Friday, October 16th, 2026

Welcome to Friday’s edition of The Pennant. To listen to this newsletter, click the “Listen Online” link in the top right corner of this email.

On this day in 1923, Walt and Roy Disney founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio in Los Angeles, which would become Walt Disney Co.

Top of the Fold: License-plate readers helped find two abducted Michigan boys in a Norwalk cornfield, while Toledo weighs scrapping its Flock cameras over privacy.

In today’s Peach Section: a mama’s boy walked 31,000 miles to see Mom, an Indiana receiver with a potty mouth, and our pals at Buckeye Insiders.

DAYTON — Chambers of commerce typically back school levies or stay neutral, but the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce is urging voters to reject Dayton Public Schools’ $14.7 million levy on the Nov. 3 ballot. 

CEO Chris Kershner cited low graduation rates, chronic absenteeism, and downtown busing problems, saying the district needs accountability. 

Superintendent David Lawrence said it’s the district’s first request for new money since 2008 and warned a failed levy could mean school closures and staff cuts. Continued here.

NORWALK — Two Michigan boys, ages 6 and 4, were found safe Wednesday in a cornfield near Norwalk after police say their father abducted them from Inkster, Mich., following a domestic violence attack on their mother. 

Police say Brandon Deandre Lee, 36, threatened to harm himself and the children; he was found dead at the scene. 

Michigan and Ohio agencies tracked him using license-plate readers, cameras, and phone location data.

TOLEDO — City Council will vote Oct. 20 on a resolution urging the mayor to cancel Toledo’s Flock Safety license-plate camera contract and delete the data it has collected, as some residents call the cameras an invasion of privacy. 

Supporters say the cameras help solve crimes, and the city is waiting on an independent audit. 

In suburban Cincinnati, a Sharonville police lieutenant was indicted on a felony charge after prosecutors said he ran 29 Flock searches to track someone he knew. 

More on Toledo here and the Sharonville case here.

Most guys call their moms. Karl Bushby walked halfway around the planet to see his, which makes him the most committed mama’s boy on record.

On Nov. 1, 1998, Karl left Punta Arenas, Chile, the last stop before Antarctica, with $500 in his pocket and two rules: no rides, and no going home except on foot. The destination was his mom’s front door in Hull, England.

For most people, that’s 8,400 miles and a $500 ticket (no seat assignment) on LATAM, with a connection in Santiago. Karl spent his $500 on a 31,000-mile hike.

Along the way, he crossed the Darién Gap, the only place on Earth that makes summer construction on I-70 look efficient. 

He also walked across the frozen Bering Strait. If you check the globe in your crawl space that you somehow acquired in sixth grade, it’s around the crease where the map got wrinkled, under the sticker that reads “Property of Mrs. Henderson’s Class.”

On Oct. 5, he swam the English Channel and set foot in England for the first time in more than 10,200 days. He had about 250 miles left when he came ashore.

So here’s our question: When he finally knocks on her door (expected later this month), will his mom answer? And if she does, will she remember he was on his way, or ask why he didn’t call first?

Yes, this really happened. Go here for our proof and a picture of Karl.

In 1995, 15 years before Instagram, a linebacker from Cincinnati Elder suited up for Ohio State. 

Dave Becker was a great athlete, good enough to play in the Toronto Blue Jays organization before he returned to football. He played for John Cooper on a team that featured famous Broadway actor, restaurant entrepreneur, and landscape architect Eddie George, who also won the Heisman.

Dave later had a son he named Charlie. The little fella grew up to become the 891^st-ranked player his senior year in high school and took his three stars to Indiana.

Scouting report on Chuckie: 6-foot-4, 208 pounds. Great hands. Good speed. Wins one-on-one matchups. Clutch on third down. Has a real potty mouth.

Last December, Charlie hauled in a 33-yard catch on third-and-6 that, as FOX’s Gus Johnson put it, “ripped the heart right out of the Buckeyes” and sealed Indiana’s 13-10 win in the Big Ten title game.

Then, at the postgame podium, Dave’s kid shouted, “O-H!” and, where the “I-O” is supposed to go, mouthed what we’ll generously assume was “Fudge you.” The clip recently resurfaced — just in time for today’s Peach Section.

Seriously? Would Charlie “Fudge you” Becker kiss Karl Bushby’s mom with that mouth? 

Maybe this is just a sign of the times, but let’s face it: Indiana hasn’t been this interesting since Ohio State alum Bobby Knight sent a poorly constructed plastic chair sailing across Assembly Hall because it squeaked. 

This all feels a little Double-A bush league to us. So, if there’s any justice on this football planet, Charlie will learn the proper response to “O-H” by about 3:30 Saturday. After all, the only thing that tastes better than a tray of chocolate-covered buckeyes is revenge served cold in Bloomington in mid-October.

The Pennant is the game day sponsor of Buckeye Insiders’ coverage. Tom Orr and Tony Gerdeman have been at it since a site called The Ozone hired them for $4.55 an hour, plus all the Little Caesars, Chun King frozen egg rolls, and warm Tab they could handle.

They’re mostly grown up now. They know more about Ohio State football than anyone we know, and they usually can’t get through a podcast without a “Simpsons” or “Ferris Bueller” reference. Kind of like Dennis Miller on “Monday Night Football,” except people occasionally get the references.

Kickoff is noon Saturday on FOX. The Insiders pregame show starts around 10 a.m., and the postgame show begins right after the Buckeyes give Charlie the I-O he so deserves.

If you have the means, we highly recommend picking up a subscription.

Should principals and superintendents be required to have a special license to be hired?
- Yes - 30%
- No - 50%
- Principals should, but superintendents shouldn't - 20%
- Superintendents should, but principals shouldn't - 0%

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