Ohio
Could an Ohio hiking route join the ranks of the Appalachian and Pacific Crest trails?
A nearly 1,500 mile loop of hiking trails in Ohio could soon join the ranks of the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail.
The National Park Service is evaluating whether to add the Buckeye Trail, which runs from Lake Erie to the Ohio River, to its National Trails System. Over the next several weeks, the service will share information about its feasibility study and hear from the public at cities around the state. One of those meetings will be held in Cincinnati on Jan. 16.
The Buckeye Trail was built from 1959 to 1980 by the Buckeye Trail Association, a nonprofit. The loop of trail systems stretches 1,454 miles across farmland in northwest Ohio, the Bluegrass region of southwest Ohio, the Black Hand sandstone cliffs around Hocking Hills and the hills of Appalachia. More than half of the route overlaps the North County National Scenic Trail.
What are National Scenic Trails?
Currently there are 11 National Scenic Trails:
- The Appalachian Trail stretches 2,190 miles through 13 states between Maine and North Carolina.
- The Arizona Trail stretches 800 miles through Arizona.
- The Continental Divide Trail stretches 3,100 miles through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico.
- The Florida Trail stretches 1,300 miles through Florida.
- The Ice Age Trail stretches 1,000 miles through Wisconsin.
- The Natchez Trace Trail stretches 65 miles through Mississippi.
- The New England Trail stretches 215 miles through Connecticut and Massachusetts.
- The North Country Trail stretches 4,600 miles through eight states including Ohio.
- The Pacific Crest Trail stretches 2,650 miles through California, Oregon and Washington.
- The Pacific Northwest Trail stretches 1,200 miles through Idaho, Montana and Washington.
- The Potomac Heritage Trail stretches 710 miles through Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
The designated routes for hiking and biking showcase some of the country’s beautiful landscapes and attract tourists from around the world. They are managed by federal and state agencies.
Make your voice heard
Ohioans can voice their stance on whether the Buckeye Trail should become a National Scenic Trail at the following meetings for public comment:
- Jan. 13 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Hines Hill Conference Center at 1403 West Hines Hill Road in Peninsula.
- Jan. 14 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Henry County Hospital Heller Community Room at 1600 E Riverview in Napoleon.
- Jan. 15 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretive Center at 2380 Memorial Road in Dayton.
- Jan. 16 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Digital Futures Building Level 1 Conference Room at 3080 Exploration Ave. in Cincinnati.
- Jan. 17 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Athens Community Center Room B and C at 701 E State St. in Athens.
There will be a virtual public meeting, too, on Jan. 23 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Participants can attend online.
The public comment period is open now through Feb. 19. Members of the public are invited to review the National Park Service’s study process and share feedback online.
ROSSFORD, Ohio — Smoke from Canadian wildfires forced the cancellation of three community events Thursday, including a multi-day festival, a weekly farmers market and a summer concert series finale.
Organizers of the Rossford Balloon & Fireworks Fest, the Perrysburg Farmers Market and the Whitehouse Summer Concert Series each cited hazardous air quality conditions as the reason for their decisions.
Rossford Balloon & Fireworks Fest canceled
Rossford city officials and the Rossford Convention & Visitors Bureau Board jointly decided Thursday to cancel the Rossford Balloon & Fireworks Fest, which was scheduled to run July 17-19.
The Visitors Bureau’s director Beth Genson said in a statement: “The decision to cancel the 2026 Rossford Balloon & Fireworks Fest was made jointly by City officials and the Rossford Convention & Visitors Bureau Board after careful consideration of the hazardous air quality conditions caused by smoke from the Canadian wildfires. The health and safety of our attendees, volunteers, vendors, performers and staff was our highest priority. We recognize how disappointing this is for our community and visitors, but we believe cancelling the event was the responsible decision under these circumstances.”
Perrysburg farmers market, Whitehouse concert also called off
The Perrysburg Chamber of Commerce canceled Thursday’s farmers market in historic downtown Perrysburg. The chamber’s director of tourism Sally Moore said: “The health and safety of our vendors, customers, volunteers, and staff is our top priority. Based on the current hazardous air quality conditions and the guidance we received, we believe cancellation is the safest course of action.”
In Whitehouse, the final performance of the summer concert series at Whitehouse Village Park was also canceled Thursday out of concern for the safety of concertgoers. A spokesman for the series said organizers are hoping to reschedule the final performance in August or September.
Health experts advise staying indoors
Dr. David Geisinger, a pediatric emergency medicine physician, said residents should limit time outdoors while smoke remains in the area.
“We all need to be extra careful, but the children especially, younger kids, anybody with asthma, chronic lung disease, COPD, bronchitis, they would need to be especially careful,” Geisinger said.
Geisinger added that with current air quality index levels, indoor activities are the safer option.
“With this level of air quality index and the smoke, it’s better to do activities that are inside,” he said.
Smoke from the Canadian wildfires was expected to continue affecting air quality into Friday.
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WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) – A Warren man indicted in June on charges he had inappropriate conduct with a teenager pleaded guilty Thursday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
Daniel Procopio, 29, pleaded guilty to one third-degree felony count of attempted illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance.
Howland police arrested Procopio following a report filed by the parent of a teenager who reported Procopio had inappropriate contact with the teen. The investigation by Howland police showed Procopio in February 2026 had asked a 16-year-old female to send nude photos of herself to him, according to Assistant Prosecutor Gabriel Wildman.
The crimes are alleged to have taken place in February and March.
Procopio will be sentenced at a later date.
The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 15, 2026, results for each game:
Powerball
Powerball drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m.
02-07-18-29-38, Powerball: 16, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 1-1-8
Evening: 0-9-3
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 7-8-8-3
Evening: 8-6-3-8
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 5
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 6-3-8-0-7
Evening: 5-5-0-3-2
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Rolling Cash 5
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 7:05 p.m.
04-17-19-26-36
Check Rolling Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Classic Lotto
Drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, at approximately 7:05 p.m.
04-18-28-41-42-45, Kicker: 2-5-8-9-8-0
Check Classic Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.
Millionaire for Life
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 11:15 p.m.
01-05-18-23-33, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Enquirer digital news director. You can send feedback using this form.
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