Are you ready to step back in time and honor the brave men and women who served during the Vietnam War? If so, mark your calendars for the Vietnam Era Veterans Reunion and Dinner, taking place on Saturday, March 30, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Ashland Eagles located at 400 Eastlake Drive in Ashland. This special event is set to welcome guest speaker Patrick McLaughlin, a Vietnam Veteran from the 1st Infantry Division who served in 1966-1967.
Guest Speaker: Patrick McLaughlin
Patrick McLaughlin, the author of “Cheerful Obedience,” will be sharing his experiences and insights during the Vietnam Era Veterans Reunion and Dinner. As a Vietnam Veteran who bravely served his country, McLaughlin’s perspective is not only informative but also deeply moving. His book, “Cheerful Obedience,” chronicles his time in Vietnam and offers a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs faced by those who served during this tumultuous era.
Cheerful Obedience by Patrick McLaughlin
“Cheerful Obedience” by Patrick McLaughlin is a gripping account of his time serving in Vietnam. Navigating the stormy seas of the 1960s was no easy feat, especially with the looming presence of the Vietnam War. Against all odds, Conor Patrick McKall volunteered for the draft, ultimately finding himself immersed in the chaos and uncertainty of war.
Experience the Unforgettable
McKall’s journey takes readers on a emotional and unforgettable ride through jungles, rice paddies, and rubber plantations. As he assumes the role of an infantry squad leader, responsibility weighs heavy on his shoulders. The camaraderie forged in the face of danger, particularly with fellow soldier Jack “Red” Sheridan, highlights the bonds that were formed and the sacrifices made during this turbulent time.
A Glimpse into History
From encounters with black panthers to the challenges of navigating the complexities of war, McKall’s experiences offer a raw and unfiltered look at life during the Vietnam War. The heart-wrenching moments and the resilience displayed by those who served paint a vivid picture of a time marked by both tragedy and triumph.
Tickets and Reservations
Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this unforgettable evening. Tickets for the Vietnam Era Veterans Reunion and Dinner are available for $10. With limited seating available, it’s essential to call early to secure your spot. For reservations and more information, please contact 419-289-1454.
The Vietnam Era Veterans Reunion and Dinner is a unique opportunity to pay tribute to the brave men and women who served during the Vietnam War. With guest speaker Patrick McLaughlin and his book “Cheerful Obedience” taking center stage, attendees are in for a night filled with stories of courage, sacrifice, and camaraderie. Don’t miss this chance to honor our veterans and gain a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices they made. Join us on March 30, 2024, for an unforgettable evening of remembrance and celebration.
Today, Governor DeWine of Ohio has once again issued a reprieve, this time for Timothy L. Hoffner. Hoffner was scheduled to be executed on June 18, 2024, but his execution date has now been moved to July 14, 2027. The reprieve comes after a similar action taken Oct 13 2023 by Governor DeWine for another inmate, Archie J. Dixon, who was previously sentenced to death for his involvement in a brutal murder.
Timothy L. Hoffner
Governor DeWine’s reprieve
Governor DeWine’s claims his decision to issue a reprieve to Archie J. Dixon, and now to Timothy L. Hoffner, stems from the ongoing challenges faced by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) in obtaining the necessary drugs for executions. According to Governor DeWine, pharmaceutical suppliers have been reluctant to provide drugs to the DRC, citing concerns about the safety of Ohioans.
The struggle with pharmaceutical suppliers
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) protocol requires specific drugs for executions. However, securing these drugs has become increasingly difficult. Pharmaceutical suppliers are hesitant to provide the necessary drugs for execution, fearing backlash from the public and potential damage to their reputation. This unwillingness to supply the drugs has created a roadblock for the DRC, leading to reprieves being issued by Governor DeWine or so he says.
The impact on victims’ families
The ongoing struggle to obtain the necessary drugs for executions not only affects the justice system but also has a profound impact on the families of the victims. The families of the victims have been waiting for justice to be served for years, only to face delays and uncertainty due to these ongoing issues. The emotional toll on the families cannot be understated, as they are forced to relive the trauma of their loved ones’ murder with each reprieve.
The Murder of Christopher Hammer
The story behind the brutal murder of Christopher Hammer is one that shocks the conscience.
According to My Crime Library, Hammer was a friend and former housemate of Archie J. Dixon. On September 22, 1993, Dixon and his partner, Timothy Hoffner, brutally beat Hammer, tied him to a bed, and stole his wallet and car. The duo then drove Hammer to a remote area, where they buried him alive in a shallow grave, leaving him to die a horrific death.
Dixon was subsequently convicted of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, and kidnapping of Hammer, and was sentenced to death. His partner Hoffner received the same sentence. However, Governor DeWine later issued a reprieve to Dixon, citing the ongoing challenges in acquiring the necessary drugs for executions as the reason.
Ashland County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff E. Wayne Risner has just Issues a Level 1 Snow Emergency for Ashland County
LEVEL 1: Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Roads may also be icy. Motorists are urged to drive very cautiously.
LEVEL 2: Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Only those who feel it is necessary to drive should be out on the roadways
Level 3: Snow Emergency, all roadways are closed to non-emergency personnel. ODOT says no one should drive during these condition unless absolutely necessary or in the case of a personal emergency. Individuals should call their employers to see if they should report to work
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced that the bulk of a $1 million settlement with Dollar General would go to food banks or other hunger-relief organizations in each of the state’s 88 counties.
Under an agreement reached between Yost’s office and Dollar General, $750,000 of the settlement money was distributed to food banks for the purchase and distribution of food and/or personal-care items. Each county auditor chose the beneficiaries in his or her county to receive the funds.
Dollar General, a Tennessee-based discount retail chain with more than 980 stores in Ohio, charged more for some items at the register than the price marked on the shelves, and failed to adjust for the lower price when customers pointed it out.
County auditors conduct inspections at retail businesses to make sure products ring up at the correct price. The Dollar General case originated in Butler County, and many other auditors eventually uncovered similar errors upon inspecting Dollar General stores in their counties.
In addition to monetary relief, the settlement requires Dollar General to make various changes to ensure that its products ring up at the correct price:
It must staff its stores sufficiently to keep shelf tags updated.
If a consumer points out that the register price is higher than the shelf price, the checkout clerk must adjust the price to match the shelf tag; in addition, the shelf tag must corrected within 24 hours.
District managers must conduct random price checks every 45 days.
Stores that receive three “failed” auditors reports within six months must complete a full-store assessment and check the price of every item in the store to ensure accuracy.
The company also must educate all employees about this policy and post signs in its Ohio stores informing customers of the same.
Ohioans who suspect unfair business practices should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at OhioProtects.org or 800-282-0515.
The Board of Directors of Samaritan Hospital Foundation is pleased to again offer scholastic awards to persons residing in Ashland County or UH Samaritan Medical Center employees or immediate family members. To be eligible, applicants must be currently enrolled or accepted in an accredited program in the areas of nursing, medicine or allied medical studies.
Completed applications must be returned with appropriate grade transcripts by April 19, 2024, to the Samaritan Hospital Foundation, Attn: Mona Campbell, at 663 East Main Street in Ashland, Ohio.
Scholastic Award applications for the 2024-25 academic year are available at www.samaritanhospitalfoundation.org and at University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center, 1025 Center Street, Ashland, Ohio, at the main lobby reception desk.
Applications are also available at Samaritan Hospital Foundation at 663 E. Main Street, Ashland, Ohio, or by contacting the Foundation office at 419-207-7900. Recipients will be notified in late May.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – An Iraqi citizen living in Columbus was sentenced in federal court here today to 178 months in prison for attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization as part of a plot to murder former United States President George W. Bush.
Shihab Ahmed Shihab Shihab, 53, believed the former President was responsible for killing many Iraqis and breaking apart the entire country of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The defendant’s own life changed during and after the war and he proudly assisted in this plot.
Shihab originally entered the United States in September 2020 and primarily resided in Columbus from December 2020 until his arrest in May 2022. Throughout much of that time, Shihab attempted to provide material support to terrorists in furtherance of a plot to assassinate former President George W. Bush.
Shihab hoped to smuggle at least four Iraqis associated with ISIS into the United States with the goal of completing the assassination. In fact, in the fall of 2021, Shihab believed he successfully smuggled an ISIS member into the United States for a fee of $40,000. Shihab accepted tens of thousands of dollars for the purported smuggling. In reality, the individual was fictitious, and the interaction was coordinated under the direction of the FBI.
In furtherance of the assassination plot, Shihab traveled to Dallas in February 2022 to conduct surveillance of locations associated with the former President. For example, he recorded videos of the front access gate and surrounding area leading into the neighborhood of the former President’s home.
In March 2022, Shihab met with others in a hotel room in Columbus to look at sample firearms and law enforcement uniforms.
Shihab required the use of burner phones, encrypted communication applications and code names as plans evolved.
Shihab was arrested by FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force agents in May 2022. He pleaded guilty in March 2023 to attempting to provide material support to terrorists. Shihab was also sentenced today to a lifetime of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice, National Security Division; Cheryl Mimura, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Yvonne Dicristoforo, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Deputy Criminal Chief Jessica W. Knight and Trial Attorney Frank Russo from the Department of Justice’s National Security Division are representing the United States in this case.
Staff from the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) recently attended the Ohio Park and Recreation Association (OPRA) annual conference in Sandusky, Ohio. During the conference, the OPRA Annual Awards of Excellence were presented at a banquet hosted by the association on February 6, 2024.
The MWCD was proud to accept a 1st place award in the health and wellness category for a new initiative in 2023, “Capture the Canvas”. The awards are judged by a panel of parks and recreation professionals from around Ohio.
“Parks and recreation professionals throughout Ohio work every day to improve the quality of life of the people they serve,” said OPRA Executive Director Woody Woodward. “This effort is a shining example of that kind of work, and we are pleased to be able to present this award.”
Capture the Canvas was created with the intention to bring artwork to MWCD trails and increase awareness of the trail system. MWCD also sought participation from local schools to strengthen community partnerships and showcase the artwork of area students.
“I am immensely proud of our organization’s dedication to creating and maintaining a trail system throughout the Muskingum Watershed district for the betterment of residents and guests to our area,” said Craig Butler, MWCD Executive Director. “Receiving this award not only recognizes our hard work, but also underscores the profound impact our trails have on communities, recreation, and conservation.”
Once on the trail, users were encouraged to find the canvas, capture a “selfie”, and upload it to the MWCD website for a chance to win one of three prizes including $1,000 cash donated by Encino Energy, a weekend stay a deluxe log cabin at Pleasant Hill Lake Park, and a full-day pontoon rental from an MWCD operated marina. Counters on the trails documented 6,702 people between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The prize winners included Robert Calhoun, Stephanie Brinkman, and Kimberly Kress.
Five high schools created original pieces for this program. The canvases were beautiful pieces of art ranging from nature, birds, bears, and outdoor fantasy.
The MWCD has committed to increase trail accessibility to all people in the coming years by not only building new trails on MWCD property, but also through a partnership with the Buckeye Trail Association. Public surveys and feedback from neighboring communities and park guests have consistently emphasized the importance of trails. The MWCD has invested over a million dollars in trail development over the last five years.
Capture the Canvas 2024 will kick-off on May 24 and conclude on Monday, September 2, 2024. Follow MWCD online at www.mwcd.org and on Facebook and Instagram for more information about how to register and prize opportunities the upcoming promotion.
Photo Award Photo: Woody Woodward, OPRA Executive Director, Eric Stechschulte, Dylan Sayre, Aaron Stump, and Nate Eppink, OPRA Board President
Prize Winner “Selfies” submitted from the promotion: 1st place – Robert Calhoun, 2nd Place- Stephanie Brinkman, 3rd Place- Kimberly Kress
According to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Many job scams promise high pay with minimal effort, but they often result in fraudsters obtaining the job seeker’s personal information or access to their financial accounts. These scams may be advertisements on social media, email or text messages.
Many job scams use fake checks, where scammers send a check to cover equipment cost like a new computer. They instruct you to deposit the check into your bank account and then use a money-transfer service, gift card, or prepaid money card to send the same amount to a “vendor.” The check inevitably bounces, however, which means the money you sent to the fake vendor comes out of your pocket.
Before applying for any job posting, research the company thoroughly. Signs of potential job scams include the following red flags:
The posting includes vague job descriptions and claims you can make hundreds or thousands of dollars doing very little work.
Communication from company representatives uses free or personal email accounts, such as those from gmail.com, yahoo.com, hotmail.com or aol.com.
You’re hired without ever meeting anyone in person.
The company doesn’t have a website.
You receive a check before any work is performed.
You’re asked to wire-transfer money or purchase prepaid money cards.
Common scams include postal scams, mystery shopper scams, and offers for high-paying data entry jobs, often requiring upfront fees or sharing banking information.
Postal scams
Postal scams can be marketed as a convenient work from home opportunity. The job posting will list the job duties as repackaging and/or reshipping items. The compensation for the work is unusually high and even includes shipping costs. This “job” is actually a scam that allows the poster to use the applicant to ship stolen goods without receiving any compensation.
Mystery shopper
An applicant is selected for a “secret shopper” job and receives a check. The first assignment is to deposit the check and then wire-transfer a portion of the money to someone else using the wire-transfer service at a local retail store. In reality, the check the applicant has received is no good, and any money the person sends will be lost.
Running a web-based business
In exchange for an upfront fee from the applicant, a company promises to set up a web-based business that will generate income through advertising revenue or products sold online by other businesses. The claims are false and no money will be generated for the applicant.
High-paying data entry jobs
Scammers often advertise illegitimate data entry jobs. The job description will claim you can earn high wages for minimal work. The job listing may require you to pay up front for job training or equipment. It also may require you to share your banking information prior to employment. If you see a data entry job offering a wage that seems much higher than the market average, investigate the company. Verify the company is posting this position publicly for the wage stated before responding to the job offer.
Job seekers should be sure to research the companies by contacting the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the local Better Business Bureau. Additionally, search engines can help find reviews by searching the company’s name along with terms such as “complaint,” “scam,” or “review.”
Consumers who need help resolving a complaint against a business, or who suspect a scam or an unfair business practice, should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioProtects.org or 800-282-0515.
This evening, Ashland Police Division Officers were called to the 800 block of West Main for a civil standby that started to escalate when a man became upset.
As the situation seemed to be winding down and an officer was leaving, the man opened the door with a knife, though it remained in its sheath, escalating the situation.
The officer called for backup as a precaution, wanting to ensure safety for everyone involved.
The Police were able to defuse the situation without incident.
Some residents of the apartment were asked to wait until it was safe to return, focusing on public safety.
Lieutenant Kline emphasized the importance of using tactics to keep both officers and the public safe in such situations.”
SANDUSKY – On February 20, the Ohio State Highway Patrol will host regional testing for prospective applicants at the Cedar Point Sports Center, located at 2701 Cleveland Road in Sandusky.
Those interested in employment with the Patrol can come to the Cedar Point Sports Center at 9 a.m., where they will have the ability to talk with troopers about a career of service in our communities and on Ohio roadways. Those who meet the basic requirements to be a trooper – age 20 to 39, U.S. citizen, high school diploma or GED, and a valid driver license – will have the opportunity to complete an application and a written test during the event. If the written test is passed, applicants can proceed and take the physical fitness assessment on the spot.
Prospective applicants should arrive in appropriate business attire with identification and bring physical fitness clothing with them. This regional testing opportunity gives prospective applicants a chance to quickly complete the first few steps of the application process, bringing them closer to their goal of being a trooper.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol employs highly motivated and well -trained professionals who are committed to providing quality service to those who live, visit and do business in Ohio. If you are looking to make a difference in your community, becoming a trooper is the right career for you!
The Patrol is accepting applications for our next Academy Class. If you can’t make it on February 20, or want more details on the requirements or application process, call 1-866-TROOPER, scan the QR code below, or click here to start your journey with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
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Joe Lyons •
February 17, 2024
Are you ready to step back in time and honor the brave men and women who served during the Vietnam War? If so, mark your calendars for the Vietnam Era Veterans Reunion and Dinner, taking place on Saturday, March 30, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Ashland Eagles located at 400 Eastlake Drive in Ashland. This special event is set to welcome guest speaker Patrick McLaughlin, a Vietnam Veteran from the 1st Infantry Division who served in 1966-1967.
Today, Governor DeWine of Ohio has once again issued a reprieve, this time for Timothy L. Hoffner. Hoffner was scheduled to be executed on June 18, 2024, but his execution date has now been moved to July 14, 2027. The reprieve comes after a similar action taken 
Dixon was subsequently convicted of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, and kidnapping of Hammer, and was sentenced to death. His partner Hoffner received the same sentence. However, Governor DeWine later issued a reprieve to Dixon, citing the ongoing challenges in acquiring the necessary drugs for executions as the reason.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced that the bulk of a $1 million settlement with Dollar General would go to food banks or other hunger-relief organizations in each of the state’s 88 counties.
The Board of Directors of Samaritan Hospital Foundation is pleased to again offer scholastic awards to persons residing in Ashland County or UH Samaritan Medical Center employees or immediate family members. To be eligible, applicants must be currently enrolled or accepted in an accredited program in the areas of nursing, medicine or allied medical studies.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – An Iraqi citizen living in Columbus was sentenced in federal court here today to 178 months in prison for attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization as part of a plot to murder former United States President George W. Bush.
SANDUSKY – On February 20, the Ohio State Highway Patrol will host regional testing for prospective applicants at the Cedar Point Sports Center, located at 2701 Cleveland Road in Sandusky.