Police chief controversy, bestselling novel & more: top Columbus stories

A coffee shop’s literary fame, a restaurant going up for sale and a police chief’s controversial comments — these are among last week’s top local news stories.

Here are key takeaways from the five most-read Ledger-Enquirer articles about Columbus in the past seven days:

Fountain City Coffee is the inspiration behind the fictional Chalice coffee shop in Allen Levi’s bestselling novel “Theo of Golden,” drawing fans from across the country. Meet the co-owners, Jud Richardson and his sister, Libba Dillon. Click here for the full story.

Deorio’s Pizza has been put up for sale by its owners just two years after reopening in the former Cici’s Pizza building on Auburn Avenue. We reported why. Click here for the full story.

Police Chief Stoney Mathis sparked controversy after making public comments in the wake of an officer-involved shooting that left a homicide suspect dead. City and community leaders shared their reaction. Click here for the full story.

While Georgia state law permits adults 18 and older to buy and use consumer fireworks, a city ordinance in Columbus has tighter restrictions. We explained the details. Click here for the full story.

Country Road Buffet at The Landings shopping center on Airport Thruway has completed its expansion after temporarily closing. We reported the date for its reopening. Click here for the full story.

These summaries were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. All the Ledger-Enquirer articles linked in this recap were reported, written and edited by journalists.

Mike Haskey

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

706-761-1872

Michigan native Mike Haskey graduated in 1985 from Central Michigan University with a B.A.A. in journalism. Though trained as a photojournalist, Mike has embraced the industry’s always evolving multimedia demands by learning various video skills and more, including becoming the Ledger-Enquirer’s drone pilot. He’s served and lived in Columbus, GA, for more than 30 years.

Brittany McGee

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Brittany McGee is the community issues reporter for the Ledger-Enquirer. She is a 2021 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Media and Journalism with a second degree in Economics. She began at the Ledger-Enquirer as a Report for America corps member covering the COVID-19 recovery in Columbus. Brittany also covered business for the Ledger-Enquirer.