Good morning, Franklin County. Remember when David took on Goliath? AT&T just learned a similar lesson about picking fights with the little guy. The telecom giant's holiday-season attempt to stick Ohio cities with hefty infrastructure bills lasted about as long as your average New Year's resolution, crumbling in the face of united local opposition.
Speaking of shake-ups, Big Lots' dramatic downsizing is reshaping our retail landscape faster than a clearance sale, with over 500 stores nationwide heading for the chopping block. But it's not all closures and controversy - the Greater Hilltop Commission is opening its doors to fresh voices, proving that even as some community fixtures fade, new opportunities for local leadership are blooming.
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☕️ What's Brewing Locally
📱 AT&T backs down from controversial plan to charge Ohio cities. The telecom giant withdrew its December tariff request that would have forced local governments to pay for relocating communication lines during infrastructure projects. The proposal, submitted during the holiday season when many stakeholders were away, sparked immediate pushback from Ohio municipal organizations who filed to challenge it. AT&T's withdrawal came shortly after the intervention filing, though the company indicated the issue isn't fully resolved. Local government leaders are now calling for more transparency in future discussions, emphasizing their commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars.
🏛️ Greater Hilltop Commission seeks passionate voice for vacant seat. The Columbus neighborhood organization is accepting nominations until February 3rd for a one-year term position requiring candidates to be adult Hilltop residents. The announcement comes after former commissioner Rachel Wenning's resignation and a failed appointment due to residency requirements. In a positive turn, the commission successfully appointed Sahro Amin, founder of Bantu Hope Foundation, to a different seat, while also selecting James White as chair and Ashley Montana as vice-chair for the year.
🏪 Big Lots' new owner puts over 500 stores on the chopping block. The massive selloff by Gordon Brothers, who recently acquired the struggling Columbus-based retailer, includes 23 locations in Ohio and six in Central Ohio. After the sales, Big Lots will shrink from 901 stores to around 400 nationwide, with Variety Wholesalers Inc. set to take over between 200-400 locations. Retailers like Ollie's Bargain Outlet and Burlington have already snatched up dozens of former Big Lots spaces through bankruptcy auctions. Final decisions on which stores will survive could come as soon as mid-February, though staffing plans remain uncertain.
🏀 Basketball Scoreboard (Boys)
Talk about a wild night of hoops in central Ohio! Olentangy Liberty delivered the most lopsided beatdown, crushing Dublin Jerome 63-21, while nail-biters ruled elsewhere as Worthington Kilbourne squeaked past Westland 58-56 and Westerville South edged Dublin Scioto 62-59. The Pickerington North Panthers kept their impressive season rolling at 11-3 with a solid 66-55 road win over Thomas Worthington.
| Team | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Arlington (8-4) | ||
| @ Central Crossing | W 51-41 | |
| Worthington Kilbourne (7-7) | ||
| vs Westland | W 58-56 | |
| Thomas Worthington (5-8) | ||
| vs Pickerington North | L 66-55 | |
| Hilliard Bradley (5-8) | ||
| @ New Albany | L 51-39 | |
| Hilliard Davidson (6-8) | ||
| @ Marysville | W 67-54 | |
| Hilliard Darby (11-1) | ||
| vs Grove City | W 52-48 | |
| Dublin Jerome (1-11) | ||
| @ Olentangy Liberty | L 63-21 | |
| Dublin Scioto (2-11) | ||
| @ Westerville South | L 62-59 (2OT) | |
| Westerville Central (5-10) | ||
| vs Olentangy | L 60-48 | |
| Grove City (5-8) | ||
| @ Hilliard Darby | L 52-48 | |
| Westerville South (6-7) | ||
| vs Dublin Scioto | W 62-59 (2OT) | |
| Central Crossing (3-10) | ||
| vs Upper Arlington | L 51-41 | |
| Franklin Heights (7-5) | ||
| @ Grandview Heights | W 76-67 | |
| New Albany (12-2) | ||
| vs Hilliard Bradley | W 51-39 | |
| Graham Local (3-12) | ||
| @ Legacy Christian Academy | L 79-71 |
🏀 Basketball Scoreboard (Girls)
In a display of defensive dominance that would make brick walls jealous, Upper Arlington crushed Central Crossing 52-11, improving to an impressive 16-1 record. Meanwhile, Grove City continued their stellar season with a 46-37 victory over Hilliard Darby, pushing their record to 12-2 and proving that Greyhounds can indeed hunt Panthers.
| Team | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Arlington (16-1) | ||
| vs Central Crossing | W 52-11 | |
| Thomas Worthington (4-10) | ||
| @ Pickerington North | L 63-43 | |
| Worthington Kilbourne (10-4) | ||
| @ Westland | W 70-22 | |
| Hilliard Davidson (2-14) | ||
| vs Marysville | L 50-41 (OT) | |
| Hilliard Bradley (9-6) | ||
| vs New Albany | W 49-37 | |
| Hilliard Darby (10-5) | ||
| @ Grove City | L 46-37 | |
| Dublin Jerome (11-3) | ||
| vs Olentangy Liberty | L 42-31 | |
| Westerville Central (9-7) | ||
| @ Olentangy | L 52-48 | |
| Westerville North (1-13) | ||
| vs Bexley | L 34-32 | |
| Grove City (12-2) | ||
| vs Hilliard Darby | W 46-37 | |
| Central Crossing (6-9) | ||
| @ Upper Arlington | L 52-11 | |
| Franklin Heights (5-11) | ||
| vs Grandview Heights | L 49-47 | |
| New Albany (3-12) | ||
| @ Hilliard Bradley | L 49-37 | |
| Bexley (6-11) | ||
| @ Westerville North | W 34-32 | |
| Grandview Heights (5-12) | ||
| @ Franklin Heights | W 49-47 |