Bellville, Richland County agree to split costs on new tornado siren:
https://www.richlandsource.com/news/bellville-richland-county-agree-to-split-costs-on-new-tornado-siren/article_84df5130-ff7d-11eb-b812-638637bcc392.html?block_id=1098581

Loudonville’s Century House was rumored to be a stop on the Underground Railroad:
https://www.richlandsource.com/area_history/loudonvilles-century-house-was-rumored-to-be-a-stop-on-the-underground-railroad/article_94bd0f71-c9b6-561f-94b2-7a329f81c17e.html

North central Ohio residents tell us no masks by 2-1 ratio:
https://www.richlandsource.com/open_source/north-central-ohio-residents-tell-us-no-masks-by-2-1-ratio/article_d0a2878e-ff8e-11eb-a3af-0fbabaaf4e90.html?block_id=1098581

2021 Shawshank Hustle in Mansfield:
https://www.richlandsource.com/life_and_culture/gallery-2021-shawshank-hustle-in-mansfield/collection_a05a6bb0-fd08-11eb-a64d-6f0f35e11e60.html

‘Help Wanted’ signs in Knox, Ashland counties reflect workforce changes as economy recovers:
https://www.knoxpages.com/solutions/part-1-help-wanted-signs-in-knox-ashland-counties-reflect-workforce-changes-as-economy-recovers/article_edbf3ad0-de71-11eb-9b24-5f508a493404.html

Martha Elizabeth Phillips:
https://www.richlandsource.com/obituaries/martha-marge-elizabeth-phillips/article_75d449e6-ff6b-11eb-ab22-8be58ae3683c.html

This is Source Daily. Join us Monday through Friday to stay up to date with what’s happening in North Central Ohio. We’ll be sharing a closer look at one of our top stories, along with other news, local history, memorials, answers to your questions, and more.
Today – Bellville Mayor Teri Brenkus said she hopes to have a new, $24,650 solar-powered tornado siren installed on the southern end of the village by the end of 2021.
And Richland County commissioners have agreed to split the costs of the siren with the village. That means each entity will pay $12,325.19.
Originally, commissioners and village officials hoped Jefferson Township trustees would agree to divide the cost with them as well. However, trustees unanimously decided they wouldn’t be willing to take on that cost.
Why? Jefferson Township Trustees chair Mark Gatton told Richland Source that the need for tornado sirens is not as prevalent given today’s technology.
Gatton explained that there are different apps people can get on their phone to tell them what’s going on weather-wise, good or bad. For that reason they didn’t feel that the expenditure was worth it.
Bellville Mayor Teri Brenkus met with Richland commissioners back in June and the decision was made to go forward with estimates for the work.
At that time commissioner Tony Vero said that any extra layer of safety we can provide to the residents is a good thing.
And earlier this week Brenkus and village administrator Larry Weirich presented commissioners with a proposal from VASU Communications Inc. for a high-powered directional rotating siren that can be heard over a one-mile radius.
This solar-powered siren has a constantly charging battery backup.
And as for the location, the mayor said a final location for the siren’s tower had not yet been selected, but it would be set high enough to be effective.
At the moment, Richland County has 42 outdoor warning sirens in locations throughout the county. Each is owned, operated and maintained by the jurisdiction in which it is located. Belville’s new siren would be part of that system.
The purpose of outdoor warning sirens is to notify people who are outside to seek shelter. It would be able to reach residents particularly in the Greenbriar Condos, Hamilton Hills and Urban Meadows neighborhoods in Bellville.
You can learn more about this story at richlandpress.com
Before we continue, we’d like to thank our sponsors at Richland Public Health… When we stopped wearing masks to prevent covid 19… that was a big change. What hasn’t changed is that the virus is still with us and coronavirus variants are easily spread among unvaccinated people. Richland Public Health urges you to find a no cost local covid 19 vaccination provider at richland health dot org.
Do your part so we can all enjoy Richland County TOGETHER.
Now, some local history… One of the oldest houses in the Loudonville area is the “Century House,” located on State Route 3. It’s believed to have been built around 1840.
And it was a rumored one-time stop on the Underground Railroad while owned by Dr. Ephraim Fuller. Fuller’s family continued to own it until the mid-1900s.
Next, we’re answering a question from our readers and listeners like you…
Today’s question is one we’ve answered before, but this time we have more insight… Yes – it’s the mask debate…
As you may already know, those who responded to our survey expressed that masks would not be welcomed back to north central Ohio. Overwhelmingly. In fact about 67% said they would not be wearing a mask, while only 33% said they would.
So what’s the reasoning behind these responses? Of the 1,373 people who responded, 764 offered an answer to why they would or wouldn’t be wearing a mask again. Many noted they wouldn’t because they were vaccinated, others are putting their faith in their own immune system. But ultimately, the majority of the survey respondents said they just don’t believe face masks are an effective tool in mitigating the spread.
On the other side, some residents will continue to mask for reasons like protecting vulnerable family members, and not wanting to contribute to the creation of more virus variants.
Is there something you’ve always wondered about Richland County that you’d like us to investigate? Check out richlandsource.com and click “Talk to Us”. Here, you can ask us anything and we’ll go out and find the answers.
The more than 1,100 runners and walkers in Saturday’s Shawshank Hustle 7k in Mansfield… many in full movie-themed regalia. The 7th running of the event began on the grounds of the former Ohio State Reformatory and wound through downtown before finishing back at the fabled state prison where the Shawshank Redemption was filmed. Jeremy Riehm from Mansfield and Emma McCarron were the top male and female finishers..
Check out our photos and more at richlandsource.com.
Over the course of the pandemic, manufacturers have faced a series of challenges but one of the most pressing is an unprecedented shortage of workforce.
Knox Pages Report for America reporter Emma Davis recently turned a four-part series on this very topic. In response to their search for talent, a coalition of Knox County manufacturers and the Knox County Workforce Development Alliance program are launching a pilot certification program called Knox ASPECT. It’s designed to prepare people for careers in manufacturing.
And any candidate who successfully completes the six classes will have a guaranteed job interview with participating Knox County based manufacturers, all of whom are looking to hire.
Stephanie Burson, Strategic Initiatives Manager for Ver-Mac Industries told us that the past 18 months have been exceptionally challenging. The local manufacturing workforce shortage is something that they’ve struggled with for years. So they’re excited to participate in this program.
The pilot program will meet at the Knox County Ohio Means Jobs Center on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in October.
For more on this story, head over to Knoxpages.com.
Finally, we’d like to take a moment to remember Martha Elizabeth Phillips of Mansfield. She was born in Carter County, Kentucky – one of twelve children.
Marge loved going to church and was a faithful member of New Beginnings Free Will Baptist Church. She loved gardening, canning, sewing and especially making beautiful quilts which she gifted to many people.
She is survived by three children, her ten grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She’s also survived by her brother and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends on Sunday at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors.
Thankyou for taking a moment with us to remember and celebrate Martha’s life.
Thanks for listening, join us again tomorrow!
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