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All content by Halie Barger
Kenneth Buerk, a local ophthalmologist, left \$3.5 million to the Oxford Community Foundation. Photo provided by the Oxford Community Foundation

Physician leaves gift to Oxford Community Foundation

May 14, 2020
Oxford City Council conducted a virtual meeting from remote locations on Tuesday, May 5. Top row, left to right: Councilor William Snavely, Mayor Mike Smith, City Manager Doug Elliott, Clerk Mary Ann Eaton. Second row, left to right: Councilors Glenn Ellerbe, Jason Bracken, Edna Southard and David Prytherch. Bottom row, left to right: Law Director Chris Conard, Police Chief John Jones and Councilor Chantel Raghu.

City Council condemns hate speech and discrimination

May 7, 2020
Oxford’s business district, seen here along High Street, has been practically deserted during the pandemic shutdown. City officials hope it will begin to come to life as the phased in restrictions are eased in the next few weeks. Photo by Richard Campbell.

Oxford, State of Ohio start process of reopening

April 30, 2020
Members of Oxford City Council and the city administration met virtually on April, 21. Top row, left to right: Assistant City Manager Jessica Greene, Mayor Mike Smith, Councilor William Snavely, Council Clerk Mary Ann Eaton. Middle row, left to right: Councilor Edna Southard, Councilor Glenn Ellerbe, Councilor Jason Bracken, Service Director Michael Dreisbach. Bottom Row, left to right: Councilor David Prytherch, City Manager Doug Elliott, Councilor Chantel Raghu, Law Director Chris Conard.

Council considers tree ordinance, supports Arbor Day

April 23, 2020
Mayor Mike Smith and Assistant City Manager Jessica Greene during an online video discussing the coronavirus in March. Photo provided by the City of Oxford.

Oxford city leaders work to unify citizens in virus crisis

April 16, 2020
This computer screen shot shows Oxford officials connected Thursday on Zoom for their first virtual council meeting. Top row, left to right:  Assistant City Manager Jessica Greene and Councilors Glen Ellerbe, William Snavely and Jason Bracken. Middle row, left to right: Mayor Mike Smith, City Manager Doug Elliott and Councilors Chantel Raghu and Edna Southard. Bottom row, left to right: Police Chief John Jones, Councilor David Prytherch, Law Director Chris Conard and Community Development Director Sam Perry. Photo by Halie Barger.

Coronavirus forces city council to move meetings online

April 9, 2020

Educators learn to adjust to remote teaching online

April 9, 2020
 Parks and walking paths remain open as of now, but playground areas such as this one in Oxford Community Park are closed and unused because of concerns over the virus. Photo by Susan Coffin.

Oxford community adjusts to pandemic

April 2, 2020
Skipper’s Pub on High Street still offers carryout and delivery service, but the state-ordered halt to in-house dining puts a severe crimp in the business. Photo courtesy of Skipper’s Pub.

COVID-19, students leaving hurts local businesses

April 2, 2020

Oxford officials adjust services due to coronavirus outbreak

March 19, 2020
The food court in Armstrong Center, usually crowded at noontime, was deserted Wednesday. Photo by Wenyan Dai 

Virus disrupts schools, student plans for semester

March 12, 2020
A post from last fall from the Oxford Police Department Facebook page noting a suicide prevention training session officers attended and offering the advice of “Question. Persuade. Refer.” when dealing with someone who may be suicidal. Image fromOxford Police Department

Social media users can help police prevent suicides

February 21, 2020
A College Corner woman died Wednesday when her SUV struck the rear of a Rumpke garbage truck that was stopped on Stillwell Beckett Road. Photo provided by Oxford Township Police.

Local woman dies after crash with garbage truck

February 21, 2020
The building at 20 S. Elm St., once housed Miami University’s food services operations. Photo by Halie Barger.

Forgotten building on South Elm Street to become space for innovation startups and a focus on the arts

February 14, 2020

Oxford officials discuss sustainability, economy and housing at their annual strategic retreat

February 7, 2020
William Hixson is charged with receiving stolen property -- a car he parked in front of the police station.   Butler County Sheriff’s Department photo

Man charged after driving stolen car to police station 

January 31, 2020
Clyde Brown, reading the report on the Mueller Investigation of the Trump administration while attending a Democratic Debate watching party in Oxford last June. Observer file photo

Professor emeritus was passionate about politics, chess

January 17, 2020
A pair of “smart” meters, that take credit cards as well as coins, installed on High Street. Photo by Halie Barger

Parking meter experiment gets mixed reviews

January 10, 2020
John A. Czaja

Psychology professor remembered for his roles at Miami

January 10, 2020
Oxford Mayor Mike Smith, left, takes the oath of office Tuesday night from the city’s law director, Christopher Conard. Photo by Halie Barger

Council names Mike Smith new Oxford mayor

November 29, 2019
As director of teaching and learning, Lindsey Gregg strives for personalized learning at Talawanda School District. Photo courtesy of Talawanda School District

Talawanda Schools Appoint New Director of Teaching

August 29, 2019
Incumbent board member Chris Otto, who is seeking re-election. Photo by Halie Barger

Candidates face off for a seat on the Talawanda Board of Education

August 22, 2019
McGuffey Montessori School on Westgate Drive, which started classes on Wednesday, now offers a ninth-grade program. Photo from Oxford Observer file photo

McGuffey Montessori School Adds Ninth Grade Curriculum

August 15, 2019
Students Ezra Pechan-Keeton, Brooklyn Porchowsky, Ellie Porchowsky, and Mira Pechan-Keeton pose for pictures in front of Kramer Elementary on the first day of school Wednesday. Photo by Halie Barger

Talawanda Students Venture into a New School Year

August 15, 2019
School starts next Wednesday at Talawanda School District. Photo by Halie Barger

New School Year Brings Insight From Talawanda Superintendent

August 8, 2019
Larry Cox, Talawanda High School’s new football coach, has high hopes for redemption after a years-long losing streak. Photo by Halie Barger.

Talawanda’s New Football Coach Lays Out His Plans for Making Players Stronger Next Year

January 25, 2019

School District Forms Committees to Mold New Five-year Plan

January 18, 2019
Tim Reed, Talawanda High School’s baseball coach, died Monday. Photo courtesy of Talawanda School District

Remembering Tim Reed, Talawanda’s Head Baseball Coach

January 18, 2019

Observer Supporter Is a Citizen of the Year

January 11, 2019
‍Talawanda High School’s new football coach Larry Cox. Photo courtesy of Talawanda School District

Talawanda High School Hires New Football Coach

January 11, 2019

Beech Street Building Total Loss after Fire

November 30, 2018
The Talawanda Board of Education at Monday’s meeting, where it heard majority and minority reports on changing the school mascot. The board then voted 3-2 to accept the majority report and change the mascot from “Braves” to “Brave.” Seated from left to right: Supt. Ed Therow, Board Members Mike Drowder, Mary J. Roberts, Mark Butterfield, Chris Otto and Pat Meade, and Talawanda Treasurer Mike Davis. Photo by Halie Barger

School Board Votes to Redact ‘S’ from Mascot Name, Now ‘Talawanda Brave’

November 23, 2018
The Apple Tree, a part of the Oxford business scene for 39 years, is one of many local businesses that benefits from the Shop Small Saturday and other festive events uptown during the holiday season. Photo by Lauren Snyder

Local Businesses Plan Events to Entice Holiday Shoppers

November 23, 2018

Mascot Committee to Deliver Board Report Monday

November 16, 2018
Former Talawanda High School Football Coach J.D. Vonderheide holds the ball for the kicker Tyler Engelhard during a practice this past season. Vonderheide stepped down as coach on Tuesday. Photo by Shelby Frieszell

Talawanda Football Coach Vonderheide Forced Out

November 9, 2018
Joe Pyfrin calls a game during his 43rd season as the announcer for the Talawanda High School football team. Photo by Halie Barger

Pyfrin Marks 43 Years as the Voice of Talawanda Football

November 1, 2018

Meeting Attendees Want to ‘Save the Brave’

October 18, 2018
The Talawanda Board of Education met Monday, Oct. 15, in the Performing Arts Center of Talawanda High School. Seated from left to right are Supt. Ed Therow, Board Members Mike Drowder, Mary J. Roberts, Mark Butterfield, Chris Otto and Pat Meade, and Talawanda Treasurer Mike Davis. Photo by Halie Barger

School Board Refuses to Record Its Meetings

October 18, 2018
With around 500 students in the building, the new school will have three classrooms for each grade level, as well as one for Pre-K. Rendering provided by the Talawanda School District

New Marshall Elementary School to Open in 2020

October 4, 2018

Talawanda to Get an Upgraded Elementary School

October 4, 2018

Betty Hawley Brookbank, 94, Remembered

September 27, 2018

Talawanda Implements New Safety Measures

September 13, 2018

First Branding Committee Meeting ‘Productive’

September 13, 2018
An archway at the high school stadium reads, “Talawanda Braves.” Photo by Halie Barger

Committee Charged with ‘Rebranding’ Longtime Talawanda Mascot

September 6, 2018
The Talawanda High School junior varsity football team warms up before playing against Preble Shawnee Aug. 25. Photo by Halie Barger.

Board Eliminates Pay-to-Play Fees at Talawanda

August 30, 2018
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Covering the City of Oxford, Ohio
Halie Barger