Ohio
Ohio bar sparks controversy after banning patrons under 30 on weekends to combat violence
An Ohio bar sparked a heated debate and was accused of age discrimination after banning patrons younger than 30 on weekends in an effort to combat violence following a naked melee in the parking lot.
Donerick’s Pub in Groveport announced that Friday and Saturday nights would be “30 & up” only with “no exceptions” earlier this month as part of a trial after the apparent disorder at the neighborhood watering hole.
“We will continue to try different things to keep our business safe and cut down on violence,” the bar wrote in the comments of its Facebook post announcing the change. “Keeping our customers safe is our top priority.”
Donerick’s did not name any specific instances of violence in its reasoning, though commenters suggested there was a fight the weekend before.
“I mean the ones that’s fighting and shooting [are] 30 and up [for real],” one person commented.
“It’s really sad,” the establishment replied. “We just want to provide our customers with a fun environment to have some fun in. We will try different methods and see what works best to make everyone safe!”
Several customers suggested imposing a dress code to thwart the violence — but one person said it wouldn’t work, noting a fight involving a completely naked woman that occurred outside the bar.
“A dress code wouldn’t change anything, you can put a turkey in tuxedo it’s still a turkey. One of the girls fighting didn’t have anything on,” the man commented.
“Well one things for sure, I can promise you she did when she entered and left the building!” Donerick’s Pub responded.
The nude brawl in question was captured on video and posted to Instagram two weeks ago with the location set as the local bar and the caption noting the woman was “butt naked.”
The short clip shows a woman — with no clothes or shoes on — tussling with another, fully dressed woman as they pull each other’s hair as a third woman hits the naked woman’s back with a closed fist in a parking lot shared by several businesses, including Donerick’s.
Other people then bend over the duking women and appear to try to separate them before the video ends.
Commenters in the Facebook post, meanwhile, had their own brawl with words.
Many over the new age limit praised the bar for the change — with some even suggesting they should raise it higher to 35 and up or even 40 and up.
“The best decision 35 would be even better this generation is just lost in the sauce it’s sad I hope this makes the difference,” one woman commented.
But others who can no longer patronize the bar on the weekends felt they were unfairly penalized.
“Definitely cannot say I’d ever support an establishment who age discriminates,” a younger woman wrote.
Donerick’s Pub Groveport didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Authorities arrested four adults on felony child endangerment charges after discovering 16 children in dire need of medical treatment Tuesday in a rural southern Ohio home.
The Ohio Bureau of Investigation and local sheriff’s department searched a home in the small village of Hamden, where they found the kids in what officials called “deplorable” conditions.”
“Conditions you cannot even imagine people being in, let alone children being in,” Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said at a news conference.
Law enforcement arrested Gary Siders Jr., Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders and Elizabeth Siders. They have not yet been arraigned and assigned public defenders.
Vinton County prosecuting attorney William Archer said they were being charged with second-degree felony child endangering because it involves “serious physical harm.”
Officials did not confirm if the children were related but said it was not a human trafficking situation. They said the adults were not locals and appeared to have been traveling.
Hamden has a population of less than 1,000 people and is about 60 miles southeast of Columbus.
The children ranged from ages 1.5 to 18 and included both boys and girls, officials said. Several were in serious conditions when found, and two had to be flown to level one trauma centers because of their injuries.
Wilson said it was the worst scene he had ever encountered in his entire career, describing what he saw as “pure evil.”
Law enforcement were also executing a secondary search warrant at the home Tuesday, and the investigation is ongoing. The four adults will appear in court Wednesday morning.
“Justice will be served for these children,” Wilson said.
UPDATE 6/30/26 @ 6:30 p.m.
VINTON COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) – Four people are in custody Tuesday after a search found 16 children inside a home in the Hamden area of Vinton County, officials said during a news conference.
“This is pure evil what we saw down here today,” said Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson, who described it as one of the worst scenes he has ever seen.
It happened in the 100 block of Ohmer Street.
Two children had to be life-flighted to trauma centers, and the victims are being treated at hospitals throughout Ohio.
Their ages range from one and a half to 18 years old.
“Lives were in danger,” officials said during the news conference, saying it has been a long-term investigation.
They said there is a secondary investigation underway at the property.
The suspects are set to be arraigned at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Vinton County Common Pleas Court.
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office, the Vinton County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation are among the investigators.
We have a crew at the scene working to get more details. Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest.
ORIGINAL STORY
VINTON COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) – A news conference is scheduled Tuesday evening about a search warrant that was executed at a home in the Hamden area of Vinton County.
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson’s office made that announcement, saying the news conference is scheduled at 6 p.m. in McArthur, Ohio.
Along with Wilson, Vinton County Sheriff Ryan Cain, Vinton County Prosecutor William Archer and members of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation are set to attend the news conference.
The search warrant was executed at a home along Ohmer Street, with a heavy law enforcement presence reported throughout the day.
Additional details are unavailable now, but we have a crew headed to the scene.
Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest.
Copyright 2026 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
Central Ohio 2026 summer weather forecast
Weather forecasts call for a hotter- and drier-than-normal summer in the region.
The Columbus Dispatch
Central Ohio is under an extreme heat warning starting at noon due to dangerously hot conditions.
The National Weather Service in Wilmington issued the extreme heat warning from noon June 30 to 8 p.m. July 2 in central and south central Ohio as well as parts of Kentucky. The heat index will rise to about 105 degrees, the weather service said.
On June 30, there will be sunny skies and a high near 95 degrees in Columbus, according to a forecast by the weather service. The heat index will reach about 106 degrees.
Columbus will see a high of 98 both July 1 and July 2, with a heat index as high as 106 on July 2, the weather service said.
People should drink plenty of fluids, stay in air conditioned rooms and out of the sun and check on their relatives and neighbors.
People should not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles because car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in minutes, the weather service said.
Cooling centers will open June 30, and the city has waived bus fares and public pool entry fees during the heat wave.
Public safety and breaking news reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at bagallion@dispatch.com
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