Community News

On December 19, Amazon's Wilmington Air Hub (KILN) will brighten the holiday season for local families in need through a special donation to the Clinton County Homeless Shelter. As part of Amazon's Peak Giving Campaign, the company will provide essential household items to support families transitioning into new homes. The Clinton County Homeless Shelter serves as a vital resource in Southwest Ohio, providing emergency housing and support services to individuals and families

Wilmington, OH (December 17, 2025)—Wilmington College’s alumni, campus and greater communities of friends came through big time in supporting the annual Giving Tuesday campaign in early December. Far eclipsing the goal of raising $100,000, gifts totaled more than $155,000. While donors gave to numerous areas of the institution, this year’s promotion was to support “Travel with Purpose,” student travel funds designed to open doors ranging from serving communities and attending

Wheelies Walks Group "Humans need connection, and Wheelies Walks was developed to build community, foster intergenerational bonding, and create opportunities for friendship," stated Devin Birt, Organizer of the Wheelies Walks program. Wheelies on Mulberry began sponsoring walks on the Clinton County Trails in 2024, shortly after the opening of their bike shop. Birt stated, "The bike shop and Trail Haus were created as an open invitation for the community to explore our beauti

Bryce Whelchel & Dustin Pearce Co-Founder of Overdrive Jiu-Jitsu, Bryce Whelchel, joins the podcast to share about his new jiu-jitsu classes at Vital Fitness on Prairie Avenue in Wilmington, Ohio for men, women, and children of all ages and skillsets. Bryce and his wife Kerrie are both graduates of Wilmington College and passionate about creating a welcoming place for the community to enjoy learning jiu-jistu. Listen to episode 77 of the Real Change Wilmington Podcast, 'Hitt

Tony & Sharon Testa "Everything is homemade," including their breads, sauces, pizza dough, soups, and desserts, stated Tony Testa, Co-Founder of The Mediterranean Restaurant, located at 53 East Main Street in Wilmington. Tony and his wife, Sharon, along with their three children, have been running their restaurant since 2006, surviving both DHL closing in 2008 and the COVID-19 shutdowns in 2020. Tony and Sharon first met each other in Daytona Beach, Florida. Sharon was a "Cin

Wilmington College students conduct research at the Clinton County History Center. Pictured from the left are Hillary LeForge, Beth Mitchell, a WC alumna and longtime volunteer at the History Center, Randi Anderson, Shelby Boatman, executive director of the History Center, and Henry Hildebrandt. Other members of the WC History Council are Emily Switzer, Cameron Chatfield, and William Hildebrandt. Wilmington, OH (December 11, 2025)— The English poet and author Chaucer wrote in

Kathy Szelagiewicz "My goal is just to give the kids their gifts and make sure everybody's happy [on] Christmas morning," stated Kathy Szelagiewicz, Coordinator of the Clinton County HoHo Shop, located at 2483 State Route 22 and 3. The HoHo shop, named after a founding volunteer's granddaughter who couldn't say 'Christmas,' provides coats, clothes, and toys to Clinton County children in need. Parents can apply for gifts in early October through the Tuesday before Thanksgiv

Wilmington, OHIO—The Wilmington-Clinton County Chamber of Commerce is celebrating the holiday season with the return of its $25 Days of Christmas campaign, offering $2,000 in cash prizes and over 40 gifts to local shoppers. Now, in its 17th year, the initiative encourages residents to shop locally while rewarding them for supporting Clinton County businesses. The promotion is part of the Chamber’s 'Local First Clinton County' initiative. “This campaign is one of our favorit

Clinton County Homeless Shelter & One Mission As the holiday season approaches, many people in our community find themselves in need of support, while others are in a position to want to give. Below are 12 ways to give and receive help this holiday season: 1. Animal Care PAWS Humane Society, at 5312 N US Hwy 68, offers free spay and neuter clinics. Donate pet supplies or volunteer. Visit pawshumane.weebly.com. 2. Child Care Clinton County Youth Council, at 302 W Sugartree

Bruce Saunders & Jim Blair “I’m prejudiced to a city manager… I think it’s by far the best way,” stated Jim Blair (R), Washington Court House (WCH) Councilman, at the Wilmington Charter Public Meeting held at the Murphy Theatre on November 11, 2025. Blair, a two-term councilman and Air Force Veteran, spoke about WCH's Charter and gave insight into Wilmington's Charter discussions. Blair focused on the importance of the Charter setup, stating, "[The] setup is so critical. It

Odessa is a young tabby who enjoys playing with catnip, toys, and other cats. She is friendly with people, and needs a home where someone will be home a lot and able to give her plenty of attention. Meet Odessa and her friends by visiting pawshumane.weebly.com

On November 25, 2025, Wilmington City Council held a special meeting at 6pm to discuss a proposed 471-acre Amazon Web Services (AWS) data center, located at 1488 South US Route 68. The meeting began with a presentation from Alex Beres, Executive Director of the Clinton County Port Authority (CCPA), and Josh Roth, Economic Development Director at the CCPA, who said that the data center would essentially help act as a "backbone of the internet" to process, organize, and store d

Dale Kinnison Leesburg, OH (November 21, 2025)— RoofX, a family-owned residential roofing company located in Leesburg, is installing a new shingle roof for a central Ohio veteran at no cost to them. This is the second year that the local, residential roofer has provided a new roof for a hometown hero. Last year, RoofX surprised a U.S. Marine Corps veteran in Hillsboro with a complete roof replacement for his home. This year, the company has selected Dale Kinnison, a U.S. Army

Sophomore Parker Besener extends his leather glove-covered arm for the Harris' hawk to land during Friday's raptor demonstration for a Wilmington College history class. Wilmington, OH (November 21, 2025)— Wilmington College Professor Carly Maris brought her history class to life Friday (Nov. 21) when officials with the Ohio School of Falconry introduced several birds of prey to students learning about Animals of the Ancient World. Indeed, a barn owl, a Peregrine falcon, Euras

Jamie and her family "Jamie’s story is one of profound resilience, faith, and transformation. Her journey through hardships—domestic violence, homelessness, and the devastating loss of her husband—could have broken her, but instead, it became the catalyst for her ultimate healing and renewal. The pain of being abandoned by her husband and losing contact with her daughter left her feeling lost and isolated. Yet, in the midst of this overwhelming despair, Jamie found solace in