Ashland County Jr. Fair Board Shines in Statewide Food Drive, Donating Over 10,000 Pounds to Fight Hunger
Ashland, OH – The Ashland County Jr. Fair Board played a crucial role in combating hunger through their participation in Farm Credit Mid-America’s Fight Hunger, Stock the Trailer competition. Collecting 10,080 pounds of food, the board secured second place in the Northeast Ohio regional contest and earned a $3,500 prize to support their future activities.
The initiative, held annually by Farm Credit and sponsored by Rural 1st, inspires youth to combat food insecurity in their communities. This year, Ashland County’s Jr. Fair Board received donations from local businesses, 4-H clubs, and fairgoers. Their efforts contributed to Ohio’s record-breaking total of 286,339 pounds of food collected statewide—a 25% increase from the previous year.
“The kids did an amazing job,” said an Ashland County Jr. Fair advisor. “They stayed focused on the purpose of the drive, often expressing how much they wanted to help families in need. Comments like ‘I hope someone enjoys my favorite meal’ or ‘I made sure to create an entire meal package’ show their thoughtfulness and dedication.”
In Northeast Ohio, 17 county fairs participated, amassing a collective 77,938 pounds of donations. The Lorain County Fair topped the regional leaderboard with 32,580 pounds, while Ashland County claimed the second spot, followed by Stark County at 8,620 pounds.
Ashland’s contribution mirrored a broader statewide effort that brought together 66 fairs to address food insecurity affecting over one million Ohioans. Farm Credit awarded more than $50,000 in prizes to junior fair boards, with $500 given to every participating county and additional prizes for top performers.
Melanie Strait-Bok, senior vice president of agricultural lending for Farm Credit Mid-America, praised the initiative: “This year, we were able to increase the total amount raised by over 25%, setting a new record. It’s inspiring to see young people and communities come together to help bridge the gap in food insecurity.”
For Ashland County’s Jr. Fair Board, the drive was about more than competition. As board member Alexus Evans shared, “Doing Stock the Trailer these past few years has shown me the difference even a small donation can make for a family. It’s incredibly rewarding.”
The fair board’s efforts highlight the community’s generosity and the potential of youth-led initiatives in making a significant difference.
1st place regional winners were awarded $5,000 in addition to the $500 donation they received for participating in the event.
This year’s 1st place winners were:
Champaign County Fair for collecting 11,700 pounds of food
Guernsey County Fair for collecting 30,340 pounds of food
Lorain County Fair for collecting 32,580 pounds of food
Ross County Fair for collecting 30,140 pounds of food
Van Wert County Fair for collecting 7,340 pounds of food
2nd-place winners were awarded $3,500 in addition to the $500 donation they received for participating in the event.
This year’s 2nd place winners were:
Ashland County Fair for collecting 10,080 pounds of food
Clermont County Fair for collecting 12,455 pounds of food
Hartford County Fair for collecting 13,677 pounds of food
Henry County Fair for collecting 4,380 pounds of food
Warren County Fair for collecting 7,080 pounds of food
3rd place winners were awarded $1,500 in addition to the $500 donation they received for participating in the event.
This year’s 3rd place winners were:
Brown County Fair for collecting 10,100 pounds of food
Defiance County Fair for collecting 3,043 pounds of food
Greene County Fair for collecting 5,440 pounds of food
Muskingum County Fair for collecting 10,300 pounds of food
Stark County Fair for collecting 8,620 pounds of food
To learn more about Farm Credit Mid-America and their programs supporting rural communities, visit www.fcma.com.
Amish Buggy Rollover on County Road 175 Leaves One Injured
Jeromesville, Ohio — Ohio Highway Patrol and the Jeromesville Fire Department & EMS responded to a horse-drawn buggy accident on County Road 175 at the intersection of Township Road 2100 resulted in one Amish man being hospitalized and a horse suffering minor injuries this evening around 6:15pm.
The incident occurred just after 6 p.m. when a piece of wood in the road startled the horse pulling the buggy driven by Eli Troyer, 31, of Jeromesville. The horse veered off the road, crashing through an electric fence before overturning the buggy and pinning the animal underneath. With assistance they were able to upright the buggy and free the horse, which appeared to have sustained only minor injuries.
Eli Troyer was transported by Jeromesville EMS to Ohio-Health Mansfield Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The crash remains under investigation by the Ohio Highway Patrol
House Committee Passes Bill to Block Interchange Construction
COLUMBUS, OH – State Rep. Melanie Miller (R-City of Ashland) has issued the following statement on the passage of Amended Senate Bill 155, which would repeal a provision of the transportation budget requiring the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to construct certain interstate interchanges:
“This is a significant step forward for the Brunswick community and a victory for the many residents who have worked tirelessly to make their voices heard in the district and in Columbus about the detrimental impact of this interchange. I’d like to thank my fellow committee members for their unanimous support of this legislation. This vote reflects the strong, shared commitment to addressing these concerns, and after years of debate, we are one step closer to a solution. I am optimistic about seeing this bill pass the House before the end of this General Assembly.”
Senate Bill 155 now moves to the House floor for a vote.
The Mansfield Division of Police received a call from authorities in Harrison County, Ohio, regarding a body found in their jurisdiction. The body was taken to the Cuyahoga County coroner’s office because of suspicious circumstances. The body was later identified as Trentin Isaac.
Mansfield Police Detectives are currently working with state and local authorities as there are more questions than answers at this point. The family and the community can be assured that the division will work diligently to not only answer these questions but also bring justice to the individuals who committed this act.
We continue to seek the public’s assistance with any information about this case.
Again, detectives investigating the case have received numerous unverified tips and rumors concerning videos and social media posts but no such evidence has been submitted to Mansfield Police. The department urges anyone with information regarding potential videos, photographs, or social media content related to Trentin or the circumstances of his disappearance to come forward immediately.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Mansfield Division of Police Detective Ronee Swisher at 419-755-9432.
One Killed in Single Vehicle Motorcycle Crash in Wayne County
Franklin Township – On Tuesday, November 19th, 2024, at 2:22 AM, the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Wooster Post was notified of a single-vehicle motorcycle crash on Graber Rd (CR 159) east Fredericksburg Rd (CR 501).
A white 2005 Suzuki GSXR600 motorcycle was eastbound on Graber Rd and drove off the right side of the roadway, striking an embankment and then a group of pine trees.
The driver of the motorcycle, Nathan D. Coblentz, 17 years old, of Holmesville, was transported to Wooster Hospital by South Central EMS, where he died approximately an hour after the crash.
Mr. Coblentz was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Alcohol and drugs are not suspected to be contributing factors in this crash.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted on the scene by South Central Fire and EMS, TNT Towing, and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department.
Mansfield Police Seek Public Assistance in Disappearance of Trentin Isaac
The Mansfield Division of Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Trentin Isaac who has been missing since November 12, 2024. Despite extensive search efforts by law enforcement and family members, Trentin’s whereabouts remain unknown.
Detectives investigating the case have received numerous unverified tips and rumors concerning videos and social media posts allegedly related to Trentin’s disappearance. However, to date, no such evidence has been submitted to the Mansfield Police for investigation.
The department is urging anyone with information regarding potential videos, photographs, or social media content related to Trentin or the circumstances of his disappearance to come forward immediately.
The Mansfield Division of Police would also like to remind the public that, while we appreciate the community’s concern and support, we strongly discourage individuals from attempting to conduct their own investigations. In particular, the public is urged not to approach or attempt to contact individuals who may have relevant information.
All tips, leads, and inquiries should be directed to the Mansfield Police Department to ensure the integrity of the investigation.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Mansfield Division of Police Detective Ronee Swisher at 419-755-9432
ASHLAND, OHIO — Stepping into history is an experience few ever truly get to savor. At Genesis Christian Academy, students were offered a rare glimpse into the past as their American History teacher, Kenneth Hammontree, transformed himself into William Clark of the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition. This immersive reenactment left students in awe, blending the tangible presence of the past with the visceral reality of the present.
Dressed in an elk-hide outfit he handcrafted, complete with a raccoon cap, deerskin moccasins, and a .50 caliber musket rifle, Hammontree brought the world of early 19th-century exploration to life. His ensemble included a string of pelts, ranging from beaver to fox and otter, and photographs of his journey along the Lewis and Clark Trail. Through these tools and his vivid storytelling, Hammontree gave students more than a lesson; he offered an unforgettable experience.
The Story of the Corps of Discovery
The Lewis and Clark Expedition is one of the great tales of American history, a blend of heroism, resilience, and exploration. Led by Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, the Corps of Discovery was tasked with mapping the uncharted wilderness of the American West following the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Alongside them was Sacagawea, a Shoshone teenager carrying her infant son, who served as an interpreter and guide.
Their journey took them through treacherous terrain, across rivers, and over mountains, exposing them to the untouched beauty of what would become the western United States. Along the way, they cataloged flora and fauna unknown to Western science, encountering animals like grizzly bears, pronghorn antelope, and mule deer for the first time. They also mapped vast stretches of land and interacted with numerous Indigenous tribes, whose assistance was critical to their survival.
“The bravery and endurance of these men and women were extraordinary,” Hammontree told students during his portrayal. “They ventured where no Americans had gone before and returned with stories that transformed the nation’s understanding of its vast new territory.”
Indigenous Perspectives: The Other Side of the Story
As transformative as the Lewis and Clark Expedition was for the fledgling United States, its legacy is more complex for the Indigenous tribes they encountered. The expedition’s journey through Sioux, Nez Perce, Shoshone, and Mandan lands heralded the beginning of profound change — much of it devastating.
President Thomas Jefferson’s instructions to Lewis and Clark included establishing relationships with the tribes and asserting U.S. sovereignty over their lands, even if the tribes did not comprehend these foreign concepts. Gifts such as flags and peace medals symbolized goodwill from the American government, but the underlying message was one of impending ownership.
“The Indigenous peoples had no frame of reference for what these explorers were bringing,” Hammontree explained to his audience. “They saw trinkets and tools, but they couldn’t foresee the tide of change that would upend their way of life.”
In the years following the expedition, waves of trappers, hunters, and settlers decimated animal populations vital to the tribes’ survival. Beaver, buffalo, and elk were hunted to near extinction, stripping Indigenous communities of critical resources. Tribes who had thrived for generations in harmony with the land faced displacement, starvation, and cultural erosion.
The Legacy of Lewis and Clark
The students at Genesis Christian Academy learned that the legacy of Lewis and Clark is as much about loss as it is about discovery. The pristine wilderness they described in their journals — vast plains, untouched forests, and roaring rivers — has been irrevocably altered. Today, much of that land is paved over, dammed, or polluted, a far cry from the Edenic landscapes the Corps of Discovery encountered.
Hammontree emphasized the bittersweet nature of progress. “American expansion paved the way for the country we know today,” he said, “but it came at a cost. The Indigenous way of life, their connection to the land, was shattered.”
A Lesson That Sticks
For the students at Genesis Christian Academy, Hammontree’s portrayal of William Clark wasn’t just a history lesson; it was a journey into the soul of America’s past. They witnessed the bravery and curiosity that propelled a young nation westward while grappling with the difficult truths of what that expansion meant for the original inhabitants of the land.
Through this reenactment, the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition was brought to life, not just as a chapter in a textbook, but as a living, breathing story of adventure, resilience, and reflection — one that continues to shape America’s identity today.
Ontario Police Department Seeks Public’s Help in Shooting Investigation Behind PetSmart
Ontario, OH — The Ontario Police Department is asking for the public’s help as they investigate a shooting that occurred in the parking lot behind a PetSmart store.
Ontario Police responded to a call at 11:07 a.m. regarding a vehicle located at 2275 Walker Lake Road, where officers found two bullet holes in the driver’s side window and a woman slumped over the steering wheel with an apparent gunshot wound. She was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment; her current condition has not been disclosed.
In a press release, Ontario Police Chief Tom Hill said, “The Ontario Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred behind the PetSmart store in Ontario. This incident is under active investigation, and we have no further information to release at this time.”
To assist in the investigation, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) was called in to process the scene and gather evidence.
Authorities urge anyone with information that could aid in the investigation to contact the Ontario Police Department at 419-529-2115.
Ashland County Courthouse Installs Single-Point Entry with New Security Measures
Ashland, OH — Visitors to the Ashland County Courthouse will now enter through a single designated access point, as part of new security measures implemented to enhance safety at the courthouse. The shift to a single-point entry means previous entrances from Second Street and Church Street are no longer accessible, requiring all public entry to pass through a security checkpoint at the Third Street entrance.
Captain Joe Perry of the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the new access system, fully operational since October 1, includes a recently constructed security station featuring an x-ray machine and a metal detector. The installation of these devices aims to prevent any unauthorized items from entering the courthouse, aligning Ashland County with other courthouses across Ohio, many of which already have similar security protocols.
“Construction has been completed, and ADA compliance has been approved,” Captain Perry said. “Entry is now through the Third Street side, with an employee-specific entrance just west of the main entry, accessible via key fob.”
In addition to the upgraded entry system, the courthouse has enhanced its security personnel. Sheriff Risner has assigned an additional deputy to the courthouse, bringing the total number of officers on duty to two. Judge Stimpert has also offered support, providing his bailiffs for added security coverage when needed.
Courthouse hours remain unchanged, with doors open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and closed on weekends and federal holidays.
This upgrade marks the Ashland County Courthouse’s first significant security enhancement and brings it in line with modern standards across Ohio’s judicial facilities.
Joe Lyons •
November 21, 2024
