officiated nearly 100 weddings.

Oftentimes, she likes to share her own story with the couple.

She met her second husband during the early days of online dating. And after getting to know each other through instant messaging and email, they agreed to meet in-person at a TGI Friday’s. 

They talked all through lunch and stayed until it was dinnertime. From that moment on, they were inseparable.

They were married 17 years. But one day he left for work and had an aneurysm and passed away.

There are still days where the grief of her loss takes a toll, but Napier continues to share her story with the couples she marries in hopes that it will inspire them to cherish every moment of their life together.

To contact Napier, email [email protected] or visit Weddings, Renewal, Romance on Facebook.

Next, from Knox Pages…

Some people hesitate to get involved when they see an altercation, but not Centerburg resident Willis Ellis Jr. Instead of standing around gawking, Ellis jumped into action.

On July 5, Sheriff's Deputy Curt Kelly heard a commotion outside of his office and went out to investigate. He discovered 21-year-old Reese D. Patrick standing in the intersection of Main and North Clayton streets.

Patrick, unprovoked, launched an attack on Deputy Kelly. That’s when Ellis saw the struggle and jumped in to help Kelly.

In recognition of Ellis' assistance, Shaffer presented a Distinguished Citizen Award to Ellis during Monday's council meeting.

Patrick was later indicted on two felony counts: first-degree felonious assault and fourth-degree assault on a police officer.

Finally, we’d like to take a moment to remember the life of Obbie Jarrell of Mansfield.

Obbie was born in Fort Gay, West Virginia and he was a kind man who “never met a stranger”. He loved god, his family, and enjoyed making people smile. You couldn't help but be happier in his presence.

Obbie spent his career at Norfolk Southern Railroad. He enjoyed working on cars and had the greenest of thumbs, growing his many plants and his cats kept him company.

He is survived by his wife, four children, seventeen grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren and two brothers.

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

Thanks for listening, join us again tomorrow!

Also, make sure to head over to richlandsource.com and click be a member button to help support independent local journalism that informs and inspires. 

Every contribution goes to helping us make Richland County a better place and to help keep our journalism free. 

Also, if you like this podcast and want to hear more, make sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Support the show: https://www.sourcemembers.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pop-up, linear park will link Imagination, Carrousel districts in Mansfield:

https://www.richlandsource.com/news/pop-up-linear-park-will-link-imagination-carrousel-districts-in-mansfield/article_4216741c-f16a-11eb-a5e1-03ef6d906459.html

Hemlock Falls was named by Union Army leader Brinkerhoff

https://www.richlandsource.com/area_history/hemlock-falls-was-named-by-union-army-leader-brinkerhoff/article_ca52a016-72b4-59b4-88dc-7be46c5877b1.html

Open Source: What is happening with the unfinished church on Park Avenue West?

https://www.richlandsource.com/open_source/open-source-what-is-happening-with-the-unfinished-church-on-park-avenue-west/article_d10add18-e583-11eb-83b1-a7fa95d05539.html

New mercantile and coffee shop aims to revive Shelby

https://www.richlandsource.com/business/new-mercantile-and-coffee-shop-aims-to-revive-shelby/article_ed7303e0-e326-11eb-b68c-a3bf03c344d4.html

Knox County Junior Fair Sale of Champions

https://www.knoxpages.com/life_and_culture/gallery-knox-county-junior-fair-sale-of-champions/collection_64fd3a28-d4cf-11ea-b8ea-8b1bb11d3680.html

Angela Jean Fliger

https://www.richlandsource.com/obituaries/angela-jean-fliger/article_da6fc2c2-ef03-11eb-a542-6fbff099d7b9.html

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 - A temporary, pop-up "linear park" that will use parking areas along Third Street, is set to open in late September. So what would it look like?

What would a pedestrian-friendly park that links the city's new Imagination District and its established Carrousel District look like?

Well, that's the goal of a temporary, pop-up "linear park". It’ll use parking areas along Third Street and is set to open on September 20th and remain open until October 1st.

The effort is funded primarily through a national AARP Challenge Grant. The AARP awarded more than $3.2 million among 244 grantees. Applicants were encouraged to develop projects that did things like create vibrant public places, or deliver a range of transportation options

The project is being led by the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development and its Richland Community Development Group.

Jodie Perry, chamber president and CEO explained that the overall goal of a linear park was one of the ideas in Mansfield Rising. Specifically, they wanted to create a sense of synergy between the Carrousel District and the Imagination District so that people would want to walk between those two organizations.

She also said that it will be a few years before anything permanent is put in place, but they wanted to give people something to consider first.

The idea is to show how pedestrians, bikes and cars can all interact and still feel safe.

So what exactly is a linear park? Some of the best examples are found in The High Line in New York City, The 606 in Chicago, The Beltline in Atlanta and The Greenway in Boston.

Longer than they are wide, linear parks take people on a journey through the city. 

They can be as short as a few blocks or as long as several miles. They often serve as a link in a city’s plans to boost alternative transportation. 

And while traveling from one block or neighborhood to the next, people get to see the city through a different lens when they use a linear park. 

There are several local groups participating in the effort, including the chamber, Mansfield/Richland County Public Library, The Renaissance Theatre, Little Buckeye Children's Museum, FiELD9: architecture, Entrepreneurs' Kitchen, Richland County Regional Planning Commission, the City of Mansfield and Mankind Murals.

Before we continue, a quick message from our sponsors at Black Belt Pro Fitness...

It’s back to school season! Did you know that regular practice in the martial arts has been shown to improve focus, goal-setting and academic performance? 

The team at Black Belt Pro Fitness, Mansfield’s premier martial arts studio, is all about helping kids and teens become healthier and more confident in all areas of life. They teach self-control and self-respect above any physical technique... and of course, they make it fun too! Right now they have classes for kids ages 4 and up. They also have membership options for the whole family. Visit them blackbeltprofitness.com to learn more.

Now, some local history…

Roeliff Brinkerhoff… You may not know much about him, but you’ve seen his name around town: 

like the school, like the street.

Colonel Brinkerhoff was a young attorney in Mansfield when the Civil War began and he enlisted as a quartermaster. After the war ended, he was stationed in Washington DC and happened to be in Ford’s Theater when President Lincoln was shot.

He wrote about the experience in his memoirs saying that... “for a moment there was a stillness of death. The audience seemed paralyzed. No sound whatsoever came from the box. It is said in the various accounts that Mrs. Lincoln shrieked - I heard no shriek. Major Rathbun testified that he shouted “stop that man.” I heard nothing of that kind, and I believe I could have heard a whisper.”

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

Today’s question? What is happening with the unfinished church on Park Avenue West?

The unfinshed church has drawn the community’s attention for many years.

It’s owned by Grace Brethren Church in Mansfield, and it turns out the church has no intention to finish the project. Instead, they’ve actually been trying to sell the property for years.

It all began when the Grace Brethren Church bought the land in 1992. They hired contractor Henry Gassaway, who started building construction in 2002. 6 years later Gassaway sued the church for owing him payments for construction expenses. However, the Magistrate determined that the congregation never approved the proposed cost through a vote. Gassaway passed away in 2014.

Ontario Mayor Randy Hutchinson said the city receives calls and complaints about the property every year. And like many residents in the community, he said it would be nice to see something get done with the property.

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 Tony and Bev Hall. The Halls see the Black Fork Commons Mercantile and The Well Coffee Shop as more than a business. It’s their promise to the city.

They planned to open the business last year until the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the project. But it also gave them more time to make the place homier. The business opened its door on July 8.

When entering the mercantile, customers will find everything from children’s and women’s clothing to jewelry and toys. 

And In addition to coffee, The Well Coffee Shop offers soft drinks and baked goods. 

The Halls told us they want to “bring Shelby back” and let more people know about the city’s history. That’s why Black Fork Commons Mercantile is now doing trivia questions about Shelby on its Facebook page! The first person who answers it correctly will get a free cup of coffee.

Next, from Knox Pages…

Nearly $100,000 worth of livestock was sold at this year's Knox County Junior Fair "Sale of Champions" – doubling the amount raised in 2020.

And John McCann, of Mount Vernon, received this year's Hall of Fame Award, which is sponsored by the Junior Fair Sales Committee. The award recognizes an individual or business who has played a key role in the livestock sale over the years.

Finally, we’d like to take a moment to remember the life of Angela Jean Fliger of Mansfield.

Angela was born in Mount Vernon and was employed at Air Solutions. Angela was a doting grandmother who loved and adored her grandchildren. She was an advocate and voice for our United States Veterans, and was a member of VFW Auxiliary Post #3494. 

Halloween was Angela's favorite time of year and she celebrated it all month. She won many awards for the Scariest Costume at the VFW. Her hobbies included cheering on the Cleveland Browns, relaxing rides on the motorcycle, mushroom hunting, and spending quality time at her camper.

Angela is survived by her mother, her children, her soulmate, Ed; his daughter, her cherished grandchildren, her brothers and sister, nieces and nephews; and her special little dog, Champagne.

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

Thanks for listening, join us again tomorrow!

Also, make sure to head over to richlandsource.com and click be a member button to help support independent local journalism that informs and inspires. 

Every contribution goes to helping us make Richland County a better place and to help keep our journalism free. 

Also, if you like this podcast and want to hear more, make sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Support the show: https://www.sourcemembers.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.