Local

Catch up on 5 of the top stories in Columbus from December

Stories by Columbus Ledger-Enquirer journalists, with AI summarization

The top news stories in December included a lot of Ledger-Enquirer coverage that featured restaurants.

The tragic death of a local bakery owner, and the response from the community, was a story our readers cared greatly about.

Other stories with significant response from our community included the new name for former Moonswiners BBQ, a food review and important court cases. Read more about these stories below:

1. 'Her legacy will live on.' Owner of Columbus bakery dies unexpectedly 2. This Columbus restaurant has a new name after receiving a cease-and-desist order 3. Ex-Synovus employee banned from banking industry after misappropriating money 4. Muscogee County School District assistant principal charged with felony theft 5. Check out this Columbus restaurant that serves breakfast all day. Our review.

Jennifer Cooper, owner of Gigi’s Cupcakes, 2511-B Airport Thruway, has died. Her husband Patrick Cooper announced her passing with a Facebook post on November 21. Here’s a screenshot of the post. By Gigi’s Cupcakes of Columbus, Georgia on Facebook

NO. 1: ‘HER LEGACY WILL LIVE ON.’ OWNER OF COLUMBUS BAKERY DIES UNEXPECTEDLY

The owner of a beloved local cupcake shop has died. | Published November 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jordyn Paul-Slater

Scott Marshall owns Moonswiners BBQ, 547 Veterans Parkway in Columbus. He is pictured here with his son, Todd Marshall. By Jordyn Paul-Slater

NO. 2: THIS COLUMBUS RESTAURANT HAS A NEW NAME AFTER RECEIVING A CEASE-AND-DESIST ORDER

After hearing from the community — and after receiving a cease-and-desist order — Scott Marshall, owner of the former Moonswiners BBQ, 547 Veterans Parkway in Columbus, has picked a new name for his restaurant. | Published December 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jordyn Paul-Slater

Synovus is headquartered at 33 W. 14th St. in Columbus. By Jordyn Paul-Slater

NO. 3: EX-SYNOVUS EMPLOYEE BANNED FROM BANKING INDUSTRY AFTER MISAPPROPRIATING MONEY

A federal order has banned a former Synovus Bank employee from working in the banking industry. | Published December 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Mark Rice

The Muscogee County Public Education Center is at 2960 Macon Road in Columbus.

NO. 4: MUSCOGEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL CHARGED WITH FELONY THEFT

A Muscogee County School District administrator has been arrested and criminally charged. | Published December 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Mark Rice

We ordered the Fried & Confused, front, and the Spicy Chicken Sandwich at Toasted in Columbus, Georgia. 12/12/2025 By mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com

NO. 5: CHECK OUT THIS COLUMBUS RESTAURANT THAT SERVES BREAKFAST ALL DAY. OUR REVIEW.

One of my favorite things growing up was when I’d come home from school and smell bacon, sausage, grits, eggs and whatever other breakfast foods were cooking in the kitchen. | Published December 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kelby Hutchison

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.