Saturday, February 21st, 2026
Good morning, Dayton. Here's your local news at a glance for Saturday, the 21st of February.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Michele Arnold, mother of 17-year-old Nathan with Down Syndrome, held a press conference Friday to say false claims about his natural cause death in October 2025 disrupted her family and work in special education. She urged locals to verify facts before making accusations. Dayton 24/7 Now
ACCIDENTS NEWS
- ➤ Drivers in Bellbrook faced a road closure this morning as high flood waters forced traffic to divert to an alternate route while crews worked to clear the area (no injuries reported). Dayton 24/7 Now
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Belton Foods will move into its new $8M facility at Englewood Otterbein Industrial Park by this summer — consolidating operations from Thunderhawk Court to boost production capacity and support future growth. Dayton Daily News
- ➤ Hartzell announced a $10M investment to build an Innovation Center in Piqua where the company will add new jobs and expand its carbon fiber blade production for advanced air mobility. The center will also house propeller production and a service unit, boosting local aerospace growth. Dayton Daily News
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Erma Bombeck, a cherished local writer who began her career at UD and penned 15 books, would have turned 99 today (Feb. 21) as the Miami Valley remembers her lasting legacy. Dayton Daily News
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ A new study by Charles River Associates finds that rising demand from data centers is partly pushing up electric costs in Ohio and surrounding areas, and officials plan to extend price caps to save consumers (including AES Ohio customers) about $27 billion over the next two years. Dayton Daily News
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Fairborn Middle School is under construction with walls rising and is ahead of schedule since last spring. The district unveiled a five-year plan to boost career tech learning as the school opens in summer 2027 next to the new high school on Commerce Center Boulevard. Dayton Daily News
- ➤ The University of Dayton is expanding its RecPlex with a $30 million renovation (adding 34,200 sqft for fitness and wellness) set to debut in fall. Danis began construction in early 2025 and interior work starts late spring; students with six or more credit hours pay a $300 fee per semester. Flyer News
- ➤ From 2020-21 to 2024-25, Ohio schools shifted significantly: public enrollment dropped by nearly 26,895 students while private and charter schools gained 18,327 and 4,941 students, respectively. A recent state voucher expansion now lets all families choose private schooling (even at Miami Valley School planning to accept vouchers). Dayton Daily News
REAL ESTATE NEWS
- ➤ Dayton Arcade will open the North Arcade next month with a friends and family retail reveal on March 6 downtown. The 7,500 sqft space (a restored local landmark) will host small shops, a 93-room Hilton Garden Inn, and events planned for later in 2026. WYSO
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Pilots compete in the seventh annual micro drone races today at the National Museum of U.S. Air Force in Montgomery County as they navigate drones through historic hangars & a decommissioned C-124 cargo plane to blend aviation heritage with modern skill. WHIO-TV
- ➤ Miami RedHawks stayed undefeated after beating Bowling Green 91-77 at Millett Hall, with Luke Skaljac scoring a career-high 24 points and Eian Elmer adding 21 in front of more than 10,000 fans. The team prepares for a two-game trip, starting Tuesday, Feb. 24 at Eastern Michigan at 6:30 p.m. WHIO-TV
-
Live2Lead: Dayton Young Professionals
1-4:30 p.m. — Arcade Innovation Hub — $49 — Empower your career with insights from industry leaders at this special young professionals' event.
-
Alter Fish Fry 2026
7 PM - 12 AM — Archbishop Alter High School — Carryout $15, Pre-Sale $20 — Enjoy a delightful fish fry featuring baked or fried cod and sides.
-
27th Annual URS North Dayton Barstool Open
11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. — United Rehabilitation Services — $160 per team — Enjoy a mini golf bar crawl with food, drinks, and raffles supporting local community services.
-
Trivia Night: Heated Rivalry
7 PM – 1 AM — On Par Entertainment — Free to play — Challenge your knowledge of sports rivalries and win prizes at this fun trivia night.
-
Leading Change for Nonprofit Leaders
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. — Montgomery County Business Solutions Center — $60 for session & materials — Enhance your leadership skills to effectively navigate and inspire change in the nonprofit sector.
-
Tavern Dinner: End of Winter Feast
6-9 p.m. — Carillon Historical Park — Ticketed event — Experience a delightful three-course, hearth-cooked meal with historical entertainment in Dayton’s oldest building.
-
Shamrock Beer Run 5K
12-3 p.m. — Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway — Registration required — Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a festive beer run featuring a DJ, food trucks, and games.
-
Wave Events Rogue Wave 2026
8:00 AM – 7:59 AM — 22 E 5th St, Dayton, OH — Bids Offered — Experience thrilling all-star cheerleading competition in Dayton.
-
General Business Networking in Dayton
6-8 p.m. — Troll Pub at the Wheelhouse — Limited tickets — Connect with professionals in acting, production, and business sectors to elevate your career.
-
Top of the Market Open House
4-7 p.m. — Top of the Market Catering & Events — Free entry — Explore a stylish venue that blends vintage charm with modern vibes for your next unforgettable event.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
What looks like talent is often careful preparation.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout Daily Dayton
Welcome to the Daily Dayton, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Dayton, Ohio community. If you like the Daily Dayton, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Dayton.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Dayton and across Ohio. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Daily Dayton
A free Dayton community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://dailydayton.com/sitemap