Frankfort extends winning streak to 36 games, 55-27 at Wahama

MASON, W.Va. — In a matchup of top-ranked teams in their respective classes, Frankfort outscored Wahama 20-0 in the second half to collect their 36th consecutive win, 55-27. FHS (8-0) has not lost since the opening round of the 2023 playoffs. This is the first regular season loss for WHS (7-1) since the 2021 season finale.

New charter school to replace Open Door School in Lawrence County

COAL GROVE, Ohio. (WSAZ) - A new public charter school will replace Open Door School at the end of the school year, Lawrence County Developmental Disabilities announced earlier this week. The change comes nearly a year after voters rejected Lawrence County’s DD levy last November. This 2026-2027 school year...

And the crown goes to…

CIRCLEVILLE — Wednesday night is always an exciting night for the local community. High school girls who were chosen to represent their school take the stage, and ultimately, three are chosen as Pumpkin Show Royalty. This year, during the 119th Pumpkin Show, Riley Strickler was crowned Miss Circleville Pumpkin Show. Riley Strickler, 16, is the daughter of Kevin and Chasatie Strickler. She is from Amanda-Clearcreek. She is heavily involved in FFA, as well as soccer, cheerleading, and track. Riley is junior class president, and is part of student council and the journalism club. “This is such an honor and like Jolie said, this is honestly just a fever dream. I’m so excited for the upcoming year,” said Riley. “I was so anxious because I was the last one called. I was getting really stressed out. Once I heard my name called, I just knew that I could trust in God and that he would help out with the rest.” Jolene Burbacher, 16, from Circleville, is First Attendant. Her parents are Andy and Laura Burbacher. She is a cheerleader and a swimmer, as well as field commander for the Circleville High School Marching Band. Jolene is a National Honor Society inductee

Belpre senior balances straight A’s, college courses and community service

BELPRE, Ohio — Megan Carmichael hasn’t gotten anything less than an A — and she’s on track to graduate high school with a college degree. Carmichael, a senior at Belpre High School, is a straight-A student, vice president of the National Honor Society and a four-year basketball player. Through College Credit Plus courses at Washington State College of Ohio, she will earn an associate degree in liberal arts by graduation.

Riley Strickler Crowned Miss Circleville Pumpkin Show 2026

CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — Riley Strickler of Amanda Clearcreek High School was crowned Miss Circleville Pumpkin Show Wednesday night following the annual parade and queen’s contest, earning the top honor during one of the festival’s longstanding traditions. Jolene Burbacher of Circleville High School was named first attendant, while...

Late TD gives Jackson football rivalry win vs. Hoover, rare league title

JACKSON TWP. — The wait felt like forever, especially considering none of the current players were born the last time the Jackson High School football team won an outright league championship. Rival North Canton Hoover tried to postpone it even longer Friday night. Carter Muhleman's scrambling third-down throw to Ben Blauner set up Chase Maurer's game-winning 45-yard touchdown run with 1:40 left as Jackson beat Hoover 14-7 at Fife Stadium on Oct. 23 . The win nets the Polar Bears the Battle for the Rail rivalry trophy and an outright Federal League championship, a first for Jackson since the 2001 season. The Polar Bears shared league titles in 2017 and 2024. Watch Ohio High School Football Live on NFHS Network all year "To be able to make history for Jackson feels unbelievable," the senior Muhleman said. "And why not make it interesting, huh?" That 2001 season featured current Jackson head coach Jay Rohr starring at running back and linebacker for the Polar Bears. His wife, Mandy, dug out his old letterman's jacket and wore it to the game Friday. She didn't tell her superstitious husband about it, not wanting to disrupt the mojo with a quarter century of waiting on

Prep roundup: Warriors upset Bulldogs

THE PLAINS, Ohio -- Liam Grosselin found the back of the net with just six seconds left in regulation as seventh-seeded Warren knocked off No. 2 Athens in Thursday's Division III Southeast District Quarterfinal boys soccer match at Joe Burrow Stadium. The match appeared to be headed to overtime, but...

Roane County Schools lead state in enrollment decline

ROANE COUNTY, W.Va. (WOWK) — Enrollment data reveals that West Virginia public schools lost 8,270 students in the 2026-2027 school year, which is a 3.5% decline from the 2025-2026 school year. The West Virginia Department of Education says that all 55 West Virginia counties saw a decline in enrollment. According to the data, Roane County […]

Area football teams gearing up for final week of regular season

CHILLICOTHE — We’ve reached the end of the regular-season road. A few area teams have the chance to win their respective league’s championship, multiple area programs are looking to strengthen their playoff positioning, and others are hoping to end a rather disappointing year on a high note. No matter the case, each of the area’s Week 10 matchups features one of the above. Here’s a brief preview of each. Jackson (6-3) at Chillicothe (8-1) The Cavaliers have already clinched a home playoff contest and a win should give them a first-round bye. Standing in the way of that goal are the always-formidable Jackson Ironmen. Jackson comes into the matchup riding high with three straight victories and will be looking to improve its own playoff odds. The Ironmen have beaten Chillicothe in five straight meetings and are 7-3 in the two’s last 10. But beating this year’s Cavaliers will be no easy task. The only blemish on Chillicothe’s record is a 28-14 loss to Miami Trace, a team that also beat Jackson. Otherwise, it’s been smooth sailing. Cartae Ligon is running like a man possessed and enters Week 10 with 2,186 all-purpose yards and 35 touchdowns. He’ll be highlighted on Jackson’s

Wood County Schools to open new Lincoln, Vienna elementary schools with new for 2027-28 year

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) - Wood County Schools will open two new elementary schools for the 2027-28 school year, a new Lincoln Elementary in North Parkersburg and a new Vienna Elementary. The new Lincoln Elementary will combine Criss and Emerson elementary schools. The new Vienna school will merge Vienna and Neale...

Paint Valley rallies past East, advances to DVII district quarterfinal

LUCASVILLE — The monkey has officially been chased from Paint Valley’s back. Heading into a Division VII first-round tournament matchup on Monday, Oct. 19, the Bearcats were still searching for their first victory of the season. When they boarded their bus home, they indeed had that win in their back pockets. After dropping the night’s first set, Paint Valley stormed back to win the next three to oust Sciotoville East by a 24-26, 28-26, 25-22, 25-18 final. “It’s pretty awesome,” Paint Valley coach Amber Boyer said. “There’s no better time to get this first win than in the tournament, so we can start making a run, hopefully. This younger group has a hunger and passion for the game, and it’s fun to start to see that rub off onto the older girls, too. I’m just proud of the girls. They finally put it together for three sets tonight and it’s really cool to see.” RELATED: Cinderella favorites, upset alerts, games to watch in OHSAA postseason In all four sets, Mayah Collier was a menace. Paint Valley’s junior middle hitter was a constant presence at the net and service line, giving the Tartans trouble throughout all four sets. “Mayah is the

Boys' High School Soccer: District III, East 1 Quarter Final - Zanesville vs Steubenville 10.20.26

Boys' High School Soccer: District III, East 1 Quarter Final - Zanesville vs Steubenville 10.20.26.

Parkersburg student crowned WVU Homecoming Royalty

MORGANTOWN - A Parkersburg High School graduate Saturday was one of two students crowned as 2026 Homecoming Royalty at West Virginia University. Lakyn Campbell of Parkersburg and Gabrielle Custer of Charleson were announced during halftime at the football game between WVU and the University of Cincinnati at Milan Puskar Stadium. WVU won a squeaker 45-42 with a field goal in the last moments of the game.

Lady Mustangs advance to district semifinals; sweep Belpre

DODSONVILLE — The Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs are going to the Division VI SE District Semifinals, and they are doing so by winning in the quarterfinal round on Tuesday, at home, against the Belpre Lady Golden Eagles. The win at Lynchburg-Clay High School was their Lady Mustangs' 18th win of...

STEM Castle gives Chillicothe students new educational opportunities

CHILLICOTHE— From the mountains to under the sea and even up to space, teachers in the Chillicothe City School District can now take students almost anywhere without ever having to take a step outside, thanks to a new immersive igloo installed at the intermediate school. More from the Gazette: How well do you know Chillicothe City Schools? Take our quiz to see This unique learning device was recently brought to the school thanks to a donation from Marilyn Estep, who wanted to help support the district's STEM program. Interim Superintendent Kathy Payne said the school is grateful to Estep for her donation and the Chillicothe Educational Foundation for helping bring something like this to the area. There are fewer than 100 of these types of learning centers in the country, and only 2 others are located in Ohio. The learning center has been named "The Castle," which stands for Cavalier Advanced Simulation & Transformative Learning Environment. During the ribbon-cutting, many adults who visited the Castle were in awe of the technology. Lindsay Burns with the district says the students have reacted similarly. By allowing them to see the world in this unique way, students are getting exposed to new ideas

MVHC: Player of the Game – Week Nine

ZANESVILLE, OH – On a Friday night full of fun, excitement, and league title clinchers, week nine of the high school football season proved to be a back and forth, cannot miss week full of thrilling football. Only one “MVHC: Player of the Game” sufficed from week nine, and...

Campbell repeats, Kuklica takes girls crown, top Performers Oct. 12-17

McLUNEY — It was a two-man fight for supremacy at the Muskingum Valley League Cross Country meet on Oct. 17 at Crooksville High School. Meadowbrook's Vincent Campbell, a sophomore seeking a second title, and Sheridan's Hudson Wilson had established themselves as favorites based on past performance, a trend that continued with individual league titles on the line. It was Campbell who won this time, clocking a 16:27 to win the 68-runner boys division. His teammate, junior Luke Norman, was third at 17:36.8 as the Colts, who also had senior Grady Forbes (15th, 19:00) and senior Gavin Koscoe (19:24.4) in the top 20, were second with 61 points. Morgan was third with 63. Much like the boys race, the girls division was top heavy with three clear favorites in John Glenn senior Ashlynn Kuklica, Tri-Valley senior Erin Hogue and Sheridan senior Sheriden Glanemann. Kuklica's penchant for rising in big meets continued in Perry County, running a 19:28.0 to win by 20 seconds among 64 runners. Her teammate, sophomore Addy Kent, was ninth (21:53.7). Other notables included Meadowbrook seniors Raegan Daugherty (8th, 21:52.2) and Aubri Norman (15th, 23:41.5), River View junior Emma Cochran (13th, 22:56.1), Philo's Tiffany Bertke (14th, 23:21.2), Sheridan junior

School raised alarms about Etna kids living in 'appalling' conditions

A third headline-grabbing case involving allegations of child abuse and neglect in Ohio is again shining a light on the state's child protective system and how potential concerns are reported to authorities. In 2025, child protection agencies investigated nearly 78,000 abuse and neglect reports and had 14,261 children in custody, according to the Public Children Services Association of Ohio. Of those reports screened-in, nearly a third involved physical abuse and a quarter involved neglect. Experts say more children entering care in recent years have increasingly complex and severe needs. On top of that, each year across Ohio, nearly one in four child protective services employees leaves the job − largely due to burnout. This year alone, three cases involving children living in unsafe housing conditions have made headlines and caught the attention of state and local officials. Nine children found in Etna mobile home The latest case came to light Oct. 13, when Licking County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested two parents after nine children were found in "appalling and unsafe" living conditions in an Etna Township mobile home. Jonathan Parr, 37, and Jacquelyn Coleman, 32, face child endangerment charges after Licking County sheriff's detectives searched their mobile home in the

Chlapatys pledge $55 million to Marietta College

MARIETTA -- Joe and Linda Chlapaty have committed $55 million to Marietta College to renovate first-year student residence halls and build a new health sciences facility, President Kathleen Poorman Dougherty announced Friday during her State of the College address. The announcement at Fenton Court in the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center...

Symmes Valley vs. Portsmouth Notre Dame