Plain City News

Riding in the rain
News, Plain City, Plain City News
By Michael Williamson 
September 12, 2026
A downpour didn’t stop penny farthing enthusiasts from participating in Plain City’s high wheel race Thursday evening. Despite the weather, onlookers and riders alike joined the old-time bicycle race ...
Corn Carnival royalty crowned
News, Plain City, Plain City News
By Michael Williamson 
September 11, 2026
Candidates for Plain City’s Corn Carnival court await the announcement of who will be crowned king and queen Wednesday during the festival’s opening ceremony. Levi Moran, pictured at left, was named k...
“It really was a bomb”
Local News, News, Plain City News
FBI agents, firefighters, rescue workers and engineers work at the Pentagon crash site on Sept. 14, 2001, three days after a hijacked American Airlines flight slammed into the building on Sept. 11. (Photo submitted)
Area man recalls scene at Pentagon on 9/11
By Michael Williamson 
September 10, 2026
On Sept. 11, 2001, Union County, like much of the world, watched the events in New York City, Washington, D.C. and rural Pennsylvania unfold over national news broadcasts on television. Carl Ey, a res...
Pioneer story takes the stage
Education, News, Plain City News
Residents will have two opportunities to see Path of the Pioneer, the one-man show about Jonathan Alder, this week on Sept. 11 and 12. Shown above is actor Verne Hendrick, left, who plays Alder, Daniel Rodriguez Hijo, center, the playwright/director and stage manager Ally Yeom during rehearsals for the show this summer. (Photo submitted)
JAHS grad brings Jonathan Alder's story to life
By Michael Williamson 
September 9, 2026
For many current and former Pioneers, the figure of Jonathan Alder may be a mysterious face on a school poster or the mascot for the district in an old photograph. To others he might simply be a names...
Transportation planning important to 161 corridor success east of Plain City
News, Plain City, Plain City News
Several projects are planned for the Route 161 corridor east of Plain City. One of them is Dublin’s West Innovation District, shown above, a 2,000-acre project with frontage that stretches nearly two miles along the corridor from Kileville east to U.S. 33. (Graphic submitted)
By Michael Williamson 
September 5, 2026
Transportation is major focus for the Route 161 corridor group, especially as plans for projects along the roadway stack up. Officials met recently to continue discussions on how to handle an influx o...
Jerome residents question renovations
Local News, News, Plain City, ...
By Kyle Meddles 
August 22, 2026
As Jerome Township moves forward with plans to renovate the township hall, a pair of residents voiced their distaste in the decision to spend up to $2.1 million on the project. “By choosing to spend m...
AWS-linked company buys 155 acres in Jerome Township
Local News, News, Plain City, ...
Magnus Development LLC, a company linked to Amazon Web Services, purchased 109 acres of land at 12030 Industrial Parkway, circled in yellow above, for $9.7 million in July. The land is under Jerome Township’s zoning for commerce district. (Graphic submitted)
By Kyle Meddles 
August 15, 2026
A company linked to Amazon Web Services (AWS) quietly purchased over 100 acres of land on Industrial Parkway in Jerome Township last month. According to Union County GIS, on July 1, Magnus Development...
Plain City hits pause on data centers
News, Plain City, Plain City News
By Sarah Vollrath 
August 12, 2026
Plain City Village Council has approved a temporary moratorium on data center development within the village. Council met Aug. 10 with unfinished Ordinance 37-2026 on the agenda, establishing a tempor...
Chicken farm going up west of Plain City
News, Plain City, Plain City News
By Michael Williamson 
August 8, 2026
A local agricultural operation looking to build a chicken farm west of Plain City is making its way through the permitting process. Pleasant Valley Pastures filed an application through various Madiso...
Trustees dismiss case against fire chief
News, Plain City, Plain City News
Jerome officials order new investigation
By Sarah Vollrath 
July 29, 2026
Jerome Township trustees on Monday dismissed disciplinary charges against Fire Chief Doug Stewart after determining the investigation that led to the case did not comply with township policy, then imm...
Memorial’s Jerome facility sees early growth
News, Plain City, Plain City News
By Michael Williamson 
July 25, 2026
Memorial Health officials said the recently opened medical center in Jerome Township is exceeding expectations but they are also conscious of managing the growth. “I think we're making a good first im...
Township lays out case against fire chief
Local News, News, Plain City, ...
Hearing lasts for hours without resolution; another planned
By Sarah Vollrath 
July 23, 2026
Jerome Township trustees heard sharply conflicting arguments Tuesday as the public hearing to determine whether Fire Chief Douglas Stewart should be removed from office got underway. Township attorney...
Rock the Clock turns 10
News, Plain City, Plain City News
Tim Dawson addresses the audience at Rock the Clock in Uptown Plain City in 2018. (Photo submitted)
By From JT Staff Reports 
July 23, 2026
For nearly a decade, Tim Dawson has reached the same conclusion after Rock the Clock wraps up. "This is the last year." The words have become something of an annual tradition for the Plain City busine...
Plain City turns out for Steam Threshers
News, Plain City, Plain City News
By Michael Williamson 
July 20, 2026
The Miami Valley Steam Threshers Association’s Grand Parade rolled through Plain City Friday evening. Above, a young parade walker hands out American flags as she makes her way down Main Street. Below...
Living ag hisssssstory
News, Plain City, Plain City News
“Sawmill Steve” Wolfe demonstrates how to operate the 19th century sawmill on display at the Miami Valley Steam Threshers Association Show in Plain City this week. Wolfe, a director on the MVSTA board, is one of several participants in the annual event celebrating the area’s agricultural roots. The show runs through Sunday at Pastime Park. (Journal-Tribune photo by Michael Williamson)
Steam show preserves farming heritage
By Michael Williamson 
July 18, 2026
For those who participate in the annual Miami Valley Steam Threshers Association Show, the event is more than a just a parade and showcase of tractors, it’s a way to keep the community’s agricultural ...
Plain City moves toward a one-year data center moratorium
News, Plain City, Plain City News
By Sarah Vollrath 
July 18, 2026
Plain City is set to vote on a 12-month moratorium on data centers next month. At the Monday village council meeting, the board voted to implement legislation that would then come back to council at t...
Fire chief’s wife pushes back on township claims
Local News, News, Plain City, ...
Doug Stewart remains unable to comment
By Kyle Meddles 
July 16, 2026
Sharon Stewart, the wife of Jerome Township Fire Chief Doug Stewart, says that every major allegation the township has pressed against her husband has been taken out of context and paints an incomplet...
McCartney speaks on civil discourse
News, Plain City, Plain City News
By Michael Williamson 
July 11, 2026
Bill McCartney delivers a lecture on civic discourse held in Plain City Wednesday evening. McCartney, who also serves on the Jonathan Alder Board of Education, was not speaking in his capacity as a bo...
Citizens lob allegations at Jerome trustees
News, Plain City, Plain City News
Residents accuse officials of caving to developers, lack of transparency and exorbitant legal spending
By Sarah Vollrath 
July 9, 2026
The Jerome Township Board of Trustees faced sharp criticism from two residents during a meeting this week, accusing the board of operating without transparency and challenged actions involving data ce...
Communities honor America’s birthday
Local News, News, Plain City News
By From JT Staff Reports 
July 7, 2026
The Independence Day parades in the area were well attended on Saturday despite high temperatures and humidity. Above, a parade-goer recreates the famous scene of George Washington crossing the Delawa...
America’s birthday meets small-town tradition
News, Plain City, Plain City News
Above, a large crowd fills downtown Plain City during one of the community’s original Corn Carnivals. Held annually from 1914 through 1919, the Corn Carnival drew visitors from across the region with parades, contests, entertainment and agricultural exhibits. The festival celebrated the area’s agricultural heritage while bringing together residents for one of the community’s largest annual gatherings. More than a century later, the Corn Carnival remains one of the most cherished traditions in Plain City’s history. (Photos submitted)
Plain City revives Corn Carnival for country’s 250th
By Jack Christian 
July 4, 2026
The Village of Plain City is preparing to host a week of festivities as part of the nationwide America 250 commemoration, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States. The celebration will b...
Jonathan Alder: The frontier captive who bridged two worlds
Local News, News, Plain City News
Jonathan Alder’s cabin at the Madison County Historical Society’s Museum of History. (Photo submitted)
By From JT Staff Reports 
July 4, 2026
Few people in Ohio history lived a life as extraordinary as Jonathan Alder. He was a child of the American Revolution, a frontier captive, an adopted son of the Mingo and Shawnee, a warrior in Ohio’s ...
JA completes purchase of land near PCES
News, Plain City News
Jonathan Alder officials closed the contract for three parcels of land, shown above, located just behind Plain City Elementary School. The newly acquired land totals just over 25 acres with two larger parcels to the north and south and a third narrow strip going through the center. (Graphic submitted)
By From JT Staff Reports 
June 13, 2026
Jonathan Alder has officially completed the purchase of more than 25 acres of land adjacent to Plain City Elementary School, a move district leaders say will help position the growing district for fut...
Dispensary eyes Jerome Township
News, Plain City, Plain City News
June 13, 2026
Representatives from Ethos Cannabis appeared before the Jerome Township Board of Trustees last week to make the case for allowing a cannabis dispensary in the township, highlighting potential tax reve...
Trust leaves JA possible $3M gift
Education, News, Plain City, ...
By Michael Williamson 
June 6, 2026
Student scholarship funds at Jonathan Alder could see a bump in numbers as the district waits to receive a $3 million gift. Board of education officials recently set up a committee to help handle the ...
JA breaks ground for Canaan addition
Education, News, Plain City, ...
By From JT Staff Reports 
June 6, 2026
Jonathan Alder students and board of education officials kick of the groundbreaking Wednesday of the work planned at Canaan Middle School. The district is working on a two-story addition to the buildi...
Jerome trustees blasted by residents
News, Plain City, Plain City News
"It's time to overthrow the board of trustees." - Jerome resident attending the meeting
Late changes to agreement with Schottenstein group leads to citizen heartburn
By Sarah Vollrath 
June 4, 2026
Barry Adler, Chairman of Jerome Township Board of Trustees, received a considerable amount of backlash for potential agreements the public was not made aware of until Tuesday’s meeting. A development ...
Jerome Township discusses vendor issues at meeting
News, Plain City News
By Jack Christian 
May 21, 2026
The Jerome Township Trustees reviewed a contract revision related to transient vendors ahead of the upcoming season at its most recent meeting. Eric Snowden, the Township Zoning Inspector, detailed th...
P.C. gets proactive on data center safeguards
News, Plain City, Plain City News
By From JT Staff Reports 
May 19, 2026
As conversations around data center development continue across central Ohio, officials in Plain City said the village is taking a proactive approach before any formal proposals arrive. In a statement...
Man charged with trying to smash his way into P.C. gas station
News, Plain City, Plain City News
By Kyle Meddles 
May 16, 2026
A Columbus man was arrested for attempting to break into a Plain City gas station with a hammer. According to Plain City Police Department (PCPD) reports, Leonard Roy, 45, of Columbus, was arrested an...