The Yellow Springs News • An Independent source of community news in Yellow Springs, Ohio since 1880

Local voting at Antioch University Midwest in 2018

Photo by Megan Bachman

Elections board told to reject noncitizen voting in Yellow Springs

Yellow Springs’ recent charter change allowing noncitizens to vote on local matters came under fire yesterday from the state’s chief election official.

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Web Features

Village Council— Anti-racist steps demanded

Organizers of recent weekly anti-racism rallies downtown aired criticism at Council’s July 20 virtual meeting of Village efforts to address racism.
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Remembering Phyllis Jackson

Yellow Springs resident Phyllis Jackson, 95, died on July 11 after a long and rich life of service to the community she loved. A memorial service was held for Jackson on Saturday, July 18, at Central Chapel AME Church, where she’d been a member since 1943.
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Yellow Springs Schools to start academic year online

In a specially called online meeting Saturday morning, July 25, the Yellow Springs school board unanimously approved a plan to restart the 2020–21 academic year with all students receiving online instruction presented by district teachers.
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Latest COVID-19 News

COVID–19 update— After Ohio restart, virus is spreading again

The trend holds true for Greene County, which saw its per capita case rate more than double over the last month, even as the county remains relatively better off than the rest of the state and country. As of July 6, there were 99 active COVID-19 cases in Greene County, up from 58 on June 18.

Yellow Springs Village Council mandates masks downtown

At a special meeting on Wednesday, July 8, Council passed several new laws to improve the safety of downtown Yellow Springs in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The most significant was an ordinance that requires masks downtown.

COVID-19 update— ‘Worrisome’ trend? More new cases

New cases of COVID-19 are rising in Greene County, Gov. Mike DeWine said at his June 18 press briefing. He highlighted Greene County as one of five southwest Ohio counties that have seen case increases in June.

Yellow Springs Council passes resolution on masks; won’t enforce requirement

At its June 15 virtual meeting, Village Council passed a resolution asking people to wear a facial covering, socially distance from one another and clean their hands frequently while in downtown Yellow Springs to slow the spread of COVID-19.

‘Worrisome’ COVID-19 rise in Greene County and SW Ohio

Greene County is one of five southwest Ohio counties in which COVID-19 cases are rising, even as cases overall are falling in Ohio. Gov. Mike DeWine called the trend “worrisome” at his June 18 press briefing.

Arts (archives)

Local teacher to host virtual day camp
Antioch School older group teacher Sally Dennis is hosting a virtual summer camp on Dayton's PBS station, ThinkTV, with daily episodes on topics such as health, peace and diversity running from July 27–August 1.
First Lines — Heart of compassion
Amid the turmoil on Earth, have you looked at the stars? Villager Tim Morand contributes this month's poem, a meditation on compassion, the shifts in human life and the grandeur of the night sky.
Lights! Costumes! Conference call!— Playwright debuts play virtually
Yellow Springs-based playwright and actor Robb Willoughby will debut his play “Look into My Eyes” by way of virtual broadcast Saturday, May 16, through Wednesday, May 20.

Village Schools (archives)

Yellow Springs Board of Education • Legal Notice
Yellow Springs Board of Education • Legal Notice
Local teacher to host virtual day camp
Antioch School older group teacher Sally Dennis is hosting a virtual summer camp on Dayton's PBS station, ThinkTV, with daily episodes on topics such as health, peace and diversity running from July 27–August 1.
Yellow Springs Board of Education • Special Meeting
Yellow Springs Board of Education • Special Meeting

Economy (archives)

New studio set to open— Get inked at YS INK Arts Collective
YS INK Arts Collective, co-owned by longtime Yellow Springs residents Pierre Nagley and Lindsay Burke, is opening its doors on Dayton Street as a new hub for local artistry.
Home, Inc. and St. Mary — Senior housing funding denied
A planned 54-unit senior apartment building in Yellow Springs was turned down for funding for the second consecutive year.
New processor license for Cresco Labs
Cresco Labs learned in June that it had been awarded a provisional processor license under Ohio’s medical marijuana program.

Village Life (archives)

Blood Drive this week
Community Blood Center will hold a mobile blood drive on Thursday, Aug. 6, noon–6 p.m., at Mills Lawn. Donors must bring a photo ID and wear a mask. Physical distancing will be practiced.
Masks required by law downtown
Council unanimously passed an emergency ordinance mandating facial coverings downtown and on Village-owned properties when physical distancing of six feet is not possible.
Institutions adapt to COVID-19
The News spoke with leaders at a variety of local institutions who are adapting to a new normal in the fifth month of the coronavirus pandemic, including the Yellow Springs Senior Center, Friends Care Community, Yellow Springs Community Children’s Center, Antioch College Wellness Center and the John Bryan Center/Youth Center.

Government (archives)

YS Development Corporation— Township fire station up for sale
The soon-to-be-vacated Miami Township fire station at 225 Corry St. is for sale by the Yellow Springs Development Corporation. Originally built in 1956, and updated in the ’60s and ’70s, the commercial building is listed for $400,000.
Greene County Jail— Avoiding a COVID outbreak
In late May, an inmate transferred to state prison from Greene County Jail was tested by the state for COVID-19 and found positive. The individual hadn’t displayed any symptoms, and had a normal temperature upon leaving the county jail, according to jail administrator Major Kirk Keller this week. Keller asked the state to re-test the inmate, but the state declined.
Yellow Springs Village Council mandates masks downtown
At a special meeting on Wednesday, July 8, Council passed several new laws to improve the safety of downtown Yellow Springs in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The most significant was an ordinance that requires masks downtown.

Obituaries (archives)

Robert P. Douglas
Robert P. Douglas, age 85, of Yellow Springs, passed away peacefully on July 21, 2020.
Byron Arnett
Byron Arnett passed away from Parkinson’s at age 74 on July 18, 2020.
Catherine Ann Taylor
Catherine Ann Taylor passed peacefully at home in her sleep on Saturday, July 18, 2020, after a beautiful sunrise on a clear, warm summer morning.

Higher Education (archives)

Antioch cuts $2.5M; jobs lost
Amid ongoing financial challenges worsened by COVID-19, Antioch College seems — perhaps against the odds — determined to survive.
Antioch’s altered, but heartfelt, commencement
Due to COVID-19, the sixth commencement of the relaunched college took place as an online ceremony rather than the customary in-person one, with live and recorded speeches streamed at 1 p.m. Recorded performances from the World House Choir were also part of the virtual festivities. Those who wish to watch the event can do so at antiochcollge.edu/commencement.
Antioch College announces $2.5 million budget cut; staff, faculty let go
Antioch College is cutting spending by $2.5 million in the coming fiscal year. Eight staff employees are being laid off, and the college is reducing its faculty by six, through separations and one retirement.

Sports (archives)

A tribute to YSHS 2020 senior athletes: softball and baseball
With the support of the Yellow Springs High School coaches, the News is highlighting all the spring sports senior athletes and their career accomplishments. This week, we complete our athlete profiles with the softball and baseball teams.
Survey measures interest in summer YS Youth Baseball
YS Youth Baseball, which had previously suspended activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has released a survey to determine interest in resuming the summer season in compliance with state guidelines.
Yellow Springs native tapped by Chicago Bears
Ahmad Wagner’s athletic drive and discipline has landed him a spot on the roster of one of the most elite national professional football teams — the Chicago Bears.