Central Ohio News Briefs - April 5-12, 2026
Dublin — Human remains found near Riverside Drive on March 25 were identified as 46-year-old Rachael M. Morgan, with police saying no foul play is suspected.
Dublin — Dublin Scioto players Laith Alsaadi, Isaiah Jones, Brady Michaels and Jack Fair-McKee earned 2025–26 All-OCC boys basketball honors.
Dublin — Pedestrian tunnel construction updates detailed traffic control and timeline adjustments.
Dublin — A contract correction identified Husky Marketing & Supply Co. as the vendor on a recent legislation item.
Dublin — Families Flourish announced plans to celebrate teens graduating from Dublin high schools, while highlighting the nonprofit’s decade of helping 130 Columbus-area families with stable housing and economic coaching.
Dublin — April 10 updates showed no additional new verified briefs beyond those already noted, though earlier city postings had highlighted April events and council activity.
Genoa Township — Genoa Township Trustee Renee Vaughan and Sunbury Mayor Joe St. John are competing in the Republican primary for Delaware County commissioner ahead of the May 5 ballot.
Galena — Romanelli & Hughes bought the 84-acre Arrowhead Lakes Golf Course for nearly $5 million, with plans for a village-scale mixed-use project including 221 homes and 10 buildings for offices, retail and restaurants.
Galena — New city updates pointed ahead to an April 15 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, an April 18 Earth Day litter clean-up and a May 2 museum reopening.
Gahanna — Police urged safe, law-abiding use of e-bikes and scooters.
Gahanna — The Fair Housing Board posted a meeting notice with agenda details.
Gahanna — A six-week closure of the multi-use path crossing Big Walnut Creek near East Johnstown Road and Cherry Bottom Road is set to begin Monday, April 13 for bridge deck repairs.
Gahanna — The city’s latest updates also included a regular City Council meeting on April 6, a Planning Commission meeting on April 8 and a Bike Rodeo planned for April 18.
Hilliard — James Strahler II, 37, pleaded guilty to cyberstalking and related charges, becoming the first person in the United States convicted under federal laws tied to producing and distributing AI-generated sexually explicit images.
Hilliard — Raising Cane’s is remodeling its 1780 Hilliard Rome Road location as part of a wider central Ohio refresh, and Kroger will also renovate its Hilliard store under the regional investment plan.
Hilliard — Police warned residents about a “door kick challenge,” urging vigilance and reports of suspicious activity.
Hilliard — Hilliard City Schools opened applications for Air Camp USA, a STEM program focused on aviation and aerospace for students from fourth grade through high school.
Hilliard — City updates also highlighted the approved 2026 Street Maintenance and Rehabilitation Program, the April 11 One Hilliard Community Resource Fair, and upcoming council and zoning meetings.
Hilliard — A crash on I-70 near Hilliard-Rome Road affected morning traffic on April 10.
Lockbourne — Pressure Lounge 614, described as an illegal after-hours club on Lockbourne Road in Columbus, was ordered shut after a March 25 fatal shooting and more than 30 police calls.
Lockbourne — Ladarius Alexander, 35, was arrested April 10 and charged with murder in the March 25 death of Devekin Louis, whose body was found in the 1600 block of Lockbourne Road.
Lockbourne — The village also posted an invitation to bid for the Lockbourne Memorial Wall Project, with submissions due April 16.
Mifflin Township — Madison Local Schools announced a closure for April 9 because of operational impacts.
Powell — The city’s finance department received the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.
Powell / Delaware County — The Delaware County Board of Elections voted 2-1 to cancel the voter registration and candidacy of board member Melanie Leneghan, finding she is not a validly registered Ohio voter after records showed she sold her Powell home in January 2025 and updated her registration to an address in Delaware.
Reynoldsburg — Reynoldsburg players Xavier McKinney, Jordie Bowens, Mekhi Roddy and Rashad Perry were selected to the 2025–26 All-OCC boys basketball teams.
Reynoldsburg — City updates continued to highlight the Birchview Drive pavement project, the April 15 income tax deadline, an April 4 Civic Park clean-up and an April 25 Community Clean Up Day.
Sharon Township — No new verified items were identified in the reporting windows covered here.
Sunbury — Sunbury Mayor Joe St. John and Genoa Township Trustee Renee Vaughan both confirmed candidacies in the Republican primary for Delaware County commissioner.
Sunbury — Daryl Hennessy formally became city manager under Sunbury’s new charter, and parks officials discussed plans to reopen J.R. Smith Park later this year after improvements.
Sunbury — City postings also set a Finance Committee and Council meeting for April 15 and a Board of Zoning Appeals meeting for April 20.
Worthington — Wolf’s Ridge Brewing is set to open a new restaurant at the Worthington Inn later this month.
Worthington — City Council set a public hearing for Monday, April 13 at 7 p.m. on Ordinance No. 08-2026 concerning compensation for the assistant to the city manager and communications director.
Worthington — Kittie’s Cakes expanded its Old Worthington location by taking over adjacent space formerly occupied by Shift Studios, adding seating and retail space.
Worthington — State Route 161 reopened April 3 after a water main break near Thomas Worthington High School forced a temporary closure earlier that day.
Worthington — No additional new verified items were found in the April 8 to April 10 sweep beyond those already noted.
Grove City — Body camera video showed the arrest of Don Leonard, a Democratic candidate for Ohio’s 15th Congressional District, during a “No Kings” protest on April 8. He faces two misdemeanor charges.
Grove City — Raising Cane’s is remodeling its 2720 London Groveport Road location.
Grove City — CityScene Magazine’s “Discover Grove City” feature highlighted local humanitarian Billie Strader and pointed readers to the May-June 2026 digital edition and community calendar.
Groveport — Groveport-Madison players Tyreke Ruffin, Jordan Wagner, Marcus Hemphill, Kofi Kudolo and Ty Cooper received 2025–26 All-OCC boys basketball honors.
Groveport — The annual Community Garage Sale was announced for households within city limits.
Groveport — The city marked Golfers Day with a community celebration on April 10.
Obetz — No new verified items were identified for the latest reporting window.
West Jefferson — Coverage continued after the April 8 roof fire at an Amazon facility, where investigators suspect solar panels ignited. No injuries were reported during the evacuation, and damage was described as mostly water-related.
Regional — Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther visited the ReRoute workshop at the Marion Franklin Center on April 7 to observe youth violence intervention work built around mentorship, counseling and trauma-informed support.
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