MANSFIELD — Santa Claus gets all the positive PR this time of year. Krampus ain’t happy about it, either. The horned anthropomorphic figure accompanied St. Nicholas in nocturnal visits to children, according to European Alpine folklore. Saint Nicholas rewarded well-behaved children with small gifts. Krampus punished badly behaved ones with birch rods, perhaps scaring them […]
Ohio State Reformatory
Posted inNews
Tourism provides $457 million boost to Mansfield/Richland County economy
MANSFIELD — Lee Tasseff knows the value of the tourism industry to Richland County Literally. The longtime president of Destination Mansfield-Richland County told City Council on Tuesday evening that tourism generated more than $457 million in total economic impact during 2023, creating $58.9 million in local tax revenue in 2023. That includes $13.4 million from […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Classy & jazzy: Ohio State Reformatory announces 30th anniversary fundraising gala
MANSFIELD — The Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society will celebrate its 30th anniversary with an inaugural gala on Dec. 2. Held at The Ohio State Reformatory, the event will offer live music, dancing, dinner and a silent auction, all in support of the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society. The non-profit organization maintains and operates the Reformatory, a […]
Posted inNews
News Man Weekly: Mansfield’s ARPA plans, a new NECIC leader and Blood Prison
MANSFIELD — The 16th episode of the free News Man Weekly Podcast has dropped. In this week’s edition of the News Man Weekly podcast, Richland Source City Editor Carl Hunnell is joined by Vic Amesquita, owner of Blood Prison at the former Ohio State Reformatory. The popular Halloween haunt is open and operating every weekend […]
Posted inHalloween
Here are Ohio’s Top 24 haunted attractions
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was originally authored by the Ohio.org staff and published at this site. COLUMBUS – This Halloween season, TourismOhio invites thrill-seekers and ghost enthusiasts to explore 24 haunted locations across the state. From eerie state parks to historically haunted hotels, Ohio is brimming with paranormal hotspots waiting to be discovered. In celebration […]
Posted inNews
News Man Weekly: Facebook was wrong, drones in the sky & karate expert Reneta Music
MANSFIELD — The 15th episode of the free News Man Weekly Podcast has dropped. In this week’s edition, Richland Source City Editor Carl Hunnell is joined by Reneta Music of the Music Academy of Karate and Empowerment in downtown Mansfield. Music, a long-time local karate instructor, is the founder/owner/executive director and chief hanshi at the […]
Posted inHalloween
Step inside Blood Prison: Horror gets a high-tech upgrade at former Ohio State Reformatory
MANSFIELD — Vic Amesquita has been involved in the haunt business long enough to know one important thing. If you want to remain relevant in today’s competitive fright world, you must constantly be improving. “Working to stay in the top echelon of haunts …. that’s the challenge …. and that’s what makes it fun because […]
Posted inBusiness
North Central Ohio Industrial Museum inducts 8 groups into Hall of Fame
MANSFIELD — The North Central Ohio Industrial Museum inducted new members into its Champions of Industry hall of fame in August.
Posted inLife and Culture
History Knox author pens ‘Get Busy Living: Doing Time in Shawshank’
MOUNT VERNON — In 1993, budding young writer Mark Sebastian Jordan had a once-in-a-lifetime chance to work as a background actor — an extra — in a Hollywood movie. Figuring it was something to check off on his bucket list, Jordan joined the supernumeraries for the filming of The Shawshank Redemption. Little did he think […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Shawshank campers: Airstream enthusiasts to converge on Mansfield for “Reformatory Rally”
MANSFIELD – The historic Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield will play host to the “2024 Reformatory Rally,” a unique gathering of Airstream campers from across the country, Sept. 12 to 15. Hosted by Mansfield locals Annamarie Fernyak, Michele Newmeyer, and Kristen Wiltanger, this event will bring together nearly 40 Airstreams for an unforgettable experience inside […]