ASHLAND, Ohio – The department of theatre at Ashland University continues its 2022-23 theme of “Standing Up, Standing Out” by presenting the musical comedy “Once Upon a Mattress” Thursday through Sunday, Feb. 16-19. All performances take place at the Hugo Young Theatre, with the Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows beginning at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday’s matinee at 2 p.m.
“Once Upon a Mattress” is based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale “The Princess and the Pea.” The musical was written by Mary Rodgers (music), Marshall Barer (lyrics), Jay Thompson and Dean Fuller.
Teresa Durbin-Ames, associate professor of theatre at AU, who serves as the director describes “Once Upon a Mattress” as not “your typical fairytale, but fun for the entire family.”
The story focuses on a kingdom where no one is allowed to wed until Prince Dauntless, played by Tobin Grendzyski, does so. All princess candidates must pass the tests created by the prince’s overbearing mother, Queen Aggravain, played by Leanna Uselton, to determine if they are true princesses. Many ladies and knights of the kingdom are anxiously waiting for the day they can get married, especially Lady Larken and Sir Harry, played by Lauren Vladyka and Anthony Marchetta, respectively. Sir Harry takes it upon himself to help discover a true princess, traveling to the marshlands and finding Princess Winnifred the Woebegone, played by Katie Snell, to see if she can stand out and pass the Queen’s test.
Also included in the cast are Oliver Wagner as King Sextimus the Silent, Belle Ayala as the Minstrel, Tia Shanklin as the Jester, Becca Huegler as the Wizard and Lily Dowler, Connor Reis and Mattie Vermilya, who play Ladies-in-Waiting, Knights, Servants and Wenches.
The production staff is composed of Deb Logan, music director; Justin Miller, scenic designer; D. Justin Bilewicz ‘09, costume designer; Seth Morrison ’18, lighting designer; Katie Gibson, choreographer; Richard Ingraham, sound designer; and Brien Carpenter, stage manager. The student crew includes senior Tyler Rice as the technical director, as well as Mela Abarca, Jesse Baker and Mikehlah Carr on the crew.
Tickets can be purchased from the AU campus store in person or by going to ashland.universitytickets.com. Tickets are $2 for AU students, $5 for non-AU students and $10 for adults, faculty/staff and senior citizens. Tickets will not be available for purchase at the door.
I am honored to announce my candidacy for another term in the position of Ashland City Council, At-Large. It has been my great privilege to serve the City of Ashland in this position since February 2018. During my term of service, we have seen great achievements and significant strides forward for the City of Ashland. Our mayor, and this City Council, continues to build momentum as a strong, active, and cooperative team. It is for these reasons, and others, that I seek to continue serving as Councilperson At-Large.
It is my desire to build upon the energy we have created as a team of leaders so that we will see additional improvements in the quality of life, employment opportunities, and economic growth for our great city.
Our current mayor and city council are strongly unified in our vision for the City of Ashland. We have worked harmoniously on many projects and have made great advances toward the future success of the city. It is my intention to complete the current projects and continue moving forward on many more accomplishments. We have had, and will continue to see, many public-private ventures that will enhance the City of Ashland. Together, with the involvement of our community, we will foster a strong reputation that will make Ashland a place where people want to live, work, and visit.
I am deeply committed to Ashland and its people and I pledge to serve another term in this position to the best of my ability.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine today announced that more than 900 additional schools will receive state funding support for physical safety and security upgrades as part of the latest round of Ohio’s K-12 School Safety Grant Program.
Governor DeWine made the announcement this morning while visiting Lakewood High School in Cuyahoga County, which is one of 945 schools that will receive a combined $68 million in grants as part of the fourth round of the program. A fifth round of funding will be announced in coming weeks.
A total of $112 million was allocated for the fourth and fifth rounds of the grant program by the Ohio General Assembly as part of House Bill 45, which was signed by Governor DeWine last month. The investment more than doubles the initial allotment of of $105 million for the program provided by Ohio’s operating budget and the American Rescue Plan Act.
“When we created the K-12 School Safety Grant Program, we expected that the need for funding would far exceed the amount of money available, but I vowed to go back to the legislature and ask for more,” said Governor DeWine. “Now, with the generous support of the Ohio General Assembly, I’m proud to announce that every single qualifying school that applied for a grant will receive funding.”
So far, a total of $173 million has been awarded to 2,374 Ohio K-12 schools to help pay for physical security expenses such as new security cameras, public address systems, automatic door locks, visitor badging systems, and exterior lighting. Eligible schools could receive as much as $100,000 per building.
The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission is administering the program in partnership with the Ohio School Safety Center.
Since taking office in 2019, Governor DeWine has led several initiatives to support school safety, including the creation of the Ohio School Safety Center, which works to assist local schools, colleges, universities, and law enforcement agencies to prevent, prepare for, and respond to threats and acts of violence, including self-harm, through a holistic, solutions-based approach to improving school safety.
Governor DeWine also created the Student Wellness and Success Fund, a $1.2 billion investment that is now a part of the school funding formula, to provide wraparound services to students. Wraparound services are programming and supports meant to build skills and fulfill a student or familial need. To date, this funding has launched 1,300 mental health programs and trained 6,500 educators and school professionals.
As part of his executive budget proposal presented to the Ohio General Assembly this week, Governor DeWine is also requesting funding to help schools with the cost of staffing a school resource officer.
Ashland Police Division’s SRT Team spent the better part of this afternoon in training, at 115 Maple Street, at the intersection of Union Street. This house was owned by Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home & Crematory.
Seth and Lindsey Gasche of Denbow-Gasche purchased this home last year, knowing that it would need to be demolished in the future. They have donated the use of the building to both our Ashland Fire Department and Ashland Police Department for training purposes.
Seth Gasche told me, “Both Lindsey and I believe that we have always supported those who support us. Both departments have been beyond helpful to us and most of all, keep our community safe. We are glad to give back in any way we can.”
Ashland Police Division SRT Team Leader, Sgt. Kohler commented, “Different training locations provide different floor plans and building layouts which present their own “tactical problems”. Every new tactical problem that the team works through assists the team in negotiating a similar “tactical problem” more efficiently in the future. Varying training locations are essential in keeping a SWAT Team not just proficient, but also advancing their capabilities and skill sets.”
Ashland County’s Special Response Team is comprised of Law Enforcement Officers and Paramedics from the Ashland Police Division, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Loudonville Police Department, and the Mifflin Fire Department.
Ashland Police Division SRT Team Leader Sgt, Kohler said, “The Ashland Special Response Team is a multi-jurisdictional and multi-discipline unit of three teams, the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT), the Special Weapons and Tactics team (SWAT), and the Tactical Emergency Medical Services (TEMS). Lt. Jerry Bloodhart is the Special Response Team Commander.”
Ashland Mayor Matt Miller sworn in three new firefighters/paramedics Zachery Lohr, Jody Erickson, and Chris Gorewith to the Ashland City Fire Department.
Today Ashland County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher R. Tunnell released nineteen (19) felony indictments issued by the Ashland County Grand Jury which met for a day and a half session in January. The Grand Jury issued a total of thirty-two (32) indictments, against thirty-one (31) individuals, thirteen of which remain sealed because they have not been served as of today’s date. The following persons were the subject of an indictment and have or will appear before the Ashland County Court of Common Pleas:
• Jody Jones of Jeromesville, case no. 23-CRI-026, investigating agency ACSO
COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS a felony of the third degree. / 3 Specifications
COUNT TWO: HAVING WEAPONS WHILE UNDER DISABILITY a felony of the third degree./ 2 Specifications
COUNT THREE: PERMITTING DRUG ABUSE a misdemeanor of the first degree.
>COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS a felony of the third degree.
• Douglas Eugene Thompson of Howard, OH, case no. 23-CRI-028, investigating agency OSHP
COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS a felony of the second degree.
>COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS a felony of the second degree.
• Douglas Eugene Thompson of Howard, OH, case no. 23-CRI-029, investigating agency LPD
COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS a felony of the fifth degree.
COUNT TWO: TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE
>COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS
• Victor Keith Mullins of Wooster, case no. 23-CRI-027, investigating agency OSHP
COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS a felony of the second degree.
>COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS a felony of the second degree.
• Jeremy Roger Casler of Loudonville, case no. 23-CRI-002, investigating agency LPD
COUNT ONE: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE a felony of the third degree.
COUNT TWO: RESISTING ARREST a misdemeanor of the second degree.
>COUNT ONE: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
• Jarrod Morr of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-001, investigating agency APD
COUNT ONE: HAVING WEAPONS WHILE UNDER DISABILITY a felony of the third degree.
COUNT TWO: IMPROPERLY HANDLING FIREARMS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE a felony of the fourth degree.
COUNT THREE: CARRYING A CONCEALED WEAPON a felony of the fourth degree.
>COUNT ONE: HAVING WEAPONS WHILE UNDER DISABILITY a felony of the third degree.
• Bronson Buchanan of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-003, investigating agency APD
COUNT ONE: HAVING WEAPONS WHILE UNDER DISABILITY a felony of the third degree.
COUNT TWO: CARRYING A CONCEALED WEAPON a felony of the fourth degree.
COUNT THREE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS a felony of the fifth degree.
>COUNT ONE: HAVING WEAPONS WHILE UNDER DISABILITY a felony of the third degree.
• Robert Shane Haudenschild of Loudonville, case no. 22-CRI-249, investigating agency LPD
TEN COUNT INDICTMENT/ Specifications
>TEN COUNT INDICTMENT
• Mark McLaughlin of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-024, investigating agency APD
COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS a felony of the fifth degree.
>COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS a felony of the fifth degree.
• Damian Vandriest of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-010, investigating agency APD
COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS a felony of the fifth degree./Specifications
>COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS a felony of the fifth degree.
• Ashley Kloos of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-009, investigating agency APD
COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS a felony of the fifth degree./Specifications
>COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS a felony of the fifth degree.
• Catherine Dye of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-011, investigating agency APD
COUNT ONE: POSSESSION OF COCAINE a felony of the fifth degree.
>COUNT ONE: POSSESSION OF COCAINE a felony of the fifth degree.
• Breanna Bell of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-017, investigating agency APD
COUNT ONE: TELECOMMUNICATIONS FRAUD a felony of the fourth degree.
COUNT TWO: THEFT FROM A PERSON IN A PROTECTED CLASS a felony of the fourth degree.
COUNT THREE: POSSESSING CRIMINAL TOOLS felony of the fifth degree.
>COUNT ONE: TELECOMMUNICATIONS FRAUD a felony of the fourth degree.
• Joshua Bell of Ashland, case no. 22-CRI-250, investigating agency APD
COUNT ONE: TELECOMMUNICATIONS FRAUD a felony of the fourth degree.
COUNT TWO: THEFT FROM A PERSON IN A PROTECTED CLASS a felony of the fourth degree.
COUNT THREE: POSSESSING CRIMINAL TOOLS a felony of the fifth degree.
>COUNT ONE: TELECOMMUNICATIONS FRAUD
• William Lagrange of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-025, investigating agency ACSO
COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS felony of the fifth degree.
>COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS felony of the fifth degree.
• Ryan Masters of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-020, investigating agency ACSO
COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS felony of the fifth degree.
COUNT TWO: TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE a felony of the third degree.
>COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS
• John Holmes Carter of Cleveland Heights, case no. 23-CRI-022, investigating
agency OSHP
COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS a felony of the third degree.
COUNT TWO: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS a felony of the fifth degree.
>COUNT ONE: AGGRAVATED POSSESSION OF DRUGS a felony of the third degree.
• Trent Carey of Ashland, case no. 22-CRI-248, investigating agency APD
EIGHT COUNT INDICTMENT/ Specifications
>COUNT ONE: TRAFFICKING IN A FENTANYL-RELATED COMPOUND a felony of the second degree.
• Amber Anderson of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-005, investigating agency APD
COUNT ONE: POSSESSION OF COCAINE a felony of the fifth degree.
COUNT TWO: PERMITTING DRUG ABUSE a felony of the fifth degree.
COUNT THREE: ENDANGERING CHILDREN a misdemeanor of the first degree.
>COUNT ONE: POSSESSION OF COCAINE a felony of the fifth degree.
Prosecutor Tunnell would like to thank the Grand Jurors for their time and assistance, and the men and women of the investigating agencies for their hard work in protecting Ashland County citizens.
Prosecutor Tunnell further stressed that all persons indicted by the January Grand Jury are innocent until proven guilty.
Miller Appointed Vice Chair of House Families and Aging Committee, Receives More Committee Assignments
COLUMBUS – State Rep. Melanie Miller (R-City of Ashland) has been appointed by Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) as Vice Chair of the House Families and Aging Committee and as a member of several other committees.
“I’m honored to serve in a leadership role on such an important committee that will impact people of all ages, and all of our families across the 67th district,” said Miller. “Economic development and workforce development are some of my top priorities, and the key to making sure Ashland and Medina County have a bright future.”
Miller’s full list of the Ohio House committee assignments includes:
·Vice Chair, Families and Aging
·Economic and Workforce Development
·Health Provider Services
·Technology and Innovation
“Ohio families are going to benefit with Representative Miller being placed on these committees, and I look forward to seeing their progress as we pass important bills from this body during the 135th General Assembly,” said Speaker Stephens.
Miller currently serves as the Executive Director of the Ashland Pregnancy Care Center, an organization that provides compassionate care and life-affirming options to women in the greater-Ashland County area who are facing unexpected pregnancies.Prior to joining the APCC, she served as the Youth Ministries Director at The Salvation Army Kroc Corps Community Center in Ashland.
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State Representative Melanie Miller is currently serving her first term in the Ohio House of Representatives. She represents the 67th House District, which includes all of Ashland County and the western portion of Medina County.
The Ashland High School Football Coach Search Committee has recommended Scott Valentine as its head football coaching choice. Valentine was Head Coach at Madison Comprehensive High School last season, and Head Coach of the Arrows from 2002 to 2018. He would be the 25th Head Coach in program history per BOE approval. The next step is Board of Education approval at a Special BOE Meeting on Monday, February 13th, 2023.
Joe Lyons •
February 2, 2023
Today Ashland County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher R. Tunnell released nineteen (19) felony indictments issued by the Ashland County Grand Jury which met for a day and a half session in January. The Grand Jury issued a total of thirty-two (32) indictments, against thirty-one (31) individuals, thirteen of which remain sealed because they have not been served as of today’s date. The following persons were the subject of an indictment and have or will appear before the Ashland County Court of Common Pleas:
• Jody Jones of Jeromesville, case no. 23-CRI-026, investigating agency ACSO
• Douglas Eugene Thompson of Howard, OH, case no. 23-CRI-028, investigating agency OSHP
• Douglas Eugene Thompson of Howard, OH, case no. 23-CRI-029, investigating agency LPD
• Victor Keith Mullins of Wooster, case no. 23-CRI-027, investigating agency OSHP
• Jeremy Roger Casler of Loudonville, case no. 23-CRI-002, investigating agency LPD
• Jarrod Morr of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-001, investigating agency APD
• Bronson Buchanan of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-003, investigating agency APD
• Robert Shane Haudenschild of Loudonville, case no. 22-CRI-249, investigating agency LPD
• Mark McLaughlin of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-024, investigating agency APD
• Damian Vandriest of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-010, investigating agency APD
• Ashley Kloos of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-009, investigating agency APD
• Catherine Dye of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-011, investigating agency APD
• Breanna Bell of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-017, investigating agency APD
• Joshua Bell of Ashland, case no. 22-CRI-250, investigating agency APD
• William Lagrange of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-025, investigating agency ACSO
• Ryan Masters of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-020, investigating agency ACSO
• John Holmes Carter of Cleveland Heights, case no. 23-CRI-022, investigating
• Trent Carey of Ashland, case no. 22-CRI-248, investigating agency APD
• Amber Anderson of Ashland, case no. 23-CRI-005, investigating agency APD
Miller Appointed Vice Chair of House Families and Aging Committee, Receives More Committee Assignments