Arrangements for former Mayor Hunter | Milk tanker-van crash in Holmes Co. | Road work ahead in Richland County | more

By David Jacobs

May 24, 2025

Arrangements were announced for former Shelby Mayor Jim Hunter, who passed away on Thursday at age 82. He was a longtime Shelby educator and also served on the City Council and as mayor.

Visitation is planned from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 31 at the First Lutheran Church at 33 Broadway Ave. in Shelby, states Hunter's official obituary posted on the Barkdull Funeral Home website. A memorial service will immediately follow at 1 p.m. May 31 with Rev. Dr. Russel Yoak officiating.

The official obituary can be read here.

In honor of the life and public service, Shelby Mayor Steve Schag has ordered that the Flags of the city of Shelby be lowered to half-staff until the sunset of Sunday, May 25th.

"Please be assured that our thoughts and prayers are with the Hunter Family," Mayor Schag said Friday, a day after Hunter's passing.

Hunter was elected Shelby mayor on Nov. 6, 2001, was sworn in as mayor late that year and served a four-year term.

James "Jim" W. Hunter. (Photo courtesy of Barkdull Funeral Home)

REGION

Van, milk tanker collide in Holmes County, killing Millersburg woman

HOLMES COUNTY -- A van and truck collided in Holmes County on Friday, killing a Millersburg woman and injuring three others, the sheriff's office reports.

Anna J. Casey, age 74, of Millersburg was pronounced dead at Akron City Hospital, after being flown from the scene by Metro LifeFlight helicopter, the sheriff's office said via news release.

Casey was operating a 2013 Chevy passenger van when the crash occurred around 7:08 a.m. Friday on County Road 201 within the intersections of County Road 203 and Township Road 360 in Berlin Township, the sheriff's office said.

Each of her three injured passengers was transported to Pomerene Hospital by both East Holmes and Holmes Fire District #1 EMS.

Investigation by deputies indicates that Casey was northbound on County Road 201 when a 2024 Kenworth milk tanker failed to stop at a posted stop sign, while eastbound on County Road 203, the news release said. The truck struck the van in the driver’s door and front area.

Both vehicles traveled off the northeast side of the intersection across Township Road 360 and came to rest in a corn field.

The intersection was closed for several hours as the crash was being investigated.

This crash remains under investigation by deputies.

Assisting deputies at the scene were East Holmes Fire and EMS, Holmes Fire District #1 EMS, Holmes County Coroner’s Office, Summit County Coroner’s Office, and Holmes County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Michael Bickus.

a group of people standing next to a fire truck — Stock photo by Benjamin Lehman on Unsplash

SHELBY GOVERNMENT

The city of Shelby announced some new appointments. Here's a couple

-- Nikki Webster is the director of nursing and started on May 19.

-- Debbie Dorsey is joining the Shelby Historic Preservation Commission for a term ending Dec. 31. Shelby City Council voted 4-0 earlier this week to confirm her appointment that Mayor Steve Schag put forth.

OBITUARIES

Kay Frances Hartz

James "Jim" W. Hunter

MEMORIAL DAY SCHEDULE

Plans for Shelby's Memorial Day observances are in place, highlighted by the annual parade followed by a special ceremony at Oakland Cemetery.

Here are some details via commander Ralph Rosinsky of American Legion, O'Brien Post 326, and event coordinator Linda Fichter, who serves as the Shelby Memorial Day Association chairwoman.

-- parade participants start lining up at 9 a.m. Monday, May 26 along Wentz Avenue at Main Street. Taking part in the parade is free.

"Anyone who wishes to be in the parade, show up, and the parade marshals will get you in line," Fichter said.

-- The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. and heads through downtown and to historic Oakland Cemetery. The Shelby Boy Scouts will lead the parade, which is to include participants such as the Shelby Whippet Band

-- At the cemetery, a special program to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice is set for 11 a.m. The event also honors veterans who have passed away since the 2024 Memorial Day ceremony and who are buried in a Shelby area cemetery, Fichter wrote via Facebook post.

See full story

USA flag — Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

OHIO GOLD STAR FAMILIES

Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel this week honored Ohio service members who sacrificed their lives while serving their country by joining Gold Star families in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Ohio Statehouse ahead of Memorial Day.

During the ceremony, Governor DeWine recognized Hospital Corpsman Third Class Maxton Soviak of Berlin Heights, Ohio, who died in Kabul, Afghanistan at the age of 22 as a result of wounds he sustained while assisting in the humanitarian effort to evacuate those trying to escape the Taliban.

Additional Gold Star families were also in attendance and honored during the ceremony.

“Our fallen heroes believed in freedom, took an oath to defend it, and gave their lives doing just that. We owe them a debt we can never repay,” Gov. DeWine said in a statement. “As we lay a wreath as a symbol of our commitment to remember and honor, please say a prayer for our fallen heroes, and a prayer for their loved ones, as well.”

A look at the wreath-laying ceremony at the Ohio Statehouse on May 21. (Photos via Ohio Governor's Office)

RICHLAND COUNTY ROAD PROJECTS

Some traffic changes are planned in the coming week through Ohio Department of Transportation road projects in the region.

New impacts as announced by ODOT:

-- Eastbound access from Straub Road to State Route 13 will close Tuesday, May 27 for 7 days due to resurfacing work.

Motorists traveling westbound along Straub Road will have access to the intersection. The detour route for eastbound motorists will be Straub Road to South Main Street, south to Hanley Road, east to Woodville Road and north to Straub Road. Estimated completion: Wednesday, June 4, 2025

-- The Cook Road entrance ramp to State Route 13 south will close Wednesday, May 28, for 60 days for resurfacing work. The detour route for motorists traveling to State Route 13 south will be Cook Road to South Main Street to Hanley Road to State Route 13. Estimated ramp reopening: Sunday, July 27, 2025

"ODOT works with its contractors to reduce the size of work zones and open as many lanes as possible through Memorial Day weekend," the announcement also said.

The full Richland County list is available here.