Submitted Story & Photo to Urbana Daily Citizen

Graham Elementary invites the public to STEM Tours on Friday, Sept. 27, to see how students are being prepared for careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and how they are being taught to think critically and creatively and to collaborate and communicate their ideas.


Guests may visit for a morning session from 9 a.m. to noon or an afternoon session from noon to 3 p.m. The STEM Tours will include classroom observation and meeting with administrators and staff to learn how they incorporate STEM activities into their daily instruction.

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Story from Urbana Daily Citizen by the Champaign County Historical Museum
Photos courtesy of the Champaign County Historical Society

The circa 1937 “Then” photo (#A1964) is of the United Paperboard Co. Note the 1937 Ford automobile in the foreground. The Ohio Strawboard Co. was established in 1895 (Urbana and Champaign County Illustrated – Supplement to the Urbana Daily Citizen, Oct. 10, 1911). The facility was apparently heavily damaged by a tornado circa 1900 (#A2069). At that time straw was a primary ingredient in the finished product – boxboard.

​Based upon Sanborn Fire Insurance maps in 1910, the plant was listed as the United Boxboard Company and by 1911 it had approximately 50 employees. It became known as the United Paperboard Co. in September 1924. Straw was no longer a component, although older workers continued to refer to the plant as “The Strawboard.”

Sometime later it became one of three American companies operating under the name United Board & Carton Co. The product was primarily “kraft,“ which was manufactured in a variety of sizes and colors. A specialty item was “cakebox,” which was coated with white Alabama clay. Employees worked “swing shifts” alternating weekly from days (7 a.m.-3 p.m.) to 2nd (3-11 p.m.) to “graveyard” (11 p.m.-7 a.m.). Workers were given little notice when the plant shut down around 1972.

The 2019 “Now” photo is of Orbis Manufacturing, currently doing business in the same location, 200 Elm St.

​Click here to read article on Urbana Daily Citizen. 

By Christopher Selmek - [email protected] of Urbana Daily Citizen
Photo by Christopher Selmek  Urbana Daily Citizen

Goshen Memorial Park will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first event held there, back when it was called the Central Ohio Fairgrounds, on Saturday, Sept. 21, with food, music and an appearance by actor and singer Tom Wopat of the “Dukes of Hazzard” television show. Sept. 21 is the day in 1869 that Mechanicsburg hosted the first central Ohio fair, a regional fair held for 25 years. The event included many agricultural competitions before disbanding.

“In 1868 there was a group that was forming, the Central Ohio Fair Association, and their plans were to create a regional fair,” said local historian Stan Oliver. “There were county fairs going on, and there’s a lot of folks around who believe it was originally the state fair, and that is not true … The first fair was held in September and it was mainly a weekend thing, it wasn’t like a week-long fair, but it was a regional fair and it originally involved five counties. It became, eventually, eight counties that took part in that.”

According to Oliver, the ground was not developed and the park sat empty for a while, but by 1910 the land was being used for an annual Chautauqua with events and speakers. For a while it was referred to as Matinee Park until after World War II when the park was dedicated to veterans on Memorial Day of 1948 and officially named Goshen Township Memorial Park.

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Information from Champaign County Sheriff's Office Facebook page


Champaign County Sheriff Matthew R. Melvin is launching a new App to increase service to citizens regardless of their location. The new Champaign County Sheriff’s App can be downloaded for free through the App Store and Google Play.
This app is available to download for all iOS and Android users. Citizens who download the app can take advantage of features such as push notifications, submit a tip, most wanted and Sheriff’s Welcome. Users can stay in touch with the latest news and updates directly from the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office. By downloading the app, Champaign County citizens are more informed and prepared.
Sheriff Melvin is committed to bringing the most current and useful services to the citizens of Champaign County. This app is another tool that can be utilized to assist the community in continuing the partnership with their Sheriff’s Office in order to help provide for a safer and more informed Champaign County.
To download the app, search “Champaign County Sheriff” in the App Store or Google Play. Additionally, the link for the App can be found on the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. The QR code has been added, for your convenience!

Photo from Balloon Fest- Urbana, Ohio 

Champaign County will be aglow October 4-5 during this year's Champaign County Balloon Fest. The “Hot Air Affair” will be held at Grimes Field 4-9 p.m. on Friday and 2-9 p.m. on Saturday. Ticket prices are $2 for adults and teens, $1 for children 6-12 and children under 6 years are free! Enjoy music, a variety of food served by food trucks, contests, children’s activities and a dedicated beer garden for the adults.

Balloons launch at 6pm & later return to the airport for the evening "glow". 

Vendors can find information and an application to register here. Champaign County Balloon Fest organizers are looking for volunteers to work as crew members for balloonists, contact Elton Cultice at Grimes Field- (937) - 652-4319. 

The event is sponsored by the Grimes Field Foundation Committee.

Submitted Story to Urbana Daily Citizen By Amanda Goodwin
 Teacher at Urbana Junior High School
Submitted photo

This year’s students at Urbana Junior High have been sorted into “Houses.” The houses are 5 Points, Gutridge, Mohawk and Toll Run, named after one-room schools that were located in Champaign County. Each house chose a house color and mascot.

The “House” system is being used to promote unity, community and empathy in the middle school. Students were placed into houses in a way so that all students are represented. Once placed in a House Family students remain in that group until they go to high school. Older students mentor the younger ones and teachers are able to develop closer relationships with their students. These closer relationships will lead to more academic success and a real feeling of belonging. It also offers all students the ability to take on leadership roles. Student performance and service results in points for their house. The house with the most points at the end of the year wins the “House Cup”

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Article from Urbana Daily Citizen- Sandy Loffing 

It’s time for CRSI’s 12th annual Health Fair, coming Wednesday, Sept. 18, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. The CRSI event is a free community service and is open to the public.

Free information will be abundant on topics benefiting the entire family. There will be free chair massages along with Paraffin Dip for hand and arms. There will be free screenings and evaluations such as blood pressure, glucose, grip assessment, bone density, dermascan, spinal evaluation, hearing test, balance screening, rhythm screening, and many more. Dr. Crankshaw from Memorial Hospital will be here to “Ask a Doc.” Champaign County Safety Council will be sponsoring three different evaluations, saving fairgoers a fee for these services. There will be an ABI (Ankle Brachial Index) screening by Springfield Heart Surgeons along with a cholesterol screening from Vancrest of Urbana and also a Glaucoma evaluation offered by Associates in Optometry.

Admission and information, screenings and evaluations are free. However, the seasonal flu Vaccine offered by the Medicine Shoppe has a fee – most insurance plans are accepted. The Kroger Pharmacy will also be offering the Hepatitis Vaccine, Tetanus Vaccine and Pneumonia Vaccine for a fee. Most insurance plans are accepted.

The Mercy Health mobile mammography unit will be located outside of the Health Fair building. To schedule your 3D or 2D mammogram, call 937-523-9332. No doctor orders needed for the screening. Most mammograms are covered by most health insurance plans. Check with your insurance provider for exact coverage. No-cost screening available for those who qualify. Be sure to bring a photo ID and insurance card with you. Walk-ins welcome.

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Story Brenda Burns | Urbana Daily Citizen
Illustration courtesy of the city of Urbana

The city of Urbana received notice from the Ohio Department of Transportation that the city has been awarded grants totaling $3,098,163 to improve South High Street between Miami Street and Lewis B. Moore Drive. The grants include $1,348,163 through the Small City Program, $750,000 through the Transportation Alternatives Program and $1,000,000 through the Safety Program.
These grants require local cash matches of either 5% or 10%, depending on the program. In addition, the city needs an additional grant of approximately $960,000 for stormwater infrastructure on South High Street through the Ohio Public Works Commission in 2021.
The total estimated construction cost to improve South High Street is $4,320,000, and approximately 90% of the total construction cost is anticipated to be paid by state and federal grants.

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