Hey there, folks! Just a quick reminder that the Centerra Country Store is hosting an awesome adoption event tomorrow! So, don’t forget to swing by 1290 Middle Rowsburg Rd, Ashland, OH, It’s going to be an absolute blast, and you wouldn’t want to miss out on this fantastic opportunity to find your new furry family member.
And hey, even if you’re not quite ready to adopt, no worries! Centerra Country Store has got you covered with their Giving Tree. It’s loaded with the cutest names from the Humane Society, and you can grab a gift for them at a whopping 20% discount on items purchased for a furry friend in need. Talk about spreading the holiday cheer!
So, save the date: Saturday, December 16th, 2023, from 11 AM to 2 PM. Make sure to share this news with all your friends and family because, let’s be honest, everyone needs a little more puppy love and feline charm in their lives.
Together, we can make a difference.
See you there, and thanks for helping us spread the word!
Embarking on the path to US citizenship is no easy task, with each person’s journey being unique. But Nathalia Spade proudly shares her own experience, filled with obstacles and triumphs.
For years, Nathalia held a green card, but the timing and financial challenges prevented her from applying for citizenship. However, as time went on and her understanding of the government grew, she knew it was time to take the leap. With her husband by her side, Nathalia filled out the forms on her cell phone and submitted them electronically.
The anticipation grew as she received notices in her mailbox confirming her application and payment.
Soon, she was scheduled for an interview in Cleveland. Faced with limited time to study, Nathalia pushed herself to learn all the necessary material. The day of the interview was nerve-wracking yet thrilling, but in less than 10 minutes, she impressed the officer and passed her test.
April 7th marked a monumental moment as Nathalia took her oath of allegiance, becoming a proud American citizen. Since then, she has been actively involved in politics, even voting for the first time.
Motivated by her own incredible journey, Nathalia wants to inspire other green card holders to pursue their own path to citizenship. She assures them that the application process isn’t as intimidating as it may seem, with accessible study materials available. Nathalia possesses the tools and knowledge to guide others in achieving a 100% success rate on the United States citizenship test.
Join Nathalia on her journey as she aims to empower and influence those longing for the same remarkable experience she had.
Ashland County Sheriff’s Office has just lost power, this has shut the 911 system down. Chief Blake assured me they are working as fast as they can to restore the 911 system.
Multiple school districts across Ohio have received a Swatting Hoax, Ashland Schools have not according to Steve Paramore, Superintendent of Ashland City Schools. This threat has been deemed not credible by The Cleveland Joint Terrorism Task Force as well as the FBI who are currently tracking several of these “swatting” incidents.
Superintendent of Ashland City Schools Steve Paramore said in a text message “Ashland City has received absolutely nothing, we will be vigilant and transparent if we do.”
Message Update from Steve Paramore:
“Ashland City Schools would like to assure all parents that our organization has received no email threats toward the safety of our district. This message to our students, parents, and community members is in response to emails that several schools in RICHLAND COUNTY have received. The proper authorities are looking into this email and those schools are still in session today. Safety is our number one priority in Ashland City Schools, and we will remain vigilant in our efforts as always to keep everyone safe everyday. We hope everyone has an excellent day, and Go Arrows!”
Press releases about the hoax:
NEWS RELEASE 12-10-23 5:35 PM
School Swatting Hoax
Sheriff Randy Thorp
Licking County Sheriff’s Office
Multiple school districts in Licking County and multiple districts in the state of Ohio have received an email today with a bomb threat. These threats are similar in content and language to threats that occurred in recent days in California and Texas. These incidents were deemed to be not credible as a “swatting hoax”.
The Ohio Homeland Security Statewide Terrorism Analysis & Crime Center believe the Ohio threats to also be a case of intended swatting. While the Licking County Sheriff’s Office concurs with this analysis, our office and School Resource Officers will remain vigilant to any unusual activity relevant to our schools.
Sheriff Randy Thorp
Licking County Ohio
Message From North Olmsted City Schools Superintendent
NOCS Families,
Earlier today the district received a bomb threat via email claiming to be from a foreign terrorist group. This email was very general in nature and was sent to many other districts both near and far. This threat has been deemed not credible. We are currently working with the North Olmsted Police Department and safety officials. The Cleveland Joint Terrorism Task Force as well as the FBI are currently tracking several of these “swatting” incidents across Ohio. An identical situation occurred earlier this week in Texas.
Safety is the top priority for our district every day. We take all threats seriously and always work with the North Olmsted Police Department as well as other safety officials to help determine if a threat is credible. As a precaution, we will have extra police presence available at all of our schools tomorrow. We will also do a full safety sweep of all of our school buildings prior to school starting tomorrow.
We want to remind our families to always report safety tips and concerns to the district. If you see or hear something, please say something. The district has a safety tip line and also a form on the district website. Full information on how to report a safety concern can be found at the link below.
The district will continue to communicate any new information that becomes available.
Thank you,
David Brand
Superintendent
North Olmsted City Schools
Parma City School District
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are reaching out to address a concerning email that has been circulating among many Ohio school districts, including ours. This email claims to be from a Russian terrorist organization, threatening violence with explosive devices at schools. Similar messages were received by school districts across Texas on Friday and law enforcement authorities deemed them to be not credible.
Please be assured that, upon receiving this message, we initiated and maintained close contact with local and federal law enforcement agencies to seek their guidance. Based on the similar language of emails being sent to hundreds of schools nationwide, the Ohio Homeland Security (OHS)/Terrorism Analysis Unit (TAU) and the Statewide Terrorism Analysis & Crime Center (STACC) assess these emails to be swatting and/or hoax emails and that the threat is not credible. However, we take all such threats extremely seriously, and as a precaution, our Safety and Security Team and local police inspected all of our schools this afternoon, finding nothing of concern. Accordingly, we will have school tomorrow and all functions will proceed as regularly scheduled.
Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community. We are committed to keeping you informed and will provide any necessary updates as more information becomes available. In the meantime, we urge everyone to report any unusual or suspicious activity by calling or texting 844-SaferOH (844-723-3764). We understand that incidents like this can be distressing. Please know that our counselors are available to support any students who may need assistance or reassurance. Thank you for your cooperation and support in ensuring the safety of our school community.
Mansfield – On December 11, 2023 at 08:31AM the Mansfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a report of a two-vehicle injury crash on State route 430 at the intersection of Stewart Road.
The preliminary investigation showed a 2013 Kia Forte was traveling east on SR 430 attempting to turn north onto Stewart Road. The Kia was driven by Bryant Burgess, 30, of Mansfield, along with a front seat passenger, Zachary Evans, 30 of Eastlake.
Photo Credit: richlandnewsnetwork.com
Burgess failed to yield to a 2014 Ford F-150 which was traveling west on SR 430. The Ford was driven by Antonio Barrett, 51 of Mansfield, with a front seat passenger, John Harvey, 47, of Mansfield. The Ford struck the Kia, forcing the Kia off the north side of SR 430 and causing the Ford to strike a utility pole. Seatbelts were not in use by Burgess and Evans.
Burgess, Evans and Barrett were transported to the Ohio Health Mansfield Hospital by Madison Township EMS. Harvey was treated at the scene with minor injuries. Evans succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Madison Township Fire and EMS assisted at the scene.
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering a reward for information which would lead to the capture of fugitive Steve Earl. Earl is wanted U.S. Marshals Service and the Adult Parole Authority on a parole violation on original charge of assault. Earl, 36, is described as a white male with brown hair and green eyes, standing 6 feet 3 inches tall. Earl has ties to the city of Mansfield.
Steve Earl
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering a reward for information which would lead to the capture of fugitive Marquis Allen. Allen is wanted U.S. Marshals Service for supervised release violation on the original charge of dangerous drugs. Allen, 31, is described as a black male with black hair and brown eyes, standing 6 feet 1 inches tall. Allen has ties to the city of Greenwich Ohio.
Marquis Allen
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering a reward for information which would lead to the capture of fugitive Trenton Schoenman. Schoenman is wanted U.S. Marshals Service and the Richland County Sheriff’s Office on a probation violation on the original charge of weapons under disability, receiving stolen property, and aggravated possession of drugs. Schoenman, 23, is described as a black male with brown hair and brown eyes, standing 5 feet 10 inches tall. Schoenman has ties to the cities of Mansfield and Wooster Ohio.Trenton Schoenman
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering a reward for information which would lead to the capture of fugitive Mark Morgan. Morgan is wanted U.S. Marshals Service and the Richland County Sheriff’s Office for strangulation. Morgan, 57, is described as a black male with bald head and brown eyes, standing 5 feet, 9 inches tall. Morgan has ties to the city of Mansfield.
Mark Morgan
If you have any information in reference to Rafael Martinez, Trenton Schoenman, David Greene, or Brian Mays, 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.
Attending this year’s “Shop with a Cop” event was nothing short of a blessing, especially since I missed out on the excitement last year. Let me tell you, the sounds that filled the air were absolutely incredible.
I had almost forgotten the joy that comes from hearing hundreds of children happily navigating the aisles of Walmart, carefully selecting their very own Christmas presents. It’s a true testament that Christmas has arrived when you witness the contagious smiles on those little faces.
The event brought together Officers and Detectives from the Ashland Police Division, Deputies from the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Troopers from the Ashland Post of the Ohio Highway Patrol, Rangers from the Division of Wildlife, Firefighters, and Dispatchers from the 911 call center, all accompanied by real-life heroes from Ashland County, as they made their way through the store.
Over 400 children had the opportunity to experience the spirit of Christmas, with their eyes sparkling and smiles stretching from ear to ear.
Each child would receive a printed-out gift sheet, allowing them to spend up to $125.00 on Christmas gifts for themselves. But out of that budget, they would also purchase a $5.00 to $10.00 gift for the Ashland Fire Department’s Red Helmet Christmas, benefiting charities like The Ashland Salvation Army and the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center.
Detective Kara Pearce played a pivotal role in coordinating the event. Also, Detective Brad Scarl and his wife made the Santa Keys with QR codes that would allow the children to watch Santa fly across the world, delivering presents to kids everywhere.
Once they reached the toy aisle, most children already had their minds set on what they wanted, while others were simply too excited to make a decision. It was heartwarming to see the officers enjoying the event just as much as the children did.
One parent shared their perspective on the Shop with a Cop program, explaining that as a single parent facing difficulties, they opted for this program so their kids could have a day to choose something for themselves.
The children were not only grateful for the opportunity to find gifts, but also eager to donate to others in need. Witnessing families walking with law enforcement officers from Ashland County was truly awe-inspiring.
Despite living in a small town, it was a beautiful reminder that positive relationships can be formed between civilians and law enforcement, particularly during the Christmas season, when parents are often stressed and trying to make ends meet. She believed the officers went beyond their duty, engaging with the children and parents, making the experience all the more special.
This entire event was nothing short of heartwarming and left a lasting impression on all who were involved.
Are you ready to get into the holiday spirit? Ashland Christmas Village is back and better than ever, with new attractions that are sure to make this year’s event unforgettable. From Santa and his reindeer to train rides and more, there’s something for everyone at this magical winter wonderland. Mark your calendars for December 11th from 6-8PM at The Corner Park, and be prepared for an evening of festive fun for all ages.
Santa: The Star of the Show
One thing that hasn’t changed about Ashland Christmas Village is the chance to meet Santa Claus himself. Kids of all ages can visit Santa in his beautifully decorated house and have their photos taken with the jolly old man. Plus, this year you’ll receive a FREE printed 4×6 photo to commemorate the special moment. Don’t forget to tell Santa what’s on your wishlist!
Reindeer: A Close Encounter
Ever wanted to meet real-life reindeer? Now’s your chance! Ashland Christmas Village has live reindeer on site, so you can get up close and personal with these majestic creatures. You can even pet them before they have to head back to the North Pole. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss.
Train Rides: All Aboard the Ashland Express
New to the Ashland Christmas Village this year is the Ashland Express, a fully operational, ride-on train that will take you on a magical journey through the village. Hop aboard and enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday season as you chug along the tracks. It’s a train ride the whole family can enjoy.
The Snow Globe
Step inside the snow globe and take some amazing photos that will make your friends jealous. This 10ft snow globe is a new addition to Ashland Christmas Village this year, and it’s the perfect backdrop for your holiday snapshots. Get ready to capture the magic of the season!
Storytime with Mrs. Claus
Mrs. Claus has her own chateau at Ashland Christmas Village, and she’s inviting you to join her for a special Storytime session. Sit back, relax, and listen as Mrs. Claus reads one of her favorite Christmas stories. It’s a cozy and enchanting experience that will warm your heart.
Everything Else You Love
In addition to the new attractions, Ashland Christmas Village still has all the things you’ve come to love over the years. Delicious cookies and hot chocolate will keep you warm and satisfied. Face paintings will bring out the holiday spirit with Christmas-themed graphics. And the entire event is made possible by the generous donations from the public, sponsorships from local businesses, and the dedication of hundreds of volunteers.
Before you head to Ashland Christmas Village, keep a few things in mind. The county lot next to The Corner Park will be closed, so plan your parking accordingly. Public parking is available along Main Street and City Lot B. Also, be sure to dress appropriately for the weather, especially your children. While organizers try their best to keep things moving smoothly, there may be some wait times.
Ashland Christmas Village is a volunteer-led and donation-sponsored event that takes place during the month of December in Downtown Ashland. It’s a true community effort to spread holiday cheer and create lasting memories. So don’t miss out on the fun!
Joe Lyons •
December 15, 2023
Mansfield – On December 11, 2023 at 08:31AM the Mansfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a report of a two-vehicle injury crash on State route 430 at the intersection of Stewart Road.
