Oakwood hands the 4-0 Spartans their first loss, Council awards the Fifth and Sixth Street water main contract, and Fall Fest, Pirates Weekend and Witches’ Night Out all open today.

Weather

Today: 87°F, Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms (high 87° / low 67°)

Outlook: - Sunday — high 86° / low 59°, Chance Showers And Thunderstorms - Monday — high 72° / low 55°, Rain Showers Likely - Tuesday — high 71° / low 57°, Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Source: National Weather Service

This morning in Waynesville

1. Oakwood ended Waynesville's unbeaten start on Friday night, 56-28. Both teams came into the game 4-0 — the district promoted it that way on its own page hours before kickoff — and the Spartans take their first loss into next Friday's game at Dayton Christian. (box score · district post)
2. Village Council adopted the Fifth and Sixth Street water main contract on September 8, awarding the replacement-and-resurfacing work to Ford Development Corp. under Ordinance 2026-033 after the first reading in August. The same meeting adopted Ordinance 2026-037, accepting a water-improvement security agreement and escrow with C. Ellis Properties, LLC and Peoples Bank for Settlers Grove Section/Phase 1, and gave first readings to Ordinance 2026-038 and to Resolution 2026-039, which accepts the Budget Commission's amounts and rates and certifies the tax levies to the County Auditor. Three members were excused; every vote carried 4-0. (agenda and minutes packet)
3. Today is the fall calendar's first full Saturday. The Waynesville Fall Fest opens its season on East State Route 73, the Ohio Renaissance Festival runs Pirates Weekend from 10:30 a.m., Witches' Night Out takes over 195 S. Main St. from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., and Billy "Crash" Craddock plays Keepin' It Country Farm at 7:00 p.m. Earlier: volunteers meet at Carmody Park in Franklin at 9:00 a.m. for the Clean Sweep of the Great Miami River, and Mary L. Cook hosts adult drop-in crafting at 10:30 a.m.

Schools

The Spartans' 4-0 start ended at Oakwood on Friday night; boys soccer won 7-2 at Brookville on Thursday and the girls beat Brookville 2-1 at home the same evening, so the fall sports week closed better than the football score alone suggests. Away from the field, the Warren County Foundation honored the Waynesville Leo Club — a student-led service group sponsored by the Waynesville Lions Club — with its 2026 Emerging Organization Award on Thursday. The district also used this week's Fiscal Focus post to tie its 4.5-star state report card back to what the budget pays for, and the band boosters' blanket sale opened Friday. The Board of Education's next regular meeting is Monday, October 5 at 6:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at 625 Dayton Rd. At the library, adult drop-in crafting runs this morning at 10:30. Sources: - 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 - Fri, Sep 18 — Today's WLS Fiscal Focus: What Are We Investing In? This week, Ohio released its annual School Report Cards, and Wayne… Local Schools earned an overall 4.5-star rating! ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ 💲Usually, our Fiscal Focus is about dollars and cents, but ultimately, our budget is really about what those dollars make possible for students. 💰We invest in great teachers and staff, classroom resources, technology, student supports,… (post) - Fri, Sep 18 — 🎉Congratulations to our Waynesville Leo Club! We're so proud of you! 🏆Last night, the Warren County Foundation honored… the Waynesville Leo Club with the 2026 Emerging Organization Award, recognizing a Warren County nonprofit with a strong mission, professionalism, focus, and measurable community impact. 🦁The Waynesville Leo Club is a student-led service organization sponsored by the Waynesville Lions Club and… (post) - Fri, Sep 18 — 🎈🎈Happy Birthday, Dr. Ison! It's going to take a lot of time to clean off that desk of yours today, but we have faith… in you! We're celebrating you, your leadership, and your amazing sense of humor!🥳 #Superintendent #birthdayfun #makeitagreatday #WeAreWayneLocal (post) - Fri, Sep 18 — Tonight at Oakwood! 4-0 vs 4-0! Tickets are cash or card at the gate, or at https://oakwood.hometownticketing.com/embed/… all. A special thanks to this week’s sponsor Angie Layne, NavX Realty. (post) - Fri, Sep 18 — Band Blanket Sale starts today! Visit https://waynesvillebandboosters.square.site/s/shop to purchase yours today!… (post) - Thu, Sep 17 — Catch up on the business of the district with the latest WLS Board Meeting Recap: 🔗… (post)

Library programs (Mary L. Cook Public Library) - Sat · Sep 19, 10:30 AM — Crafting Fun Drop-in Program (Adults)

This week in sports

Results - Volleyball (Varsity) — Waynesville 0, Clinton-Massie 3 (sets) (Away) — box score - Boys Soccer (JV) — Waynesville 0, CHCA 3 (Home) — box score - Girls Soccer (Varsity) — Waynesville 2, Archbishop Alter 6 (Away) — box score - Boys Soccer (Varsity) — Waynesville 1, CHCA 2 (Home) — box score - Volleyball (Varsity) — Waynesville 3, Madison 1 (sets) (Home) — box score - Boys Soccer (JV) — Waynesville 4, Brookville 1 (Away) — box score - Boys Soccer (Varsity) — Waynesville 7, Brookville 2 (Away) — box score - Girls Soccer (Varsity) — Waynesville 2, Brookville 1 (Home) — box score - Football (Varsity) — Waynesville 28, Oakwood 56 (Away) — box score

Upcoming - Football (JV) — @ Oakwood, Sat · Sep 19, 10:00 AM — details - Volleyball (JV) — @ Carroll, Mon · Sep 21, 5:30 PM — details - Boys Soccer (JV) — @ Centerville, Mon · Sep 21, 5:30 PM — details - Girls Soccer (JV) — @ Miamisburg, Mon · Sep 21, 5:30 PM — details - Volleyball (Varsity) — @ Carroll, Mon · Sep 21, 6:30 PM — details - Girls Soccer (Varsity) — vs Miamisburg, Mon · Sep 21, 7:15 PM — details - Volleyball (JV) — vs Brookville, Tue · Sep 22, 5:30 PM — details - Volleyball (Varsity) — vs Brookville, Tue · Sep 22, 6:30 PM — details - Volleyball (JV) — @ Eaton, Thu · Sep 24, 5:30 PM — details - Boys Soccer (JV) — @ Oakwood, Thu · Sep 24, 5:30 PM — details - Girls Soccer (JV) — vs Oakwood, Thu · Sep 24, 5:30 PM — details - Girls Soccer (Varsity) — vs Oakwood, Thu · Sep 24, 6:00 PM — details - Volleyball (Varsity) — @ Eaton, Thu · Sep 24, 7:00 PM — details - Boys Soccer (Varsity) — @ Oakwood, Thu · Sep 24, 7:15 PM — details - Football (Varsity) — @ Dayton Christian, Fri · Sep 25, 7:00 PM — details - Football (JV) — vs Dayton Christian, Sat · Sep 26, 10:00 AM — details

Local government

Next up: Warren County Commissioners, Tue, Sep 22 · 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. Two long-running Village utility projects reached the end of the ordinance process at the September 8 Council meeting, whose minutes were posted in the September 21 agenda packet: Ordinance 2026-033 was adopted, awarding the Fifth Street and Sixth Street water main replacement and resurfacing contract to Ford Development Corp., and Ordinance 2026-037 was adopted, accepting the performance, maintenance and escrow security for water improvements at Settlers Grove Section/Phase 1. Ordinance 2026-038 and Resolution 2026-039 — the annual acceptance of the Budget Commission's amounts and rates, certified to the County Auditor — each had a first reading. Council's next agenda is posted for Monday, September 21; the meeting ran 7:00 to 7:45 p.m. with Mr. Colvin, Mr. Lauffer and Mr. Powell excused. Warren County Commissioners hold their weekly session Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. in Lebanon, and Wayne Township Trustees next meet Tuesday, October 6. Sources: - 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://www.waynetownship.us/minutes-agendas/agendas-2026/

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

The Waynesville Fall Fest opens today at 7392 E. State Route 73 and runs Saturdays and Sundays through November 1. Downtown, Witches' Night Out brings an evening of shopping, exclusive merch and a dried-flower workshop to 195 S. Main St. from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., hosted jointly by Taylor's Coffee & Creamery, Petal Vintage, The Fine Print Tattoo, Hailstorm Vintage, Buckeye Charm, Lucky Kat and Love Your Flowers. Next Saturday, September 26, Taylor's marks its second anniversary and the Windmill Farm Market Spooktacular begins its run east of the village on State Route 73. The Chamber's next Business to Business mixer is Wednesday at noon at Bentino's. Sources: - 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

Public safety

No new releases from the Warren County Prosecutor's Office in the past seven days. On the roads: State Route 73 east of the village carries both the Renaissance Festival and the Fall Fest opening today, so expect slow going either side of the 10:30 a.m. gate and again at closing. The National Weather Service has a high near 87° with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms later today, and a better chance of both on Sunday. 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
• Sat, Sep 19 · 9:00 AM–12:00 PM — Clean Sweep of the Great Miami River (Carmody Park, 7499 Martz Paulin Rd, Franklin) — details
• Sep 19–20 · 10:30 AM–7:00 PM — Ohio Renaissance Festival — Pirates Weekend (Renaissance Park, Waynesville) — details
• Opens Sat, Sep 19 · Sat/Sun through Nov 1 (Sat 11–6, Sun 12–6) — Waynesville Fall Fest — Opening Day (7392 E State Route 73, Waynesville) — details
• Every Saturday · office opens 5 PM, show 6 PM (next: Sep 19) — Fox Hollow Rodeo — Bull Riding (Fox Hollow Rodeo, Waynesville) — details
• Sat, Sep 19 · 6:00–9:00 PM — Witches’ Night Out in Waynesville (195 S Main St, downtown Waynesville) — details — register

See the full events calendar.

Obituaries

• Virgil Fox — Jul. 06, 1938 - Sep. 14, 2026 (tribute)
• Norma Jean Taylor — Mar. 05, 1937 - Sep. 12, 2026 (tribute)

Local headlines

• "Warren County Airport invites public to check out growth at 2026 Airport Fest" — wcpo.com, full story.
• "Most School Districts Serving Warren County Earn 4 Stars or Better on Ohio Report Cards" — warrencountypost.com, full story.
• "Virgil Fox Obituary (2026) - Waynesville, OH - Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home & Cremation Services" — Legacy obituary, full story.
• "Ramaswamy and Merrin teaming up for Toledo town hall Friday" — WTVG, full story.
• "Warren County" — wcpo.com, full story.
• "ODNR Launches New Website to Buy Ohio-Grown Trees" — warrencountypost.com, full story.
• "Norma Jean Taylor Obituary (2026) - Waynesville, OH - Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home & Cremation Services" — Legacy obituary, full story.

Read this edition on the web · Waynesville Daily Brief