MANSFIELD, Ohio – As the year 2015 comes to a close, we at Richland Source decided to take a look at what stories interested our readers most over the past year.
These are the results of a Google Analytics report measuring page views for stories published between Jan. 1 and Dec. 22, 2015. You may notice the results are not overwhelmingly positive.
As Richland Source Publisher Jay Allred noted in a Publisher’s Perspective on Jan. 26, in journalism, crime equals page views. However, we’ve stayed true to our word to provide accurate, sensitive, and constructive coverage of major events that affect the lives of many people.
And in an effort to stay true to our culture of providing proportional, positively local news, check out the top stories picked by our staff members for 2015.
Without further ado, let’s count down the top 10 most-read stories on Richland Source for the year 2015:
10. 17 arrested in countywide drug trafficking sweep – Aug. 21, 2015
Local law enforcement arrested 17 suspects on drug-related charges in one week as part of a countywide drug sweep. The sweep was part of a statewide initiative implemented by the Ohio Task Force Commanders Association. Locally, METRICH detectives were aided by the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force and the United States Marshall Service in their search for 21 suspects wanted on indictments, including 46 criminal charges.
9. 19-year-old pleads no contest to abuse of corpse – Oct. 13, 2015
A 19-year-old woman pleaded no contest to charges of abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence in Judge Ron Spon’s courtroom in Richland County Juvenile Court. The charges stem from an incident on July 23, 2013 when the decomposed body of a female infant was found in the trunk of the woman’s vehicle at Broadway Automotive & Exhaust in Shelby.
During a change of plea hearing on Dec. 21, the woman admitted to abuse of corpse, a fifth-degree felony, and an amended count of attempting to tamper with evidence, a fourth-degree felony. In juvenile court, admitting is the equivalent of a guilty plea.
8. 16-year-old student arrested in Madison bomb threat – Oct. 6, 2015
A 16-year-old female student was arrested in connection to a bomb threat that resulted in the evacuation of Madison Comprehensive High School. According to Superintendent Lee Kaple, at approximately 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 6 a teacher reported receiving a note that was passed under their door. The note involved the threat of a bomb and also a shooting, at which time the school’s emergency plan was put into effect. The threat was the first in a rash of bomb threats that would ensue in Richland County in the following weeks.
7. Mansfield man killed while providing aid to woman struck by vehicle – March 2, 2015
Mansfield resident Roger Rush, 44, died after being struck by a vehicle traveling westbound on West Fourth Street, near the intersection of Western Avenue. The man was trying to provide aid to a pedestrian woman who had been struck by another vehicle. Mansfield police Sgt. Ken Carroll did not believe anybody involved in the incident were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and noted “the road conditions had a lot to do with this.”
6. 3 new restaurants to open in vacant Ontario buildings – April 27, 2015
Three restaurants came to Ontario this summer, inhabiting vacant buildings that formerly housed eateries. The restaurants included Ninja Japanese Steakhouse, located in the former Chi-Chi’s restaurant on West Fourth Street; Old Carolina Barbecue Company, located in the former Popeyes Chicken restaurant on West Fourth Street; and an ice cream/barbecue restaurant in the former Good Times Drive-in on Park Avenue West. Ontario Mayor Randy Hutchinson noted, “”It’s nice to see the old businesses repurposed and cleaned up.”
5. 911 tape released in KeyBank hostage/robbery investigation – Nov. 6, 2015
A KeyBank manager and his family were held hostage overnight after suspects left the manager’s home with the bank’s money. According to a press release issued by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, a 911 call was made to the Richland County Dispatch at 8:24 a.m.
According to the 911 call, KeyBank manager Brian McConnell said he and his wife and two children were held hostage all night, starting at around 2 p.m. on Nov. 5, by a white male estimated to be in his early twenties. On Dec. 2, Taylor Crisman of Galion and Chris Hill of Cleveland were arrested in connection with the incident.
4. Murder, attempted suicide reported in Shelby double-shooting – Dec. 19, 2015
A murder and attempted suicide took place on the morning of Dec. 19 at the Crestwood Care Center in Shelby. According to a Shelby Police Department news release, authorities arrived at the scene to find an elderly female resident, 76-year-old Carol Johnston, dead in her room, apparently killed by a gunshot.
Her husband, 77-year-old George Johnston, was located next to her in a reclining chair suffering from what “appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.” George succumbed to his injuries later that evening at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
3. In search of the man with two wives, what we found – Dec. 1, 2015
Thom Miller, the minister with two wives whose story went viral overnight, is involved with a few ministries in Mansfield. After reading his story, Richland Source reporter Dillon Carr set out to learn more about him and his family. After a lengthy search, Carr eventually tracked down Miller and asked if he would be interested in giving an interview as a follow-up to his viral story.
Miller declined the interview, but later Carr uncovered Miller’s involvement in a Children Services court case. The family also appeared on an episode of Dr. Phil.
2. ‘American Pickers’ coming to Ohio – Aug. 12, 2015
The popular show “American Pickers” announced it was headed to Ohio in early October. The show’s producers were looking for leads throughout the state, specifically interesting characters with interesting items – and lots of them. Those interested in connecting with the show were asked to contact Bryan Powers at “American Pickers” to be considered.
1. ManCI hostage situation resolved, remains under investigation – Oct. 18, 2015
An incident involving a hostage was reported at Mansfield Correctional Institution. According to JoEllen Smith, chief of communications at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC), the incident began at 10:30 a.m. and involved one employee and one inmate. With the work of DRC staff and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the incident came to a safe ending at approximately 9 p.m.
The name of the employee was not released, but it was later reported that inmate Jermaine McKinney allegedly called the newsroom of WMFJ Channel 21 in Youngstown to seek answers about his case while holding a female corrections officer hostage in the ManCI library. McKinney is serving two life sentences for the 2005 murders of 43-year-old Rebecca Cliburn and her mother, 70-year-old Wanda Rollyson.
