ZANESVILLE ‒ A Zanesville man has introduced tiny indestructible homes as part of a growing homeowner trend founded Cameron Custom Containers in 2025 to transform drab utilitarian shipping containers into welcoming micro-homes his business boasts the ability to mix and match innumerable combinations from the containers ‒ and a customer's creative whims selling and shipping the standard containers in 2023 after graduating college "My family's been in the oil and gas forever I decided on doing that on the side," he said "I saw some stuff online where they are making container homes and offices," he explained "I started thinking about it and decided to just kind of jump for it and try to make it work." The potentialThe containers can become tiny They share some similarities with small cabins and mobile homes but they also offer unique customizable potential It starts with the container size and quantity just all types of different containers," Cameron said Customers aren't even limited to just buying one container That's where Cameron Custom Containers offers surprising versatility "You can mix and match and put the 20s together You can put two 40s together to make it wider You can put a 20 and a 40 together for an extra bedroom," Cameron explained including the number of bedrooms and bathrooms "It's nice because you can customize everything about it There's no limit on where the windows (go) how large the windows and doors need to be That customization also means the pricing is variable Prices can increase depending on add-ons and customization "It all varies on what type of build you're doing but it's going to be cheaper than a traditional stick build," Cameron noted "We could go as crazy as the customer wants as long as that it's within the permit and engineering lines." The containers have quicker turnarounds," Cameron said "It cuts the time by probably half for one of these versus (a) traditional stick build at the same square footage," he mentioned "Once we agree on the price and the layout and what it's going to look like outside and inside then we'll go into straight building one." Cameron can pick up containers in one or two days Cameron can transport and unload container housing in another one or two days but you can move it easily if you want to." "You can run it off a generator for the most part Cameron will build a wooden skeleton and add closed-cell spray insulation around the container's interiors to ensure climate control and moisture prevention Not every customer might want to detail every nook and cranny so Cameron has four base models using the 40-foot containers that come with a different number of set bathrooms and bedrooms Some will be prebuilt and ready to ship as is The containers aren't just limited to houses "There's so many different things you can do with them," Cameron noted but he hires out contractors for parts of the process He hopes to add staff members once he gets more momentum More: Park district plans to develop riverfront property after acquiring Kirkbride Marina Shawn Digity is a reporter for the Zanesville Times Recorder. He can be emailed at sdigity@gannett.com or found on X at @ShawnDigityZTR Because Local Matters © 2025 WHIZ – Fox 5 / Marquee Broadcasting pounded against his cell door and crashed into it prompting officers to push into the cell and subdue him with a Taser and physical force pinned him to the floor and then put him in a restraint chair and spit hood officers and medical staff took several minutes before starting CPR who plan to file a lawsuit against the county once they receive investigative documents Black was arrested on March 23 after crashing a vehicle on Interstate 70 in Englewood He was arrested after a brief foot pursuit and taken to the county jail prompting the jail medical staff's intervention He jumped up and fought with staff members before being subdued with a Taser according to a March 26 announcement from the sheriff's office what followed after his incarceration has been called into question by Black's family Robert Gresham and Anthony Pierson of Wright & Schulte and Michael L Dayton NAACP and the Montgomery County Jail Coalition One clip of the video released on May 5 showed Black bull-rushing into a cell door numerous times Nine to 10 staff members swarmed him at the entrance with a riot shield He was pepper sprayed and Tased in the stomach and forced onto the ground A struggle continued and Black was then dragged into a restraint chair which was then was pushed downward toward his lap to get the handcuffs off and restraints on A second clip showed Black in the chair and unresponsive for several minutes before staff removed him and started CPR More: Dying Behind Bars: At least 220 people died in Ohio jails over 4 years I'm know I'm going to see him take his last breath again," said Misti Black Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck revealed the likely cause of death was positional asphyxia He had met with Black's family and their attorneys where they reviewed jail footage and received the coroner's office analysis jail employees wrestled with him and eventually placed him in a restraint chair Jail employees failed to render any meaningful aid as he was unresponsive in front of them," the attorneys stated May 5 Attorneys noted Black was restrained for around nine minutes Montgomery County Coroner's autopsy report was released on May 5 Black's cause of death was determined to be mechanical and positional asphyxia forensic pathologist and Montgomery County chief deputy coroner Black would have been unable to breathe due to his body's position and an outside force or object Black was also determined to have restricted oxygen to his brain and death of heart cells from extended periods of contraction The report also noted blunt force abrasions to his head and shoulder; and contusions on multiple extremities Ten jail employees were placed on paid administrative leave on April 30 "This leave is a procedural step and does not imply guilt or policy violations," Streck stated on May 1 Ohio Bureau Reporter Laura Bischoff contributed to this report DUNCAN FALLS − A disc golf tournament fundraiser will be May 17 It's a 36 hole open tournament for all skill levels Hot dogs and bottled water will be available call 740-297-4795 or email bethelmission126@gmail.com ZANESVILLE − The Zanesville Civil War Roundtable is presenting a portrayal of Gen Volunteer can register at the same website Pop and Pour returningZANESVILLE − Muskingum County Community Foundation will host the Pop and Pour Southeastern Ohio Beer and Wine Fest from 4 to 7 p.m at the Zanesville-Muskingum Welcome Center There will be samples of craft beers from local and regional breweries and wine from local wineries There will also be food trucks and live music Tickets are $25 each through June 30 and can be purchased online at mccf.org/Events/Pop-And-Pour Ramp closing on May 12ZANESVILLE − The Maple Avenue to McIntire Avenue ramp will close This is part of the Ohio Department of Transportation's Interstate 70 project ZANESVILLE − The commencement ceremony for the 252 Zane State College graduate candidates will take place at 6 p.m Seating will open for guests at 5 p.m.; tickets are required Student rehearsal will be held at 3:30 p.m. May 7, in College Hall, followed by a grad picnic in the Campus Center parking lot. For more information, visit https://www.zanestate.edu/commencement ZANESVILLE − Dresden Road will be closed on weekdays between Glendale Avenue and Englewood Avenue May 2-9 Local access will be maintained and detours will be posted Hydrant flushing in the cityZANESVILLE − The Zanesville water department will flush hydrants May 5-9 Willow Haven Nursing Home and Oak Meadow Lane ● Zanesville City Schools will hold a special board meeting to approve appropriation changes and discuss building repairs at 7 a.m ● Muskingum Ag Network will have a breakfast at 8 a.m at Friendly Hills Camp and Conference Center an attorney with the OSU Agricultural and Resource Law program ● Americans for Prosperity will meet with Reps Adam Holmes and Dave Thomas on property taxes from 6 to 8 p.m ● East Muskingum Local Schools Board will meet in regular session at 4 p.m in the Muskie Room of John Glenn High School There will also be a public hearing for a retire-rehire ● The Mental Health and Recovery Services Board will meet in regular session at 6 p.m The finance and audit committee and program committee will meet prior at 5 p.m ● Muskingum Valley Education Service Center board will meet in regular session at 7 p.m ● Mid-East Career and Technology Centers Board will meet in regular session at 6:30 p.m OH–Many around our community took part in a National Day of Prayer The annual observance brings together people of all faiths to pray for our nation “National Day of Prayer is observed one day a year but we want to encourage everyone to pray every day This is our connectivity to God himself,” Adam King youth pastor at New Hope Full Gospel Church said A local service took place at new hope full gospel church where there were prayers and song There was also a focus on getting youth more involved “Because I think eventually like everything else if we don’t continue to serve our posterity in an impactful and effective way that it actually says we’re actually deified and obligated to serve our posterity It actually says we will teach the next generation about the glorious deeds of the lord,” King said The National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of congress and signed into law by President Truman Ohio – A new historical marker made its debut in downtown Zanesville this morning The Muskingum County chapter of the Daughter’s of the American Revolution unveiled a Revolutionary War marker in front of the courthouse They were joined by local and state dignitaries The marker serves to honor not only those who fought in the revolution The DAR was founded in 1890 to celebrate America’s revolution and promote historic preservation even though Ohio wasn’t one of the original 13 Colonies the marker recognizes the important role the Ohio Frontier played during the America’s revolution OH – After achieving the greatest accomplishment of her young career Georgia Bulldogs sophomore star and Zanesville high school alum Ady Wahl sat down to discuss her recent All-American honor in NCAA gymnastics: congratulations on all your success as of late Have you really gotten the chance to sit back and relax yet or do you not really get that opportunity?” Ady: “I’ve gotten to relax this past week Steven: “Let’s kind of focus on what you’ve been doing and what you’ve been kind of going through as of late So to reach All-American status obviously didn’t happen overnight Can you kind of walk me through the build up and schedule of your season?” the highest individual score going into nationals I had the highest vault score at our regional just really been focusing on my mental aspect of gymnastics because gymnastics is a lot more mental sometimes than it is physical.” Steven: “As you’re standing there about to start your run up what’s really going through your head in that moment?” Ady: “I just remember being so excited and But I just remember when I was standing at the end of the runway at nationals it was like an out-of-body experience where I just felt like I was so calm and natural.” Steven: “If it was an out-of-body experience you should have done a couple more flips in the air Steven: “What was going through your mind when you finally landed it Ady: “I just remember feeling so much joy and all this hard work that I’ve been doing in the previous weeks had paid off Steven: “You knew you did well?” I knew and I was confident that I did what I needed to do it was like one of the best vaults I had all season.” Steven: “Over-under ten times you’ve watched it back?” as I’m sure it’s in the back of your head you’re representing everybody here from Zanesville and Muskingum County too What does it mean to you to come from such a small area like this and then be on the national stage?”  it means a lot just because of how small our community is I’ve really seen how much the community has backed me and backed what I’m doing and it’s just so cool to see all the support Especially from my high school and like all that stuff It’s just a reminder that they always have my back and that they’re proud I’m just trying to make our small town proud and I’m really honored that I get to do that and represent that congratulations and thank you so much for taking the time.” ZANESVILLE ‒ More info is expected soon on the death of Christian Black a Zanesville man who died three days after his arrest in Englewood and detainment in the Montgomery County Jail Family members and their attorneys are holding a media availability at 11 a.m May 5 to reveal some video footage of Black's treatment while jailed and the autopsy findings from the Montgomery County Coroner's Office The attorneys issued a statement on May 2 after meeting with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office The Times Recorder will bring you more details as they become available Ohio – Democracy will be in action this week as Ohio will be holding its 2025 Special Election on Tuesday Muskingum County Board of Elections Specialist Cheryl West shared details of what will be on the ballot as well as how voters can be prepared when they arrive at their polling location you can have a mixture of issues and levies and also you have candidates to vote on,” West said “A special election is straight issues there aren’t any people and in this case we don’t have anybody There will be candidates to vote for in November but we don’t have any of that ready yet So we’re still working on… people are still working on  getting all that taken care of.” Each precinct will have their own specific levies and issues that will be offered to the voters. For a sneak peek of the ballot that will be offered at your precinct, you can find your precinct’s sample ballot at the Board of elections website “And then what you need is just an unexpired valid ID,” West said. “So, a drivers license, if you have a state ID, passport and some military IDs. So there again, you can either go onto our website or the secretary of state’s… Ohio Secretary of State’s website to get a list of what is considered valid or acceptable and also what’s not acceptable for ID purposes.” Absentee ballots must be postmarked by 11:59 p.m or placed in the Board of Elections drop box located at Seventh and Market Streets in Zanesville Polling locations will be open for in-person voting on Tuesday ZANESVILLE ‒ Three local water systems will receive upgrades thanks to some recent grant funding The Ohio EPA recently announced awards for three Muskingum County water projects "The money will be used to help provide a continuous supply of safe drinking water support strategies to better protect source water and properly abandon existing inactive wells and for the purchase of emergency generators," noted an EPA announcement Roseville's administrator Jeff Slack said a water study will allow the village to find water loss in its water system He added that there had been some breaks in 2024 The survey will also allow village workers to know how to do water audits in the future There was not a start date on the project yet and they'll use the funding to look for water system deficiencies as well but Huebner believed it could begin in the summer The Maysville Regional Water District received $50,000 through a separate program for an emergency generator Later this year the generator will be installed at a booster station on Nolan Drive Shook noted it as a need at the Nolan site It would keep people with water if there's a power outage More: EPA limits remain on 'forever chemicals' – for now. What's in Zanesville drinking water? OH – The postseason is nearly upon us and here come the brackets for the 2025 spring sports postseason We begin with softball with local teams from the Central and Southeast districts in their respective divisions and brackets: Ohio University Zanesville is proud to showcase the Southeastern Ohio Watermedia Society (SEOWS) Spring Show This exhibition features a diverse range of water-based media including watercolor demonstrating the rich talents of artists from Muskingum SEOWS has been a vibrant platform for artists to present their work while also offering workshops and activities that foster a deeper appreciation for water-based media Stop by and view the artwork at the Zanesville Campus Library at OHIO Zanesville located at 1425 Newark Road With over 20 years of experience as a nurse and art therapist at Hospice of Guernsey Lois Merrill has spent a lifetime caring for others she continues to find fulfillment in artistic expression Lois has been creating for as long as she can remember drawing inspiration from the beauty of nature and the emotions that art can evoke Her painting Life at the Lake reflects the tranquility and strength she finds in Buckeye Lake while Dancing Joy celebrates the simple yet profound gratitude she feels for life itself she hopes to bring happiness and inspiration to others Lois joined the organization to connect with fellow artists embracing the creative energy that surrounds her From tracing cartoon characters at the age of nine to selling hand-drawn artwork in elementary school Rachel has been passionate about art for as long as she can remember and began creating original works that reflect her unique perspective and creativity Rachel sought to bring joy and inspiration to viewers inspired by SpaceX Crew-9’s return and childhood dreams of working for NASA—blends soft watercolors and thought-provoking quotes to evoke nostalgia and imagination Rachel took the leap to submit her work for the SEOWS Spring Show seeing it as an opportunity to gain recognition and connect with the artistic community inspiring creativity in those who experience it Distinguished Professor of Fine Art and Director of the Gallery at Muskingum University is an accomplished artist with formal training in traditional and Western painting techniques often drawing inspiration from his surroundings his piece Radiance of the Winter Sunrise showcases the expressive qualities of acrylics capturing natural beauty with intricate detail Yan Sun’s work reflects a deep connection to natural beauty His paintings have also been featured in solo exhibitions at the Hayden Museum of American Art with some becoming part of their permanent collections Sun values artistic collaboration and community He hopes his work inspires viewers to pause believing that “painting is a continuous process of discovery.” Whether you’re an avid art collector or simply exploring new creative horizons the SEOWS Spring Show at OHIO Zanesville provides an opportunity to witness firsthand the artistic energy flowing through Southeastern Ohio With pieces that span a variety of techniques and expressions the exhibit offers a visual journey of nature Don’t miss the chance to immerse yourself in the passion and talent showcased by these remarkable artists before the exhibition closes on April 25 © 2025 Ohio University (This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.) Dayton police investigating the death of a 25-year-old Zanesville man said that it appears that Christian Black died of "positional asphyxia" while in custody of the Montgomery County Jail Positional asphyxia occurs when someone's body position prevents them from breathing Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck said in a Facebook post that he put the 10 employees involved in restraining Black on paid administrative leave and met with Black's family to express condolences and pledge cooperation in the investigation Attorneys for the Black family said the jail camera footage shows employees tasered Black and placed him in a headlock while he was in the restraint chair "The video clearly shows that not a single jail employee offered any life-saving measures as Mr Black was dying right in front of them," the attorneys' statement said in part Englewood police officers arrested Black around 3 a.m Police allege Black ran from the crash scene hopped a fence and swam across a pond adjacent to a Walmart Officers took Black to a hospital to be checked out and then to jail Streck said that Black was combative and banging his head against his cell door which serves The Dispatch and the Times Recorder requested records related to the death on March 27 including surveillance footage of Black in his cell and in the restraint chair releasing video footage is not appropriate while investigations are ongoing," Streck said in his statement Streck asked Dayton Police to investigate the in-custody death In Ohio, sheriffs are allowed to investigate deaths in their jails, though Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost say independent investigators should be used instead An investigation by the Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch, Akron Beacon Journal and Canton Repository found that on average The investigation found that jail personnel ignored serious medical conditions and injuries withheld life-saving medicine and did not adequately monitor prisoners at risk for suicide another man held in restraints at the Montgomery County Jail died of head trauma Jail surveillance video shows how guards taunted Deputies on the overnight shift told Trammell he was "ridiculous," "embarrassing" and "acting like an ass," surveillance video shows Officers strapped Trammell into a restraint chair two separate times and threatened more time in the chair if he didn’t calm down Dayton paramedics loaded Trammell into an ambulance This story has been updated to include a statement from the Black family's attorneys State government reporter Laura Bischoff can be reached at lbischoff@gannett.com and @lbischoff on X Muskingum County- A year old facility in Muskingum County caught fire early Thursday morning The Washington Township Fire Department and Rumpke officials continue to investigate the fire at the Rumpke Transfer Station on Adamsville Road Fire Chief Gene Hanning said they got the call around 6a.m When crews arrived on the scene the building was fully engulfed in flames Hanning said at this time they aren’t sure what caused the fire Rumpke said service will continue without interruption however the transfer station will remain closed during an investigation and cleanup “We want to thank the local firefighters for their swift response and support,” said Randy Broadright Rumpke will continue providing our customers with excellent service as we work through this situation.” Zanesville and South Zanesville Fire Departments worked to extinguish the fire Ohio–Three Muskingum County residents are facing felony charges after a major drug bust in both Dresden and Frazeysburg The Central Ohio Drug Enforcement Task Force and Muskingum County/Zanesville City’s Joint Drug Unit executed a search warrant at 12690 McKee Lane in Frazeysburg last Thursday where two individuals were taken into custody Investigators then served a second warrant at an apartment on West Dave Longaberger Drive in Dresden “Based on two different locations with the search warrants we ended up with Dustin Thorpe and Pheona Trager of Frazeysburg in custody and also a Rylan Burrie All of them charged with numerous counts of aggravated possession and trafficking various miscellaneous charges based on the weapons and the drugs that were confiscated,” said Zanesville Police Chief Scott Comstock and approximately two to three pounds of methamphetamine Investigators say tips from the public continue to play a vital role and are urging residents to continue reporting suspicious activity through the Joint Drug Tip Line I want them to rest assured that our officers are going to track down arrest and charge these individuals,” Comstock said “Every little piece of information we get and it goes into a database because you never know what we’re going to use later to connect something so we really appreciate the public’s help We want them to know that we’re still making this a top priority and it will be as long as we’re in these positions,” Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz added All three suspects are currently being held in the Muskingum County Jail on $500,000 bond with additional charges and arrests expected Ohio–Construction at Secrest Auditorium and Music Hall isn’t slowing down the fun this summer the Summer Concert Series will kick off as planned on May 22nd Concerts will be held Thursday evenings throughout the summer and are free to the public “We’re starting each of our concert nights at 5 o’clock then we’re going to have an early concert at 6 After we’ll have the main/premiere band at 7:30,” Zanesville Mayor Don Mason said A variety of acts are lined up to take the stage bringing everything from local talent to regional headliners the real heart of the concert series goes beyond the music what I find rewarding and exciting is I’ll see people making contact with other people they hadn’t seen for years what makes me feel good is knowing that because of all the businesses who have supported this they’re creating the opportunity for people to rekindle and renew friendships That’s what a small community like Zanesville’s all about I don’t think you get that in the big towns but you do get that in the nice small cities like Zanesville and feel free to bring non-alcoholic drinks along Ohio–May the 4th is nearly here and one local museum is preparing to celebrate in full Star Wars fashion The Zanesville Museum of Art is inviting the public to a galaxy not so far away this Sunday for a special Star Wars Day celebration “The highlight of our event is the 501st and Rebel Legion costuming club They’re going to be available for photo ops and just kind of showing off all the creativity that goes into their movie-accurate costumes,” said Misty Johnson education coordinator at the Zanesville Museum of Art The event will feature appearances by fan-favorite characters from the Star Wars universe along with a full lineup of interactive activities Another thing we’re doing as part of this event and working with our partners here collecting food for a couple of the local food banks,” Johnson said Organizers are asking guests to bring a non-perishable food item to help support local food banks The May the 4th celebration runs from 1 to 4 p.m OH – Big things are coming to the banks of the Muskingum River starting with a brand-new riverside space for all to enjoy The Muskingum Valley Park District has acquired more than six acres of riverfront property on the west side of the Muskingum River will soon be transformed into Straker Landing “One of the Park Districts goals is to revitalize the Muskingum River It used to be a really popular spot for recreation there’s been some public perception that the river is dirty or it’s not desirable if you look at some of the recent studies that were conducted with construction projects there’s a lot of unique aquatic life in the river which couldn’t exist if the water is really at poor quality we want to get people back on and in the river,” Executive Director of the Muskingum Valley Park District Russell Edgington Plans for Straker Landing include an access road and even a pedestrian bridge connecting to Riverside Park across the river Our plans are going to be a little different While we are intending to reconstruct one of the existing boat ramps one of the really exciting things is that we’re hoping to construct a pedestrian bridge that will go across the river to connect to River Side Park That way it’ll allow people to be able to park here and access the park without going all the way around,” Edgington said The park district plans to start construction as soon as possible once funding is secured and they’re still actively seeking additional support to make it happen ZANESVILLE ‒ Less than a week after her arrest a Zanesville woman's arraignment was immediately followed by a plea hearing and a maximum sentencing recently pleaded guilty and was convicted of murder after her father-in-law's deceased body was found in a shed on her property with only the possibility of parole after serving 16 years matching a joint recommendation between assistant prosecuting attorney John Litle the Zanesville Police Department went to a Somers Street residence belonging to Cole Authorities surveyed the property and found the body of David Cole Sr. wrapped in a tarp and plastic mattress cover in the shed The body was in an advanced stage of decomposition Cole Sr.'s cause of death was initially believed to be of natural causes but the investigation revealed it was a deadly combination of medications Cole had administered a first dose of Zzzquil and Tylenol No a combination of acetaminophen and codeine She gave him a second dosage of both drugs about 90 minutes later She went to bed and found him deceased the next day Cole and her family departed on a family trip to Orlando until Jan 8 that the case's co-defendant and Cole's husband The two worked together to wrap and move it into the shed video footage and Google searches were found "Evidence included camera footage from Jan text messages about the smell and disposal plans 'when someone dies how long does it take for the body to start smelling,'" noted an announcement from the Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office Both Coles were arrested and indicted on Feb Litle said there were financial motives to masking Cole Sr.'s death He received more than $2,000 in monthly Social Security deposits were transferred to Brittany via Cash App for utility bills and household expenses Brittany did not originally say anything on her behalf during sentencing When questioned by Judge Gerald Anderson II More: Sheriff: Muskingum University shooting scare could have been fueled by social media rumors Brittany's two sentences are running consecutively Anderson handed her the 12-month maximum for gross abuse of a corpse which increased the earliest parole possibility from 15 years to 16 Post-release control was not relevant in this case Brittany will be required to register as a violent offender annually for 10 years She was given credit for seven days served and had been held in the Muskingum County Jail on a $1 million bond is detained in the Muskingum County Jail but on a $500,000 bond but he was initially charged with six felonies Ohio – The Muskingum River is known as being a major means of historic transportation but many of the surrounding hills and hollows have been carved into by railroads Zanesville and Western Scenic Railroad Consultant Tom Barnett met with the Muskingum County Commissioners to discuss a local railway closure that will eliminate a local tourist attraction as well as the ability to conduct any future rail commerce along that corridor “Which runs from South Zanesville out through Avondale East Fultonham and over into Mount Perry and Glass Rock We think the line has a lot of potential and we believe it should not be cut up for scrap at this time.” is currently operational and is being leased by the Zanesville and Western Scenic Railroad The State Route 93 Crossing in Avondale has already been removed and the Ohio Rail Development Commission has been seeking legislative approval for the removal of the rest of the corridor “We operate on the Glass Rock Line currently on about a mile and a half of it,” Zanesville and Western Scenic Railroad President Bill Ratz said ” We would use more but we need to rehabilitate the bridges to get across it It’s the same thing if you want to turn it into a bike trail You’re going to have to rehabilitate the bridges as the same deal We had a grant for $125,000 from the State of Ohio to work on the first bridge but we need to get matching local funds The railway advocates informed the commissioners of their interest in keeping the line operational and asked for their help in preventing the state from eliminating future commerce by writing a proclamation to save it The commissioners said they will sort through the information that was presented before taking any action ZANESVILLE ‒ The attorneys representing the family of Christian Martin Black a 25-year-old Zanesville man that died in police custody has responded to the recent details of his death Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck released an announcement May 1 stating Black's likely cause of death was positional asphyxia a posture that would've prevented him from breathing 10 jail employees were placed on paid administrative leave on April 30 Black's family is represented by attorneys Michael Wright we accompanied the family of Christian Black to a meeting with Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck where they reviewed video of their son's last moments alive and representatives from the coroner's office presented their findings related to Mr "It is clear after watching the video that the jail employees who were tasked with subduing him did not follow proper policies and procedures which ultimately caused his death," the attorneys said Black's family wants criminal charges brought against these employees for their callous treatment of Mr Black was arrested and detained in the Montgomery County Jail on March 23 after reportedly crashing a stolen vehicle in Englewood noted an earlier sheriff's office announcement Black reportedly jumped up and fought multiple officers He was subdued with a Taser and placed into another cell Black violently struck his head on his cell door numerous times Staff intervened and used pepper spray and a Taser as Black was handcuffed and placed in an emergency restraint chair all while he struggled to breathe," the attorneys stated Black was dying right in front of them."   The chairs are used to "help control combative or potentially violent inmates to reduce the risk of physical harm to both the inmate and staff," Streck noted on May 1 The chair had soft restraint and the handcuffs were removed He was transported to the Miami Valley Hospital in critical condition and was pronounced dead on March 26 Black was an organ donor and donated two lungs and one kidney to three recipients and was honored with a hero's walk at the hospital on March 29 The attorneys had launched their own independent investigation in early April The Dayton Police Department is also continuing to investigate Black's death The Montgomery County Coroner's Office is also continuing an investigation into Black's death More: 3 residents arrested after officers seize large quantity of drugs, 18 firearms and $10K On the heels of what could be record-setting high temperatures Friday "A strong low pressure system will impact the region this weekend bringing gusty wind and the potential for severe thunderstorms Saturday afternoon and evening," according to the statement "Damaging wind will be the main hazard but hail and tornado threats remain possible." There's a slight chance for severe thunderstorms bringing damaging wind gusts as high as 28 miles per hour Saturday, according to the weather service More showers and wind gusts up to 29 miles per hour are forecast for Sunday Will today's warm weather set a record?Forecasters were watching to see if Zanesville and other communities across the region would set record highs on Friday, according to a Facebook post from the Pittsburgh office The record high for March 14 in Zanesville is 80 degrees New Philadelphia's record high for the date is 78 degrees The thermometer there was at 77 degrees Friday afternoon weather service warnsThere's a downside to those warm temperatures "Any ignition source may quickly get out of control given the gusty winds," it added Ohio law prohibits all outdoor burning between the hours of 6 a.m The National Weather Service is predicting a low around 58 tonight with south winds of 7 to 11 mph Things will change on Saturday with showers and a possible thunderstorm High temperature is expected to be 73 with a low of 57 Chance of a precipitation is 100% possible thunderstorms before 11 p.m Nighttime winds will continue to be 19 to 14 mph More rain and possible thunderstorms remain in the forecast for Sunday Throughout January, Ohio University Zanesville is excited to offer the community a series of enriching and interactive events This is a great opportunity during the winter months to explore campus visit the Zanesville Campus Library and participate in community events Join us at Ohio University Zanesville in Elson Hall W110 for a Muskingum 250 program as Dr Brandon Downing examines early American history and Native-white relations in the Revolutionary Era As part of the Muskingum 250 celebration join us for a captivating lecture by Downing A historian specializing in early American history and Native-white relations along the frontier Downing will discuss themes from his current manuscript "Barbarous Tribes of Savages: Violence and Conflict on the Periphery of Empire in the Colonial Mid-Atlantic 1750-1776." This program will reflect on the rich history of the Muskingum region during America's Revolutionary Era Celebrate National Pizza Week with a fun and interactive Pizza-Making Party at Zanesville Campus Library Whether you're a pizza connoisseur or just love a good slice We’ll provide the dough (and the recipe to take home) and add your favorite toppings to create your perfect pizza you'll take turns baking it while we keep the fun going with games Space is limited, so please register to reserve your spot. Do you own your own business or are interested in starting one? Join the Ohio University Small Business Development Center to learn tools to make your business a success Join us at Ohio University Zanesville for a special Martin Luther King Jr an HBO documentary that offers a portrait of Dr from his pivotal role in the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to his tragic assassination in 1968 Witness the emotional and political challenges he faced as he continued his fight for justice.  Join us for a virtual session to learn how to leverage Handshake for internships and jobs. This event is open to all Ohio University graduates and current students. Connect with Summer Jacobs to register and learn more about career and internship opportunities for area Bobcats falcons and other raptors with the Ohio School of Falconry They will bring some amazing birds with them for an extra special learning experience fables and family narratives Lyn Ford heard as a child she found ways to relate to others and "make hard times less heavy." Lyn shares from her stories and experiences as a child of Black Appalachia an Ohio teaching artist who works with all ages a certified laughter wellness teacher and a great-grandma Join us in the Zanesville Campus Library to hear more about the rich traditions of storytelling among Black Appalachian people Ford will be sharing stories and presenting on her experiences as an educator and a writer Ohio University Zanesville is proud to host these diverse events welcoming all members of the community to participate and learn These events are provided in partnership with the Muskingum County Library System and the Muskingum 250 Committee.  For more information on these events, please visit Ohio University Zanesville's website: www.ohio.edu/zanesville/community-events ZANESVILLE — When it comes to career accomplishments From his days as Zanesville's career wins leader in basketball with a Division I state title and unbeaten season on his resume to his time as the Blue Devils' athletic director the River View graduate is being recognized for his devotion Aronhalt will be inducted into the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame on Saturday night in Columbus where he will join the most prestigious group of coaches the sport can offer within the state borders More: Zanesville High School dedicates weight room to longtime coach More: 2021 Year in Review: ZHS coaching legend Scott Aronhalt resigns; other highlights from local sports More: Aronhalt, Miller join District 12 Hall of Fame It came on the heels of his induction into the East District Athletic Directors Hall of Fame who is retiring after the school year ends Aronhalt joins former Carey coach Tim Tucker Thomas Aquinas/North Canton Hoover coach Paul Wackerly and former Columbus Ready coach Ray Corbett in this year's class A Class AA first-team All-Ohio player under Walt Harrop at River View Aronhalt played and earned his bachelor's degree from Southern Nazarene (Oklahoma) where he was a member of the 1981 NAIA national championship team He began his coaching career in Fort Worth where he served as an assistant coach under Harrop at Ashland High for three years After serving as an assistant at Division II Tiffin University where the Dragons set a school record with 25 wins Aronhalt had the Blue Devils in the Division I regional finals then won a D-I state championship in 1994-95 They returned to the state tournament in 1996-97 placing runner-up in a season in which it defeated the nation's top-ranked team by the USA Today in Oak Hill Academy (Virginia) It was the end of a four-year stretch that saw Aronhalt's teams win 41 straight home games claim an Associated Press poll title and finish 92-9 led by his son Logan Aronhalt and current Blue Devil coach Cedric Harris defeated a pair of state champions before suffering a heartbreaking loss to rival Newark in the Division I district finals at the Fairgrounds Coliseum in Columbus took Aronhalt back to the state tournament in Division II which marked the school's first regional title in 13 years Only a last-second loss to Port Clinton kept his squad from playing for another state title his Blue Devils were back in the Division I district finals with a 21-1 squad led by J.T He finished with a 466-254 record in a career that spanned 31 seasons and included 11 league/conference titles and nine regional bids He was named Division I Coach of the Year by the OHSBCA in 1995 and won the honor by the AP a year later Aronhalt oversaw multiple projects on the ZHS campus which serves as a key host site for Ohio High School Athletic association events He also had a key role in the design of the current Winland Memorial Gymnasium which annually hosts girls regional basketball and volleyball tournaments Aronhalt has served as tournament director each year since becoming AD Blue Devil football teams twice reached the state semifinals under his watch while former assistant Jeff Moore took the Lady Devil basketball program to unseen heights during his head coaching tenure in the 2010s The induction ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m Saturday at the Marriott University Area hotel located at 3100 Olentangy River Road in Columbus contact Hall of Fame Director Paul Wayne at 419-261-2547 or by email at wayno14@embarqmail.com At OHIO Zanesville The Bobcat Resource Center is a dedicated space committed to helping students thrive finding professional attire or receiving career guidance Each week, students are able to take advantage of Cats’ Career Help, held every Tuesday in the Elson Hall Atrium. Summer Jacobs is available on-site to assist students with career prep and help them explore the many resources available on campus Whether you're crafting the perfect resume Jacobs is available on campus year round to provide personalized support It is all about helping Bobcats put their best paws forward in the job market One key resource available to students and graduates is the Bobcat Career Closet which offers a selection of professional attire—free of charge—for interviews As one student shared: “Landing an interview is exciting but affording professional clothes can be tough The Bobcat Career Closet helped me find the perfect outfit for free giving me the confidence I needed to make a great first impression Take advantage of it—you won't regret it!” Additionally, the Cats’ Cupboard is available in the same space for students in need of non-perishable food items and hygiene products This essential service supports students’ well-being so they can focus on their academic and career goals without added stress Another student expressed the impact of this resource: “Being a college student is stressful enough without worrying about where your next meal is coming from don't hesitate—this resource is here for you!” Jacobs shared, “The Bobcat Resource Center and Cats’ Career Help work together to create a community of support We believe in the strength and potential of every Bobcat and we’re here to help you unleash it OHIO students are invited to connect with Jacobs by emailing sjacobs@ohio.edu and discover everything available to help you succeed.  Nearly six years after Ohio lawmakers passed the now-notorious House Bill 6, legislators are axing a fee for coal plants on Ohioans' electric bills The Ohio Senate unanimously approved House Bill 15 on April 30 The sweeping energy bill aims to generate more energy without raising Ohioans' bills through several changes The proposed law would eliminate fees on Ohioans' electric bills that pay for two coal plants owned by the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation, including one in Indiana. The OVEC fees, which have collected more than $467 million since 2020 were added to a controversial nuclear bailout bill to garner more support House Bill 6 was at the center of a statehouse pay-to-play scandal recently featured in an HBO documentary. "House Bill 15 contains huge wins for consumers that have been scarred by the House Bill 6 scandal but most importantly keeps money in the pockets of hardworking Ohioans," state Sen The House approved the Senate's changes in a 94-2 vote State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@gannett.com or @jbalmert on X an organization of motorcyclists known as ‘Run for the Wall’ gathers to honor fallen military service members Local Resident and Run for the Wall Sit-Rep Writer Mike Cooper talked about an upcoming national ride in support of veterans that will roll right through Zanesville “There are three routes that come across the U.S another route called The Sandbox or the Wall to Wall Route we’ll be going East to West getting to the Hamline Bridge We know that people on bridges are waving flags and waving at us and yelling at us but they are supporting the veterans we’re trying to support and honor,” Cooper said In addition to encouraging the public to gather on the interstate overpasses Cooper explained the work his organization does along with how the public can learn more about Run for the Wall last year we learned of a Ron Forrester,” Cooper said “ Captain Ronald Forrester was an A-6 Intruder Pilot She’s been pushing to get her dad’s remains recovered His crash site was discovered in Fall of 23 She got a phone call the first week of December of 23 that they had a match They had found… finally found her dad she was able to bury her dad at Arlington National Cemetery That’s a personal story of why we do it.” For more information about Run for the Wall as well as how you can participate you can visit their website but the thought of it all still weighs heavily on my soul As time ticked away on Ohio State football’s 34-23 win against Notre Dame securing the school’s third national title this century a singular thought kept flooding my mind while sitting inside the friendly confines of Scott Moyer's palatial entertainment plaza even if deep down their opinions ground his gears like Maple Avenue traffic person I’ve known was far more like a brother than a friend We lived together for five years and were close friends for far longer meeting through mutual friends and our love for fantasy sports smart enough to graduate with multiple degrees from Ohio University and coach the Zanesville Americans Babe Ruth 15-year-old All-Stars to a state title he took equal pride in his job as a jack-of-all trades with Four Star Pizza I can attest to the cold winter nights and 90-degree evenings he spent making sure those subs and flips were made accurately and delivered efficiently the man was as accurate and thorough as humanly possible He simply worked himself silly and survived off of his love for coffee until his unexpected death on Jan winding-road conversation we enjoyed over St the city would need another reservoir — or three when he wasn’t willing to put a know-it-all drunk in his place when it came to political accuracies — or lack thereof He was the Chet Atkins and Roy Clark of governmental and civic affairs He could pick and grin with the best of them there were few things he held closer to his heart than his days with baseball While it was Todd Rock and the late Terry Clark who led the Americans to two Babe Ruth World Series in the 1990s Jeremy made his own run with teams led by West M legend Chuck Norris He often joked how there were the speeches he gave in front of the parents then the ones he gave in the outfield when no one else but the players could hear That was when the true wit and wisdom surfaced from this man most saw as an ordinary everyman he spoke of the player conversations and tactical decisions made in those state and regional tournaments like they had happened a few days prior The man's memory was sealed like a gun safe That love for the diamond stemmed from a different time He always reminisced about the days when the kids in his Bluff Street neighborhood in North Zanesville piled in the family station wagon — he was the oldest of Jeff and Beth's 11 children — with bats balls and gloves to the fields at Armco Park He was Jay Payton's catcher when the former All-American at Georgia Tech — and later a first-round MLB draft choice — pitched at the Y-City Midget League He was adamant some 40 years later that the hardest-hit ball he'd ever witnessed came off of Payton's bat one of the many legendary homers the ZHS grad launched in his childhood He also said no one worked harder to become great than the Jay Pay Kid I used to urge him to get back into coaching because he possessed a rare combination of tactical ability knowledge of the game and communication skills He never did but his heart was never far from it Perhaps that explains his zest for fantasy sports where many of the leagues he commissioned featured fantasy veterans of 20 or more years I half-joked on more than one occasion that he should have been writing for Yahoo! He kept an endless stack of old-school spiral notebooks like something out of a civil attorney's archives It was how he plotted his next moves for rotisserie domination plans he rarely shared with the competition (despite my urgings) That's when his loss will hit me the hardest We were connected by fantasy baseball and football — and later my sister Anne with whom he and puppies Marty and Rascal spent almost 12 years together — which spawned a brotherhood that existed until his passing The number of story ideas and columns of which I consulted with him before anyone else is a long list just never thought it would happen like this While the elder statesman of children in a large Catholic family But he always believed in the everlasting spirit how the aura of a person's soul never truly leaves us after death It was one of his many theories that have resonated with me in times of loss His spirit is one that will live with many of us eternally (This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) OH–A new smoothie and juice bar has officially opened its doors in Zanesville WHIZ’s Shylin Costello and Aniyah Hart stopped by the grand opening to check it out and of course to get a taste for themselves A new business is stirring up excitement in Zanesville and we got a first taste Pulp smoothie bar has officially opened its doors and it’s already blended perfectly right into the community The Zanesville-Muskingum County Chamber of Commerce joined community members and smoothie lovers for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of Pulp in Zanesville “A lot of people came in and they were like thank you so much for bringing this to town like we don’t have anything like this Everything is 100% fruit; no added sugar and we don’t have anything like this around here,” said Pulp Zanesville location Owner Austin Lemmon community leaders got to sample a few of Pulp’s most popular blends to determine Zanesville Favorite Smoothie and we got to join in on the fun Zanesville’s favorite smoothie is the pulp passion But don’t just take our word for it—stop in You can find pulp juice and smoothie bar at 3209 Maple Avenue in Zanesville Zanesville – The Zanesville Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a multiple vehicle injury crash on Interstate 70 westbound It happened at Milepost 144 in Hopewell Township just before 9:30 a.m Troopers responded to the scene which involved three commercial vehicles and two pick up trucks Paisley’s Vehicle was pushed into a vehicle that was disabled along I-70 Paisley’s vehicle then overturned onto its side driven by Wayla Brown Williams,41 of Laveen Arizona was struck by the load from Taggart’s vehicle Taggart’s semi was hauling 2- 20,0000 lb steel coils I-70 Westbound remained closed until 2:00 pm Wednesday Taggart was transported to Genesis in Zanesville with minor injuries  Paisley was treated on scene by EMS personnel Taggart was cited for failure to maintain an assured clear distance Ohio University Zanesville and the Muskingum Valley ESC are thrilled to announce an engaging presentation on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in educational settings by Jen Lisy, Assistant Professor of Instruction and AI Faculty Fellow and students with vital insights into AI’s impact on education Lisy will delve into how AI can enhance educational workflows—from lesson planning to administrative tasks—and address the ethical considerations and potential biases within AI applications This discussion is not only timely but crucial for those looking to incorporate AI tools into their educational practices effectively Educators attending the event will have the opportunity to earn Continuing Education Units The session promises to be an invaluable resource for understanding both the benefits and challenges of AI in academic environments Event Details:What: Presentation on AI in Education by Jen LisyWhen: Feb Ohio University ZanesvilleWho: Open to educators Ohio University Zanesville encourages all interested parties to attend and explore the future of education through the lens of artificial intelligence.  To register or to learn more about upcoming community programs, visit ohio.edu/zanesville/community-events Vice Provost of Regional Higher Education Lewatis McNeal has announced the upcoming retirement of Dean Hannah Nissen Since assuming the role of Zanesville dean in October 2020, Nissen has been a pivotal figure at OHIO Zanesville and in the local community Nissen served as an educator at several institutions including California State University San Bernardino and Youngstown State University Her tenure at Zanesville began 25 years ago when she joined as faculty and program coordinator of the Early Childhood Program Her leadership abilities and dedication to academic excellence led to progressive administrative roles including academic division chair and associate dean continuing to advance educational initiatives and community partnerships Nissen’s career reflects a commitment to both classroom excellence and administrative leadership Each role built upon her foundation as an educator while expanding her impact on institutional development and student success Nissen has shown an unwavering commitment to fostering educational excellence and community engagement Her leadership was instrumental in navigating the complexities of remote learning and ensuring that faculty and students adapted seamlessly to new educational paradigms Nissen has led several initiatives that transformed educational programs and strengthened community relationships Her primary focus was securing critical funding for the nursing programs which enabled the acquisition of advanced simulators and the redesign of laboratory spaces These improvements provided students with essential hands-on experiences to build confidence before entering clinical settings Understanding the diverse challenges students face Nissen pursued external grants to address unique needs These funds opened doors for student research and leadership development as well as for completion grants to help students overcome financial barriers to licensure exams and other graduation expenses Recognizing the importance of workforce preparedness Nissen organized a series of Workforce Success sessions over three years These collaborative events brought together higher education and community partners creating valuable networking opportunities and fostering a deeper understanding of workforce trends human resource practices and relevant legislation Her commitment to community engagement led to strong partnerships with regional health care institutions These relationships provided experiential learning opportunities and internships for students these partnerships also brought diverse cultural historical and recreational opportunities to the campus Nissen created an educational ecosystem that prepared students for professional success while strengthening the community they serve Nissen has been a strong advocate for community partnerships spearheading initiatives that bridged the gap between the college and local organizations These programs benefited both students and residents and left a lasting impact on Zanesville and Muskingum County reflecting her belief in the transformative power of education “I am honored to have served as the dean of campus and community engagement for the Zanesville campus for nearly five years,” Nissen said including strong academic programs and many opportunities for community and student engagement I am grateful for the opportunity to work with talented staff and faculty who are committed to the success of our students.” Ohio University Zanesville plans to launch a comprehensive search for its next campus dean in the coming months and it is committed to finding a leader who will continue to uphold its values and drive its mission forward Further details about campus leadership plans will be announced as they become available “Dean Nissen’s leadership has been a guiding force for OHIO Zanesville,” McNeal said we are excited to build upon the strong foundation she has established.” A celebration honoring Nissen’s achievements will be held later this semester and community members to express their gratitude and well-wishes.  A Zanesville man was arrested early Sunday morning on felony charges by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office According to a press release issued Tuesday Sunday a deputy and K9 Ozna were patrolling Interstate 77 when a black sedan with noticeably dark windows bearing an unreadable Ohio temporary registration A traffic stop was conducted near the 6 mile marker (south bound) of I-77 in Muskingum Township The occupants were identified with one rear passenger being Paul Dickinson Due to the odor of marijuana present in the vehicle the deputy advised the occupants he was going to run K9 Ozna around the vehicle the occupants were asked in detail if there were any illegal narcotics in the vehicle K9 Ozna would indicate on and the occupant’s answer was a unanimous no K9 Ozna was deployed for an open air sniff and provided a positive indication All occupants were asked to exit the vehicle as a probable cause search was going to be conducted A search of the vehicle yielded the discovery of a white powdery substance sealed in two clear bags in a Big Gulp cup and another clear bag in the coat of a coat belonging to Dickinson admitted to purchasing a Big Gulp drink from a gas station in Zanesville The digital scale was found in close proximity to where Dickinson was sitting The drink cup was also in a cup holder next to Dickinson The narcotics were tested and found to be positive for cocaine The total weight of the cocaine was 8.07 grams was placed under arrest and charged with tampering with evidence and possession of a schedule II controlled substance He appeared in Marietta Municipal Court and wa being held on $20,000 bond plus personal recognizance | https://www.mariettatimes.com | 740-373-2121 OH – Students at Zanesville High School helped to make the area they call home a better place In partnership with the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department High School students had the opportunity to volunteer to clean up tobacco and e-cigarette litter the Health Educator with the Health Department they made this into a competition between the three schools that took part on the other “Take Down Tobacco Cleanup Days” we made it a competition between schools,” Zalmanek said “So having this big of a turn out from one school is incredible I think the weather had a lot to do with that in previous years we’ve had to reschedule but thankfully the weather’s been great This is the largest group that we’ve had and it makes me feel good knowing that there are students that want to help clean up their community and get some community service hours.” said she participated in Tobacco Take Down Day because she needed a few more community services hours She said it’s great to see all her friends and classmates out cleaning up the community and I like being involved in competitions,” Murdock said The students say their estimated final total of tobacco and e-cigarette waste picked up will be between 5 and 7lbs The citizens of Zanesville and Muskingum County were facing oppressive weather conditions in 1978 “Flight personnel at Municipal Airport reported Tuesday morning an accumulation of 10 inches of snow with a couple of inches credited to the latest storm  Winds of 15 to 22 knots - roughly 17 to 25 miles an hour - were predicted for this morning By then the community was tired of the snow wind and freezing temperatures that had been plaguing the region The weather conditions challenged work crews: “At Zanesville street department to remove snow…The street department has been operating on a schedule of two 12-hour shifts each day for the past two weeks.”   the TR was again the bearer of bad tidings: “Many people couldn’t believe their eyes and ears Thursday when they heard a heavy snow warning had been issued for the state and when they saw the snow begin falling in earnest at mid-afternoon Forecasters said already snow-buried Southeast Ohio could expect four to six inches additional accumulation by this morning Nearly everything in Muskingum County came to a halt By noon the snow was 19 inches deep and was still falling Local hotels did their part by providing rooms for stranded travelers Help was on the way: “Muskingum County Commissioner Ancel Luburg announced that Muskingum County has been declared a disaster area by Gov federal funds were requested and the national guardsmen were put to work: “In southeast Ohio considered one of the hardest hit areas because of its many hills the National Guard deployed 115 men to clear the some 22 inches of snow currently on the ground.”   The following Wednesday the TR reported some area roads were dangerous to travel: “Sheriff’s departments in the area reported slick roads and a plethora of fender benders Tuesday evening as rain began to cause roads already slick to become worse 27 was even worse: “Over 300 Muskingum County residents were evacuated from their homes Thursday as arctic air blasted through the area creating blizzard conditions churches and area homes were opened to the evacuees as high winds caused drifting snow and power outages over much of Muskingum Rescue efforts were hampered by closed roads and high snow drifts Most of the evacuations were because of lack of heat in homes “Zanesville Police Department reported over 500 calls from elderly people asking to be evacuated to homes of relatives for the duration of the emergency and the department worked with local emergency and medical agencies to transport workers to Bethesda Hospital and Good Samaritan Medical Center.”  “…storm with snow and winds more than 70 mph has proved to be the strongest to pass over the area since weather records were begun 100 years ago.”   28: “Ohio Power crews continued working around the clock Friday to restore power to several areas in the city and county some of which had been without power since 3 a.m administrative assistant at Ohio Power reported.” The working conditions were less than ideal: ”Sometimes while the workers are trying to dig someone out so they can get through leaving them so they cannot go either direction was stranded north of New Concord from noon Thursday to Friday morning Even when the crews do get through it can take a long time The trip from Zanesville to Frazeysburg took 14 hours for crews trying to restore power to the village Once there the crews could not get back and had to spend the night there.” Additional problems arose: “Battling a two-headed monster area residents Friday struggled against mountainous snow drifts and flooding Authorities raced against a rapidly rising Muskingum River to evacuate many residents in the Philo Duncan Falls and McConnelsville-Malta  areas causing the water to rise at the rate of a foot an hour.” Authorities told residents to stay off the streets and highways and threatened to arrest those who chose to disregard the warning “Even as weary road crews struggled to open highways stories of heroic rescues during the blizzard continued to be heard," the TR reported on Jan "Stranded motorists and persons snowbound without heat or light were aided by neighbors any homes with a fireplace became an instant storm shelter.” Lewis Lemaster is a retired teacher of the Zanesville area You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience An event every week that begins at 9:00 am on Saturday Plan to join us for the Spring Farmers Market at Weasel Boy Brewing An event every day that begins at 11:00 am An event every week that begins at 6:00 pm on Tuesday DAYTON ‒ The death of a Zanesville man who reportedly smashed his head into his cell door and fought with jail staff is under investigation according to an announcement form the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Englewood Police Department officers were called to the area of Interstate 70 near Hoke Road around 3 a.m for reports of a person who crashed a car stolen during a “violent” robbery in Beavercreek Black was charged with receiving stolen property and obstructing official business and booked into the Montgomery County Jail jail staff noticed Black lying face down and unresponsive in his cell Black reportedly jumped up and fought with multiple officers and he was placed back into a cell and monitored Black started "forcefully and repeatedly striking his head on his cell door," officials stated including pepper spray and a Taser and were eventually able to handcuff Black and place him in an emergency restraint chair to keep him from further self-injurious behavior," the announcement said and Dayton Fire was requested as his condition worsened Black had lost consciousness and was transported to the hospital Black's death and the circumstances leading up to it are under investigation by Dayton Police Department since forceful methods had been used The incident will be under review by the Sheriff’s Office Inspectional Service Unit The Montgomery County coroner is still determining Black's cause of death ZANESVILLE ‒ Black Friday deals and big sale plans have already been announced by popular retailers like Amazon Whether you're looking for the latest tech toys and goodies for the little ones in your life or a great price on fashion and beauty products you've been holding off on buying early savings events and Black Friday day-of flash sales are some of the best times to cross items off your list Walmart is offering 50% off its Walmart+ annual membership Walmart stores will be closed on Thanksgiving but will open at 6 a.m Live music performances will take place at 11:30 a.m and 2 p.m within the mall and a craft show with more than 50 vendors will be held throughout the weekend There will be plenty of stores throughout Muskingum County open on Black Friday to accommodate shoppers many offering discounts and special offers ● Academy Sports + Outdoors at 3925 Gorsky Drive will be open from 5 a.m ● The Ashley Store at 210 El Camino Drive will be open from 9 a.m ● Bargain Box at 575 Harding Road will be open from 9 a.m ● Bealls at 3863 Gorsky Drive will be open from 7 a.m ● The Carter's located at 3849 Gorsky Drive will open from 6 a.m ● Family Dollar locations at 2360 Maple Ave. ● The Finish Line inside the mall will open from 8 a.m ● The Five Below inside the mall will be open from 7 a.m ● The GameStop at 2850 Maysville Pike will be open from 5 a.m ● Home Depot at 3787 Home Depot Drive will be open from 6 a.m ● The JCPenney inside the mall will be open from 5 a.m ● The Kohl's at 3825 Gorsky Drive will be open from 5 a.m ● Maurices at 3885 Gorsky Drive will be open from 8 a.m ● PetSmart at 3909 Gorsky Drive will be open from 7 a.m ● The Rural King located at 2770 Maysville Pike will be open from 6 a.m ● Sam's Club at 3724 Northpointe Drive will be open for its regular hours ● The Shoe Show at 2850 Maysville Pike will be open from 9 a.m Maxx inside the mall will be open from 7 a.m ZANESVILLE − The Muskingum County Women of Achievement will have its 37th annual banquet on April 9 at the Campus Center of Zane State College Eight women will be honored for achieving excellence in their field of endeavor and through community service Jessica Bridwell Sabine is the recipient of the Josephine Phillips Health Care Award She has served as the regional director at Muskingum County Business Incubator/TechGROWTH Ohio before joining Coler Healthcare where she serves as chief marketing officer Coler is the parent company of Shrivers Pharmacy Shrivers Home Medical and Coler LTC (Long Term Care) She also the executive director of the Shrivers Hospice Foundation Sabine is the co-chair of the Quality Care Partners QCP Community Challenge and is on the OneOhio Recovery Foundation Committee The graduate of Maysville High School studied business administration and played volleyball and softball at Charleston Southern University in Charleston Chloe Buchanan is the recipient of the Muskingum County Youth Foundation Bright Futures Award She is a senior at Zanesville High School and a College Credit Plus student who plans to attend the University of Cincinnati or Ohio Wesleyan University She serves as the senior class vice president and is an active member of the Muskingum County Community Youth Foundation and The Community Bank Junior Board of Directors she is a founding member of the Muskingum County Young Democrats Buchanan is also president of the Key Club and National Honor Society and vice president of student council She also plays an active role in ZHS television and sports media member of the tennis team and is the only female member of the robotics team Outside of school Buchanan participates in dance plays piano and is a deacon at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Community Pancake Day and shred days and is a counselor in training at Camp Christian Hamilton is the recipient of the Mary Vashti Jones Funk Business Award The graduate of West Muskingum High School and Mt Vernon Nazarene University began her banking career at Central Trust Company She served at five financial institutions before retiring from The Community Bank She now works for WAS Investments and Y Bridge Inc Hamilton has been on the boards of Muskingum County Adult and Child Protective Services Muskingum County Center for Seniors and the City of Zanesville Downtown Design Review She was also on the Muskingum County Board of Developmental Disabilities Behavior Support Committee co-chair of special ads for the Zaney Follies Spirit of Women Ladies Night Out Committee Diosi Travel Carr Center Golf Outing and was past president of Zanesville Kiwanis She was recognized as the Kiwanian of the Year for 2005 to 2006 and received the 2025 Millennium Miracle Maker Award from adult and child protective services Hamilton has volunteered for numerous non-profit events including Light the Night Festival of Trees and the Franciscan Meals on Wheels Karen Northrup Lyons is the recipient of the Muskingum Family Y Lifetime Service Award A retired nurse who keeps her license current Lyons graduated from Zanesville High School and Ohio University Zanesville where she worked as the head nurse of orthopedics and neurology She then transitioned to the role of clinical director at medical specialists serving for 20 years before moving to Southeastern Ohio Urology She completed the master gardener volunteer program through Ohio State University in 2017 and has volunteered with the Muskingum Valley Garden Society and helps plant and maintain downtown flower containers Increase Mathews House and Mission Oaks Gardens She's the president of the Friends of Dillon where she helps maintain flower beds and containers at Dillon State Park assists with events scheduled by the naturalists at the park and helps with fundraising Lyons also spearheads collecting film plastic to be recycled into composite benches for the Zanesville area she is responsible for the collection and record keeping of the plastic for the Muskingum Valley Garden Society and the Zanesville Pickleball Group Katie Ware is the recipient of the Ethel Granger Schultz Young Adult Award is the executive director at Primrose Retirement Community She's a graduate of West Muskingum High School and Ohio University She completed two internships at The Inn at Chapel Grove and Otterbein at Granville She started her career at Carriage Court Assisted Living and Memory Care as the sales and marketing director She was the sales director for Primrose before being promoted to executive director Ware volunteers for several community events including the Community Pancake Day Festival of Trees and partners with Zane State College for Random Act of Kindness Her past service also included volunteering at Primrose for four years prior to joining the leadership team Melinda Russell is the recipient of the Aldine Roach Flegal Special Recognition Award She is the director of human resources for the Muskingum County and Guernsey County boards of developmental disabilities Russell also worked at Leslie Equipment Company shortly after graduating with an associate degree from Zane State College She holds a bachelor’s degree in human resource management and business administration from Franklin University and is completing her master’s in public administration Russell has been a board member and president of Zaney Follies and Rotary Club of Zanesville is treasurer of Thursday Music Club and is a member of the Genesis Quality of Care Committee she sings for local events and fundraisers including Stars and Stripes on the River Storybook Christmas and Veterans Day parades She also volunteers for local service projects to increase awareness of human trafficking Russell has been recognized with the Rising Star Award by the Rotary Club and has completed the Leadership Muskingum and the Ohio Association of County Boards Executive Development programs Blevins is the recipient of the Winifred K The director of bands at Zanesville High School she has been an advocate for music education for more than three decades She is a graduate of Bowling Green State University and Concordia University Chicago where she earned a master’s degree in teacher leadership she worked at Coyle and Hauer Music Centers and Bishop Watterson Catholic Diocese before working for Tri-Valley Local Schools Bands under her direction have consistently obtained superior and excellent ratings at district and state competitions in marching and concert band contests She has secured grants and acquired instruments for students who might otherwise not have the opportunity to participate Blevins has been recognized with multiple awards including the Daybreak Rotary Teacher of Excellence Muskingum County Educational Service Center Exemplary Teacher and Columbus Symphony Music Education Lifetime Achievement Award she was recognized as a Grammy Music Educator Quarterfinalist and as a Grammy Music Educator Legacy Quarterfinalist She engages in the community as part of the Heisey Wind Ensemble Zaney Follies and in numerous community parades and events Stephanie Bridwell is the recipient of the Mary Townsend Professions Award She has spent the last two decades in manufacturing and operations management supporting local and global initiatives at Miba Bearings USA she worked as a quality engineer at AK Steel and as a senior analyst for Harris Bank in Chicago Bridwell is a partner with her mother and sister of Elk’s Eye Endeavors in Zanesville she earned a bachelor's degree in industrial management from Purdue University and her master's degree of public administration from Ohio State University She also completed the Miba Leadership Academy she earned a graduate certificate in Arts Management from Bemidji State University Bridwell is active with Zanesville Business and Professional Women and has served as past state president for the Ohio Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Club She's president and on the board of trustees for the Ohio Arts and Crafts Foundation is student art chair for the Salt Fork Arts and Crafts Festival and is a member of the Artist Colony of Zanesville Bridwell has earned the American Society of Quality Certified Quality Auditor and Certified Quality Manager designations she was inducted to Phi Kappa Phi and was named a Business Professional Women Ohio Individual Development Winner For more information on the banquet or tickets, visit muskingumwoa.org This story has been updated with additional information ZANESVILLE ‒ A local Catholic schools director was placed on leave last week executive director of the Catholic Schools of Zanesville was placed on administrative leave effective Feb will manage the day-to-day operations at the schools during Sagan's absence superintendent of Our Catholic Schools (Diocese of Columbus) the office of the Catholic Schools will continue to work with school and parish leadership to help your children receive the education possible in a safe and healthy environment," Dufault added The Times Recorder reached out to Tolliver More: Muskingum County budget decreased by $3 million this year. Here's why ZANESVILLE − One local man is facing multiple years in prison after a teenage victim overdosed in his residence last summer The 63-year-old George Lucas Hamilton of Zanesville was sentenced to an aggregate prison term of five to six years on Dec and possessing a weapon while under disability Hamilton received two two- to three-year sentences for both counts of corruption that will run concurrently The weapon possession count added three years to run consecutively Hamilton will face a post-release control period of 1.5 to three years after completing his prison sentence and could be sanctioned up to $40,000 in fines for the three counts one 15- to 16-year-old victim reportedly overdosed on methamphetamine while at Hamilton's Ceramic Avenue residence after he granted them and one other minor access into the home Hamilton maintained that he did not facilitate or supply methamphetamine to the teenagers and stated through his attorney that he was "disappointed to be standing here." He claimed that the two minors already possessed the meth and had already used it before arriving More: Last fatal attack on Ohio prison employee before Andrew Lansing's death was 28 years ago A gun was also found in the man's backyard shed Hamilton asserted that it was not his and did not have access to the shed but he changed it to guilty during a plea hearing on Nov He has been detained in the Muskingum County Jail on a $200,000 bond since his booking on Sept He was given credit for 118 days served by Common Pleas Judge Kelly Cottrill 11 on 14 charges: two counts of kidnapping first-degree felonies; four counts of corrupting another with drugs second-degree felonies; one count of having weapons while under disability a third-degree felony; two counts of importuning fifth-degree felonies; two counts of attempted sexual battery fourth-degree felonies; two counts of compelling prostitution third-degree felonies; and aggravated possession of drugs The court noted a long history of criminal activity for Hamilton Shawn Digity is a reporter for the Zanesville Times Recorder He can be emailed at sdigity@gannett.com or found on X at @ShawnDigityZTR The company’s new retail facility in Muskingum County will host a grand opening celebration on Jan a leading and top-performing cannabis company in the U.S. announced the opening of a new dispensary in Zanesville The new Trulieve Zanesville location will host a grand opening celebration on Jan featuring specials and promotional giveaways "We are excited to bring Trulieve's affordable high-quality products and elevated customer experience to Muskingum County," Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers "We look forward to building relationships with customers in the Zanesville area." offering walk-in and express pickup service The company also operates dispensaries at the following locations in Ohio: Trulieve dispensaries offer customers a wide assortment of cannabis products featuring popular brands and accessible form factors including capsules For more information on store activations and locations in Ohio, visit https://www.trulieve.com/dispensaries/ohio ZANESVILLE − Looking for a last-minute gift some Christmas dinner ingredients or a special holiday meal restaurants and groceries will have special hours for the holiday season Grocery storesCampbell's Foodland − Closed on Christmas and New Year's Day Countryside Bulk Foods − Closed on Christmas and from Dec Dollar General − The Dollar Generals at 1158 Newark Road will be closed for Christmas and open for normal hours on Christmas Eve on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day It will be open for normal hours on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day Mills Bulk Foods and Deli (Adamsville) − Open from 8 a.m It will be closed on Christmas and the following day Mills will be closed on New Year's Day and the day after Riesbeck's − The three Riesbeck's locations at 800 Howard St. Main Street in New Concord will close early at 6 p.m on Christmas Eve and be closed on Christmas All stores will open normal hours on both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day Normal operating hours will be observed on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day West Side Market − Closed on Christmas and New Year's Day It will be open for regular hours on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve Local retailers will have extended and abbreviated hours Academy Sports + Outdoors − Open from 7 a.m New Year's Eve and New Year's Day hours will be normal It will close early on New Year's Eve at 6 p.m and return to normal hours on New Year's Day There are no special hours for New Year's or New Year's Eve Normal hours will return for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day Many restaurants will be open on Christmas Eve several will be closed or have limited hours on Christmas Day Adornetto's − Closed on Christmas and New Year's Day. Adornetto's will close at 8 p.m. on New Year's Eve and the drive-thru will be open from 9 a.m. to noon Christmas Eve, but only for preorders and take-and-bakes. Applebee's − Hours vary upon location. Check Applebee's website for specific hours by location Most locations will be closed Christmas Day Burger King − Hours vary upon location. Check Burger King website for specific hours by location Chipotle − Will be open for limited hours on Christmas Eve. Check Chipotle website for specific hours by location More: Looking for Christmas movies to stream this holiday season? We have 90+ feel-good picks Domino's Pizza − Hours vary by location. Check Domino's website for specific hours Dunkin' − Hours vary upon location. Visit the Dunkin' Donuts website to find the hours for a specific location Visit the McDonald's website to determine the hours Olive Garden − Open during regular hours on Christmas Eve Rake's Place − Closed on Christmas and New Year's Day Red Lobster − Hours on Christmas Eve vary upon location, visit their website to find the specific hours You can find the hours for a specific location by visiting the Starbucks website Subway − Hours vary upon location. See the Subway website for specific hours Taco Bell − Hours vary upon location. See Taco Bell's website for specific hours Texas Roadhouse − Hours on Christmas Eve vary upon location, visit their website to find the specific hours Christmas and regular business hours on Christmas Eve The Market House − Closed on Christmas Eve Wendy's − Hours vary upon location. Check the Wendy's website to find the hours for your location local goods are making their return to Zanesville Saturday marks the opening day of the spring farmers market at Weasel Boy Brewing Shoppers can expect to find everything from fresh produce to spring greens—all while supporting local vendors “So this Saturday we have our opening day of the spring farmers market at Weasel Boy Brewing We do have new hours this year,” said Megan Jones So we’re running the market all year from nine to noon.” With expanded hours and a year-round schedule organizers hope more people will take advantage of the market’s offerings “So all of our vendors at the market are local to Ohio and so when you come to support their business So it’s a win overall for everyone,” Jones said From farm-fresh favorites to handcrafted goods the farmers market gives the community a chance to shop small while making a big impact © 2025 WHIZ – Fox 5 / Marquee Broadcasting.