Follow St. Peter's alum and Mansfield native on the Iditarod trail here

After seven years in Mansfield, Beyond Blessed Boutique has relocated to downtown Shelby at 41 E. Main Street. Owner Heather Conn-Whisler saw the move as both an opportunity and a leap of faith, hoping for better visibility and foot traffic. The boutique offers stylish clothing, accessories, and a full range of nail services. Local officials see the shop as a welcome addition to Shelby’s growing business scene. For Heather, the move is about more than business—it’s about resilience and community.

Read more about this story: 

Mansfield BOE Plan Calls for 36-Person RIF, Slashing 14 Admin Jobs 

Headlines:

• DeHart is Ontario’s first female police sergeant
• Mount Vernon man charged with 2 felonies after child porn search
• Verna Mae Nolen
• Avita begins construction on cancer center at Richland Mall

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Mansfield City Schools is making deep cuts to stay afloat—36 staff positions, 14 administrative jobs, and entire departments are on the chopping block after the Board of Education approved a $5.3 million budget reduction plan. With a projected deficit and a failed levy, the district faces tough decisions, larger class sizes, and a potential November tax vote. What does this mean for students, teachers, and the community? We break down the numbers, reactions, and what’s next for Mansfield schools.

Read more about this story: 

https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/25/mansfield-boe-plan-calls-for-36-person-rif-slashing-14-admin-jobs/ 

Headlines: 

• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/27/joint-production-mansfield-shakespeare-co-joins-forces-for-show-at-osu-mansfield/ 
• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/27/high-speed-chase-5-teens-nabbed-for-burglary-after-shelby-to-ashland-pursuit/ 
• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/27/joanne-crummey/ 
• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/27/auer-towing-recovery-expands-to-mansfield-offering-24-7-roadside-services/ 

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A much-needed affordable housing project in Mansfield is facing its biggest hurdle yet. The Ohio Housing Finance Agency is pulling $7.7 million in funding from the Turtle Creek extension, putting the entire 120-unit development in jeopardy. What led to this setback, and is there still a way forward? We break down the delays, funding challenges, and potential solutions.

Read more about this story: 

https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/25/state-pulling-7-7-million-in-affordable-housing-funds-for-turtle-creek-project/

Headlines: 

• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/26/career-achievement-loss-doesnt-diminish-roanes-remarkable-run-at-mansfield-senior/
• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/26/water-main-break-closes-mansfield-municipal-building-on-wednesday/
• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/26/debora-deb-harbaugh/
• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/26/shelbys-sadie-buzard-wins-richland-county-3rd-grade-spelling-bee/

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On October 10, 2023, Jason Antrican was shot and killed in the hallway of a Mansfield apartment complex—an innocent bystander caught in a gunfight. His family is still searching for answers. With a $20,000 reward on the table and a billboard campaign in motion, will someone finally come forward?

Read more about this story: 

https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/25/grieving-parents-seek-justice-for-son-in-16-month-old-mansfield-murder-case/

Headlines: 

• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/24/madisons-koppert-captures-sectional-wrestling-title/
• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/22/richland-county-police-lexington-moose-lodge-help-create-child-ids/ 
• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/25/betty-brewer/
• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/24/ohio-state-mansfield-cockroach-lab-could-help-id-factors-controlling-cancer-tumor-growth/

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In this week’s edition, Richland Source Deputy Managing Editor Carl Hunnell sits down with Chris Niswander, president of the Mansfield Home Brew Club, an organization marking its 30th anniversary in 2025.

Hunnell and Niswander chat about the club and its drive for new members. They also discuss Niswander’s work in the past as a law enforcement officer with the Richland County Sheriff’s Office and as the fire chief in Madison and Monroe Townships.

Hunnell is also joined by Executive Producer Zac Hiser and videographer Grant Ritchey to talk about the news of the day, including the continuing story involving Faith Life Church and its co-pastors, Gary and Drenda Keesee;  a special bonus episode of the News Man Weekly that dropped Friday with Mansfield native and Iditarod sled dog racer Matthew Failor; a Mansfield City Schools board of education meeting Monday night to vote on financial budget cuts; and excitement building about local high school winter sports tournaments.

Story links:

Deep dive on Faith Life Church and Gary and Drenda Keesee

Matthew Failor talks with us about mushing and the Iditarod race

Mansfield City Schools financial situation

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

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Learn more and join the Mansfield Home Brew Club.

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In this episode, we look into the $5.8-million-dollar renovation at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital that’s changing the game for cardiovascular care. Hear about how new, state-of-the-art imaging technology is lowering radiation exposure while offering sharper, safer results for everything from routine aneurysm repairs to urgent vascular procedures. Plus, learn about OhioHealth’s larger $14.9-million investment in Mansfield Hospital—and how these cutting-edge updates are keeping patients closer to home for advanced care.

Read more about this story: 

https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/22/5-8m-upgrade-in-ohiohealth-mansfield-hospital-enhances-cardiovascular-care/ 

Headlines: 

• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/22/colts-win-first-district-title-in-nearly-four-decades/ 
• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/22/richland-county-police-lexington-moose-lodge-help-create-child-ids/ 
• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/21/daniel-delaney-tackett/ 
• https://www.richlandsource.com/listings/items/pathways-community-hub-executive-director/ 

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It's bonus edition of the News Man Weekly podcast -- an audio primer to get you ready to follow Mansfield native Matthew Failor in the 2025 Iditarod Sled Dog Race across Alaska.Richland Source Deputy Managing Editor Carl Hunnell is joined by Failor on a connection from his home in Willow Alaska, as the Mansfield St. Peter's High School graduate prepares to launch his 14th Iditarod campaign, an effort that will carry him nearly 1,000 miles from Anchorage to Nome.

The ceremonial race start is March 1 in downtown Anchorage and the official restart is March 3 in Fairbanks.

Hunnell and Failor touch on a variety of topics, including how a warmer winter with not much snow has hampered race preparations; what the planning requires for his Alaskan Husky Adventures to have to have two teams in this year's race; and what a day on the trail with 16 dogs is really like.

Failor also talks about what a St. Peter's School education meant to his life. The school is sponsoring the Richland Source coverage of Failor's efforts this year, which will include start to finish reporting once the race begins.

Follow all of Richland Source's Iditarod coverage here.

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A long-vacant building at 290 North Main Street in Mansfield may finally be coming down—but not without controversy. The Richland County Land Bank is seeking state funding to purchase and demolish the property, but with a total project cost of $730,000, they need the city’s financial support to move forward. While local officials see this as a key step in revitalizing Main Street, some argue that public money shouldn’t be used to buy a property that should be the owner’s responsibility. In this episode, we break down the debate, the potential impact on the community, and what happens next.

Read more about this story: 

https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/18/land-bank-applies-for-brownfield-funding-to-tear-down-voa-owned-building/ 

Headlines: 

• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/18/mansfield-board-of-control-oks-149k-sediment-study-in-clear-fork-reservoir/ 
• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/18/dell-hits-50-year-milestone-with-richland-county-veterans-services/
• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/18/moescs-amy-wood-wins-economic-excellence-award/ 
• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/18/shelbys-devito-selected-district-6-player-of-year-in-division-iv/

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Oakland Cemetery’s community mausoleum, built in 1907, is one of Shelby’s most significant landmarks—but time and weather have taken a toll. Now, a dedicated group of historians and city officials are racing to save it before further damage occurs. In this episode, we explore the challenges of restoring the second-oldest community mausoleum in the state, the tough decisions ahead, and what it will take to preserve this piece of history for future generations.

Read more about this story: https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/17/mausoleum-at-shelbys-oakland-cemetery-in-need-of-restoration/ 

Headlines: 

• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/17/help-wanted-report-bald-eagle-nests-to-monitor-ohios-population/
• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/17/mansfield-hospital-reaches-100-placenta-donations/
• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/15/kenneth-lee-kitzmiller/ 
• https://www.richlandsource.com/2025/02/17/renovations-begin-at-richland-academy-of-the-arts-for-empower-the-arts-capital-campaign/

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This week on News Man Weekly, it’s just the crew—no guest, no script, just a freewheeling discussion on everything from winter misery to the weekend in sports. Hunnell kicks things off with a full-blown rant about Ohio’s relentless winter, reminiscing on why snowbirds have the right idea. From there, Hiser and Ritchey join the conversation to break down the NBA All-Star Weekend (or why it wasn’t worth watching) and celebrate Team USA’s hard-hitting hockey victory over Canada.

But it’s not all fun and games — we also dive into the latest news, including a developing investigation into alleged abuse connected to Faith Life Church in New Albany. Plus, we answer a listener’s Open Source question about the massive new assisted living development in Mansfield and check in on local sled dog racer Matthew Failor as he prepares for another grueling Iditarod.

News story links:

• Sex crime allegations involving Faith Life Church
• What's going on at the old Appleseed school lot on Cline Ave-
• Mansfield native Matt Failor set for Iditarod
• USA enjoys biggest hockey win since Lake Placid

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

Be a Source Member for unlimited access to local, independent journalism.

Support the show: https://richlandsource.com/members

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