Rachael Penton, WSYX ABC 6

Rachael Penton

WSYX ABC 6

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Recent:
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Past:
  • WSYX ABC 6
  • WTTE FOX 28
  • KTVA 11 News

Past articles by Rachael:

Educators say now is the time to start getting kids ready for a back-to-school routine

Woodcrest Elementary School is the very first to go back for the fall semester, kicking things off today. In just under a month the rest of Columbus City Schools will go back for the new year, on August 22. That’s why educators say right now is the time you want to get your students in that back to school mindset. Woodcrest is a year-round school, but students started on fresh grade levels… → Read More

Chocolate deviled eggs, Thanksgiving Grilled cheese among 40 new foods at Ohio State Fair

The Taste of Ohio Cafe has been around for years, but they're just one long-time food vendor that's offering a new culinary experiment this year- the chocolate deviled egg. "It's a plain white egg and then it has cocoa powder, powdered sugar, cream cheese on the inside,” says Paige Doklovic with the Taste of Ohio Cafe. Inky Dinky doughnuts have also been around a while but this year you'll find… → Read More

Three dogs in Ross County die from heat stroke this week: Tips for keeping your pet safe

The Ross County Humane Society says three dogs in the county have died of heatstroke this week, after spending too much time outside their homes in the heat and humidity. "It breaks my heart to think that dogs are outside,” says executive director Jenn Thomas. One dog was left tied up outside a home, and that owner will be charged with neglect. Another dog accidentally escaped the house while… → Read More

West Lafayette residents fighting floodwater, sewage overflow a week after flash flood

Janet Michael says her property floods every time it rains, but last Wednesday’s flash flood emergency set a new precedent. "The water went from that tree up to the house in an hour and 15 minutes. " Runoff water from a nearby farm field and a creek overflows into a culvert next to Michael’s property, that then overflows into the neighborhood. Last week’s flood-damaged a half dozen properties… → Read More

Ohio agriculture director meets with farmers to discuss how state can help

The Leeds family typically plants pumpkins by Memorial Day, but for the first time in 25 years the field is brown and empty because it’s been too wet to plant anything. “We’ve planted in the early part of June, maybe even as late as June 10 or so," says farmer Christy Leeds. "We’ve never not been able to get in at all, like we are at this point. → Read More

Troubles continue for central Ohio farmers due to wet weather, looming planting deadline

The strawberry fields at Jacquemin Farms in Plain City have some fruit, but in 2019, the plants are six inches shorter than usual and the berries are smaller. "This spring's weather has been unusually damp. I’d say more than damp, just plain wet,” says Paul Jacquemin. "As you can see, some of these berries have a fairly light color and it's just been because of all the moisture we've had. → Read More

Piece of package sent to Kettering carried all the way to Circleville in storms

A tornado passed through Pickaway county Monday night, leaving a path of destruction just south of Circleville. Patsy and Paul Porter noticed something on their roof the morning after, and when it blew down, they were shocked at what they found. The item was a piece of cardboard from an Amazon package with a Kettering address, located nearly 77 miles west of the Porter’s home. (WSYX/WTTE) → Read More

National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes touchdown in Pickaway County

Jason Henry is spending the morning after his birthday assessing the damage and rounding up his chickens at his home near Laurelville. The National Weather Service has confirmed that two tornadoes touched down in Pickaway county Monday night. One touched down near Circleville and another in Laurelville near the Pickaway-Hocking line. "You can see where the twister came straight directly towards… → Read More

Madison County farmers struggle to plant in wet fields as deadline looms

In 2018, Madison county farmer Michael Vallery had his best year for corn in decades, but in 2019, excessive rainfall is making for the worst planting season since 2011. "I think we're 6 or 9 inches above normal," Vallery said. "It could be more than that now. I’ve kind of quit keeping track of it, it gets depressing after a while. "Last year, Vallery had all his corn planted by May 12. → Read More

Pike County residents protest nuclear facility after Uranium detected at school

Marilyn Ison goes to the doctor next week to find out if the nodules on her thyroid are cancerous, but on Tuesday, she protested against the Pike County nuclear waste facility outside the YMCA. Inside the YMCA, a bi-annual Department of Energy open house is happening, where people can learn more about the project. Ison's mother has cancer, as do many other friends and family, but she says it's… → Read More

Residents cleaning up after severe storm leaves trail of damage in south Columbus

It was a scary moment for Josetta Roman on Saturday evening, as torrential wind and rain suddenly picked up at her Obetz area home. "I ran in and started screaming to her, I said 'it is coming, here it comes, here it comes' and then boom,” says Roman. A severe thunderstorm packing strong straight-line winds tore through the south side, knocking multiple trees down, one falling onto Roman's home… → Read More

Smart Columbus kicks off summer "Ride and Drive Roadshow" with electric vehicles

If you're curious about what it's like to drive an electric vehicle, Smart Columbus is making it easy this summer. They’re bringing their Ride and Drive Roadshow to local businesses so you can take an electric vehicle for a spin on your lunch hour. Today the roadshow visited the campus of IGR in Dublin, with a fleet brought a dozen electric vehicles to the parking lot of a Dublin business. → Read More

Consumers may pay more for clothing, other textiles made in China due to tariffs

On Friday, the Trump administration raised tariffs on Chinese imports from 10% to 25%. China responded by placing similar tariffs on U. S. exports such as batteries, spinach, and coffee on Monday morning. Ben Brown, manager of Ohio State'sOhio Farm Management Program and expert on the continuing trade war, has followed the trade war very closely because of his work with Ohio’s farmers. He says… → Read More

Nesting season is a great time to spot bald eagles in central Ohio

It's a beautiful, sunny spring day and Jan Rosenfield brought out her dad and brother to do some bald eagle spotting. "They're sort of hiding, if we were on the other side of the river we could see them better,” says Rosenfield. For the last three years, a pair of eagles has made a home high atop a tree by the Scioto River, on a quiet piece of nature wedged between Dublin Road and I-670. It's… → Read More

How you can help flood victims out west

Heavy rain and melting snow has left parts of the plains and upper Midwest underwater. Nebraska is facing one of its worst floods in history, with no sign that the water will recede any time soon. "It looked like an ocean down here,” says one devastated farmer. "I sat there on the hill looking at it, and I just started bawling. ” On Sunday, Worthington Presbyterian Church did their small part to… → Read More

Reynoldsburg students headed to robotics competition for chance to make it to world stage

Chief Project Manager Sophia Gomez describes the Reynoldsburg High robotics team known as the "Technical Difficulties" with only two words: "Definitely thrilling. "The team will go head to head with 45 others from around the Midwest in a high school robotics competition this weekend in Pittsburgh. "I’m feeling pretty confident. Our drive team is great. We practiced a lot. Yeah, I’m ready for the… → Read More

March is a toss-up month when it comes to Central Ohio weather patterns

Central OhioTemperatures may break 70 degrees on Thursday, bringing us the warmest day since last October. "I would say yippee," said Ted Bostic when asked how he'd react if he learned it was 70 degrees. He spent the morning walking his dogs at Antrim Park. However, the same system bringing us warmth could shape up to be a historic winter storm for areas across the western U. S. → Read More

Time to change clocks, check smoke alarms as Daylight Saving Time begins this weekend

‘Spring forward, fall back. ’ As the saying goes, this weekend marks the return of Daylight Saving Time. It's also the time to make sure the smoke alarms in your house have batteries, and that the batteries aren't dead. "There's an alarming rate of fire fatalities that happen when a home has a smoke alarm with either no battery in it or a dead battery," says Chief Steve Martin with the Columbus… → Read More

Deadly Alabama tornadoes serve as a reminder that severe weather season is near for Ohio

This is the deadliest month for tornadoes in the U. S. since May 2013, after two tornadoes tore through Alabama last weekend killing 23 people. Although it's still feeling like winter in central Ohio, we'll soon enter the spring transition period - a time when severe weather becomes more likely. "While it's cold right now, this weekend it's going to be up in the 50s and 60s, so we're in that… → Read More

Local businesses can get electric vehicle chargers installed for free with AEP program

A row of electric vehicle charging stations line the parking lot at the AEP headquarters, but now AEP is making it easy for business owners to install these chargers on their properties too. "It's a way of saying hey we're preparing for the future and we're taking advantage of this program now," Sherry Hubbard with AEP said. AEP is investing $9. 5 million in electric chargers across their… → Read More