MANSFIELD — Police Chief Keith Porch said Thursday he will not be able to attend a Black/Brown Coalition community forum this evening, citing a misunderstood communication and the state’s order against gatherings of more than 10 people. Porch said coalition Director Wayne McDowell invited him to attend a coalition meeting Thursday at 6 p.m., a […]
Carl Hunnell
City editor. 30-year plus journalist. Husband. Father of 3 grown sons and also a proud grandpa. Prior military journalist in U.S. Navy, Ohio Air National Guard. -- Favorite quote: "Where were you when the page was blank?"
Posted inCovid-19
COVID-19: County leaders unsure why bars, restaurants & fitness centers may be shut down
MANSFIELD — Richland County commissioners said Thursday they are not certain why the state may again close restaurants, bars and fitness centers as the number of COVID-19 cases continue to spike. But they do know that Gov. Mike DeWine continues to not share his plans with local elected officials before he announces them, as he […]
Posted inNews
Richland County commissioners OK $97K in CARES Act funds for mental health agencies
MANSFIELD — Richland County commissioners on Tuesday afternoon unanimously approved spending $94,986.92 in CARES Act funds to boost technology for Richland County Mental Health & Recovery Services. The approval means improved services for local mental health agencies, many of which were ill-equipped to provide quality tele-services when the COVID-19 pandemic reached Ohio back in March, […]
Posted inCovid-19
COVID-19: DeWine plans statewide broadcast Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
MANSFIELD — Gov. Mike DeWine will deliver a statewide broadcast on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. to “discuss the critical stage Ohio is at in battling COVID-19 and its impact on Ohio moving forward,” according to a press release from his office. The broadcast will be made available to networks in the state and also streamed […]
Posted inNews
Mansfield police chief to attend Black/Brown Coalition community forum
MANSFIELD — Mansfield police Chief Keith Porch will be the special guest of a Black/Brown Coalition community forum on Thursday, Nov. 12 at Providence Baptist Church. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m., according to a press release from Wayne McDowell, director of the coalition, who said attendance will be limited to the first 130 […]
Posted inNews
COVID-19: Mansfield may need to dip into ‘rainy day fund’ in 2021 due to revenue declines
MANSFIELD — Feeling the loss of income tax revenue largely tied to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Mansfield may have to dip into its “rainy day fund” during 2021. That was the message from city Finance Director Linn Steward during an hour-long City Council finance committee meeting Monday evening as local lawmakers continued work […]
Posted inCovid-19
COVID-19: Ohio health officials tout new vaccine, warn of hospital crisis
COLUMBUS — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine called a press conference of Ohio’s medical leaders Monday to announce good and bad news regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. On the positive side, Dr. Bruce Vanderhof, announced last week as the Ohio Department of Health’s chief medical officer, said drugmaker Pfizer revealed an early look at data from its coronavirus […]
Posted inCovid-19
Seventh RICI inmate dies from COVID-19, says ODRC
MANSFIELD — A 60-year-old man has become the seventh inmate from the Richland Correctional Institution to die from COVID-19, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. Roderick Davis, who was sentenced to prison in 2016 on a kidnapping conviction in Cuyahoga County, died Wednesday at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Davis […]
Posted inCovid-19
COVID-19: Richland, Ashland and Crawford counties all ‘red’ in state rating system
COLUMBUS — Richland, Ashland and Crawford counties were all ranked “red,” or level three, on Thursday in the state’s COVID-19, color-coded ratings system. The announcement by Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Dept. of Health came on the same day the state announced all 88 counties were now considered “high incidence” for spread of the […]
Posted inNews
Richland County has no immediate plans for local ‘COVID Defense Team’
MANSFIELD — There are no immediate plans to form a Richland County “COVID Defense Team,” largely because county commissioners said Thursday morning they aren’t sure who should be on it — or what it should do. Commissioners said they were also concerned such a new “team” would duplicate local efforts undertaken since the pandemic reached […]