Beneath the autumn foliage of Butler, the Prairie Peddler Festival draws locals and visitors for two festive weekends, blending the charm of handmade crafts with the aroma of savory treats.

This beloved event, set at 3170 State Route 97, features over 220 vendors—most offering unique, handcrafted treasures from rustic décor to nostalgic wooden toys and artisan jewelry.

Nearly 30 food stalls serve classic comfort foods, a highlight for many guests. Festival co-founder Suzi Skoglund noted a strong turnout, hinting at possibly record-breaking attendance and continued community enthusiasm.

Kids delight in a lively petting zoo with miniature pigs, goats, and a turtle, cementing the festival’s reputation as a family tradition that grows year after year.

With expanded offerings and a warm, festive spirit, the Prairie Peddler Festival remains a fall favorite in the heart of Butler.

Park National Bank is set to build a new downtown Mansfield office on the western side of the Municipal Parking lot, marking a significant investment in the city’s future.

As part of this plan, the bank will transfer its current eight-story headquarters at 3 N. Main St. to the city and provide a $130,000 donation for downtown revitalization.

City Council will soon vote on shifting the parking lot land to the Mansfield Community Improvement Corporation, which will then hand it over for the bank’s new site.

Regional president Chris Hiner says the move demonstrates their deep connection to Mansfield and supports job retention and ongoing downtown renewal efforts.

The current building will stay open until construction begins in 2026, with new parking projects planned for the Carrousel District.

Mayor Jodie Perry praised the project, emphasizing its value for community growth and the promise of future redevelopment for the historic bank property.

Mansfield marked a milestone as locals celebrated the completion of a new tunnel under Trimble Road and a 1.1-mile connector linking the B&O Bike Trail to city sidewalks.

The $3.3 million initiative creates a safer route for cyclists and pedestrians, fostering easier, more active travel across the city’s busiest traffic corridor.

Cyclist Ruthie Good, a regular on the trails, voiced enthusiasm for the long-awaited improvement—one that will benefit both daily users and newcomers alike.

Supported by federal, state, and local funds, with a major boost from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Richland County Foundation, the project demonstrates strong local partnership and vision.

Enhanced safety features, including lighting and security cameras, were added to boost comfort for all who use the well-designed, 10-foot-wide trail, routed through Western Land Conservancy and OhioHealth property.

This connector, now overseen by the Richland County Park District, strengthens ties among four communities and advances Mansfield’s goal of becoming more active and connected.

Richland County leaders are weighing tough choices around property tax relief as homeowners face rising costs, driven by major increases in assessed property values amid a hot housing market.

New authority from the Ohio legislature allows the county to expand Homestead exemptions and owner-occupancy credits, yet all costs of this relief would fall on local funding, with no extra help from the state.

A public meeting on October 9 will bring together school districts and public agencies to discuss the impacts, since reducing taxes could result in a projected $6.6 million annual loss in revenue — with schools most affected.

Frustration runs deep among officials, who feel the state has shifted the burden to local decision-makers without needed support.

Meanwhile, Madison Local School District proposes an earned income tax levy to ease the load on property owners, as the final county decisions loom by the October 31 deadline.

Kelly Converse, Mansfield’s Finance Director, assured the City Council that the city is on track to recover the full $748,145 lost in a May phishing scam.

An employee inadvertently redirected a vendor payment after a scammer posed as a chief financial officer in a convincing email.

Most of the stolen funds were quickly flagged and frozen by the receiving bank, allowing $536,320 to be recovered — an unusually successful result, according to Converse.

Insurance has already reimbursed $200,000, and the remaining $11,825 is pending under a separate policy.

Converse praised the teamwork of banks, insurers, and law enforcement and emphasized ongoing efforts to boost internal controls and cyber defenses.

Mansfield has now implemented a more robust Payment Security and Fraud Prevention Policy, aiming to protect local taxpayers from similar cybercrime threats.

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is gearing up for its 65th season in Lexington, Ohio with an exciting slate of racing events scheduled for 2026.

The season launches with the O’Reilly Auto Parts Four Hours of Mid-Ohio endurance race from June 5-7, as part of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.

Motorsport fans can enjoy the Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio on June 12-14, featuring iconic race cars during the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association’s SpeedTour.

The summer spotlight shines on the popular Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio from July 3-5, coinciding with America’s 250th birthday celebration.

Motorcycle highlights include the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days and MotoAmerica Superbikes at Mid-Ohio in late July and early August.

More than 20 additional club racing weekends promise continuous thrills through October, while kids 12 and under enjoy free admission with a ticketed adult.

The Ohio State University at Mansfield has achieved a notable rise in enrollment, reaching a four-year high of 911 students for autumn 2025—a 7.3% jump from last year.

First-year student numbers soared by over 18% from 2024, highlighting increased interest in the campus’s diverse programs.

This surge aligns with growth across Ohio State’s five regional campuses, where total enrollment neared 6,000 and grew by an average of 8.6%.

The university’s overall student body, including Columbus, now stands at 67,255—up by 0.5%.

Significant gains appeared in health and rehabilitation (up 73%), business (36%), engineering (16%), and arts and sciences (12%).

Campus initiatives such as Upward Bound, LeaderRichland, and Manufacturing Days played a key role in attracting new students.

Two new scholarships—President’s Ohio Scholarship and Regional Campus Commitment—promise even greater support for Ohio students pursuing higher education.