Local News

Minor Injuries in Two Car Crash

Joe Lyons • April 21, 2023

Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Ashland police Division, Ashland Fire Department & EMS responded to a two vehicle accident at State Route 60 and State Route 511.

Minor injuries reported

U.S. Marshals Task force RECOVERS MISSING child while arresting sex offender

Joe Lyons • April 21, 2023

Mansfield, Ohio – The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) in conjunction with the Ohio Adult Parole Authority (APA), arrested Brian Moroney (21) on April 19, 2023. The arrest was made in the 2400 block of Trimble Rd. in Mansfield, OH.

Moroney was wanted by the APA for a parole violation stemming from a previous conviction in 2019 of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. As a result of that conviction Moroney is a registered sex offender in the state of Ohio.

During the arrest, a 15-year-old who was with Moroney, and previously reported missing to the Mansfield Police Department, was recovered by officers and returned to their guardian.

Moroney was subsequently transported to the Richland County Jail and booked on his outstanding charges. Further charges against Moroney are pending investigation.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “Protecting our communities, and specifically our youth, from predators needs to be a top priority for law enforcement. This case highlights that need. Our officers did a tremendous job at identifying this and acting swiftly. I commend them and their efforts.”

A portion of County Road 530 in Jackson Township will be closed Wednesday

Joe Lyons • April 21, 2023

A portion of County Road 530 in Jackson Township will be closed Wednesday, April 26th through Thursday, April 27th for a culvert replacement.

The road will be closed between Township Road 101 and Township Road 55/Rickel Road. More specifically between House # 87 and House # 69.

It is anticipated that the road will reopen on Thursday, April 27th.

Township Road 791 in Troy Township will be closed

Joe Lyons • April 19, 2023

A portion of Township Road 791 in Troy Township will be closed Monday, April 24th through Tuesday, April 25th for a culvert replacement.

The road will be closed between County Road 500 and Township Road 462.

More specifically between County Road 500 and House #495.

It is anticipated that the road will reopen on Tuesday, April 25th.

Full Video Hearing on Amish from Friday

Joe Lyons • April 17, 2023

Full Video Hearing on Amish from Friday

Friday, April 14th, 26 Amish appeared in Ashland Municipal Court, before Judge John Good for refusal to pay buggy light fines.

All thought they were going to jail, and were willing to do so, to show they are not going to comply with Ohio law, that requires flashing lights on their buggies, claiming their religion prevents them from doing so.

However, Judge John Good informed them that the court would be imposing liens on their real estate.

Outside the court room, the younger Amish responded to the question, “Did you win lose or draw?” One younger Amish male believed it was a draw, and seemed happy about it.

Later, when the older males came out, they were furious, claiming this adds a burden to them that was unnecessary. One told me, “The Judge could have sent them to jail and be done with it.” The other older Amish male was very angry, claiming that the Judge could have changed their plea from no contest to not guilty so it could have went to a higher court.

I tried to tell him that a Judge can’t do that. They would have to have plead not guilty, but he was in no mood to listing, shaking his head and telling me I was wrong.

Judge Good believes an Ohio Supreme Court case prohibits him from jailing defendants that refuse to pay fines for non-jailable offenses, even though they may prefer jail.

Man in Standoff on Township Road 523 has Bond Hearing

Joe Lyons • April 17, 2023

Bond set at $150,000 for Leslie E. Acker who was charged with one count of Felonious Assault.

COUNT ONE: FELONIOUS ASSAULT, 2903.11(A)(1) FELONIOUS ASSAULT (Felony 2nd Degree)

In that on or about April 14, 2023, in Ashland County, Ohio, Leslie E. Acker did knowingly cause serious physical harm to XXXXXXX in violation of Ohio Revised Code Section 2903.11 2903.11 FELONIOUS ASSAULT, a felony of the second degree.

Fugitives of the Week April 17, 2023

Joe Lyons • April 17, 2023

Tyrone Cheeks Age: 43
Black / Male / 5’11’’ / 170 / Black Hair / Brown Eyes
Wanted by the U.S Marshals Service and Richland County Sheriff’s Office for probation violation on the original charge of aggravated robbery F1.
Ties to Mansfield area.

Seth Gardner Age: 43
White / Male / 6’0’’ / 185 / Brown Hair / Green Eyes
Wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service and Richland County Sheriff’s Office for a probation violation on the original charge of robbery F1.
Ties to the Mansfield area and Cape Girardeau, MO .

Jackson Baker Age: 25
White / Male / 5’11’’ / 150 / Blond Hair / Blue Eyes
Wanted by the U.S Marshals Service and Richland County Sheriff’s Office for a probation violation on the original charge of improper handling of a firearm and aggravated possession of drugs F4.
Ties to the Mansfield area.

Richard Kiser Age: 56
White / Male / 5’7’’ / 180 / Brown Hair / Brown Eyes
Wanted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office for a failing to provide change of address as sex offender
Ties to the Mansfield, New Philadelphia, Conneaut, Bergholz, Lawrenceburg, TN

Reward money is available for information directly leading to an arrest. Anyone with information concerning any of these fugitives can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force office at 419-774-3565 or the tip line at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833) or you can send a web tip at the following webpage http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/oh-n/index.html.

Tipsters may remain anonymous, and a cash reward may be available. The Task Force’s “Dangerous Dozen” fugitives can be viewed at https://www.usmarshals.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/dangerous-dozen.pdf, which is updated monthly.

The NOVFTF Akron Division consists of the following federal, state and local agencies:

United States Marshals Service, Mansfield Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Richland County Probation, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Bucyrus Police Department, Galion Police Department, Huron County Sheriff’s Office, Lexington Police Department, Loudonville Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ontario Police Department, Plymouth Police Department, Willard Police Department and Crestline Police Department.

AU holds a Holocaust Remembrance Day service

Joe Lyons • April 17, 2023

AU President Carlos Campo lights the candles of fellow attendees at Monday’s Holocaust Remembrance Day service in Redwood Hall.

Ashland University students, faculty and staff gathered for a prayer service and candle lighting on Monday to mark Yam HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day. It took place in Redwood Hall at noon.

For AU, this was part of a larger effort to take a stand against the rising cases of antisemitism on college campuses across the United States. The university has been proactively combatting this rise in a number of ways, including current work to secure a Holocaust scholar for next spring who will teach an intensive four-week course, give a public lecture and collaborate with the Ashland Center for Nonviolence on a conference. The scholar will be named at a later date.

“Eighteen months ago, Governor Mike DeWine wrote to all college presidents in Ohio and said ‘we cannot stand by and accepts these alarming trends of antisemitism.’ The governor went on to ask that we be committed to this issue,” said AU President Carlos Campo. “In addition to today’s Day of Remembrance and the work being done to bring in a Holocaust scholar next year, the university held a formal Hanukkah celebration. AU will continue to work diligently everyday to ensure a safe and secure environment for Jewish students, faculty and staff.”

Yam HaShoah is Israel’s Holocaust Memorial Day, a national holiday and day of remembrance. It commemorates the approximately 6,000,000 Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust by the Nazis and for the Jewish resistance in that period.

Matthew 25 Outreach Center in Ashland this Saturday

Joe Lyons • April 17, 2023

Our next Matthew 25 Outreach Center distribution of fresh, nutritious fruits and veggies is coming to Ashland this Saturday – April 22nd, from 10 am to 1:00 pm at Luray Lanes (we’ll be outside in the parking lot).

Come out and help bag up produce or sort the fun food.. We need your help and support!

If you would like to volunteer, and help with this produce distribution, please meet us at 8 am, Saturday – April 22nd

As always, it is our goal to provide food to anyone in need, and share God’s love and peace with all we encounter.