Lauren Shows was born to a preacher and a preacher's wife, and spent the majority of her earliest childhood years rollin' 'round the bible belt, to end up in Panama City, Florida. After graduating from Florida State University in Tallahassee, she spent the next several months in existential crisis, making lattes for snowbirds and spring-breakers, before moving to Kentucky to get an MFA in writing from Spalding University. A chance meeting at Spalding landed her in Yellow Springs. She was graciously hired by the News, though her only previous dealing with newspaper publication was in third grade, when she wrote a story about a bunch of skeletons rising from the dead on Halloween, which was printed in the Owenton News-Herald. Lauren enjoys cheese, giant squid, and Michael J. Fox.

• Yellow Springs Porchfest to return this September

  By Lauren ShowsMarch 22, 2025

  

  According to a press release received by the News this week, Porchfest has found a new home under the care of the YS Arts Council, supported by a grant from the YS Community Foundation.

• Mad River Theater Works mixes it up

  By Lauren ShowsMarch 20, 2025

  

  Mad River is leaning into bringing these and other varieties of performances to the village in the future — including two events set for this month.

• Public records detail complaint against fire chief

  By Lauren Shows

  

  One allegation against Miami Township Fire-Rescue Chief Dennis Powell is he called an employee to dissuade them from discussing payroll issues with or in the presence of trustees following a newly established pay scale at MTFR.

• Holden to retire; Winston named next superintendent

  By Lauren ShowsMarch 14, 2025

  

  After what will be seven years at the helm of YS Schools, Superintendent Terri Holden will retire from service in May next year. Megan Winston, current principal of Mills Lawn Elementary School, will step into the position upon Holden’s retirement.

• New on 91.3 WYSO: Haitian-American stories

  By Lauren ShowsMarch 8, 2025

  

  “Haitians in the Heartland” is a new series produced at WYSO 91.3 as a collaboration between WYSO’s Eichelberger Center for Community Voices and Springfield’s Haitian Community Alliance.

• Survey helps plan for future Yellow Springs Schools Preschool

  By Lauren ShowsMarch 7, 2025

  

  The district’s preschool program survey is available online at http://www.ysschools.org/preschool-survey through March 31. All responses will remain confidential and will be used solely to guide the planning process for the Yellow Springs Schools Preschool.

• School board approves second censure against Magnus

  By Lauren ShowsFebruary 27, 2025

  

  The school board held a brief special meeting Friday, Feb. 7, with the only two agenda items being the rescission and replacement of a censure the board approved in January and the approval of a second censure.

• Local musicians to bring experimental ‘In C’ to the Emporium

  By Lauren ShowsFebruary 25, 2025

  

  The Emporium will host “Neutrals and Friends” — a dozen or so musicians from in and around the village — for a performance of renowned minimalist composer Terry Riley’s ever-changing work “In C,” as well as other compositions, during the weekly wine tasting Friday, Feb. 28, beginning at 7 p.m.

• District breaks ground on facilities upgrade projects

  By Lauren ShowsFebruary 24, 2025

  

  The $55 million project includes renovation at the Mills Lawn campus and a combination of renovation, demolition and new construction at the East Enon Road campus of McKinney Middle and YS High schools.

• ‘Village Voices’ event series at Senior Center open to all

  By Lauren ShowsFebruary 20, 2025

  

  Max Mullin will present “Demystifying AI” as part of the monthly “Village Voices” series Thursday, Feb 20, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Senior Center. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.