(Editor's Note: The headline for this story has been corrected to the proper relationship status of the parties involved.) Columbus police have identified two men and a woman killed in what investigators are calling a double-murder and suicide on May 1 on the city's Southeast Side near Canal Winchester were all pronounced dead at an apartment complex in the 3000 block of Esquire Drive Police were called to the complex at around 12:20 a.m According to relatives who spoke with police Viars and Hughes were married but had been separated Viars and David were inside Viars' apartment when Hughes arrived and fired one shot into the apartment before forcing his way in and fatally shooting David but Hughes shot her right outside the front door of the apartment Witnesses who spoke with police said that Hughes shot her one more time and killed her before turning the gun on himself Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@dispatch.com, at ShahidMeighan on X, and at shahidthereporter.dispatch.com on Bluesky.  FORECASTPolice identify three victims in double murder-suicide in southeast Columbusby WSYX Staff COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Three adult victims were found dead in an apartment complex early Thursday morning in what police are investigating as a double murder-suicide. Authorities responded to the scene on the 3000 block of Esquire Drive near Gender and Refugee Road at 12:20 a.m. on Thursday. Police say they received multiple calls that stated a male shot a female and then shot himself. Officers arrived on the scene and located three adult victims suffering gunshot wounds: two males and one female. All three were pronounced dead at the scene. The victims have been identified as Aiden David, 19, Giannh Viars, 21. Police say Michael Hughes, 23, shot and killed both David and Viars before taking his own life. According to relatives, Viars and Hughes were married but had separated, police say. Meanwhile, Viars and David had begun dating. Neighbors in the community say they woke up to shots in the middle of the night. "I was very scared. A lot of emotions running through my mind," said Thomas Hensley. "Such a quiet neighborhood. So unexpected, you wouldn’t expect something like this." According to police, Viars and David were inside Viars' apartment when Hughes arrived and fired a shot into the apartment, forced entry, and murdered David in the apartment. Viars attempted to flee, but was shot by Hughes. Viars collapsed just outside the front door. Witnesses to the incident stated Hughes then came out of the apartment and shot Viars again, killing her, before shooting himself. A neighbor spoke to ABC 6 early Thursday morning, describing what she heard. Hughes was arrested for misdemeanor assault and domestic violence in January. Court documents said officers arrived at the same address where the killings happened on January 7 and spoke to Viars, who had a black eye and told police her husband, Hughes, had hit her. The assault charge was dropped, and Hughes pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor domestic violence. He was sentenced to time served. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Westfall at (614) 645-4221 or EWestfall@ColumbusPolice.org or to call Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477). Detective Westfall is the lead detective on the case and is being assisted by Detective Polgar. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact police, or you can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — The 23-year-old man who Columbus police say killed two people and then himself pleaded guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence in March. Columbus police say Michael Hughes gunned down Aiden David, 19, and Giannh Viars, 21, and then himself around 12:20 a.m. on Thursday at a residence in the 3000 block of Esquire Drive. Viars and Hughes were married but had separated. Hughes pleaded guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence on March 10. He was sentenced to time served after taking a plea offer that dropped the misdemeanor assault charge. Court documents say that on January 7, Columbus police arrested Hughes at the same address after his wife said he struck her, causing a black eye. She told police that she was sleeping when Hughes came into the bedroom and started arguing with her. Viars stated she hit him in the ribs and they started to "tussle on the floor and somehow he punched her in the face leaving a mark on her eye." She then called police. Hughes said he had been off his medication for anxiety and depression and had just started taking it again. He told police they got into an altercation but didn't explain more. He was arrested and taken to jail. Viars declined to speak with a local domestic violence organization. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact police or you can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233. Celebrate creativity, community, and culture during a full weekend of art, music, and fun in historic downtown Canal Winchester. This popular event begins from 6 to 8 p.m. May 15. That’s when the festivities with the Canal Winchester Art Guild Mural Unveiling during the Art Walk begin. Enjoy live performances by The Good Company Wedding Band and the CWPA group as you explore vibrant new murals and connect with local artists. From 6 to 9 p.m. May 16, Music in the Park will be the theme. This family-friendly night features a Touch-a-Truck experience and live music by The Usual Suspects and Repeat Offenders. The final day is from noon to 6 p.m. May 17. Stroll the historic streets during the Art Stroll on the Canal, hosted by Destination Canal Winchester. There will be over 40 visiting artists. The Kids Creation Station will be open. Downtown restaurants will be open during the event. CW PoolThe City of Canal Winchester invites you to cool off this summer at the Canal Winchester Municipal Swimming Pool.In an effort to have a smooth opening to the 2025 season, the pool will be open to members only from May 23-May 29. During this time, only individuals who have completed purchasing a membership will be able to enter the pool. Daily admission passes can be purchased at the pool by members only for additional guests outside of the membership. To purchase a membership, visit www.canalwinchesterohio.gov and select “Log In/Create Account”. Enter your user information, or create an account if you have not used the program before. Complete the process of purchasing a Sunbather’s Pass or Vacationer’s Pass by attending one of the following open house sessions, held at City Hall (45 E. Waterloo Street): Anyone unable to attend an open house may have their pass issued at City Hall between May 13 and May 22. Staff will be available to assist between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Friday; no appointment necessary. Sales will pause beginning May 23 and will not resume until May 27. When sales reopen, anyone interested in purchasing a Sunbather’s Pass or Vacationer's Pass can visit City Hall between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays - Fridays to complete the process. Returning members should bring their expired passes for reactivation. New passes can be issued for members, if needed. Members will be responsible for all guests brought into the pool; failure to abide by the rules may result in loss of membership. Seasonal memberships and a number of other pass options will be available this year. If space is available, reduced-price membership opportunities will open after July 5. News itemsPlease submit news items for this column at least 10 days in advance to Anne Darling Cyphert at adarlingnews@gmail.com. Ohio (WSYX) — Three adult victims were found dead in an apartment complex early Thursday morning in what police are investigating as a double murder-suicide Authorities responded to the scene on the 3000 block of Esquire Drive near Gender and Refugee Road at 12:20 a.m Police say they received multiple calls that stated a male shot a female and then shot himself Officers arrived on the scene and located three adult victims suffering gunshot wounds: two males and one female All three were pronounced dead at the scene The victims have been identified as Aiden David shot and killed both David and Viars before taking his own life Viars and Hughes were married but had separated Neighbors in the community say they woke up to shots in the middle of the night A lot of emotions running through my mind," said Thomas Hensley you wouldn’t expect something like this." Viars and David were inside Viars' apartment when Hughes arrived and fired a shot into the apartment Viars collapsed just outside the front door Witnesses to the incident stated Hughes then came out of the apartment and shot Viars again A neighbor spoke to ABC 6 early Thursday morning Hughes was arrested for misdemeanor assault and domestic violence in January Court documents said officers arrived at the same address where the killings happened on January 7 and spoke to Viars who had a black eye and told police her husband and Hughes pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor domestic violence Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Westfall at (614) 645-4221 or EWestfall@ColumbusPolice.org or to call Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477) Detective Westfall is the lead detective on the case and is being assisted by Detective Polgar If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or you can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 A new Kroger Marketplace could potentially be coming to Canal Winchester The Cincinnati-based grocery chain has proposed a roughly 118,000-square-foot Kroger Marketplace on a nearly 18-acre undeveloped site along the east side of Diley Road according to development plans on the city's website The proposed location is south of Busey Road and west of Finch Lane inside a Redwood Apartment complex Kroger will have a right-in and right-out access point off Diley Road as well as access from Dove Parkway the city will extend Greengate Boulevard from Hill Road to Diley Road and the Kroger site will also have access from that new roadway Kroger's Columbus Division has no plans to close any stores Kroger's Corporate Affairs Manager Mark Bruce told The Dispatch via email April 25 In November, Kroger opened its first new central Ohio store in 15 years in southeast Union County Canal Winchester's planning and zoning commission approved the store plans on April 14 and now the plan must be approved by the City Council Eastern suburbs reporter Maria DeVito can be reached at mdevito@dispatch.com and @mariadevito13.dispatch.com on Bluesky and @MariaDeVito13 on X A Canal Winchester elementary school custodian has been arrested and charged with a felony after he allegedly had a sexual texting conversation for months with a teen girl was arrested April 25 for pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor according to an April 25 press release from the Columbus Division of Police and Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force The 16-year-old victim is safe with their family Andermatt was an employee of Canal Winchester Local Schools as a custodian at Indian Trail Elementary School according to a staff page for the district Columbus police said the school "was notified and took immediate action." His staff biography appears to have been deleted from the district website Andermatt engaged in a "sexual texting conversation" over several months with a minor The sexting conversation allegedly resulted in the teen girl sending sexual pictures and videos to Andermatt According to a statement from the district was immediately placed on administrative leave after the district learned about his arrest and the charges Andermatt has been notified that he is not allowed to be on school property or attend any district events while on administrative leave "While we understand that this matter does not involve any of our students we take the safety and well-being of all children seriously," the district statement said "We will continue to cooperate fully with the Columbus Police Department in their investigation and follow state law and our district policies to take the appropriate and necessary steps." Additional charges against Andermatt may be pending after the case is presented to a grand jury for possible indictment He was arraigned April 26 and bond was set at $750,085 He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 5 The Columbus police Exploited Children Unit reminds parents to monitor their children's cell phones and their online and social media activity and to speak regularly to them about the importance of online safety Parents can find more information on how to protect children online at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio Contact Cole at cbehrens@dispatch.com or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report LANCASTER — Lancaster baseball coach Corey Conn believes that his squad has one of the best defenses in the state The Golden Gales were outhit by visiting Canal Winchester but the Golden Gales’ defense made play after play to keep the Indians from scoring more runs when they had major opportunities Senior pitcher Darren Ramsey was also able to make enough pitches to get out of a few jams Lancaster overcame a 1-0 deficit by scoring four runs in the fourth inning and then let their defense take over to seal a hard-fought 4-2 Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division win in front of a large crowd at England Field More: After shocking loss, Lancaster bounces back in a big way, cruises past Reynoldsburg and Darren continued to battle throughout the game,” Conn said I tell our guys all the time that we have one of the best defenses in the state We want to make teams put the ball in play and we trust our defense is going to make plays.” Lancaster was able to improve to 9-2 overall and remain in first place in the OCC with a 5-1 record The defensive gems started in the third inning for the Gales After the Indians plated a run on an RBI single they looked to be primed for a huge inning with the bases loaded and one out the Gales were able to limit the damage by turning a double play but that runner was immediately eliminated when senior catcher Zach Mowder threw him out on a steal attempt a runner was gunned down at the plate on a perfect relay throw from the outfield and when the other runner was attempting to reach third after an out at home Mowder fired a perfect strike at third to get the third out and pull off another double play junior shortstop Brayden Montgomery made a diving stop to his left Lancaster plated its four runs by loading the bases on a walk from Jack Pompey and then Brody Broeckel and Mowder were hit by pitches to load the bases Montgomery laid down a perfect bunt to score a run followed by Levi Greiner’s groundout to shortstop to plate another run Kam Griffith then delivered a two-run single The Indians scored a run in the fifth inning and could have scored another had Montgomery not made his diving stop gave up one earned run while striking out four but he made enough pitches to keep the Gales in the game “Darren maybe didn’t have his best stuff today but he kept battling and kept us in it,” Conn said and he relied on that because there were some things that didn’t go his way Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips Ohio (WSYX) — A driver who crashed into a business in Canal Winchester on Wednesday is recovering in a hospital Surveillance video from JSB Home Solutions tumbling into the parking lot and then crashing into a JSB work truck The business owner said the driver passed out because of medication The driver was last said to be stable in the hospital LANCASTER − Fairfield County Sheriff Office detectives arrested a 28-year-old Canal Winchester man and accused him of sexual misconduct Sheriff Alex Lape said Kyle Combs was indicted on one count of first-degree rape and six third-degree felonies of gross sexual imposition Lape said his office investigated the case after receiving a report about sexual offenses involving a known victim Combs is being held at the Fairfield County Jail pending arraignment "This arrest continues our commitment to protecting victims and holding offenders accountable," Lape said "We encourage anyone with information related to this case or similar incidents to contact our office." He said due to the nature of the investigation and to protect the identity of the victim his office will release no further information about the case now Anyone with any information can call the sheriff's office at 740-652-7900 or visit the office's app “It is currently estimated at $2.7 million construction cost,” said Canal Winchester Construction Services Director Bill Sims “The project is funded with local funds and a grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission for 33 percent of the project up to $999,999.” Sims said the project will include a roundabout to be installed at the second entrance into Winchester Square Shopping Center which is aligned with the main entrance into the Inn at Winchester the traffic signal at Prentiss School Drive will be removed and the side roads (Prentiss School and the first entrance to the shopping center) will become right-in/right-out,” said Sims When asked why the improvements are needed “With the additional Winchester Boulevard traffic that has been added in the last few years the proximity of the Prentiss School/Winchester Boulevard traffic signal to Gender Road is causing the intersection to perform poorly It has been anticipated for several years that improvements would need to be made further west of Gender Road to help accommodate the current and future increases in traffic.” Sims said the work on the project is expected to occur from May to October of this year “There is small amount of work needed to adjust manholes and water boxes to the pavement grade,” said Sims “We will also be installing a ‘CW’ logo on the pavement in the center of the High Street and Waterloo Street intersection under a separate contract The city will also be installing new trees on East Waterloo Street to replace the ones that were removed with the project.” and website in this browser for the next time I comment Canal Winchester and South - Covering Canal Winchester and entire Canal Winchester School District Covering all of Obetz and Hamilton Township Groveport - Covering Groveport and the entire Groveport School District & Madison Twp Grove City - Covering all of Grove City and Commercial Point Madison - Covering Madison County including: London The City of Canal Winchester invites families with children of all ages and adults alike to see and explore the many fascinating public works and public safety vehicles on display at the upcoming Touch-A-Truck event from 6 to 9 p.m Touch-A-Truck kicks off the city’s 2025 Music in the Park free summer concert series at Stradley Park get an up-close experience with vehicles from Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office For those more interested in live entertainment the event will also feature live music by The Usual Suspects & Repeat Offenders Additional free hands-on activities and games will be available throughout the park Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and picnic purchase food from one of the food trucks on site or carry out from one of the downtown restaurants Visitors will be able to purchase alcoholic beverages from participating establishments to enjoy within the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) boundaries More information on DORA can be found on the city’s website No outside alcohol is permitted within the park June 20 for Luau on the Lawn and live music from Creek Don’t Rise the Gas Pump Jockeys will return for a record 18th season for the annual Cruise-In Car Show Join community members for an End of Summer Bash on August 15th featuring music by Treble Catz and close out the season on September 19th with a Fall Fest and live music by Blues Therapy Music in the Park is a free summer concert series held the third Friday of May through September Visit www.canalwinchesterohio.gov for more information the Wild About Animals 4-H Club visited Nightcrawler Gardens for a tour Members observed various plants in different stages of growth and learned how they are started from seeds The club then held a regular meeting at Warthman Farms heard a presentation on market animal care by Justin Bachman of Granville Milling and viewed a beef showmanship presentation by Alex and Adam Warthman CW ChamberReservations are now being accepted for Canal Winchester Chamber’s Road to Results Workshop led by Kristin Ankrom with Navigate Consulting will guide businesses in assessing their operations and building a strategic framework for growth You'll walk away with a clear roadmap for success including a practical logic model template to turn your plans into action Bloom-Carroll Elementary students raised $4,475.08 this year for the American Heart Association through their annual fundraising efforts Bloom-Carroll has contributed $64,944.79 to this life-saving organization This long-standing tradition reflects the generosity and staff to making a difference in the lives of others earned recognition as this year’s top fundraiser.Student prizes for those who participated in the fundraiser will be arriving within the next few weeks Please submit news items for this column at least 10 days in advance to Anne Darling Cyphert at adarlingnews@gmail.com Canal Winchester Local Schools confirmed Monday that Jake Kuhner will not return for a fifth season as football coach The position was posted Sunday to the OHSAA's job openings webpage “Jake Kuhner will not return as football coach for the fall,” Megan Anthony the director of communications for Canal Winchester schools “Our supplemental contracts are one-year contracts Our athletic director (Jacob Ramsey) decided not to recommend coach Kuhner as head football coach for the 2025-2026 school year and coach Kuhner notified us in writing last week that he does not intend to seek the position.”  Ramsey and Kuhner did not respond to messages seeking comment qualifying for the postseason all four years winning the OCC-Capital title (6-1) in 2023 Kuhner, a 2003 Pickerington graduate, took over at Canal in 2021 after three seasons at Watkins Memorial in which he went 11-17 leading the Rams to the MSL-Ohio championship in his final year Kuhner was a two-time state placer in wrestling and three-time state qualifier in track and field in high school He also was Pickerington North wrestling coach from 2015-18 and served as North’s defensive coordinator in 2017 He is an intervention specialist at Canal Winchester High school sports reporter Frank DiRenna can be reached at fdirenna@dispatch.com and at @DispatchFrank on X The 2025 Canal Winchester Charter Review Commission is seeking input from residents regarding the Canal Winchester City Charter composed of 11 members appointed by city council and mayor is tasked with reviewing the City Charter every five years and submitting its findings and recommendations for revisions to city council The Commission is asking residents to provide feedback on changes they would like the Commission to consider during their review Residents may give their input in person by attending a Charter Review Commission meeting or by completing the public comment form that can be accessed at canalwinchesterohio.gov The Charter Review Commission will also allow for public comments at all meetings to provide additional opportunities for public feedback Meeting Schedule – All meetings will be held at 6 p.m Charter Review Commission meetings are live-streamed on the city’s channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CityofCW announced the dates for its annual plant sale The annual plant sale order forms will soon be available at https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/bcarrolloh/ invites the public to its upcoming programs that begin at 6:30 on the following dates: June 2: Celebrating 20 years at Carroll Civic Center - Community Heritage Day featuring “ox roast” sandwiches The Carroll Area Historical Society Facebook page has more information Canal Winchester Chamber recently held its awards night event Business of the Year Award went to Coffee on HighBusiness Person of the Year went to Kristin Harlander of Square CanvasPillar of the Community was awarded to Elizabeth Wood of Elizabeth Wood YogaMember of the Year Award went to CJ Weiss of ArbonneSouth Central PowerSouth Central Power recently announced there will be a modest increase in electric bills in April The rate will increase by $2 for residential customers raising it from $27 to $29 Go to southcentralpower.com for more information Evie Bear Hugs is asking for volunteers to remove veterans’ wreaths this Sunday at 12 p.m The wreaths were placed on the graves last November as part of the Wreaths Across America to honor military veterans who have passed away email Penny Miller at pennyann1058@gmail.com News itemsPlease send news items for this column at least 10 days in advance to Anne Darling Cyphert at adarlingnews@gmail.com 19 in the Canal Winchester Community Center representatives of Wilcox Communities presented the changes made to the development •The elimination of the commercial buildings original slated to be built near the corner of Lithopolis and Oregon roads This adds an additional 3.5 acres of open space to the project expands the park land along Lithopolis Road and creates a continuous view corridor from the corner of Lithopolis and Oregon roads to the wooded stream that flows through the property “Eliminating the commercial sub-area also significantly reduces the projected traffic from the development and reduces the overall density of the project by 11 percent,” said Wilcox Communities Managing Partner Jonathan Wilcox •118 single family homes with front porches and two garages These are two bedroom residences with two car garages and would rent starting at $2,000 per month Wilcox said these residences are attractive to “empty nesters.” •A 7.3 acre park at Hayes and Lithopolis roads that includes a pond and fountain and pedestrian paths that link to other areas of the development for a total of about two miles in walking paths “We think Canal Winchester is a wonderful community,” said Wilcox who added that the proposed development would benefit the city by adding to Canal Winchester’s housing stock to provide more homes and by making roadway improvements to help traffic flow Wilcox also noted that his firm is in contract to purchase neighboring farm land that is located in Madison Township so it could control what type of development would take place on that land in the future Regarding Miller Farms impact on Canal Winchester Schools estimated that the Canal Winchester school district’s annual real estate tax revenue from Miller Farms would produce a total of $1.72 million in annual tax revenue to the district and this total does not include any additional school district revenue from income taxes Utilizing the estimate of 96 new students and the incremental cost to educate them the Miller Farms development would result in a “substantial economic benefit to the district.” The developer made the changes in response to community concerns expressed at earlier pubic hearings and meetings These concerns included: the development was contrary to the Community Plan; traffic issues; potential flooding and drainage issues; potential harm to existing area residents’ water wells; loss of natural space; potential crime issues; and rapid growth that could hurt the “small town feel” of Canal Winchester Winchester Trail Elementary School announced there is a new date for its Annual Spring Fest and four bounce houses including one for small children Tickets are $20 per family and can be purchased at the door there will be Canal Winchester socks for sale and a variety of food trucks for families to choose from All activities will be held at the Winchester Trail parking lot parents should follow signs to get to the admissions table for entry The new layout and parking attendants will help provide easier and more efficient parking.Parents and guardians must stay at the event with their child(ren) during the event Lions ClubCarroll Lions Club announced it will hold a fish fry on Saturday It will be held at Carroll Community Center Dine-in and carry-out dinners will cost $10 and single pieces of fish for carryout will be $3 Carroll Lions Club members are also getting ready for a car show It will be held May 10 on the streets of downtown Carroll There will be 25 awards given out at the event which is being organized by C-Town Cruisers To celebrate the Ohio Canal Era Bicentennial (1825-2025) Carroll Historical Society will host an interpretive historian available between 4-5:30 p.m. to chat about his favorite subject – the Ohio Canal Bring your questions about life on and around the canal in the mid- to late-1800s What businesses came about because of the new water highway Get full details at fairfieldcountyparks.org/events Bloom-Carroll’s Kindergarten Screening for the 2025–2026 school year will take place on April 28 and 29 with an additional day on April 30 if needed Screenings will be held at Bloom-Carroll Elementary School 4955 Carroll-Eastern Road in Carroll This screening is for Bloom-Carroll Local School District residents only and plays a vital role in helping school officials get to know your kindergarten age children and prepare them for a successful kindergarten experience The District wants parents or guardians to arrive on time for their scheduled appointment and to complete and sign all Final Forms before their appointment Incomplete forms may result in delays or cancellation Ohio (WSYX) — Law enforcement arrested an elementary school custodian for allegedly sexting with an underage teenager was arrested Friday after a mother reported to police sexual communication between him and her 16-year-old daughter Andermatt is a custodian at Indian Trail Elementary in Canal Winchester Investigators with the Exploited Children's Unit said the two were communicating through their cellphones and exchanged sexually explicit pictures and videos They also reportedly made plans to meet up for sex Police took over the girl's phone with the mother's permission and sent nude photos and a video to Andermatt who responded with a photo of himself wearing the same clothes he would soon be arrested in He expressed a desire to meet with the girl and have unprotected sex he reportedly admitted to possessing nude images and videos of the underage girl and admitted that he knew she was underage He faces pandering obsceneity involving a minor and is scheduled to be arraigned Saturday morning Tickets are now on sale for the Canal Winchester Chamber’s event the 2025 State of the Schools & Networking Luncheon and hear from Canal Winchester Local School District Superintendent Kiya Hunt The event will take place at the CW Community Center on East Waterloo Street Superintendent Hunt will provide an update on the state of the district including new and returning career pathways at Canal Winchester High School and the district's master facilities plan She will be joined by Career Readiness Coordinator Jasmine Stephenson who will share more about CWHS’s career readiness programs including work-based learning and internship opportunities for students 80 Covenant Way is hosting a Grief Recovery Method Class Bloom Township Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting at 5 p.m The purpose of the meeting is to enter into an executive session for the purpose of discussing union negotiations with members of IAFF 3465 Bloom Township Firefighters organization More applications are wantedMore applications are wanted for the annual scholarships administered by The Wagnalls Memorial Foundation in Lithopolis The foundation has administered and awarded scholarships to area students including scholarships through Walker-Hecox- Hickle American Legion Post 677 in Lithopolis This year 13 scholarships are available for $25,000 applicants must be from Bloom Township and be graduating high school seniors visit Wagnalls website at www.wagnalls.org/page/scholarships or email executive director at dsilvia@wagnalls.org or call 614-837-4765 x132 Several area churches will observe Ash Wednesday on Wednesday Attendees at Lithopolis United Methodist Church Market Street will distribute ashes that day from 6:30 a.m as they begin their Lenten journey with a time of quiet reflection and receiving the mark of ashes in the sanctuary at An evening Community Service for Ash Wednesday will be held at 7 p.m Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish will hold an Ash Wednesday service at 6:30 p.m The church will also hold an Easter Eggstravaganza from 2 to 4 p.m Go to www.shalomumchurch.org has more information Meals for children 11 and under will be $12 Fish will be available and will either be fried or baked NBC4 WCMH-TV The Ohio-based grocery chain Kroger has plans to build a new location in Canal Winchester Gahanna solicits residents for their vision for the city Viral social post shows ‘aggressive’ dog shot Provides state-funded scholarships for private schooling Real ID enforcement set to begin this week: what you need to know Columbus targeting certain neighborhoods to crack down on crime Warrant Watch: Suspect pistol whipped woman over money 19-month-old girl found dead in pond near Marysville Two people are in jail on murder charges after deputies found a man beaten to death in Prairie Township including six third-degree felony counts of aggravated vehicular homicide nine fourth-degree felony counts of vehicular assault and 11 first-degree misdemeanor counts of assault A Canal Winchester Elementary School student has landed the starring role of a popular children’s play Ten-year-old Ellie Jones is a fifth-grade student at Winchester Trail Elementary School She will play the lead character of "Matilda Jr" next month for an organization in northwest Franklin County According to the Hilliard Arts Council (HAC) Jr.," a musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved story This production follows the extraordinary journey of Matilda a brilliant young girl with a vivid imagination and incredible powers as she navigates a world of troublesome adults and discovers her true potential HAC said the show is packed with lively music 2023 at a Columbus Children's Theater (CCT) production of "Mr Scrooge." Since then she has been in three other musicals The daughter of Scott and Kim Alspach Jones played the part of Gavroche in Les Mis School Edition Victoria Player’s Children’s Theatre in Baltimore She is the granddaughter of Linda and Bill Alspach and Christine Hamilton all of Canal Winchester and Roger Jones of Pataskala Her other credits include: portrayed Jane in Ohio Musical Theatre Institute Descendant’s This is Jones' first lead role as Matilda in Matilda she was accepted into Broadway Arts Alliance and will be going to New York City this summer for a week to study on Broadway said Ellie first started showing interest in the performing arts at the age of three Bill Alspach who helped care for her while her mother taught school in Dublin would hold puppet shows in Jone’s residence in Canal Winchester “Since Ellie was three she has been entertaining Whether it be belting songs at the top of her lungs or putting on shows with her grandfather I can hear her toddler voice saying “Yadies and gentleman (yes ladies with a Y) dogs of all ages…I present to you (name of her favorite production)_” her mother said “I just kept thinking she’s so cute but then we went to Disney and she sang to Ariel and after that performance left the photographer and Ariel both open jawed That’s when we realized that she had a gift and she was cast in her very first show without having ever seen a show Since she was going to be in a semi-professional performance for her first-ever show I took her to see 'Frozen' at the Ohio Theatre and her nine-year-old response was “Where has this been all my life!” One year later she is getting ready to star in Matilda Jr,” her mother added Jones is represented by Heyman Talent Agency and recently shot her first commercial for a yearbook company.Show dates are March 7-9 and 14-16 Visit www.hilliardartscouncil.org to purchase tickets Immaculate Parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary Blood Drive Blood supply is critically low and donors are needed Visit redcrossblood.org or call Troy Kahrig 614-506-6842 for more information The City of Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m Application #VA-25-001 – Property Owner Sheetz Inc and Meghan Youngbar - Dewberry Engineers for property located at 5800 Gender Road is requesting a Variance to Chapter 1181.09(d)(1)(B) & 1185.03 to permit a reduction in on-site parking for the installation of EV Charging stations.Application #ZM-25-001 – Property Owner PawPaw Patch LLC is requesting that 26.714 acres of property located at PID 042-03885100 037-02029-300 & 037-020293100 (located along the east side of Hill Road) be rezoned from Planned Residential District (PRD) to a new Planned Residential District (PRD).Application #PDP-25-001 – Property Owner PawPaw Patch LLC is requesting approval for a Preliminary Development Plan and associated Text for 26.714 acres primarily located along the east side of Hill Road (PID 042-03885100 037-02029-300 & 037-020293100) consisting of 122 Apartment Dwelling Units.The application is available for public review at the city hall building during normal business hours or online at www.canalwinchesterohio.gov Please send news items for this column at least 10 days in advance to Anne Darling Cyphert at adarlingnews@gmail.com The development would be located on 25.8 acres along the east side of Hill Road near Greengate Boulevard It is neighbored by a mix of large lot single family homes The developer is proposing to build 122 apartments on the site consisting of: 70 two bedroom ranch style apartments; 10 two bedroom town house style apartments; 32 three bedroom ranch style apartments; and 10 three bedroom town house style apartments Speaking at the March 10 Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Commission meeting who was one of several who spoke against the development at that meeting “There’s nothing about 122 apartments that says low density It’s like stuffing 10 pounds of candy into a five pound bag.” Other features of the proposed development include: 8.5 acres of open space (which is 34 percent open space which is above the 20 percent requirement); 421 parking spaces including 244 garage spaces and 55 additional spaces; an existing tree line buffering the south and east sides of the property will remain in place; a water retention basin on the southern portion of the property; a walking path; a clubhouse and sports courts for pickleball and basketball; and 453 trees would be planted along Hill Road and throughout the property said the property is appropriate for apartments per the city of Canal Winchester’s Community Plan He said the monthly rents could range from $1,600 to $2,100 A traffic study of the area indicates the following: during weekday morning peak times 14 vehicles would enter the property and 44 would exit it; during weekday afternoon peak times 41 vehicles would enter the property and 28 would exit; and during a 24 hour weekday period 440 vehicles would enter the property and 439 would exit it it is proposed that Hill Road be widened in the area to accommodate a left turn lane for the complex Hill Road resident Kenneth Orr questioned the traffic study at the Planning and Zoning Commission March 10 meeting “Hill Road is already jam packed,” said Orr Canal Winchester Schools Treasurer Nick Roberts said that the district has not received the full site details so school officials do not have all the necessary information to assess the full impact of the project “Regarding the developer’s estimate of 16 students we have not conducted an independent enrollment projection for this development,” said Roberts “The number of students generated from new housing can vary based on factors such as unit size Given that the development includes three bedroom apartments it is reasonable to question whether the estimate might be low.” Roberts said any revenues from property taxes and income taxes generated by this development will likely be offset by the cost of educating the students who enroll in the district “School funding is primarily driven by state allocations and local property taxes and residential developments often result in a net financial impact rather than a direct financial benefit to the district,” said Roberts there are potential advantages and challenges Additional students could bring increased enrollment which may impact class sizes and resource allocation growth in the community can contribute to overall economic activity and future district funding Without more specific details on the development’s financial structure it is difficult to fully evaluate its effects on the district We will continue monitoring the situation as more information becomes available.” Any final development plan would also have to be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission in the future Kulik indicated that after the application process is complete and approved construction on the project could begin in the spring of 2026 A message released by Canal Winchester City Council President Will Bennett stated “The applicant requesting to rezone a portion of land on the south end of Canal Winchester called ‘Miller Farms’ has asked Ordinance 24-034 be tabled to allow more time for discussion and review based on feedback they have received As Council President and the sponsor of this ordinance I intend to move to have the ordinance tabled during Monday’s (Jan This would delay the approval or denial of the ordinance until a future city council meeting.” 6 city council meeting was cancelled due to the large snowstorm that passed through central Ohio so no action was taken Canal Winchester City Council heard the second reading of the ordinance to rezone 95 acres of property located at the corner of Hayes Road and Oregon Road from Planned Residential District and Exceptional Use to Planned Unit District LLC as applicant on behalf of property owner Dwight Imler Revocable Living Trust and Kenneth Kole The ordinance accepts a preliminary plan and development text for the parcels The development is named “Miller Farms.” The original proposal called for 35 acres of open space The land is currently agricultural in an area that the city’s Community Plan has noted as a rural preserve/settlement Canal Winchester Planning and Zoning Administrator Andrew Moore and Canal Winchester Development Director Lucas Haire said the site plan does include priorities from the Community Plan and trails connecting residential to commercial while also not meeting all aspects of the approved plan •Section A: About 118 single family homes located in the western portion of the development •Section B: About 221 single family apartment homes located in the central portion of the development •Section C: About 105 town homes located in the eastern portion of the development •Section D: About 4.6 acres of neighborhood commercial use near Lithopolis and Oregon roads attorney David Hodge of Underhill & Hodge LLC sent an email to city council outlining revisions to the plan “We thought it important to distribute this email to make all aware of some meaningful revisions committed to by the Miller Farms Applicant Wilcox Communities – and to add clarity around several issues raised during the Dec The revisions listed in the email include: •Town home uses: A commitment is now made that the town home product will be fee simple lots •Commercial uses: Convenience stores and limited price variety stores are now prohibited uses •School impact: The applicant hired a third party consultant to estimate the Canal Winchester school district’s annual real estate tax revenue from Miller Farms once fully built out They estimate that the development would produce a total of $1.72 million in annual tax revenue to the district •Open Space: Clarity that 35.94 +/- acres are preserved as open space and 12.5 percent above the minimum code requirement Council accepted these revisions to update the ordinance CANAL WINCHESTER — Two students have been taken into juvenile detention after Fairfield County Sheriff's Office responded to a bomb threat at Canal Winchester High School on Thursday school officials found a bomb threat written on a bathroom toilet stall indicating there was an explosive device on campus according to the Sheriff's Office press release More: One fatality from field fire in Fairfield County The school was then placed on lockdown and law enforcement secured the area Three juveniles were involved in the threat and two were taken into juvenile detention and the third has pending charges but has not yet been detained the Sheriff's Office does not release their names Sheriff Alex Lape ensures these threats are taken very seriously and they are working with school officials and prosecutors to ensure appropriate actions will be taken "We will not tolerate actions that endanger our students and disrupt our schools," said Lape "These incidents not only cause unnecessary fear but also result in serious legal consequences." Ohio (WSYX) — Canal Winchester High School students and staff evacuated the building Tuesday afternoon after a written threat was found in a restroom there Everyone was evacuated to the football stadium as law enforcement investigated The school originally posted on its website that after the evacuation The school then posted a follow-up message indicating that everyone would be allowed to leave at 2:30 p.m All evening practices and activities are canceled according to that message on the school's website No other information was immediately available According to Canal Winchester City Council President Will Bennett the applicant requesting to rezone a portion of land on the south end of Canal Winchester called Miller Farms will host the informal open house for residents to learn more about their plans for the property and to review proposed changes to the rezoning application These changes have been made at the request of community members and Canal Winchester City Council Residents are invited to attend the open house to meet the developers and ask questions about their development plans and ordinance for rezoning Information about the ordinance is at www.canalwinchesterohio.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01062025-633 beginning on page 36 The legislation also accepts a preliminary plan and development text for the parcels City officials noted the postponement allows for the opportunity to improve the development and for the applicant to hear residents’ concerns A message released earlier this year by Bennett stated I intend to move to have the ordinance tabled The developer of the proposed large housing development in Canal Winchester recently made revisions to their rezoning application in response to a public hearing held Dec The ordinance seeks to rezone 95 acres of property located at the corner of Hayes Road Ohio (WSYX) — Two people were killed Thursday in a crash near Canal Winchester The crash happened near the intersection of Gender Road and Abbie Trails Drive at 11:23 a.m A white Honda Accord on Gender Road and a gray Chevrolet Cruze collided at the intersection The driver of the Chevrolet Cruz was killed instantly in the crash was taken to Mount Carmel East Hospital in critical condition It's not clear what exactly caused the crash at this time The Columbus Police Accident Investigation Unit responded to the crash scene and initiated an investigation Anyone with information related to this crash is asked to contact Central Ohio Crime Stoppers Massillon racked up four sacks and ten total tackles for loss on Friday as the Tigers defeated Canal Winchester 37-7 at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium had two sacks while Logan Allman and Deangelo Zimmerman added one each "I felt like we had a great game as a unit," Wright Jr "Coach Leno told us to be ready to blitz all week in practice He said it was going to be a defensive line and linebacker kind of game tonight because they liked to run The line played well and our linebackers Vito (McConell) and Logan (Allman) played a great game as well." McConnell led the team with six tackles and added one tackle for loss Allman had five tackles and two tackles for loss Zimmerman forced a fumble and recovered it The Massillon secondary also knocked down eight Canal Winchester passes "Coach Leno told us to be ready to blitz tonight," McConnell said "I felt like we did a great job of that as a team We were really able to put some heat on the quarterback We applied pressure to them all night long Massillon limited Canal Winchester to only 138 yards of total offense That included just four first downs and 20 yards of offense at the half "The defense played an incredible game," Massillon head coach Nate Moore said "I think the key for them tonight was how hard they played." The Massillon offense more than did its part while the Tiger defense shutting down Canal Winchester Jalen Slaughter threw three touchdown passes while Ja'Meir Gamble surpassed 150 yards rushing Gamble totaled 154 yards on 15 carries despite facing an eight-man front from the Canal Winchester defense for most of the night "You just have to give credit for our line and to Ja'Meir for still be able to move the ball," Moore said "Our guys did a nice job of blocking and Ja'Meir has the ability to make people miss Slaughter and the receivers also took advantage of the single coverage on the outside Slaughter was 10-of-19 passing for 228 yards with no interceptions "When you're facing an eight-man pressure defense with a cover zero behind it creates some opportunities," Moore said "We were able to catch it a couple of times and the kids were able to make them pay for it." Bryalyn Toles and Jacques Carter caught touchdowns for Massillon McConnell also caught a 3-yard touchdown on offense after a play fake by Slaughter fooled the entire stadium and left McConnell wide open for a score in the second half "We had two tight ends on the play," McConnell said "The corner came up and took the other tight end and no one covered me It was fun to score a touchdown on offense." The Tigers will play its next game at a neutral site meaning it was farewell to Paul Brown Tiger Stadium for seniors such as McConnell and Wright Jr "It was obviously a special night for our seniors," Moore said They aren't done yet though and they have bigger goals they want to achieve." Here is how the game unfolded through our live updates Massillon has defeated Canal Winchester 37-7 here at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium The Tigers advance to the third round of the OHSAA Playoffs Brody Harmon intercepts MassillonThe Massillon backup unit threw an interception on fourth down to Canal Winchester's Brody Harmon at the Canal Winchester 26-yard line Iverson Klusmann just intercepted Massillon in the end zone to end the Tiger threat The ball will come back out to the 20-yard line The backup offense was in on that drive for the Tigers Massillon leads Canal Winchester 37-7 after the third quarter The clock will continue to run once the fourth quarter starts The interior of the Massillon defensive line just sacked the quarterback and forced a fumble The Tigers recover the ball at the Canal Winchester 18-yard line Massillon leads Canal Winchester 37-7 with 1:30 to go in the third quarter Vito McConnell catches touchdown pass for MassillonVito McConnell just caught a 3-yard touchdown pass moments ago on a nice play fake by Jalen Slaughter Slaughter faked out the entire stadium and McConnell was wide open Massillon leads Canal Winchester 37-7 with five minutes to go in the third quarter We will now have a running clock here at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium The third quarter is about to get underway here at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium Mateo Herrera makes a 29-yard field goal with no time on the clock to give Massillon a 31-7 lead over Canal Winchester before halftime The field goal attempt was set up by a defensive holding call with no time left on the clock on the end zone by Canal Winchester Canal Winchester was called for pass interference on the play before that Canal Winchester will get the ball to start the third quarter Wide receiver Jacques Carter is back out on the field before halftime for Massillon Carter was shaken up on the previous drive Canal Winchester misses long field goal in final minute of second quarterCanal Winchester just attempted a 50-yard field goal with 45 seconds to go in the second quarter The kick had the distance but was wide left Massillon will get the ball at its own 25-yard line after the missed field goal Jacques Carter shaken up for MassillonWide receiver Jacques Carter just took a big hit on an attempted screen pass and was helped off the field just before halftime Massillon leads Canal Winchester 28-7 with 1:53 to play in the second quarter Logan Allman just made the third quarterback sack of the night The Tigers completely collapsed the pocket on Canal Winchester Canal Winchester is going to punt the ball back to Massillon The Tigers will get the ball back with 1:57 to play in the second quarter The first play after the custodial timeout was memorable for Massillon Ja'Meir Gamble breaks through the eight man front and takes it 57 yards for a touchdown The extra point attempt by Mateo Herrera was good Massillon now leads Canal Winchester 28-7 with 3:57 to go in the second quarter Custodial timeout at Paul Brown Tiger StadiumA Massillon player vomited on the field here at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium so we had a custodial timeout The custodian came out waving a broom to cheers He also received a standing ovation after he was finished is causing the Canal Winchester offensive line a lot of problems just recorded his second sack of the night and he has pressured the quarterback on numerous other occasions early He is having a terrific game for Massillon Massillon leads 21-7 with 4:47 to play in the second quarter Braylyn Toles catches long touchdown for MassillonBraylyn Toles just caught an 81-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Slaughter Toles caught the pass in the open field and was gone It's hard to give this group of Massillon receivers an open field They have so much speed they are nearly impossible to catch in that scenario Massillon leads Canal Winchester 21-7 with 6:28 to go in the second quarter Caleb Clay comes up with a clutch 3-yard touchdown catch in the flat from Quinton McGhee on fourth down to keep Canal Winchester in this game Massillon leads Canal Winchester 14-7 with 11:12 to go in the second quarter Massillon leads Canal Winchester after first quarterMassillon leads Canal Winchester 14-0 after thee first quarter at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium Canal Winchester will have a crucial third-and-goal at the Tiger 4-yard line to start the second quarter Canal Winchester returned the ensuing kickoff down to the Massillon 6-yard line Tiger defense starting with their backs against the wall on this drive with 50 seconds left in the first quarter Mylen Lenix put the cap on a long Massillon drive with a 4-yard touchdown run The Mateo Herrera extra point attempt was good Massillon leads Canal Winchester 14-0 with 1:17 to play in the first quarter Massillon has held Canal Winchester to negative two yards of offense after two drives Canal Winchester's only first down so far came on a pass interference call The Tigers are getting consistent pressure on the quarterback and completely shutting down the run game Massillon leads 7-0 with 5:07 to play in the first quarter Good news for Massillon defenseSafety Tyler Hackenbracht is out on the field in the secondary for Massillon in this game Hackenbracht was injured in the third quarter of last week's first round playoff game in the third quarter and did not return A status update on Hackenbracht was not immediately available after the game last week Hackenbracht entered the game as Massillon's leading tackler Jacques Carter just took a screen pass from Jalen Slaughter 72 yards for a touchdown Carter found himself in one-on-one coverage on the outside and shook the first man and never looked backed Canal Winchester is stacking the line of scrimmage early and it hurt them in that scenario Massillon leads Canal Winchester 7-0 with 8:18 to go in the first quarter The Massillon defense forces a three-and-out of its own for the first drive The Tigers will be getting the ball back with 9:27 to go in the first quarter made a big statement on Canal Winchester's first play from scrimmage Wright immediately sacked the quarterback with a big hit Massillon goes three and out on first driveThe Massillon offense stalls out early on the first drive The Tigers picked up just one yard on the first three plays and will be punting to Canal Winchester We're just about to get underway here at Massillon Canal Winchester will get the ball first to star the second half Massillon defensive statistical leadersTyler Hackenbracht has 91 tacklesMylen Lenix has six sacks and 14.5 tackles for lossDaylan Pringle has three interceptionsLucas Shertzer has two fumble recoveriesReach cliff at cliff.hickman@cantonrep.com This is not a tax increase according to Canal Winchester Schools Treasurer Nick Roberts because “it is offset by a decrease in the bond millage rate” “The 0.5 mill currently in the permanent improvement levy was not an unvoted levy since it was moved prior to being at the 20-mill floor,” said Roberts “The district reduced general fund collections by this millage to satisfy an Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) one half mill maintenance requirement on the high school project in 2017.” He said the additional 1.5 mill will generate $1.3 million for the district per year Roberts said permanent improvement funds are used for capital improvements “It will be used to purchase buses as 13 buses will age out of our fleet over the next five years When asked why is this type of levy not voted on by the voters to levy up to 10 mills of property tax without voter approval This is known as ‘inside millage’ and falls within the ‘10-mill limitation.’ The allocation of inside millage is determined by a statutory formula and is shared among various local entities within a taxing district our district’s share is 5 mills of the 10 mills) While school districts can re-allocate their portion of inside millage within statutory guidelines they cannot exceed the 10-mill limitation.” “They will serve as the architects for Phase One of the Master Facilities Plan,” said Roberts The board has not yet formally voted on the Master Facilities Plan it’s possible that elements of the plan will be shifted to fit the budget for the project,” said Roberts The district’s proposed two-phase Master Facilities Plan addresses the needs of performing arts Phase One of the Master Facilities Plan includes: •An 800 seat performing arts center connected to Canal Winchester High School •Outdoor updates including additional parking; new traffic flow to connect north campus to south campus at the high school; updated band practice field; new baseball diamond with press box and concession stand; two new softball diamonds with press box and concession stand; additional green spaces providing multiple practice fields for athletics; relocating the fuel pumps from the high school campus to the Education Center campus; relocating the drive connecting the high school campus to the Education Center campus; relocating the maintenance building to the Education Center campus; adding three additional tennis courts (making a total of nine courts); and adding parking near tennis courts •A field house that would include lockers for stadium sports •Repurposing current athletic spaces including auxiliary gym to wrestling gym; current weight room/field turf to golf room with simulator/putting green and baseball/softball indoor hitting nets; current stadium home team locker room to visiting team locker room; and current visiting team locker room to officials/game athletic training room •Competition gym improvements including: removing the lower level bleachers on both sides and having chairs for team bench and updating bleachers on opposite side of team benches to meet ADA compliance; updating/renovating/relocate athletic training room; update/renovate team locker rooms “This phase will be funded through general fund reserves similar to how we financed the Indian Trail addition that allowed us to launch all-day kindergarten last fall,” said Canal Winchester Schools Superintendent Kiya Hunt in December we’ll work to finalize the scope and cost of the project which will help establish the overall budget and determine what can be included in Phase One The project timeline is estimated at two to four years with different elements of the first phase expected to open at various times.” Hunt also said Phase Two is projected to begin in 6-10 years and would focus on supporting the need for a new building at the middle school campus the district anticipates asking the community to support a bond issue Phase Two of the Master Facilities Plan includes: •A new seventh and eighth grade junior high school building located on the Canal Winchester Middle School campus Fifth grade would move to current middle school with sixth grade •Updated middle school athletic facilities to include: visitors bleachers; press box; concessions; eight lane track; lighting to middle school stadium; water access; and restrooms Citizens have spoken against the proposed project and one has floated the idea of placing a citizen referendum on the ballot Council previously postponed a decision the ordinance to rezone about 95 acres at Oregon/Hayes/Lithopolis roads from exceptional use and planned residential district to planned unit district LLC is the applicant on behalf of property owner Dwight Imler Revocable Living Trust and Kenneth Kole “We think Canal Winchester is a wonderful community,” said Wilcox at a Feb 19 community open house regarding the project adding the proposed development would benefit the city by adding to Canal Winchester’s housing stock to provide more homes and by making roadway improvements to help traffic flow Wilcox also noted that his firm is working to purchase neighboring farm land that is located in Madison Township so it could control what type of development would take place on that land in the future Regarding Miller Farms’ impact on Canal Winchester Schools 19 open house asked about the impact the development would have on the water wells of existing nearby residents and the water table once excavation begins on the project Representatives of the developer responded that there are “means and methods” of addressing the water situation a long time Canal Winchester resident of 24 years said she has heard “hundreds speak in opposition” to the development​​​​ “This rezoning has been hotly debated for months,” said Boumis It was announced that 500 new apartments are coming to Bixby Road and U.S Thousands of apartments could be coming to the land recently annexed by Groveport – land that is at our back door Our area does not need more apartments and town homes Won’t those additional 1,500 or more units satisfy the demand for our area?” she is willing to coordinate a referendum to allow the public to vote on the issue “This conversation needs to continue and I am trying to revive the conversation,” said Boumis She said the city’s Community Plan characterizes the site as rural preserve/settlement “This proposed development does not meet the intent of the Community Plan,” said Boumis “All the residents are asking is that the city follow the Community Plan