It’s that time where we all reflect on the year that’s passed. Some do it with melancholy, others with jubilee. And then there’s those of us who just don’t.
I tend to focus my attention to the future. But sometimes it can be fun to look back.
In Ashland, there were feel-good features and profiles, some hard-hitting investigative stories, tragic events and inspiring people doing hopeful and cool things.
Thank you for letting me tell them.
Taylor Henninger already directed our attention to 10 of the great stories she authored. Below are some of mine, organized chronologically.
Faith Life Church
In early February, my editors tasked me with investigating Gary and Drenda Keesee and their church. They wanted me to offer readers a deeper understanding of how the successful mega church leaders found themselves amidst a dooming sex crimes scandal.
I spent three weeks digging into their church’s story. I even drove to their New Albany church one Sunday morning, in an attempt to speak to Gary Keesee about the criminal investigation.
The result was a long story that gave readers a glimpse into the couple’s past and how their church brand had grown over the years.
It also resulted in another investigative piece, this time explaining the Ohio Attorney General’s connection to the Keesees and how that affected the criminal investigation.
Greg Gorrell publishes book on experience in Vietnam
If you haven’t met Greg Gorrell, do it. He is so passionate about this book project, it’s hard to not also develop a desire to help him spread the word about the importance of sharing your story.
His mission for the last year or so has been to inspire other Vietnam war veterans to share their story with others.
Plane crash in Polk
In May, tragedy struck an Indiana pilot when he crashed his plane in Dave Nickles’ wooded property. Gary Wolfelt, 72, crashed his plane on May 5 during a thunderstorm.
In the days that followed, we learned that Wolfelt couldn’t see well because of the conditions. The National Traffic Safety Board, the agency tasked with investigating the crash, said Wolfelt flew the plane with no instrument ratings and flew that day under visual flight rules, a set of Federal Aviation Administration regulations that govern a pilot’s operation of aircraft when they can see the ground from the plane while flying.
We still don’t have an official understanding of what went wrong that evening for Wolfelt. The NTSB will release a final report on the crash in 2026 or possibly even 2027.
Ashland Cemetery vandalized
Ashland residents were shocked to discover in June that their beloved cemetery, and a veteran memorial, was desecrated by vandals.
The damage was extensive. Vandals toppled 133 headstones, many of which were centuries old. They also broke windows and wrecked a bronze military memorial; officials estimated the total damage could amount to $285,000 if everything was replaced.
A heartbreaking story turned into hope.
In the days and weeks that followed, Ashland rallied. The city established a special fund to keep track of the thousands of dollars pouring in from concerned residents and organizations.
Public records offer glimpse into Pumphouse District future
The project involving new apartments, a park and a new hotel seemed elusive for a couple years. How many apartments? What would the buildings look like? How many parking spaces?
Those questions were always met with a variation of “I can’t say” or “I don’t know yet.”
Well, in July, I finally just asked the engineer’s office for the plans. The result was a clear picture of what these buildings and plans will look like for the district, which is under construction now.
And then, in November, I covered the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new hotel in the former Pumphouse office building. Toward the end of the event, the construction manager snuck me in to the building to show me inside, so I got some photos.
A short feature on Linda Chorpening
I chose this story not because of how widely it got read. I chose it because it’s a rare feature I got the honor to write about a woman who is eager to share joy with others through painting.
Ashland is full of Linda Chorpenings; this just so happens to be the Linda Chorpening. I hope you all felt a little happiness as you read it.
Hot button issue at the fair
The Ashland County Fair had almost gone off without a hitch. (We wrote several great features that week.) And then, two days before the end, things happened that are now being litigated in federal court.
I’ll be honest. When this story broke, I debated writing about it because it seemed like a non-story initially. As I uncovered more details — from home at 11 p.m. — it became clear this was shaping up to be a big story.
The incident is now being litigated as a federal civil case examining free speech.
Mohican Young Star Academy
Violence at the resident youth treatment facility has grown worse over the last year. Mohican Young Star Academy is now under investigation by the state and admissions to the facility have been halted.
John Keim wins seat on Montgomery Township Board of Trustees
John Keim is the youngest township trustee currently serving in Ashland County. At 20, Keim unseated a longterm Montgomery Township trustee.
His future is bright, but also foggy as he figures out how to best serve the community in which he’s grown up. He also faces some skepticism as he begins his first term in office.
I caught up with him because I was intrigued by his drive and successful bid. What about him did voters in Montgomery Township like?
This Marine veteran is building a yoga misfit community
One of Shane Hutcheson’s students reached out to me earlier this year because she thought he’d be a good subject of a profile.
She was totally right.
Hutcheson, a buff Marine veteran who saw combat, got into yoga and then started his own outfit. Here’s his story.
Support this work
This list is by no means exhaustive. According to our internal records, I filed 577 stories for Ashland Source in 2025.
Local news is important, folks. If you’re still reading this, you know this. These stories, though not always widely read or shared, reflect the awesome people of Ashland County. Some of them do bad things, others do great things. But they’re all important and worth chronicling.
Next year promises more of the same from Ashland Source. C.S. Lewis said it best: “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
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