WSYX Top Stories

Deadly ATV/School Bus Crash in Marion Co.

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 18:55:38 EDT

LARUE -- A LaRue man is dead after his ATV slammed into the back of a stopped school bus.

The crash happened at about 4:30 Monday evening on LaRue-Mt. Victory Road. Now the Marion Sheriff's Department is trying to figure out why Thomas Wilson, 48, drove full speed into that bus. ...

NEW IN TOWN: Thread On Grandview

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 21:20:49 EDT

NEW IN TOWN: Thread On Grandview

GRANDVIEW -- A new boutique is giving central Ohio shoppers a chance to pick up clothes from all over the world.

Watch the video player above to see ABC 6/FOX 28 anchor Carolyn Bruck's profile of Thread on Grandview. ...

Shale Fracking is Big Business in Eastern Ohio

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 21:17:04 EDT

STEUBENVILLE -- The environmental costs of fracking are being hotly debated, but supporters say there's no argument about the potential financial benefits it can bring.

Watch the video player above to see what our Dana Jay found out when she went to Steubenville, the heart of Ohio's shale country. ...

State's First African-American Trooper

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 20:47:17 EDT

EAST COLUMBUS - More than 50 years ago Louis D. Sharp broke the color barrier as the first African-American to graduate from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy on November 4, 1955.

"We stand on the shoulders of many people,"said Sharp who acknowledged had it not been for pressure from the NAACP, Urban League, and others, he may not have had the chance to get his foot in the door. ...

NW Columbus Restaurant Robbed

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 18:48:09 EDT

COLUMBUS -- Police are investigating an armed robbery at a northwest Columbus restaurant.

Officers responded to Quiznos at 5360 Tuttle Crossing Boulevard at approximately 5:30 p.m. Monday.

Investigators say the masked suspect brandished a handgun, demanded money, then exited with stolen cash. ...

Short North Charity and Business Robbed

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 18:02:06 EDT

COLUMBUS -- A charity and a business in the Short North are cleaning up after being robbed on Super Bowl Sunday.

Windows were smashed by bricks at The Global Gallery charity and Piece of Cake bakery on North High Street.

Thieves stole only 17 dollars from The Global Gallery, but caused $350 in damages. ...

Dogs Starved in Chillicothe

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 17:59:40 EDT

CHILLICOTHE -- A mother and son are charged with animal cruelty after police found their dogs emaciated and tied up outside without proper shelter.

Lola Runge and her son Richard face misdemeanor charges.

Two of the dogs are at the Ross County Humane Society. ...

Former Walmart Worker Pleads Guilty to Recording Boy in Restroom

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 17:40:30 EDT

Former Walmart Worker Pleads Guilty to Recording Boy in Restroom

COLUMBUS -- A former Grove City Walmart employee has pleaded guilty to a child pornography charge after allegedly recording an underage boy in the store's restroom.

Okey Belcher, 28, pleaded guilty in Columbus's U. ...

Columbus Pain Clinic Owner Sentenced to Prison

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 16:33:08 EDT

COLUMBUS -- The former owner of two pain clinics has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for illegally distributing prescription pills.

Danette Hawthorne, 49, was sentenced in Columbus's U.S. District Court for distributing more than 11,000 dosages of oxycodone without legitimate medical needs, and fraudulently billing a government insurance program. ...

Memorial Service Held for Slain Columbus Missionary

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 14:34:46 EDT

MIAMI, FL -- Dozens of mourners have paid their respects to a Columbus man who died after being shot in Haiti.

Dave Bompart, 50, was robbed and shot during a mission trip to the island nation.

Widows and orphans he tried to help, doctors who tried to save his life, and his family attended a memorial service in Miami. ...

Accused Rapist in Court

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 12:55:50 EDT

COLUMBUS -- A man accused of raping a Westerville woman appeared in a Franklin County courtroom.

Ricky Allen Dye, 51, is charged with rape, kidnapping, and aggravated robbery for an alleged February 2 attack at the victim's Westerville home.

The victim told police she used to work with Dye at a Columbus shelter before he was fired in December. ...

Meth Lab Busted in Fairfield County

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 11:17:03 EDT

LANCASTER -- Lancaster police department as well as the Fairfield County Major Crimes Unit raided a home and took one man into custody after finding a meth lab.

They responded Monday morning after getting a tip that the people at 212 Sherman Avenue in Lancaster were running a meth lab inside the home. ...

New Ad About Painkiller Abuse

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 10:47:52 EDT

COLUMBUS (AP) -- A new public service ad campaign is targeting prescription painkiller abuse in Ohio using stories of people affected by addiction.

The initiative features ads on websites and social media networks, posters in convenience stores and billboards in counties with serious abuse problems. ...

Governor Prepares for State of the State Address

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 09:19:36 EDT

COLUMBUS (AP) -- He's fresh off a bruising fight and ultimate defeat over the rights of unionized public workers. His approval ratings among voters are low.

And some fellow Republicans in the Legislature have grumbled openly over Governor John Kasich's decision to move his State of the State speech outside the capital to eastern Ohio. ...

Gas Prices Up Again

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 09:14:51 EDT

COLUMBUS (AP) -- Ohio motorists are paying slightly more for gas for the second week in a row.

Monday's survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express puts the average price for regular gas at $3.45 a gallon. ...

Last Day to Register to Vote in Primary

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 08:59:23 EDT

COLUMBUS (AP) -- It's a presidential election year, and Ohio residents are running out of time to register to vote in the March 6 primary.

Monday is the deadline for registration forms to be turned in or postmarked, and for voters to submit any name or address changes that have taken place since they last voted. ...

Marysville Barn Fire Ruled Accidental

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 08:45:20 EDT

MARYSVILLE -- Investigators have determined that a Union County barn fire was not intentionally set.

The fire was reported at approximately 3:30 a.m. Monday at 25325 Coder-Holloway Road.

Items donated for the rebuilding of New Horizon's Baptist Church were being stored in the barn at the time of the fire. ...

Giants Win Super Bowl XLVI

Sun, 5 Feb 2012 23:56:17 EDT

THE FOOTBALL FEVER: Taylor Decker Signing A Coup for OSU

Sun, 5 Feb 2012 21:06:20 EDT

BUCKEYE BASKETBALL: Thad Matta Has Faith in Buford

Sun, 5 Feb 2012 21:03:05 EDT

Chinese New Year Celebration Brings Adoption Awareness

Sun, 5 Feb 2012 19:30:43 EDT

NEW ALBANY--The Chinese New Year has just kicked off.

Central Ohio families with children from China, organized today's celebration at New Albany Middle School.

They were stepping on bubble wrap to simulate the sound of fire crackers.

2012 is the "Year of the Dragon. ...

Car Crashes into Ice Cream Restaurant

Sun, 5 Feb 2012 19:21:46 EDT

COLUMBUS--Sunday afternoon, a central Ohio woman's lunch was interrupted, when a van crashed through a Friendly's Ice Cream restaurant, in north east Columbus.

Police say a woman's brakes went out and she plowed right through the front door.

Remarkably, no one was hurt. ...

Crime Stoppers "Crime of the Week"

Sun, 5 Feb 2012 11:56:30 EDT

PLUMWOOD--This Weeks Crime Stoppers Concerns a Plumwood, Ohio Breaking and Entering Crime.

Three separate incidents occurred at the Fitzy's One Stop Convenience Store on State Route 38NW.

The break-ins were on January 2, July 4, and July 31, 2011. ...

Woman's Injuries From Assault Remains a Mystery

Sun, 5 Feb 2012 11:05:30 EDT

COLUMBUS--On February 4th around 9:50a.m., Tamara Miller, 41, sustained sever injuries from an assault.

The Columbus Police Department was dispatched to Riverside Hospital, were Miller was in critical condition.

The case remains under investigation. ...

SUPER BOWL: Jake Ballard's Proud Parents

Sat, 4 Feb 2012 23:57:50 EDT

BEYOND THE GAME: Inspired by Fickell, OSU Wrestling Team Beats Michigan

Sat, 4 Feb 2012 20:11:46 EDT

Man Found Dead Inside Hilltop Home

Sat, 4 Feb 2012 16:49:01 EDT

COLUMBUS-- Police are investigating a death in the Hilltop area.

Police were called to 69 Ogden Avenue at approximately 10:30 Saturday morning, where a woman said she found a man's body inside her home.

Detectives are not saying how the man died. ...

Search Continues for Marysville Rape Suspects

Sat, 4 Feb 2012 13:51:53 EDT

MARYSVILLE-- The Union County Sheriff's Office is searching for two men allegedly involved in an abduction and rape.

Police say the female victim pulled over after noticing a truck with flashing blue and red lights driving behind her on February 3.

The victim was allegedly forced into the truck by one male suspect, then driven to an undisclosed location. ...

BUCKEYE BASKETBALL: Sullinger, Bucks End Drought at Wisconsin

Sat, 4 Feb 2012 18:51:31 EDT

Victim Identified in Fatal Hit and Run

Sat, 4 Feb 2012 11:12:40 EDT

COLUMBUS--Police have identified the victim of a deadly hit and run in northeast Columbus.

Rene Antonio Deras was struck and killed while walking near Morse Road and Kingshill Drive on February 2.

Police say Deras, who is a native of El Salvadore, was struck by a dark SUV, which then fled the scene. ...