Local news for West Chester and Liberty Township.

Sports

Turner leads Lakota East cross country at Centerville opener

By West Chester-Liberty Herald staff · September 2, 2026 · 1 min read

A female high school runner in an orange sleeveless jersey races outdoors with trees behind her. — A high school cross country runner competes during a meet. Lakota East's girls squad finished 14th of 27 teams at the Centerville Saturday Night Lights Invitational, paced by sophomore Alyssa Brown at 19:43.2. — Harrison Keely (CC BY 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons

Sports

Turner leads Lakota East cross country at Centerville opener

By West Chester-Liberty Herald staff · September 2, 2026 · 1 min read

Sports

Turner leads Lakota East cross country at Centerville opener

By West Chester-Liberty Herald staff · September 2, 2026 · 1 min read

Lakota East junior Jacob Turner ran 16:56.6 to finish 33rd and lead the Thunderhawks at the Centerville Saturday Night Lights Invitational, the Liberty Township school's cross country season opener.

The boys team placed 19th of 26 teams at the Aug. 30 meet, a regional invitational that draws schools from across Greater Cincinnati. Sophomore Aaron Walker posted a lifetime-best 18:39.6, according to the Lakota East athletics site.

The girls squad fared better, finishing 14th of 27 teams. Sophomore Alyssa Brown paced the Lady Hawks at 19:43.2, placing 21st individually. Sophomore Ava Kidd clocked 21:26.5, nearly two minutes faster than her time at the same meet a year ago.

Both teams compete next at the Lebanon Running Warrior Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 5.

More local news

Red brick public library building exterior with arched windows and stone entrance steps.

Community

MidPointe Library launches free Pure Flix streaming for cardholders

MidPointe Library now offers free Pure Flix streaming to all registered cardholders, making it among the first library systems in the country to carry the faith-and-family video platform that normally costs $9.99 per month.

September 2, 2026 · 1 min read

Female soccer players compete for the ball near a goal on a grass field.

Sports

Lakota East girls soccer falls 4-0 to unbeaten Ross

Lakota East's girls soccer team saw its two-game shutout streak end in a 4-0 loss to unbeaten Ross on Sept. 1, dropping the Lady Hawks to 3-2-1 as they prepare for a GMC matchup at Fairfield.

September 2, 2026 · 2 min read

Watercolor painting of a woman in traditional dress with gold bangles and a dark draped garment.

Community

West Chester artist Rebecca Reed turns sketches into a business

West Chester Township resident Rebecca Reed, who has Down syndrome, has turned her watercolor fashion illustrations into a small business called Rebecca's ClothesLine, selling greeting cards, gift bags and bookmarks with her mother, Jenny Reed, with their first open house set for Sept. 27.

September 1, 2026 · 2 min read

Two female soccer players competing for the ball on a turf field.

Sports

Lakota West girls soccer tops area rankings at 4-0

Lakota West girls soccer opens the 2026 season 4-0 and claims the No. 1 spot in the weekly area soccer rankings, while Lakota East's boys (No. 2) and girls (No. 4) also crack the top five heading into GMC play.

September 1, 2026 · 2 min read

A football player in a white Carolina Panthers uniform holds a football ready to throw.

Sports

Lakota West grad Kuwatch earns Carolina Panthers roster spot

Lakota West 2021 graduate Jackson Kuwatch, a seventh-round pick out of Miami University, earned a spot on the Carolina Panthers' 53-man roster, drawing praise from Firebirds coach Tom Bolden and former defensive coordinator Carlton Gray.

September 1, 2026 · 2 min read

Group of young women in matching black tops and white skirts holding tennis rackets indoors.

Sports

Lakota East girls tennis blanks Middletown 5-0 in GMC opener

Lakota East girls tennis swept Middletown 5-0 in the Thunderhawks' Greater Miami Conference opener on Monday, Aug. 24, with singles wins from Emese Watkins, Zara Parson and Scarlett Black powering the shutout and improving the team to 2-2 overall.

August 28, 2026 · 1 min read

Maryam Khanum

Maryam Khanum is a journalist based in Winston-Salem, NC. She graduated from Wake Forest University in 2024 with majors in Political Science and Communications. Maryam was heavily involved in journalism throughout her college career, serving as Multimedia Managing Editor for the student-run newspaper, the Old Gold & Black. She previously worked for the International Business Times.

Maryam Khanum