2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Main Ground Coffee has opened at 619 Main Street in Groveport serving up handcrafted drinks in a space that blends nearly 60 years of family history with a bold new vision for community connection Owner Avery Ward opened the shop in the building that once housed his family's restaurant it was home to his grandfather's grocery store "These truly are our main grounds — our stomping grounds," Ward said "We wanted to breathe new life into this space while honoring its legacy we serve connection and community through coffee." Ward spent the last decade revitalizing his family's restaurant business in a new space at 480 Main Street across the street from the original location the Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance honored the family-owned eatery as the Best Restaurant in Central Ohio Ward is pairing that culinary legacy with award-winning coffee from Columbus roaster Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea to create a new destination rooted in excellence Main Ground Coffee continues Ward's mission to serve people with passion and purpose — now one cup at a time From classic drip brews to nuanced espresso-based creations Main Ground offers a beverage menu that combines precision and creativity Guests have already praised the shop's smooth flavorful coffee and its well-balanced handcrafted drinks in dozens of five-star reviews "Awesome vibe and very nostalgic to the old Little Italy's that used to be here," wrote one Google local guide "I spent so much of my childhood here getting pizza and to see it transformed so beautifully was truly amazing Ward said the shop receives compliments on its seasonal drink flavors and the creativity behind the bar "People really feel like they're getting something special!" To bring his vision to life, Ward partnered with Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea, an award-winning coffee roaster and business consultant with over 30 years of history in Columbus. Its 7 Steps to Success consulting program has helped more than 300 independent coffee shops open and grow in 37 states "Crimson Cup doesn't just hand you a manual and wish you luck — they roll up their sleeves and get in the trenches with you," Ward said they've been hands-on and invested in our success." Ward found Step 5 of the program — Training Your Team to Brew and Serve Coffee — especially valuable "You can have a beautiful space and great beans but if your team can't execute consistently leadership and financial discipline keep the doors open hire for culture and get your numbers dialed in early." He also emphasizes the value of partnership "Don't be afraid to ask for help — you don't have to go it alone." Main Ground Coffee is open daily at 619 Main Street in Groveport. To learn more, visit maingroundcoffee.com or follow @MainGroundCoffee on Instagram and Facebook About Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea Founded in 1991, Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea is a leader in the specialty coffee industry recognized for award-winning quality and commitment to sustainability The company's accolades include multiple Good Food Awards the 2025 Golden Bean World Series Championship and Roast magazine's 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year award-winning coffee and ongoing consulting Cheryl ClaypooleFor Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea[email protected]614-361-5023 Cheryl ClaypooleFor Crimson Cup Coffee & TeaCheryl@Claypoolecc.com614-361-5023 Stitch Coffee has opened at 135 Reinhardt College Parkway bringing handcrafted drinks and a community-focused atmosphere to Canton a remarkable group of 18 independent coffee shops supported by Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea are celebrating anniversaries ranging from one to .. Beverages Retail Non-Alcoholic Beverages Restaurants Do not sell or share my personal information: Ohio (WSYX) — A Groveport family is starting from scratch after losing their home and almost everything they own in a house fire and I saw flames bursting through the attic," said Faith Murphy-Pickett a high schooler who lived in the home with her mom and grandmother Faith's family has lived in the home for decades The Madison Township Assistant Fire Chief said that after the fire but I’m just dealing with it day by day," she said very special to me," said Crystal Smith "This is where I learned to drive and everything "I’ve always had to be the strong one the one to hold it together," said Smith According to the Madison Township Assistant Fire Chief they are investigating and working to figure out what sparked the fire He said crews pulled up to the home last Thursday night to flames coming out of the roof He also said all the belongings inside the home added a challenge for crews Faith and her aunt feel relieved knowing crews saved a precious item inside "They brought it out when we were walking back to the car The family is appreciative for the support from the Groveport Special Olympics Family and Faith's school district The Groveport Police Department is investigating after a male body was discovered Friday afternoon floating in a retention pond Groveport Police Chief Casey Adams said police received a report of an abandoned vehicle at around 4:30 a.m Friday at the intersection of Opus Drive and Rohr Road Groveport police and deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene but did not find anything during their search the Madison Township Fire Department was dispatched to the same area on a report of a male body found floating in a retention pond and was pronounced dead at the scene at 1 p.m. a battalion chief for the Madison Township Fire Department The male's identity will be released once his family is notified including the circumstances surrounding the male's death Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@dispatch.com, at ShahidMeighan on X, and at shahidthereporter.dispatch.com on Bluesky Groveport Law Director Kevin Shannon said Adams was put on paid administrative leave on March 4 He said Adams will remain on paid administrative leave pending an investigation by independent investigator Anne Duprey Westcamp and Shannon said they could not comment on why Adams was placed on paid administrative leave president of Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge #9 issued the following statement regarding the matter: “On March 4 I was advised by our Executive Board Liaison to Groveport that Human Resources personnel informed him that Chief Casey Adams was placed on administrative leave for allegedly sexually harassing one of our FOP members It is my understanding that Captain Blevins has been named Acting Chief while a third-party independent investigation takes place I applaud the Groveport mayor for taking swift action and conducting an independent investigation rather than brushing it under the rug.” Groveport Police Captain Kurt Blevins is handling the police chief duties while Adams is on paid administrative leave Adams has been a police officer since 1996 when he first served in the Pataskala Police Department He served 11 months with the Madison Township Police Department in 2001 and began work with the Groveport Police Department in December 2001 He also holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Ohio University He was named Groveport Police chief in April 2021 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 oldest Catholic church in Franklin County outside Columbus Bishop Earl Fernandes was the celebrant for a Mass at 4 p.m The church’s final Eucharistic celebration was its regularly scheduled Mass at 8 a.m As part of the Real Presence Real Future initiative of the Diocese of Columbus the Groveport church and Canal Winchester St John XXIII Church have been merged into a single unit known as Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish was the “mother church” for the one in Canal Winchester and for Columbus Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church and several other congregations Mary Church was dedicated in 1977 and was the third to serve the Groveport area The original church was built in 1865 and was first used by a United Brethren congregation It was replaced in 1949 by a structure built next door The original church then became the parish hall Mary buildings were joined and converted into Groveport’s municipal building "I know that this is a difficult moment for some of you going back to 1871," Bishop Fernandes said in his homily I hope it is a moment of gratitude by which we give thanks to God for the many graces He has poured out on the people of this place." has been a member of the parish for more than 70 years and remembers when the current church was built "We just have to go along with what happens director of faith formation for the new parish Mary with her family for more than 20 years it’s sad because there are a lot of memories attached to this church," she said there’s great hope in bringing communities together and working for the purpose of doing discipleship but I see that there’s a greater purpose in all of this.” The church was the closest Catholic church to the former Rickenbacker Air Force Base The base was opened in 1942 and served as a military facility until 1984 when control was transferred to a port authority The site now serves as an international cargo hub with some commercial flights The church served southeast Franklin County and parts of Pickaway and Fairfield counties it covered 90 square miles and had about 1,200 families but both those numbers were reduced significantly in that year when the Canal Winchester church opened A Catholic Times story in 2013 said it had about 600 families and a Real Presence Real Future video in 2021 said that number was down to 192 There was no resident pastor in Groveport until 1932 when the Vincentian Fathers began 50 years of service to the parish The Philadelphia-based Vincentians also built a large house in Groveport that was used as a Midwestern base for traveling missionaries and was a site for many parish activities until 1978 purchased the building for its headquarters Priests of the Diocese of Columbus served the church from 1982 until its closing Mary’s was never as large as at other parishes of comparable size were active in a range of areas that in other parishes were served by several organizations In a social media post the City of Groveport announced that Chief Casey Adams will return to his duties on Monday You can read the full investigative report below Groveport Administrator BJ King said the process provided accountability the City of Groveport took immediate steps to ensure a fair and impartial review The mayor placed the chief on administrative leave to allow for the investigation to happen The City then brought in an independent investigator from the law firm of Frost Brown Todd who has significant expertise in employment law and often examines issues of harassment and discrimination The attorney reviewed the complaint and spoke to all relevant parties having unrestricted access to all pertinent information and people which is exempt from release under Ohio Public Records law concluded that the claims of sexual harassment were unfounded Despite not being required to release the report the Mayor decided to waive the City’s ability to keep the report secret in the interest of transparency King said the process has allowed the city to undertake best practices in employment law "We take all allegations of misconduct seriously," King said "We remain committed to fostering a professional and respectful work environment for all employees Our staff regularly undergoes human resources training and will continue to do so Chief Adams will return to work on Monday and continue to provide the outstanding service to Groveport he has provided throughout his work here." The Fraternal Order of Police expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome stating it is "deeply disappointed" with the decision "Our member bravely came forward to report unwanted contact by Chief Adams; the investigation's finding that physical contact occurred as reported but that Chief Adams cannot be held accountable due to the lack of policy against such unwelcome conduct is as baffling as it is disturbing," Brian Toth Groveport's police chief has been placed on paid administrative leave amid an investigation into allegations he sexually harassed a city police officer who has served as chief of the Groveport Police Department since April 2021 was placed on administrative leave by Groveport Mayor Lance Westcamp on March 4 Shannon declined to go into detail regarding why Adams was placed on administrative leave president of the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge #9 which represents Groveport police and other law enforcement agencies told The Dispatch on Tuesday that Adams was accused of sexual harassment of a Groveport police officer we expect (Adams) to be held accountable," Steel said in a written statement to The Dispatch "I applaud the Groveport mayor for taking swift action and conducting an independent investigation rather than brushing (the complaint) under the rug." The city hired Anne Duprey, a partner with the law firm Frost, Brown, and Todd, to spearhead the probe into the complaint including employment litigation and traditional labor work Groveport police captain Kurt Blevins is serving as the acting police chief while Adams is on leave There are 26 full-time officers and one civilian employee in the police department smeighan@dispatch.com The Resolution of the Necessity is the first step in placing a bond issue on the ballot The board will consider a vote on a Resolution to Proceed with Bond Issue at its Jan Both resolutions must be certified by the Franklin County Auditor and presented to the Franklin County Board of Elections no later than Feb 5 to qualify the bond issue for the May 6 ballot the bond issue rejected by the voters was for the “purpose of constructing and equiping three new grades 5-8 middle schools with related site improvements and appurtenances thereto; constructing and equiping an addition to Groveport Madison High School with related site improvements and appurtenances thereto; abatement and demolition of existing facilities; improving and equipping existing facilities; and replacing existing equipment and constructing various permanent improvements school district wide…” That bond issue was for the proposed first phase of the district’s Master Facility Plan which calls for replacing the district’s three existing middle schools with: •Three new middle schools for grades 5-8 with a capacity for 706 students each Two new middle schools would be built in the northern part of the district – one at the current Middle School North site and the other on land the district owns on Noe-Bixby Road One middle school would be built in the southern portion of the district at the Middle School South site •An addition to the high school that includes a two story classroom addition at the southeast corner of the building •Middle School South and Middle School North would be razed while Middle School Central will remain under district control for alternative uses The proposed second phase of the Master Facility Plan which would occur at a later date and was not part of the Nov called for replacing the district’s existing six elementaries with: •Three new elementary schools for grades K-4 with a capacity of 866 students each There would be two new elementaries built in the north – one at the current Dunloe Elementary site and the other at the current Sedalia Elementary site An alternative new elementary site could be on land the district owns in Independence Village but there are concerns that this site may be too small An elementary school would be built in the southern part of the district at the existing Glendening Elementary site but a second option would be to build this new school at the current Groveport Elementary site where the baseball fields now stand Both phases of the project had an estimated total Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) co-funded cost of about $273.1 million with the high school addition and middle schools being built first at an estimated cost of $134.7 million Then the new elementary schools could be constructed in a later second phase at an estimated total OFCC co-funded cost of $107.1 million The district was in line to receive OFCC funding for 53 percent of the cost of the project with local funding providing 47 percent Groveport Madison officials have stated overcrowding is a central issue facing the district but other factors considered in the facilities planning process included the age and cost to maintain the existing elementary and middle schools Visit gocruisers.org for information on the Master Facility Plan Ohio (WSYX) — A man faces charges after barricading himself and family members inside a home overnight The Franklin County Sheriff's Office said SWAT teams were on the scene in response to a domestic situation that happened overnight in the area of the 4800 block of Bixby Ridge Drive Authorities said they had been negotiating with a man who had barricaded himself inside a home around 1 a.m While authorities said there is no threat to the public Groveport police cautioned drivers that an incident on Bixby Ridge Drive East has Bixby Road shut down at Groveport Road Madison Christian School also canceled classes on Tuesday due to the situation and will determine schedules for athletic practice later in the afternoon Authorities said the scene cleared and roads reopened just after 9 a.m Court records identified the man as 46-year-old Maurice Avant Groveport police charged him with felony kidnapping and misdemeanor charges of unlawful restraint He is expected to be arraigned Wednesday in Franklin County Municipal Court The Franklin County Coroner's Office has identified a man found dead in a Groveport retention pond at the intersection of Opus Drive and Rohr Road The Madison Township Fire Department responded to the area at 12:40 p.m after a male body was reported floating in a retention pond Adams said April 14 that there were no physical signs of foul play on Taormina's body but the Franklin County Coroner will ultimately determine his cause of death Public Safety and Breaking News Reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at bagallion@dispatch.com Three companies are setting up new locations in central Ohio bringing nearly 400 new jobs and more than $22.1 million in new annual payroll to the growing Columbus region according to a release from DeWine's office Monday European company De Angeli Prodotti USA Corp central Ohio's regional economic development organization The company expects to create 231 full-time jobs generating more than $12 million in new annual payroll The company specializes in developing and manufacturing advanced conductors and wire cables for overhead power lines The tax credit authority approved a 1.561% 10-year Job Creation Tax Credit for the project De Angeli President Luca Mora said bringing the company to the U.S according to information from One Columbus “This facility will allow us to better serve the U.S market while contributing to the modernization of power transmission infrastructure," he said and strategic location we need to succeed in North America.” The London site will serve as a critical hub for De Angeli’s operations producing innovativeconductors designed to enhance power transmission efficiency and support the evolving needs of the energy sector The company’s specialized solutions will help modernize electrical grids as demand rises across the U.S. is expanding its North American operations with a new manufacturing facility in Johnstown The European company's overall investment is expected to exceed $20 million and they are set to add 48 full-time positions by 2030 Employees will receive specialized education and training at the company's production facilities in Germany according to a news release from One Columbus KANSAI HELIOS' annual payroll at the Licking County site The tax credit authority signed off on a 1.166% six-year Job Creation Tax Credit for the project according to information shared by DeWine's office The investment in the Columbus region is a major step forward in the company's growth executive vice president and executive director of the KANSAI HELIOS Group we are quadrupling our production capacity enhanced infrastructure and access to a talented workforce will enable our new facility to serve customers more flexibly and efficiently," he said this expansion underscores our commitment to sustainability Johnstown Mayor Donald Barnard said in a One Columbus news release that the project reflects the growing momentum of Johnstown's business community “This expansion not only brings high-quality jobs to our city but also demonstrates that Johnstown is an ideal environment for global manufacturers seeking long-term success," he said "We are honored to welcome KANSAI HELIOS and look forward to the positive impact they will have on our economy.” Reliable Healthcare Solutions will add 106 full-time jobs generating more than $7.7 million in new annual payroll thanks to relocating its center of operations and distribution operations from Jacksonville Florida to Groveport in southeast Franklin County The company is a leading distributor of medical supplies that serves pharmacies and the move better positions the company to serve customers while expanding The Groveport location will hold RHS's corporate functions and a learning and development center ensuring long-term workforce training and innovation The relocation is a pivotal step in the company's continued growth and the ability to quickly scale our operations Groveport provides the perfect environment to better serve our customers while enhancing our learning and development capabilities We look forward to embedding ourselves in the community and building a long-term future here.” The tax credit authority approved a 1.466% eight-year Job Creation Tax Credit for the project mdevito@dispatch.com The size of the city of Groveport could soon grow significantly. At its Feb. 24 meeting, Groveport City Council approved a resolution outlining the nature of services to be provided to approximately 295 acres, consisting of six parcels currently located in Madison Township, upon the potential annexation of these parcels to the city. The request was made by Ebright Investment Co., LLC. The land is currently unzoned farm land that is located east of Ebright Road, south of Sims Road, north of the railroad tracks, and west of Decker Nursery. It also includes some land north of Sims Road. The types of services outlined in the resolution include Groveport Police, fire and emergency service (Madison Township Fire Department), water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, road maintenance, and city staffing service. Groveport Economic Development Director Michael Loges said the resolution is “an initial step in the process.” He said issues to be evaluated include potential traffic impact, water and sanitary sewer services (most likely to be provided by the city of Columbus), and drainage. Before any annexation can take place it must receive approval from the city of Groveport, Franklin County, and city and county engineering. Groveport city officials said it is not yet known what is being planned to be developed on the site or what the future zoning of the area would be. Loges said any rezoning request for the property most likely would not be made until the third quarter of 2025. “Development is going to happen,” said Groveport City Administrator B.J. King. “I will never begrudge any property owner of their rights to annex and sell their property.” King said if Groveport did not accept the potential annexation request then some other municipality would, such as Columbus or Canal Winchester. He said if the property were to be annexed into Groveport, then the city of Groveport would have control as to what would be developed there as well as its associated benefits. “Hopefully it would help us expand other economic opportunities in our area,” said King. “Nobody likes change, but if someone wants to be part of Groveport because they know what we can offer, then the city should embrace it. We can get on board or else lose out and get no benefits from any potential development.” Added Loges, “They’re (the petitioners) willing to opt into our community. They see the benefits of coming here. They see the value in consultation and partnership that can be a guide toward making better decisions for the city and residents.” Save my name, email, 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. Westside - Covering Lincoln Village, Prairie Twp., Westgate, Galloway. Madison - Covering Madison County including: London, Mt. Sterling, Plain City, West Jefferson, South Solon, Sedalia, Somerford & Rural Routes. Additional Coverage In South Charleston The board approved the contract at its Feb. 10 meeting by a 3-2 vote with board members Seth Bower, LaToya Dowdell-Burger, and Libby Gray voting for it and John Kershner and Kathleen Walsh opposing it. According to Groveport Madison Director of Communications Ty Debevoise, Collier’s annual salary would have been $169,744 under the current contract (prior to the vote). “The new salary will begin Aug 1, 2025,” said Debevoise. “That salary will be $179,244. That’s basically a 5.6 percent base increase.” Then, effective Aug. 1, 2026, the contract states Collier’s annual salary will be $184,621. According to the contract, Collier will also receive a three percent annual base salary increase for each year of the contract beginning in 2027. The board did an addendum to the current three year contract that takes Collier through July 31, 2026. “However, he’s been a treasurer for over 20 years,” said Debevoise. “Easily one of the most experienced treasurers in central Ohio.” In voting against the contract, board member John Kershner questioned the timing. “I don’t understand the purpose of entering into a contract if we can’t make it through a contract,” said Kershner. “If we’re going to go back and change the terms of the contract, why have a five year contract?” President Donald Trump makes a major sports announcement. The announcement comes amid reports Washington, D.C. will host the 2027 NFL Draft. WATCHFormer Student Arrested for Social Media Threat at Groveport Madison High Schoolby WSYX Staff Ohio (WSYX) — Police in Groveport are investigating a threat made toward Groveport Madison High School on social media—and a suspect is now in custody Detectives have identified a 14-year-old girl a former student who recently left the district She has been charged with one count of inducing panic Authorities became aware of the threat through reports from the school district as well as concerned students Detectives filed search warrants to obtain information from social media platforms a step that ultimately led to the identification of the suspect The girl was arrested today and taken to the Franklin County Juvenile Intervention Center she told officers that she had no intention of causing harm or shooting up the school Groveport Police Chief Casey Adams stressed the seriousness of the incident given past concerns and the current social climate Adams noted that the district has robust security protocols in place for entering the school during normal operations and athletic events He mentioned that seven officers were assigned to a basketball game on Friday night and that the district plans to begin the week with additional security personnel present Adams added that he hopes the school district can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the person responsible for the threats is now in custody The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to ensure the safety and security of the community A Groveport woman has been charged in connection with the theft of Columbus Division of Fire firefighting equipment worth more than $300,000 according to Franklin County Municipal Court filings It is unclear how many other suspects were involved in the theft or if Columbus police have identified any other suspects According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Columbus police multiple unknown suspects broke into the Columbus Division of Fire Training Academy in the early hours of March 30 at 3663 Parsons Ave while fire personnel were on the property and asleep The suspects stole over $300,000 of firefighting equipment Columbus police said that GPS data captured the van leaving the training academy at around 2:20 a.m Surveillance video from different areas of the training facility allegedly shows an orange Chevrolet Avalanche pickup truck in the area in the moments leading up to the heist The truck later parked nearby and served as a lookout for around two hours As the Columbus fire transport van is seen on camera leaving the training facility the orange pickup truck is seen on camera immediately following the van GPS data and video surveillance show the van traveling for almost 30 miles through Franklin and Pickaway counties for nearly an hour as the orange pickup truck follows close behind it The orange pickup truck was later seen at a home in the 3100 block of Fontaine Road in the Blacklick Estates neighborhood on Columbus' Southeast Side where small parts of the stolen equipment — like radio cords and clips — were found strewn on the ground Surveillance video also shows several people moving between the transport van and the pickup truck at the home on Fontaine Road Columbus police detectives used video from FLOCK cameras to identify the orange pickup truck which led them to identifying the Groveport woman as a suspect in the heist Investigators do not say in the complaint if the woman was the one driving the truck The woman is in custody at the Franklin County jail and has been ordered held in lieu of a $750,000 bond Her next court appearance is scheduled for Apr Groveport Madison Superintendent Jamie Grube wrote there have been incidents of fights and disciplinary issues at Groveport Madison High School While we understand that adolescence can bring challenges we must also acknowledge that these behaviors are unacceptable and can put the safety of our students and staff at risk and those involved will be held accountable Our district is built on the values of respect Every student deserves to be part of an environment that fosters these values—an environment where they can feel safe While we cannot divulge specific examples of student discipline those students who disrupt this philosophy have been held accountable and given severe Grube said additional safety measures have been implemented including: increased monitoring in common areas to keep student traffic moving in between classes plans for additional training for staff in de-escalation and conflict resolution and the implementation of corrective action and restorative practices to address underlying issues For information visit the Groveport Madison Schools Comprehensive Safety Plan on the district’s website at gocruisers.org at this time in 2022 there were 124 students involved in fights So far this year he said there have been 98 Since the beginning of the school year there have been 32 fight incidents involving these 98 students Smathers said 87 of the students were put up for expulsion and 11 were not recommended for expulsion Smathers said 33 students were charged by police including 24 for disorderly conduct and nine for assault Smathers said of a recent larger incident that school staff “broke up the fight in seconds.” “We are trying our best to help kids make good choices and good decisions.” He said school staff are “continually addressing an overwhelming amount of kids” with social emotional needs He noted that social media often inflames issues among students Grube said learning is a priority and added “The last thing we want is violence in the schools We want the kids and the staff to feel safe.” Grube noted Groveport Madison’s situation is not isolated and that fights occur at high schools across America 9 there has been a surge of fighting and turbulent behavior at the school that has resulted in eight additional criminal reports with 27 criminal charges,” said Short The Groveport and Madison Township Police both have a full time SROs at Groveport Madison High School Each agency also has an additional full-time SRO assigned to the other schools in the district “The patrol officers for both agencies also do regular walk-throughs at the high school but have been called there to assist with fights too frequently over the past two weeks,” said Short “There are also a few reports and charges for non-violent events like criminal damaging and drug offenses The total number of fights appears to be slightly down from this time last year but unfortunately the recent rash of violence obfuscates that fact.” Short said he could not speculate on the actual cause of the fights but he says officers often hear that it is neighborhood disputes or social media squabbles that carry over onto school property “There was one recent fight where a student assaulted another for not paying him for a pair of pants What I can say is that there is little to no fear of consequences for those who fight They don’t fear school discipline and have no concern about criminal charges I’ve heard them say this and I’ve seen them do it.” Short said what the public generally doesn’t understand is that in Franklin County it “is nigh impossible to ‘take a kid to jail.’” “Police are only permitted to take a minor to juvenile detention for very violent or egregious conduct,” said Short “When we arrest a minor for a serious offense we have to make a phone call to the detention center to see of the offender meets the criteria to be brought in Most often we will be told to take them to the diversion center or to release them with a criminal summons to a guardian.” Short encourages the public to do research on the State Board of Education’s rules on school discipline “There are very strict guidelines that districts must follow with progressive discipline and in many cases the district is handcuffed in what it can do,” said Short “This is more profound when it involves students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) It is not as simple as ‘expel them’ the first time they fight.’” Short said the Groveport and Madison Township Police departments will not tolerate violence at the schools “We work together as one agency when it comes to school safety,” said Short “If a violent crime occurs and we have probable cause then that student will be arrested or summoned It is out of our hands how the criminal courts decide to dispense with our cases but we keep fulfilling our end of the bargain.” Groveport Police Chief Casey Adams has been placed on paid administrative leave amid allegations that he sexually harassed a police officer Groveport Law Director Kevin Shannon tells WOSU that lawyer Anne Duprey of the Frost Brown Todd firm is conducting an independent investigation for the city president of the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge told WOSU in a statement that the officer who was allegedly harassed is a Fraternal Order of Police member the union expects Adams will be held accountable COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — The Groveport Madison Board of Education took a significant step on Tuesday night toward addressing the district's infrastructure needs the board voted 3-2 to initiate the process of placing a new school levy on the May ballot The funds are earmarked for the construction of three new middle schools and for improvements and additions to Groveport Madison High School The board is scheduled to vote on Jan. 13 on a resolution to "Proceed with Bond Issue." This resolution is necessary to forward the proposal to the Franklin County Auditor and Board of Elections for approval voters will have the opportunity to decide on the levy during the May 6 election — Maersk Warehousing & Distribution Services USA LLC Moller – Maersk company (Maersk) has opened a new 1.2 million square foot omnichannel fulfillment facility in Groveport to help serve Levi Strauss & Co.’s wholesale this represents a capstone to its comprehensive logistics support for LS&Co. which includes end-to-end solutions from origin consolidation to omni-channel fulfillment the facility is a key element in an ongoing distribution and logistics network transformation designed to significantly increase best-in-class omnichannel capabilities and further the company’s push to become a Direct-to-Consumer (DTC)-first business Operations at the Groveport facility commenced in August The new facility will help lower LS&Co.’s costs while reducing container handling time and enhancing speed and efficiency given Groveport’s strong transportation network and labor market aligns well with LS&Co.’s go-to-market strategy Over the course of the next several months the Maersk operations team will install advanced EuroSort systems capable of processing 100 million outbound units annually The facility will feature the latest implementation of Maersk’s proprietary Warehouse Management System (WMS) for operational efficiency A.P. Moller - Maersk is an integrated logistics company working to connect and simplify its customers’ supply chains the company operates in more than 130 countries and employs around 100,000 people Maersk is aiming to reach net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2040 across the entire business with new technologies By submitting this form, I agree to receive logistics related news and marketing updates from A. P. Moller-Maersk and its affiliated companies via e-mail. I understand that I can opt out of such Maersk communications at any time. To see how we process your personal data, please see our Privacy Notification Groveport Madison Schools held its annual State of the Schools event on March 6 showcasing student talent and information on the school district The event featured: performances by the Groveport Madison High School jazz band and cheerleaders; student art show; an information gallery; and food provided by the Eastland-Fairfield Career Center’s culinary arts program Groveport Madison Board of Education President Seth Bower said “We are celebrating our progress and looking ahead to our future.” Groveport Madison Schools Superintendent Jamie Grube outlined the district’s strategic plan priorities as: safety and facility enhancement; academic engagement; efficient communications; and fiscal transparency “Academic engagement drives everything we do,” said Grube He said in 2024 the district generated $97 million in revenue and had $86 million in expenses $5 million for tangible personal property taxes he said $65 million consists of salaries and benefits for employees He said in 2025 he expects the district to see revenues exceeding expenses by $6 million Collier said the district is keeping an eye on potential changes to state funding He said next year in the state’s initial budget proposal the district could receive a $400,000 increase in state funding however the following year the district could see a potential $880,000 decrease in state funding The state legislature is still debating the amounts for school funding “These are the initial state numbers,” said Collier “It’s a process like watching sausage being made.” “We are investing in the students and the educators of our district,” said Grube voters rejected Groveport Madison Schools’ $78.3 million by a vote of 9,410 against and 7,715 for it according to the Franklin County Board of Elections It was a vote margin of 55 percent to 45 percent The 37-year bond issue on the May 6 ballot would fund the construction of three 99,900 square foot middle schools housing grades 5-8 and accommodating about 700 students each The bond issue would also provide funds for a 49,000 square foot addition for classroom space and expansion of the existing student dining space at Groveport Madison High School (built in 2018) Middle School South and Middle School North would be razed According to information provided by Groveport Madison Schools and that the construction of new facilities is cheaper than renovating older existing buildings The district is in line to receive Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) funding for 53 percent of the cost of the project with local funding providing 47 percent the bond issue would cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $81.55 per year in property taxes; the owner of a $166,200 home (which is the median home value in Groveport Madison School District) an additional $135.54 per year; the owner of a $200,000 home an additional $163.10 per year; the owner of a $250,000 home an additional $203.88 per year Board members are split on the bond issue with members Seth Bower and Libby Gray supporting it and John Kershner and Kathleen Walsh opposing it Board members supporting the issue cite student overcrowding as a central issue facing the district and cost to maintain the existing middle schools Walsh has described the plan as “flawed” because she feels it raises concerns about age-appropriate environments and educational effectiveness Kershner has called it “a bad plan at any price” because it “barely expands” the high school’s capacity and “does not measure up in terms of education and it removes our students from their nearby communities.” Grube has stated that the district’s teachers and principals at the facility plan meetings did not express misgivings about the size and formats of the new proposed schools According to the resolution passed by the board to place the bond issue on the ballot the 37-year bond issue would be for “the purpose of constructing and equipping three new grades 5-8 middle schools with related site improvements and appurtenances thereto; constructing and equipping an addition to Groveport Madison High School with related site improvements and appurtenances thereto; abatement and demolition of existing facilities; improving and equipping existing facilities; and replacing existing equipment and constructing various permanent improvements school districtwide…” Ohio (WSYX) — Groveport Police Chief Casey Adams has been placed on leave following an independent investigation into allegations of sexual harassment centers on accusations that Adams harassed a fellow officer within the department president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No "One of our FOP members who's an officer made an allegation that he was sexually harassed by the police chief," Steel said Steel expressed concern over the situation We expect our members to be free of sexual harassment no matter who you are or what rank." The alleged harassment may have been ongoing for up to a year "It's my understanding this is something that occurred over a period of time Groveport city leaders have confirmed Adams is on leave but have not provided further details citing the early stages of the investigation Steel commended the city's leadership for their response "I give the mayor of Groveport all the support in the world and I'm so glad he was able to take action We've seen too many times where some elected officials try to bury this under the rug." a captain has assumed the role of acting chief of the Groveport Police Department a city with just under 6,000 residents and numerous distribution centers continues to monitor the situation closely Some residents in the area are not looking forward to another try school levy “Whenever the taxes go up thousands of dollars a year so it’s highly effective to us,” said Melody Rose She is a parent with children in the school district and I see it getting rejected again,” said Rose We spoke to other residents who told us they voted against the levy in November because the school district levy funding would strain homeowners' finances School officials say a formal bond issue committee will be formed later that will be able to address comments regarding the bond They'll meet again on January 13th to vote on whether to move forward with this latest levy on the ballot Ohio (WSYX) — Serious concerns are coming from the local NAACP The organization is speaking out following a series of social media posts by a member of the Groveport Madison school board The president of the group believes the comments are not only racist but push back against diversity in the district school board member John Kershner told ABC 6 that is simply not the case He indicates that he feels he's being targeted Watson is upset over Facebook comments from Groveport Madison school board member John Kershner and she feels there is a lack of response from the board The remarks were posted to the district page and they should be ashamed of themselves," Watson told ABC 6 A district social media post highlighting the district's diversity and engagement council sparked the initial concern about Kershner You nailed it; as long as diversity is one color Those words led to the initial complaint to the civil rights organization Watson spoke out at this week's board meeting Kershner spoke with ABC 6 and explained his side of the story It doesn't bother me," said Kershner He stressed that he believes in diversity and is not and was not trying to be racist in any way He told ABC 6 that he is being made out to be someone he's not "It doesn't have anything to do for me with black and white People will believe that people won't believe that I can't help that," said Kershner Kershner told ABC 6 that he simply wants to highlight all members of the district community Or are they representing one group?" Questioned Kershner no official statement or comment was released Watson and the NAACP are pushing for an apology from Kershner along with an increased focus on what she thinks is necessary change I'm willing to take diversity and inclusion training and focus on racism because i want to be a better school board member," said Watson I would not go to the National Association of white people to get it I would not go to the Spanish-Mexican group to get it So them calling for that and them coming to the meeting and accusing me without asking me any questions why we posted it or even looking to see if our diversity and equity program had diversity and equity in it I wouldn't go to them for that kind of training," Kershner told ABC 6 The Groveport Madison Area Community Choir will celebrate a decade of song at its upcoming 10th anniversary show entitled “Back to the Future: A Musical Variety Show,” will be held on March 1 at 1 p.m The group will be pulling out all the stops for this show with fantastic costumes “We picked this theme because we will revisit some music from past shows but also new music as well as we look to the future,” said Groveport Madison Area Community Choir Director Terri Christensen She said there will be large displays in the lobby from past shows created by choir members During the show there will be a special “memories” video including pictures of the past 10 years many of whom started when they were in kindergarten are now involved in more numbers as they continue to mature and find their passion for music and dance,” said Christensen “Our tap dancers have become quite popular and this year we are adding a few men to that group Over the past 10 years the Groveport Madison Area Community Choir has evolved and grown “The family that has been formed through the common love of music and helping the community is just amazing ‘We Are Family’ and we care about each other and our community When we started this adventure with the large shows We’ve grown into a choir of over 90 members and a group of 25 to 30 volunteers We are proud of our growth but more proud of the fact that we are all volunteers Visit the group’s website at gmcommunitychoir.org for information about joining or reach out on Facebook “I could not be more proud and humble to lead this group,” said Christensen put in the time and give 100 percent in everything they do The countless volunteers that it takes to put all of this together is unbelievable we hope you enjoy the show and know that by buying a ticket you are supporting local charities and supporting the arts in our community.” General admission tickets are $15 and reserved seats are $20 but all other tickets are available.Tickets can be purchased online at gmacc.booktix.net by phone at 614-296-2347 or in-person at Groveport Lutheran Church 6014 Groveport Road Groveport 6: Down 5-0 in the top of the second inning the Aces rallied to pick up a nonconference win over the Cruisers A-C scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning and added three runs in the fifth inning and three more in the sixth Gage Crenshaw started and picked up the win Brody Elder and Beau Matheny pitched in relief Nick Holland went 2 for 4 and had three RBIs Lancaster 9: The Golden Gales suffered their first loss of the season falling to the Chieftains on the road in an Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division game Zach Mowder and Aiden Henson scored three times each for Lancaster while Levi Greiner and Kam Griffith had two RBIs Wellington School 4: The Knights remained unbeaten in the Mid-State League-Cardinal Division after their win over the Jaguars Brayden Stem fired a three-hitter and struck out 10 to pick up the win AJ Holbrook pitched one inning to pick up a save Fairfield Christian Academy got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after Caleb White doubled Fisher Catholic competes at Wheeling Park H.S.: The Irish boys and girls competed at the 45th annual Dick Dei Track Meet at Wheeling Park High School The Irish boys scored 20 points and placed 12th out of 17 teams while Olentangy Liberty won the Meet scoring 138.5 points Leading the Irish Boys was junior Nolan Garrabrant who placed 3rd in the high jump-6 feet Thomas Ristau and Landen Funk placed 4th-3:40.2 Corbin Stobart and Landen Funk placed 5th-8:40.9 The Irish girls scored 26 points and placed ninth out of 18 teams Leading the Irish girls was senior Kiarra Sexton who won the shot put-30 feet-3inches 1 inch and 3rd in the pole vault-7 feet 6 inches Erica Sharp placed seventh in the high jump-4'6" Lancaster 2: The Golden Gales (2-1) fell short in their Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye match against the Tigers Groveport Police Chief Casey Adams will return to his job on Monday after a third-party investigation found no evidence to support claims that Adams harassed a male police officer The report released Friday by the city said the investigation found no violation of city policy nor state or federal laws The report said that the officer told an investigator that Adams approached the officer from behind and put his hands on his shoulders The chief would also grab the officer's vest and hold on to it for up to 30 seconds The officer told the investigator that while he believed the chief's conduct was weird and unprofessional The report said the officer did not report any of the physical contact until the final straw in late February when Adams allegedly grabbed the officer's vest from behind and pulled him up from a filing cabinet That caused the officer to lose his balance The report said Adams did not recall the incident Adams was put on paid administrative leave on March 13 Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No 9 represents the officer who filed the complaint said the union is disappointed in the investigation's findings "Our member bravely came forward to report unwanted contact by Chief Adams; the investigation's finding that physical contact occurred as reported but that Chief Adams cannot be held accountable due to the lack of policy against such unwelcome conduct is as baffling as it is disturbing," the statement said Groveport City Administrator BJ King said Groveport's policies are similar to other communities "All of the accusations were unfounded," King said "The chief was found to have done absolutely nothing wrong," King said The street alignments in Groveport’s historic downtown have been the same for more than 100 years According to Groveport City Administrator B.J the city plans to: demolish the former hot rod building at the corner of Main Street and Wirt Road as well as the nearby KidSpace building located at 630 Wirt Road; reconfigure Wirt Road to create a right angle intersection of Wirt Road and Front Street; and create more parking in the municipal lot located along Wirt Road “Construction will commence in late summer 2025 I anticipate construction will take approximately 10 months we will have a better idea of the construction schedule.” King said the former hot rod building will not be demolished until construction on the roadway begins The hot rod building was built in the mid-20th century and was once a car dealership “It will all be part of a construction bid package,” said King “Demolition of the hot road building prior to construction could result in the creation of an unsafe situation was built in 1955 and was originally the Groveport Municipal Building for many years and later was home to the senior center KidSpace moved into the building in the early 2000s after the senior center moved to the Groveport Recreation Center The plan is to move KidSpace to the second floor of the Rarey’s Port building (Delaney’s Diner is located on the first floor) When asked when that site would be ready for KidSpace and when the move could take place “Construction plans have been submitted for review I anticipate construction to commence in the next three to four weeks.” City officials said the large project will not only remove the dangerous angled Main Street/Wirt Road intersection by replacing it with a safer Front Street/Wirt Road traditional intersection it will also expand public parking in the historic downtown area Currently the downtown public parking lots south of Main Street along Wirt Road are often full Another downtown public parking lot with about 99 spaces is located on the north side of Main Street near Ace Hardware and Delaney’s The reconfigured municipal parking lot along Wirt Road could increase the parking capacity there to about 100 to 112 spaces from the current 60 spaces While the project is under construction there could be impacts on area downtown businesses “There will be disruptions to parking during this project,” said King that is unavoidable for the long-term benefit that will be realized once the project is complete As the construction schedule becomes more firm we will work with businesses to accommodate as best as possible.” The project could also affect the amount of traffic on Main Street once the existing Wirt Road access is cut off and before the new Wirt Road/Main Street intersection opens “We are taking the opportunity during the project to not only realign the road but to replace very aged underground infrastructure on adjacent areas on Main Street and Wirt Road,” said King We ask for patience from the community as we undertake this project The long-term benefits to improve motorist and pedestrian safety will outweigh the inconveniences that will occur during the construction.” “It’s a dangerous intersection,” said King “This project will certainly be a tremendous improvement and a long term enhancement for motorists and residents who travel and walk in the area.” Wirt Road was created after the Ohio and Erie Canal ceased operations in the early 20th century The canal came through Groveport at an angle from the northeast to the southwest buildings were built on Main Street west of the canal route Wirt Road sits where the canal towpath ran along side the canal and the current road alignment maintains the same angled junction with Main Street as the canal route once did This is not necessary and does not benefit anyone but the city I’m tired of hearing about developments all over Ohio yet none of them address the trash homeless drug use nothing just another waste of taxpayers money that just gets funneled to the officials that green light this crap Groveport Police Chief Casey Adams will return to duty Monday after an outside law firm found no evidence to support sexual harassment claims filed against him in February was placed on administrative leave by Groveport Mayor Lance Westcamp on March 4 after a police officer accused Adams of sexually harassing him with unwanted physical contact The city hired Anne Duprey, a labor attorney from law firm Frost Brown Todd, to independently investigate the allegations. Her investigation did not reveal any violations of city policy or Ohio or federal law, according to the investigation report The chief's physical contact with the officer which involved placing a hand on the officer's shoulders and grabbing his vest appeared to have been friendly gestures meant to improve camaraderie Officers interviewed by Duprey said Adams had similar physical contact with other officers and none of them felt the contact was a violation or worth filing a report The officer who filed the complaint never told Adams the contact made him uncomfortable and Adams said he would have stopped the contact had he known The officer also said a chance encounter he had with the chief while both were off duty in a public gym locker room over two years ago made him uncomfortable Adams spoke to the officer while getting dressed in the locker room The investigation found that Adams did not behave in "any way that was inappropriate for the setting" and that the officer did not say the encounter made him uncomfortable for over two years after the encounter the officer told his lieutenant — who the chief asked to check on the officer to ensure he did not feel uncomfortable due to their chance meeting — that everything was fine None of the officers interviewed in the investigation including the one that filed the harassment claim said the chief's actions were because of sex or sexual in nature Groveport Administrator BJ King said in a release that the investigation showed the system worked and had provided "accountability "Chief Adams will return to work on Monday and continue to provide the outstanding service to Groveport he has provided throughout his work here," he said Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge #9 Executive Vice President Brian Toth said the union was "deeply disappointed" in the investigation's outcome "Our member bravely came forward to report unwanted contact by Chief Adams; the investigation's finding that physical contact occurred as reported but that Chief Adams cannot be held accountable due to the lack of policy against such unwelcome conduct is as baffling as it is disturbing," he said in a press release Breaking and Trending News Reporter Nathan Hart can be reached at NHart@dispatch.com and at @NathanRHart on X and at nathanhart.dispatch.com on Bluesky According to Groveport Police Chief Casey Adams officers arrested the 14-year-old girl who allegedly made the threat “The juvenile is a former Groveport Madison High School student,” said Adams “They were taken into custody without incident and they were transported to the Franklin County Detention Center where they are being charged with a felony of the second-degree inducing panic delinquency criminal charge.” According to information provided by the Groveport Police “(expletive) up world we live in my life was fun n i’m not even a girl but i’m going out with a BANG literally:).” Adams said the threat was made on an Instagram social media account He said the suspect was caught after detectives filed a search warrant and were able to backtrack through the online system to find the account He said officers were able to find out who the account belonged to as well as the cell phone used the suspect admitted sending the message and said it was a joke and she had no intent to harm anyone “It’s not unusual these days for someone this young to do something like this,” said Adams “She’s 14 and old enough to be making adult decisions.” and Groveport Madison Schools officials acted quickly to beef up security at the high school once the threat became known on the afternoon of Feb “I am so proud and impressed with how quickly Groveport Police and their detective were able to eliminate the threat posted on social media Friday (Feb 21) early afternoon,” said Groveport Madison Schools Deputy Superintendent Paul Smathers “We worked closely with Groveport Police and Madison Township Police during this investigation until it was finally solved.” and families for making officials aware of the threatening post say something,’ which is what lots of people did,” said Smathers “It takes the entire community to help keep each other safe Threats like these can cause fear and major disruptions We take all threats very seriously and we will do whatever it takes to keep our students and staff safe.” Adams thanked the city of Groveport and Groveport Madison School District communities for their patience and cooperation during this investigation by the Groveport Police “I want to also thank the Groveport Madison School District and Madison Township Police Department for their assistance in bringing this alarming situation to a conclusion,” said Adams “(Threats like these) are not acceptable to our community and society There is no acceptable reason to post threats of violence on social media or any other communication platform and the Groveport Police Department will investigate and hold those who chose to create alarm to our community responsible for their irresponsible actions.” The Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame is announced Calvin Booth a 1994 graduate of Groveport Madison High School as a member of its distinguished 2025 class of inductees currently serving as President of Basketball Operations for the NBA’s Denver Nuggets has established himself as one of basketball’s most successful figures both on and off the court “Calvin Booth exemplifies the basketball excellence that our Hall of Fame celebrates,” said Executive Director Sheila Fox “His journey from Ohio high school standout to NBA championship executive demonstrates the impact Ohio basketball has across all levels of the sport.” Booth’s journey from a standout high school player to an NBA executive leading a championship team is a testament to this Cruiser’s talent Booth has had a life-long passion for the game of basketball he showcased his skills as a dominant force in basketball earning recognition that would lead him to an outstanding collegiate career at Penn State University he established himself as one of the Big Ten’s premier defensive players winning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year as a junior and earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors as a senior His success continued at the professional level after being selected 35th overall by the Washington Wizards in the 1999 NBA Draft working his way up from scout to executive leadership After holding key roles with the New Orleans Pelicans and Minnesota Timberwolves he joined the Denver Nuggets in 2017 as an assistant general manager Booth was promoted to President of Basketball Operations leading the franchise to its first-ever NBA championship in 2023 “Calvin Booth’s induction into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame is a tremendous honor and a testament to his hard work and passion for the game,” said Jeff Altman principal of Groveport Madison High School “He has always represented our community with excellence—first as a standout player and now as an executive leader in the NBA We are incredibly proud of Calvin and hope his journey inspires our students to dream big and work hard to achieve their goals.” Booth will be honored at the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on April 12 at the Hilton Polaris in Columbus He will be inducted alongside an impressive class of basketball legends and contributors who have left lasting marks on the game Doors open at 4 p.m with the ceremony beginning at 5:30 p.m Tickets are available at www.OhioBasketballHallOfFame.com Alex’s Legacy of Love 5K is the primary fundraiser for the Alexandria Leigh Goodwin Angel Foundation (ALGA) An organization committed to creating a more positive loving world through random acts of kindness Created in the memory of Alexandria “Alex” Goodwin a 2014 graduate of Groveport Madison High School who had just finished her sophomore year at Capital University at the time of her unexpected passing in 2016 Information is available at www.alex5k.org/alex5k The Groveport Madison High School Competition Cheerleading Team finished second in the recent Americheer Nationals Competition in Orlando The cheerleaders battled the weather conditions as well as this competition was held outdoors The team finished just 0.6 percentage points behind the first place team Head Coach Krena Hubner was also awarded the Americheer Coach of the Year Award Hubner was also awarded the first ever Americheer Lifetime Coaching Award Groveport Madison high School Principal Jeff Altman acknowledged how successful of a leader Hubner has been for the program during her tenure Groveport Clerk of Courts Rachel Ricker presented an idea to Groveport City Council on Feb 10 outlining a proposed City of Groveport Citizens Academy Ricker said the Citizens Academy would meet once a week over an eight week course period where citizen participants could sit down with city leaders and staff and learn about what the city’s various departments do and the role they play in the overall city government “We care about our residents and businesses,” said Ricker “We want to showcase the city of Groveport Things work best when we all work together.” Ricker said there are some in the community who distrust government “A few disgruntled members of the community may take their disillusionment to social media,” said Ricker Council President Ed Dildine added that many people have a perception of government that is opposed to the reality of government and that misperception gets spread on social media Ricker said some residents may have concerns about services and development She said the Citizens Academy would allow “residents to get an inside look at all the great things we do for Groveport as well as gain an understanding of any future plans for the city.” Ricker said the Citizens Academy could begin in September and then meet once a week for eight weeks Potential weekly topics could include: government structure and finances; public safety including police and technology; public service including infrastructure and facilities; development and engineering; community affairs and transportation; commissions and committees; and ending with a graduation and discussion of volunteer opportunities Ricker said the plan is to keep the class at 20 participants so it is manageable and that the classes would not be overly long She added that at some point she would like to see the program presented at area schools as part of their civics classes The Citizens Academy would have a $2,000 budget that would include dinner for the academy graduates “This is great,” said Councilwoman Jean Ann Hilbert Councilman Jack Rupp suggested the Citizens Academy include the Madison Township Fire Department and Groveport Madison Schools He also said there should a concentration on finances “There’s so much misunderstanding on things like taxes and abatements,” said Rupp Councilwoman Becky Hutson said the program should also include information on how the city and school district are funded separately and operate separately Ricker said the benefits of the Citizens Academy would include: more involved and informed residents; an increased pool of potential employees and volunteers; and an increase in staff morale and buy-in “We are looking forward to launching this and will move forward with it.” For information call the Groveport Municipal Building at 614-836-5301 marking the largest job creation initiative in the state The billion-dollar investment is expected to generate $800 million in tax revenue for Ohio will require Groveport to adapt to an influx of people and traffic expressed cautious optimism about the development you need workers to be there working in that city We gotta get used to it here in central Ohio and it’s something we just need to really embrace and do everything we can to manage it well." hopes the benefits will trickle down to the city to support other local investors "The whole ecosystem that will support an investment like this that's what we're hoping to capture as well," Loges said Groveport has already experienced benefits from major projects with Honda in Marysville and soon Intel being around 40 miles away The proximity of Arsenal-1 adds to the anticipation for the city "I think there’s a lot to be seen," King said It’s tremendous how quickly central Ohio is growing It’s an exciting time to be here and be a part of it." all growth is good growth as long as it’s managed well," Loges concluded City administration plans to revise its comprehensive plan to prepare for the changes ahead This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page JLL Capital Markets arranged the sale of a four-building Hotels & Hospitality and Capital Markets PR Your browser doesn't support speech synthesis CHICAGO, Oct. 24, 2024 – JLL Capital Markets announced today the sale of The Hub at London Groveport 1,590,495-square-foot industrial portfolio and a 6.68 trailer parking lot in Columbus Located in the Columbus suburb of Lockbourne the properties include a 1,059,000-square-foot cross-dock facility at 6201 Collings Drive a 231,660-square-foot rear-load building at 1260 London Groveport Road a 163,520-square-foot rear-load building at 6322 Collings Drive a 136,315-square-foot rear-load building at 1302 London Groveport Road and a 6.68-acre trailer parking lot the Class A portfolio was 91% leased at close to two tenants The assets are strategically positioned in the Columbus' Southeast submarket adjacent to Rickenbacker International Airport – one of the world's largest cargo-dedicated airports that operate 24/7 to handle over 30 million pounds of cargo monthly This prime logistics location provides immediate access to major transportation networks: the portfolio is situated just 4.6 miles from the Columbus Beltway 7.1 miles from I-71 and 10.7 miles from I-70 The central geography allows access to 46% of the U.S The JLL Investment Sales and Advisory team was led by Industrial Group Co-Lead and Senior Managing Director John Huguenard Capital Markets Americas President Jody Thornton Managing Director Ed Halaburt and Director William McCormack "We want to thank Xebec and Heitman for the opportunity to represent them in the sale of their portfolio," said Huguenard "JLL has a strong conviction in Columbus industrial market fundamentals and we want to congratulate EQT Exeter on another strategic acquisition of assets that are well-suited to continue their strong performance." JLL Capital Markets is a full-service global provider of capital solutions for real estate investors and occupiers The firm's in-depth local market and global investor knowledge delivers the best-in-class solutions for clients — whether investment sales and advisory The firm has more than 3,000 Capital Markets specialists worldwide with offices in nearly 50 countries For more news, videos and research resources, please visit JLL’s newsroom Heitman is a global real estate investment management firm with nearly $50 49 billion in assets under management as of June September 30 Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Chicago Heitman has 10 offices worldwide and is an active participant in the global real estate property and capital markets Heitman makes real estate investments through private equity and publicly-traded real estate securities EQT Exeter is a global real estate investment manager with over $30 billion of equity under management life science and residential properties in Europe With over 450 experienced professionals operating in more than 50 offices globally EQT Exeter owns and operates over 2,000 properties and 375 million square feet EQT Exeter's track record comprises over $45 billion in total property gross asset value since inception spanning over 450 million square feet globally EQT Exeter is the real estate division of EQT AB a purpose-driven global investment organization insights and opportunities from global commercial real estate markets straight to your inbox “The cost of maintaining and operating facilities continues to go up,” said Groveport City Administrator B.J I know raising rates is not a comfortable thing to do.” the city would still have to subsidize recreation with money from the general fund The recreation fund (as well as the golf course fund) historically operate at losses and require annual transfers from the general fund to break even “We want to reduce that (the subsidization),” said King Council is considering legislation outlining the proposed changes •Combining the three existing youth rate categories into one designated as Youth Ages 3-17 with an increased annual rate to $228 for city residents and $468 for non-residents •Revising the Adult Ages 25-54 category to Adult Ages 18-54 with an annual rate of $276 for residents and $552 for non-residents •The rate for Senior Adult Age 55 and up would increase from $107 to$144 annually for residents and from $185 to $276 annually for non-residents •The rate for Senior Adult Couple Age 55 and up would increase from $193 to $240 annually for residents and from $334 to $504 annually for non-residents •The Household of Two category would change to Couple and that rate would rise from $362 to $456 annually for residents and from $626 to $936 annually for non-residents •The Household of Four category would be eliminated and changed to Household of Three or More and that rate would rise from $463 to $720 annually for residents and from $695 to $1,080 annually for non-residents •Day pass fees for non-members for infant ages 0-2 remains free the individual day pass fee for residents would increase from $8 to $10 and from $12 to $20 for non-residents •Monthly memberships would rise as follows: Youth Ages 3-17 to $19 for residents and $39 for non-residents; Adult 18-54 to $23 for residents and $46 for non-residents; Senior Adult Age 55 and up to $12 for residents and $23 for non-residents; Senior Couple Age 55 and up to $20 for residents and $42 for non-residents; Couple to $38 for residents and $78 for non-residents; Household of Three or More to $60 for residents and $90 for non-residents said the last membership increase was in 2012 and that the recreation center membership had become “under market compared to other recreation centers/gyms.” Bower said membership categories were reduced from nine to six to streamline and simplify the process The proposed new rates would be effective Sept Council could consider a five percent annual increase in memberships going forward “We offer a lot more amenities than other gyms and recreation centers,” said Bower Council will discuss and vote on the proposed new rates and categories at a future meeting Groveport 0: The Golden Gales improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division after their win over the visiting Cruisers Zach Mowder and Levi Greiner all had two hits Logan Elm 4: The Aces banged out 11 hits in the MSL-Buckeye Division win over the Braves Brody Holbrook led the way with two hits and four RBI Breece Stone and Gary Kimmerling had two hits each three runs and striking out three in five innings of work Berne Union 1: The fell short in their Mid-State League-Cardinal Division loss to the Eagles Jeremy Hartmann pitched all seven innings in the loss Clayton Moore went 2 for 2 and Colt Probasco had a hit and scored the Rockets’ lone run Fairfield Union 3: The Falcons suffered their first loss of the season after dropping a nonconference game against the Mustangs Ashton Waldrop went 2 for 2 to lead the offense Waldrop started and pitched three-plus innings Micha Hartman pitched two scoreless innings and struck out four Fisher Catholic 0: Jens Schultz pitched six shutout innings and finished with seven strikeouts to help lead the Knights to a MSL-Cardinal Division win over the Irish Zanesville Rosecrans 3: The Lakers improved to 9-2 overall after the MSL-Cardinal Division win over the Bishops Kendyl Bonkowski drove in four runs on two hits to lead the way for the Lakers and doubled in the fifth inning to plate two more runs giving up two earned runs on four hits while striking out eight Groveport 0: The Golden Gales opened OCC-Buckeye Division play with a sweep over the Cruisers According to a press release from Canal Winchester Schools “To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone we’re working closely with local law enforcement and Groveport Madison Schools and implementing additional safety measures we all agree on one thing: our students deserve the chance to enjoy high school football with their friends and moving the game to Saturday is one of the steps we’re taking to ensure a safe environment.” •All fans must pass through a weapon detector to enter •All 9-12 students must show a Canal Winchester High School or Groveport Madison High School ID to enter Students without an ID must be accompanied by an adult •All K-8 students must be accompanied by an adult Canal Winchester Middle School students (6-8 grades) must also have their school ID with them •All adults should be prepared to show ID if asked Canal Winchester fans will use the home gates •No loitering in the parking lot or outside the stadium during or after the game •Attendance will be capped at 2,000 guests •Law enforcement officers from the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office and Groveport Police will be in attendance at the game •Blacklick Haunted Park will be held in Groveport’s Blacklick Park It’s very scary so parental discretion is advised All proceeds go to Groveport Madison Human Needs and the Groveport Food Pantry there is a not-so-scary free kids event on Oct Kids must be accompanied by a parent or guardian The first 250 kids will receive a free goodie bag This spooktacular event is sponsored by the city of Groveport and Groveport residents •Trick-or-treat will be held in Groveport on Oct •Groveport’s annual Halloween Block Party will be held from 5:30-7 p.m at the intersection of Front and Main streets and extend northbound along Front Street The event is held in conjunction with the city’s trick-or-treat activities “The Halloween Block Party features the Groveport Police Department and the highly anticipated return of the Groveport Madison High School Marching Band playing spooky Halloween-themed music!,” said Groveport Community Affairs Director Jessica Wyke “Thanks to the Groveport Police Department and Groveport Public Services a hauntingly eerie old police cruiser will be packed with ghouls and goblins and a towering 12-foot tall scary creature will be set up near the new pocket park at Main and Front streets adding an extra dose of frightful fun to the festivities.” •The Groveport Town Hall staff will also hold a pumpkin carving contest during the Halloween Block Party “We’re planning on giving out free pumpkins from Oct 21-29 for people to take home “The pumpkins will then be on display in front of Town Hall during the Halloween Block Party for people to cast their vote.” To view Eastland-Fairfield’s 2023 State Report Card visit www.EastlandFairfield.com/reportcard Ohio School Report Cards are required by law to provide parents educators and policymakers information about district and school performance — to celebrate successes and identify areas for improvement The information provides transparent reporting to drive local conversations on continuous improvement and identify schools that need intensive supports •Achievement: This indicator measures whether students meet grade-level expectations on state tests which shows how well students perform on these assessments which shows how many students met or exceeded the basic proficiency level •Progress: Progress looks at students’ growth over the past school year It evaluates whetherstudents are making the expected progress in key subjects regardless of their initial level of achievement •Gap Closing: This measure evaluates the performance of specific student groups including economically disadvantaged students and students from various racial and ethnic backgrounds •Graduation Rate: This indicator looks at the percentage of students who graduate within four or five years •Early Literacy: This measure focuses on how well schools help students in kindergarten through third grade learn to read and Military Readiness: This new component assesses how well-prepared students are for life after high school Groveport Madison Schools maintained a 4-star rating in the Progress Component Eight of the district’s 10 schools earned an overall star rating of 3 stars or higher Sedalia Elementary sustained its 4-star rating while both Groveport Elementary and Middle School North raised their ratings from 3.5 to 4 stars The ratings for the district’s other schools are: (elementaries) Glendening 2.5 stars; (middle schools and high school)Middle School Central and Military Readiness also yielded a significant improvement with the score increasing from 28 percent to 63 percent Groveport Madison High School outperformed seven of the eight neighboring districts in this component Download the Ohio Department of Education’s Guide to 2023-24 Ohio Student Report Cards for information The video seminar is combined with support group discussion of the materials presented during the video To register call 614-836-5968 or sign up at https://www.griefshare.org/holidays/events/248939 Tickets are: presale – adult $8 and student/senior $6; and at the door – adult $10 and student/senior $8 For $7 you can enjoy a spaghetti dinner with the main cast Come and enjoy a nice meal with Colonel Mustard Visit Groveport Madison High School Theatre on Facebook for ticket information According to OAPSE Field Representative Sean Dahl the strike notice was sent electronically and hand delivered to Eastland-Fairfield Superintendent Shelley Groves by Dahl and several members of Local 686 at 11:30 a.m “We are all set to strike and begin picketing on Jan conducted a thorough review based on the district’s financial standing and comparisons to similar districts ultimately issuing recommendations that included wage increases deemed fiscally responsible,” said Dahl the Eastland-Fairfield school board rejected the Fact Finder’s recommendations prior to their scheduled Dec which Dahl said fell short of the Fact-Finder’s recommendations OAPSE Local #686 members convened and unanimously voted to accept the Fact Finder’s recommendations despite not securing several of their proposals,” said Dahl “This demonstrated the union’s commitment to compromise and the well-being of its members and the community The Local also voted unanimously to reject the board’s Last The employer has given us no indication that they wish to have further discussions at this point We do not currently have any dates scheduled for continuing negotiations that may change once the board realizes that a strike is imminent OAPSE local #686 will continue to bargain in good faith and hopes to reach a tentative agreement soon.” after eight meetings with the union and two meetings with a mediator and before a third meeting OAPSE 686 “filed a unilateral request with the State Employment Relations Board to go to fact finding.” The resolution noted the board and OAPSE 686 presented information related to nine outstanding issues to a fact finder and on Dec The board then reviewed the fact finder’s report along with financial and market information relative to the compensation of the board’s employees “the board rejected the fact finder’s report because the board must act in a fiscally responsible manner given the nature of the board’s operations must align employee compensation with the market and the compensation of similar positions in our associate school districts.” According to information provided by OAPSE included higher-than-proposed board salary increases and addressed the undervaluation of classified staff Final offer failed to match the Fact Finder’s proposed wage increases and “neglected to address inflationary pressures affecting its employees.” He said the Fact Finder’s report specifically highlighted that Eastland-Fairfield has the financial capacity to implement these recommendations without compromising its fiscal integrity or its service to students and the community “OAPSE Local #686 remains steadfast in advocating for fair compensation and respect for our members,” Dahl said “We urge the Eastland-Fairfield Board to reconsider its position and join us in adopting the Fact Finder’s recommendations to avert a strike and restore faith in the collective bargaining process.” the State Employment Relations Board reached out to him and indicated they would be willing to help mediate however they indicated that the employer was not willing to meet and that SERB requires mutual agreement “The EFCTS administration and board have clearly not taken this process seriously,” said Dahl He said once the union delivered the strike notice the superintendent emailed the staff with (allegedly) “more threats and retaliatory rhetoric.” “Despite the superintendent being one of the top paid of all the schools that feed into EFCTS even though she is a first time superintendent,” said Dahl administration makes all the money and doesn’t want the employees Gasser said the key area of disagreement regards compensation “According to negotiation fact finding results EFCTS salaries rank within the top 25 percent of its partner districts,” said Gasser at Step 5 (five years experience) the EFCTS custodial salary schedule is the highest among our 16 partner districts Eastland-Fairfield’s goal is to maintain compensation within the top 1/3 (33 percent) of its partner districts EFCTS has recognized that adjustments need to be made for cooks and has made proposals to ensure that it is increasing those salaries as needed.” When asked what security measures will Eastland-Fairfield institute during the strike “EFCTS has been in contact with community law enforcement who have graciously agreed to provide support when and as needed but having additional presence around our campuses and providing traffic support are two items in which they could be utilized We have been in contact with local partners to ensure our food and technology services will have minimal disruptions.” Gasser said all EFCTS staff will return to their respective campuses on Jan “That is the last day for individual members of OAPSE 686 to inform their supervisors of their intent to strike,” said Gasser “The district will have a more full picture of where additional assistance will be applied after all notices are received.” (This story was updated to add new information.) The last two Frisch's Big Boy restaurants in Franklin County have shut down part of a wave of evictions and closures for the Cincinnati-based chain drive-thru menu boards and pick-up windows this morning at Frisch's locations in Grove City and Groveport announce they have closed permanently and direct people to restaurants that remain open A Frisch's Big Boy in Lancaster closed in early November A Franklin County Municipal Court magistrate's ruling Nov 13 in favor of property owner NNN Reit sealed the Cincinnati-based restaurant's fate in Grove City The ruling in an eviction hearing called for "restitution of the premises" to the Orlando-based landlord which claimed it hadn't been paid rent on the property off Interstate 270 at 2878 Home Road Frisch's told The Cincinnati Enquirer in October that "unforeseen circumstances and various other factors" were the cause of an undisclosed number of recent closures in Ohio and elsewhere The chain was sold in 2015 to an Atlanta investment company which quickly sold its properties to Orlando-based NNN Reit and began leasing them back Frisch's hasn't paid rent for some of its locations since February according to court documents filed in Hamilton and Clermont counties that were cited by The Enquirer NNN Reit also owns the Frisch's property at 3920 S Frisch's announced that a group of managers had agreed to buy an unspecified number of its restaurants Neither side said how many or which locations would remain open rvitale@dispatch.com Instagram: @dispatchdining