Waynesville Elementary is less than $800 from its $45,000 Fun Run goal, football visits Carlisle tonight, Viking Weekend and Hisey Fall Fest fill Saturday, and Friday showers clear to a sunny weekend.

Weather

Today: 69°F, Rain Showers (high 69° / low 49°)

Outlook: - Saturday — high 68° / low 46°, Sunny - Sunday — high 73° / low 47°, Mostly Sunny - Monday — high 66° / low 40°, Sunny

No NWS alerts in effect.

Source: National Weather Service

This morning in Waynesville

1. Fun Run nears its goal, grades 1-5 run moves to Oct. 8. Waynesville Elementary is less than $800 from its $45,000 Fun Run goal, the district said Thursday after the preschool and kindergarten run. Because of today's forecast, the Fun Run for grades 1-5 has been moved to Thursday, October 8. (district post)
2. Football at Carlisle tonight. Varsity football, 42-14 winners at Dayton Christian last week, plays at Carlisle at 7:00 p.m.; the JV hosts Carlisle Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Saturday also brings home volleyball against Batavia (11:00 a.m.) and boys soccer against Bethel (2:45 p.m.). (MaxPreps)
3. Showers today, then a sunny weekend. The National Weather Service calls for rain showers today with a high of 69°, then a sunny 68° Saturday and a mostly sunny 73° Sunday, with lows in the mid-40s. No alerts are in effect. (forecast)

Schools

Waynesville Elementary's Fun Run is less than $800 from its $45,000 goal after Thursday's preschool and kindergarten run; the run for grades 1-5 moves to October 8 because of today's rain. Earlier this week Newland-Trimble American Legion Post 615 donated two American flags, now displayed at Waynesville Elementary and the Performing Arts Center, and the Waynesville Leo Club collected food and supplies at Kroger for the Waynesville Food Pantry. On the field, football is at Carlisle tonight at 7:00 p.m.; volleyball hosts Batavia and boys soccer hosts Bethel Saturday, while girls soccer visits Carroll. The Board of Education meets Monday, October 5 at 6:00 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center, and the Mary L. Cook Public Library has Toddler Time and Teen Tuesday next Tuesday. Check: - Wayne Local BoardDocs — https://go.boarddocs.com/oh/waylo/Board.nsf/Public - District news — https://www.wayne-local.com/district-news - Spartans / MaxPreps — https://www.maxpreps.com/oh/waynesville/waynesville-spartans/ - Mary L. Cook Library — https://www.mlcook.lib.oh.us/ - Wayne Local Schools Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/waynelocalschools

From the September 14, 2026 board meeting - A new partnership with Catalyst Counseling has placed a school-based mental health therapist in each building — Waynesville Elementary, Waynesville Middle School and Waynesville High School. - The WES PTO has raised $20,000 toward a $45,000 Fun Run goal, with proceeds going in part toward playground equipment, and has begun a YMCA partnership teaching elementary students swimming and water safety. - New English Language Arts and Math curriculum rolled out for grades 6-8, with MAP standards testing for grades 6-10. The Warren County Career Center is offering new Global Foods and Health & Nutrition classes in partnership with WHS, and driver education is now available on campus. - Principal Chip Will reported an early read on the new cell phone policy, describing a rise in student interaction, particularly at lunch. - Facility dogs are now in place at both campuses — Welkin at the secondary campus, funded by the Student Councils, and an elementary dog funded by the WES PTO. Dr. AJ Iwasko is donating veterinary services and La Bella Vida Pet Salon is providing grooming.

From Wayne Local Schools on Facebook - Thu, Oct 1 — WOW! Less than $800 to go until Waynesville Elementary reaches its goal of $45,000! We’re so close! Also, due to the… forecast tomorrow the Fun Run date for grades 1-5 has been moved to October 8. 🎉🐷 WHAT. A. DAY! 🐷🎉 Our Preschool & Kindergarten Fun Run was absolutely AMAZING today! The smiles, energy, cheering, and excitement made today one to remember! 🧡🖤 A HUGE THANK YOU to every teacher, parent,… (post) - Thu, Oct 1 — Fun Run fun today at WES! Be sure to check out the last photo, too!🐷😊It’s been a FUN morning, we can’t wait for this a... Fun Run fun today at WES! Be sure to check out the last photo, too!🐷😊 It’s been a FUN morning, we can’t wait for this afternoon 🖤🧡🐷 (post) - Wed, Sep 30 — 🍎 Fall fun is in full swing at WES! Mrs. Bowersox's young fives and kindergarten students just celebrated Apple Day… with hands-on learning, including tasting different apple products, using apples to measure and compare items, and estimating how many apples tall they are. Great work, students! Your creativity is off the charts!⭐ (post) - Wed, Sep 30 — Big shout-out to the Newland-Trimble American Legion Post 615 for making a trip to our campus to donate not one but two… American flags! The flags are already proudly on display, one at Waynesville Elementary and the other at our Performing Arts Center. Be sure to check them out when you're on campus next! 🇺🇸We appreciate Post 615 for its generosity and continued support of our district!🧡 (post) - Mon, Sep 28 — Waynesville Elementary's Goodies with Grands event brought our preschoolers and their grandparents or special guests… together to celebrate learning, make memories, and kick off the school year with connection.🧡🖤 Because at Wayne Local Schools, belonging includes our families, too! #YouBelong #WeAreWayneLocal (post) - Mon, Sep 28 — A big thank you to our Waynesville Leo Club members who spent the day at Kroger yesterday collecting food and supplies… for the Waynesville Food Pantry!🧡 We’re proud of these students for giving their time and making a meaningful difference right here in our community. Way to represent Waynesville with a spirit of service! (post)

Library programs (Mary L. Cook Public Library) - Tue · Oct 6, 10:30 AM — Toddler Time - Tue · Oct 6, 3:00 PM — Teen Tuesday (6th-12th Grade) - Tue · Oct 6, 3:00 PM — Make your Own Veggie Super Hero - Wed · Oct 7, 10:30 AM — Baby Bookworms - Thu · Oct 8, 10:30 AM — Preschool Storytime - Sat · Oct 10, 10:00 AM — Sauerkraut Festival - Mon · Oct 12, 9:00 AM — Monsters University Interactive Movie Kits - Mon · Oct 12, 5:30 PM — Getting Reel Film Club

This week in sports

Results - Football (Varsity) — Waynesville 42, Dayton Christian 14 (Away) — box score - Girls Soccer (Varsity) — Waynesville 2, Lebanon 4 (Home) — box score - Boys Soccer (JV) — Waynesville 2, Yellow Springs 1 (Home) — box score - Girls Soccer (JV) — Waynesville 0, Troy 2 (Away) — box score - Volleyball (Varsity) — Waynesville 1, Monroe 3 (sets) (Away) — box score - Boys Soccer (Varsity) — Waynesville 4, Yellow Springs 0 (Home) — box score - Girls Soccer (Varsity) — Waynesville 1, Troy 4 (Away) — box score - Volleyball (Varsity) — Waynesville 1, Oakwood 3 (sets) (Home) — box score - Boys Soccer (Varsity) — Waynesville 0, Carlisle 0 (Away) — box score

Upcoming - Football (Varsity) — @ Carlisle, Fri · Oct 2, 7:00 PM — details - Football (JV) — vs Carlisle, Sat · Oct 3, 10:00 AM — details - Volleyball (JV) — vs Batavia, Sat · Oct 3, 10:00 AM — details - Volleyball (Varsity) — vs Batavia, Sat · Oct 3, 11:00 AM — details - Girls Soccer (JV) — @ Carroll, Sat · Oct 3, 11:00 AM — details - Girls Soccer (Varsity) — @ Carroll, Sat · Oct 3, 12:45 PM — details - Boys Soccer (JV) — @ Bethel, Sat · Oct 3, 1:00 PM — details - Boys Soccer (Varsity) — vs Bethel, Sat · Oct 3, 2:45 PM — details - Boys Soccer (JV) — vs Legacy Christian Academy, Mon · Oct 5, 5:30 PM — details - Girls Soccer (JV) — @ Tippecanoe, Mon · Oct 5, 5:30 PM — details - Volleyball (Varsity) — vs Fairmont, Mon · Oct 5, 6:30 PM — details - Boys Soccer (Varsity) — vs Legacy Christian Academy, Mon · Oct 5, 7:15 PM — details - Girls Soccer (Varsity) — @ Tippecanoe, Mon · Oct 5, 7:15 PM — details - Volleyball (JV) — vs Carlisle, Tue · Oct 6, 5:30 PM — details - Volleyball (Varsity) — vs Carlisle, Tue · Oct 6, 6:30 PM — details - Volleyball (JV) — @ Madison, Thu · Oct 8, 5:30 PM — details - Boys Soccer (JV) — vs Dayton Christian, Thu · Oct 8, 5:30 PM — details - Girls Soccer (JV) — @ Dayton Christian, Thu · Oct 8, 5:30 PM — details - Volleyball (Varsity) — @ Madison, Thu · Oct 8, 6:30 PM — details - Boys Soccer (Varsity) — vs Dayton Christian, Thu · Oct 8, 7:15 PM — details - Girls Soccer (Varsity) — @ Dayton Christian, Thu · Oct 8, 7:15 PM — details

Local government

Next up: Warren County Commissioners, Tue, Oct 6 · 9:00 AM — agenda. Also next up: Wayne Township Trustees, Tue, Oct 6 · 7:00 PM, 6050 N. Clarksville Rd., Waynesville — latest posted agenda: Trustees Meeting Agenda, Sep 15, 2026. The Wayne Local Board of Education meets Monday, October 5 at 6:00 p.m. (BoardDocs); the Warren County Commissioners hold their weekly session Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. at 406 Justice Dr. in Lebanon, and the Wayne Township Trustees meet Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. From the Village Council's September 8 minutes: Council awarded the Fifth and Sixth Street water main replacement and resurfacing contract to Ford Development Corp. (Ordinance 2026-033), approved a water-improvement security agreement for Settlers Grove Section 1 (Ordinance 2026-037), and gave first readings to Ordinance 2026-038 and Resolution 2026-039, which accepts the Budget Commission's amounts and rates and certifies tax levies to the County Auditor (packet). Check: - Commissioners agendas/minutes — https://commissioners.warrencountyohio.gov/News/AgendaMinutes/Index - Village of Waynesville — https://www.villageofwaynesville.org/news/ and /meetings/ - Wayne Township (covers Waynesville & Corwin) — https://waynetwpwarrencooh.gov/board-of-trustees/

Village Council — minutes of the September 8, 2026 meeting (posted as part of the September 21, 2026 agenda packet), called to order 7:00 p.m., adjourned 7:45 p.m.: - Mrs. Miller moved to excuse Mr. Colvin, Mr. Lauffer, and Mr. Powell from tonights Council meeting, and Mr. Gallagher seconded the motion. (Motion: Miller, Second: Gallagher, Roll Call: 4 yeas) - Mrs. Miller made a motion to approve the minutes for the Council meeting on August 17, 2026, as written, and Mr. Nation seconded the motion. (Motion: Miller, Second: Nation, Roll Call: 4 yeas) - Mrs. Miller moved to have the first reading for Ordinance 2026-038, and Mr. Nation seconded the motion. (Motion: Miller, Second: Nation, Roll Call: 4 yeas |) - Resolution 2026-039 Resolution Accepting the Amounts and Rates as Determined by the Budget Commission and Authorizing the Necessary Tax Levies and Certifying them to the County Auditor and Declaring an Emergency Mrs. Miller moved to have the first reading for Resolution 2026-039, and Mr. Gallagher seconded the motion. (Motion: Miller, Second: Gallagher, Roll Call: 4 yeas) - Ordinance No. 2026-033 An Ordinance Accepting the Recommendation of the Village Engineer and Awardin g a Contract to Ford Development Corp. for the Fifth Street and Sixth Street Water Main Replacement and Resurfacing Project and Authorizing the Village Manager to Execute a Construction Agreement and Related Contract Documents : Mr. Gallagher moved to adopt Ordinance 2026-033, and Mr. Nation seconded the motion. (Motion: Gallagher, Second: Nation, Roll Call: 4 yeas |) - Ordinance No. 2026-037 An Ordinance Authorizing the Village Manager to Execute a Subdivision Public Improvement Performance and Maintenance Security Agreement (Water) with C. Ellis Properties, LLC and Peoples Bank, and to Accept the Associated Escrow Security, for the Installation of Water Improvements in the Settlers Grove Subdivision, Section/Phase 1. Mr. Gallagher moved to adopt Ordinance 2026-037, and Mrs. Miller seconded the motion, (Motion: Gallagher, Second: Miller, Roll Call: 4 yeas |)

full agenda/minutes packet

Wayne Local Schools Board of Education — from the district's recap of the September 14, 2026 meeting (Board President Amanda Garrett was not in attendance. There were no public participants.): - Through August the district's General Fund is tracking roughly $143,315 below forecast on revenue — Treasurer Carolyn Huber attributed the gap primarily to local tax and reimbursement collections — while expenditures are essentially on target, a year-to-date variance of about $1. Together that represents an approximately $143,316 unfavorable impact on the projected General Fund cash balance. - The district received about $5.86 million in revenue through August, roughly $20,000 more than the same period last year, and spent about $3.71 million, up roughly $86,000 from about $3.62 million a year ago. - Levy discussions will resume when Board President Amanda Garrett returns from vacation. - The Board reviewed renewal of the district's depository agreement with LCNB National Bank — a five-year term running August 22, 2026 through August 22, 2031. - The district joined the Southwestern Ohio Educational Purchasing Council's cooperative school bus purchasing program, which lets it take part in a competitive bid run for multiple districts. Participation does not obligate Wayne Local to buy a bus; that decision follows once bids and pricing are available. Huber also reviewed the age of the current fleet. - Donations recognized: $1,000 from Leslie Dye, Bradley Wolf and Randall Wolf for the Wolf Family Scholarship, and $200 from the Goldsberry family for the WES Principal's Fund. - The Board adopted a resolution declaring transportation to Summit Academy Secondary School impractical under state transportation guidelines, with families of eligible students to receive payment in lieu of transportation under Ohio Revised Code 3327. - Both the Superintendent's and the Treasurer's consent agenda items were approved.

Next meeting: Monday, October 5 at 6:00 p.m., WLS Performing Arts Center (second floor), 625 Dayton Rd. full agenda and minutes on BoardDocs

Around town

Saturday is busy: the Ohio Renaissance Festival's Viking Weekend runs October 3–4 (10:30 a.m.–7 p.m.), and the Warren County Park District's free Hisey Fall Fest is 11 a.m.–4 p.m. at Hisey Park, 5443 Middletown Rd., followed that evening by a Warren County Astronomical Society night sky tour at the park's Fred Bay Observatory (6:30–10:30 p.m.). Fox Hollow Rodeo has bull riding Saturday at 6:00 p.m. WKEF reports the historic Hammel House is set to reopen ahead of the Ohio Sauerkraut Festival, which fills downtown October 10–11 (9 a.m.–8 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday). The Waynesville Fall Fest continues weekends through November 1, Historical Haunts ghost walks run through October, and at Caesar Creek State Park tonight brings Celestial Stories of the Underground Railroad programs, with a Fossil Hunt at the Spillway Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Check: - Chamber — https://www.waynesvilleohio.com/ · Merchants — https://waynesvilleshops.com/

Merchant Association events (waynesvilleshops.com) - Sun, Oct 25 · 1:00 PM–4:00 PM — Trick or Treat - Fri, Nov 6 · 11:00 AM–5:00 PM — Hearthwarming Holidays - Sun, Dec 6 · 10:00 AM–4:00 PM — Waynesville Street Faire The Christmas Market

Caesar Creek State Park

Naturalist programs at the park, about five miles east of the village, over the next 14 days. Times and meeting points are ODNR's own. Check: - ODNR events calendar — https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/events-calendar/events-calendar?keyword=Caesar%20Creek - Caesar Creek State Park — https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/caesar-creek-state-park

• Fri, Oct 2 · 6:00 PM–11:00 PM — Celestial Stories of the Underground Railroad (Caesar Creek Pioneer Village)
• Fri, Oct 2 · 6:00 PM–7:30 PM — Cemetery Sunset Driving Tour and Celestial Stories of the Underground Railroad Special Event
• Fri, Oct 2 · 6:00 PM–7:30 PM — Stargazing and Storytelling and Celestial Stories of the Underground Railroad Special Event (Fifty Springs Group Camping Area)
• Fri, Oct 2 · 7:30 PM–8:30 PM — Lantern Night Hike and Celestial Stories of the Underground Railroad Special Event
• Sat, Oct 3 · 1:00 PM–3:00 PM — Field Trip to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
• Sun, Oct 4 · 3:00 PM–4:00 PM — Fossil Hunt at the Spillway
• Thu, Oct 8 · 1:00 PM–2:00 PM — Tree Trek
• Thu, Oct 8 · 2:30 PM–3:00 PM — Mystery Animal Meet and Greet
• Thu, Oct 15 · 9:30 AM–11:00 AM — Giving Back to the Wild: Land Stewardship
• Thu, Oct 15 · 1:00 PM–2:00 PM — Nature Shapes and Shadows

Public safety

From the Warren County Prosecutor's Office, released in the past week: - 09/28/2026 — Trenton Woman Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Theft of Over $2 Million (release)

No NWS weather alerts are in effect this morning. Check: - Sheriff — https://sheriff.warrencountyohio.gov/ - Prosecutor press — https://prosecutor.warrencountyohio.gov/Public/Press/Index

This week's events

• Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays through October · $20 — Historical Haunts — ghost walk of downtown Waynesville (Downtown Waynesville (Museum at the Friends Home)) — details
• Sep 26 – Oct 31 (times not published) — Windmill Farm Market Spooktacular (Windmill Farm Market, 1454 E State Route 73, Springboro) — details
• Sat/Sun through Nov 1 · Sat 11–6, Sun 12–6 (next: Sep 26) — Waynesville Fall Fest (7392 E State Route 73, Waynesville) — details
• Fri, Oct 2 · 6:00 PM–11:00 PM — Celestial Stories of the Underground Railroad (Caesar Creek State Park) — details
• Fri, Oct 2 · 6:00 PM–7:30 PM — Cemetery Sunset Driving Tour and Celestial Stories of the Underground Railroad Special Event (Caesar Creek State Park) — details
• Oct 3–4 · 10:30 AM–7:00 PM — Ohio Renaissance Festival — Viking Weekend (Renaissance Park, Waynesville) — details

See the full events calendar.

Obituaries

• Rodney D. Wheelen — Jun. 16, 1960 - Sep. 27, 2026 (tribute)
• Betty S. Lynch-Harrah — Jan. 19, 1943 - Sep. 26, 2026 (tribute)
• Dickie L. Bradford — Jun. 11, 1947 - Sep. 25, 2026 (tribute)
• Marlene E. Sizemore — May 31, 1940 - Sep. 25, 2026 (tribute)

Local headlines

• "Historic Hammel House set to reopen ahead of Sauerkraut Festival" — WKEF, full story.
• "Former reality TV personality found guilty of rape, child sex-related charges in Warren County" — WCPO 9 News, full story.
• "Ex-reality star convicted of rape, child endangering on some counts; acquitted on others in trial" — WLWT, full story.
• "Ex A&E reality star pleads guilty to bestiality; child rape charges pending" — New York Daily News, full story.
• "Betty S. Lynch-Harrah Obituary (2026) - Waynesville, OH - Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home & Cremation Services" — Legacy, full story.
• "Ohio reality TV star admits to multiple sex crimes in court" — Cleveland.com, full story.
• "Hisey Fall Fest at Hisey Park" — Warren County Post, full story.
• "Former reality TV personality pleads guilty to some charges, including bestiality" — WKRC, full story.

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