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As usual, many of the social-political issues that command national attention were front and center locally in 2023. For instance, the nation was watching as Ohio voted overwhelmingly to add abortion rights to the state constitution. And issues involving LGBTQ+ people and banning library books were frequently on page one.
Of course, no list like this is complete without natural disasters and other tragedies.
In August, Celina police shot and killed a St. Marys man after he drove his vehicle toward police near the pond at Eastview Park.
A 24-year-old St. Marys man was fatally shot by Celina police in the early morning hours of Aug. 25 near the Eastview Park pond after he drove a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer directly at a police officer, missing him by only inches, according to Celina Police Chief Tom Wale.
Wale at a Sept. 8 news conference said patrolmen David Powell and Justin Rice both fired an unspecified number of rounds at the Trailblazer driven by Corey Andrew after it "came directly at patrolman Rice."
Officers initiated life-saving measures on Andrew until a squad arrived. He was later pronounced dead at the Coldwater hospital, Wale said.
In August, Celina police shot and killed a St. Marys man after he drove his vehicle toward police near the pond at Eastview Park.
Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is conducting an independent investigation and once finished will forward a report to Van Wert County Prosecutor Eva Yarger, who assumed the role of special prosecutor in the case.
There have been no case updates in months.
With the passage of Issues 1 and 2, Ohio voters approved to enshrine abortion rights, and allow adult cannabis use for non-medical purposes in Ohio's Constitution.
Known as "Issue 1," its passage established the right to "make and carry out one's own reproductive decisions" on matters including abortion, contraception and fertility treatment.
It also allowed for abortions to be banned once it has been established that the fetus can survive outside of the womb, unless a physician determines that continuing with the pregnancy would endanger the patient's "life or health."
Ohio became the seventh state where voters decided to protect abortion access after the landmark ruling and was the only state to consider a statewide abortion rights question this year.
Though Issue 1 won statewide, it was overwhelmingly opposed locally, with 13,749 votes or 78.57% against it in Mercer County and 12,788 votes cast against it compared to 4,629 votes in favor in Auglaize County.
With the passage of Issue 2, Ohio is the 24th state to allow adult cannabis use for non-medical purposes. Adults 21 and over can now buy and possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and 15 grams (about a half-ounce) of extract, and grow up to six plants per individual through a government program.A 10% tax will be imposed on any purchases, with those proceeds going toward administrative costs and addiction treatment in the state and to municipalities that host dispensaries.
Various area municipalities have since voted to prohibit cannabis retailers and growers from within village limits. This includes St. Henry, Fort Recovery and Coldwater, with several others interested in similar legislation.
Some religious groups and neo-Nazis protested the annual Pride event in Bryson Park this summer. Politicians got involved, made speeches and proposed legislation.
LGBTQ+ issues were front and center in Celina this summer and fall.
Small Town Pride held its fourth annual pride festival in Bryson Park District in June. Religious protesters and members of the Aryan Freedom Network, a white supremacist group, were present for part of the day to protest the drag performance at the event.
The Small Town Pride Festival drew controversy as residents complained to city councilors about the festival for months. Residents brought up allegations of inappropriate displays in front of children, provocative dancing, signs with explicit or inappropriate language and vendors selling adults items.
That lead councilors to discuss how the Bryson Park District can be used, with some council members suggesting that only events recreational in nature should be permitted at city parks in accordance with the will of Ed Bryson, who bequeathed part of his estate for public playgrounds.
City law director George Moore ultimately determined any attempts to regulate activities such as a drag show in city parks would be unconstitutional.
Republican State Rep. Angie King of Celina, who protested the drag show, also introduced House Bill 245 shortly after the festival. It would effectively ban drag performances from all locations except adult cabaret establishments such as strip clubs.
The bill would amend and expand the definition of adult cabaret performances to a performance in a location other than an adult cabaret that is "harmful to juveniles or obscene and that features … performers or entertainers who exhibit a gender identity that is different from the performer's or entertainer's gender assigned at birth using clothing, makeup, prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts or other physical markers," according to the legislation.
King and State Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania, sponsored the legislation in July, which received 41 co-sponsors.
A Beavercreek man, 78, was reported missing in January. Sadly, his body was found in a field in April.
The body of Robert W. Hageman was located by a farmer at about 7 a.m. in a field near the area of 6213 Sebastian Road in Franklin Township.
Hageman's body was discovered approximately 1,135 feet southeast of where his vehicle was initially found on Jan. 31, Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey had said. Grey had said it appeared Hageman's body had been at the site since he was reported missing.
Hageman, who had dementia, was reported missing on Jan. 30 to the Beavercreek Police Department. At 11:44 a.m. Jan. 31, his silver 2005 Buick Lesebre was found near the Overdrive venue on U.S. Route 127.
The sheriff's office alongside local and state law enforcement conducted extensive searches of the surrounding area, deployed drones and K9 units, received help from a volunteer search and rescue group and encouraged landowners in the area to check their properties for Hageman.
Two Rockford businesses were destroyed by a huge fire early in March. It was the worst fire in Rockford in nearly half a century.
An auto repair shop and defunct bar and grill were gutted by a fire that broke out March 1 in Rockford.
Dozens of firefighters from 12 departments in two counties battled the blaze for 10 hours and at one point exhausted the town's water supply and had to draw from the St. Marys River and a nearby creek.
No one was injured in the inferno but two buildings housing DJ's Auto Repair and Wildfire Bar and Grill on North Main Street were decimated by flames, according to Rockford Fire Chief Rob Belna.
Belna had said it's the worst fire Rockford's seen in 40 to 50 years. The fire started in Wildfire Bar and Grill but its cause is still unknown.
Officials investigated when, in June, the Victorum Learning Center was hit by charges of child abuse.
Local and state officials earlier this year confirmed a list of substantiated claims of child abuse at Victorum Learning Center, including children who had been hit in the chest, pulled by the arms and dragged.
A report from June 28 by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services states Mercer County Child Protective Services has substantiated that a child care staff member had abused, endangered or neglected a child. The report said Victorum Learning Center did not notify Mercer County CPS of suspicions that a child had been abused or neglected.
In addition, families were incensed after the daycare minimized its services in order to continue operating. Parents were notified around 7 p.m. July 22 that the center had "received a handful of no notice resignations," according to emails Victorum sent to parents.
Two people were indicted on misdemeanor charges stemming from the allegations. Head of curriculum Loren Nelson, 43, of Dayton pleaded guilty in November to an amended misdemeanor charge of attempted obstruction of official business. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail suspended on the condition he have no like or similar convictions for two years and have no contact with the victims. He was also fined $250 and court costs.
Also charged in connection with abuse at Victorum Learning Center was Stephanie Lawrence, 42, St. Marys. Lawrence was charged with first degree misdemeanor assault and first degree misdemeanor endangering children.
She pleaded not contest to an amended charge of child endangerment on Dec. 19 in Celina Municipal Court. She was sentenced to 10 days suspended on the condition she have of no like or similar convictions and have no contact with the victims, community control sanctions for one year, a $100 fine and court costs.
The head football coach for Parkway High School resigned in November after a slew of documented infractions, including having unprofessional behavior and failing to complete necessary paperwork.
Jake Circle, 27, was later cited for operating a vehicle while impaired and then indicted on unrelated charges of tampering with evidence and falsification, according to county prosecutor Erin Minor.
After a heated school board meeting, board members voted to place Circle on unpaid administrative leave. He then subsequently resigned before the district superintendent could recommend firing him.
According to the separate indictment, he allegedly altered, destroyed or concealed evidence to be used in an investigation and is accused of making false statements or intentionally misleading investigators.
If convicted, he could face up to 42 months in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections and a maximum fine of $11,000.
A spring tornado tore through Auglaize County, injuring several people and damaging homes and businesses.
A fast moving storm unleashed raging winds and at least one tornado in the area early morning hours of April 1, damaging homes, businesses and a campground and leaving some without power for hours.
Eight people were reported injured in Auglaize County, according to Auglaize County Emergency Management Agency Director Troy Anderson. Seven of the eight injuries occurred at Arrowhead Lakes Resort at 14296 Cemetery Road in Wapakoneta where a tornado barreled through on a 17.2-mile path of destruction.
Most of the injuries appeared to have been minor though one person was taken to a hospital, he said.
In July, Frederick Cass was sentenced to six years for his part in the death of his girlfriend.
Frederick Cass was convicted and sentenced to six years in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections for his role in the death of Lindeva "Lindy" Rosario.
Cass, 34, Celina, was accused of involuntary homicide and raping his girlfriend of five years, Rosario, 35, Celina, on July 9, 2020.
He was charged for the death of Rosario on June 16, 2022.
Cass was found guilty on June 30 of third-degree felony reckless homicide, fifth-degree felony possession of a fentanyl-related compound, three counts of third-degree felony tampering with evidence, fifth-degree felony identity fraud and first-degree misdemeanor petty theft.
The jury acquitted Cass of first-degree felony involuntary manslaughter, first-degree felony corrupting another with drugs and first-degree felony rape. He was also found not guilty of trafficking a fentanyl-like compound, a fourth-degree felony.
During the trial, Cass was accused by Mercer County Prosecutor Erin Minor of exploiting the victim's earnest desire for love and acceptance.
"He manipulated her, he took advantage of her and he used her," Minor had said.
In addition to the six-year prison sentence, Cass was fined $500.
The library faced a year engulfed in controversy regarding alleged sexual themes in several books housed in the kids' and teen section.
On Oct. 26, county commissioners appointed chief complainant Andrea Strable, 39, of Celina to replace 40-year library board member Jan Morrison.
Commissioner Dave Buschur at that meeting made a motion to appoint neither candidate at the time, saying both candidates were the subjects of slander. However, the motion died due to lack of a second. He then abstained from the vote.
As a result of Strable's seven-year appointment, Morrison's term expired Oct. 31. Strable's term began Nov. 1 and runs through Oct. 31, 2030.
The library received formal and informal complaints over the past year, including Strable's 15 requests for consideration of books with alleged homosexual and sexually-graphic themes.
Library director Liz Muether noted there is no record of any requests for reconsideration until 2020 when the board received one. Two were made in 2021, one in 2022 and 15 in 2023, the latter of which were submitted by the same person, she said.
The library on Oct. 27 released a statement to patrons about "misinformation" about the library that was circulated throughout the community. The letter referenced the many requests for reconsideration the library received this year and titles reviewed by the library.
"Following that review, the Graphic Novel/Comic Book Collection was separated into Teen and Adult," the letter stated. "Over 400 items were reviewed and numerous titles were moved from the Graphic Novel section located in the Teen area to the newly created Adult Graphic Novel section."
In addition, the release reinforced that all are welcome at the library.
"We provide materials and services to everyone without prejudice. The library cannot and will not discriminate."
Parents can use the SEO Library app to set parental controls on kids' library cards and monitor their library activity.
The library hosted a workshop at the Chickasaw branch in which only five people attended to teach parents how to use the app, set controls on their kid's library cards and monitor their library activity.
Among the five attendees who showed up were Mercer County Commissioner Dave Buschur and his wife, Danielle, according to Muether.
Muether said additional parental control workshops will be scheduled at the St. Henry, Mendon and Celina branches next year.
Also, parents at any time can place custom restrictions on their children's library cards, options that have always been available, according to Muether.
The library also created new business cards with a QR code on the back. Patrons can scan the code to be directed to the website hosting the instructional video.
- The Associated Press contributed to this article.
