MANSFIELD — Rollie Harper’s mind — while focused on taking his oath of office Friday afternoon — flickered back to his trailblazing dad. He is convinced Lawrence “Bunk” Harper, the city’s first Black police officer and later the longest-serving chief of the department, is pleased with his attorney son. “I know Dad is proud. The […]
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 inNews
Skate Mansfield/Skate Ohio readying to enter 2024 with momentum
MANSFIELD — B.J. Price remembered Thursday afternoon the day he saw a little girl walk into an indoor park in Columbus with a skateboard taller than she was. “I’m like, ‘Oh man, she’s going to get run over.’ I was in the mindset that somebody has to protect her because this isn’t great. “But she […]
Posted inNews
Richland County commissioners OK $1 million in bridge replacement contracts
RICHLAND COUNTY — Richland County commissioners on Thursday approved bridge replacement bids totaling just more than $1 million. The approvals came during a meeting with county Engineer Adam Gove, who also received approval to seek state grants for road resurfacing efforts in 2024 and additional future bridge replacements. The more expensive of the two bridges […]
Posted inCommunity Development
Richland County Land Bank board honors Burton, Theaker for decade of service
MANSFIELD — Attorney Jon Burton won’t have to attend Richland County Land Bank board meetings any more. His decade of service as legal counsel for the 11-year-old organization came to an end Wednesday when the board met for the last time in 2023. But his name will live on. Literally. Board chair Bart Hamilton, the […]
Posted inElections
Richland County Board of Elections open house shows complete office remodel
MANSFIELD — An open house to show off a Richland County Board of Elections makeover on Wednesday also offered a behind-the-scenes look at the equipment it takes to run an election these days. Local elections Director Matt Finfgeld, Deputy Director Jane Zimmermann and their staff members welcomed local media and guests to their remodeled and […]
Posted inNews
City of Mansfield has paid $2.67 million in bonuses to workers since March 2022
MANSFIELD — The City of Mansfield has paid $2.67 million in “one-time” bonus payments to its 400-plus employees in the last 19 months. That total includes $262,000 going to 104 full-time, non-union workers scheduled for this week’s paychecks. The bulk of the money for the bonus awards has come from the city’s $21 million share […]
Posted inSports
Mount Vernon executes play in final seconds to nip Madison
MADISON TOWNSHIP — Mount Vernon coach Nick Coon drew up a game-winning play on his dry-erase board with 8.9 seconds left Tuesday night. His players made it work in a thrilling 52-50 win at Madison in an Oho Cardinal Conference boys’ basketball game. The Yellow Jackets inbounded the ball at halfcourt and the play’s first […]
Posted inCommunity Development
Richland County branding video teaser unveiled during commissioners’ meeting
MANSFIELD — Beau Roberts didn’t find new things this year when he traveled Richland County, shooting video for a countywide branding campaign. Instead, the editor and videographer for DRM Productions of Mansfield spent countless hours capturing familiar moments, from Shiloh to Bellville and all points in-between. “I always say that our duty to the community […]
Posted inNews
Mansfield Fire Dept. promotes trio into leadership positions
MANSFIELD — Six decades of local firefighting experience took a step forward on Monday morning. A packed training room of attendees at Mansfield Fire Department Station 1 on East Third Street watched Mike Carey be promoted to assistant chief, Matt Shafley to captain and Kyle Hedrick to lieutenant. Carey and Shafley both joined the MFD […]
Posted inSports
Flying high at 3-0: This is not your old-school Lexington basketball team
LEXINGTON — Seven Allen said Lexington coach Scott Hamilton had a clear message for his team at halftime against Wooster on Friday night. “He told us we can’t get lazy, even though we were winning. We can’t get stagnant. We can’t sit around the court,” the sophomore point guard said. That’s like telling Niagara Falls […]