Wayne Local's boys cross country team qualified for the state meet with a third-place regional finish; early voting closes this afternoon ahead of Tuesday's election; and the Renaissance Festival and Fall Fest wrap up their seasons today.

Weather

Today: 73°F, Mostly Cloudy (high 73° / low 52°)

Outlook: - Monday — high 68° / low 54°, Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy - Tuesday — high 77° / low 59°, Mostly Sunny - Wednesday — high 73° / low 54°, Light Rain

No NWS alerts in effect.

This morning in Waynesville

1. Spartan boys cross country qualifies for State. Wayne Local's boys cross country team finished third at Saturday's regional meet and qualified as a team for the state meet, the district reports. One Spartan runner also placed 10th and qualified individually. (district post)
2. Today is the last day to vote early. Early in-person voting is open from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Warren County Board of Elections, 520 Justice Dr., Lebanon. On Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, polls are open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Countywide, the ballot carries renewal levies for the Mental Health Recovery Board and Warren County Senior Services, plus a statewide constitutional amendment on photo ID for voting. (Board of Elections notice)
3. Final day for the Renaissance Festival and Fall Fest. The Ohio Renaissance Festival ends its season with the last day of Heroes and Villains Weekend, 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., at Renaissance Park (festival). Waynesville Fall Fest at 7392 E. State Route 73 is open noon to 6:00 p.m. for its closing day. (Fall Fest) Daylight saving time ended at 2:00 a.m., so remember to set clocks back an hour.

Schools

Besides the cross country team's trip to State, Wayne Local closed out Halloween week with costume photos from Waynesville Middle School sixth graders and from middle and high school students and staff (post). The football Spartans host Preble Shawnee Friday at 7:00 p.m., and the Board of Education next meets Monday, November 9, at 6:00 p.m. in the WLS Performing Arts Center. At the library, the week opens with Super Snackers and Trivia Night on Monday.

Library programs (Mary L. Cook Public Library) - Mon · Nov 2, 4:00 PM — Super Snackers - Mon · Nov 2, 6:00 PM — Trivia Night - Tue · Nov 3, 10:30 AM — Toddler Time - Tue · Nov 3, 3:00 PM — Teen Tuesday (6th-12th Grade) - …and 2 more — see the full list

This week in sports

Results - Girls Soccer (Varsity) — Waynesville 4, Valley View 1 (Home) — box score - Boys Soccer (Varsity) — Waynesville 0, Archbishop Alter 4 (Away) — box score - Girls Soccer (Varsity) — Waynesville 0, Madeira 3 (Home) — box score

Upcoming - Football (Varsity) — vs Preble Shawnee, Fri · Nov 6, 7:00 PM — details

Local government

Next up: Warren County Commissioners, Tue, Nov 3 · 9:00 AM — agendas. Latest posted by the commissioners: agenda, Oct 27 · resolutions, Oct 27 · minutes, Oct 20 (Regular Session 2) · minutes, Oct 20 (Regular Session 1). Also next up: Wayne Township Trustees, Tue, Nov 3 · 7:00 PM, 6050 N. Clarksville Rd., Waynesville — latest posted agenda: Trustees Meeting Agenda, Oct 20, 2026. Waynesville Village Council meets Monday, November 2; the posted agenda packet includes the minutes of the October 19 meeting for approval (agenda packet). On Election Day Tuesday, the county commissioners meet at 9:00 a.m. and the Wayne Township Trustees at 7:00 p.m.; the commissioners had not posted their agenda for that session as of this morning.

Official notices (past two weeks): - Oct 21, Wayne Township — WCTA Scholarship Application 2027: View Application

November 3, 2026 General Election — 2 days away. Early voting is open today, 1:00 PM–5:00 PM, at the Warren County Board of Elections, 520 Justice Dr, Lebanon. Full schedule. Statewide and countywide issues on the ballot, as labeled on the Board of Elections' issue list: - Constitutional Amendment Requiring Photo Id for Voting with Pros and Cons (ballot language) - Mental Health Recovery Board Ren 1 Mil 5 yrs (ballot language) - Warren County Senior Services Ren 1.21 mills 5 Yrs (ballot language) 4 other local issues appear only on ballots elsewhere in the county. All issues · candidates

Village Council — minutes of the October 19, 2026 meeting (posted as part of the November 2, 2026 agenda packet):

full agenda/minutes packet

Around town

With the fall festivals closing today, downtown turns to the holidays. The Merchant Association's Hearthwarming Holidays weekend runs Friday through Sunday, November 6–8, with shops open Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.–8 p.m. and Sunday noon–5 p.m.; collect recipe cards as you stroll from shop to shop (details). The free Waynesville Fantasy Festival returns downtown Saturday, November 14, and Owl Fest comes to Caesar Creek November 13–14. MorningStar Baptist Church's outreach ministry is taking requests now for free Thanksgiving food baskets for Waynesville families; see the events calendar for how to ask.

Merchant Association events (waynesvilleshops.com) - 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. Check each program's page for meeting points and any changes.

• Sat, Nov 14 · 3:00 PM–11:00 PM — Owl Fest

Public safety

No NWS weather alerts are in effect this morning, with a mostly cloudy high near 73°. Monday brings a chance of showers, and light rain is forecast Wednesday. On S.R. 73, ODOT's resurfacing between Springboro and Red Lion-Five Points Road is scheduled to finish today; work with flaggers and one-lane traffic continues between Red Lion-Five Points Road and Harveysburg Road, including a new left-turn lane at Old S.R. 73, through November 30.

Road work near Waynesville (ODOT, within about 8 miles): - S.R. 73 Resurfacing and Turn Lane Addtiion — lane restrictions through Nov 30. Resurfacing S.R. 73, between Red Lion- Five Points Road and Harveysburg Road, as well as the installation of a left-turn lane on… - WAR-73-5.88 — lane restrictions through Nov 1. Resurfacing on S.R. 73, between its junction with S.R. 741 in the city of Springboro to Red Lion Five Points Road. Traffic…

County road closures (Warren County Engineer, countywide): - Began Oct 26: Wilkens Blvd Closure (see release for duration) - Began Oct 16: Innovation Way Closure Cyclocross Bike Race (see release for duration) - Began Oct 15: Wilkens Blvd Northbound Closure (see release for duration)

This week's events

• Sat/Sun through Nov 1 · Sat 11–6, Sun 12–6 — Waynesville Fall Fest (7392 E State Route 73, Waynesville) — details
• Oct 31–Nov 1 · 10:30 AM–7:00 PM — Ohio Renaissance Festival — Heroes and Villains Weekend (Renaissance Park, Waynesville) — details
• Requests now · ahead of Thanksgiving (Nov 26) — Free Thanksgiving food baskets for Waynesville families (MorningStar Baptist Church (Centerville) outreach ministry) — details
• Tue, Nov 3 · 9:00 AM — Warren County Commissioners — Weekly Session (406 Justice Dr, Lebanon) — details
• …and 1 more — see the full list

Holiday Lights Guide: Christmas light displays and holiday events in and around Waynesville — see the guide.

See the full events calendar.

Obituaries

• Jennie Lee Runyon — Jun. 18, 1931 - Oct. 27, 2026 (tribute)
• Samuel C. Holden — Jun. 05, 1996 - Oct. 25, 2026 (tribute)

Local headlines

• "OSP identifies man who died after single-vehicle crash in Warren County" — WLWT, full story.
• "Sunday, Nov. 1, Is Last Day to Vote Early in Warren County" — Warren County Post, full story.
• "Rider killed at Warren County rodeo died doing what he loved, friend says" — FOX19 | Cincinnati, full story.
• "Between Dayton And Cincinnati Is Ohio's Scenic Lake Park With Fishing, Trails, And Sporty Appeal" — https://www.islands.com/, full story. Complete with a 110-acre lake, woodland hiking, and facilities for practically every sport imaginable, Warren County Armco Park has something for everyone.

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