BUCYRUS—While news related to the COVID-19 pandemic dominated local, state, national and world news for most of the year, many other stories happened in 2020 also. This is a list of the top stories in Crawford County for 2020, in no particular order.
Bucyrus celebrates Doc Wenner on his 100th birthday
BUCYRUS—Bucyrus resident Dr. Donald “Doc” Wenner celebrated his 100th birthday on Aug. 15, 2020. His long life of service to his fellow citizens both locally and nationally was celebrated and Mayor Jeff Reser proclaimed Aug. 15 as Doctor Donald Wenner Day. He passed away on Sept. 29, 2020. The full story can be viewed here.
Tupps not guilty on six of seven counts
BUCYRUS—Two years after being charged, the case against a former Crawford County corrections officer finally came to an end when a jury of his peers found him not guilty on all charges except one.
Jason Tupps, 45, of Galion was found not guilty on six of the seven charges that included a gun specification. If found guilty, Tupps could have been sent to prison for a mandatory three-year sentence.
Tupps, a former corrections officer with the Crawford County Sherriff’s Department was accused of holding a motorist at gunpoint in July of 2018 and threatening to shoot her. The incident led to multiple charges against Tupps including improper handling of a firearm, abduction, driving under the influence of alcohol, using weapons while intoxicated, aggravated menacing and assured clear distance ahead. To read the entire story, click here.
Former Crestline Police Chief settles lawsuit with village
CRESTLINE — A $380,000 settlement was reached in the case involving former Crestline Police Chief Joseph Butler and the village of Crestline in September.
Butler sued the village and several individuals for a total of $1.6 million and his reinstatement to his position of Crestline Police Chief.
In the settlement, Butler will receive $171,734.26 for non-economic damages, including emotional distress, and he is to be reinstated as an employee of the village from Nov. 19, 2018, to August of this year, with $57,944.93 in back wages. The payment will also include a pension contribution of $6,380, and $143,220.30 made payable to the Gittes Law Group for attorneys’ fees and costs. Village officials must also write a letter of reference for Butler stating that he is eligible for rehire and he left in good standing. To view the entire story, click here.
Drivers identified in fatal motorcycle crash
GALION — The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office has released the identities of the individuals involved in a fatal motorcycle crash in May and people across Crawford County mourned the death of Jerry Cress.
According to the report, on May 26, at approximately 10:03 a.m., the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a two-vehicle crash involving a pickup truck and a motorcycle.
The truck, a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by 49-year-old Michael Brewer of Centerburg, was northbound on Ohio 598 when it rear-ended the 2008 Harley Davidson Road King operated by 47-year-old Jerald Cress of Galion, which also was northbound, slowing or stopped for the railroad tracks just south of Crestline Road.
The full story can be read here. Jerry’s obituary can be read by clicking here.
Couple returns home after quarantines at sea and Texas
CRESTLINE — A Crestline couple who were quarantined in Texas after their cruise ship entered a COVID-19 crisis at sea finally made it home in March and were thankful to be back.
Dr. John and Kathie Fuson were released March 23 after testing negative for the novel coronavirus, returning to Ohio around midnight March 24. After a long, exhausting day of traveling. After weeks of anxiety and isolation. After an ordeal that played out on land and water.
“The first thing I did was just turn to John and we hugged each other,” Kathie Fuson said after they arrived home from Columbus. “It was a sense of freedom. You don’t realize what that’s like until you’re there. It felt like we had been cast in some sort of movie. It was surreal.”
The Fusons were on the Grand Princess cruise ship bound for Ensenada, Mexico when it was forced to turn around after 21 people on board tested positive for the virus. The ship – under a five-day quarantine – circled the California coast until finally docking in Oakland on March 9.
The Fusons and about 90 other passengers were flown to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas two days later. They were housed in first officer’s barracks. Surrounded by guarded chain link fences. Under a 14-day quarantine. And as days passed, watched as ambulances pulled in, wheeling away the sick on gurneys. To read the entire story, click here.
Hundreds take to Bucyrus streets in March Against Racism
BUCYRUS — Approximately 200 people made their way to Millennium Park on Washington Square in Bucyrus on a Saturday afternoon in June for the March Against Racism protest.
During a march down South Sandusky Avenue to Liberty Street and back, the crowd chanted, “No justice, no peace,” “Say his name, George Floyd,” “Black Lives Matter,” and “Say her name, Breonna Taylor.”
The event was hosted in response to the growing number of people of color who have been killed due to police brutality and to end racism across the country. Several Bucyrus Police Department officers, including Police Chief Dave Koepke, and Mayor Jeff Reser, marched alongside the protestors.
To read the full story, click here.
First COVID-19 case confirmed in Crawford County
BUCYRUS — Health officials with Crawford County Public Health said in a press conference in March that the first confirmed case of COVID-19 has been found in Crawford County.
The notification was given to CCPH Tuesday morning. Crawford County is now one of 49 counties in Ohio to have a confirmed case of COVID-19.
According to Crawford County Public Health Commissioner Kate Siefert, the person is in his or her mid-60s. For more of this story, click here.
Crawford County sees first COVID-19 death
BUCYRUS — The Crawford County Public Health Department confirmed in May the county’s first COVID-19-related death.
According to the Ohio COVID-19 dashboard, the deceased was a man who was 80 years old or older and died May 2.
Altercare’s administration confirmed Thursday a resident and employee both were confirmed with COVID-19. For the rest of this story, click here. News of Galion’s first resident who died with COVID-19 was released in September and you can read the story by clicking here. The first resident in Galion who died with COVID-19 happened in September. Click here for that story.
Bucyrus Police investigating the shooting of two juveniles
BUCYRUS — The Bucyrus Police Department is investigating the shooting of two juveniles in July.
At 10:58 p.m., officers were called to 1301 Monnett St., to investigate a disturbance. Upon arriving, officers discovered a female juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound.
The teenage girl was taken to Bucyrus Community Hospital by Portsmouth Ambulance Service then flown by medical helicopter to a hospital in Columbus. For the entire story, click here.
Chief Koepke announces retirement after three decades of service
BUCYRUS — Bucyrus Police Chief Dave Koepke announced his retirement during a Bucyrus City Council meeting in May.
Koepke said his retirement will be effective June 12 after 31 years of service with the department.
“I have been honored with the offer of becoming a program coordinator and instructor with the criminal justice department at North Central State,” Koepke said. “It’s a great opportunity to serve in a different role.”
The entire story can be accessed here.
New Chief of Police for Bucyrus
BUCYRUS- Captain Neil Assenheimer was sworn-in as the new Bucyrus Chief of Police in August. Captain Assenheimer will become the ninth Chief in the history of the City of Bucyrus and will be sworn in Wednesday, August 12 at 5 pm at Bucyrus City Hall on the veranda. All citizens of Bucyrus are invited for this historic occasion.
Click here for the story.
Bratwurst Festival Canceled for this year
BUCYRUS—For the first time since it all began over five decades ago, the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival had to be canceled due to the pandemic. The Crestline Harvest Festival was also canceled due to the pandemic.
Less than one week after the Bratwurst Festival Board announced that the festival was still scheduled for August, the board reversed their decision on Tuesday evening, issuing a letter canceling the festival.
Click here to read the story.