Sullivan Township – On Friday, May 24, 2024, at approximately 3:39 PM, a black 2009 Chevrolet Silverado was southbound on County Road 681, approaching Township Road 350. While traveling southbound, the Silverado struck a child who was riding his bicycle southbound in the roadway.
The driver of the Silverado, James Dwayne Taylor, 55 years old of Ashland, Ohio, was not injured as a result of the crash and remained on scene. The child, whose name is not being released at this time, received life-threatening injuries and was flown by medical helicopter to Akron Children’s Hospital in Akron, OH.
Mr. Taylor was arrested at the scene for Operating a Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol. Additional charges are pending.
Assisting at the scene were: The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Sullivan and Polk Fire and EMS, and Aber’s Towing.
ASHLAND COUNTY, OH – The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad has recently acquired new advanced equipment, the XR150 Portable X-ray Generator, thanks to a grant from Region 5 Summit County. This state-of-the-art technology, valued at nearly $40,000, is set to significantly enhance the squad’s operational capabilities.
Bomb Team Commander Sgt. Josh Early highlighted the importance of the new X-ray device. “The XR150 is a new X-ray source for us, provided by Region 5 Summit County through their generous grant,” Sgt. Early explained. “Our old developer was at least 15 years old, and support for it had ceased, so we were in dire need of new equipment. This new device is a game changer.”
The XR150 Portable X-ray Generator, weighing just over 2 kilograms, can penetrate over 15mm of steel, making it ideal for remote locations and light-scale security operations. Key features include a 150 KVP power, a 12V custom battery pack, and a weather-resistant touchpad. It also boasts new functionalities such as pulse setting from 1 to 999 counts and the ability to set multiple pulse trains with time delays between them.
Sgt. Early emphasized the operational benefits, stating, “The X-ray equipment is our most used piece next to us. Whenever we deal with devices, military ordinance, or anything potentially explosive, we use the X-ray to get a better look. The portability and speed of the XR150 drastically reduce the time we spend on scenes, which is a huge increase in our efficiency and safety.”
The Ashland County Bomb Squad, comprising six dedicated members, is on call 24/7 and serves not only Ashland County but also Knox and Richland Counties, and assists in Crawford and Marion Counties. The squad utilizes two robots, acquired through grants, to assist with various calls, which range from threats and suspicious packages to improvised explosive devices and fireworks recovery.
Certified as the 19th FBI Bomb Squad in Ohio in 2007, the team requires all members to be certified hazmat technicians, with two certified bomb technicians currently on the team. These certifications are maintained through rigorous training and annual classes on updates and new information.
The Bomb Squad responds to an average of 35 to 40 calls per year and trains diligently to ensure a safe and rapid response to any situation, staying current on all new potential threats.
For those interested in learning more about the Bomb Squad or arranging a demonstration, Sgt. Josh Early can be contacted at jearly@ashlandcountysheriff.org.
ASHLAND – Ashland County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of its recently awarded Community Grants, who are also the inaugural recipients of the Foundation’s new spring Community Grants cycle.
The spring grants cycle is made possible thanks to a partnership with The Norma Foundation, which allows for more needs to be met in the community with the additional funds available. Local nonprofit organizations are now able to apply for Community Grants in the spring and fall.
The board of trustees approved 22 grants totaling $150,000 for causes ranging from building improvements for nonprofit organizations to children’s concerts for the community.
“These organizations work hard to improve lives in Ashland County in many areas, and we are grateful for the ability to work with them to make their goals a reality,” said ACCF Chief Operating Officer Kristin Aspin. “We are grateful to the donors as well as The Norma Foundation, who make these grants possible.”
Grants were awarded to the following organizations to support programs or projects of community-wide benefit:.
ACCESS received a grant for funding to kickstart their aftercare program, which aims to offer gift cards as incentives for participation and continued engagement.
Advocates For Families received a grant to fund building improvements, including those which will help with security for clients and staff.
Ashland Brethren in Christ Church received a grant to help improve their security systems.
Ashland Chautauqua received a grant to help cover expenses related to its Silver Celebration.
Ashland Christian Health Center received a grant to help with home health services and its diabetes program.
Ashland City Schools received a grant to support its Arrow Media Industry Readiness Project.
Ashland County Cancer Association received a grant to purchase supplies to enable access to its semi-trailer, which will be used for storing rummage sale items.
Ashland Special Needs Ministry received a grant to support its summer/fall respite program.
Catholic Charities Corporation – Ashland County received a grant to fund its Pen Pal Project expansion.
City of Ashland, Guy C. Myers Memorial Band Shell received a grant to support its 75th Anniversary Celebration for its annual Summer Concert Series.
Jeromesville Coon Hunters Club received a grant for renovations for kitchen/electrical upgrades.
North Central State College Foundation received a grant to support the costs of training nurses and to maximize the LPN to RN articulation program.
North Central Workforce Alliance of Ohio received a grant for its strategic planning, re-branding and website project.
OhioHealth Foundation received a grant to purchase an OhioHealth Ashland SANE Camera.
Olive Tree Care received a grant to begin operating a summer school program for K-6 grade students.
Park Street Brethren Preschool received a grant to update the Pre-K classroom.
Pathfinder Farms received a grant to fund equipment for a new building to house female programs, and assist with the installation of electrical services.
Pleasant Hill Outdoor Camp received a grant to fund program upgrades.
Snuggled in Hope Quilts – Ashland Chapter received a grant to help pay for supplies related to the Ashland Creative Comfort Project
The American Red Cross Chapter of Heartland, Stark, Muskingum Lakes received a grant to support a blood drive in Ashland County.
The Salvation Army received a grant to help cover additional operating costs of expanded free hours at the outdoor Spray Park.
Trinity Community Church received a grant to provide funds for security cameras.
Along with support from The Norma Foundation, ACCF’s Community Grants are made possible by generous donations from our community. With a minimum of $10,000, paid at one time or over a period of five years, donors can create a named, permanently endowed fund designated specifically to support Community Grants.
“We are grateful to our donors who help make the vision of these nonprofits a reality. We are also fortunate this year to be able to begin partnering with The Norma Foundation to expand our grant offerings, and more local programs and projects can benefit from this collaboration,” said Jim Cutright, ACCF President/CEO.
To learn more about how you can join our list of more than 50 donors who have created Community Grants funds, contact Ashland County Community Foundation President/CEO Jim Cutright at (419) 281-4733 or cutty@ashlandforgood.org.
Ashland, OH – The Ashland BalloonFest is set to host a special event this summer, bringing the community together to support those affected by blood cancers. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) invites everyone to participate in the Light The Night walk on Friday, June 28th, 2024. This event aims to celebrate, honor, and remember those touched by leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood cancers.
Event Details:
Date: Friday, June 28th, 2024 Location: Ashland BalloonFest, 1238 Park St, Ashland, OH 44805 Time: Evening (exact time to be confirmed)
The Light The Night event is a powerful evening where friends, families, schools, corporate teams, and sponsors come together to illuminate the night with lanterns, each representing the shared commitment to end cancer. This visually stunning event serves as a beacon of hope for many and a reminder of the ongoing fight against blood cancers.
Why Participate?
The funds raised through Light The Night directly support lifesaving research, advocacy, and patient support services. The impact of these efforts is profound, offering hope and tangible benefits to those battling blood cancers and their families.
How to Get Involved:
Register: Sign up at LightTheNight.org to join the event. Donate: Contributions can be made online, supporting the mission to cure cancer. Form a Team: Gather your friends, family, or colleagues and participate together, raising funds and awareness. Spread the Word: Use social media to share your involvement and encourage others to join the cause.
Save the Date: Make sure to mark your calendars for this important event. Together, we can bring light to the darkness of cancer and move closer to a cure.
Join the Ashland community and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in this inspiring event. Your participation and support can make a difference in the lives of those battling blood cancers.
Together, let’s light the night and drive out the darkness of cancer
ASHLAND, Ohio – Randy Spade, the director of admissions at Ashland University, was recognized with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve’s (ESGR) Patriot Award during a ceremony at AU’s Jack W. Liebert Military and Veteran Resource Center on May 17.
An ESGR Patriot Award is awarded to individual supervisors who contribute to “national security and protecting liberty and freedom by supporting employee participation in America’s National Guard and Reserve Force,” as stated on the certificate. It recognizes an individual’s dedication and efforts made to support citizen warriors through a wide range of measures, including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence as needed.
Spade found himself at a rare loss of words when formally presented with the honor by John McCance, chairman of the Ohio Committee for ESGR, and Ernie Stone, the committee’s employer outreach director.
“This just kind of threw me for an entire loop, a whole loop, a 360-degree loop. I’m grateful and I’m honored beyond the words that I can say. I love what we do. I love who we do it for. And, I love that we’re all together again to do that,” said a completely surprised Spade, who was joined by most of the admissions staff for the occasion. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you. This means a lot.”
Winners of the award are nominated by an employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve and then the state committee reviews the nomination. Spade was nominated by Ryan Yeater, a full-time recruitment specialist for AU who also serves as a staff sergeant and motor transport operator for the Ohio National Guard.
“Randy Spade has been a military advocate since the day I met him and even before. He believes that those in the military should be recognized and have benefits that (are) utilized to their potential. He believes that veterans, current military, military spouses and children have unique experiences,” wrote Yeater in his nomination letter.
Yeater continued, “Within the past five years, he has taken Ashland University to a standard of military and veteran services that colleges and universities not only in Ohio, but nationwide, look up to. He has taken an office that was in a back corner and transformed it into a standalone building, a housing option and dedicated employees that deal with veterans and their children in order to maximize their educational benefits. He strives to see everyone that walks though his door come through the other side with a degree in their hand and as little debt as possible. He has assisted with fundraisers and campaigns all in the name of veteran support. Randy is the poster child of what a civilian military supporter should strive to be.”
McCance noted that ESGR supports approximately 28,000 Reserve Component members in 318 units across Ohio and the committee gives out “maybe 50 Patriot Awards” per year.
“When a Reserve Component member takes the time to make the application … that, to me, speaks volumes of the relationship between the Reserve Component member and their employer and the culture in which that member has the opportunity to serve. So, thank you very much for supporting (Ryan) and all of the Reserve Component members, and this facility is amazing,” McCance remarked.
Spade, who has held various positions at AU since July 2015, is not a veteran himself, but he feels called to support military-connected employees as well as students and their families.
“They deserve our respect and admiration and our care and compassion. Taking care of them is the best thing we can do to support our patriotic duty. There’s no higher honor than taking care of those men and women,” explained Spade.
He continued, “I can tell you every veteran that I’ve ever worked with and everyone of their stories and … everyone of their journeys that we went on together. You don’t get opportunities like that very often, and I get to have those every day. Every new veteran we meet is … a new journey we get to go on, a new adventure. To help them create a new life after their service to our country is so rewarding, it’s not work. It’s the adventure of a lifetime.”
AU, a member of the first class of Collegiate Purple Star campuses, proudly supports the 408 military-connected students (and their families) who were enrolled last academic year as well as the thousands of alumni who are veterans.
“It’s an honor for the university to receive an award that recognizes how much we care about our military teammates. We’re happy to be a place where service members know that when they come home, their team is still waiting for them,” said Spade of the Patriot Award.
ESGR, established in 1972, is a Department of Defense program that develops and promotes supportive work environments for Reserve Component members from the National Guard and Reserve. With a staff comprised of dedicated and trained volunteers, ESGR advocates relevant initiatives, recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of applicable laws and resolves conflict between civilian employers and service members.
Getting ready for memorial weekend, pool opening, putt golf opening, and Flowers downtown
Downtown restrooms
Safari animals
Sidewalk Grant on US Route 250
Pump House district update.
Sewer rate increase
I would like to give a huge shout-out to Bill Harris Dealerships for sponsoring the monthly updates with Ashland Mayor, Matt Miller. this will help to ensure that Ashland County Pictures (ACP) will be able to continue serving the Ashland area with breaking news and up to date information.
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering a reward for information which would lead to the capture of fugitive Drake Maynard. Maynard is wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Richland County Sheriff’s Office for strangulation. Maynard, 24, is described as a white male with brown hair and brown eyes, standing 5 feet 10 inches tall. Maynard has ties to the city of Mansfield.
Drake Maynard
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering a reward for information which would lead to the capture of fugitive David Greene. Greene is wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Richland County Sheriff’s Office on a fail to verify address as a sex offender. Greene, 38, is described as a white male with brown hair and hazel eyes, standing 6 feet 0 inches tall. Greene has ties to the city of Mansfield and Galion.
David Greene
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering a reward for information which would lead to the capture of fugitive Nestor Salazar. Salazar is wanted U.S. Marshals Service and the Richland County Sheriff’s Office for illegal conveyance of drugs. Salazar, 34, is described as a Hispanic male with black hair and brown eyes, standing 5 feet 9 inches tall. Salazar has ties to the cities of Willard and Columbus.
Nestor Salazar
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering a reward for information which would lead to the capture of fugitive Jose Flores. Flores is wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Richland County Sheriff’s Office for Rape. Flores, 45, is described as a Hispanic male with brown hair and brown eyes, standing 5 feet, 11 inches tall. Flores has ties to the cities of Mansfield, Bakersfield CA, and Fernley, NV.
Jose Flores
If you have any information in reference to , Drake Maynard, David Greene, Nestor Salazar, or Jose Flores, please contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED or Text keyword WANTED and tip to 847411 (tip411). Tipsters can remain anonymous and reward money is available.
G. William Benz, Ph.D., who served as president of Ashland University from 1993-2006, passed away in Albuquerque, N.M., on May 8. He was 88.
Benz’s impressive career in academia was headlined by leading AU during a time of significant growth. Among the highlights of his 13-year administration were:
The “Building on Strength” comprehensive fundraising campaign, which raised $59.4 million over a five-year period (the largest in AU’s history at the time)
Construction of 12 new buildings, including the Hawkins-Conard Student Center, the Dauch College of Business and Economics and the Rybolt Health Sciences and Recreation Center
Establishment of Doctor of Education and Master of American History and Government degrees
Increase in academic standards for undergraduate students (ACT scores, high school GPA, class rank, etc.)
Strengthening of faculty, in terms of both numbers and quality scholarship
Benz called his time as Ashland’s president as “probably the source of my greatest enjoyment” during a 2006 interview with Accent magazine. “It has given me the chance to work with some extraordinary people at an institution that I believe in very strongly and … feel privileged to have had the opportunity to share in its success,” he added.
Prior to coming to Ashland, Benz was at Ohio Wesleyan University from 1986-93, serving as special assistant to the president, provost and chief academic officer. He was also a dean at Defiance College and a professor at Trinity College, Lake Forest College and Whitworth College.
Benz, who grew up in Fort Scott, Kan., and Ontario, Calif., served in the U.S. Navy for four years and was involved in highly-sensitive intelligence work as a Russian language specialist. He spent months at sea on a submarine, eavesdropping on Soviet military radio transmissions.
That experience inspired an interest in Soviet politics and Russian history, and upon leaving the military, Benz attended the University of California at Riverside. He later earned a Ph.D. in Soviet studies from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
Benz’s wife of seven decades, Gerry Benz, survives.
According to his son, Stephen Benz, “Bill and Gerry loved Ashland very much and they continued to follow AU news while in retirement. My father took particular delight in the successes of the women’s basketball team. The memorial service will prominently feature purple and gold.”
Joe Lyons •
May 24, 2024
ASHLAND – Ashland County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of its recently awarded Community Grants, who are also the inaugural recipients of the Foundation’s new spring Community Grants cycle.
Ashland, OH – The Ashland BalloonFest is set to host a special event this summer, bringing the community together to support those affected by blood cancers. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) invites everyone to participate in the Light The Night walk on Friday, June 28th, 2024. This event aims to celebrate, honor, and remember those touched by leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood cancers.
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering a reward for information which would lead to the capture of fugitive Drake Maynard. Maynard is wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Richland County Sheriff’s Office for strangulation. Maynard, 24, is described as a white male with brown hair and brown eyes, standing 5 feet 10 inches tall. Maynard has ties to the city of Mansfield.
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering a reward for information which would lead to the capture of fugitive David Greene. Greene is wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Richland County Sheriff’s Office on a fail to verify address as a sex offender. Greene, 38, is described as a white male with brown hair and hazel eyes, standing 6 feet 0 inches tall. Greene has ties to the city of Mansfield and Galion.
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering a reward for information which would lead to the capture of fugitive Nestor Salazar. Salazar is wanted U.S. Marshals Service and the Richland County Sheriff’s Office for illegal conveyance of drugs. Salazar, 34, is described as a Hispanic male with black hair and brown eyes, standing 5 feet 9 inches tall. Salazar has ties to the cities of Willard and Columbus.
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering a reward for information which would lead to the capture of fugitive Jose Flores. Flores is wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Richland County Sheriff’s Office for Rape. Flores, 45, is described as a Hispanic male with brown hair and brown eyes, standing 5 feet, 11 inches tall. Flores has ties to the cities of Mansfield, Bakersfield CA, and Fernley, NV.