When I explain what The Reporting Project is, I often find myself repeating the same phrase: We exist so that neighbors may know their neighbors.
By reading our stories, watching our TikToks and receiving our newsletters, you’d learn about your neighbors, find out about cool events for you and your family to attend and better understand our shared community.
That’s based on TRP’s original mission statement, which has guided virtually every decision we’ve made as an organization since our founding in 2020: Facts, Empathy, Place. I’m proud to say that has been our commitment to you in the past year — one that wouldn’t have happened without the support of this community.
Every story we’ve written, photo we’ve published and interview we’ve conducted has been dedicated to that mission, and to help fill gaps in local coverage amid a nationwide news desert crisis. We hope that our coverage during the last year reflects our dedication to Licking County and every person who calls it home.
Presented here is a review of what our newsroom reporters, editors and photographers consider to be the most important and memorable happenings in our Licking County community in 2025.
And, for the first time, I’m pleased to say: The Reporting Project is in print. We will release a special edition of our 2025 year in review as a 16-page newspaper, and we’ll share more details about where to find those print editions soon.
– Julia Lerner, managing editor
Jump to:
NEWS: Breaking news • Earth • Education • Food • Health and welfare • Local government • State and federal government • Transportation • Water
ARTS AND CULTURE: Arts • Fun • Kindness • Music • People
SPORTS AND RECREATION
ABOUT The Reporting Project
NEWS

Breaking news
This year, TRP reporters chased fires, floods, droughts, gunshots, rapidly changing federal policy and the bitter, bitter cold as extreme weather gripped central Ohio.
Early in 2025, TRP reporters were quick to cover the frigid cold – particularly after a 57-year-old man reportedly suffering from hypothermia died in the emergency department at Licking Memorial Hospital.
“We’re one of the richest nations in the world, and we have people dying in their vehicles in the cold,” said Nancy Welu, a member of the Newark Emergency Warming Center task force. “How does that happen?”
Other extreme weather – including a second year of severe drought – challenged farmers and homeowners throughout the summer and fall.
Also in January, journalists across the country mobilized to tell the urgent stories of nonprofits and community organizations that received notice of a temporary, immediate pause on federal funding. That meant local orgs, like the Licking County Coalition for Housing, the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities and LEADS – which manages Licking County’s Head Start program – were left in limbo and without access to already-promised funding to support local social programs.
Fires at the Legend Hills Orchard – a community stalwart agribusiness owned and operated by three generations of the Hoar family – destroyed the cider mill, the salesroom, coolers, sitting areas and most of the production facilities at the historic farm in September. The fire, which began around 1:40 a.m., forced the orchard to close for the remainder of the season, TRP reporter Delaney Brown wrote.
TRP reporters also covered tragedies this year, including the first-ever mass shooting in New Albany. The shooting, which took place at an industrial park in western Licking County in February, left two dead and four injured. The suspect was found competent to stand trial in November.
And in August, a 25-year-old Newark man was shot by a Newark Police Department officer after police said he pointed a pistol at officers in the Licking County Family YMCA parking lot. The man now faces charges of obstructing official business, menacing and not complying with police orders, and will head to trial in 2026.
– Julia Lerner
Top stories:

Earth
This year, The Reporting Project has told the stories of Licking County’s land and environment, emphasizing the work community members have done to protect the community for generations to come.
Licking County residents like Joan Krone have begun to protect their own land through conservation easements with the Licking Land Trust, which works with local landowners to protect land from future development, as former TRP reporter Andrew Theophilus shared this January.
But easements aren’t the only ways Licking Countians protected the land this year.
In February, TRP reporter Selah Griffin wrote about the Go Green Granville Initiative’s fund to start installing solar panels; the fund will cover 50% of solar panel installations throughout the township. Through protecting their land and promoting solar panels, Licking Countians have taken the environment into their own hands, including taking on environmental testing and surveying the air quality as Intel and other industrial projects move into the county.
But “going green” with solar panels doesn’t necessarily work for everyone, found TRP reporter Tyler Thompson.
Residents also pushed back against the negative impacts of development. Traffic in Alexandria has increased, also due to the rapid development throughout Licking County, namely the ongoing Intel development. Caroline Zollinger reported on the increased trucks through Alexandria’s Main Street and the possible impacts this could have on the community.
TRP kept an eye out for even the littlest of creatures: Shaye Phillips reported on the emerald ash borer and the threat they pose to tree populations throughout the county, while reporters Brin Glass and Andrew Theophilus followed scientists studying mosquitoes and Maddie Luebkert sought fireflies all summer long. Salamanders made the headlines as the Dawes Arboretum celebrated the 10th annual mole salamander migration. Monarch butterfly populations remain under threat, but people like master gardener Kaye Alban have been working to increase milkweed plantings for them.
Licking County is an ever-changing landscape. The grass at the Octagon Earthworks takes a new form, not a golf course, as Ella Diehl reported. This doesn’t mean the grass isn’t cared for; it just isn’t fit for a round of golf. Jeff Gill reported on the revelations of Granville’s sewer line construction. As workers dug through the ground, historians have had the opportunity to see Granville’s past through the layers of excavation.
Some things do not change. This year, TRP reporter Delaney Brown profiled 5 of the 26 Licking County’s historic family farms. Read more of the series detailing families that have owned and operated the same farmland for over 100 years. Legend Hills Orchard, a designated historic family farm by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, faced a devastating fire this year, destroying their production facilities and market. The family hopes to have the operation up and running again by June 2026.
Licking County residents have a growing concern for the environment around them. As TRP reporter Doug Swift unveiled the truths of plastics around us, their presence is everywhere. Swift also produced a documentary on the BioBlitz, an annual meeting sponsored by the Licking Land Trust. Here, residents and scientists come together to collect data.
The Shelly Company agreed with Licking County to dismiss their appeal if Licking County officials agree to a letter of revision. Read more of Alan Miller’s coverage for more details on what to expect moving forward.
– Delaney Brown
Top stories:
- Licking County residents take environmental testing into their own hands in face of Intel, development
- What’s going on with the grass at the Octagon Earthworks?
- We are drowning in plastic
- Ohio’s Historic Family Farms program preserves state’s agricultural heritage and history of its top industry
- Ask away: Does ‘going green’ work for everyone?

Education
This year in education brought potential growth for the Granville School District. A proposed new housing development in the Granville Exempted Village School District could bring as many as 960 additional students to a school system already at capacity. So, Granville-area residents were invited to attend a special meeting to set priorities as their system faced significant growth. They discussed land, transportation, building configuration, costs and more. The district’s strategic planning task force used the priorities expressed by the residents in this meeting to develop four different options for managing future growth.
Yet, the new state budget proposal would reduce the school district’s funding by nearly $1 million by 2027. At the same time as the new housing development, the loss could be “catastrophic.”
In March, at a Northridge Local School District Board of Education meeting, an ethics complaint was brought against the district treasurer during a time of growing concerns about a “dysfunctional environment” in the district office. This led the school board to vote for a change to its unusual management structure in April. Yet, in May, teachers’ concerns about the environment and culture at Northridge schools persisted, according to a student-conducted survey. That survey revealed many teachers in the district feel “intimidated” and “unheard.”
This year, The Reporting Project also highlighted school programs aimed to provide a safe space for students. TRP reporter Liv Barton featured Leona Vrbanac, a Newark High School family consumer sciences teacher with a unique approach to teaching. Also at Newark High School, the school’s Sources of Strength Program supports students and increases conversations about mental health. Plus, United Way of Licking County has expanded their hygiene hub across all local high schools. The hygiene hub is a cabinet full of personal hygiene products to help students and their families.
Also, LifeWise now has programs at Ben Franklin, John Clem, Legend, Carson and Hillview schools. Volunteers are allowed to transport kids from these schools to a nearby church because of a “religious release time” program brought by a change to the Ohio Revised Code. This change in state law now permits required release time for religious activities at public schools.
– Ella Diehl
Top stories:
- Religious release time program launched in several Newark schools this fall
- Licking County Library visitorship on the rise post-pandemic decline
- Licking County schools officials say initiative to eliminate property taxes would cripple public education
- Delinquent Licking County property tax bills add up to $9.2 million – more than half of which would go to local schools
- Grad Grove project builds forest, legacy for Granville alumni

Food
From creative celebrations of food festivals to concerns over receiving SNAP benefits, this year was marked by how Licking County residents sought out community, livelihoods and nutrients through their food.
Licking County has historically lacked proper access to healthy, affordable food, but the Reporting Project highlighted those who were striving to change this. Reporters followed programs like Meals on Wheels, which serves over 1,000 meals daily to older adults in the community. Other organizations fought food insecurity in Licking County, like the New Albany nonprofit Together We Grow gardens, whose seven community gardens scattered throughout the county have provided more than 30,000 pounds of food in 2025 alone. The community-wide initiative has allowed community members to actively play a role in feeding their neighbors.
Communities rejoiced with food festivals around the county. Residents chowed down on buttery corn on the cob at the 78th Sweet Corn Festival in Buckeye Lake, where volunteers husked over 100,000 ears of sweet corn this year. Locals filled their pieholes with pie at the Hebron Pie Festival with parades, pie-eating competitions, live music, baking competitions and the crowning of pie royalty.
When the federal government shut down on Oct. 1, fear over the suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) permeated the county. 19,169 residents of Licking County, about 10.63% of the county’s population as of Sept. 2025, receive the food benefits. The Food Pantry Network of Licking County (FPN) expressed its anxiety about the program’s shutdown, but expressed hope about the community coming together.
In an impressive display of community, Licking County stepped up to provide food. The Hartford Junior Fair donated 5,861 pounds of pork to the FPN to feed the county. Local business owners distributed “care packages” filled with shelf-stable foods through their drive-thru convenience store for people until SNAP benefits were restored. An Alexandria family trick-or-treated for canned goods, instead of candy to support a local Blessings Box and a Pataskala resident provided more than 400 Thanksgiving meals for families in need.
– Tyler Thompson
Top stories:

Health and welfare
Throughout the year, the Reporting Project tracked the major issues affecting Licking County residents’ health and welfare.
In January, temperatures in Licking County had been in the single digits, dipping below zero and feeling as low as -15 with the wind chill. Licking County’s only warming shelter, which opened when temperatures dip below 10 degrees, helped provide shelter from the cold. The frigid weather resulted in one death from cold-related complications.
This year, health was underscored by increased access to healthcare and education across the county. In many instances, health care went mobile to provide access to those who needed help the most. With help from grant funding, the Licking County Alcoholism Prevention Program introduced a mobile team to expand care in underserved communities to support those with substance use disorders in rural areas. Similarly, the Licking County Health Department, in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, has been cruising Licking County to provide a plethora of healthcare services.
The health department’s mobile clinic helped students in rural areas access vital preventative care, like vaccines. Even so, childhood vaccine rates fell across the state for the fifth year in a row, and cases of measles – once considered eradicated – and flu made the news.
In July, Buckeye Lake opened Tala’s Closet, a free resource and boutique to support survivors of domestic violence. Named after Tala Smith, who died from severe injuries from domestic violence, the closet provides clothes, baby clothes, formula, hygiene products and other free resources.
In August, the 11th annual Overdose Awareness Rally was held to honor those who have died of an overdose or substance-use-related issue, while serving as a time for connection and healing for those conducting overdose prevention work. Harm reduction continued in the community with organizations like the Newark Homeless Outreach passing out free naloxone and fentanyl and xylazine testing strips.
Similarly, stigma-free education surrounding mental health and substance use disorders expanded in Licking County with the renewal of the Mental Health and Recovery for Licking and Knox Counties tax levy. The levy will continue to promote more accessible health and wellness services.
– Tyler Thompson
Top stories:
- Licking County Alcoholism Prevention Program introduces mobile team to support those with substance use disorder in rural areas
- Licking County Health Department makes health care more accessible with a mobile clinic
- Overdose deaths are falling nationwide. Why?
- The Licking County Health Department wants to trap your mosquitoes

Local government
In 2025, local governments focused heavily on development and its impact on communities.
Community impact is a key concern for local leaders. In early February, Granville officials responded to Heath’s proposed subdivision, which could add more than 900 students to the 2,600-student district, urging neighboring cities not to “bulldoze over” one another.
Around the same time, Intel remained a focus for Licking County residents after announcing its $28 billion chip plant in New Albany, originally set for 2025. In February, corporate shake-ups, rapid AI developments, a potential ownership change, and economic pressures delayed the project by at least two years—a setback many communities now see as a blessing to refine plans and incentives.
In March, the sounds of construction on Broadway signaled the start of the quick sewer project, running from April through November. The storm sewer, which officials believed had existed since the 1940s, turned out never to have been installed. Much of the work was done at night to minimize traffic congestion and protect nearby businesses.
What has also been protected—and preserved—is Granville’s historic landmark, the Old Academy Building. On March 5, the Village Council voted to purchase the building from the Granville Historical Society. The structure has stood at the corner of West Elm and South Main streets for nearly two centuries.
Beyond its historic character, Granville’s safety is also protected. On Wednesday, July 16, the Village Council amended leash laws requiring dogs to remain on a leash, except on the front lawn of Bryn Du Mansion—a longtime favorite spot for dogs and their owners.
Fast forward to one of the most important events in local government—election day.
In preparation, an “Election Academy” was held at Bryn Du Mansion in June, where current and former officeholders guided potential candidates through filing petitions and launching campaigns for Licking County office. Later, in November, on election day, TRP reporters were stationed at many of the county’s 27 polling locations, speaking with voters and covering the results as newly elected officials celebrated their wins.
– Donna Chang
Top stories:
- Granville officials urge Heath City Council not to ‘bulldoze over’ Granville schools with housing development
- Production delays mean local students training for Intel jobs may have to look elsewhere for work
- Election Day 2025: On the ground with Licking County voters
- Newly elected officials celebrate wins after Nov. 4 election

State and federal government
Due to widespread federal cutbacks in early 2025, many Licking County programs lost access to their funding.
The Licking County Coalition For Housing couldn’t withdraw funds from its usual revenue sources, and the United Way of Licking County struggled to access tens of thousands of dollars that funded essential local organizations, like the Food Pantry Network of Licking County and the Salvation Army.
Solar panels, wooly pigs and craft beer also faced uncertainty. The Wooly Pig Farm Brewery relied on funds from the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), to keep its business sustainable and save on energy bills. They waited for months for funding to be restored, with no word from REAP until May.
Though spring brought the reinstatement of funds for the Wooly Pig, organizations like Thrive for Change were still on thin ice. President Trump had proposed a 15% spending cap for indirect costs of the National Institute of Health, on top of the 10,000 staffers fired from the CDC, NIH and Food and Drug Administration, putting harm reduction efforts at risk.
As election season neared, Newark proposed an income tax increase, the first one in 23 years, due in part to cuts made by the state. Newark hoped to raise an extra $8 million annually to support safety forces, or the council said they would be forced to make budget cuts.
The year came to an end with the longest federal government shutdown in history, causing Licking County food pantries to scramble as SNAP benefits froze for 19,169 Licking County residents. Licking County came together to help mitigate these freezes through donations, free cheese pizzas and homemade care packages.
In a lesser-known effect of the shutdown, the Licking County Sheriff’s Office temporarily lost access to the Law Enforcement Support Office, a federal program that helps distribute used military equipment to local law enforcement agencies such as a mine-resistant vehicle acquired by the sheriff’s office, which is excellent at stopping bullets.
– Maddie Luebkert
Top stories:
- ‘Temporary’ federal spending freeze may affect some Licking County programs
- Rural Ohio brewery faces financial uncertainty after promised federal funds for a solar array are frozen
- Uncertainty around federal funds may hamper efforts to reduce overdose death
- With SNAP benefits on hold, Licking County food pantries see increase in customers
- Local law enforcement finds new uses for military surplus equipment

Transportation
Licking County Transit created a new route that connects Newark to Hebron and Buckeye Lake. This is a deviated fixed route model to increase accessibility.
Local officials warned that with the Licking County Regional Airport operating 24/7 and air traffic expected to increase, the nearby “Central Park” development’s prospective residents should prepare for ongoing noise and light disturbances.
The Ohio Department of Transportation gathered feedback on proposed road improvements through a public open house. Residents expressed their support and concerns.
The Granville Village Council updated and renewed its residential parking permit program. Granville’s zones will have color-coded stickers. The council is working to address community concerns about the limited visitor parking around Denison University.
On Nov. 10, Licking County Transit implemented a new upgrade for Main Street bus riders. The bus now runs more frequently during peak weekday hours, in response to increased ridership demand.
A new electric tram and climate-controlled greenhouse were added to the Dawes Arboretum. Also courtesy of Meta, a community action grant funded a new welcome center and an expansion of trees at the arboretum with an increase of 10,000 native trees.
– Talya Dersu
Top stories:
- Licking County Transit announces plans for a bus connection to Buckeye Lake, Hebron
- Eyes and ears wide open: Licking County officials want future Heath residents to know planes are noisy and the airport isn’t moving
- Licking County residents swarm ODOT open house for details of possible connector between I-70 and Rt. 161/37/16
- Dawes Arboretum debuts new tram and greenhouse to improve accessibility and support native plant growth

Water
The word for 2025 in Licking County was water.
Longtime residents know that the county is blessed with an abundance of the life-giving liquid – given its abundant annual rainfall totals, its many miles of rivers and streams, and its vast underground water sources.
And now everyone else knows it.
Companies planting data centers here by the dozens know it, and they build here in part because they can access inexpensive water to cool their computer equipment. Intel is building its $28 billion computer-chip manufacturing campus in Licking County in part because of the promise of millions of gallons of water a day.
And water utilities such as Licking Regional Water District and Del-Co Water Company of Delaware County, as well as the City of New Albany, are among those seeking additional water sources in Licking County.
They’re all looking to serve future demands for water – for drinking, for industrial use and, in some cases, for agriculture.
The Reporting Project wrote nearly two dozen stories in 2025 about water resources, water quality and water management – including managing through times of drought and times of potential flooding in some areas of the county.
Among that collection of stories was one in November that revealed that industrial demands for water will skyrocket at the same time experts expect farmers will need to regularly irrigate their fields during the critical growing period of July through September.
The story noted that the competing demands of agriculture and industry – particularly the 130 data centers in central Ohio already consuming millions of gallons of water a day to cool computer equipment – would require billions of gallons of water daily, according to a 15-county Central Ohio Regional Water Study released in 2025 by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Industrial demand alone is estimated to increase across the 15-county region by approximately 120% between 2021 to 2050 – to 250 million gallons a day by 2050. Agricultural demands could reach an estimated 110 million gallons a day across the region by 2040 during the growing season.
Some of the additional billions of gallons needed in the coming decades would come from surface sources such as rivers and lakes.
But the study says virtually all of the water needed for agricultural irrigation would be pumped from groundwater sources – an additional 9.15 billion gallons a year across the 15-county region. That’s enough water to fill nearly 14,000 Olympic swimming pools. And all of that groundwater would come from the same aquifers depended upon by municipalities and rural owners of private wells for drinking water.
And to date, Ohio lawmakers have provided regulators with very few tools to protect and manage one of the state’s most valuable resources.
– Alan Miller
Top stories:
- Dramatic surge in water demand predicted by 2040 puts farmers and industry on collision course – and the supply for all in question
- ‘We don’t want you here!’ Utica-area residents pepper Del-Co Water CEO with questions and requests to leave their community alone
- Second drought in two years takes toll on crops, lawns and water supply
- Utilities square off in impromptu debate over which should serve western Licking County
- Utility urges EPA to approve permit for wastewater plant; Licking County residents repeat concerns about pollution and flooding
ARTS AND CULTURE

Arts
Arts around Licking County have been in full swing all year round. From local art unveilings to community art projects, there’s always a never-ending flow of culture and creativity to discover.
More than 100 people crowded around the historic Sullivan Building in downtown Newark to watch its reopening as the new location of the Explore Licking County tourism offices. The former bank building’s restoration was a $14 million endeavor. Visitors enjoyed cookies in the shape of the building’s mosaic tiles as they appreciated the ornate and elegant features of the building’s historic architecture.
Art displays bloomed across Licking County with the 78th annual daffodil show in Granville’s Bryn Du Mansion, which showcased numerous pieces of nostalgic-themed art and cheerful spring flowers. Hosted by the Granville Garden Club, the event’s theme “A Wonderful Life” centered around beautiful memories and life’s biggest moments.
The Downtown Newark branch of the Licking County Library unveiled a three-panel mural by local teacher Sarah Gray and her students. The mural featured several of Ohio’s native plants, including black-eyed susans, Jacob’s ladder and wild geraniums.
Volunteers set out to paint a mural on a building located on East Main Street in Newark. The project was done in collaboration with the Newark Ohio Pride Coalition, Newark Homeless Outreach and Denison University student Mel Wienandt. The final piece spans 800 square feet and was unveiled on May 3, 2025. It features vibrant colors, quotes from the community and a bold message stating, ‘We will not be erased. We leave an imprint.’
Art is not just about painting, though; Granville’s Visible Mending Club weaves art and community together through the repair of old and used clothes. Over at the Licking County Historic Jail, a haunting display of actors put on a frightening show called the ‘Jail of Terror’ in celebration of this year’s spooky season.
– Shaye Phillips
Top stories:
- Restored ‘Sullivan Building’ a cause for community celebration in downtown Newark
- ‘A wonderful life’ daffodil show in Granville draws crowds for nostalgia-themed creations
- Licking County Library unveils new native plants mural by local artist
- Volunteers prepare to unveil new mural at Newark Homeless Outreach
- Stitching community and sustainability: Granville’s Visible Mending Club weaves art, fashion and connection
- Actors at the ‘Jail of Terror’ bring haunts to life at the Licking County Historic Jail

Fun
This year, Licking Countians had a lot to celebrate. Festivals, holidays, protests, openings and closings brought the crowds.
A beloved local gathering spot, the Granville Brewing Company shut its doors in late September after a vibrant 14 years. In its last week, beer-enthusiasts gathered to try the hand-crafted brews, vote in a friendly chili cookoff and enjoy the eclectic atmosphere for possibly the last time.
While some doors closed, others opened for the first time. Many Licking County businesses opened their doors this summer, including The Downtown Ice Cream Parlor, Village Grind Coffeehouse, Handy Andy’s Handyman Co., The Charmed Cafe and Catering, Fairway Dental Group and Soul Tide.
For its festivals and fairs, Licking Countians came out of the woodwork en masse to celebrate national holidays, local community and food— lots of good food. Summer festivities brought people from all over to taste strawberries in Newark and experience a traditional small-town Fourth of July fair along Broadway in Granville.
And in the fall, the Halloween spirit possessed community members. This year marked a record high in spending on Halloween decor which droves of trick-or-treaters in elaborate costumes enjoyed despite the dreary weather. Even the ghosts in the Old Colony Burying Ground received visitors during the historic Granville Ghost Walk. Actors in historic garb took curious visitors throughout the graveyard, bringing prominent Granville families to life.
On April 30, the Village of Hebron celebrated 43025 Day and honored members of the community for their work to create meaning behind these five numbers; a zip code to be proud of. The Reporting Project talked to many people in the community who were proud of their hometown, their work and their identity. In another “Meet the humans” series, Newark Pride Festival-goers found love and belonging within the community.
The Reporting Project also spent some time outside of the Licking County Municipal Courthouse. At a “Good Trouble Lives On” protest honoring John Lewis, people were asked what “Good Trouble” meant to them. In September, local faith leaders gathered a crowd for a vigil commemorating Charlie Kirk. And in November, a “No Kings” protest gathered more than 1,000 people.
The people of Licking County continue to show up and out for the people and things they care about, which is why The Reporting Project is dedicated to meeting “the humans of” as many gatherings as possible.
– Mia Fischel
Top stories:
- Hebron community celebrates ‘alignment of numbers and community pride’ on 43025 Day
- Annual Newark Strawberry Festival draws big crowds for 40th celebration
- Meet the humans of Newark’s Pride Festival
- Humans of Granville’s trick-or-treat
- Granville ghosts receive visitors at the Old Colony Burying Ground

Kindness
This year The Reporting Project covered moments of kindness between neighbors and friends throughout the county. These stories featured the big hearts of Licking Countians as they delivered meals on wheels, hand out water and popsicles in the summer heat and donated toys during a motorcycle toy run.
In February, The Reporting Project highlighted The Turban Project. Supported exclusively by volunteers and donations, the Turban Project has donated more than 285,000 turbans, courage caps, crocheted hats and reusable face masks to cancer patients in the last decade. The idea for the organization was born 12 years ago out of an act of kindness by Kathy Braidich– sewing a turban for her co-worker at the Newark Post office who had breast cancer.
Kindness was also seen in the Granvillians that stood along West Broadway and cheered for the of Pelotonia, a charity ride from downtown Columbus to Gambier that funds cancer research.
Later this year, TRP reporter Daniela Gomez Vargas covered a local breast cancer support group, Kindred Spirits, known as a safe space for healing.
We also found kindness in an audio story this year, Selah Griffin, Luke Dunlap and Chloe Benson’s piece, “A Kidney for Christmas,” which told the story of Heather Long’s decision to donate a kidney based off a billboard she drove past regularly.
TRP reporter Mia Fischel found kindness in the form of free plants. Newark resident Kelly Bachelor started a free plant stand in her front yard as a way to lighten up her neighbors’ days and help the community access locally grown native plants.
In June, eight guinea pigs were dumped on the TJ Evans Trail. Licking Countians came to the rescue, with Molly Fantini coordinating the search.
Kindness is here in our community: these stories show it.
– Ella Diehl
Top stories:

Music
This year, Licking County’s music scene proved that creativity thrives at every age and every corner of the community. It began with two unlikely rockers: 10-year-old Cole Perkins and 11-year-old Hayes Browder, classmates at Granville Intermediate School who bonded first over soccer, then over music. With Hayes on drums and Cole teaching himself guitar through YouTube tutorials, the duo stepped into the spotlight with confidence far beyond their years. Their second performance—at Granville’s Got Talent during the Fourth of July celebration—earned them first place and a $100 prize, marking an early milestone in what might be long musical journeys.
Across town, Frogwood Boardshop continued to cement its role as a hub for local live music. The October lineup brought an explosive night of punk-metal led by Voice of Crows, whose members have played together for nearly a decade. Their high-energy set, joined by four other metal bands, drew what may have been Frogwood’s largest crowd yet, showing how an all-ages venue can unite a community around sound as loud as its spirit.
Meanwhile, emerging singer-songwriter Ava Schlotterbeck offered a more intimate contribution. Before graduating from Granville High School, she debuted original music during a “tiny concert” at the Granville Center for the Arts. Her heartfelt set—reflecting on loss, change and growth—marked a meaningful step as she carried her craft onward to Earlham College.
And in March, Granville honored its Irish roots with the second annual ceili at the Center for the Arts. Led by Leah Bernini Cronin and accompanied by Celts Crossing and the Irish Music Club, the evening filled the room with dancing, storytelling and tradition. It was a joyful reminder that music not only entertains but keeps heritage alive.
– Brie Coleman
Top stories:
- Granville tweens set to rock the classics at latest live show at Granville Center for the Arts
- Heath skate shop builds community through inclusive, all-ages music venue
- Granville senior to perform original music in “tiny concert” at Granville Center for the Arts
- Granville Center for the Arts to host Irish “ceili” with live music, food and dancing

People
TRP reporters told the stories of people throughout the county, kicking off the year with meeting the 10-over-60 inaugural class. This series highlighted hardworking people who are committed to making the community a better place. Read more about Licking County superstars like Greg Dixon, who has been restoring and working on trails in Spring Valley Nature Preserve, or Steve Matheny, the director of the Granville Area Chamber of Commerce, the driving force behind most of the staple events throughout Granville.
Jeff Gill, another crucial member of the community, listened to his old friend when it came to the ongoing battle to make the Newark Earthworks permanently open to the public without interference from the country club that occupied it. TRP Reporter Ella Diehl told the story of Sarah Matesich Schwab’s first year serving as the first female chair of Anheuser-Busch Wholesaler Advisory Panel. Also in business, Ben and Polly Gorringe worked to rebuild Martha’s Bath and Body after facing a fire at their previous location.
This year, the community said goodbye to the Granville Police Department’s longest-serving officer, Lt. Shawn Wilson.
TRP reporter Katie Nader shared the power of wind therapy for members of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. Read more to follow along their ride.
Agriculture has been the backbone of Licking County for centuries. This year, TRP reporter Delaney Brown wrote a series highlighting five families who have kept the same land and still farm on it for over 100 years. The Hatfield Homestead has been in the Hatfield family for seven generations, and Roger Shaw tells the story of his five generations on land east of Newark.
Read more about these families and learn what keeps Thomas Maxwell going after all these years.
The agricultural history of Licking County is deep. TRP reporter Selah Griffin helps us understand this in her series outlining a group of barn preservationists. She tells the story of old barns and the people who work to maintain and restore them.
– Delaney Brown
Top stories:
- Meet the members of the Combat Veterans Motorcyclist Association
- Alexandria business owners rebuild in Newark Arcade after summer 2024 fire
- The lama and the pastor: When Jeff Gill advocated for the Newark Earthworks, some in the community reacted with hostility. His old friend taught him to be compassionate.
- Investigating the paranormal with Crossover Paranormal
SPORTS AND RECREATION

The Friday night lights burned bright in Licking County throughout the fall. Football teams, cheerleaders, and marching bands lifted spirits across the county with the popular fall pastime.
Placekicking played an interesting role in the football narrative this fall. On Halloween night Granville won with a last minute field goal over Sheridan to make it to the first round of playoffs. Weeks later, Licking Valley, after a stellar undefeated season, lost a heartbreaker by a field goal from visiting Steubenville.
The Lakewood High School football team had a female placekicker named Abrielle Baker who was featured in a story by Maddie Leubkert. Baker was joined on the gridiron by female lineperson Pyper Baesmann. The two players challenged gender stereotypes and taught readers and cheering fans a bit about grit. The Reporting Project was delighted to have Licking County native Jessica Phelps photograph Baker and Baesmann as well as two football games this fall.
But it wasn’t all football, the Newark Catholic girls won the Division VI volleyball state championship in early November. New pickleball courts are coming to Newark. And The Reporting Project was on the ground and over the top for a rowdy arm wrestling tournament at The Lot in Granville. Our reporters learned that a backwards trucker’s hat is a key to victory in the sport — arm strength helps as well.
– Jack Shuler
Top stories:
- Over the Top at The Lot: Arm wrestling contest draws big competition
- New pickleball courts coming to Newark, likely to open in spring 2026
- Playing like a girl
- See photos: Newark Catholic Green Wave vs. Lakewood Lancers football
- See photos: Licking Valley-Steubenville Division III, Region 11 semifinal
ABOUT

We loved telling telling your stories this year, Licking County.
The Reporting Project is the nonprofit news organization of the Denison University Journalism Program, covering Licking County, Ohio, and neighboring regions. We publish work by students, faculty, and community members.
Support our work at TheReportingProject.org.
Staff:
Managing editor: Julia Lerner
Editors: Cynthia Greenleaf, Beth Lossing, Alan Miller, Jack Shuler, Doug Swift
Fall/winter 2025 reporters: Delaney Brown, Donna Chang, Brie Coleman, Talya Dersu, Ella Diehl, Mia Fischel, Maddie Luebkert, Shaye Phillips, Tyler Thompson
2025 reporting alumni: Owen Baker, Liv Barton, Noah Fishman, Brin Glass, Daniela Gomez Vargas, Selah Griffin, Ellen Hansen, Katie Nader, Ellie Owen, Andrew Theophilus, Anastasia Wood, Caroline Zollinger
