WILMINGTON, Ohio (July 28, 2026)—The City of Wilmington is pleased to announce the installation of new playground equipment at Galvin Park (located between South, Birdsall, and Walnut Streets) that will take place beginning, July 28, 2026, weather permitting. As installation is underway, parkgoers should anticipate increased noise levels, construction equipment in and around the work area, and temporary closures or restricted access near the project site. The City of Wilmington asks that parkgoers obey all posted signs and fencing, do not enter the active work zone, and supervise children and pets closely while in the park. The City of Wilmington appreciates the community’s understanding and patience during this improvement project. Questions regarding the work may be made to the Parks and Recreation Office at (937) 374-9455.

Left to Right: Karla Barker, Sarah Stevenson, Sydney Murtland, Kelly Grogan, Stephanie Tharp The Clinton County Coalition on Homelessness held a ribbon cutting with the Wilmington-Clinton County Chamber of Commerce on Friday, July 24, 2026 celebrating the launch of the Safe Keep Locker Initiative at Hope House, located at 495 E. Locust Street, Wilmington, OH 45177. The Clinton County Coalition on Homelessness, in partnership with Hope House, has launched the Safe Keep Locker Initiative to provide secure storage lockers for individuals experiencing homelessness. The initiative addresses a critical need by offering a safe place to store personal belongings, important documents, medications, and work-related items—resources that can make a meaningful difference in accessing employment, housing, healthcare, and other essential services. The Safe Keep Locker Initiative reflects a shared commitment to creating practical solutions that promote dignity, stability, and hope throughout Clinton County. By reducing barriers faced by individuals experiencing homelessness, the program helps foster greater independence while strengthening community support systems. "This initiative represents more than just secure storage—it represents an investment in the people of our community," said Sydney Murtland, Executive Director of the Clinton County Coalition on Homelessness. "We are grateful for our partnership with Hope House and look forward to expanding this program throughout Clinton County to provide increased access to secure storage and supportive resources for individuals and families in need." For more information about the Safe Keep Locker Initiative, please contact the Clinton County Coalition on Homelessness at clintoncountyhomelesscoalition@gmail.com.

"I'm so proud of our businesses in Clinton County, our civic groups in Clinton County, and our citizens that have really backed us in donations and [other support]," stated Neil Rhonemus, President of Box-14, a nonprofit committed to bringing resources to first responders. Neil has lived in the same location in Clinton County for "all but two years of [his] life." He has always been a farmer, but spent some time as a volunteer fireman before he began having children. According to Neil, the creation of Box 14 was inspired by a "grain bin incident" in Port William. He shared that Box 65, Pickaway County's first responder aid, came to the rescue on a cold, March day to aid first responders from freezing temps while they rescued a man from a grain bin. This led a group to join together and create a box for Clinton County. The nonprofit paperwork was filed in October of 2024 and the group purchased a resource vehicle by the next spring. Due to a "generous donation" from ATSG Charitable Foundation, Box 14 purchased a retired squad from the Clinton-Warren Joint Fire District. The name, "Box," refers to any piece of equipment in the first responder field and the number 14 represents Clinton County, as it is present on all Clinton County license plates. Neil shared that the goal of the boxes is to "extend the shelf life of first responders" on a call by providing things like hydration, snacks, gloves, socks, heaters, and more. Box 14 is called in by the incident command when first responders are responding to calls in times of extreme weather, long durations, and other situations. Neil stated, "It's important that those responders don't get burned out and we support them and aid them so they can go back to work and home healthy and safe." As of February of 2026, Box 14 has made seven responses. Neil shared that their first response was to a large storage unit fire in Blanchester. The group provided water, coffee, and snacks to the first responders. Neil shared that the group has 34 active members and is always looking for more volunteers. He stated, "I just want to stress we're here to serve those that serve... and I personally am so thankful for the volunteers we have." To learn more about Box 14, visit their Facebook page at fb.com/Unit.BOX14.

Drew DeVilbiss "We've always tried to be community-first because that's the whole point... Because we only exist to serve the community," stated Drew DeVilbiss, President and second-generation owner of the Wilmington Donatos franchise group. Donatos, located at 860 Rombach Avenue, opened in Wilmington in 1992 as a franchise by Drew's father, Doug. Drew grew up in Columbus, but spent "a lot of time" in Clinton County, as his grandparents lived in Wilmington. After graduating college in the late 2000s, Drew even lived in Wilmington for a period of time. He got involved with the family franchise in 2009, which includes three locations: Wilmington, Washington Court House, and Ashland (Kentucky). Drew's father, Doug, opened the Wilmington location first and then each location a few years later. Doug had owned the building in Wilmington where Donatos is now and was planning on just selling it to Donatos, but after meeting with Donatos' founder, Jim Grote, he was inspired to open his own Donatos. Doug opened the other two locations in the 1990s and 2000s. According to Drew, there are over 200 Donatos locations nationwide. Donatos offers pizza, calzones, subs, wings, desserts, and more. Drew shared that Donatos is known for their edge-to-edge toppings and signature party cut pizza. Although the Wilmington Donatos offers the same items as other Donatos locations, it is unique because of its "party room," where individuals and groups can host events. Drew hopes to grow community events in the party room and shared that anyone can reserve it. Drew emphasized their "community-first, local" approach to restaurant service sharing that his father Doug was involved with the Wilmington-Clinton Chamber of Commerce, the tourism board, the parks department, and more. According to Drew, the store's general manager, Marcus Harris, is also heavily involved in the community. Donatos recently began a new partnership that allows them to host "Donation Days," where groups can partner with Donatos for a day and receive 20% of the profits when customers use a code. Learn more about Donatos at donatos.com.

"You always want to please your bowlers... We always try to make the bowlers happy," stated Jackie Balon, General Manager of Royal Z Lanes, located at 2667 Rombach Avenue. Jackie, originally from Hillsboro, Ohio, has worked at Royal Z lanes for over 28 years. In 2017, she took on the role of general manager. Prior to becoming the general manager, Jackie managed the youth leagues for young bowlers. She has continue displaying that passion and encouragement to young bowler and continues to help with the youth leagues today. Constructed in 1959, the bowling alley was originally known as Airport Bowl and was partially owned by a member of the Zavakos family. In the late 1990s, Louie Zavakos, one of the original owners, passed away and his son, Jim took over. Jim renamed the bowling alley to "Royal Z Lanes" and has owned it ever since. Royal Z Lanes features bowling lanes, a game room, pool tables, and more. The alley hosts leagues, parties, and all four Clinton County high school bowling teams. On specific days of the week, the bowling alley has a women's, men's, senior, and youth leagues. Their regular leagues begin in August and end in April. The alley also hosts an unsanctioned 12-week summer league for those who want to continue bowling for fun. The bowling alley even hosts tournaments for bowling leagues, bringing in individuals from as far as Dayton to bowl. In addition to the activities available, Royal Z also has a kitchen and bar that serves "a little bit of everything," including chicken tenders, fried mushrooms, hamburgers, hot dogs, cheese curds, pizza, and more. On the side of the bowling alley, they host Relentless Pro Shop, a pro bowling shop operated by Austin Smith. According to Jackie, the pro shop features "any type of equipment you need for bowling [professionally]," including shoes, balls, and even a drill to custom drill the ball holes. " In addition to their regular offerings, Royal Z Lanes will also host fundraisers for sports teams and other organizations. To learn more about Royal Z Lanes or Relentless Pro Shop, visit royalzlanes.com.

"The project is the tool for the kids to develop life skills [like] leadership and time management. [Kids are] caring for their animals everyday, learning about nutrition, and balancing whatever their summer schedules are," stated Tracie Montague, 4H Youth Development Educator at the OSU Extension Office, located at 111 S Nelson Avenue. Tracie, originally from Sunbury, Ohio, attended Wilmington College for her undergraduate degree. This led her to intern and explore with the OSU extension office and she later attended OSU for her masters degree. In her position at the extension office, Tracie coordinates and runs the 4H program for Clinton County, including the summer camps, overnight camps, and fair. According to Tracie, there are over 700 kids who participate in 4H in Clinton County, ranging from age 5 to 18 and coming from various backgrounds like apartments, suburbs, and small farms. 4H was started in Ohio in 1902 by a school administrator in Clark County. The club came to Clinton County in the 1920s and has since evolved from traditional projects to now offering STEM projects and more. Ohio 4H has over 200 different project opportunities ranging in subject from nutrition, electricity, welding, livestock, sewing, recipes, scrapbooking, photography, and more. Children have the opportunity to show livestock like sheep, goats, chicken, cows, and more. Tracie stated, "We have an opportunity for everybody. We have projects for every interest." Within Clinton County, there are 25 groups that come together a few times each month for meetings to learn life skills, and work on their projects with the goal of exhibiting them at the fair. The meetings and projects are age-appropriate, ensuring that even though five-year-olds cannot participate in the fair, they can learn from the program. Children can begin taking projects to the fair at age eight and once in third grade. Tracie stated, "I don't think there's a life skill that 4H does not provide... There's just nothing really quite like 4H." To learn more about the Clinton County 4H Club and the OSU Extension office, visit clinton.osu.edu.

Men of Valor will host a six-week “2026 Men’s Leadership Training Seminar” beginning July 10 at the Wilmington City Administration Building. The program is designed to help men grow as leaders in their personal lives, families, workplaces, and communities. According to the seminar flyer, the course will address topics including personal development, relationships, work ethic, spiritual growth, financial challenges, discipline, and leadership skills. Weekly sessions will explore subjects such as self-reflection, worldview, motivation, purpose, ethics, and effective decision-making. Classes will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on July 10, 17, 24, and 31, as well as August 9 and 14, at the Wilmington City Administration Building located at 69 N. South Street in Wilmington. Organizers say guest speakers from fields including education, business, finance, law enforcement, health and wellness, and civics are expected to participate. Those interested in attending can reserve a seat by contacting godsarmy.menofvalor@gmail.com or calling (513) 314-4610.

Wilmington, OHIO (July 1, 2026)—The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) and Giant Eagle, Inc. ("Giant Eagle") today announced a definitive agreement under which Kroger will acquire Giant Eagle, a leading family-owned food and pharmacy retailer with approximately $9 billion in annual sales and 197 supermarkets and 11 standalone pharmacies across northern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana. The transaction has been unanimously approved by Kroger's Board of Directors. With a purchase price of $1.65 billion, comprised of $1.25 billion in cash consideration and the assumption of approximately $400 million in outstanding liabilities, this transaction is consistent with Kroger's disciplined approach to capital allocation and its focus on acquisitions where the company can create clear value for customers, associates and shareholders. A strong strategic fit "Giant Eagle is a well-run, high-quality regional grocer with a strong reputation for fresh products, pharmacy, private label and customer loyalty," said Greg Foran, Chief Executive Officer at Kroger. "We evaluated the opportunity carefully, and the strategic fit is clear. Giant Eagle expands our reach into attractive adjacent markets, allowing us to do what we do best: Run outstanding stores, deliver fresh foods and convenient meal solutions at affordable prices, and take care of our customers and associates every single day." Giant Eagle's established store base, loyalty program, pharmacy business and private label portfolio provide a strong foundation for growth. Together with Kroger's eCommerce solutions, data and personalization capabilities and operating discipline, we see significant opportunity to accelerate growth both in-store and online, enhance the customer experience and create long-term value for shareholders. The companies plan to build on Giant Eagle's long history of community engagement by bringing Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste impact plan to new communities. "Today's announcement marks an exciting next chapter for our Team Members, customers, vendors and community partners," said Bill Artman, Chief Executive Officer at Giant Eagle. "Together with Kroger, we will be well-positioned to advance our strategy and deliver better quality and service, better everyday value, and a better shopping experience for our customers, while providing greater growth opportunities for our dedicated Team Members." Financial impact Kroger will finance the transaction with cash. Following the close of the transaction, the company expects to maintain its net total debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio target range of 2.3 – 2.5x. As part of Kroger's commitment to shareholder returns, the company expects to maintain its dividend, subject to board approval, continue its previously announced $2 billion share repurchase program, and preserve financial flexibility to invest in its strategic priorities and core business. Kroger expects the transaction to be accretive to adjusted EPS per diluted share in the second full year after close, excluding one-time transaction and integration costs. Regulatory process In connection with obtaining the requisite regulatory clearance necessary to consummate the transaction, Kroger and Giant Eagle expect to make limited Giant Eagle store divestitures. The transaction is expected to close in 2027, subject to receipt of required regulatory clearance and other customary closing conditions. Advisors RBC Capital Markets is serving as exclusive financial advisor, and Jones Day is serving as legal counsel to Kroger. Wells Fargo is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Giant Eagle. WilmerHale is serving as the primary legal advisor and Troutman Pepper Locke is serving as local counsel on Giant Eagle's behalf. About Kroger At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are, across our family of companies more than 400,000 associates who serve over 11 million customers daily through an eCommerce and store experience under a variety of banner names, serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site. About Giant Eagle Giant Eagle, Inc., ranked among Forbes magazine's largest private corporations, is one of the nation's largest food retailers and distributors. Founded in 1931, Giant Eagle, Inc. has grown to be a leading food and pharmacy retailer in the region, with more than 200 stores throughout western Pennsylvania, north central Ohio, northern West Virginia, Maryland, and Indiana. This press release contains certain statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, about the proposed acquisition of Giant Eagle and the future performance of the company. These statements are based on management's assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. Such statements are indicated by words or phrases such as "achieve," "committed," "continue," "drive," "expect," "focused," "future," "guidance," "may," "model," "opportunities," "strategy," "target," "trends," and variations of such words and similar phrases. Various uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These include the specific risk factors identified in "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K for our last fiscal year and any subsequent filings, as well as our ability to successfully complete the acquisition of Giant Eagle; and our ability to successfully integrate Giant Eagle into our business and risks inherent with the Giant Eagle acquisition in the achievement of expected results, including whether the acquisition will be accretive and within the expected timeframe. Kroger assumes no obligation to update the information contained herein unless required by applicable law. Please refer to Kroger's reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a further discussion of these risks and uncertainties. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kroger-announces-agreement-to-acquire-giant-eagle-302815747.html SOURCE The Kroger Co.

Wilmington Safety Director Nick Eveland raised concerns to members of city council on June 4, 2026, about the city's aging outdoor tornado siren system while proposing a move to a wireless emergency system that sends alerts directly to residents’ mobile phones. Eveland stated that there was a malfunction on Wednesday, May 27, when several sirens activated on their own despite not being triggered by dispatchers. Officials attempted to cancel the alarms, but couldn't, leaving some sirens sounding for an extended period of time. Eveland said the city has spent $448,198.28 on sirens since 1996, averaging $14,900 annually over the past three decades. Eveland also discussed an estimated $9,000 to replace three batteries after the malfunction, which he thought was "outrageous"—and possibly incorrect—prompting further discussion about long-term maintenance costs. Eveland said public habits have changed since the outdoor warning sirens were installed, arguing that many residents are now indoors, driving, or asleep during severe weather, making mobile alerts potentially more effective. Under Eveland's proposal, Wilmington would transition to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS), which powers Wireless Emergency Alerts sent directly to mobile phones. Eveland explained the alerts could also provide detailed instructions during emergencies about what actions to take. Eveland also noted the alerts do not require residents to download an app or subscribe to a service, and they do not use cellular data or increase phone bills. FEMA grant opportunities may also be available to help offset implementation costs, though city officials said they are still early in the evaluation process. Several council members raised questions about residents who do not use cell phones or rely on landlines. Eveland said alternative emergency radios or notification devices could potentially be made available through grants or other public safety programs. City officials said they plan to continue researching options before transitioning away from the current system. Learn more at wilmingtonohio.gov.

Left to Right: Marcy Hawley, Janice Ellis, John Baskin, Catie South, and Sarah Hawley "We're not business people. We're writers and editors with a design mind. We just want to make something beautiful and high-end," stated Marcy Hawley, publisher at Orange Frazer Press, located at 37 1/2 W Main Street. Marcy, along with her team of four, operate the publishing company, creating 15 to 20 books a year for clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. In the early 1980s, Marcy and John Baskin, editor, were editors for Ohio Magazine. The two created a book for Ohio Magazine called, 'Ohio Matters of Fact', from information they had gathered while working there. After publishing, the book was stored in Ohio Magazine's basement before Marcy and John decided to buy the book back and sell it themselves. She shared that they "put it in the trunks of [their] cars" and sold 12,000 copies. With that, Orange Frazer Press was born in 1987 and they created one book each year for the first five years. Marcy and John described the extensive process of creating books before computers, sharing that it required traveling to Washington Court House for the typesetter, a professional who arranged texts and images in books to prepare for publication. Marcy explained that errors had to be corrected manually by physically cutting and pasting individual letters or words into place. Marcy and John named the publishing company after a local man named Orange Frazer. According to their research, Orange traveled frequently, loved birds, and carried many books with him. His house was located where the current KFC is in Wilmington, at 127 E Main Street, and his headstone is located in Sugar Grove Cemetery. After five years of creating books, the company was approached by IAMs to create a symposium book. Marcy took on the challenge and that began their "foray into custom books." They sold their first book on Amazon in 1995. Thirty-nine years later, the company publishes both traditional and custom books. They emphasized that they "can do anything," small or large for clients across the world. In traditional publishing, an author brings an idea or manuscript to Orange Frazer, and the company handles publishing, marketing, and sales. In custom or “self-publishing,” a business, organization, or individual brings their vision, Orange Frazer produces the book, and the client takes on selling the book and the financial risk. Over the years, Orange Frazer Press has created books for Cintas, Ferno, Wilmington College, Xavier University, the Murphy Theatre, and even Clinton County. Learn more at orangefrazer.com.

WILMINGTON, Ohio (June 24, 2026)—The City of Wilmington is pleased to announce that construction of a new 11-foot shared-use path along Davids Drive will begin Monday, June 29, 2026, weather permitting. The path will be located begin at the existing share-use path at the intersection of Lynne Lane and Davids Drive and terminate near Wilmington Christian Academy. Work is being performed by Fillmore Construction. Construction is expected to be completed by October 22, 2026, weather permitting. While construction is underway lane shifts and closures will be in place and may change frequently. The City of Wilmington asks that all motorists be patient, reduce speed, and exercise added caution when traveling near this work zone. Questions regarding the project may be made to the City Services Office at (937) 382-6509.

Artistic Exploration The third public meeting focused on a proposed Wilmington Community Recreation Center was held Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at the City of Wilmington Municipal Building. Organized by local residents, the meeting brought together parents, educators, healthcare representatives, former YMCA leaders, and community members to discuss how a modern recreation center could be funded, operated, and utilized by local families. Attendees included Tim Nared, Dustin Pearce, Jeffrey and Lisa Homan, Jessica Manzo, Jason Stoops, Nick McCabe, Lee Curtis, Lizabeth Dent, Karen Jones, and Justine Sauza with Kettering Health. As with previous meetings, organizers opened with a brief overview of the Wilmington YMCA’s closure in 2015 and the failed Clinton County joint recreation district levy in 2019 before shifting into discussions about the current community-led effort to develop a sustainable recreation center focused on year-round programming for youth, families, and seniors. Among the amenities most frequently discussed were an indoor swimming pool, indoor walking and running track, indoor basketball courts, and an indoor soccer field capable of hosting larger events. Lisa Homan also highlighted growing interest in pickleball programs, volleyball leagues, and cooking classes for students, noting that grant opportunities may exist to support those types of recreational and educational programs. Potential locations discussed included property near Wilmington High School, the former East End Elementary building, land near Denver Park, and property owned by the CIC near Walmart. However, Pearce emphasized that the current phase of the project is primarily focused on gathering public input, building community support, and identifying the most sustainable long-term model for a recreation center. Pearce also shared that the City of Wilmington recently declined support for a collaborative recreation center fund during the June 8, 2026 City Revitalization Grant Committee meeting. During that meeting, Mayor Haley expressed concern that the initiative may be seen as “competing” with his vision to model East End after a community center in Yellow Springs, Ohio, likely referring to either John Bryon Community Center or The Wellness Center at Antioch College. A recurring theme throughout the evening was the need for more year-round opportunities for local youth. Several residents expressed concerns about limited activities for teenagers and children outside school hours, warning that a lack of positive outlets can contribute to crime or general restlessness. Others noted that many Wilmington-area families regularly travel to neighboring communities for sports training and recreation, with some attendees sharing that they currently use YMCAs in Xenia, Lebanon, Washington Court House, and Hillsboro despite living in Wilmington or Clinton County. Tim Nared, who said he worked for the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati for more than a decade and later helped open a YMCA in Columbus, encouraged the group to study successful YMCA partnerships in communities such as Hamilton and Whitehall. Attendees also discussed the differences between city-operated recreation centers and YMCA partnerships, along with the advantages and challenges of each model. Community members also discussed the financial challenges of operating a recreation center while keeping memberships affordable for families, seniors, and lower-income residents. Ideas included grants and sponsorships from local businesses. Jeff Homan suggested exploring the SilverSneakers program as a source of Medicare and insurance funding, while Tim Nared recommended researching grants aimed at supporting minority communities. Justine Sauza also noted that Kettering Health offers grants for projects aligned with the healthcare system’s mission. During the meeting, Dustin Pearce shared that a short-term goal of the initiative is to establish a dedicated 501(c)(3) nonprofit board to support the future construction, renovations, or ongoing operation of a Wilmington recreation center, along with a collaborative fund through the Clinton County Foundation. Pearce said approximately $2,000 has already been raised toward the initial $25,000 goal needed to formally establish the fund. Community members interested in supporting the project can donate at wilmingtonreccenter.com. Attendees were encouraged to stay involved, provide feedback, and consider serving on a future nonprofit board or steering committee as planning efforts continue. Additional information and updates on future meetings are expected to be shared publicly as discussions move forward.