Tenn.–The Union City City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m Be one of the first to try our new activity feed Georgia at Spin The District – Union City Crit What’s it like to be an American cyclist living in France Watch to get professional road cyclist Joe Dombrowski’s view Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again This daylong event offers a unique opportunity for producers to learn practical strategies in small ruminant and grazing management while networking with fellow farmers and industry professionals the event highlights real-world management applications on a working Katahdin sheep farm Sessions will cover pasture fertility, small ruminant management inputs, identifying and incorporating unconventional pasture plants, and rotational grazing planning Presenters will emphasize managing internal parasites through tools such as the FAffa MAlan CHArt — or FAMACHA — scoring and fecal egg count testing Participants can learn how to get FAMACHA certified and will practice FAMACHA scoring Attendees also will take part in a hands-on pasture walk and facilities tour where they will observe LC Ranch’s use of equipment fencing strategies and the benefits the National Sheep Improvement Program has brought to the operation The Pennsylvania Grazing Lands Coalition provided grant funding for the event The Pennsylvania Sheep and Woolgrowers Association and Penn State Extension are providing additional support Extension specialists are integral to the day’s educational programming host of the Grazing Sheep Podcast and president of Northwest Project Grass; Erin Cuprinka Penn State Extension educators; and Gabe Francisco Leon Gehman also will lead a tour of his farm showcasing how he manages his sheep and pastures with early-bird rates available through May 30 and groups of four or more can register at a discounted rate of $80 registration increases to $40 for adults and $20 for children Organizers will accept walk-in registrations with prior notice via email or phone to ensure adequate lunch planning participants can complete and email a PDF document to Brown ahead of time to register and then pay on the day of the event For questions or to register, contact Brown at [email protected] or 814-865-1718. –Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences MEDFORD, Wis. — Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA) is pleased to announce that U.S. military veterans will qualify for reimbursement of tuition for classes taken through its online school, Managed Grazing Innovation Center (MGIC). The purpose is to increase access to educational opportunities for veterans considering a career in dairy farming. Funding, provided by a grant […] NEW PRAGUE, Minn. — “Genomics Provides Clues to Fertility” is the subject of the Feb. 28 Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) webinar. It is scheduled for 2 p.m. Central time and features Joseph Dalton, a professor in the department of animal and veterinary science at the University of Idaho. He will share some early research […] NEW PRAGUE, Minn. — National Mastitis Council’s (NMC) next webinar features “Investigating Teat Health Conditions Using the NMC Teat Condition Portfolio.” This one-hour educational offering starts at 2 p.m. Central time on Feb. 18. Keith Engel, NMC board member and GEA hygiene and milk harvest specialist, will serve as the NMC webinar presenter. Past chair of […] NEW PRAGUE, Minn. — Mark your calendars for the Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council’s (DCRC) 2020 webinar series. These highly regarded sessions offer access to high-quality information and interaction with industry experts to attendees from across the United States and around the world, all from the comfort of their farm or office. The webinars feature top-rated […] Dairy Business Advisors Simplify Process of Understanding Breakeven Costs College of Agricultural Sciences Graduate Students Receive Awards Baseball Union City vs Springport, 4-29-2025. Photos by Sean Walicki, JTV Sports. Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInUNION CITY, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Police are at the scene after a pedestrian was hit by a vehicle in Union City overnight. According to police, officers responded to a call on 5740 Buffington Rd. in Atlanta. Police told Atlanta News First one pedestrian was hit. The Atlanta News First Breaking News Tracker was able to see that police had one person in handcuffs. It has not been determined if that person was the driver. No more information has been released at this time. This is a developing story. Check back with Atlanta News First for updates. READ MOREUnion City man dies in rollover crash on I-94 near Battle Creekby Donny Ede | News Channel 3 — A Union City man has died after a fatal crash in Battle Creek late Friday night the Michigan State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on E I-94 near the Capital Avenue exit It was determined that a Ford pickup truck was traveling eastbound when it crossed from the left-hand lane to the right-hand lane He was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash It's currently unknown if drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash — A Union City woman faces several criminal charges after her erratic driving led to a traffic stop in Randolph County a Level 2 felony carrying up to 30 years in prison Riggs is also charged in Randolph Circuit Court with possession of meth possession of paraphernalia and driving with a controlled substance in her system A Winchester police officer reported he repeatedly saw an Oldsmobile driven by Riggs cross the center line on Sunday afternoon The deputy wrote that after he pulled her vehicle over Riggs showed signs of impairment and acknowledged she was carrying meth and heroin in her bra More: Muncie man accused of twice dealing meth to Drug Task Force informant along with a smaller quantity of a substance that tested positive for fentanyl Several syringes were also found in a purse Vincent Randolph Hospital reportedly showed the Union City woman had meth in her system Riggs had $931.86 in her possession at the time of her arrest An initial hearing in her case is set for April 10 Riggs has twice been convicted of possession of meth in Randolph County She was also convicted of burglary in Ohio's Darke County in 2020 Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com UNION CITY – Next stop for Union City Charger wrestling For the first time since the turn of the millennia the Union City Charger wrestling program will compete in the MHSAA state tournament after punching its ticket and winning a Division 4 regional championship for the first time since the 2000 season with victories over Mendon and Springport I really do,” Union City coach Jason Counterman said “This group of guys and this group of coaches have worked so hard this season and really for the last four years to make tonight happen We powered through even with a few backups who really stepped up tonight we really left it all out there and got the win.” Union City has been a senior led team all season long Included in the current crop of seniors are not one including a pair of 150 match winners who each hit their milestone Thursday night the duo of Logan Mears and Aidan Taylor each secured career win 150 a major milestone for any wrestler across the state Joining the 150-win duo with 100 career wins are Montana Connell all of whom secured key wins Thursday night in the regional tournament In addition to the talented group of seniors Union City has a promising group of youngsters led by regional qualifiers in sophomore Mitchell Graham and freshman Kaden “KK” Russell as the team is loaded from top to bottom with a bevy of talent A roster that was just too much for a pair of familiar teams for the Chargers Union City and Mendon had met one time this season facing off in an assembly dual at Mendon High School Thursday night was all Union City as the Chargers only dropped a single match Mendon’s lone win came at 215 pounds where JT Lux took a void for the Hornets With the victory the Chargers advanced on to the regional championship to face off with Springport who defeated Saranac in the other semifinal SpringportUnion City and Springport had faced off one time this season a matchup in the Big 8 conference season which saw the Chargers take the win Thursday night was no difference as the Chargers were dominant on the mat only dropping a single match while voiding another on the way to a 61-9 victory giving Union City the Division 4 regional championship Springport’s two wins came via a void at 106 pounds and at 165 pounds where Kaden Sizemore took an absolute war from Waidelich I mean at 132 we had two of our 100 match winners battling an illness but both came out and got a win each to come up huge Gabe (Mowry) used his athleticism to get a major decision for us at 132 as well which goes back to the work ethic we have in that wrestling room I mean all those guys that stepped in there and put together big efforts speaks volumes about what Union City wrestling can do We have had situations like that all season where guys have stepped into a crucial role and performed We are so lucky to have this group of guys not to mention the amazing group of coaches we have on the team that are able to create opportunities like that.” – Union City wrestling coach Jason Counterman More: Union City wrestling advances 12 to regionals including 7 district champions More: Bronson's Calloway and Springstead lead potent attack, Vikings race past Orioles With the victory Union City wraps up the programs first regional championship since the 2000 season The Chargers now advance on to the MHSAA Division 4 state quarterfinals to be held next Friday Opponents are yet unknown as the final eight teams are seeded before the quarterfinals begin to ensure the best matches Union City will know their state quarterfinal fate on Sunday Stay tuned for updates on that state quarterfinal matchup when it becomes available and stay tuned to The Daily Reporter for updates on individual regionals which will be held Saturday UNION CITY – It has been 26 years since the Bronson Viking wrestling program did not take home a district title That is over a quarter of a century the Vikings have been on top of the district world In a packed gymnasium filled with a raucous crowd the Union City Chargers and the Bronson Vikings met on the wrestling mats one last time in 2024-25 In a district meet that brought the energy of the state finals with its energy the Union City Chargers used some big points early in the lineup and ended things with two huge wins at the largest weight classes to defeat Bronson and claim the Division 4 district championship in a 46-28 final “We were fortunate that where we started tonight (132 pounds) we were able to come out and set the tone early with our seniors and Montana (Connell) all came out and set the tone giving us a little bit of a lead,” Union City coach Jason Counterman said Terry (Thompson) and Carson (Danke) all came out stepped up big for their team tonight I mean we have spent the last few weeks counting on our little guys to cover the load the Chargers have relied on their low to middle weights to provide a big spark and that is exactly what happened Wednesday night but five 100 match winners across the five opening weights The district championship kicked off at 132 pounds a weight that started a five-match winning streak for the Chargers Mason Hawthorne kicked things off with a second-round pin fall win over Brier Green Also taking wins for the Chargers during their initial winning streak was Logan Mears with a pinfall win at 138 over Wyatt Weinberg followed by a hard fought 20-4 technical fall win for Aidan Taylor over Caleb Harvey at 144 Union City’s run of matches to start the championship continued at 150 pounds where Charger senior Alex Boyer secured a pin fall win over Bronson’s Collin York in 2:00 At 157 it was the marquee matchup of the night as toeing the opposing lines were the exact two wrestlers who made up last year’s Division 4 150-pound state championship as Union City’s Montana Connell (Last year’s 150 Division 4 state champion) took on Bronson’s Gabe Erwin (last year’s 150 state runner-up) Erwin was at a small disadvantage in the contest as a nagging knee injury severely limited his mobility however the 157-pound match was a true war of attrition between technical wrestlers The two aces battled until the final whistle as it was Connell taking the 6-1 decision two of the best embraced on the mat despite the turmoil of the moment “I have been wanting to wrestle him all year making things very interesting with wins in the next three matches beginning with a dominant pin fall win for Layne Knisely over Union City’s Isaiah “Jimmie” Waidelich in 1:25 at 165 pounds The Vikings then followed that up with a victory via void at 190 as Mason Lindsey took the void to close the Charger lead to 26-12 with the next three weight classes being favored to Bronson it was Connor Harvey controlling his match vs keeping things close enough that Harvey went on to take a 15-2 major decision Union City’s first clutch win came at 215 pounds where Union City junior William “Terry” Thompson faced off with Bronson’s Bennett Pierucki The two big men battled in a stand-up war until a late takedown from Thompson in the second period got Union City on the board That would be the entirety of the scoring as Thompson went on to take the 3-0 decision Leading 29-16 the Chargers went a little unorthodox at 285 pounds who has been out much of the season due to injuries to face the defending Big 8 Conference champion in Sam Tappenden of Bronson Things looked good for Bronson early as Tappenden controlled the pace for much of the bout until a huge reversal from Danke brought the home crowd to their feet and the Chargers had more or less wrapped up the dual Bronson was able to bounce back with a win at 106 pounds as Brayton Cosby battled through a major cramping issue to earn a pin fall win over Maddie Hawthorne closing the score to 35-22 with three matches left Union City officially put the match away with a void accepted by Blayne Crance at 113 Union City’s final points came at 120 pounds where freshman Kaden Russell earned a technical fall over Bronson’s Jovani Ramos by the score of 17-1 With the win the Chargers lead grew to 46-22 and with a Kenric Smith void at 126 things were officially over More: Poll: Voting is now open for The Daily Reporter Athlete of the Week poll we have lost to Bronson all three years of my high school career and I feel like everyone on the team got sick of it," Connell said "This was at our house and we decided there was no way we were going to lose here." With the District title under their belts Union City now moves on to the Division 4 regional tournament which will begin next Wednesday when the Chargers host Mendon in the semifinals The winner will move directly to the regional championship with the winner of that match heading to Wings Stadium for the MHSAA state finals it is unfamiliar territory as for the first time in 26 years the Vikings will head to the individual portion of the MHSAA postseason after not having advanced as a team “We have not had the same lineup all year long so tonight we put our best lineup out and waited to see what happened,” Bronson coach Chad Butters said will now head to Bellevue High School on Saturday with an eye on individual glory as wrestlers look to battle their way to Ford Field for the MHSAA State Finals KALAMAZOO – It was nearly a year ago that the Martin/Climax Scotts wrestling program fell on the exact mats to perennial power St Louis in the MHSAA Division 4 team state quarterfinals Martin has done everything in its power to get back to that spot Martin has done it to get another chance at Wings Event Center and all that preparation showed up Friday afternoon as Martin toed the line against the Union City Chargers in the Division 4 team state quarterfinals Martin raced out to an early lead they would never look back from taking pins in the first four matches while winning nine of the 14 matches to take the 47-28 win over the Union City Chargers “Things started off at 175 and we knew that for us to win this dual we had to get bonus points from 175 to 285 which is actually where we started the dual at,” Martin wrestling coach Logan Curry said we got pins at all those weight classes which were huge in the outcome of the dual we got bonus points where we needed to get bonus points and we stayed off our backs in those matches we did not win.” The quarterfinal dual started with four straight pins from Martin as Jakub Tomyslak (175 pounds) Union City got on the board with a pin fall win for Blayne Crance at 106 Martin went on to win five of the next nine matches Taking wins via pin fall for Martin were Urijah Joostberns at 113 and Haylen Buell at 150 while Jayce Ritchie took a 17-1 technical fall at 144 Finishing out the Martin scoring was Logan Gilbert with an 18-11 decision at 120 and an 11-8 decision for Cole Reitz at 132 More: On to Wings: Led by five 100-match winners, Union City wrestling heads back to state tournament Union City finished out their scoring with a pin at 126 for Mitchell Graham a 15-0 technical fall at 138 pounds for Logan Mears a 20-3 technical fall for Alex Boyer at 157 and a void at 165 for Montana Connell “We ran into one of the best teams in the state today,” Union City coach Jason Counterman said we finally woke up at around 106 with Blayne (Crance) getting a pin That got us going and we wrestled really tough the rest of the way unfortunately we slipped a little too far behind at the beginning to make the comeback.” “Our kids have showed up all season long just like they did today,” Curry said Louis on this very mat and since then the guys have battled to get back here and I know they are all excited to get back at it tomorrow.” Martin went on to defeat the aforementioned St Louis Sharks in absolutely dramatic fashion as the state semifinal came down to the final match at 106 pounds with St Martin sent to the mat Jacinto Lopez while St Louis sent Rudy Clapp with a trip to the state finals up for grabs Lopez controlled the match and with 4:50 on the clock he was able to turn his opponent for the dramatic pin fall win sending Martin to the state finals with a 30-25 victory Martin ran into the perennial buzzsaw known as the Hudson Tigers Hudson went on to claim yet another Division 4 state wrestling title as eight different wrestlers have qualified for the MHSAA individual state finals including a few very heavy favorites to reach all-state status Looking for individual postseason glory for Union City this weekend will be Blayne Crance at 106; Kaden "KK" Russell at 120; Mitchell Graham at 126; Mason Hawthrone at 132; three-time all-state honoree Logan Mears at 138; returning all-state wrestler Aidan Taylor at 144; returning all-state wrestler Alex Boyer at 150 pounds; and last year's state champion at 150 pounds The individual state finals will be this coming Friday at Ford Field in Detroit Superior Court ruled that vicarious liability claims based on agency principles were viable under the 2019 amendments to the New Jersey Tort Claims Act and granted affirmative summary judgment in favor of Plaintiffs on their vicarious liability claims “Since the 2019 amendment to the Tort Claims Act holds employers liable for their employees’ intentional misconduct of a sexual nature outside the scope of employment and there is no genuine dispute of material fact as to this issue Plaintiff’s motion as to the issue of vicarious liability is granted,” the court ruled The Court also denied the school board’s motion to dismiss Plaintiffs’ direct negligence claims and claims under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) finding that in addition to rampant rumors about Realpe administrators had actual knowledge of inappropriate relationships and failed to report him who was the principal of Plaintiff Garcia’s high school at the time of the incident cited in a written statement that Defendant Realpe had formed unhealthy relationships with students and did not develop a proper distinction between teacher and student Defendant Realpe also admitted to being warned by his fellow teachers and his supervisor The Board ignored their suspicions towards Defendant Realpe did not investigate into Defendant Realpe’s relationships with multiple underage students and allowed him to remain employed until his termination in 2005 This evidence is sufficient to create a genuine dispute of material fact that must be decided by a jury at trial.” Barry and Erika Lezama hailed the ruling as further validation the life-altering sexual assaults were foreseeable and preventable “We are pleased that the Court recognized the changed landscape that the 2019 amendments to the New Jersey Tort Claims Act provides with both the plain language and legislative intent of those amendments setting forth that victims should have meaningful rather than illusory remedies.” pictured (left) in her 2005 yearbook photo she said it was difficult to hear the Union City School District falsely argue that she consented to the sexual abuse by her teacher and coach and that the abuse was not serious enough to have a permanent impact on her “The Court’s decision rejecting those arguments and holding the district responsible for the actions of her abuser gives hope that bringing this case was the right thing to do not just for her but for others who have suffered the same trauma,” said her attorneys Oliver T. Barry / obarry@capelegal.com / 609-729-1333 Steph Rosenfeld / steph@idadvisors.com / 215-514-4101 — This story has been updated with additional details about the initial search warrant the suspect's employment and a letter from Union City Community Schools A Union City High School employee was charged for criminal sexual conduct involving a minor After a search warrant was executed at his Bidwell Road home in December multiple electronic devices were seized and police uncovered "explicit conversations" between Ray Zierle who was employed at Union City High School at the time whom Zierle had been engaged in an "ongoing sexual relationship" with according to Branch County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) officials During the search, police also uncovered a large quantity of methamphetamine The minor involved was not a student at the district according to Superintendent Chris Katz in a letter to families The letter also states Zierle has been placed on administrative leave "until an investigation can be completed." He was arrested at Union City High School during "nonschool hours when no students were present." Zierle was arrested and arraigned on the following charges: Zierle is currently being held at the Branch County Jail on a $50,000 bail Deputies were assisted by the Union City Police Department and the Michigan State Police Computer Crime Unit News Channel 3 has reached out to BCSO and Union City High School for additional information regarding the arrest and Zierle's employment UNION CITY — Borough police are hunting down surveillance video and are seeking assistance from the public in their search for a suspect who used a gun to rob a pizzeria Tuesday evening in Union City was reported on Tuesday at 6:24 p.m According to Union City Police Chief David Pernice a male walked into the pizzeria and robbed it at gunpoint of an unknown amount of cash The suspect was then seen fleeing the restaurant heading east on Putnam Street, according to Pernice and information the Union City Police Department posted on its Facebook page Pernice said Wednesday that he was still gathering information on the robbery It was not immediately known Wednesday whether any customers were inside the pizzeria at the time of the robbery Police described the suspect as wearing all black clothing and an orange ski mask More: North East police: Clerk's refusal thwarts attempted robbery of Kwik Fill gas station Investigators are searching for surveillance video in the area and are seeking any other information that could assist in the investigation Anyone with information is asked to call the Union City Police Department at 814-438-3441 Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNhahn. « All Events WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The union for West Palm Beach police officers is responding to a WPTV report on some violent cases not being assigned investigators due to personnel shortages The Fraternal Order of Police blames the city for not properly funding the police department The union said in a written statement that staffing hasn't grown with the city's population It also said it agrees with the staffing shortage identified in a consultant report that WPTV obtained and it supports the new chief's efforts to improve the department Read the full statement from the union below, regarding the 89-page report: This website is unavailable in your location It appears you are attempting to access this website from a country outside of the United States therefore access cannot be granted at this time — This story has been updated to include the date and time of the crash One person died after a crash where alcohol is "suspected to be a contributing factor," Michigan State Police (MSP) at the intersection of Athens Road and Dunks Road in Sherwood Township Saturday around 11:30 p.m. was traveling south on Athens Road when it ran through the intersection left the roadway and rolled multiple times The 39-year-old Union City woman driving was pronounced dead at the scene The driver was not wearing a seatbelt and MSP investigators suspect alcohol to be a contributing factor in the crash MSP is "unable to definitively tell if alcohol was a factor at this point," but it is something they are going to continue to investigate News Channel 3 has reached out to MSP for additional information about when the crash occurred and updates to their investigation MSP was assisted by Union City Police Department the countdown is on for the grand opening of the newest Ollie’s store in Union City.  Ollie’s is known for unbeatable brand name closeouts at up to 70% off the fancy stores’ prices every day The newest Ollie’s will officially open its doors in Union City on Thursday March 13th at 9 a.m.  Find us off First Steet next to Goodwill in the old Big Lots.  “We are excited to open our 23rd store in the great state of Tennessee where the folks have been so good to us,” said Eric van der  Valk President and Chief Executive Officer of Ollie’s Bargain Outlet we’re thrilled to provide shoppers in Union City and its surrounding areas with a treasure hunt experience where they can find a huge selection of brand name merchandise at up to 70% off the fancy stores’ prices every day.”  Ollie’s brings about 50-60 new jobs to the local community with each new store it opens ranging from cashiers to assistant  managers Ollie’s employs over 12,000 associates across the company.  For more information about Ollie’s Bargain Outlet visit www.ollies.com and like us on Facebook.  We are America’s largest retailer of closeout merchandise and excess inventory, offering Real Brands and Real Bargain prices®!  We offer extreme value on brand name products in a variety of departments, including housewares, food, books and stationery,  bed and bath, floor coverings, toys, health and beauty aids, and more. We currently operate 571 stores in 31 states and growing!  For more information, visit www.ollies.com For more local news, click here including the city's proposed 2025-26 fiscal year budget went down to defeat Monday at a Pekin City Council meeting with Mayor Mary Burress and council members John Abel and Karen Hohimer voting yes Dave Nutter and Lloyd Orrick cast the no votes He's a teacher at Pekin Community High School Abel and Hohimer when the council has a 4-3 vote on an issue Also defeated Monday by the council were a plan to make 116 Ameren customers who are not paying a 5% city tax on their gas usage join the more than 13,000 customers who are paying the tax a 3% cost-of-living increase for the 2025-26 fiscal year for non-union city employees and a continued annual payment of $25,000 to the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (Discover Peoria) for marketing and tourism services The 2025-26 fiscal year budget will go into effect May 1 Council's next regular meeting is April 28 "The budget still needs to be tweaked," Nutter said Among the issues mentioned Monday by budget opponents were a lack of enough funding for street maintenance and the completion of the Derby Street rehabilitation project and the need to take out a $12.5 million bank loan to complete the $14 million purchase of the 1,000-acre Lutticken Farm property to accommodate possible development opportunities Economic Development Director Josh Wray said he hopes to bring a Lutticken property land purchase agreement with a developer to the council April 28 "We need to start finishing projects before we start new ones," Hilst said Finance Director Eric Dubrowski said when he took the job last fall one of his major goals was to modernize the budget process According to a 2025-26 budget narrative in the council packet an original $4.99 million deficit in the general fund that pays for most city services was reduced to $140,443 at one point with more cuts possible including staffing and capital project requests who have not been paying the gas portion of the city's electric gas and water utility tax receive their gas from a third party City staff proposed enacting a "gas use tax" on these customers that would have brought in about $250,000 annually in revenue Other communities with a utility tax who were facing the same dilemma have enacted a gas use tax Nutter said he voted against the implementation of the utility tax last year so to be consistent On the non-union employees' cost-of-living increase vote it's still imperative to maintain competitive pay and benefits to avoid the much more damaging effect of losing skilled employees." Dubrowski said members of the Pekin police and street department unions received a 3% raise for the 2024-25 fiscal year Members of the fire department union received a 2.5% increase Nutter said the city recently approved contracts totaling more than $100,000 with McDaniels Marketing of Pekin to provide tourism and marketing services Partnership funding levels of $10,000 and $20,000 between the city and PACVB were available City ready to roll out vacant and foreclosed property ownership registry The city's new vacant and foreclosed property ownership registry will be run by a Florida-based company Hera Property Registry was selected by city staff and approved unanimously Monday by the council for an initial term of two years Hera will find the owner of a vacant or foreclosed property if necessary and collect the $300 semi-annual registration fee and late fee if applicable from all owners "We'll be your only vendor you don't have to pay "We'll save your staff a lot of work," Urban said "They won't need to spend time finding out that a vacant home at 123 Lovers Lane is owned by a bank in Omaha." Urban said Pekin has had 98 foreclosed properties in the past year Hera will create a registry web page that will have a link on the city's web site provide instruction and customer service for a property owner registering a property and create a portal for city staff to access and monitor the registry said the city should receive more than $10,000 annually from registry fees Hera does similar work in 51 communities in Illinois These text messages from the Pekin Police Department are real The Pekin Police Department is rolling out a new communication tool today Because the communication involves text messages Police Chief Seth Ranney said Monday he wanted to let the community know the messages are not a scam There will be a pre-arrival text message for some calls when an officer is on the way and a six-question post-call survey will provide anonymous feedback for the department "so we can identify what's working well and where improvement is needed," Ranney said "the text message will go only to the person who made the call." Ranney gave two examples of what could be contained in a pre-arrival message The communication tool is called My90 by Axon Moratorium halts permits for residential ground-mounted solar arrays A six-month moratorium on permits for residential ground-mounted solar arrays was put in place Monday by the council The Pekin Zoning Board of Appeals will take a look at the city's current regulations and restrictions regarding ground-mounted arrays and see if they need to be changed or new ones added Backyard arrays installed recently by a resident in the north end of the city have caused angst among the neighbors closest to it During public comment before the council meeting former council candidate Matthew Johnson asked that the moratorium not start until October to give residents who want a ground-mounted array time to have one installed before winter Maquet said he expects the ZBA will compete its work and the moratorium will be lifted in as soon as three months Pekin Outreach Initiative receives grant money to fix non-ADA compliant bathroom Among the other items approved Monday by the council: Each above item was approved unanimously except the Teamsters Local 627 contract with Hilst voting no and Nutter abstaining because his son-in-law is employed in the street department Coffee talks with the mayor start this month Burress announced Monday that she will hold monthly "Coffee with the Mayor" sessions starting from 3-5 p.m Each session will be devoted to a specific topic The April 22 topic will be the Luttiicken Farm property A staff member will join Burress at each session to provide more feedback for attendees Become a WCBU sponsor RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group; Kristen Muldowney Primary Care; Assemblyman Julio Marenco; Marcie Ordowich Trinitas Regional Medical Center; Josh Bershad RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group; Mary Ellen Clyne Clara Maass Medical Center; Adelcida Wilson Community Engagement & Physician Relationships RWJBarnabas Health Medical leadership and the team along with local government officials recently celebrated their new location in Union City during a ribbon-cutting event. Formerly Sanitas Medical Center of NJ, RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group now assumes its three locations in Belleville As a part of RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group each practice location still offers the convenience of the same great location but now with expanded access to the continuum of care offered through RWJBarnabas Health “We are thrilled to have Sanitas Medical Center of NJ now as RWJBarnabas Health facilities which is a part of our ongoing commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare,” said Michael Prilutsky RWJBarnabas Health and CEO & President “We remain committed to our patients and the communities in Union City proud to offer additional access to a variety of healthcare services within the RWJBarnabas Health system.” Belleville, Elizabeth and Union City locations will continue to offer primary care and pediatric services with a comprehensive range of specialty services coming in the near future, including urgent care. Each site is accepting new patients and accepts most major insurances. Walk-in appointments are welcome at each location. To learn more about each location or to make an appointment, visit rwjbh.org/medicalgroup or please see below UNION CITY – The last time the Union City Charger wrestling program advanced to the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) team state finals the event was still hosted at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek The last time the Chargers made a run this far in the tournament the wrestlers' parents were still experiencing the joys of high school The last time the Chargers advanced to the MHSAA state tournament was in the year 2000 when current head coach Jason Counterman was learning his times tables in elementary school while assistant coach Jordan Herman was a freshman on the Kellogg Arena bound squad are heading to Wings Event Center with an eye on the big prize “We knew that this group of guys were going to be special when their predecessors guys like Brayton Mears; Grady and Garrett Iobe; and Garrett Halder when we saw what they could do and still hear from coaches you have got some studs coming we knew this team was going to be very special,” Union City head coach Jason Counterman said Built From the Ground UpYou do not get a group of wrestlers with five 100-match winners a state title and numerous all-state honors in a flash overnight dedication and intensity from an incredibly young age You need a coach that can lead them and teach them the right skills Longtime Union City youth coach Ron Councell is often referred to as the Godfather of wrestling in Branch County having run various MYWAY and youth programs across the county for years As a big member of the Union City coaching staff 100-match winners and grinders have Councell’s fingerprints all over them Unfortunately for the Union City wrestling program they will be making this momentous trip without the Godfather in tow Councell passed away this past Tuesday at the age of 73 leaving behind “a void in the lives of so many people,” both in the community and on the wrestling mats a dream we shared as coaches to coach together on the big stage,” Counterman said When asked about the impact Councell had on their development as wrestlers and as men several Union City wrestlers shared how deep of an impact he had “I would not be the wrestler I am today without Ron (Councell),” Logan Mears including two state runner-up finishes and a third-place finish “Ron is the reason of a lot of us are who we are today why he took fifth at state and why we have had so much success over the years He was a big part of the wrestling community here He had showed me that he had a suit picked out to wear in my corner when I wrestle for a state championship this year two-time state champion for Union City and current St Cloud State wrestling freshman Landyn Crance said about Councell “I mean it when I say Ron (Councell) has had the biggest impact on me as a human in this world He did not have to take the time to make sure I got all the work I needed over the years You are the reason I will continue to do what I do “Ron (Councell) is the Godfather of this program nearly every member of our team wrestled for Ron including myself and coach Herman,” Counterman said “The success we have had over the years is a direct result of Ron and his teachings at the youth level already sharpened and ready to grapple at the varsity level because of him We just had to show them the right way to win.” Union City will now take this big step to the state quarterfinals without a huge part of the program in their corner no matter where they are — be it the Wings Center or at Ford Field for the individual state finals — are never far from home the Chargers bring a little bit of home with them wherever they go every Union City wrestler touches “the dirt,” a bag filled with soil from Union City so they can take a little piece of home with them no matter where they go The cloth bag has a picture of legendary head coach Paul Smeltzer on it as well as a photo of former Union City wrestler Craig Watson a young marine who lost his life fighting for his country in Iraq “It helps us remember where we are coming from,” stated Counterman More: Eight Union City wrestlers secure trip to MHSAA indvidual state finals at Ford Field The Union City lineup boasts five 100 match winners including last year’s 150-pound state champion in Montana Connell along with seniors Logan Mears with both Mears and Taylor earning career win 150 just this past week In addition to the five “dudes,” as Counterman likes to call them the Chargers had a total of eight state finals qualifiers this year three of which are underclassman wrestlers well on their way to the magical 100-win mark Included in that group of underclassmen are sophomores Blayne Crance and Mitchell Graham all of whom will be wrestling at Ford Field in two weeks for the individual state finals The x-factor for Union City will be their remaining six wrestlers that look to fill out the 14-match card the Chargers will put out a lineup filled with scrappy young men and women with big hearts and grit for days something they are reminded of every time they leave the wrestling room: “Do Your Job.” More: VOTE: Voting is now open for this week's The Daily Reporter Athlete of the Week The Charger grapplers will face off with a very deep and talented Martin/Climax Scotts lineup that includes two state champions in Logan Gilbert and Haylen Buell as well as six other state finals qualifiers it is going to be tough," Counterman added 6 seeded Union City Chargers will be a truly epic battle and they are willing to do their job in remembrance of one man one family: the Union City Charger wrestling family As coach Counterman said to end his interview "Set the Standard." We want to be the standard of excellence in everything we do.” For Union City wrestling that started years ago under the watchful eye of Coach Councell and will take its next stop Friday at Wings Event Center — A Boone County judge has ousted all Union City Commissioners essentially voiding the commission's entire November general election The decision came late Friday from Boone County Circuit Judge Richard Brueggemann who granted former Union City Commissioner Doug Bine's election contest In December, a Boone County judge denied a restraining order that would have prevented the newly elected commissioners from taking their seats Jan. 1. The attempt came after Bine filed a lawsuit contesting the results of the November election all three newly elected commissioners — John Mefford Brian Garner and Eric Dulaney — were ousted from their seats This decision leaves Mayor Larry Solomon as the only member of the city commission Solomon will now hold a commission meeting Monday where he'll like begin the process of appointing new members to the commission as directed by the court Bine has requested a new citywide election instead of appointments because due to scheduling Brueggemann agreed with Bine's lawsuit claims that hundreds of illegal votes in Boone County changed the outcome of the commissioner race RELATED | Union City Commissioner contests November election, claims over 500 residents received wrong ballots Five candidates were running for four open seats His lawsuit claims more than 500 people illegally voted in Union Precinct 1 and Union Precinct 4 "There could be as many as 800 invalid votes between Union 1 and 4.. some parties contend 932 ballots were cast [more than the 800 ballots purportedly provided].. it could be equally assumed that all City ballots had been given to the 1,259 non-City voters.. the disparity is greater than 599 votes," Brueggemann wrote in his judgment he plans to reach out to the assistant attorney general nominee for the civil rights division and request a federal audit and investigation soon to be confirmed Attorney General Pam Bondi and the incoming new leadership of the Justice Department are extremely sensitive to and will take matters of election integrity seriously especially when there is a dereliction by election officials of their constitutional charge to hold fair and free elections," Megerle said CORRY — A volunteer football coach in the Union City School District is accused of having a sexual relationship with a student was arraigned Thursday afternoon by Corry District Judge Denise Buell on felony counts of intercourse/sexual contact with a student dissemination of sexually explicit material and unlawful contact with a minor and on a misdemeanor count of corruption of minors The Pennsylvania State Police accuse Kerns of having a sexual relationship with a then-17-year-old girl which included having sexual intercourse on one occasion according to information in the criminal complaint filed against him Police also allege Kerns and the girl exchanged nude photographs of themselves on multiple occasions State police in Corry first revealed the investigation that led to the charges against Kerns in a news release issued in October when the investigating trooper wrote that the suspect had sexual relations with a victim who was a juvenile student at the time More: Erie man accused in two more reported sexual assaults at Harborcreek Youth Services According to information in the affidavit of probable cause filed with the criminal complaint against Kerns on Wednesday 21 to the administration office of the Union City School District to investigate a report an assistant football coach was having sexual relations with a student Troopers spoke to a district administrator and were told the victim told a school secretary about having sexual relations with Kerns The victim told troopers that Kerns added her as a friend on Snapchat on her 17th birthday She said she knew Kerns was 23 years old at the time and said she made it clear to him that she was only 17 The girl told state police she and Kerns communicated on and off for a year and sent nude photographs of themselves to each other She also stated the two had sex in the woods behind the Union City Elementary School in March State police obtained search warrants for the cell phones of Kerns and the victim and found a "high volume of contact" between the two as well as stickers created by the girl from pictures Kern sent her Buell set bond for Kerns at $50,000 unsecured following his arraignment Thursday afternoon and tentatively scheduled his preliminary hearing for Jan A lawyer for Kerns was not listed on his criminal docket sheet Thursday afternoon MARTIN – After battling their way to the programs first MHSAA team regional championship since the 2000 season this past Thursday the Union City Charger wrestling program traveled to Martin on Saturday searching for individual glory A top four finish at Saturday’s individual regional would ensure the student-athlete’s trip to the pinnacle of the sport in Michigan high school wrestling the MHSAA individual state finals to be held at Ford Field in Detroit Of the 13 Charger boys who made the trip to Martin eight boys officially punched their ticket to the state finals with a finish in the top four of their respective weight class including two grapplers that can call themselves regional champions Three-time all-state honoree Logan Mears (36-3) captured the regional title at 132 pounds on Saturday cementing his fourth straight trip to the state finals in the process taking a forfeit win over Logan Curry of Martin in round one a 13-6 decision over Jayce Ritchie of Martin in round two and a 15-0 technical fall over Gabe Webb of Saranac to win the gold Also bringing home gold was senior Alex Boyer who brought home the regional title at 150 pounds improving his record to 40-3 on the season while also cementing his second straight trip to the MHSAA individual state finals Boyer started off his day with a 20-5 technical fall over Matthew Holmes of Martin followed by a semifinal win over Kaden Sizemore of Springport via a 7-6 decision In the championship it was Boyer taking home a hard fought and epic win defeating Bronson’s Collin York of Bronson by the score of 2-1 Freshman Kaden Russell earned his first career trip to the MHSAA state finals with a runner-up finish at 120 pounds fell in the champion finals to two-time state champion and three all-state honoree in Logan Gilbert of Martin Russell made his way to the finals thanks to a 13-0 major decision over Joel Pena of Decatur followed by a semifinal win over Aiden Munoz of Bango via a 17-2 technical fall leading to the championship loss to Gilbert Union City’s other runner-up honor came at 144 pounds where it was senior Aidan Taylor punching his fourth straight trip to the finals in the process Taylor started his day with a 13-4 major decision over Maddix Jancasz of White Pigeon followed by a semifinal win over Jack Tarpening of Bellevue via a 13-1 major decision In the finals Taylor was forced to bow out due to an injury default giving Haylen Buell of Martin the regional crown More: Union City wrestling claims first D4 regional title since 2000, advances to state tournament Also securing a spot at Ford Field will be the defending Division 4 150-pound state champion in Montana Connell who finished in fourth place at 157 pounds Also joining their teammates at Ford Field will be Blayne Crance fourth place at 106 pounds (2nd trip); Mitchell Graham third place at 126 pounds (2nd trip) and Mason Hawthorne The eight Chargers will first look for team success this coming Friday at Wings Event Center when they take on the No The winner will advance on to the state semifinals on Saturday The individual competition will return to action a week from Thursday when competitors from around the state descend on Ford Field looking for individual wrestling immortality — An 19-year-old Ohio man was killed Thursday evening in a one-vehicle crash on Ind was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash north of the state highway's intersection with US 36 According to Major Josh Geesy of the Randolph County Sheriff's Department Lumpkin was a passenger in a Ford Ranger pickup truck driven by Shawn Lane Jr. rolled several times and struck a utility pole and was flown by medical helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton Responding to the scene along with sheriff's deputies were Lynn Randolph County EMS and a representative of the Randolph County coroner's office Douglas Walker is a news reporter for The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com BRANCH COUNTY — A school custodian is facing drug and criminal sexual conduct charges Branch County District Court held Ray Zierle of Girard Township on a $50,000 bond on charges from a December drug raid and an alleged relationship with a teenager According to the probable cause affidavit in the court file the girl's father allowed Zierle to stay with his family until he found the sexual messages on the girl’s phone Deputies seized the phone during the raid and sent the phone to the Michigan State Police Computer Crime Unit Union City Community Schools hired Zierle last April as a nighttime custodian The girl told officers that Zierle took her to work with him and initiated sex there The file stated that the girl said Zierle knew her age and told her he had an older daughter Zierle was charged with: Three counts of CSC first degree life felonies Three counts of CSC third degree 15-year felonies Accosting a minor for immoral purposes a four-year felony The CSC charges require mandatory prison sentences charges include: Possession and delivery of methamphetamine a 20-year felony Possession of a short-barreled rifle a five-year felony Possession of a silencer a five-year felony Possession of a weapon while committing a felony a two-year consecutive felony Operating a drug house a two-year misdemeanor Court records stated that during the execution of the search warrant Zierle was inside the Bidwell Road home with the guns The affidavit said deputies seized security video that showed Zierle handling the drugs and holding the short-barreled gun A woman at the search told deputies Zierle sold them large amounts of meth Union City Schools issued a statement on Facebook that when it became aware of the charges the schools fully cooperated with the sheriff’s department The school system placed Zierle on administrative leave Subscribe Follow this story. Subscribe to the Coldwater Reporter The schools said they are guided by the duty to protect students The public defender will represent Zierle at the probable cause hearing on April 8 and the preliminary exam on April 15 Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com  – Buchanan Realty Group (BRG) is proud to announce the groundbreaking of a new Starbucks location in Union City Strategically situated across from Walmart and in close proximity to popular retailers TJ Maxx and Five Below this highly anticipated project will enhance the shopping and dining experience in the area The Starbucks is slated for completion in 2025.  This new development represents a significant milestone for Union City bringing the globally recognized coffee brand to a convenient and bustling location The store will feature a contemporary design complete with a drive-thru and indoor seating ensuring that customers have a comfortable and efficient way to enjoy their favorite Starbucks beverages and treats.  “We are excited to bring Starbucks to Union City further enriching the retail landscape of this vibrant community,” said Buchanan Realty Group “This project highlights our dedication to creating high-quality commercial developments that serve both businesses and the local community.”  The Union City Starbucks will not only provide a welcoming space for residents and visitors to gather but will also contribute to the local economy by creating new job opportunities Its location near other prominent retailers is expected to attract additional foot traffic and enhance the overall appeal of the area.  BRG’s Development Team has been instrumental in expanding retail and commercial spaces across Tennessee and this project underscores their dedication to fostering business-friendly environments across the region.  For more local news, click here It’s a story that happens often in New Jersey politics where cliques and factions sometimes create toxic environments within one party in control of local government Senator Bob Menendez’s political trajectory happened in sort of the same way The story starts in 1974 when 20-year-old Bob Menendez was elected to the Union City Board of Education as an ally of Union City Mayor/State Senator William Vincent Musto Menendez had been a teenage aide to Musto testifying against him in a federal racketeering trial – he claims he wore a bulletproof vest to court — and then ran against him in 1982 A judge had ordered Musto removed from the mayor’s office and the State Senate on May 10  The entire five-candidate Musto slate won “This is the real jury,” Musto said of the residents of his hometown Between Republicans Ronald Reagan and Tom Kean Hudson County was on the verge of becoming a swing county politically in the 1980s but Menendez gets considerable credit for halting the trend and keeping the county blue Hudson County gave Jimmy Carter a paltry 23,605 vote margin against Gerald Ford Assembly Speaker Joseph LeFante (D-Bayonne) Brendan Byrne’s unpopular state income tax through the legislature almost lost his bid for Hudson’s open congressional seat He beat Republican Anthony Campenni by just 6,855 votes (Campenni ran for Jersey City mayor the following year and got 2.7% of the vote.) Republicans were beginning to spread their wings in Hudson County Reagan launched his campaign to unseat Carter in Jersey City and came within 4,415 votes (48%-46%) of carrying Hudson and the Reagan administration started sending millions to Jersey City Two years after becoming the Hudson County Democratic Chairman McCann was quietly running Reagan’s Hudson campaign again He withheld his endorsement of Walter Mondale and was a no-show when Geraldine Ferraro campaigned in Jersey City that October Republicans Octavio Alfonso and Roger Dorian won district Freeholder seats in 1984 ousting incumbent Freeholders Anthony DeVincent (the mayor of North Bergen) and Steve Cappiello (the mayor of Hoboken) McCann was also an ally of Kean – he had photos of Reagan and Kean in his City Hall office After McCann lost re-election to Anthony Cucci in May 1985 Kean showed up at Cucci’s swearing-in to find the Democratic gubernatorial candidate That was the first time a Jersey City mayor had no real influence over a gubernatorial election A bunch of McCann-allied Jersey City Democrats publicly endorsed Kean including former City Council President Bobby Jackson and Hudson County Freeholder Elnardo Webster  Kean also had the backing of North Bergen City Clerk and political boss Joseph Mocco Kean carried Hudson by 41,970 votes – a 61% landslide that swept four Republican Assemblymen into office While Joe Doria (D-Bayonne) and Joe Charles (D-Jersey City) were safe in the 31st district where Bayonne Mayor Dennis Collins stuck with Shapiro – the 32nd and 33rd districts went Republican Frank Gargiulo (R-North Bergen) and Charles Catrillo (R-Jersey City)beat incumbents Paul Cuprowski and Anthony Vainieri; with the backing of the Mocco machine in North Bergen The Union City-Hoboken-West New York district sent Ronald Dario (R-Union City) and Jose Arango (R-West New York) to the Assembly Arango polled 2,341 votes ahead of Robert Ranieri finished 4,751 votes ahead of Mario Hernandez Kean and the state Republican Party decided to put significant money into Hudson County for the May 1986 municipal races Republicans assembled an anti-Musto alliance ticket that included Dario Independent-turned-Democrat-turned Republican Charles Velli who had run against Musto four years earlier The GOP ran the campaign and raised most of the money with the understanding that Dario would be mayor if they won The Kean-backed slate swept the Union City election and the triumphant Republicans headed back to Trenton Dario showed up to be sworn in as mayor on July 1 to find out that Menendez and Walter had convinced Alcobar to support Menendez for Mayor Alcobar insisted that the Republicans who ran his campaign never told him that backing Dario for mayor was part of the deal And the state Republicans who financed the campaign packed up and went home after the May election and never followed up on the commitment to Dario Dario thought he was going to be mayor and never reconfirmed either The state GOP didn’t return to Hudson for the general and promise of political and financial support for a Cuban-American congressional candidate from West New York never materialized; despite an aggressive grass-roots campaign Democrats had their War of 1987 when Bob Janiszewski ousted County Executive Ed Clark in the Democratic primary Democrats had put their machine back together again Republicans took a shot at the 32nd and 33rd district Senate seats in 1987 Thomas Cowan (D-Jersey City) and received just 33% of the vote Gargiulo lost his Assembly seat; Anthony Impreveduto ran 9,583 votes ahead of him now a Union City Commissioner but not the mayor Christopher Jackman (R-West New York) and lost 61%-39% won an Assembly seat; he beat Arango by 5,808 votes That was the end of the Republican Revolution in Hudson County Republicans lost all four of their Assembly seats and both their Freeholder seats.