마리언카운티, 고속철도 가능성과 마리어빌 신임 시장 선출 관찰 주요사항은?

Union County business leaders updated on passenger rail possibilities | Chalk up another Marysville-Richwood drug ring conviction | Final four named in Marysville City Manager process

• In this edition, sponsored by Memorial Health: If passenger rail comes to Marysville, it might not be Amtrak Yet another conviction and sentencing related to a major local drug ring City Council getting closer to naming new City Manager Hybrid sales help Honda in May Another example of why its important to slow down in construction zones Summer time a good time to “have the talk” with teen drivers First, a word from our sponsor Your primary care provider is more than someone you see when you’re sick. They are your partner in staying healthy and helping you prevent future health problems. From managing chronic conditions to improving overall wellness, a PCP can provide guidance on weight management, stress and anxiety, smoking cessation, preventive screenings, and more. Several Memorial Health clinicians are currently accepting new patients and are ready to help you take charge of your health. Don’t wait until you need medical care to establish a relationship with a provider. For more information and a list of providers accepting new patients, click here. For Marysville residents wondering what passenger rail could mean for them, local leaders say the answer goes far beyond simply adding another transportation option. Speaking at last week’s Business Impact Breakfast at Nestlé, Marysville City Manager Terry Emery and Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission Chief Mobility and Development Officer Parag Agrawal outlined how a proposed passenger rail network could eventually connect Marysville to Columbus, Chicago and other destinations throughout the Midwest. “It’s a game changer,” Emery told the audience. He pointed to practical benefits residents could use, from catching a flight at the airport without driving to making day trips to downtown Columbus or even Chicago. “When you’re in Marysville, and you want to go to the airport ... what better way to go to the airport than to take a rail system that can take you to the airport,” Emery said. While the vision is becoming clearer, many of the biggest questions remain unanswered. Agrawal said those details—including station locations, train frequency, route alignments, capital costs and operating costs—will be addressed through a Service Development Plan expected to begin this fall. Above: MORPC’s Parag Argawal talks about passenger train service at the Chamber Impact Breakfast, hosted by Nestle on Collins Avenue. The planning effort is part of the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development Program, which is advancing two proposed routes through Central Ohio. “We always talk about where the stations will be, whether you’ll get a train station at Marysville. How much would it cost? What’s the operational cost? What’s the capital cost? What’s the frequency of the trains?” Agrawal said. “All these questions will be answered through something called the Service Development Plan.” And those answers will be figured out by next fall. Amtrak not the likely operator One notable takeaway from the presentation was that passenger rail service may not ultimately be operated by Amtrak. Agrawal said MORPC officials have been studying rail systems around the country, including Brightline Florida, the privately operated passenger rail service connecting Orlando and Miami. He said regional leaders have met with Brightline officials and invited them to explore opportunities in the Midwest. “When we are talking about passenger rail, it does not have to be Amtrak,” Agrawal said. “We are working very closely with Brightline to see whether they are open to coming to Midwest communities.” Agrawal emphasized that rail planners view the project as more than a transportation initiative. “It’s not only about commuters,” he said. “It’s more about growing jobs.” Marysville has already positioned itself for that possibility. Emery said the city has secured a site for a future station and remains actively involved in regional planning efforts as passenger rail moves from concept toward reality. What Travelers Can Expect From John Glenn Airport’s New Terminal Marysville residents flying through John Glenn Columbus International Airport can expect a few years of construction disruptions before a larger, more efficient terminal opens later this decade. Speaking at last week’s Business Impact Breakfast at Nestlé, airport officials said the $2 billion terminal project will increase capacity from about 9 million to 13 million passengers annually. While the terminal’s exterior structure is expected to be largely complete by the end of this year, interior construction and buildout will continue through 2027 and 2028. When finished, travelers will find the terminal closer to Interstate 670, reducing drive time from the freeway. A centralized security checkpoint with more than a dozen screening lanes is expected to streamline passenger screening. Parking capacity will also grow with a new 5,000-space garage, while the existing 4,000-space garage remains in service. Airport officials are also redesigning passenger pickup areas by separating ride-share traffic from traditional pickups to improve safety and traffic flow. The airport currently offers nonstop service to 55 destinations and continues pursuing additional domestic and international routes. A Richwood man will serve a prison sentence of 10 to 13 years after pleading guilty to charges tied to a methamphetamine trafficking operation that authorities said distributed large quantities of drugs throughout Union County. Thomas Andrew Dague pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated trafficking in drugs and one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. In exchange for the plea, seven other counts were dismissed. According to court records, Dague sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on four occasions between Aug. 29 and Sept. 25, 2025, totaling 15.26 grams. Prosecutors said Dague later introduced the informant to a larger drug trafficking enterprise led by Brandee Greer, which ultimately sold more than 300 grams of methamphetamine and approximately 60 grams of cocaine to the informant. Prosecutors described Greer as the leader of the organization, with Dague serving as a facilitator who sold drugs, arranged transactions, and connected buyers to the operation. Other alleged members included Elizabeth Ames, Brittany Duffy, and William Vincent, whose Richwood residence was identified by prosecutors as a location where drugs were manufactured and sold. Judge Don Fraser sentenced Dague to four years in prison on the trafficking charge and a consecutive indefinite term of six to nine years on the corrupt activity charge, resulting in an aggregate sentence of 10 to 13 years. The sentence is shorter than the 15-year minimum term sought by prosecutors and significantly less than the 22- to 27½-year prison sentence previously imposed on Greer, whom authorities identified as the enterprise’s ringleader. As mortgage rates remain elevated, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency is offering a potential ray of hope for first-time homebuyers. On Monday, June 1, OHFA announced new mortgage rates that include a 3.75% fixed-rate option for qualifying first-time homebuyers — a rate significantly below many conventional mortgage offerings currently available in the market. The agency’s Traditional First-Time Homebuyer Program offers the 3.75% rate to eligible borrowers who do not utilize down payment assistance. Buyers who need help with upfront costs may also qualify for programs that provide forgivable second loans for down payments, closing costs, and prepaid expenses. Those assistance programs currently carry rates beginning at 5%. Local Realtor Stacia Mosier Peake said prospective buyers should begin by speaking with a lender to determine what programs they may qualify for. “An agent can get them a lot of information, but actual pre-approvals need to come from a lender,” she said. “A bank isn’t always the best solution. For instance, I have a lender who has grants that sometimes a bank doesn’t have.” She said buyers who do not already have a lender can often obtain recommendations from their Realtor. “If the buyers don’t have a lender in mind, most agents have a small list of preferred lenders that they’ve worked with,” she said. In addition to the traditional first-time buyer program, OHFA offers Homebuyer EDGE, Ohio Heroes, and Grants for Grads programs. The Homebuyer EDGE program is designed for borrowers whose incomes exceed traditional program limits but who may still qualify for reduced-rate financing. Income limits vary by county and household size, and applicants must meet credit and other eligibility requirements. For many renters priced out of the housing market by higher interest rates and rising home prices, the new OHFA rates could make homeownership more attainable. More information is available through the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. This is what it looks like when residents stay informed. If you find value in this work, share it with a neighbor, a colleague, or anyone who cares about this community. Paid subscriptions keep it going — $5 a month. Subscribe A juvenile driver was cited following an injury crash on Monday afternoon on Raymond Road west of Marysville. Deputies from the Union County Sheriff’s Office, along with crews from the Northwestern Joint Fire District, responded at approximately 4:53 p.m. to the 21000 block of Raymond Road. According to the sheriff’s office, a 2016 GMC Sierra lost control, traveled off the roadway, and then back onto the road before crossing the center line and striking a 2015 Ford F-150. One person was transported to Memorial Hospital for treatment. Authorities did not release information about the extent of the injuries. The juvenile driver of the GMC was issued a citation for failure to control. The crash remains under investigation by the Union County Sheriff’s Office. Four candidates have advanced to the second round of interviews in Marysville’s search for a new city manager as the city prepares for the retirement of longtime City Manager Terry Emery at the end of June. Human Resources Director Tara Maine said the candidates moving forward are Robert Hillard, Jeremy Hoyt, Larry Lester, and Kimberly Sharp. Hillard most recently served as city manager for Charlotte, Michigan, a position he held from May 2024 through February 2026. Prior to that, he served more than seven years as city manager/treasurer for Oberlin, Ohio. Hoyt currently serves as Marysville’s public service director and deputy city manager, roles he has held since 2020 after joining the city in 2009 as an assistant city engineer. Lester is the city manager for Monroe, Ohio, where he has served since January 2024. He previously spent more than 17 years in leadership positions with the City of Hilliard, most recently as operations director. Sharp is the owner of Sharp Point LLC, a planning and development consulting firm. She most recently served as senior director of development for the Central Ohio Transit Authority, where she helped lead the LinkUS initiative and other regional planning efforts. Maine said several executive sessions related to the search were held on Monday. She said she did not yet have information regarding the next steps in the process and was uncertain whether the council could take action at next week’s meeting. Council meets for its first of two regular sessions next Monday night. A Monday afternoon crash on eastbound U.S. 33 serves as another reminder for drivers to slow down and leave extra space while traveling through the ongoing bridge construction project in Marysville. According to the Marysville Police Department, the crash occurred at 4:28 p.m. on Monday in the eastbound construction zone near Mile Post 11, shortly after traffic had merged into the temporary lane configuration. Police said traffic ahead had come to a stop when a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse driven by Katelynn Koontz, 27, of Marysville, struck the rear of a 2022 Acura RDX driven by Kyle Winterfeld, 25, of Marysville. Investigators determined that Koontz failed to maintain an assured clear distance ahead and issued a citation. Both vehicles sustained disabling damage and were towed from the scene, but no one was seriously injured. The roadway was partially closed for about 30 minutes while crews cleared the crash. The crash occurred in the transition area of the U.S. 33 work zone, where traffic patterns shift and backups can develop quickly. Drivers traveling through the corridor should expect sudden slowdowns, maintain a safe following distance, and remain alert as construction continues throughout the summer. Summer Safety Series As schools let out and teenagers spend more time behind the wheel, safety advocates are encouraging parents to have conversations about safe driving habits before summer schedules take over. Union County has recorded 1,094 crashes involving teen drivers since 2021, including four fatal crashes, according to data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The most common contributing factors were failure to yield, speeding, lack of seat belt use, and distracted driving. The timing is significant. National safety organizations refer to the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day as the “100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers because young motorists are on the road more often during summer break and are more likely to be involved in serious crashes. Locally, failure to yield was a factor in 200 teen-related crashes since 2021, while speed contributed to 192 crashes. Another 101 crashes involved unbelted occupants, and 56 were linked to distracted driving. Safety experts say parents remain one of the biggest influences on teen driving behavior. Conversations about seat belts, speed, cell phone use, and passengers can help reinforce safe habits before teens head out for summer jobs, vacations, and activities. With four fatal teen-driver crashes recorded in Union County over the past five years, officials say those reminders can save lives. By the Numbers: Teen Crash Hotspots Since 2021, Union County has recorded 1,094 teen-related crashes, most of which have occurred on a handful of major roadways. Top 5 roads for teen crashes U.S. 33 — 135 crashes SR 31 — 99 crashes SR 161 — 56 crashes U.S. 42 — 54 crashes SR 4 — 45 crashes Most dangerous day: Monday (205 crashes) Most dangerous hour: 8 a.m. (126 crashes) The greatest risk for teen drivers isn’t late at night. It’s during everyday travel to school, work, and activities, particularly on busy commuter routes such as U.S. 33 and during the weekday morning rush. Safety experts encourage parents to use the start of summer as an opportunity to talk with teens about seat belts, speeding, distractions, and safe decision-making behind the wheel. Honda’s lineup of affordable cars, SUVs, and hybrid vehicles helped drive a strong month of sales in May, as American Honda reported a nearly 10% increase compared with the same month last year. The company sold 148,903 vehicles in May, up 9.9% from May 2025. Honda brand sales climbed 10.5% to 135,688 vehicles, while Acura sales increased 4.1% to 13,215 units. A key driver of the growth was demand for hybrid vehicles. Honda sold a record 42,583 hybrid-electric vehicles during the month, setting a new company monthly sales mark. Hybrid versions accounted for 54% of all CR-V sales, 50% of Accord sales, and 31% of Civic sales. The CR-V remained Honda’s top-selling vehicle with a record May total of 45,141 units, marking its third consecutive month above 40,000 sales. The Passport also posted a record May with 5,689 units sold. Passenger cars delivered some of the strongest gains. Civic sales reached nearly 27,000 units, while Accord sales topped 18,600, helping Honda record its best passenger-car sales month in nearly five years. At Acura, the luxury brand’s newest gateway models continued to gain traction. Integra sales jumped 67% from a year ago, while the ADX posted its best sales month in history, with more than 3,100 units sold. Year-to-date, American Honda has sold 623,139 vehicles, essentially matching last year’s pace despite a challenging automotive market. The following is a paid advertisement A little overgrowth around the fence line. A few saplings are creeping into the pasture. Briars are taking over the edge of the field. Our forestry mulching service clears brush, small trees, and thick overgrowth, fast, turning it into natural mulch right on-site. No burn piles. No hauling debris. No mess left behind. 🚜 Reclaim your fence lines. Open your pasture back up. Get your land working for you again. 📞 Call Hogan Tire, Service & Towing to clear the way. 937-644-0381 Tired of doom-scrolling through local social media forums trying to distinguish truth from fiction? People tell me they look forward to reading the newsletter every day as a refreshing alternative to all the negativity that permeates local channels. Timely. Fact-based. No filler. And no paywall! You can help us as we grow: Hit the LIKE button (it matters, too!) SHARE the newsletter with a friend or co-worker. Follow us on Facebook for breaking updates and on our new Instagram account. Subscribe for FREE daily updates straight to your inbox! A big thanks to Memorial Health for sponsoring today’s edition! Have a great Wednesday! -Joe C.

이번 뉴스레터에서는 Marysville의 비즈니스 리더들이 탑승객 철도 가능성에 대해 논의했습니다. Terry Emery 시티 매니저는 "이건 게임 체인저입니다"라며 철도 시스템이 지역의 교통망을 광범위하게 펼쳐줄 것으로 기대한다고 말했습니다. 예를 들어, Airport까지 가는 가장 좋은 방법이라니, 정말 매력적이지 않나요? 그런데 이 단어 하나가 불러일으키는 감정이 있음을 느낀다면, 그건 여러분이 이 뉴스를 제대로 이해하고 있다는 증거입니다.

그리고 또 하나, 현재의 계획이 얼마나 진전되고 있는지를 보여주는 발언들에서 많은 의문들이 남아있습니다. Parag Agrawal씨는 "우리는 철도 계획이 단순한 통근을 넘어 일자리 창출과 지역 성장으로 이어져야 한다"고 강조했습니다. 그가 사용하는 표현은 단순히 교통수단의 문제를 넘어서 지역 사회의 미래를 그리는 그림을 보여줍니다.

다음으로는 또 다른 소식이 있습니다. 마리빌 시내에선 마리빌 시티 매니저의 임명 과정이 한층 가까워지고 있으며, 최종 후보 네 명이 선정되었습니다. 그 중 한 명은 현재 공공 서비스 부서장으로 활동 중인 Jeremy Hoyt입니다. 이 표현에서 시사하는 바는, 우리가 익숙한 평범한 이름들 속에서도 한 지자체의 미래가 결정될 수 있음을 보여준다는 점입니다. 우리는 정말 이 변화를 원하고 있는 걸까?

마지막으로, 여러 가지 지역 뉴스와 더불어 이번 여름 시기에는 10대 운전자를 위한 안전 교육이 필요하다는 점에도 주목해보세요. 지난 몇 년간 발생한 청소년 운전 관련 사고 데이터를 살펴보면, 여름 방학 기간 동안 사고율이 높아지는 경향이 있음을 알 수 있습니다. 기자들이 말하는 "그냥 운전하는 것"이 아니라, 사건을 통해 뭔가 배우고, 더 나아가 우리 자신의 안전을 위한 대화가 필요하다는 것입니다.

오늘의 핵심 영어 표현

단어/표현을 Dicter 단어장에 바로 추가하고 싶다면 QR코드를 스캔해보세요!

game changer

뜻

상황을 크게 바꾸는 것

맥락

Marysville의 철도 프로젝트가 단순한 교통수단 이상으로 지역 경제에 긍정적인 영향을 미칠 것이라는 뉴스의 핵심을 드러냅니다.

예문

프로젝트가 성공하면, 우리 도시의 미래는 크게 달라질 것입니다.

Service Development Plan

뜻

서비스 개발 계획

맥락

세부 사항을 밝힐 계획이 진행 중이어서, 지역 주민이 기대하는 서비스를 명확하게 하기 위한 어조가 담겨 있습니다.

예문

이 계획이 최종 결정에 큰 영향을 미칠 것입니다.

growing jobs

뜻

일자리 창출

맥락

단순한 이동 수단에 그치지 않고도 지역의 발전을 도모할 수 있다는 점을 강조합니다.

예문

우리의 목표는 지역 사회의 일자리를 늘리는 것입니다.

QR 기능 사용 팁
1. 핸드폰 카메라로 QR코드를 스캔하세요.
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