4 Richland County bridge projects | kitten rescued in village | 1 obituary | 2 fatal rural crashes in NW Ohio | more

By David Jacobs

Jun 09, 2025

Richland County bridge projects are underway

Bridge projects are getting underway in Richland County, the Richland County Engineer's Office reports.

It is handling four bridge projects within the county, as detailed on its official website:

-- Work on the Townline Road Bridge in Butler Township construction began on June 2 and is estimated to be completed in August 2025. Crawford Construction is the contractor for the $429,015.10 single-span prestressed concrete box beam bridge, the engineer's office stated.

-- The Baseline Road Bridge project is in Bloominggrove Township. This project, which involves furnishing and installing an 18-foot-by-6-foot concrete box culvert, started on April 28 and is estimated to be completed in July 2025. Crawford Construction is handling this $113,270.70 contract, the engineer's office reported.

-- The Coursen Road Bridge in Perry Township is expected to begin on June 11 with an estimated completion in fall 2025, the engineer's office detailed. R&I Construction holds the $1,225,056.35 contract for the concrete I-beam bridge.

-- The Mock Road Bridge in Perry Township is set for this summer, with a fall 2025 completion date anticipated, the engineer's office detailed.

V.O. Menuez & Son is the contractor for the $197,660.65 project, which will install a 14-foot-8-inch-by-4-foot-1-inch aluminum box culvert.

This is the same contractor that handled the London West bridge project, which was completed late last year in the Shelby area. A new bridge was built, replacing one that dated back to the 1960s.

The 2025 Richland County bridge projects are separate from the Ohio Department of Transportation bridge work in the region. Photos of the 2025 sites can be seen here.

An example of a bridge construction site is shown in November 2024. (Photo by David Jacobs)

ROAD CLOSURES for bridge projects (below)

-- Coursen Road, between Steele Road and Clever Road in Perry Township, will be closed beginning June 11 and remain closed not to exceed 120 days, weather permitting. The closure will allow for a bridge replacement project.

-- Townline Road, between Noble and Baseline Roads in Butler Township, was closed beginning Monday, June 2 and will remain closed not to exceed 90 days, weather permitting. The closure will allow for a bridge replacement project.

-- A temporary closure was announced earlier this spring for Baseline Road, between Swanger and Pennel Roads in Bloominggrove Township. The closure started April 28 with a 60-day timeframe, weather permitting. The closure will allow for a bridge replacement project.

Source: Richland County Engineer's office

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

— Jackson Township finalizes 2025 road project list. See it here.

— The city of Shelby’s road resurfacing project is expected to start in July. See details here.

A look at the recently completed London West bridge project in the Shelby area, as shown on Dec. 16, 2024. (Photo by David Jacobs)

SELTZER POOL

As swimmers await an announcement on the new summer 2025 opening date for Shelby’s Seltzer municipal pool, which needed repairs, pool management posted a message Sunday via its official Facebook page.

The post read: “We will not be accepting any deposits for rentals until we are finally open for the season. The original June 9th deadline for paperwork and deposit does not apply anymore until we are open and working to prevent any refunds needing repaid.”

REGION

Stowaway kitten rescued from New London police cruiser

NEW LONDON — A kitten was found safe following an unexpected journey beneath a village of New London police cruiser.

The New London Police Department stated the kitten "now has a forever home with a local resident." The rescue, which happened on Thursday, June 5, involved a village water employee and a watchful citizen.

The New London Police Department shared details on its Facebook page Friday, June 6.

The post read, "Here's a glimpse at the lighter side of policing...A special thank you to village water employee, Clayton Englet, for assisting with the rescue/removal of a kitten who had found its way into the undercarriage of one of our cruisers" a day earlier.

"Happy to say this little guy was recovered safe and sound after a few trips around town as a stowaway," police said.

Village of New London water employee Clayton Englet rescued the kitten on June 5. (Photos courtsey of New London police)

New London Police Chief Joe Hicks was contacted and offered more information."I would speculate the cat was stuck within the undercarriage of the cruiser for no more than 12 hours,” he said.

The kitten’s presence came to light while a police cruiser was at a McDonald’s drive-thru in New London.

Hicks recalled, "While in McDonald’s drive-thru, the operator of a vehicle behind my cruiser exited her car because she heard meowing. She initially believed it was coming from her car, before approaching me, stating it sounded as if it was actually coming from the rear of the police cruiser. She asked that I please check."

Upon returning to the station, about a quarter-mile away, Hicks inspected the vehicle.

"I exited and looked under the cruiser and in the engine compartment. I could not locate it, but could hear it," he said.

Englet, the New London Water Department employee, then helped with the search.

Hicks noted that Englet, after approximately 10 minutes of searching, located a male tiger kitten in an area between the rear axle and fuel tank.

The kitten’s travels included at least one trip to McDonald’s and back. "Unknown if it was along for any other trips around town," Chief Hicks said via email.

Chief Hicks expressed his appreciation.

"I would like to thank Clayton Englet for his help and the initial complainant, who contacted me stating she would adopt the kitten if it wasn’t claimed," Chief Hicks added.

SHELBY OBITUARY

Trent Thomas Mohn

OHIO

Head-on crash kills 1 in Putnam County

PUTNAM COUNTY -- One motorist was killed in a head-on crash Sunday, authorities report.

Nancy Gerken, age 74, from Holgate, Ohio, was pronounced dead at the scene along State Route 65 and Road M near Ottawa in Putnam County, the Ohio State Highway Patrol reported.

The crash occurred shortly before noon.

A northbound 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, driven by a 43-year-old Ottawa woman, crossed the State Route 65 centerline, resulting in the collision with the southbound 2015 Chevrolet Traverse driven by Gerken, the patrol said via news release.

The 43-year-old and a 13-year-old Hamler, Ohio, passenger in Gerken's vehicle suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Mercy Health St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima, the patrol said.

The crash remains under investigation by the patrol’s Lima post.

All occupants were wearing their safety belts at the time of the crash.

Both vehicles sustained severe damage and were transported from the scene by Jim Schmidt Chevrolet.

Also assisting the patrol at the scene were the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, Ottawa Fire and Rescue, Glandorf Fire, Putnam County EMS, Ottawa EMS, Columbus Grove EMS, Feldner Mortuary, Mercy Health Life Flight and the Putnam County Coroner's Office.

Teen passenger dead, young man injured in rural NW Ohio crash

PAULDING COUNTY -- A car went through a stop sign and off a roadway early Sunday in rural northwestern Ohio and struck a tree, killing a 17-year-old front-seat passenger, authorities report.

Kaiya Raine Klopfenstein of Defiance was pronounced deceased at the scene at County Road 133 at State Route 111 in Paulding County's Emerald Township, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.

The driver of the 2004 Audi A6, identified as Tyson Michael Ward, 18, of Oakwood, was transported by Paulding EMS to Defiance Regional Medical Center, with serious injuries.

The crash happened at 1:09 a.m. The car was traveling northbound on County Road 133 and did not stop at the State Route 111 stop sign, the patrol said.

The crash remains under investigation by the patrol’s Van Wert post.

The patrol was assisted on scene by the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, Paulding Fire and EMS, Paulding County coroner, and R&O Services.