Ohio News

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A former Franklin County middle school teacher who pleaded guilty to having sexual contact with an underage student is set to be sentenced Monday.

Online court records show Benjamin M. Rutan, 42, pleaded guilty in January to two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a third-degree felony. One other unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and four sexual battery charges were dropped in exchange for the plea.

Four killed after wrong-way driver crashes into car on Morrow County highway

According to Rutan’s plea agreement, he could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison; however, the agreement calls for six years imprisonment, and he would have to register as a Tier II sex offender after serving a prison sentence. Rutan could also be fined up to $10,000.

Court records say the abuse began in 2013, when the student was 14 years old and Rutan was her language arts teacher, track and basketball coach at Norton Middle School in the South-Western City School District.

Arrest documents state the sexual contact continued for approximately five years, until the victim was 19. Police said the contact happened several times a week and took place on school grounds, in Rutan’s classroom, his coach’s office, in the school’s parking lot, and other locations throughout Franklin County.

Olentangy Liberty student pronounced dead weeks after serious accident

Police said the victim first contacted authorities on Nov. 17, 2021, and was given a recording device on Dec. 2, 2021, with which she allegedly caught Rutan admitting the sexual contact several times during a conversation.

Rutan, who was arrested on Dec. 8, 2021, was placed on administrative leave the same day.

The victim has filed a civil lawsuit against Rutan, the school district, and district administrators.

POWELL, Ohio (WCMH) -- A high school student at Olentangy Liberty has died after being involved in a serious accident two weeks ago.

Olentangy Liberty High School principal Mike Starner sent a letter to parents on Saturday saying 11th grader Hoormazd Javidbakht died on Friday. The letter states that Javidbakht was involved in a "serious accident" that occurred on March 14.

Four killed after wrong-way driver crashes into car on Morrow County highway

Javidbakht was on the school's cross county and track teams and a member of the school's choir, according to the release.

"This is a tragic loss, and our hearts collectively break hearing this news," wrote Starner. "We will do everything possible to provide support for all who would like it. Our school community is very close, and this loss is undoubtedly felt by all. The family is in our thoughts and hearts."

Olentangy Liberty will have counselors and support staff available during school hours.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather

A frontal boundary will stall south of the Ohio River, with a cooler, drier northerly flow of air bringing holiday sunshine, with temperatures around 60 degrees, after reaching the low 70s Saturday.

A wave of low pressure in the central Plains will track eastward along the boundary, with showers and a few rumbles of thunder overnight and Monday morning. There should be a lull in the rain in the afternoon. Temperatures will hover around 60 degrees on the northern side of the slowly lifting warm front in southern Ohio.

The main system coming out of the West will take shape in the middle of the country and head eastward, with periods of rain and a few storms Monday night and Tuesday, with some locally heavy rain that could result in minor flooding.

A few storms could be severe in the southern half of the state, with gusty winds and hail the main threats.

As the storm wraps up over the eastern Great Lakes and a coastal system takes over midweek, windy and much cooler air will follow, changing rain to snow showers, with readings in the 30s and 40s. Gusty winds will subside at the end of the week, with a clearing trend and seasonable weather next weekend.

Forecast

• Easter: Partly sunny. High 61
• Tonight: Periods of rain, few rumbles late. Low 53
• Monday: Showers, storms. High 60 
• Tuesday: Showers, storms. High 63 (52)
• Wednesday: Windy, cooler showers p.m. High 44 (38)
• Thursday: Cloudy, brisk, snow showers. High 43 (33)
• Friday: Partly cloudy, cool. High 48 (31)
• Saturday: Sunny. High 53 (29)

MOUNT GILEAD, Ohio (WCMH) -- Four people died early Sunday morning after a wrong-way driver collided head-on into another vehicle on a highway in Morrow County, Ohio.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, 32-year-old Larry Dotson was driving a Hyundai the wrong-way on Interstate 71 south just after 2:30 a.m. Inside the car with Dotson was 32-year-old Marlee Middleton. OSHP says that Dotson crashed into a Jeep head-on on I-71 south.

Police rule south Columbus incident homicide after victim dies a day later

Both the Hyundai and Jeep overturned and caught on fire after the crash. Dotson, Middleton, and the two passengers inside the Jeep -- 31-year-old Cristal Galloso Olvera and 50-year-old Ivonne Olvera of Columbus -- were pronounced dead at the scene. The 26-year-old male driver of the Jeep was taken to an Ohio Health Hospital in Mansfield with serious injuries.

The OSHP have yet to confirm if alcohol and drugs were factors in the crash but did say that both Dotson and Middleton were not wearing seatbelts. The driver of the Jeep was wearing a seatbelt while authorities could not confirm if the passengers were wearing seatbelts.

Dotson has faced numerous charges related to reckless driving and drug usage, according to Stark County Municipal Court records. In 2018, he was sentenced to four years in jail after being charged with possessing cocaine. Dotson had been charged as recently as June 2023.

The Mount Gilead Post of the OSHP is continuing to investigate the crash.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A national chain of restaurants has picked the opening date for its latest location in Clintonville, which features a preserved piece of history.

The restaurant property has local significance, as it is the third-generation business to inherit an iconic sign. Originally built as part of Jerry’s Drive-In in 1961, it has since received a facelift as Chick-fil-A decided to incorporate it into the company's new vision for the property.

Best scenic drives in Ohio

• A sign at the new Clintonville Chick-fil-A reveals its opening date. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn)
• A sign at the new Clintonville Chick-fil-A reveals its opening date. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn)
• A sign at the new Clintonville Chick-fil-A reveals its opening date. (NBC4 Photo/Mark Feuerborn)

New text added to the historic sign's letterbox confirmed that the latest Chick-fil-A location plans to hold its grand opening on April 4. An additional sign on the sidewalk near the building has been counting down the days until its launch. The restaurant at 4910 N. High St. has been a long time coming, with plans in development since 2021.

Part of the long timeline to the Chick-fil-A's arrival has stemmed from a rezoning issue, which needed sorting out in front of city council. The newest tenant also had construction work to do, as Chick-fil-A demolished the existing building that housed Tee Jaye's Country Place for 29 years. Tee Jaye’s reopened a few blocks south at 4560 N. High St., which formerly was Bareburger.

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However, one portion of the property that went untouched in demolition was the drive-in sign, which Chick-fil-A vowed to preserve after a petition in the same year filled up with requests to save it.

The store hasn't indicated its hours in language on the drive-in sign, but neighboring locations typically open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and are closed on Sundays.

Historically high inflation has put a strain on municipal budgets, with the rising costs of labor, goods and services, and materials. In general, local governments made it through the COVID-19 pandemic relatively well, with the help of billions of dollars in federal aid.

The economic aftermath, however, continues. And some cities continue to struggle more than others, particularly those that are poorly managed.

Stacker examined WalletHub's 149 Best- and Worst-Run Cities in America to find the most efficient cities in Ohio. Cities are ranked by their overall operating efficiency, which is determined by the quality of services and total budget per capita. The data was last updated in June 2023.

Factors used to determine the overall quality of city services rank and score comprise weighted average scores in six key categories, including financial stability, education, health, safety, economy, and infrastructure and pollution. Scores for each of the six categories were evaluated based on 36 relevant metrics such as average life expectancy, violent crime rate, quality of roads, and Moody's city credit rating.

Read on to see the best- and worst-run cities in Ohio.

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#6. Cleveland

- WalletHub rank: #146 of 149
- Quality of city services rank: 137
- Financial stability rank: 114
- Education rank: 136
- Health rank: 107
- Safety rank: 139
- Economy rank: 137
- Infrastructure and pollution rank: 91

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#5. Toledo

- WalletHub rank: #112 of 149
- Quality of city services rank: 142
- Financial stability rank: 127
- Education rank: 147
- Health rank: 144
- Safety rank: 100
- Economy rank: 127
- Infrastructure and pollution rank: 122

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#4. Cincinnati

- WalletHub rank: #108 of 149
- Quality of city services rank: 85
- Financial stability rank: 81
- Education rank: 94
- Health rank: 101
- Safety rank: 97
- Economy rank: 121
- Infrastructure and pollution rank: 17

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#3. Dayton

- WalletHub rank: #103 of 149
- Quality of city services rank: 116
- Financial stability rank: 61
- Education rank: 112
- Health rank: 122
- Safety rank: 118
- Economy rank: 120
- Infrastructure and pollution rank: 26

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#2. Columbus

- WalletHub rank: #92 of 149
- Quality of city services rank: 90
- Financial stability rank: 85
- Education rank: 123
- Health rank: 119
- Safety rank: 56
- Economy rank: 52
- Infrastructure and pollution rank: 84

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#1. Akron

- WalletHub rank: #80 of 149
- Quality of city services rank: 117
- Financial stability rank: 98
- Education rank: 118
- Health rank: 116
- Safety rank: 93
- Economy rank: 125
- Infrastructure and pollution rank: 47

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 19 states.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Late evening storms, high 62
• Tonight: Rain & t-storms, low 53
• Monday: Showers & storms, high 65 (54)
• Tuesday: Strong t-storms, high 66 (37)
• Wednesday: Mixed precipitation, high 44 (33)
• Thursday: Clouds clearing, high 43 (31)

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

During Easter Sunday, conditions will stay mainly dry, but morning rain chances will still move though the most southern counties of Central Ohio. During the day skies will be mostly cloudy, but by mid afternoon there will be some good amounts of sunshine. Rain chances pick up again late in the afternoon and lasting through the evening and overnight hours. Highs will only reach the low 60s.

Sunday night going into Monday will bring another round of showers and storms with a marginal risk for severe weather. The biggest threat will be for large hail, but it is still on the lower end of that risk scale.

Showers and storms continue through the morning commute on Monday, but another break in the rain will come by the early afternoon. Highs will return to the mid 60s. Later in the evening the next round of storms come in with another marginal risk for severe weather. This time in the addition to the hail threat, there will also be the elevated risk for strong winds.

Tuesday has the strongest severe weather risk, with most of Central Ohio under a slight right for severe weather with an enhanced risk in our most southern counties. This round of storms will bring the best chance for large hail, damaging winds, and a few isolated tornadoes. Storm Team 4 will continue to monitor the severe weather threat as Tuesday approaches.

Plenty of shower and storm activity is expected over the next several days. By the time all is said and done around 2″-2.5″ of rain is expected to fall. Once this system finally leaves by Wednesday, a mass of colder air will move in and some of those last rain showers have the potential to fall with a few snow flakes mixed in with them.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Friday evening incident in south Columbus is now being ruled a homicide by police after the victim died late Saturday night.

Police said that on Friday just before 6:15 p.m., officers were called to the intersection of Parsons Avenue and East Whittier Street. Officers found a victim unconscious and bleeding from the head. The victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Columbus community holds conversation against child abuse

In a Sunday morning update, CPD stated the victim died at 11:12 p.m. Saturday from the injuries sustained on Friday. Police have ruled this case a homicide and have yet to specify how the victim got injured.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) - The total solar eclipse of 2024 is just days away, and the eclipse won't last long -- only about three or four minutes in the path of totality.

So, if you want to document the experience, a photo or video might help.

How to spot fake solar eclipse viewing glasses

"It's really an amazing experience and it's a very, very powerfully moving one," said experienced photographer and educator Jeff Sagar at Midwest Photo in Columbus.

Sagar held a solar eclipse photography class at Midwest Photo on Saturday afternoon. He teaches a variety of photo-taking skills but preaches safety the most.

"Not only do you want to protect your gear, but you want to protect your eyes, too. So that's a thing that I stress the most," he said.

To protect your eyes, solar filter eyewear is required. To protect your camera, a solar filter does the job.

"It protects the camera lens and the sensor within the camera and being blown up because if you remember, if you were a kid and, you know, using a magnifying glass like paper on fire or something like that, I mean, when you bring it to a fine focus, that's what it does to the camera sensor. So, it wouldn't ruin it really quickly," Sagar said.

Ohio has $1 million reserved for solar eclipse safety costs, with millions more available

Sagar recommends having your equipment ready to go on the day of the eclipse so you can enjoy it, since it won't last long.

"The birds stop singing and nature gets really quiet and so, therefore, you get quiet. You can see the shadow literally coming at you, you know, all of a sudden, it's eclipsed and you look up there and it's dark now. But the corona, which is the sun's outer atmosphere is shining, it's shimmering. And it's really an amazing experience to see. There are bright planets and stars out. You can actually see some of the brighter ones during the eclipse," he said.

Jeffrey Millhouse is a sales associate at Midwest Photo. He recommends finding the right size filter well before the day of the eclipse, so you have time to practice.

"Look for the size, the filter sizes on the lens so you can match that up with your solar filter," he said. "And if you don't match exactly, you can always get the step-up rings and the step of rings will allow you to put a larger filter onto your lens."

During totality, however, you can take the filter off.

Best places in central Ohio to see solar eclipse

"During the period of totality, when the sun is mostly covered by the moon, you can take it off just for that time; but then through that, so it starts to come up from behind the moon. You definitely want to put that right back on," Millhouse said.

If you're a few seconds early or a few seconds late, the sun can damage your lens.

"No amount of time is safe," Millhouse said. "So you don't really want to aim a lens directly at the sun, especially a telephoto lens for any amount of time directly at the sun, because that could cause damage."

If you don't have a camera, you can use your phone.

"If you're shooting with a wide lens like your cell phone, it's not going to damage it," Millhouse said.

The wide lens of a phone camera won't be damaged by the sun during an eclipse, but the image quality may not be great. Millhouse recommends using a filter like your eyewear or a solar filter made specifically for a phone to get a better image.

Columbus libraries give away 100,000 free eclipse glasses, now out of stock

Whether you use a phone or a camera, Millhouse said, "Get a good tripod, sturdy tripod, and then that way you can have a stable shot."

One of the biggest keys Sagar and Millhouse recommend before April 8 is practice. They said to set your camera up on a tripod, figure out your settings, and go through several trial runs days before the eclipse to make sure you get the shot on April 8.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- An event for taking a stand against abuse took place at the Linden Community Center on Saturday, highlighting the importance of recognizing and addressing abuse in all forms. 

The goal of the event was to help keep kids on the right track and featured a variety of activities aimed at engaging both children and adults.

There were live performances, mime performances, snacks and prizes. The proceeds went towards supporting victims of abuse.

Indian Lake State Park reopens two weeks after deadly tornado

Organizers believe that by coming together, the community can make a difference and put an end to the silence surrounding abuse. They added that it’s important for kids to grow up in a healthy environment.

“Because the kids are the future and so it's very important that we grow up, you raise a child, raise a child and then you won't have that many problems when the child gets older,” Johnny Tyrone Stringfield, a recording artist at the event, said. “So these types of structured events help raise that child so the child can be very productive. So yeah, this is very important.”

A similar event is scheduled for May 25.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – For the 38th time, players across the United States will hope fortune shines on them Saturday as the Powerball jackpot gets closer to $1 billion.

With no players matching the five numbers and the Powerball number in Wednesday's drawing, Saturday's Powerball jackpot is worth an estimated $951.1 million.

Ross County deputy says he was fired after starting run for Sheriff

Saturday’s winning Powerball numbers are 12, 13, 33, 50, and 52; the Powerball is 23 and the Power Play multiplier is 3X.

According to sources, one ticket sold in Ohio for Wednesday's drawing won $100,000 and three others won $50,000. The identities of the winners are unknown.

Saturday’s estimated $951.1 million jackpot is the fifth-highest in the game’s history and marks the 38th drawing since the game’s last winner – a $842.4 million jackpot won on Jan. 1.

The top ten Powerball jackpots are:

1. $2.04 billion – Nov. 7, 2022
2. $1.765 billion – Oct. 11, 2023
3. $1.586 billion – Jan. 13, 2016
4. $1.08 billion – July 19, 2023
5. $951.1 million (estimated) -- March 30, 2024
6. $842.4 million – January 1, 2024
7. $768.4 million – March 27, 2019
8. $758.7 million – Aug. 23, 2017
9. $754.6 million – Feb. 6, 2023
10. $731.1 million – Jan. 20, 2021

None of those top ten jackpots was won in Ohio.

Winners have the option of being paid the full jackpot amount in annual payments over 30 years, or taking a lesser, one-time payment (this one worth an estimated $452.3 million). Lottery officials said most winners choose the one-time payment.

Latest super load on the move: Roads with traffic delays on Saturday, March 30

Players must match five balls numbered 1 to 69 plus a Powerball numbered between 1 through 26 to win the jackpot.

Powerball tickets are $2 per play and are sold in 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Players can opt to play the Power Play multiplier for an extra $1, which will multiply the player’s winnings by the drawn multiplier (this applies to all prizes except the jackpot).

The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million; the odds of winning any one of the nine different prizes available is 1 in 24.9. Odds are not affected by the number of tickets sold; instead, they are based on the chances of selecting the right combination of numbers.

On Tuesday, one ticket sold in New Jersey matched the winning Mega Millions drawing for an estimated $1.128 billion jackpot (or the $536.6 million one-time payout), the fifth-largest jackpot in that game’s history.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Alexandre Texier and Damon Severson scored in the shootout and the Columbus Blue Jackets broke a six-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night.

Kirill Marchenko and Zach Werenski scored third-period goals as Columbus rallied from a two-goal deficit. Mathieu Olivier also scored and Elvis Merzlikins made 30 saves.

Drew O’Connor, Bryan Rust and Rickard Rackell scored goals while Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 35 shots for the Penguins, who split a back-to-back series with Columbus and lost to the Blue Jackets for the first time this season.

Olivier put Columbus ahead 59 seconds into a Blue Jackets first-period penalty kill, burying the rebound of Cole Sillinger's shot at 7:46 and withstanding a coach's challenge for goaltender interference.

The short-handed goal was a career first for Olivier and his second score in two games against Pittsburgh.

O’Connor’s one-timer off a feed from Rust pulled Pittsburgh even at 13:29 of the second period, tying his career-long goal streak of three games.

Rust, who extended his point streak to four games, gave Pittsburgh the lead at 18:54 with his score off a feed from Sidney Crosby. The Pittsburgh captain notched his eighth assist and 10th point in his last four games.

Rackell gave Pittsburgh a two-score cushion at 8:59 of the third period, but Marchenko pulled Columbus within a goal nine seconds later. Werenski, who had an assist on marchenko's goal, drew Columbus even with 8:13 remaining in regulation.

UP NEXT

Penguins: Visit Rangers Monday night.

Blue Jackets: Host Colorado Monday night.

MANSFIELD, Ohio (WCMH) -- Mansfield Police are investigating after one person was found shot dead Saturday morning.

Police said officers responded at approximately 1:49 a.m. to a 911 call reporting a shooting on the 400 block of Spring Street. At the scene, officers found the 25-year-old victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Latest super load on the move: Roads with traffic delays on Saturday, March 30

Police did not release any information as to what led to the shooting and are working to identify a suspect.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Mansfield Police Major Crimes Det. Rick Clapp at 419-755-9470.

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Ross County Sheriff's deputy received a letter of termination after he filed his intent to run for sheriff.

Former deputy Isaac Oberer said he submitted the necessary documents and signatures to the Ross County Board of Elections on March 18, the deadline to do so.

Indian Lake State Park reopens two weeks after deadly tornado

He received a letter of termination from Sheriff George Lavender two days later.

"I was getting off shift at 5 a.m. I just worked from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m., ready to go home. He came in. So, the sheriff wanted to meet with me. Basically, he said, 'Sorry, I hate to do this to you.' You had me take a seat. Then he cited off, one, basically stating that I was a candidate for this election coming up in 2024 and also a union contract violation that he said that I had violated," Oberer said.

The letter states, "failure to successfully complete your probationary period, including engaging in activity prohibited of a classified civil servant by Ohio Revised Code Section 124.57."

That section of Ohio Revised Code is titled "Prohibition against partisan political activity" and can be interpreted to mean employees and officers of the state, city, or county cannot seek elected office.

"I didn't think that it would be any sort of concern for me," Oberer said. "I've never failed to complete my job duties as outlined by the sheriff's office. It wasn't a performance issue on my end or anything of that nature. I hadn't gotten in trouble previously during this tenure or anything of my employment, so I could have retired from here and I could have continued to work in my community."

Best scenic drives in Ohio

Oberer interpreted the reasoning for his firing to be due to his opposition to Lavender in the race for sheriff this fall.

"I did and I do have respect for the man, and I certainly did at that time as well," he said. "This kind... it was unexpected. It wasn't something that I thought that he was going to do."

Oberer plans to continue his effort to run for Ross County Sheriff. He will be eligible for the November ballot once his signatures are certified at the next board of elections meeting.

NBC4 reached out Lavender for comment but did not hear back. NBC4 has also requested employment and disciplinary records for Oberer within the Ross County Sheriff's Office.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather

A cold front with low pressure in northern Ohio will sag south across the southeast half of the state, triggering showers and a few storms toward evening, before moving east and weakening early tonight. Skies will remain partly to mostly cloudy, with afternoon readings reaching the mid-60s.

The frontal boundary will stall near the Ohio River tonight, before slowly lifting north as a warm front on Easter Sunday. The day will be a little behind the front in central Ohio, with readings in the upper 50s.

Clouds will stick around, with showers in southern Ohio early in the day, expanding slowly northeast into central Ohio in the evening ahead of the next wave of low pressure in the Midwest riding the boundary.

Rain and a few storms will continue Sunday night and Monday morning, briefly heavy, with small hail possible in a stronger cell. There should be a lull in the rain Monday afternoon, with readings in the mid-60s.

The main system will take shape in the central Plains by Tuesday and track northeast into the Upper Midwest. Several rounds of showers and a few potentially strong storms are likely through Tuesday evening, and some of the rain could be heavy, resulting in minor flooding.

Blustery and much cooler air will follow behind a cold front midweek, bringing some additional rain and even snow showers.

Forecast

• Saturday: Mix clouds and sun, scattered evening showers/storms, breezy, mild. High 65
• Tonight: Evening showers, mostly cloudy. Low 45
• Easter: Rain south a.m., showers later. High 59
• Monday: Showers, storms. High 62 (53)
• Tuesday: Showers, storms. High 66 (54)
• Wednesday: Windy, cooler showers p.m. High 44 (37)
• Thursday: Snow showers a.m., brisk. High 43 (33)
• Friday: Mostly cloudy. High 49 (31

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The next of the nearly two dozen super loads will reach its destination Saturday in Hebron, but will cause traffic delays on certain central Ohio roadways.

The super load is making its way from a dock on the Ohio River near Manchester in Adams County to the Freepoint Eco-Systems recycling facility near Hebron. Many later shipments will go to Intel's Ohio One site in New Albany.

On Friday, the super load arrived at Rickenbacker Parkway. On Saturday, it is scheduled to travel the following route:

• Travel north on Rickenbacker Parkway north to Alum Creek Drive
• Travel north on Alum Creek Drive to Rohr Road
• Travel east on Rohr Road to Commerce Center Drive
• Travel north on Commerce Center Drive to Green Pointe Drive south
• Travel east on Green Point Drive south to Saltzgaber Road
• Travel south on Saltzgaber Road to State Route 317
• Travel north in the southbound lanes on State Route 317 past Groveport to Bixby Road east
• Travel east on Bixby Road to U.S. 33
• Travel east in the Westbound lanes of U.S. 33 to the Gender Road southbound to U.S.33 westbound ramp in Canal Winchester
• Travel the wrong way on the Gender Road southbound to U.S. 33 Westbound ramp
• Take State Route 674/Gender Road north to Brice Road
• Take Brice Road north to the intersection with Tussing Road/State Route 204 in Columbus
• Travel east on Tussing Road/State Route 204 east to State Route 310
• Travel north on State Route 310 to U.S. 40 in Etna
• Travel east on U.S. 40 to State Route 79 in Hebron
• Travel the wrong way on the State Route 79 southbound off ramp to U.S. 40
• Travel north in the southbound lanes on State Route 79 to local roads

A notice on Canal Winchester's website indicated there will be highway closures on Saturday. The city's website said when the load reaches U.S. 33 at Bixby Road, the highway will be briefly closed in both directions. The eastbound part of the highway will be quickly reopened, with the westbound portion remaining closed as the load moves.

There's no shortage of scenic drives to take in the United States. According to the National Scenic Byway Foundation, there are 184 designated byway routes with beautiful vistas, as well as historic and cultural sites across the country. That means, no matter where you are in the U.S., a stunning drive isn't too far away.

Some drives have reached celebrity status, one of the most well known being Historic Route 66, which stretches from downtown Chicago to Santa Monica Pier in California. For nearly 100 years, travelers have been hitting the 2,448-mile road that has more than 250 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Other famous drives include the Pacific Coast Highway in California, which hugs 650 miles of the state's coast; the Natchez Trace Parkway, a historic 444-mile route from Tennessee to Alabama and Mississippi; and the highest fully paved road in North America, Colorado's Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway, which sits at a cool 14,264 feet at its peak.

Of course, there are plenty more drives that may not be as famous but are just as alluring. The Highland Scenic Highway in West Virginia gives riders a picturesque view through the Monongahela National Forest. Make a pit stop in the Cranberry Glades for an unusual site: bogs full of carnivorous plants. Further north, the Kancamagus Scenic Byway in New Hampshire is a particularly beautiful drive as the leaves turn in the fall and won't take you too long to drive—it's on the shorter side at only 34.5 miles long.

For those looking to take to the open road, Stacker compiled a list of the best scenic drives in Ohio using data from Tripadvisor as of March 2024. Note that Tripadvisor ranks attractions using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, a drive with a 5/5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4/5.

Once you locate the closest scenic drive near you, gather your favorite passengers, turn on an epic playlist, and take in the beauty that Ohio has to offer.

Note: The photos in this article are stock images and are not of the specific drives listed.

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#2. Ohio River Scenic Byway

- Rating: 4/5 (9 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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#1. Euclid Avenue

- Rating: 4/5 (48 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Sheeka Sanahori, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 46 states.

Columbus and Central Ohio Weather QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

• Today: Showers & storms, high 65
• Tonight: Spotty showers, low 45
• Sunday: Chance of rain, high 60 (51)
• Monday: Showers & storms, high 65 (54)
• Tuesday: Rain showers, high 66 (36)
• Wednesday: Chance rain showers, high 45 (32)

FORECAST DISCUSSION:

Showers and thunderstorms will be moving periodically through central Ohio. The best chance for rain will be the mid morning to early afternoon hours. There is a marginal risk for severe weather this morning with the primary threat being for large hail. That risk is on the lower on the scale. Temperatures will top off in the mid 60s.

Overnight there will be the chance for a few spotty showers, but most of central Ohio will see mostly cloudy skies and calmer wind speeds. Lows will drop into the mid 40s. Waking up Easter Sunday morning there will be light sprinkles.

During the day Easter conditions will stay mainly dry. Rain chances pick up again late in the afternoon and lasting through the evening and overnight hours. Highs will only reach the low 60s. Sunday night going into Monday will bring another round of showers and storms with a marginal risk for severe weather. Again, the biggest threat will be for large hail, but it is still on the lower end of that risk scale.

Plenty of shower and storm activity is expected over the next several days. By the time all is said and done around 1.5"-2" of rain is expected to fall. Once this system finally leaves by Wednesday, a mass of colder air will move in and some of those last rain showers have the potential to fall with a few snow flakes mixed in with them.