News

The pavilion at Liberty Park in Mansfield is all spruced up thanks to Boy Scout Troop 123. 

Richland Newhope superintendent announces retirement

One of the newest providers of services in Richland County is Statewide Transportation LLC.  Founded in 2015 in Ashland County, the company now serves about 29 people in Ashland, Wayne, Holmes, and, as of May 1, Richland County. “We started initially doing non-medical transportation and HPC (Homemaker Personal Care) transportation,” says Co-Owner Heather Gentle.  “There’s such a need with a lot of things, and I guess with my background we decided to…add services.”

Leo Bishop may not be able to communicate with words, but his parents have no difficulty understanding their son, who turns 3 in August. “He can tell us things just by the way he cries, the way he squeals, the way he laughs, the way he smiles,” says his mother, Jeanine Bishop. That’s how they know Leo enjoys a new type of wellness program he started this past February.  Once a week, the family visits Raintree to use that facility’s small spa tub.  Ben Bishop climbs into the pool, and Jeanine hands Leo to his father.

John Penney has a special gift for remembering dates. “I can tell you all the presidents of the United States, when they were born, when they died,” says John.  “I know all of the vice-presidents, too!” As you might expect, he’s pretty good at Trivial Pursuit – especially history-related questions.  While history isn’t always challenging for John, other things can be. 

Makayla Luther says she has been volunteering with people with disabilities for as long as she can remember. That says a lot considering Makayla is only 15 years old.

Local teen named Hero with Heart

For years, individuals with disabilities had few options to save money without fear of losing their benefits. That all changed last June when Ohio became the first in the nation to launch STABLE Accounts.

Chris Allison wasn’t planning to work in the developmental disabilities field after completing college. That was until he visited his brother, Christian, who lived in a group home in Columbus that also housed juvenile delinquents.

Born a month early, Max spent more than a month in the hospital and was slow to gain weight, even though he was taking his bottle. Mallory says her youngest son screamed six times a day for eight months.