New London athlete breaks record | graduation plans set | wet spring slows Ohio farms | 1 obituary | more
By David Jacobs
Madison Smith broke the school record in the 300-meter hurdles and secured a spot in the regional finals in both the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles, New London Local Schools announced on Wednesday.
Her record-breaking 46-second performance places her first overall in the 300-meter hurdles heading into Friday’s finals, where Smith will compete for a regional title and the chance to advance to the state meet.
Joining Smith in postseason success is junior Kelsey Pauley, who finished third in the regional shot put, the district said in a separate update. Her performance earned her a trip to the OHSAA State Track Meet, where she will compete at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus.
The successes by Smith and Pauley highlight a strong season for New London’s track and field team.
COMING SOON: GRADUATION
The graduation ceremony is set for 3 p.m. Sunday, June 1, for the New London High School Class of 2025. The special event is planned for the new football stadium/track facility on the school campus grounds off Wildcat Drive.
Some details:
Valedictorian: Ashlyn Raine Mitterling
Salutatorian: Samuel Tate Landis
Class President: Hayley Lynn Frances Spoerr
Courtesy of New London Local Schools, here is a look at the list of graduates:
NEW LONDON HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2025
LOCAL
Update on crash that injured a teen pedestrian in New London Township
A 13-year-old pedestrian is recovering from injuries sustained in a nighttime collision with an SUV earlier this month on Chenango Road in New London Township, a newly issued report shows.
The crash occurred at 9:55 p.m. May 17, the report released Thursday by the Ohio State Highway Patrol specifies.
The teen's injuries included a broken left forearm, contusions on the left abdomen, bruising on the top of both feet, bruising on the bottom of both lungs, a contusion on the forehead, and another fractured bone, patrol said.
A friend saw the oncoming vehicle and acted to grab the girl, who was then struck by the vehicle and ended up in a nearby ditch, according to the report, obtained via public records request. The injured teen told the patrol this week that during the chain of events, her left arm became exposed to the oncoming vehicle, the report shows.
The injured teen was transported by EMS to Fisher-Titus Medical Center in Norwalk.
By the time the injured teen noticed the vehicle, it was too late to move out of the way, the report shows.
The teen later stated that she was walking southbound against traffic and was on the pavement edge on the east side of Chenango Road and her friend was partially in the ditch when they saw an oncoming vehicle, the report shows.
A trooper from the Mansfield post of the state patrol was dispatched to the scene. The 36-year-old motorist, who was not injured, provided a statement and said she was driving northbound on Chenango Road at an estimated speed of 35 mph near railroad tracks when the collision occurred and did not see anyone. The driver stopped after the crash.
The 2020 Jeep Compass, which had its headlights on, sustained functional damage. A passenger in the Compass was not hurt. The report indicates no citation was issued.
The report also showed some varying accounts at the scene and in the aftermath of the crash.
It indicates the teens were heading to or from a bonfire at the time of the crash.
The patrol spoke again to the injured teen on May 28, states the report, which notes that the other teen was partially in the ditch when they saw an oncoming vehicle.
The friend of the injured pedestrian was not hurt.
The patrol was also assisted on scene by Firelands Emergency Medical Services and the New London Fire Department.
NEW LONDON POLICE
List: New London police calls (May 23-25)
List: New London police calls (May 19-22)
AGRICULTURE
Wet fields hinder planting progress for Ohio farms
Persistent rainfall during the week ending May 25 limited Ohio farmers to just two days suitable for fieldwork, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly crop weather report shows.
Soil saturation and above-average precipitation stalled planting progress across the state.
As a result of the wet conditions, topsoil moisture was rated 41 percent surplus and 59 percent adequate, with none reported short. Subsoil moisture was similarly rated: 33 percent surplus and 66 percent adequate.
Other details from Tuesday's report:
-- Corn planting reached 54 percent, down from 74 percent at the same point last year and behind the five-year average of 73 percent.
-- Corn emergence was reported at 36 percent, trailing last year’s 48 percent.
-- Soybeans were 52 percent planted, also behind last year’s 63 percent and the five-year average of 62 percent. Soybean emergence stood at 33 percent, compared to 37 percent a year ago.
-- Oat progress remained strong, with 88 percent planted and 84 percent emerged. Winter wheat development was ahead of schedule, with 98 percent jointed and 75 percent headed, well above the five-year average of 57 percent.
Farmers who were able to enter their fields focused on planting, cutting hay, spraying, and applying fertilizer.
However, progress on the first cutting of hay was slow.
-- Just 21 percent of Ohio’s alfalfa hay and other hay had been cut, compared to 41 percent combined for the five-year average.
Crop condition ratings remained mostly favorable:
-- The USDA rated 41 percent of the corn crop in good to excellent condition.
-- Winter wheat was rated 67 percent good to excellent, oats 79 percent, and pasture and range 78 percent.
The USDA -- through the National Agricultural Statistics Service -- issues crop weather reports weekly during the growing season to track field conditions, planting progress, and crop health across Ohio.
OBITUARY
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
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Election recap, New London govt. update, FFA honor, Ohio farming, NLPD calls
Photos from New London prom; 5 other village headlines
NEW LONDON WEATHER
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Reporter David Jacobs can be reached at davidjacobs@shelbynewsreporter.com
