Ard Blackford was an avid walker and often walked with one of his many dogs. Ard is buried in Savannah Cemetery. His friends helped fund his gravestone. Ard Blackford published a pamphlet called “Keep Sweet” for many years. “Keep Sweet” was his life motto. Ard Blackford started the first Boy Scout Troop in Ashland in […]
Posted inArea History
Ard Blackford was Ashland’s All American Golden Rule Citizen
ASHLAND — If you’ve ever walked around in Ashland’s older areas, you may have noticed the words “Keep Sweet” stamped on the concrete. I recall seeing it as a child, but never knew the significance until later. Those words were the life motto of local cement maker, Ard Blackford. But Ard was much more than […]
Posted inNews
GALLERY: Juneteenth at the Gazebo
Juneteenth flag Juneteenth 15 Juneteenth gathering Juneteenth 3 Juneteenth at the Gazebo A speaker commemorates Juneteenth in Mansfield in 2020. Juneteenth 4 Juneteenth 8 Juneteenth 2 Juneteenth 5 Juneteenth 6 Juneteenth 9 Juneteenth 10 Juneteenth 11 Juneteenth 12 Juneteenth 14 Juneteenth 7 Carlos Chrisitian speaks about faith at a Juneteenth event in downtown Mansfield on […]
Posted inNews
Speakers address more than 100 people at Mansfield Gazebo in Juneteenth event
MANSFIELD — A Juneteenth event in Downtown Mansfield attracted more than 100 people on Friday night at The Gazebo. The celebration, organized by the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice, featured a variety of community speakers, including Alexis “Xposyur” Boyd, a spoken word artist, and Carlos Christian, an activist focused on education and the […]
Posted inObituaries
Judith “Judy” D. Craze
Judith “Judy” D. Craze, 78, of Ontario, passed away early Tuesday morning, June 16, 2020, at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital. She was born April 29, 1942, in Richland County, Ohio, to the late Frank Sr. and Ann (Eichof) Gilbert. She graduated from Springfield Township School with the Class of 1960. A hardworking woman, Judy retired in […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Mansfield Playhouse making plans for return to community theater
MANSFIELD — Doug Wertz is facing a challenge unlike any he has seen in his 42 years in the entertainment business, thanks to COVID-19. “How do we sell a season … without a season?” asked Wertz, the artistic director at the Mansfield Playhouse. “We need to find those individuals and organizations and businesses who are […]
Posted inNews
Section of Helen Ave. to close in Mansfield June 20-25
MANSFIELD — The city of Mansfield has announced that due to sanitary main repairs, it will be necessary to close sections of the following road while work is being completed: Helen Avenue between Fourth Street and Heineman Boulevard. The road closure will begin Saturday June 20 at 8 a.m. and is expected to be re-opened […]
Posted inNews
Mansfield civilian police review board finds 2 citizen complaints unsustained
MANSFIELD — The Mansfield Police Review and Community-Police Relations Commission voted unanimously Thursday evening to accept police department findings that two citizen complaints against officers were unsustained. The commission, meeting for the first time since January due to the COVID-19 pandemic, also heard complaints in nine other cases from police Capt. Doug Noblet. All of […]
Posted inNews
Weber’s Bar in Shelby looks to legalize outdoor seating in city alley
SHELBY — Patrons of Weber’s Bar in downtown Shelby may soon be able to enjoy a beverage outside. Owner Lance Gutchall is hoping to officially — and legally — offer an outdoor dining and alcohol service option in the alley adjacent to Weber’s Bar, located at 51 W. Main St. The alley is currently owned […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Mansfield Art Center presents the “Ohio Plein Air Society” exhibition
MANSFIELD — Nothing is more rewarding than painting outside. That’s the mantra of Larry Churski, a plein air artist for 38 years and the juror for this year’s Ohio Plein Air Society annual exhibition at the Mansfield Art Center. The Mansfield Art Center will open its doors on June 23 and the exhibition will open on […]