Schools monitor state legislation | Teen pedestrian hurt in Huron Co. crash | Richland County alert mix-up | more
By David Jacobs
Shelby City Schools project a positive cash balance through June 2029, but uncertainty surrounding state-level education funding and proposed Ohio property tax legislation has district officials bracing for potential fiscal turbulence.
Shelby schools Treasurer Beth Lykins presented the five-year financial forecast on May 19, noting a “positive cash balance still, all the way through the forecast through June 30th, 2029."
Despite that projection, she expressed concern about legislative developments at the Ohio legislature in Columbus, including multiple proposed state laws that could affect local property taxes.
"There's still debate over the school funding formula," Lykins said. "Is it going to be fully funded? Is it not going to be fully funded?"
“There are 14 proposed laws out there to impact local property taxes,” Lykins said, “all the way from no property taxes to just who the property tax will impact. We're still waiting on that."
Much uncertainty is felt.
"I think it's probably one of the most frustrating things right now as a board member is something's being controlled, and it's out of your hands," Shelby School Board President Scott Rose said as the district tries to plan for its financial future.
Richland County, Ohio residents receive South Carolina weather alerts
The Richland County Emergency Management Agency is investigating why emergency weather alerts for Richland County, South Carolina, were sent to individuals subscribed to the RCAlerts system in Richland County, Ohio on Thursday.
At least two text messages, two emails and two phone calls went out late Thursday afternoon and evening to alert subscribers in Richland County, Ohio about a severe thunderstorm warning in Richland County, South Carolina.
"We are actively researching the matter to ensure the proper notifications are being sent out for our county," the Richland County, Ohio Emergency Management Agency said in a statement posted to its Facebook page Thursday evening. "We apologize for the inconvenience and any confusion this may have created."
It's not known what caused the misdirected alerts or how many Richland County, Ohio residents were affected. Further updates are expected as the review continues.
Weather observation at Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport in Richland County, Ohio showed clouds and fair weather conditions around the time of the alerts. No storm activity was indicated at that Ohio location.
Six U.S. states have a Richland County: Ohio, South Carolina, Illinois, Montana, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Louisiana is home to a similarly named Richland Parish.
The Richland County, Ohio government website shows that RCAlerts stands for the Richland County Notification System, which allows residents to sign up to receive emergency and community alerts.
"These notifications can be received on your cell phone, work phone, text message, email and home phone," it states. "This is a free service that is provided by Richland County to its residents."
The Richland County, Ohio website later adds: "Richland County cannot guarantee that notifications will be received by the intended recipient."
REGION
Teen pedestrian recovering from nighttime crash in rural Huron County
NEW LONDON TOWNSHIP — A 13-year-old pedestrian is recovering from injuries sustained in a nighttime collision with an SUV earlier this month on Chenango Road in New London Township, a newly issued report shows.
The crash occurred at 9:55 p.m. May 17, the report released Thursday by the Ohio State Highway Patrol specifies.
The teen's injuries included a broken left forearm, contusions on the left abdomen, bruising on the top of both feet, bruising on the bottom of both lungs, a contusion on the forehead, and another fractured bone, patrol said.
A friend saw the oncoming vehicle and acted to grab the girl, who was then struck by the vehicle and ended up in a nearby ditch, according to the report, obtained via public records request. The injured teen told the patrol this week that during the chain of events, her left arm became exposed to the oncoming vehicle, the report shows.
The injured teen was transported by EMS to Fisher-Titus Medical Center in Norwalk.
By the time the injured teen noticed the vehicle, it was too late to move out of the way, the report shows.
The teen later stated that she was walking southbound against traffic and was on the pavement edge on the east side of Chenango Road and her friend was partially in the ditch when they saw an oncoming vehicle, the report shows.
A trooper from the Mansfield post of the state patrol was dispatched to the scene. The 36-year-old motorist, who was not injured, provided a statement and said she was driving northbound on Chenango Road at an estimated speed of 35 mph near railroad tracks when the collision occurred and did not see anyone. The driver stopped after the crash.
The 2020 Jeep Compass, which had its headlights on, sustained functional damage. A passenger in the Compass was not hurt. The report indicates no citation was issued.
The report also showed some differing accounts at the scene and in the aftermath of the crash.
It indicates the teens were heading to or from a bonfire at the time of the crash.
The patrol spoke again to the injured teen on May 28, states the report, which notes that the other teen was partially in the ditch when they saw an oncoming vehicle.
The friend of the injured pedestrian was not hurt.
The patrol was also assisted on scene by Firelands Emergency Medical Services and the New London Fire Department.
Sidney woman, 24, dead in rollover crash in Wood County
BOWLING GREEN -- An SUV traveled off northbound I-75 and overturned several times, throwing the 24-year-old driver from the vehicle and killing her Thursday, the Ohio State Highway Patrol reports.
Makayla Lee of Sidney was pronounced dead at the scene in Wood County's Portage Township, the patrol said in reporting findings of its preliminary investigation.
Lee was not wearing a seat belt when the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer crashed at 2:42 p.m., the patrol said.
No one else was in the vehicle.
The crash remains under investigation by the patrol's Bowling Green post.
The patrol was assisted on scene by the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, Mid County EMS, Central Joint Fire Department, the Ohio Department of Transportation, Wood County Coroner’s Office, and Wright’s Towing.
6 minor injuries in school bus-van crash in suburban Toledo
LUCAS COUNTY -- A school bus and transit van collided Thursday, resulting in minor injuries to six children on the bus, authorities report.
The crash occurred at 11:09 a.m. on Wexford Hill Lane near Oxleigh Circle in Lucas County's Springfield Township in suburban Toledo, the Ohio State Highway Patrol reported.
The transit van was attempting to back out of a private drive when it struck the right side of the school bus, the patrol said in reporting findings of its preliminary investigation.
The injured children were treated at the scene. In all, 38 students were on the bus.
The patrol was assisted on-scene by the township's fire and EMS and the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office.
WEATHER
Shelby forecast (live updates)
Huron County region (live updates)
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Showcasing Shelby High School Class of 2025 (with links to all graduation articles, videos, photos)
Arrangements for former Mayor Hunter
Buzz builds for 'Shel-Bee Festival' in downtown Shelby
Shelby launches legislative step to give firehouse new life
Shelby photo gallery: Memorial Day parade and observances
AT A GLANCE
Reporter David Jacobs can be reached at davidjacobs@shelbynewsreporter.com
