Monroe Trombly

MANSFIELD - You might guess that the kid who wins the spelling bee is the one who spent almost all of her free time leading up to the contest studying. Not so, said Kairi Robertson, who is this year's Tri-County Spelling Bee Champion.

MOUNT VERNON - A Gambier teenager was killed in a head-on crash in Pleasant Township Thursday afternoon, the Mount Gilead post of the Ohio Highway Patrol reported.

MANSFIELD - The Richland County Foundation pledged up to $1 million for two projects associated with the city of Mansfield's Imagination District during a regularly scheduled board meeting earlier this month.

MANSFIELD - A short standoff between Mansfield police and a distraught man Wednesday ended peacefully thanks to the expertise of a veteran emergency dispatcher.

MANSFIELD - A GoFundMe account has been set up to help pay for Skylar Williams' funeral expenses and a local woman is asking friends on Facebook for donations of diapers and other baby items for the mother's surviving 1-year-old son.

WILLOW, Alaska - When Matthew Failor, Mansfield native and graduate of The Ohio State University, won this year's Kuskokwim 300 (K300) sled dog race in Alaska, he set a record for the fastest-ever time, beating his mentor's previous record.

MANSFIELD - Police are searching for a man who is believed to be connected to the abduction of a female student on the Mansfield campus of The Ohio State University Monday.

MANSFIELD - Four apartment units were damaged from a fire at a Mansfield apartment complex Saturday night, according to the Mansfield Fire Department.

MANSFIELD - Mansfield City Council unanimously approved legislation supporting the "Mansfield Rising" plan, which is an economic development plan for the downtown area that is being spearheaded by the Richland County Foundation.

MANSFIELD - The Richland County Land Bank added three parcels of land to its portfolio Wednesday during a regularly scheduled meeting.

MANSFIELD - The News Journal obtained a video through a public-records request that shows an altercation at the Richland County jail between an inmate and a corrections officer that occurred Jan. 8.

MANSFIELD - Republican Stephanie Zader, who announced her candidacy for Mansfield City Council's sixth ward seat Monday, will square off against Democrat Jean Taddie in this fall's election.

MANSFIELD - The stage has been set for Richland County's primary in May, with most of the political action centered squarely on Mansfield.

MANSFIELD - Community members blasted Mansfield City Council Tuesday night over the city's response to Winter Storm Harper, saying thoroughfares were not adequately treated ahead of time and residential streets were not plowed for several days after the Jan. 19 storm.

CRESTLINE - A recently hired part-time police officer was appointed to the status of full-time patrolman by Crestline Village Council Monday. The appointment is effective immediately.

SHELBY - Jodie Perry and Dan Seckel were among the several award winners and community members honored at The Richland Area Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting and dinner Thursday night.

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP - Springfield Township firefighters battled a house fire at 4177 Tommy Lane west of Ohio 314 and south of Ohio 309 outside Ontario city limits.

MADISON TOWNSHIP - Teachers with the Madison Local School District will begin a "soft strike" on Friday to protest the ongoing and unresolved contract negotiations with the Madison School Board.

MANSFIELD - After Thursday night, the worst of the Polar Vortex is over as the cold snap will start to move out of the Midwest.

PLYMOUTH - All 18 security cameras at the Plymouth-Shiloh Elementary school will be replaced this year with help from a state grant.