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.

• Dispose of your meds, safely

  By Lauren ShowsJanuary 30, 2026

  

  The box is the result of a collaboration between the YS Police Department, local resident Emma Robinow and Odd Fellows Lodge #279, and is designed to safely collect prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and even vitamins.

• Good news a’brewin’

  By Lauren Shows

  

  Good news is brewing: On Friday, Jan. 23, members of the YS News staff joined the crew at Yellow Springs Brewery as the local beer-meisters began production of an upcoming new batch.

• School board considers new times for school day

  By Lauren ShowsJanuary 21, 2026

  

  Having settled this first-of-the-year business, Superintendent Terri Holden later opened discussion about another proposed timing change: a later start for Mills Lawn students and an earlier one for YS Middle and High School students beginning next school year.

• Executive Director Montgomery to retire from Friends Care Community

  By Lauren ShowsJanuary 18, 2026

  

  This week, after more than eight years leading the nonprofit Friends Care Community, Executive Director Mike Montgomery is stepping out from behind the desk one last time, officially retiring from the position Friday, Jan. 9.

• Yellow Springs Senior Center eyes former lumber yard

  By Lauren ShowsJanuary 16, 2026

  

  Yellow Springs Senior Center leaders are eyeing the former lumber yard at 108 Cliff St. as a potential site for the organization’s long-planned new building — a possible shift away from a Livermore Street parcel the Senior Center purchased two years ago.

• A campaign for YS Schools

  By Lauren ShowsJanuary 15, 2026

  

  On Tuesday, Dec. 2 — Giving Tuesday — YS Schools officially launched its capital campaign, which aims to raise funds for some aspects of the facilities upgrades project currently underway at Mills Lawn and Yellow Springs Middle and High School.

• New Miami Township Trustees board settles in

  By Lauren Shows

  

  The Miami Township Trustees began their first meeting of the new year Monday, Jan. 5, by swearing in Trustee Chair Marilan Moir for her second term and newly elected Trustee Lori Askeland for her first.

• Young thespians stage ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’

  By Lauren Shows

  

  “The Diary of Anne Frank” is set to run its final two performances Friday and Saturday, Jan. 16 and 17, after an opening performance Thursday, Jan. 15.

• Electrical fire at Lawson Place home

  By Lauren ShowsJanuary 13, 2026

  

  Just after 2 a.m. Monday, Jan. 12, a resident at 11 Lawson Place noticed that an outside wall of their home had caught fire and called 911. According to Fire Chief James Cannell, MTFR firefighters were “on the scene within five minutes.”

• Miami Township Trustees hire financial consultant

  By Lauren ShowsJanuary 8, 2026

  

  Miami Township trustees agreed this week to bring in outside help as they work to untangle the Township’s books ahead of budget planning early next year.