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 […]
Ohio State Reformatory
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 […]
Posted inLife and Culture
‘Shawshank Redemption’ worth $200 million in economic benefit to Ohio
MANSFIELD — It’s difficult to quantify the value of the iconic “Shawshank Redemption” movie to Mansfield and north central Ohio. The movie, shot primarily at the former Ohio State Reformatory and other nearby locations, likely helped to save the gothic, historic prison, which opened in 1896. It helped to give a community, reeling in 1994 […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Mansfield to the world: Shawshank actors reflect on enduring legacy of film
MANSFIELD — It happened to Bob Gunton in the South American country of Chile. It happened to Mark Rolston in Rome. And it happened to Gil Bellows in Vancouver. Each of the actors told stories Friday afternoon about being recognized in other countries for their work in the iconic 1994 “Shawshank Redemption” film, primarily shot […]
Posted inLife and Culture
From prison to purpose: ‘Shawshank’ director shares movie’s transformative power
MANSFIELD — Director Frank Darabont doesn’t think people ever needed to have served time in prison in order to relate to his iconic “Shawshank Redemption” film. “The movie really does kind of play like a Rorschach test for people and they project their own life difficulties into that movie,” the 65-year-old director said Friday afternoon […]