Westerville Stories Of The Year - 2025
The East of Africa groundbreaking marked the biggest turning point in Westerville news in 2025. After years of planning and public discussion, the project moved from the drawing board and debate into construction. As the site takes shape and additional developers are announced, it is likely to remain one of the city’s most closely watched stories into 2026.
But the year’s impact was not limited to cranes and concrete. Several of the most urgent stories were first reported by The Westerville News, including a two-hour delay before police were called after a reported gun at the community center, and the escape of an ICE detainee at St. Ann’s. A burglary at an Airbnb near Uptown added to a wider run of public safety questions. At the same time, residents kept showing up in public. Rally crowds at City Hall, repeated over the course of the year, turned local sidewalks into a visible measure of national tensions landing in a suburban city.
Education also drove the public agenda. The Westerville News reported on every school board meeting as members moved toward placing an income tax levy on the ballot, sparking a community debate over funding, staffing, and what residents expect their schools to sustain. In between the headline disputes, Westerville kept changing in quieter ways too, through business openings and closures, redevelopment plans, and the steady rhythm of decisions made in meeting rooms that shaped daily life long after the votes were taken.
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East of Africa Begins In Ceremonial Groundbreaking
Groundbreaking ceremonies on Wednesday marked the official start of Westerville's "East of Africa" development. The ceremony initiated the transformation of 88 acres along Africa Road into a commercial corridor through former farmland. The event drew city officials, community leaders, and residents, highlighting the project's significance to Westerville…
Delayed Response to Gun Report at Westerville Community Center
A delay of over two hours between initial reports of a person with a gun and the notification of police has resulted in an investigation of procedures at the Westerville Community Center and charges against one individual.
ICE Detainee Escapes Custody. Westerville Police On Scene But No Pursuit.
Civil Matter For Westerville Police
Westerville Police Investigate Airbnb Burglary, Vehicle Theft, and Identity Fraud
Westerville Police are investigating a complex burglary and fraud case involving a ransacked Airbnb rental, a stolen Audi sedan, and the use of fraudulent identification and credit cards.
Fight At Westerville South, Arbor Day Plantings, and Bookstore Independence
Fight at Westerville South High School Leads to Multiple Offenses
Tax Gets Voter Approval As Does Liquor Options. New School Board and City Council Members. Meter Amendment Loses. (With Updates and Corrections)
Westerville Voters Approve School Income Tax
Heyeck's Last Gavel. Coombs' Promises.
City Council Honors Mike Heyeck and Coutanya Coombs for Their Service
Hundreds Rally in Westerville to Protest ICE Actions
Several hundred people gathered Sunday at the Westerville skate park for a protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), featuring speeches, chants, and a march to the ICE facility on Brooksedge Blvd.
First Woman Police Chief Sworn In And Proposed Inside Millage Change Opposed
Holly Murchland Sworn In as Westerville's First Female Police Chief
Pharmacy Celebrates 150 Years Serving Westerville
Uptown Pharmacy Celebrates 150 Years: A Legacy of Healing and Community in Westerville
Call To Remove Invocation From Agenda
Last night’s city council meeting began with an invocation by Pastor Paul Hamilton of the Westerville Bible Church, who prayed for wisdom and guidance for Westerville’s city officials. Hamilton recognized God as the source of freedom and the foundation of good governance.
Westerville Plans Murals to Mark America’s 250th Anniversary
Westerville Plans Murals to Mark America’s 250th Anniversary
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Protesters Line State Street in Westerville as Part of Nationwide “Hands Off” Rallies
As demonstrations unfolded across the country on Saturday, Westerville joined the national protest effort with a large crowd in Uptown. Protesters filled both sides of State Street, stretching from Graeter’s Ice Cream to Dairy Queen, carrying signs and drawing supportive honks from passing cars.
Police Chief Retires, Westerville's Knife Throwing Champion, Saturday Market Changes
Westerville Police Chief Charles "Cappy" Chandler Retires
Father and Daughter Share A Calling — And A Hallway. Coffee Shop Arrives On Trailers.
Two Generations, One Hallway: Father and Daughter Team Up as Wilder Teachers
Therapy Ban Passes, With Dissent.
Westerville City Council Approves Ban on Gender Conversion Therapy for Minors
School Board Says Tax Education Is Key To Better Schools
Westerville School Board Calls for Statewide Funding Reform, Warns of Growing Burden on Local Taxpayers
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Museum Collection Returns After 50 Years In Storage
After five decades in storage, a collection of historical posters and pamphlets from the Anti-Saloon League (ASL) has returned to the Westerville History Museum. This collection offers a valuable glimpse into the powerful messaging of the temperance movement. Westerville History Museum Manager Jackie Barton and Specialist Kathryn Kaslow carefully sorted…
Westerville Farmer’s Daughter Helps Modernize Army Systems
In 2012, Karlee Harris stood beside her father, Kevin Scott, on the Yarnell Farm in Westerville as the warm glow of the setting sun lit the rows of corn around them. That sunset photo, capturing father and daughter framed by golden farmland, reflects more than a…
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