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Today – A lifetime spent helping young people find confidence, purpose and safer paths forward is being celebrated in Richland County as longtime educator Judy Villard Overocker steps into retirement after 42 years of service.

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Today – Buc-ee’s is making plans to bring its supersized beaver-branded travel center to Mansfield, in a project local leaders say could reshape the I-71 and Ohio 39 interchange.

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Episode 88 opens with Carl reflecting on turning 65. From there, the show rolls into its usual mix of banter, a fresh edition of "What’s Carl Watching" and a rundown of the week’s biggest local headlines -- including a major downtown Mansfield housing project, new cannabis tax revenue and a $100,000 reward in the search for the driver accused in a fatal construction-zone hit-and-run.

Then the spotlight shifts to this week’s guest, Cassandra Kurek -- a Crawford County native, Ohio Northern student, accomplished performer, pageant contestant and arts advocate whose story is equal parts talent, determination and grit. Carl and Cassandra reminisce about sharing the stage years ago, discuss her journey from theater kid and Bratwurst Festival royalty to Miss Ohio contender and explore her advocacy for accessibility in the arts. The conversation also turns deeply personal as Cassandra opens up about her recent Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis, the treatments she’s undergoing, and why she refuses to let cancer sideline her goals, her voice or her future.

This episode is powered by the great folks at Relax, It's Just Coffee. 

Related links: 

• Downtown Forward: $25M vision set to spark a new era in Mansfield
• Kokosing Construction offers $100K reward for info about driver who killed worker
• Cannabis revenue in Mansfield helps replace income tax dip in 2026 budget

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Today – College campuses in central Ohio are doing double duty, giving preschoolers extra support while helping future teachers discover where they belong.

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Dr. Melissa McRae, founder of Vitality Natural Wellness, joins us for a powerful and practical conversation about what really happens to women’s bodies during perimenopause and menopause, and why it matters far beyond personal health.

We dig into everything from gut health and hormone shifts to workplace burnout and self-advocacy. Dr. McRae explains why symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, and brain fog are often misdiagnosed, how women are quietly exiting the workforce because they feel unsupported, and what it actually means to take a whole-body approach to wellness.

This episode is packed with insight, validation, and small steps you can take to better support yourself or someone you love, because wellness isn’t just personal. It’s how we show up for the village we’re building.

If you're new here, this is a place for everyone to laugh, learn, heal and build. Not alone. Not perfectly. But arm in arm, heart to heart. Because we were never meant to do this alone. We are always Better Together. 

Let's Connect! 

If this podcast feels like something you’ve been craving, hit subscribe, leave a review, and send it to a friend. The more voices we have in this village, the stronger we become.

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Listen to more of Sarah Goff's Music

More about Dr. Melissa McRae

More about Vitality Natural Wellness

The 'Pause Life by Dr. Mary Claire Haver 

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Today – Mansfield has a rare pool of federal housing money to spend this year — and City Council is about to decide which needs come first.

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Today – Downtown Mansfield could soon add nearly a hundred new apartments inside some of its most recognizable old buildings — a move leaders say could flip the switch on downtown’s next chapter.

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Today – The Mansfield Playhouse is trying to hit a crucial fundraising milestone, and if it does, a potential $1 million gift could help launch a brand-new, fully accessible theater downtown.

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Episode 87 opens on a sobering note, as Carl reflects on the escalating conflict in the Middle East and offers a message of steadiness, prayer and compassion for families with loved ones in uniform. We continue that discussion briefly, touching on the human cost of war and the importance of being skeptical about what you see online.

After an update from Carl on the start of the Formula 1 season, we then dive into local headlines -- a transformational downtown Mansfield donation from John and Mimi Fernyak, the long-awaited return of Mansfield Speedway and the next phase of a proposed connector road in Lexington.

Finally, the show welcomes a very special guest: Paul Kemmerling, owner of Relax, It’s Just Coffee and the primary sponsor who believed in The News Man Weekly from the beginning. Paul shares the story behind launching an independent coffee shop in downtown Mansfield, how it evolved into a true community hub and what’s next for Relax. The conversation also veers into downtown revitalization -- and of course -- a little Formula 1 discussion between two superfans. 
This episode is powered by the great folks at Relax, It's Just Coffee. 
Related links:

• Local control, lasting impact: Fernyaks donate downtown properties to Richland County Foundation
• Public action, private investment: City Council to vote on downtown tax abatements
• Opening Day draws near for Mansfield Speedway
• Grant funding to study environmental impact next step for Lexington connector

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Today – A new spot just opened on Shelby’s Main Street, taking over the old Ivory Bean space with espresso, bubble tea, and a plan to feel like a second home.

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