This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A Pataskala resident will pay a fine after at least one of her two pigs mauled and killed her neighbor in December The defendant initially pleaded not guilty to the charge Jan The Advocate is not naming the woman because she was not charged with a felony in connection with Westergaard's death Licking County Municipal Judge David Stansbury ordered the defendant to pay a $200 fine after learning the pigs had been euthanized granting the Westergaard’s family’s wishes defense attorney Eric Brehm told The Advocate “This has been very difficult for them to come to terms with,” Brehm said in an interview “This was their friend and neighbor who passed away and this is just a very sad situation for all parties involved.”  police went to Westergaard’s home for a welfare check and found her dead on her front porch steps the pigs had been roaming near her home that day before knocking her down and causing extensive injuries to her lower legs Westergaard had been on blood thinners because of a recent heart surgery as did the extensive superficial wounds to her legs according to Licking County Deputy Coroner and Chief Forensic Pathologist Dr Westergaard’s niece called police on Christmas Day asking for the welfare check because she was expecting her arrival in northeast Ohio Advocate reporter Josué Perez can be reached at jhperez@newarkadvocate.com Ohio (WSYX) — A Franklin County Sheriff's deputy has been placed on unpaid administrative leave following his arrest in Pataskala just before midnight including speeding over 100 miles per hour The sheriff's office stated that Lampkin has had his rank reduced to deputy as a result of the incident Further details of the arrest have not been released at this time "The Sheriff’s Office will be conducting its own internal investigation into the matter While this remains an active investigation we are unable to provide further comment," the sheriff's office said "We are fully cooperating with investigators with the Pataskala Police Department as they conduct their investigation." Lampkin has been with the sheriff's office since 2020 A neighbor of a Pataskala woman mauled and killed by at least one pig in December has been charged with a misdemeanor A Pataskala resident faces one count of animals at large The Dispatch generally only identifies defendants charged with a felony crime The charge comes after Rebecca Westergaard was mauled and killed by at least one pig on Dec the Licking County Auditor's website shows A 2017 Ohio law that states no one who owns or keeps horses alpacas or poultry may allow them to roam on public roads or on land that isn't enclosed wrote in an email to The Dispatch that his client is "devastated" by death of their friend and neighbor adding that the defendant "has been cooperative with investigators and plans to continue to cooperate."  17 and is currently set for a jury trial on March 27 Westergaard's niece called Pataskala police for a welfare check after she had not heard from her aunt who was supposed to be visiting her in northeast Ohio they found Westergaard deceased on her home's front porch steps The officer noted she had extensive injuries to her lower legs according to the police report included in court documents One officer used his stun gun to scare the pig away from the scene When asked by police if they owned the pig the defendant said the two pigs get loose occasionally and must have broken out while they were away The defendant told police Westergaard had called the day before saying the pigs were on her front porch the defendant approached an officer and told him one of the pigs had blood on it and it was later sent to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation for testing Pataskala Police Chief Bruce Brooks told The Dispatch on Jan 6 that two pigs were involved in the attack but the account from officers on the scene only describes one as having blood on it The defendant's attorney wrote to The Dispatch that it is unclear how the pets escaped their enclosure: "My office is exploring different scenarios that could have led to their release," Brehm wrote He declined to comment on where the pigs are now Brehm wrote that there has been no credible evidence that his client was negligent or that any negligence played a factor in Westergaard's death He said it would be very surprising if there were any additional charges in the case PATASKALA, Ohio (WSYX) — The Licking County Coroner’s Office definitively says the death of a woman was caused by at least one pig mauling her Initial reports said the pigs attacked the woman saying the pigs “may have caused” injuries to the woman said the pigs “definitely” caused the death of Rebecca Westergaard who was found on her porch after concerned relatives called police when she didn’t show up for a family gathering in Akron Lee said the woman was alive when the pigs mauled her believed to have been kept as pets by a neighbor He said the pigs had a history of getting out of the neighbor’s yard An agriculture educator from the Ohio State University Extension Agency in Fayette County said it’s not like pigs to attack a person “Pigs are not naturally like that,” said Ken Ford But Ford called pigs “inquisitive” and said pigs who are regularly around humans are expecting food from them “Their reaction to humans are that humans feed them and so when somebody when a pig would see human there they're associating that with more than likely food,” he said it appears the pigs remain with their owner Microsoft has bought another 43 acres of land in Pataskala First reported by Columbus Business First, the parcel of land is adjacent to the 580-acre parcel on Refugee Road purchased by the tech giant last year The new parcel of land is located at Etna Parkway and Refugee Road and was bought for $11.44 million last month according to the Licking County Auditor’s website a Microsoft spokesperson said: “Microsoft has nearly 50 years of supporting local business growth We continue to expand our data center footprint globally to meet the growing demand for cloud services We don’t have additional information to share at this time about the purchase of land in Pataskala but we are committed to working with the community as we move forward.” The company has not formally confirmed whether the land will be used for a data center Microsoft is already working on several sites in the region, including a five-building data center campus outside Columbus, Ohio, and a campus in Hebron The cloud company also acquired 200 acres of land in New Albany, also for a potential data center development in June last year. Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia The office manager of a dental practice in Pataskala accused of not paying more than $760,00 in taxes and filing false tax returns will spend six months in prison U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley sentenced Eric Moesle April 17 after he pleaded guilty in August to one count of failing to pay federal income taxes The charge stems from prosecutors alleging he didn't pay the IRS $27,477 in taxes in 2019 that were withheld from employees at Elemental Dental Moesle between 2014 and 2020 withheld Elemental Dental employees’ Social Security Medicare and income taxes but did not pay them to the IRS Attorneys representing the Department of Justice allege Moesle also didn’t pay the dental practice’s share of those taxes to the IRS during that time Court documents list New Leaf Dental as another name for the practice “(Moesle) chose to benefit himself and his family to the detriment of Elemental’s employees,” the attorneys wrote in a sentencing memorandum “While he was paying for travel and tennis lessons (among other personal expenses) from Elemental’s bank account the practice’s employees suffered myriad negative consequences (Moesle’s) greed not only deprived the federal government of taxes owed but also cost Elemental’s employees in tangible ways.” In an interview with The Advocate on April 25 saying that he became an employee in 2020 and that the practice’s payroll company told him everything was fine He alleges the company stopped withholding the employee's share of taxes prior to his hiring Moesle said he switched payroll companies because of that response but didn’t look back at previous tax statements “I accept full responsibility because when I switched payroll companies I didn’t go back and verify that everything in the past had been paid,” Moesle said Moesle remains the office manager at the practice and said he plans to stay in the role Prosecutors also allege Moesle laid off employees during the COVID-19 pandemic but because the state had no record of them paying taxes they were ineligible for unemployment benefits Employees told Moesle they had concerns about payroll and tax issues but Moesle blamed delinquencies on glitches in the payroll software Some employees received notifications that providers were canceling their health insurance because of non-payment Moesle used funds from the practice to pay for vacations They also allege he failed to pay withheld wages into some employees’ retirement accounts saying the practice doesn’t offer health insurance and that some were unrelated to the case I agreed to plead guilty to one count," Moesle said "They left (my wife) and the business alone and I certainly wasn't going to let my wife who was getting her cancer treatments and everything The government requested a 24- to 30-month prison sentence before Marbley gave Moesle the six-month term Marbley also ordered him to pay $773,062 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release and six months of house arrest Moesle must surrender himself on or before Aug Advocate reporter Josué Perez can be reached at jhperez@newarkadvocate.com PATASKALA, Ohio (WSYX) — A Pataskala woman is now charged after authorities say her neighbor was allegedly mauled to death by her pigs on Christmas Day has been charged with "animals at large," a fourth-degree misdemeanor according to documents from the Licking County Municipal Court The law found in Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 951.02 states: shall permit them to run at large in the public or detained for the purpose of grazing on premises other than those owned lawfully by the owner or the keeper The charge stems from the death of 75-year-old Rebecca Westergaard who was found dead on her front steps by police on December 25 when officers were asked to do a wellness check on family members The Licking County Coroner tells ABC 6 Westergaard died from bleeding caused by at least one pig mauling her A Pataskala police report obtained by ABC 6 identified Bollinger as the owner of two pot-bellied pigs Bollinger told police that her pigs occasionally escaped and must have broken out of their shelter while she was away "Why can't you leave me alone?" and declined to comment further "This case is quite unusual as the facts relate to current Ohio law Bollinger has been charged with an obscure provision of Ohio law under ORC 951.02 which is a misdemeanor My office has entered a not-guilty plea to this charge Our office is currently conducting our own independent investigation into this matter Bollinger is obviously saddened and devastated by the death of her friend and neighbor and has been completely cooperative with law enforcement during their investigation The facts here in no way support a felony indictment and we have zero expectation that any additional charges or felony charges are pending." Bollinger has pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge (This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.) A Pataskala woman was mauled and killed by her neighbor's pigs on Christmas Day died after being attacked by two pigs that were roaming near her Mink Street home Pataskala Police Chief Bruce Brooks told The Dispatch on Monday Westergaard's niece called Pataskala police at 2:47 p.m for a welfare check after no one could reach Westergaard She was supposed to leave her home in the 4000 block of Mink Street Westergaard was found on her property near the house horrible situation," but could not share much information as the case is still under investigation adding that the department will share more once Westergaard's full autopsy results are completed in four to six weeks Brooks told The Dispatch on Monday the pigs had partially eaten Westergaard Jeff Lee said on Wednesday that he would not describe it that way Brooks said he was unsure what will happen to the pigs or whether their owner will be charged criminally is in touch with the Licking County Prosecutors' Office over the case the pigs' owner has not been charged with a crime and he did not release the owner's identity a city council member and owner of Mink Street Market — a small market that sells farm-raised meat located about a quarter mile from Westergaard's home at 3740 Mink St — told The Dispatch Monday that the pigs involved in the incident were not hogs from her farm Brooks said while Ohio law has a clear process for when dogs attack and kill someone there aren't any laws about livestock that officers or prosecutors have found or name any of the other 15 dogs that are deemed semi aggressive then we would know the answer right away," he said it's just not something we've ever dealt with here." Ohio (WSYX) — Police appear to have backed away from initial reports that a pig mauled and killed a woman in Licking County on Christmas day saying a pig “may have contributed to the injuries” of the woman was found by police after relatives expecting her in Akron became concerned Police were called to the Mink St home when the family became concerned Family members told police Westergaard had heart issues and issues with falls An officer found her on her porch with “trauma to her lower extremities,” according to a press release The officer also found a pig on the property and was able to get the pig to leave the area Police said the pig was being kept by the next-door neighbor Nick Walls lives in a house on the other side of the home where the pigs were kept Police said they don’t know how Westergaard died and will await the results from the coroner But they concede the pig may have contributed to the woman’s injuries A woman who answered the door at the home where the pigs are being kept said little I don't even know what's going on,” she said A Franklin County Sheriff’s sergeant is accused of fleeing Pataskala police in his vehicle and exceeding 100 mph after they tried to pull him over faces a single charge in Licking County Common Pleas Court of failing to comply with a police officer Police allege in a criminal complaint that Lampkin ran a red light and failed to use a turn signal while driving a truck April 16 around Mink Street in Pataskala the Franklin County Sheriff's Office said it has put Lampkin on unpaid administrative leave Officials have also reduced his rank from sergeant to deputy and the office will conduct its own internal investigation and take "appropriate action." police allege they turned on their emergency lights to pull Lampkin over at which point police allege Lampkin began to drive “well over” 100 mph in a 45 mph zone before seemingly crashing in a parking lot Police allege Lampkin got out of the vehicle with his hands up and said he worked for the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office but wasn’t responding to a call Officers allege Lampkin told them he didn’t know they were following him until the last minute and that he panicked Officers said they saw a Franklin County Sheriff's vest inside the vehicle after Lampkin got out The court set a $75,000 bond for Lampkin after prosecutors argued he is a “deputy who definitely understands the significant risks he took when he chose to try to outrun officers.” Lampkin is next scheduled to appear in court April 24 for a preliminary hearing Cali Morris’ run in “American Idol” ended Monday night in the head-to-head round that determined the show’s top 24 contestants Morris, a Pataskala native, performed Imagine Dragons' “Radioactive” in front of the judges alongside fellow contestant Olivier Bergeron, who advanced to the next round. Both made it past the Showstopper round on Sunday night, when Morris made her on-air debut in the competition “Thank you ‘American Idol’ for this opportunity,” Morris wrote in a TikTok post Morris returned to the show this season after successfully auditioning years prior but having to exit after testing positive for COVID-19 She earned a golden ticket during this season’s auditions and advanced past the Idol Arena round though producers didn't air either performance Morris and Bergeron both auditioned in New York They quickly became friends and chose to sing together in the head-to-head stage after learning they needed to pick a partner for that round “We were under the impression that it was just Idol Arena and Showstoppers and then it's either you're (in the) Top 24 or you're cut,” Morris said adding the pair picked the song feeling it could best showcase their singing rasp “We both thought it would have been cool if there was a duet round and we immediately looked at each other and ran to each other Morris has made several friends while on the show keeping in contact with them about plans to meet and collaborate She expects to release new music at some point with aspirations to release an album Her discography includes “Pieces” and “Not Over U,” the former of which she released in 2022 She had nearly 150,000 followers and 3.7 million likes on her TikTok page where she posts song covers and other performances “I may not have made it to the top 24, but I've grown in ways I never thought possible,” Morris wrote in a Facebook post “You literally haven't heard the last of me yet.” Jersey Mike’s Subs is opening a new location in Pataskala this week will open Wednesday at 102 Etna Crest Blvd it will host a fundraiser for Watkins Memorial’s athletic programs “We are delighted to continue our expansion in the Pataskala and Etna region,” operating partner Marcus Peaks said in a news release “Our dedicated teams are diligently working to provide the Pataskala and Etna community with the opportunity to experience firsthand why Jersey Mike’s Subs is truly a ‘sub above.’”  Customers may place orders in-store or through the company’s website or app which have raised at least $135 million for charities There are at least 12 locations across central Ohio Advocate reporter Josué Perez can be reached at jhperez@gannett.com A Pataskala woman accused of beating a dog that later died from its injuries in Granville also faces charges in municipal court in which prosecutors allege she abused four more faces two counts of animal cruelty and two counts of attempted cruelty Licking County Municipal Court records show Prosecutors allege VanKannel committed the offenses Nov after deputies allege she viciously kicked a dog multiple times Nov 20 while working at Bath and Biscuits in Granville humane agents state they reviewed surveillance footage from Nov 21 at the boarding and grooming business that they allege showed VanKannel smacking pushing and dragging a dog across a platform before hitting another dog with a leash The agents allege in the report that footage from the the next day shows VanKannel throwing a ball twice at another dog before pulling its ears to lift it off the ground The report also alleges she also sat on another dog's ribs and chased it; after around 20 minutes it alleges she began abusing one of the dogs some more the agents state they interviewed most of the dogs' owners two of whom reported their dogs later exhibited different behavior At least three of the dogs didn't seem to suffer major injuries An owner of one of the dogs did not respond to multiple requests from police for an interview The agents said Bath and Biscuits sent the footage after requesting it from owner Danielle Wilson "I'm absolutely appalled that anybody would do anything like this," Wilson said Friday "That's not what I started this business for and she completely betrayed me and the family." Municipal court records did not have an attorney listed for VanKannel as of Friday afternoon She is next scheduled to appear March 25 in Licking County Municipal Court for an arraignment on the misdemeanor charges VanKannel set for hearing in April on felony chargesGranville Veterinary Clinic reported liver damage and internal bleeding as causes of death for the dog that died by Nov VanKannel pleaded not guilty to two felony animal cruelty charges in Licking County Common Pleas Court but is expected to change her plea during a hearing April 14 receiving a letter from its owner asking what had happened to it 20 and that she would have terminated VanKannel's employment had she known sooner — she claimed the clinic told her the dog had been resting comfortably on Nov VanKannel cited substance abuse and mental health issues as at least a few reasons why she felt she was eligible for intervention Her attorneys stated the charges are a direct byproduct of her struggles with those issues Some Licking County residents started a petition calling for the court to uphold VanKannel’s felony charges It accuses her of using the motion for intervention to avoid having a felony record The petition also urges people to call or email the Licking County Prosecutor's Office and Licking County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Marcelain Court records show Marcelain receiving at least several emails from people asking him to hold VanKannel accountable the petition had accumulated nearly 8,000 signatures an increase from more than 5,000 around Feb Dozens of people in the petition have written comments expressing their support for it when deputies arrested her on suspicion of animal abuse Wilson said she reported the event to the Licking County Sheriff’s Office and implemented new hiring protocols in recent months A Pataskala woman wants an opportunity to avoid a felony conviction after prosecutors accused her of beating a dog that later died from its injuries at a Granville veterinary clinic 20 at Bath and Biscuits in Granville when detectives allege she viciously kicked a dog multiple times at the facility the dog died from its injuries at Granville Veterinary Clinic which reported liver damage and internal bleeding as causes of death for the dog Deputies arrested VanKannel Nov. 25 on suspicion of animal abuse before prosecutors charged her with two counts of prohibition against companion animals in Licking County Common Pleas Court 24 to both counts but is expected to change her plea during a hearing April 14 filed a motion earlier this month asking the court to grant VanKannel a hearing to determine her eligibility for intervention rather than conviction This would allow her to undergo an intervention plan that if successfully completed would allow her to avoid having a felony record VanKannel cited substance abuse and mental health issues as at least a few reasons why she feels she is eligible for intervention Licking County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Marcelain vacated VanKannel's previous planned hearings Tuesday See states that the charges are a “direct byproduct of struggles with substance abuse and mental health” and that VanKannel would not have committed the offenses if she hadn’t been struggling with that See also wrote that VanKannel feels she has accepted responsibility for her actions discontinued actions that were destructive and is serious about addressing her substance abuse and mental health issues Bath and Biscuits owner Danielle Wilson said she immediately reported the event to the Licking County Sheriff's Office Deputies reported that Wilson provided them surveillance footage of the event “It was the worst day of my life to have to tell the owner what happened," Wilson said in the release I want to do everything to help my clients get through this They were long-time clients who had been with me for more than a decade This was their third dog they had entrusted in my care We’ve never had anything like this happen before Wilson told The Advocate she fired VanKannel Nov 25 and that she first learned the dog had died Nov receiving a letter from the dog's owner asking what had happened to it "It's completely scarred us all for life," Wilson said "It's an absolutely horrifying event that happened and we were just completely betrayed by this person." deputies allege VanKannel told them during her arrest that she had “no good reason for why I did it” and that “life has been bad.” Pataskala’s Cali Morris appeared in Sunday night’s episode of "American Idol" and impressed the judges advancing herself further in a competition she has long coveted and dreamt about in which she sang Carrie Underwood’s “Undo It.”  Underwood joined the show as a new judge this season alongside veterans and fellow musical artists Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan “I wanted to show (the judges) that I’m confident and I can take risks,” Morris told The Advocate of her song choice “I feel that’s kind of what they look for — somebody that’s workable can put on a show and tell a story when they’re singing I just wanted to give them everything I had.” The performance marked Morris’ latest chapter in her musical journey Morris began singing at age 3 before enrolling in voice and piano lessons traveled around Ohio with her band and served as a vocal coach for other singers In 2022, Morris released her first single, “Pieces,” after auditioning for American Idol at 15 But she shortly after tested positive for COVID-19 and could no longer participate an outcome she said was difficult to process In an Instagram post last week, Morris announced she again earned a golden ticket. In a separate post Morris said she advanced past the show’s Idol Arena round and into Showstoppers “I was really nervous because I’ve taken the time to work on myself and I really really want this,” Morris said of waiting with other contestants for the judges’ decision after the Idol Arena round “Carrie kind of started off with saying it would be bad news but then she announced we were going on to the next round and would be away from home a little longer “We all just stood up and everyone’s crying and the judges are going around and hugging us Morris has had several other moments on the show that she says have been equally joyful and nerve-wracking including singing Underwood’s own song in front of her and sharing rooms with other talented singers Morris said she felt somewhat intimidated during the show’s first round after seeing other contestants have to follow impressive performances straying from her pop background to perform country music that’s when all the nerves are there,” Morris said I’ve worked so long for this and I just gotta bring it.’”  Some of Morris’ musical inspirations include Billie Eilish and Adele who she feels share stories through their songs That’s something she seeks to integrate into her own work while also making it relatable She expects to release new music at some point, and hopes to eventually release an album. She frequently posts song covers on her TikTok page where she had amassed nearly 150,000 followers as of Friday and 3.7 million likes Many of those followers include Pataskala and central Ohio residents some of whom easily recognized Morris when they saw her sing at local malls especially because my hometown has been so supportive ever since I started this whole thing,” Morris said of representing Pataskala on a national stage “Not even just with American Idol — back when I was 15 and started performing around my hometown The Pataskala woman mauled and killed by her neighbor's pigs on Christmas Day died from a loss of blood according to the Licking County Coroner's Office Deputy Coroner and Chief Forensic Pathologist Dr Jeff Lee told The Dispatch that Rebecca Westergaard died from blood loss because of extensive superficial wounds on her legs Westergaard underwent heart surgery earlier in the year and was on blood thinners Her blood loss was partly because of the blood thinners She was unable to form clots to … stop the bleeding because she's on the blood thinners," he said Pataskala Police Chief Bruck Brooks confirmed on Monday that Westergaard had been mauled and killed by two pigs that were roaming near her Mink Street home on Christmas Day Police were called to do a welfare check on Westergaard after she did not arrive at a family member's home that day Lee said only Westergaard's lower extremities were injured and that she had been upright and alive before being knocked down by the pigs But Lee said he would not describe it that way The toxicology report from Westergaard's autopsy is still pending and will take several weeks to get mdevito@dispatch.com Get 4 Weeks of Farm and Dairy Home DeliveredSign Up for your FREE Trial Ohio — The owner a pig that police said was involved in the death of a Pataskala woman has been charged with a misdemeanor for letting her pigs run loose a neighbor’s pigs were likely involved in the death of Rebecca Westergaard 25 on the steps of her front porch on Mink Street in Pataskala She had succumbed to extensive blood loss from wounds on her lower extremities according to the Licking County Coroner’s Office Responding officers who found Westergaard’s body noted a loose pig on the property — later determined to belong to Westergaard’s neighbor — was found to possibly have contributed to her fatal injuries Westergaard had recently had surgery and suffered from other medical conditions whom Farm and Dairy is not naming while the case is ongoing pleaded guilty to one count of animals running at large She will have a jury trial March 27 at the Licking County Courthouse alpacas or poultry may allow them to roam freely on a public road lane or alley or on land that is not enclosed and owned by the animals’ keeper a fourth-degree misdemeanor could carry up to 30 days in jail Pataskala Police Chief Bruce Brooks told Farm and Dairy that the city had never had any prior complaints about the pig involved in the incident and website in this browser for the next time I comment A long-time Pataskala animal hospital is relocating and expanding Animal Hospital of Pataskala is building a new 8,192-square-foot animal hospital on the west side of Corylus Drive just north of the existing Hazelwood Plaza that's home to Kroger Ziggy's Bar and Grill and other shops and restaurants according to development plans filed with the city The Pataskala Planning and Zoning Commission approved the plans Jan The animal hospital is a staple of Pataskala having been at 65 S. Main St. since 1973, when it was started by now-retired veterinarian Joseph Crock Tammy Hickin bought the practice in 1999 and then sold it to Dr undeveloped 4.14-acre property surrounded by single-family housing to the north Hazelwood Plaza to south and condominiums to the west Plans show the animal hospital would have two waiting areas The back portion of the lot is reserved for a future commercial area but there is no time frame for when it will be developed Pataskala's Public Service Department requires that an additional turn lane be striped on Corylus Drive similar to an existing one south on Corylus Drive for Hazelwood Plaza and the existing right-of-way width can accommodate the turn lane The new hospital is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is spending $10 million cleaning up a contaminated Pataskala site formerly home to a trucking company The Ohio EPA is remediating infiltration ponds at Matlack Inc. which the company used for tanker washing from 1954 to 1989 These tanker trucks carried liquid chemicals and industrial wastes and the wastewater from this work was released into the infiltration ponds until 1980 The site is now privately owned by Mercury Real Estate LLC and occupied by a heating and cooling company Because the site is close to homes and the aquifer from which the city draws its water City Administrator Tim Hickin is thrilled about the cleanup which were probably the site of the more toxic contaminants are now someplace else that have been treated or whatever happens to the waste," he said "That's a good thing for the people that live nearby and for our own wellhead protection for the aquifer." The $10 million project has been ongoing since the spring with $6.2 million coming from a state advisory board dedicated to cleaning up toxic materials 20 appropriated $4.5 million from the EPA's hazardous waste fund for the cleanup effort after an additional 4,200 tons of hazardous soil was discovered The funds are needed to properly dispose of and incinerate the hazardous materials "These funds will help continue the work to clean up this site and ensure we protect our community," Schaffer said via a news release "Hopefully these additional dollars will keep this cleanup moving forward and preserve the health of the people of Pataskala." A Pataskala woman accused of beating a dog that later died from its injuries in Granville withdrew a motion seeking intervention to avoid a felony conviction have filed a motion seeking to withdraw a previous motion which sought a hearing to determine whether VanKannel was eligible for intervention rather than conviction Intervention allows defendants to undergo a plan that if successfully completed would help them avoid having a felony record VanKannel faces two counts of prohibition against companion animals after detectives alleged she viciously kicked a dog multiple times Nov 24 to both counts but is expected to change her plea during an April 14 hearing Licking County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Marcelain granted the withdrawal and scheduled the plea hearing stated in the motion that the charges against VanKannel are a “direct byproduct of struggles with substance abuse and mental health” and that she would not have committed the offenses if she hadn’t been struggling with that The Advocate has reached out to VanKannel’s attorneys for comment stating that she reported it to the Licking County Sheriff’s Office She told The Advocate she fired VanKannel Nov Wilson said since the event she and her team implemented new hiring protocols such as hiring a company to conduct more in-depth background checks including reviewing applicants’ criminal history It also has bolstered its training and lengthened its probationary period Some Licking County citizens started a petition calling for the court to uphold VanKannel’s charges It had accumulated more than 5,000 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon The petition accuses VanKannel of using the motion for intervention to avoid having a felony record and calls for people to email or call the Licking County Prosecutor's Office and Marcelain Court records show Marcelain receiving at least several emails from citizens asking him to hold VanKannel accountable Dozens of people have written comments in the petition expressing their support for it A Pataskala teen will appear in Sunday night’s episode of “American Idol” in what’s her on-air debut of the popular competition In an Instagram post, Cali Morris, 19, announced that her performance will air Sunday during the show, which starts at 8 p.m. on ABC. Morris advanced past the Idol Arena round in which judges cut more than half of the show’s 144 contestants In February, Morris announced that she had auditioned for the show’s 23rd season before reporting in a separate Instagram post that the judges awarded her a golden ticket Morris previously auditioned for the show’s 20th season and earned a golden ticket at the time and a positive COVID-19 test shortly thereafter forced her to exit the competition In recent years, Morris has performed at multiple venues around central Ohio She first began singing at 3 and later enrolled in piano and voice lessons “I feel like if I were to go back on (the show) I feel like I would feel a lot more comfortable,” Morris said in 2022 “Ever since 'American Idol,' I've been performing more in public so I feel a lot more comfortable and I feel like I've gotten out of my shell.” The show is available to stream on Hulu the next day after airing on ABC Pataskala police are investigating after a woman was found dead in the northwest section of the city with injuries caused by a pig was found dead on Christmas Day by Pataskala Police on Mink Street on the steps of a home's front porch Police were called to check on Westergaard because her family was concerned about her Westergaard was found with injuries to her lower body that police determined were caused by a pig Evidence of the pig's presence was found at the scene Police also witnessed a neighbor's pig wandering around the property when officers arrived Officials have not confirmed whether Westergaard was actually killed by the pig Westergaard was reported to have suffered recent medical conditions and a surgery Police asked a neighbor to quarantine both of the pigs they own until further notice Authorities are waiting for a final report from the coroner's office A Pataskala teen auditioned for the 23rd season of “American Idol” that begins airing in March, she announced on Instagram last month may appear in one of the season’s early episodes which usually feature contestants’ auditions Morris said she sang in front of judges Carrie Underwood each of whom are well-known musical artists The season’s first episode premieres at 8 p.m. March 9 on ABC, the company announced in November. A special preview of the upcoming season will air after the Oscars on March 2 This season’s audition is not Morris’ first on the show. At 15, Morris auditioned for the show’s 20th season, though producers did not air her performance, she reported in another Instagram post Bryan and Richie — awarded Morris a golden ticket she tested positive for COVID-19 and could no longer participate In 2022, Morris reported the show’s casting team asked her to audition again for a following season, but she declined the offer in order to focus on her performance skills. She released her first single, “Pieces,” that year In recent years, Morris has performed at various venues around central Ohio, including The Barn on York in Pataskala, while writing new songs, according to her website She first began singing at 3 and later enrolled in voice and piano lessons while connecting with a Los Angeles-based producer Morris enrolled in Watkins Memorial’s online program through Southwest Licking Digital Academy pleaded no contest and was found guilty of the single count by a municipal court judge which had escaped from Bollinger’s backyard Bollinger’s voice never got louder than a whisper in court Judge David Stansbury called the case “almost surreal” and said court officials were surprised there was nothing more serious they could charge Bollinger with Bollinger did not answer questions after court Her attorney indicated that she is remorseful so she's quite saddened by that,” said Eric Brehm “It's a tragic series of events that brought us here Brehm said in court that Bollinger’s pigs were destroyed As Licking County development boom keeps going, Pataskala is setting aside more farmland for future growth Pataskala City Council has unanimously approved rezoning two properties totaling nearly 64 acres along Columbia Road from agricultural to planned manufacturing with a planned district overlay which provides additional safeguards as the property develops The site is currently farmed and has one single-family home and the owners plan to continue farming and living on the property There is no development planned for the site at this time but the move sets up the properties for the future as they are both within the Pataskala Corporate Park The largest of the three properties — 106 acres — is located at 7482 Columbia Road SW south of Mill Street and north of Refugee Road The nearly 64-acre site is immediately south of the 137 acres according to the Licking County Auditor's website the 64-acre site will not have any access points onto Columbia Road the primary access point will be from Etna Parkway through an easement on the northern parcel Ohio woman was mauled and killed by her neighbor's pigs on Christmas Day Woman killed: Tourist killed, gored by elephant's tusk at Thailand sanctuary while bathing animal: Reports Woman died from blood loss after being mauled by pigsThe woman died from a loss of blood Jeff Lee told The Dispatch that Westergaard died from blood loss because of extensive superficial wounds on her legs Maria Devito is a reporter for The Columbus Dispath An autopsy has determined that a 75-year-old Pataskala woman died after she was mauled by pigs Jeff Lee told WOSU on Thursday that Rebecca Westergaard died at her Mink Street home from a loss of blood Lee says that was because of injuries to the lower part of her legs caused by the animals Lee says the location of the wounds on her body indicated she was standing and walking around when she was injured Pataskala police found her dead on Christmas Day Officers witnessed a neighbor's pig wandering around the property when they arrived Police went to check on Westergaard because her family was concerned about her The final coroner's report will be done in four to six weeks Ohio businesses can now legally grow, process and sell adult-use marijuana — but not in Pataskala Pataskala City Council approved a moratorium Sept 3 on issuing and processing permits related to the cultivation processing and dispensing of marijuana for adult-use within the city City Administrator Tim Hickin said officials took this step as they wait until the state has more regulation in place for local municipalities "It's just a protection measure to wait to see exactly how it's structed at the state level so council can make an informed decision as to what they want to do," he said He added that if the Ohio General Assembly approves municipal regulations before that date city council members could revoke the moratorium and pass their own policy Hickin said the moratorium has no impact on home growing and personal use limiting sales to the city's three existing dispensaries: Sunnyside Medical Marijuana Dispensary Southwest Licking County residents will soak up the last days of summer this week The 77th annual Pataskala Street Fair opens Wednesday and runs until Saturday Pataskala Mayor Mike Compton said the annual fair is a special chance for the community to come together "Most of the community just can't wait because sometimes it's the only time of the year that they get to connect with neighbors and relatives because everybody comes to it," he said Here's what to know before the 77th annual Pataskala Street Fair opens Wednesday: The fair will feature live music every night Compton said South Main Street/Ohio 310 between the railroad tracks to the north and Mill Street to the south will close at 9 a.m A small part of Jefferson Street will also close but will still be accessible for residents Compton cautioned that residents should be patient Tuesday morning. One of the "super loads" heading to the Intel site south of Johnstown is parking in Pataskala overnight Monday and is scheduled to leave at 8:15 a.m It will travel north on Ohio 310 and not move through the area for the street fair The street fair will again feature carnival rids for children and immediately following the noon parade on Saturday Who are the food vendors at this year's street fair?The street fair will have plenty of tasty treats available Here are the food vendors for the 2024 fair Nonprofit vendorsWatkins Memorial High School Cheerleaders (lemon shake ups)Pataskala Presbyterian Church (chicken and noodles homemade pie)Summit Station Lions Club (roast beef sandwiches corn on the cob)Pataskala Lions Club (brats pulled pork)Healing Our Warriors (taco boats hot dogs and sloppy Joes)When is the 2024 Pataskala Street Fair Parade and what's the route?The parade which is organized by the Pataskala Rotary Club It starts on Oak Meadow Drive and heads south to South Vine Street then turns east onto Third Street The parade will turn south onto South Main Street/Ohio 310 then west onto Front Street before finishing at South High and Mill streets has been selected as the parade's grand marshal for his years of service leadership and dedication to Pataskala's Boy Scouts program The 40th annual Little Miss Firefighter pageant starts at 7 p.m which is open to girls entering the second grade Where can people park while attending the street fair?People can park in two city parking lots just north of the railroad tracks adding there is also parking at the BMV on Township Road People can also park vehicles along the side streets in the area but Compton said people should be respectful of local residents so they don't block driveways or mailboxes Compton said it's best if people leave pets and bicycles at home: "There's too much food and too many babies in strollers What does the street fair benefit?The fair started as way for the West Licking Firefighters Association to get additional equipment for the West Licking Joint Fire District Now the fair supports stocking the district's support truck to ensure it has coffee cold water and other items firefighters need when dealing with a larger fire The Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities is providing mobile accessible restrooms each day of the fair from noon to 11 p.m an adjustable changing table that can accommodate an adult a ceiling hoist and an accessible toilet and sink Trained staff members stay with the vehicle at all times to provide information and clean the space between uses The vehicle has been used at other Licking County events this summer including the Newark Strawberry Festival and Granville Fourth of July fireworks In roughly six months of operation Pataskala solar panel manufacturer Illuminate USA has hit two major milestones The company has hired its 1,000th employee and manufactured its 1 millionth solar panel Reaching these milestones so quickly is a testament to the quality of the Ohio workforce and the speed with which Illuminate USA is onshoring American solar manufacturing Illuminate USA CEO Frank Zhu said the company is now Pataskala's largest employer and is on track to be the largest and most productive solar panel manufacturer in the country "We’re actively creating new careers for Ohioans who are learning and growing as we accelerate America’s energy independence at Illuminate USA’s transformational facility," he said in a Illuminate USA news release Mike DeWine congratulated the company for hiring their 1,000th Ohio associate "Ohio is the heart of innovation and Illuminate USA is producing cutting-edge renewable energy products made by Ohio workers right here in Pataskala,” DeWine said via the company's news release Illuminate USA, announced in March 2023 is a joint venture between renewable energy company Invenergy and Chinese solar panel manufacturer LONGi which is developing several solar projects in Ohio The company says its rapid success is due in part to the Inflation Reduction Act which includes tax credits for solar manufacturers the company will receive tax credits based on the amount of production Invenergy President and Illuminate USA Board Chair Jim Murphy said the Pataskala company is doing exactly what the federal government intended when it passed the IRA: advance American manufacturing "In standing up a world-class manufacturing facility in Ohio Illuminate USA is making huge strides in reclaiming American solar leadership," Murphy said via an Illuminate USA news release consistent policy and a level playing field for all American manufacturers especially new entrants bringing new capacity will ensure lasting American solar independence." Even though Illuminate USA has been operating for six months Pataskala Mayor Mike Compton said he is still amazed that an empty warehouse has been transformed into a thriving business with 1,000 Ohio workers the city's income tax revenue is expected to increase but Compton said it's still too early to tell how much the city will collect Compton said the city needs to do its part to ensure there is ample housing restaurants and other businesses nearby to meet the needs of Illuminate USA's workforce as well as making sure the city's roadways can handle the increased traffic from Illuminate USA and other businesses in western Licking County As previously reported, Illuminate USA's total investment in Licking County is expected to top $600 million with the cost of equipment staff training and salaries and everything else needed to start a new company process quality control manager at Illuminate USA said working at the Pataskala manufacturer means more than just learning in-demand skills it's about being part of a larger effort that's providing the community with new advanced manufacturing careers "Making one million panels in under six months is astounding — and I’m proud to be a part of this team as we work to advance American leadership in the solar manufacturing supply chain," Heater said via the news release Licking County residents collected more than 4.8 million pounds of material in the 22 public drop-off recycling sites throughout the county and government buildings empties the bins and sorts the material for processing CFLP Solid Waste District and the Licking County Board of Commissioners fund the Licking County Recycling program “4.8 million pounds is a little less than what we have collected in previous years,” said Licking County Recycling Director we had to remove a recycling site last year and that contributed to the decline we are thrilled to see more curbside recycling programs being offered around the county in a few townships and villages as well as in Pataskala and Johnstown,” Krava said Licking County Recycling was able to expand what items are accepted into the public recycling drop-off containers plastic “clamshell” containers became acceptable Contamination rates continue to be low at 5%-6% Residents are encouraged to understand what is and is not accepted in the recycling bins so items can be properly separated and eventually be made into something else Dumping of bulk items inside or outside of the bins is illegal The following materials are accepted in the bins: paper cups and cartons)Glass bottles and jarsPlastic bottles cups and clamshell containersMetal cans and metal cupsCardboard continued to be the most prominent item in recycling bins residents are urged to break down and flatten cardboard boxes before putting them into bins For more information about Licking County Recycling, visit LickingCounty.gov/RLC or call 740-670-5125 Information submitted by Licking County Recycling Licking County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest after police allege at least one suspect fired gunshots at a home in Pataskala two years ago at a home in the 3800 block of Courter Road Police say they found bullet holes in the home’s kitchen and dining room and that no one was injured The $10,000 reward is from a private donor Pataskala police declined to disclose the donor's identity and say they have not yet received any leads for the case Crime Stoppers is investigating the event as a drive-by shooting It is asking anyone with information about the case to call 740-349-6888 A coding system protects the identities of people who call the agency A Pataskala woman charged with beating a dog that later died from its injuries in Granville will serve six months in jail pleaded no contest April 14 to two counts of animal cruelty Prosecutors charged her with the crimes after detectives alleged surveillance footage showed her viciously kicking a dog multiple times Nov the dog died three hours after leaving Bath and Biscuits in a traumatic condition Police said the clinic reported internal bleeding and liver damage as causes of death for the dog Licking County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Marcelain ordered VanKannel to serve three years of probation and ruled that she must spend six months in Licking County jail If she violates her probation upon her release she could return to jail or head to prison She also must pay $6.197.36 in restitution VanKannel pleaded not guilty to the charges Dec. 24 and later filed a motion seeking intervention rather than conviction citing mental health and substance abuse issues Licking County prosecutors requested a one-year sentence for which the victims in the case also asked Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Rachel Timoneri said “There is no sentence that could ever speak to the atrocity of what this person actually did or to ever bring the animal back,” Timoneri said in a statement to The Advocate “I just hope that with this part of the case completed the victims can start to heal and find some peace.” VanKannel’s attorney Sierra See did not immediately respond to The Advocate's request for an interview but said in court documents that her client feels she has accepted responsibility for her actions and discontinued ones that were destructive deputies allege footage shows VanKannel during her Nov 20 shift at Bath and Biscuits kicking a golden retriever repeatedly and continuing to do so after it ran away from her told The Advocate she fired VanKannel on Nov said she reported the event to the Licking County Sheriff’s Office after reviewing surveillance footage and learned Nov “We are grateful that justice has been served in this heartbreaking case,” Wilson said in a statement to The Advocate “The loss of a beloved pet in our care last November was devastating and our hearts continue to go out to the family affected.” Some Licking County residents started a petition calling for the court to uphold VanKannel’s charges It had accumulated nearly 8,000 signatures as of Wednesday morning It also accuses VanKannel of using the intervention motion to avoid having a felony record Wilson said she and her team have since lengthened the probationary period and implemented new hiring protocols including conducting more in-depth background checks Court records show VanKannel's attorney filed a motion April 15 requesting work release privileges VanKannel would receive transportation to and from the jail before starting and after finishing her shift VanKannel faces two counts of animal cruelty and two counts of attempted cruelty in municipal court after prosecutors alleged she abused four other dogs at Bath and Biscuits on Nov She pleaded not guilty to those charges and is tentatively scheduled for trial May 15 The famed Battle for Broad Street between Licking Heights and Watkins Memorial goes beyond a football rivalry — it is a chance for students staff and families to give back to their communities Both districts have collaborative service activities planned leading up to this year’s football game we anticipate the annual Battle for Broad Street competition with our rival district While the friendly rivalry is always exciting what we truly value is the opportunity to raise awareness about food insecurity within our community,” said Kasey Perkins superintendent of Southwest Licking Local Schools “It’s really special to see our students and community members come together to provide much-needed support to those in need This event not only builds excitement for the Friday night football game but also allows our students to serve as stewards of their community,” Perkins said “It’s an honor to be part of such a meaningful tradition The Pataskala Rotary Club will be a major sponsor for this year’s activities along with support from community organizations and businesses and Summit Station United Methodist Church Events include annual favorites like the canned food drive and spaghetti dinner with a few new activities like a blood drive battle and competitive staff donation campaigns for the United Way of Licking County Students will compete in the annual Battle for Broad Street Canned Food Drive from Monday benefiting LEADS Community Action Agency in Newark for Licking Heights and Storehouse for Jesus for Southwest Licking Licking Heights will also collect cans for the district’s in-house food pantry supporting students in need The canned food drive is managed by the Interact Club at Licking Heights and student leaders at Watkins and students preschool through 12th grade are encouraged to donate This is one of the biggest collaborative events between Pataskala schools and the community each year they can give blood on either date and vote for their favorite team Walk-ins are also welcome for community members who do not sign up in advance The annual Battle for Broad Street spaghetti dinner benefiting student scholarships from the Pataskala Rotary Club Cheerleaders from both districts will serve diners Meals are $15 per person and $50 for a family of four staff can get in on the competition this year by donating to the United Way of Licking County (UWLC) The UWLC Ambassadors at Watkins and Licking Heights will run their annual staff campaigns from Oct 18 to see which district’s staff can raise the most for United Way funded partners across Licking County Staff members are encouraged to donate via online portals to directly support organizations benefiting their students Behavioral Healthcare Partners and Big Brothers “Battle for Broad Street is so much more than a football rivalry — it is a chance for our students and staff to work together and impact the world around them We have the opportunity to demonstrate citizenship and compassion to our students this year and I am deeply proud to be a part of the festivities,” said Kevin S “We could not make this happen without our outstanding community partners and I am continually amazed and humbled by the kindness generosity and support our community has for public education and our students,” Miller said Information submitted by Licking Heights Local Schools Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.