Top stories of 2023
Dec. 29—Every year, The Lima News looks back at the top stories from the year that's about to end.
And every year, readers can see reasons for disgust, for optimism and for joy in the region as they reflect. It's a fine reminder that the world keeps marching on, through the good and the bad.
Here are the top local stories of 2023, as voted upon by the editors and reporters at The Lima News.
1. Two escape Lima prison
Word quickly spread May 23 that two men, including a convicted murderer, were on the lam after escaping from Allen Oakwood Correctional Institution.
The names of Bradley Gillespie and James Lee became well-known by the end of the day. The duo escaped in a trash receptacle and fled to Kentucky. On May 28, authorities apprehended Lee in a traffic stop. Gillespie, who escaped on foot after the traffic stop, was later found dead, floating in the Ohio River.
The incident led to changes at the prison, including more security cameras, reduced access for inmates and the replacement of a sealed trash compactor. Three correction officers involved in not reacting quickly enough to a mismatched prisoner count could still face disciplinary action.
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2. Downtown Lima
The landscape in downtown Lima changed as much in 2023 as in any recent year.
In August, the Pangle Pavilion at the Greater Lima Region Amphitheater opened with three days of music, debuting the outdoor venue near the intersection of Central Avenue and Spring Street. Acts included Lima native Al Jardine and Grammy Award winner All-4-One.
In December, an archway went up over Spring Street at Main Street, an architectural gathering place for Good Foods Inc.'s Spring and Main project. The historic building has plans to bring multiple restaurants and entertainment venues into downtown, which should open in May.
There was loss, too, with downtown mainstay Hofeller, Hiatt and Clark closing after 125 years in business. The county intends to put a county administrative building in that Main Street locaion.
3. Elida's transgender policy
National concerns about which bathroom facilities transgender students should use became a local issue, as Elida's school board allowed students to choose their facilities, citing federal case law but inciting local residents.
Three new school board members were voted onto the board in November, and the voters also rejected a renewal levy twice in the year, with November's having 58% vote against a routine levy that purchased buses and laptops and funded maintenance projects.
Some students also shared their views, staging a walkout the day before the November election.
4. Wapakoneta's tornado
An EF-1 tornado with estimated 110 mph winds tore through an area near Waynesfield and Wapakoneta. The storm leveled a large commercial greenhouse near the intersection of Interstate 75 and U.S. 33, ripped roofs off buildings and tore up large trees.
The storm showed the good in people too, as neighbors came out to help clean up the damage. Luckily, no one died in the storm.
5. Spencerville mayor arrest
Former Spencerville Mayor Phillip Briggs will spend at least four years in prison for crimes he committed against multiple teenage girls.
Briggs was sentenced in October after pleading guilty in September to using minors in nudity-material or performance, as well as an August plea on a voyeurism charge. The victims read their statements at the sentencing.
6. Lima Mall sold
The Lima Mall continued its slow transition after a New York-based investment company purchased the mall in April for $12 million.
The company owned 60 malls at the time of the purchase, including the Findlay Village Mall in Findlay and Ashtabula Towne Square in Ashtabula. It previously owned the Miami Valley Centre Mall in Piqua.
At the time of its sale, the mall had 37 tenants, according to its website. As of Friday, there were 45 tenants at the mall, including anchor store JCPenney.
7. Lima's pool project
Lima council moved ahead with work to build the Lima Aquatic Center, a $9.2 million swimming pool near Spartan Stadium and Lima Senior High School.
The new structure will be largely paid for with American Rescue Plan Act funding, although it will cost about $650,000 per year to maintain, with the city, the Lima schools, and Lima Family YMCA helping out. The facility replaces Schoonover Pool, which fell into disrepair and closed in 2020 and never reopened.
8. Double homicide
Bond was set at $2 million for Kenyatta Washington, who authorities said shot and killed Romelo Blackman, 28, and John Dyes, 18, at a West McKibben Street residence April 22 before heading to Louisiana. He was extradited a week later.
His trial is scheduled for March 4, but a possible change of plea hearing is slated for Jan. 10.
9. Scanland's deal
The former head of Allen County Children Services, Cynthia Scanland, had her criminal case conditionally dismissed in January in connection to a scandalous case of a homosexual couple sexually abusing the foster children in their care back in 2020.
Scanland faced charges of tampering with records, obstructing official business and dereliction of duty. As terms of the agreement, Scanland agreed to not work in any Ohio county Children Services office or work in any Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services role that includes child protection responsibilities for 10 years. She also agreed not to teach in the area of Ohio's child protection services.
10. Lima News changes
The Lima News, the city's oldest distributor of news, made several changes this year, eliminating seven-day-a-week print editions and replacing them with subscriber-only access to LimaOhio.com and two larger print editions distributed each Wednesday and Saturday starting in May.The company cited reader habits moving to online and economics as the reasons for the change.
The news organization also moved out of its Elida Road facility in May and relocated to downtown Lima at 205 W. Market St., Suite #100A, Lima.
Reach David Trinko at 567-242-0467 or on Twitter @Lima_Trinko.
