Worthington
Worthington City Schools families, principals, and teachers found flyers with hateful messages on doorsteps and near school buildings on the morning of September 29, according to Superintendent Trent Bowers and the school board. The flyers matched ones scattered across Clintonville, and the district said it reported the incident to Worthington police and the Southern Poverty Law Center.
The NAACP’s Columbus branch condemned the flyers as cowardly and asked anyone who finds them to photograph and report them.
Council approved a five-year waste-collection contract with Local Waste Services at $21.74 per household per month, up from $18.74; Friday pickup continues and the deal takes effect October 14.
Old Worthington Market Day drew 160-plus exhibitors to High Street on October 3, and the city set trick-or-treat for 6–8 p.m. October 31, two days after the MORPC-recommended date.
Reynoldsburg
Federal agents arrested Justin Jackson, 23, of Reynoldsburg on October 1 on a charge of producing child pornography, which carries 15 to 30 years in prison. The FBI’s Columbus task force says Jackson solicited explicit photos and videos from a 12-year-old Kansas girl on Discord and TikTok, then threatened to send them to her friends and family. Jackson, a registered sex offender with two prior extortion convictions involving an 11-year-old, is in federal custody with a hearing set for October 6.
Reynoldsburg’s Michael Justin Riggle, 50, pleaded guilty September 21 to 11 counts across two Muskingum County cases — burglary, generator thefts tracked with Apple AirTags, evidence tampering, and drug charges — and was sentenced to five years plus $2,648 restitution.
O’Charley’s closed its Reynoldsburg location at 2272 Baltimore Reynoldsburg Road as part of a 44-restaurant national shutdown, while Reynoldsburg-born Koffee Paradise opened its third shop in September.
Dublin
Council voted 6-0 on September 28 to waive the city’s hunting ban so USDA Wildlife Services sharpshooters can cull deer November 1 through March 31. The program covers several approved sites, mostly city parks plus parts of Muirfield Village Golf Club, after an index counted 528 deer across the city’s nearly 25 square miles. The city will post signs at participating parks, mail every resident, and hold a public education session October 8.
Street light pole repainting starts October 6, with crews working 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and no lane closures expected; Discovery Boulevard is first.
The Riviera Park pedestrian bridge shared-use path closed September 28 for deck replacement, new handrails, and beam painting.
Hilliard
Hilliard City Council voted 7-0 on September 28 to transfer 333 acres of city-owned and private land to Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks, growing the 44-acre Homestead Metro Park at 4675 Cosgray Road by nearly eightfold. The deal moves 69 acres of city land directly, authorizes M/I Homes to transfer its parcels, and sets trail maintenance terms; Metro Parks says developing wetlands, trails, and prairies will take a couple of years.
A Columbus Foundation “Big Table” discussion on data centers drew council members, township trustees, and State Rep. Crystal Lett to The Well on Cosgray Road on September 29, after the city withdrew its EPA appeal on natural-gas fuel cells at an Amazon data center on September 15.
Powell
Powell announced September 29 that council authorized a cooperative agreement with Liberty Township and Delaware County to seek state funding to reconstruct Carriage Road from Liberty Road to Wren Way. The project would prepare for a proposed roundabout at Carriage and Liberty — the city’s first — though the agreement doesn’t authorize construction; Powell’s share is $10,500 of the $42,000 cost.
Olentangy Orange kicked six seniors off the girls soccer team and placed coaches on administrative leave October 2 after an alleged August hazing incident involving 12 victims; the sheriff’s office found a criminal offense occurred but filed no charges.
State Rep. Brian Lorenz (R-Powell) is pushing House Bill 16 to bar HOAs from banning political yard signs, aiming for lame-duck passage before November 3.
Grove City
Issue 28 charter amendment draws fire ahead of November vote. The Pennant published the second part of an editorial September 30 against Grove City’s Issue 28, the “Community Consent Amendment” that would require voter approval for certain large-scale developments. The editorial argues it threatens the income-tax base covering 80-plus percent of the general fund and quotes Council President Ted Berry saying, “This will kill our city.”
Grove City girls soccer (9-1-3) can clinch its first league title since 2019 with a win over Central Crossing on October 6.
Westerville Central beat Grove City 41-35 in Week 7 football October 2.
Sunbury
Big Walnut (7-0) held off a late Worthington Kilbourne rally to win 35-28 at home October 2, moving to 3-0 in the OCC-Capital. The Golden Eagles had been ranked No. 9 in USA Today’s Midwest Super 15 earlier in the week.
The Planning and Zoning Commission approved a 4,650-square-foot dental office at the future 699 S. Kintner Parkway on September 28, sending it to council; a BellStores may take an adjacent lot.
The Smokin’ Hot Wing and Music Fest debuted at Freedom Park on October 3 with a wing competition, eating contest, and four bands, benefiting the Smokin’ Hot Hearts Foundation.
Johnstown
Johnstown stayed unbeaten in Licking County League–Cardinal play with a 54-13 win at Utica in Week 7, following a midweek feature on a secondary led by senior cornerback Liam Ryan that held Newark Catholic to 43 rushing yards.
Caylin Cox set a school record with 34 kills October 1, rallying volleyball past Utica in five sets; the Johnnies are 14-4.
A new Speedway opened October 2 at 10030 Innovation Campus Way, with Speedway/7-Eleven donating $711 for Johnstown-Monroe STEAM education.
Gahanna
Gahanna Lincoln routs New Albany 35-3 to stay unbeaten at 7-0. Gahanna’s defense forced three interceptions, including a 31-yard pick-six, and held New Albany to 38 rushing yards in a 35-3 win October 2. Quarterback Grey Kegley threw for 194 yards and three scores.
Council held a September 28 special meeting to enter executive session with the city attorney over pending or imminent court action.
The Planning Commission set an October 14 hearing on variances and development plans for Ridenour Road, Havens Corners Road, Taylor Station Road, and the Deffenbaugh Flex site.
Groveport
ODOT restricted the U.S. 33/Bixby Road intersection to right-in/right-out access October 2, eliminating left turns after 68 crashes from 2022–2025 and 12 more this year. The change precedes a future U.S. 33 widening with a permanent median barrier.
AEP Ohio rebranded as Ohio Power Company effective October 1; the city says service, accounts, and rates are unaffected.
Apple Butter Day returns October 10, with Wirt Road closed Friday afternoon through Saturday evening.
Quiet this week:
Galena — No village-specific news surfaced; council’s regular fourth-Monday meeting fell on September 28. Big Walnut’s 35-28 win over Worthington Kilbourne is the week’s local sports note.
Genoa Township — The fire department’s Prevention Open House is October 4 (noon–3 p.m.) and Beggars’ Night is set for October 31, 6–8 p.m.
Harlem Township — The township’s 4-mill fire levy renewal is on the November 3 ballot.
Sharon Township — Linworth Road is closed for about 30 days starting September 21 for gas line work, and waterline replacement continues in Worthington Hills.
Obetz — The Franklin County Engineer’s Touch-And-Ride-A-Truck event comes to Fortress Obetz on October 15.
West Jefferson — The Roughriders beat North Lewisburg Triad 56-14 in Week 7 football.
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