During the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, the Ohio State Highway Patrol will be highly visible on Ohio’s roadways promoting traffic safety. As motorists travel this weekend, troopers are reminding drivers to utilize their safety belts and to be responsible by designating a sober driver. The effort begins at midnight on Friday, May 26 and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 29.
Last year in Ohio, 15 fatal crashes killed 18 people during the Memorial Day weekend. Of those fatalities, six crashes and seven fatalities were OVI-related. In the fatalities where a safety belt was available, all were unbelted. Half of the eight motorcyclists who died were not wearing a helmet. Five pedestrians were also killed during the holiday weekend.
“Memorial Day weekend is always a fun time to be in Ohio, but if you’re traveling our roadways, I urge you to make responsible decisions,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “Buckling up and driving sober are essential to ensuring everyone on our roads is safe this holiday and all summer.”
Also, during last year’s Memorial Day weekend, the Patrol made 494 impaired driving arrests.
“Too many times our troopers see tragic loss of life on our roadways due to irresponsible decisions,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones. “Before heading out, make a plan, designate a sober driver and buckle up.”
In addition to the Memorial Day reporting period, the Patrol is continuing the 6-State Trooper Project focusing on the use of safety belts. This high-visibility effort includes the Indiana State Police, Kentucky State Police, Michigan State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, West Virginia State Police and the Patrol. The initiative began May 22 and will continue through May 29.
The Patrol is also taking part in the Click It or Ticket campaign, which runs May 23 through June 5.
You can help contribute to a safer Ohio by calling #677 to report drug activity and dangerous or impaired driving.
Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools Put Student Engagement and Movement First
Loudonville, OH – (May 25, 2023) – The Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village school district is taking an innovative and creative approach to student wellness this summer by purchasing pool passes for every student in the district. Using funding from the State of Ohio’s Student Wellness Fund, the school district has committed to providing its students with a pass to the Loudonville Public Swimming Pool. The move speaks volumes about their commitment to health and engagement for students inside and outside the classroom.
Governor Mike DeWine established the Student Wellness Fund to help schools meet the non-academic needs of students. The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) directed districts and schools to develop plans for collaborating with at least one state-approved community partner. Each year, the ODE informs districts and schools how much of their state funding will be spent on social-emotional well-being initiatives. The list of acceptable initiatives consists of services such as physical and mental healthcare, community liaisons, support for family engagement, and services offered outside of regular school hours.
Loudonville City Councilman Matt Young and the District worked together to develop this plan for how the district’s Wellness Funds could best support the LPEVS students’ wellness needs. They collaborated on this project to provide this opportunity with significant savings for the district on the cost of memberships.
“I want to thank Loudonville City Councilman Matt Young and the City of Loudonville for their efforts and collaboration in providing this wonderful opportunity to our students,” said BOE President John Carroll. “This initiative is helping us meet the non-academic needs of our students in meaningful ways, and for that, we are immensely grateful.”
The district’s commitment to using the Student Wellness Fund focuses on encouraging and supporting physical activity, mental health, and student engagement among its students. By making this purchase, the district is giving students an innovative opportunity to develop skills and relationships that will stay with them long after they graduate from Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools.
To learn more about Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools, visit their website.
On May 10th, around 4am, a Trooper from the Ashland Post of the Ohio Highway Patrol was involved in a High-Speed Pursuit, starting around the 196mm to the 220mm on I-71.
The traffic stop started out as a normal traffic stop for speed, but quickly turned anything but normal, although the female had no driver’s license, and nearly no clothes the Trooper attempted to cut the female a break and not tow the car, but she wasn’t in the mood to leave her car.
After having the female put on clothes, the Trooper was going to have her exit the vehicle to be transported to the next exit, to have a friend pick her up. she simply started her car and drove off to the surprise of the Trooper.
“What the hell was that?!” the Trooper exclaimed while arresting her after the pursuit.
Free ice cream, museum tours, a silent auction, music, and games will be the highlights at the 2023 Ashland County Historical Society’s Ice Cream Social. This family-friendly event is on Sunday, June 25, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the Main Campus located at 420 Center Street, Ashland, Ohio 44805.
Whit’s Frozen Custard will provide free ice cream. A silent auction, featuring items sponsored by local businesses will take place as a fundraiser for the society.
This year’s raffle prizes will include tickets for Cedar Point, the Buckeye Imagination Museum, the Ohio State Reformatory, Mohican Adventures, a three night stay at Pigeon Forge, and more.
David Berry, an Ashland High School graduate, will provide live musical entertainment. At this year’s Ice Cream Social, we are excited to officially cut the ribbon on our new James M. and Suzanne G. Clark Carriage House, which will house the Betty Plank Research Library.
We will also be unveiling our new Veteran’s Exhibit. As always, the museum properties are open and free of charge on this day.
Admission to this event is free! For more information, visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AshlandCountyHistoricalSociety or on our website at www.ashlandhistory.org, or call us at (419) 289-3111 with any questions about this great family-friendly event.
COLUMBUS, OH – State Rep. Melanie Miller (R-City of Ashland) invited and presented a proclamation from the Ohio House Representatives to Miss Ohio 2022, Elizabetta Nies, during a recognition ceremony on the House floor. Miller also acknowledged Nies and other young women vying for this year’s Miss Ohio during the legislative session.
“We would like to present a very special proclamation to honor Betta’s year of service and the great work she’s doing across the state in her honors and accomplishments, even being in our top 10 at Miss America, representing Ohio very well,” Miller said. “So we’re so happy to honor you. Congratulations on your tenure as Miss Ohio 2022. An intelligent, motivated and personable woman, you have worked diligently to develop your knowledge and skills.”
Including Nies as Miss Ohio 2022, Miller invited a delegation of young women that will be in the running for Miss Ohio 2023 to the Statehouse to tour the grounds and be recognized during House session for all their achievements and contributions to the state.
“This is really such an honor. And really, I mean, representing Ohio this entire year and being able to travel the state and meet so many people and impact them on so many different levels has really just been a pleasure and truly a gift,” said Nies. “And I want to give a little bit of a message of motivation to all of the young women here that you are absolutely capable of so much more and your potential can lead you on a path that you might find yourself one day here receiving a proclamation.”
Cleveland, Ohio– The U.S. Marshals Service conducted Operation We Will Find You (OWWFY), a national missing child operation worked in conjunction with federal, state, and local agencies to recover endangered missing children. The Northern District of Ohio (N/OH) was one of sixteen selected regions to take part in this operation due to past success carrying out such operations. This is the third large scale missing child operation conducted by the U.S. Marshals in Northern Ohio. The operation ran from March 1, 2023, until May 15, 2023. During this time thirty-five (35) children were located and recovered.
The missing children recovered came from across the Northern District of Ohio, focusing on the major metropolitan areas of Cleveland, Toledo, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, and surrounding counties. The cases led officers across Ohio, and even across the country to California, Arizona, and West Virginia. All the missing juvenile’s whereabouts were unknown, and critical risk factors placed them in elevated danger of physical or sexual abuse, neglect, substance abuse or human trafficking.
These operations help bring a larger scale approach to add resources, broaden the reach of the local police departments, and streamline investigative effort, especially when they cross state and jurisdictional line.
U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “The Marshals Service is fully committed to assisting federal, state, and local agencies with locating and recovering endangered missing children. The main objective of Operation We Will Find You was to find as many critically missing children as possible. The epidemic of missing children in our country needs a spotlight, it needs our focus. We hope operations like this sharpen that focus. Every child deserves a safe environment to grow up in, and we are dedicated to helping provide that for the children and families in Northern Ohio.”
Anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive or missing child can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can submit a web tip. Reward money is available, and tipsters may remain anonymous. Follow the U.S. Marshals on Twitter @USMSCleveland
Mansfield- The Mansfield Post is investigating a single vehicle fatal crash which occurred on state Route 603 near Gladden Road. The crash was reported to the Mansfield Post on May 24, 2023 at 12:57 am.
The preliminary investigation shows a 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was traveling northbound on SR 603. The vehicle traveled off the right side of the road and overturned, ejecting the passenger.
The vehicle was operated by Kevin A. Hootman, 32, of Mansfield was transported to Ohio Health Mansfield with non-life-threatening injuries.
The passenger, Kevin A. Hootman, 57, of Butler was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation.
Agencies who assisted on scene include the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Monroe Township Fire and EMS, and Richland County Coroner’s Office.
The United States Marshals Service Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF), along with the Ohio State Highway Patrol are offering reward for information that directly leads to the arrest of two escaped inmates from Allen Correctional Institution.
James Lee, 47, and Bradley Gillespie, 50, were both serving time at the Allen Correctional Institution when they escaped custody. Lee is serving time for burglary, breaking and entering and safe cracking. Gillespie is serving time for a 2016 murder conviction.
A reward for up to $20,000 is being offered by the U.S. Marshals and the Ohio State Highway Patrol for information leading to their arrests. Both inmates should be considered dangerous. Do not attempt to make contact with them. Call law enforcement with any information.
Anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can submit a web tip. Reward money is available, and tipsters may remain anonymous. Follow the U.S. Marshals on Twitter @USMSCleveland
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting 22 crashes resulting in 23 deaths on Ohio’s roadways during the 2023 Memorial Day weekend according to provisional statistics. This is the highest number of traffic fatalities in Ohio since 2020 when 20 individuals were killed.
The four-day reporting period began Friday, May 26 and ran through Monday, May 29.
During the reporting period, state troopers made 19,980 traffic enforcement contacts, including 399 impaired driving arrests, 233 drug arrests and 2,797 safety belt citations. In addition, the Patrol made 10,463 non-enforcement contacts including 2,107 motorist assists.
Motorists are reminded that roadway safety is a shared responsibility and are encouraged to call #677 to report drug activity and dangerous or impaired driving.
For a statewide breakdown of enforcement and crashes during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, please visit: https://statepatrol.ohio.gov/static/links/MemorialDay2023_PIO.pdf.
The Salvation Army’s Ashland Kroc Center is one more splash closer to the opening of RJ’s Spray Park with the pouring of the concrete on Monday, May 22, 2023.
Officials from the Kroc Center, Simonson Construction Services and Rain Drop Products were on hand as subcontractor Sloan Concrete used a large concrete pump truck to pour the concrete while their crew worked diligently to smooth it all out. It took a total of 11 concrete trucks to pour the entire splash pad!
The old spray park was dismantled in 2020 to make room for the Kroc Center’s indoor water park, which opened in 2021. The new spray park, dubbed RJ’s Spray Park after Ray and Joan Kroc, will be adjacent to the existing picnic pavilion that was relocated when construction began for the indoor water center.
A community celebration for the opening of RJ’s Spray Park is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, July 1. Following the grand opening, the spray pad will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. Additionally, the spray park’s close proximity to the picnic pavilion will allow access to families benefitting from the Ashland Kroc Center’s Summer Food Service Program, which helps children who receive free or reduced-price lunch in school during the summer.
Operated in conjunction with the USDA and from the Kroc’s picnic pavilion during the summer months, the Kroc’s Summer Food Service Program provides a free, healthy meal each weekday from June 12 to August 11. Nutritious meals will be served on site from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. for children under the age of 18. There is no registration required. Each week brings different themes for kids to enjoy in conjunction with the meals, such as the Touch-a-Truck activity for the first meal on Monday, June 12.
To stay up-to-date on the latest developments of RJ’s Spray Park or the Summer Food Service Program, please follow @AshlandKroc on Instagram and Ashland Kroc Center on Facebook.
Joe Lyons •
May 27, 2023
During the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, the Ohio State Highway Patrol will be highly visible on Ohio’s roadways promoting traffic safety. As motorists travel this weekend, troopers are reminding drivers to utilize their safety belts and to be responsible by designating a sober driver. The effort begins at midnight on Friday, May 26 and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 29.
Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools Put Student Engagement and Movement First
Free ice cream, museum tours, a silent auction, music, and games will be the highlights at the 2023 Ashland County Historical Society’s Ice Cream Social. This family-friendly event is on Sunday, June 25, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the Main Campus located at 420 Center Street, Ashland, Ohio 44805.
COLUMBUS, OH – State Rep. Melanie Miller (R-City of Ashland) invited and presented a proclamation from the Ohio House Representatives to Miss Ohio 2022, Elizabetta Nies, during a recognition ceremony on the House floor. Miller also acknowledged Nies and other young women vying for this year’s Miss Ohio during the legislative session.
“We would like to present a very special proclamation to honor Betta’s year of service and the great work she’s doing across the state in her honors and accomplishments, even being in our top 10 at Miss America, representing Ohio very well,” Miller said. “So we’re so happy to honor you. Congratulations on your tenure as Miss Ohio 2022. An intelligent, motivated and personable woman, you have worked diligently to develop your knowledge and skills.”
Including Nies as Miss Ohio 2022, Miller invited a delegation of young women that will be in the running for Miss Ohio 2023 to the Statehouse to tour the grounds and be recognized during House session for all their achievements and contributions to the state.
Mansfield- The Mansfield Post is investigating a single vehicle fatal crash which occurred on state Route 603 near Gladden Road. The crash was reported to the Mansfield Post on May 24, 2023 at 12:57 am.
James Lee, 47, and Bradley Gillespie, 50, were both serving time at the Allen Correctional Institution when they escaped custody. Lee is serving time for burglary, breaking and entering and safe cracking. Gillespie is serving time for a 2016 murder conviction.
Anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or 
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting 22 crashes resulting in 23 deaths on Ohio’s roadways during the 2023 Memorial Day weekend according to provisional statistics. This is the highest number of traffic fatalities in Ohio since 2020 when 20 individuals were killed. 
