BELLVILLE — Bellville Village Council voted 5-0 to terminate village administrator Larry Weirich during a special meeting Sunday night. Weirich, who was hired as village administrator in 2015, was fired “without cause.” However, council members said the decision was made due to a conflict of interest stemming from his romantic relationship with Mayor Teri Brenkus. […]
Katie Ellington Serrao
Staff reporter at Richland Source since 2019. I focus on education, housing and features. Clear Fork alumna. Always looking for a chance to practice my Spanish. Got a tip? Email me at katie@richlandsource.com.
Posted inHousing
Couple restoring historic home finds lead in an unexpected place
MANSFIELD — Jordon and Talon Baker weren’t sure if they wanted to stay in Mansfield when they got married eight years ago. The young couple joked that if they did stay in their hometown, they wanted to live somewhere special. “I always wanted a Victorian on Park Avenue,” Talon said. “That was the thing — if […]
Posted inNews
Failor talks Iditarod, life in Alaska during hometown visit
MANSFIELD — Mansfield native Matthew Failor began his live interview with a warning Thursday night. “I’m not a public speaker, I just scoop dog poop for a living,” joked Failor, an Alaskan sled dog racer. The 2000 Mansfield St. Peter’s graduate sat down with Richland Source City Editor Carl Hunnell for “An evening with Matthew […]
Posted inCommunity Development
Kimmy’s Cucina reopens on Main Street in Lexington
LEXINGTON — Kim Sterry’s gourmet food shop may be in a new location, but she jokes that she’s already running out of room. A wave of customers and friends crammed into the new-and-improved Kimmy’s Cucina Wednesday for a grand reopening celebration. The business has relocated to 275 E. Main Street in Lexington. “This expansion is […]
Posted inNews
Solar eclipse mesmerizes crowd at Ohio State Reformatory
MANSFIELD — Eight-year-old Gabe Atwell wiggled his arms and legs, bouncing a bit as he sat in a red foldable lawn chair outside The Ohio State Reformatory. His cardboard eclipse glasses whipped back and forth in his hand. “Twelve minutes!” he declared in a sing-song voice. It was 3 p.m. and a blue gray tint hung […]
Posted inNews
Taking Root Farms plans rural day hab center for adults with special needs
MANSFIELD — Angela Eisaman’s hopes for her son Mitch are not unusual. She wants him to find purpose and fulfillment, to be healthy, to make friends. She wants him to have a full life. But Mitch, who is 30 and has special needs, spends most of his time at home. The opportunities he has to go […]
Posted inEducation
Clear Fork school board narrows interim supt. search
BELLVILLE — The Clear Fork Valley Local school board has narrowed its candidate list for interim superintendent to two finalists. Supt. Kevin Kimmel of the Mid Ohio Educational Service Center confirmed that Steve Mohr and John Thomas are the two finalists for the position. The Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center (MOESC) is aiding Clear Fork in its […]
Posted inOpen Source
Open Source: Your guide to capturing stellar solar eclipse photos
MANSFIELD — Your eyeballs aren’t the only lenses that need special protection on April 8. Do you plan to snap photos of the upcoming solar eclipse? Here are some tips for keeping your gear safe and getting the best possible shots. Use the right gear Any camera can be used to capture the wide-ranging scene […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Getting figgy with it: Ohio Fig Growers promotes cultivation of ancient plant
MANSFIELD — Brad Hamilton wove his way through the rings of folding chairs, grabbing seats and handing them to newly-arrived guests until the meeting room was nearly standing room only. Hamilton is owner of Zenith Farms in Lexington, where he grows numerous varieties of berries and fruit trees. He’s also the impetus behind the festival […]
Posted inNews
Police investigating shooting death of Mansfield resident David Gibson
MANSFIELD — Police found a Mansfield resident dead early Saturday morning while responding to a shooting incident on Spring Street. The deceased is David Gibson, 25, according to Bob Ball, chief investigator for the Richland County Coroner’s Office. Officers responded to 423 Spring St. at approximately 1:49 a.m. after a report of a shooting was called […]