Pickaway County • September 16, 2025
Good morning, Pickaway County. In the post-Trayvon Martin era, where does a young Black poet find his voice? Travis McClerking has transformed family storytelling traditions into powerful spoken word poetry, with his collection "Running Away Without a Walkable City" recently named a semifinalist for the prestigious Berkshire Prize. His journey from isolation to community healing now includes co-hosting Poetry Cauldron open mic nights, creating space for others to share their stories.
While artistic expression flourishes, Circleville police had their hands full with 139 service calls in just one weekend, responding to everything from burglaries to multiple injury crashes. On a cheesier note, comfort food enthusiasts can mark their calendars for September 26, when the Columbus Mac & Cheese Festival returns to Easton Town Center for its 8th year, offering delicious samples while supporting cancer programs at Ohio State University.
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π Spoken word poet Travis McClerking crafts urgency from family storytelling roots. His collection "Running Away Without a Walkable City," recently named a semifinalist for the 2025 Berkshire Prize, explores survival as a young Black man in Columbus. The poems reflect the desperation and fear shaped by growing up in the post-Trayvon Martin era, where violent deaths of Black Americans flooded social media. Despite the darkness, McClerking's work also emphasizes community as essential for survival, showing his evolution from isolation toward connection. He now co-hosts Poetry Cauldron open mic, embodying his shift toward village-centered healing.
π Circleville police faced a whirlwind weekend with 139 service calls. From September 12-14, 2025, officers responded to burglaries, thefts, fights, and several injury crashes throughout the Ohio city. The busy stretch began Friday with multiple patrols and a burglary report, continuing through Saturday with domestic troubles and juvenile complaints. By Sunday, police were investigating vandalism, breaking and entering cases, and more traffic accidents, showcasing the department's demanding workload across the three-day period.
π§ Columbus Mac & Cheese Festival returns to delight cheese lovers citywide. The popular event, now in its 8th year, will take place on September 26 from 4-7:30 p.m. at Easton Town Center. Attendees can sample mac & cheese from various local restaurants while enjoying live entertainment, a Kid Zone, and giveaways. Tickets start at $10, with proceeds benefiting the Adolescent and Young Adult cancer program at Ohio State University's Comprehensive Cancer Center.
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-1 Corinthians 16:13-14
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