MANSFIELD — Since its start in 2013, Richland Source has published more than 80,500 articles.
Some articles are read more than others. The journalists who author them tend to remember where they were when they got the big story and how they got the information.
Seeing strong readership on an article is often a journalist’s reward. Below are our rankings of the 10 most read stories in the company seven-year history.
10) Jan. 14, 2017 — OSU’s Urban Meyer visits Lexington to check on Cade Stover
Urban Meyer came to check up on Minutemen standout Cade Stover on Friday, Jan. 13. NCAA rules prohibit college coaches from contacting sophomores directly, so Meyer spoke with Lexington coach Taylor Gerhardt. Stover went on to win Ohio’s Mr. Football award as a senior.
The now Ohio State University freshman defensive end has played in four games this season for the No. 2 Buckeyes.
9) Aug. 7, 2016 — Arrest made in connection with drug-laced candy at Ohio Dreams
Then 28-year-old Matthew Lee Gross of Ypsilanti was arrested and charged with drug trafficking in connection with more than 20 people being taken to the OhioHealth Hospital in Mansfield during the music festival at Ohio Dreams near Butler.
8) March 7, 2017 — Missing Shelby juvenile found in Texas
Samuel Baker, a then 17-year-old student from Shelby High School who also attended Pioneer Career & Technology Center, was located by a Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper outside of Amarillo, Texas on the evening of March 7.
Baker was initially reported missing on March 5 at 3:30 p.m. by his parents. At the time, police believed Baker was in possession of a firearm.
7) Sep. 27, 2016 — Ontario teen describes frightening encounter with clown
Dusty Boggs, then 17, of Ontario, said she was frightened by a clown two nights in a row over the previous weekend.
“I was taking my dogs outside to go potty and we have a fenced-in yard. I looked up and he was 8 to 10 feet from my porch to the fence line — straight ahead of me,” she said. “It scared me to death.”
Boggs said her German Shepherd ran to the fence where the clown stood and barked — but the clown, unmoved, remained.
6) May 24, 2016 — Jones Potato Chips will not produce traditional wavy line in 2017
In 2013, the Food & Drug Administration made a preliminary decision that partially-hydrogenated oils were no longer “generally recognized as safe.” This move forced the local potato chip company to no longer produce the wavy chips.
The partially-hydrogenated soybean oil Jones uses is now substituted by corn oil.
5) Dec. 19, 2015 — Two men killed in ATV accident affiliated with INKcarceration festival
According to Mansfield Police Chief Keith Porch, a 2017 Polaris Ranger 4×4 with two male passengers was traveling southeast in a grass field in the area of 781 5th Avenue above U.S. 30. While the ATV was traveling on the grass, it drove off the edge of a cliff and fell about 39 feet, landing in a ditch near the right lane on U.S. 30 heading westbound.
One occupant was found in the ditch and the other was found under the ATV. Police believe the second victim was partially ejected.
Both occupants, from outside the area, were pronounced dead at the scene by the Richland County Coroner’s office.
4) Dec. 19, 2015 — Murder, attempted suicide reported in Shelby double-shooting
A murder and attempted suicide took place at the Crestwood Care Center, according to authorities.
The Shelby Police Department, along with the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Shelby Fire Department, and Community Emergency Medical Services, responded to the double-shooting after a 911 call was placed at approximately 11:44 a.m.
According to a Shelby Police Department news release, authorities arrived at the scene to find an elderly female resident dead in her room. She was apparently killed by a gunshot. Her husband was located next to her in a reclining chair suffering from what “appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
3) Sep. 21 2018 — Federal Fugitive Shawn Christy captured in Richland County
Federal fugitive Shawn Christy was finally captured following a six-day manhunt in Richland County.
A federal warrant was issued June 19 for Christy in relation to Facebook threats to the Northampton County district attorney, stating, “Keep it up Morganelli, I promise I’ll put a bullet in your head as soon as I put one in the head of President Donald J. Trump.” Christy has threatened to use “full lethal force on any law enforcement officer that tries to detain me.”
Christy was on the run since June 20, leading law enforcement on a chase through New York, Canada, West Virginia, Maryland, back into Pennsylvania and then into Ohi.
2) March 7, 2017 — Parts of U.S. 30 closed after head-on collision
Sections of U.S. 30 closed down after two drivers collided with each other.
The driver of the Impala was 81-year-old John Harsh of Galion. He was transported to OhioHealth Mansfield with non-life threatening injuries. His passenger was 70-year-old Ernie Hall of Galion. He was transported to OSU Hospital in Columbus by MedFlight with serious injuries.
The driver of the Lincoln Town Car was 86-year-old Chester Millheim, of Ashland. He was transported to OhioHealth Mansfield with non-life threatening injuries.
1) Oct 18, 2015 — ManCi hostage situation resolved
An incident involving a hostage was reported at Mansfield Correctional Institution.
“The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) confirmed today a hostage situation at the Mansfield Correctional Institution has come to a peaceful conclusion and the facility is secure,” said JoEllen Smith, chief of communications at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction in a statement.
“The incident began at approximately 10:30 a.m. and involved one employee and one inmate. Because of the collaborative work of the DRC staff and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the incident came to a safe ending at approximately 9 p.m. The name of the employee and inmate are not be released by DRC at this time as the incident is actively under investigation.”
Richland Source hasn’t been around long enough to chronicle the last decade in full…but we hope to be. If you’d like to help us get to our 10-year anniversary, consider becoming a member today at sourcemembers.com
