Bomb threat prompts evacuation at Western Pike schools; buses held as building is searched

PIKE COUNTY, Ohio — Students at Western Pike Local Schools were evacuated from their building Wednesday morning after the district received a bomb threat, prompting an immediate security response. In a statement posted to social media Oct. 14, school officials said all students had been moved outside the building while personnel conducted a search. The district said school buses were being held as officials checked classrooms, lockers and locker rooms for potential threats.

jnewsnetwork.com

Final Pike County massacre defendant to be tried in Seneca County

WAVERLY, Ohio — The last defendant awaiting trial in the 2016 Pike County massacre will be tried in Seneca County, in northwest Ohio, under a court entry filed Tuesday. Visiting Judge Jonathan Hein selected Seneca County for the trial of George "Billy" Wagner III, citing in part its demographics, heritage, and remoteness as comparable to Pike County, according to the Oct.

jnewsnetwork.com

Athens County Sheriff’s Office call log for October 12, 2026

Here are the incidents reported Oct. 12, 2026, according to the media release from the Athens County Sheriff's Office. The entries are condensed from short narratives in the release. Names and exact addresses are withheld. Arrests and charges are allegations. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 3:16 a.m. · State Route 682, Athens · Traffic hazard…

jnewsnetwork.com

Athens County Sheriff’s Office call log for October 9–11, 2026

Here are the incidents reported Oct. 9–11, 2026, according to the media release from the Athens County Sheriff's Office. The entries are condensed from short narratives in the release. Names and exact addresses are withheld. Arrests and charges are allegations. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 9:02 a.m. · East Main Street, Jacksonville · Theft — larceny…

jnewsnetwork.com

New WearEver groundwater tests reveal persistent contamination as paper mill pumping raises concerns

October 2026 environmental filings document elevated industrial solvents, delays in additional groundwater monitoring and unresolved questions about the future of the neighboring paper mill's water wells. CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — More than 27 years after Ohio environmental regulators ordered cleanup measures at Chillicothe's former WearEver manufacturing plant, new groundwater testing shows industrial chemicals remain beneath the property and have migrated beyond its boundaries, with some concentrations far exceeding federal drinking-water standards.

jnewsnetwork.com

Chillicothe Council approves emergency spending, reviews Flock cameras as data center debate continues

City officials also addressed a failed sewer pump station, a proposed school income tax levy, engineering vacancies and upcoming park improvements. CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Chillicothe City Council approved emergency funding for infrastructure repairs and engineering services Monday night, while Mayor Luke Feeney announced that the city is reviewing whether to continue using its police surveillance camera system amid growing national concerns about the technology.

jnewsnetwork.com

Chillicothe Police Department call log for October 12, 2026

Here are the incidents reported Oct. 12, 2026, according to the daily media log from the Chillicothe Police Department. The entries are condensed from short narratives in the log. Names and exact addresses are withheld. Arrests and charges are allegations. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 6:12 a.m. · McKeller Street, Chillicothe · Unruly child…

jnewsnetwork.com

Ross County Sheriff’s Office call log for October 12, 2026

Here are the incidents reported Oct. 12, 2026, according to the daily media log from the Ross County Sheriff's Office. The entries are condensed from short narratives in the log. Names and exact addresses are withheld. Arrests and charges are allegations. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 6:24 a.m. · State Route 180 · Operating motor vehicle without valid license…

jnewsnetwork.com

Greenfield’s McClain Tigers in national final 40 for $1M field upgrade

GREENFIELD, Ohio — McClain High School has been named a Midwest Division finalist in T-Mobile's Friday Night 5G Lights competition, leaving the Highland County school one voting round away from a $250,000 division prize and a shot at a $1 million home-field upgrade. McClain is the only Ohio school among the 40 finalists nationwide. As a division finalist, the school has already secured $25,000 and a T-Mobile-hosted home game.

jnewsnetwork.com

Waverly City Schools announces two-hour delay following reported threat

WAVERLY, Ohio — Waverly City Schools will operate on a two-hour delay Tuesday, Oct. 13, following a reported threat involving the school district. District officials announced the delay Tuesday morning, citing a threat reported to the schools. The district did not immediately release details about the nature of the threat or whether law enforcement is investigating. The announcement comes as Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center in neighboring Ross County reported another bomb threat Tuesday morning.

jnewsnetwork.com

Pickaway-Ross receives another bomb threat; sheriff’s deputies clear campus

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Pickaway-Ross officials announced Tuesday morning that the school received another bomb threat, prompting a law enforcement response and a sweep of the campus before students arrived. According to school officials, the latest threat was received early Tuesday, Oct. 13, and repeated the same message as previous threats targeting the school. Ross County sheriff’s deputies responded to the campus and conducted a building sweep.

jnewsnetwork.com

BREAKING: Pickaway-Ross students evacuated following another reported AI-generated threat

ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — Students at Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center were evacuated from a school building Monday afternoon after administrators reported receiving another threat they described as AI-generated. In a message to families, school officials said the threat was similar to those recently reported by other school districts across the region. Administrators said they immediately initiated established safety procedures and began coordinating with the Ross County Sheriff's Office.

jnewsnetwork.com

U.S. deploys rescue specialists, pledges $5 million as Panama earthquake recovery intensifies

WASHINGTON — American disaster response specialists have arrived in Panama as the Central American nation begins recovering from a powerful earthquake that damaged homes, schools, hospitals and transportation infrastructure, prompting a national emergency declaration. The U.S. State Department announced Saturday that it had committed $5 million in humanitarian assistance and dispatched a 20-member urban search-and-rescue contingent following the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Friday, Oct.

jnewsnetwork.com

Chillicothe City Council to consider engineering funding, park speed limits and state grant Monday

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Chillicothe City Council will consider legislation Monday night that would redirect $40,000 toward outside engineering services, establish a 10 mph speed limit in city parks and provide funding for a social worker working with the police department. Council's regular meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, with five pieces of legislation on the agenda, including two emergency measures.

jnewsnetwork.com

New $5.4M Hopewell Regional Visitor Center planned for Yoctangee Park

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A $5.4 million regional visitor center is planned for Yoctangee Park, a project aimed at welcoming visitors to the area's Hopewell Culture landscape, according to Ross-Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Melody Young. The Hopewell Regional Visitor Center would take roughly 14 months to build, with a target opening at the end of 2027, Young said. County planner Devon Shoemaker and the Ross County Commissioners have been part of the planning effort. The visitor center project is separate from other Yoctangee Park improvements expected to wrap up by the end of this month.

jnewsnetwork.com

Water leak advisory issued for several Ross County areas

ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — A water leak advisory is in effect for several areas in Ross County, with possible service disruptions for customers. The advisory covers Harris Station, Minnehan Bend, Camelin Hill, Black Run, Baum Hill and Baker Road, according to the Ross County Water Company. Customers can check current conditions on the company's outage map at water.myruralwater.com.

jnewsnetwork.com

Chillicothe man faces five counts of gross sexual imposition involving children

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A 50-year-old Chillicothe man was arrested Friday by Chillicothe police on five counts of gross sexual imposition involving a victim or victims under the age of 13, according to jail records. Kevin D. Hortel was booked into the Ross County Jail at 5:10 p.m. Friday, records show. Bond was set at $150,000. Additional details surrounding the case have yet to be released by officials. JNN will continue to monitor this case for the latest developments.

jnewsnetwork.com

Washington Court House fire department accepting applications for entry-level firefighter exam

WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio — The Washington Court House Fire Department is accepting applications for its entry-level firefighter civil service examination, which will establish an eligibility list for future full-time appointments, the department announced. The written exam is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 225 E. Market St. in Washington Court House. Applications are due by 4 p.m. Nov.

jnewsnetwork.com

This Week in Southern Ohio: October 12–18

From fall festivals and fright-night fun to cancer-awareness fundraisers and farmers' markets, the coming week packs something into nearly every day across southern Ohio. Here is what is happening, day by day. Monday, Oct. 12 Dahlia U-Pick Flower Field Experience — 11 a.m., 3477 State Route 247, Hillsboro. Stroll a grower's dahlia field and pick your own bouquet or snap photos during the final week of blooms this season.

jnewsnetwork.com

Husted, Capito tour Centrus uranium plant in Piketon, talk Ohio’s nuclear future

PIKETON, Ohio — U.S. Sen. Jon Husted joined Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito in Piketon for a tour of the Centrus American Centrifuge Plant, where the two discussed Ohio's role in domestic nuclear energy production, Husted's office announced. Husted said he was glad to show Capito the work underway in Piketon to rebuild America's nuclear fuel supply, calling Centrus the only U.S.-owned company currently enriching uranium with American technology.

jnewsnetwork.com

Chillicothe councilman publishes full text of weekly letters to Trump, Vance in glove-contract push

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Chillicothe 4th Ward Councilman Richard McQuirt is making good on his promise to send “a letter a week” to the White House over federal nitrile glove contracts — and this time he’s publishing exactly what he sent, urging the public to copy it and flood the White House with the same message. In a Facebook post Sunday…

jnewsnetwork.com

Chillicothe Police Department call log for October 11, 2026

Here are the incidents reported Oct. 11, 2026, according to the daily media log from the Chillicothe Police Department. The entries are condensed from short narratives in the log. Names and exact addresses are withheld. Arrests and charges are allegations. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 12:41 a.m. · West Water Street, Chillicothe · Assault, disorderly conduct…

jnewsnetwork.com

Ross County Sheriff’s Office call log for October 11, 2026

Here are the incidents reported Oct. 11, 2026, according to the daily media log from the Ross County Sheriff's Office. The entries are condensed from short narratives in the log. Names and exact addresses are withheld. Arrests and charges are allegations. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 12:53 a.m. · Old Route 35, Chillicothe · Suspicious vehicle…

jnewsnetwork.com

Flood watch, advisory issued for portions of southern Ohio

SOUTHERN OHIO — The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for southeast Ohio through 9 p.m. Sunday and a flood advisory for parts of Highland and Brown counties until 1:30 p.m. as rounds of heavy rain raise the flash-flood threat across the region. The watch, issued by the weather service office in Charleston, West Virginia, covers Gallia, Lawrence, Meigs and Washington counties beginning at noon Sunday, along with portions of northeast Kentucky and West Virginia.

jnewsnetwork.com

Chillicothe Police Department call log for October 10, 2026

Incidents reported Oct. 10, 2026, according to the Chillicothe Police Department daily media report. Here are the incidents reported Oct. 10, 2026, according to the daily media log from the Chillicothe Police Department. The entries are condensed from short narratives in the log. Names and exact addresses are withheld. Arrests and charges are allegations. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

jnewsnetwork.com

Ross County Sheriff’s Office call log for October 10, 2026

Here are the incidents reported Oct. 10, 2026, according to the daily media log from the Ross County Sheriff's Office. The entries are condensed from short narratives in the log. Names and exact addresses are withheld. Arrests and charges are allegations. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 1:59 a.m. · Centennial Blvd, Chillicothe · Drug paraphernalia, driving under suspension…

jnewsnetwork.com

Federal comment period on electromagnetic fields, wireless radiation exposure closes Oct. 21

Federal health officials are seeking scientific research and public experiences involving cellphones, Wi-Fi, 5G networks, smart meters, and other technologies as questions persist about long-term exposure and existing safety standards. WASHINGTON — Americans have until Oct. 21 to submit comments to the federal government about the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields and wireless radiation, part of a nationwide review that could influence future research priorities, public health recommendations and federal policy.

jnewsnetwork.com

20-year-old Lancaster man killed in single-vehicle crash in Vinton County

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A 20-year-old Lancaster man was killed Saturday afternoon when the car he was driving ran off a Vinton County road and slammed into an embankment and a tree before overturning, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Elijah Brandenburger was heading northeast on Kelly Road near Murphy Remy Road in a 1998 Toyota Camry around 3:30 p.m.

jnewsnetwork.com

Ross County Sheriff’s Office call log for October 9, 2026

Here are the incidents reported Oct. 9, 2026, according to the daily media log from the Ross County Sheriff's Office. The entries are condensed from short narratives in the log. Names and exact addresses are withheld. Arrests and charges are allegations. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 12:52 a.m. · Pickett Ct, Chillicothe · Suspicious death…

jnewsnetwork.com

Chillicothe Police Department call log for October 9, 2026

Here are the incidents reported Oct. 9, 2026, according to the daily media log from the Chillicothe Police Department. The entries are condensed from short narratives in the log. Names and exact addresses are withheld. Arrests and charges are allegations. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 12:06 a.m. · Pickens Ave, Chillicothe · Disorderly conduct…

jnewsnetwork.com