Local News Briefs

Fire destroys house and woodland area

COSHOCTON – A home was rendered a total loss and several acres of brush nearby were scorched in a fire Wednesday afternoon near the intersection of County Road 146 and Township Road 276 in Franklin Township. The call came in at 1:13 p.m. and fire personnel were on scene until about 7 p.m.

There were no injuries. Chief Randy March of the Conesville Fire Department said cause and origin are undetermined and the matter is under investigation. He said the property owner said they were burning a stump at the time of the incident.

Along with the home being destroyed a camper and shed was damaged and about 10 acres of land were burned.

Assisting on scene were Coshocton, Three Rivers, West Lafayette, Walhonding Valley, Jackson Township, Dresden, Newcomerstown, Frazeysburg, Adamsville, Delaware Valley and Arrowhead fire departments.

Priest convicted at trial

COSHOCTON − Andrew T. Priest, 37, of West Lafayette, was convicted and sentenced Tuesday in Coshocton County Common Pleas Court following a jury trial.

Priest was indicted in March with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a third-degree felony. Testimony in court indicated close to 10.8 grams of meth was discovered by the Coshocton County Sheriff's Office in a black box on a kitchen stove at Priest's residence. Priest was outside the trailer when detectives seized the drugs.

The jury deliberated about an hour before rendering its verdict. Judge Robert Batchelor then sentenced Priest to 36 months in prison.

Minor injuries in Otsego Avenue wreck

COSHOCTON − The Coshocton County Sheriff's Office reported a two-vehicle crash shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday on Otsego Avenue, near the intersection with Fairy Falls Drive.

Authorities said Tyler J. Aronhalt, 22, of Coshocton was traveling westbound when he failed to maintain assured clear distance ahead and struck a vehicle in the rear driven by Josephine A. Sellers, 42, of Fresno. She had stopped to turn southbound on Fairy Falls Drive. Both were treated on scene for minor injuries.

Assisting on scene were Coshocton Fire Department, Coshocton County Emergency Medical Services, Prince's Wrecker Service and REACT.

Lawson named chief of NPD

NEWCOMERSTOWN − Opha Lawson Jr. has been named the new chief of the Newcomerstown Police Department. He replaces Gary Holland, who is retiring at then end of the year after 14 years in the role.

Lawson is currently a captain with the department and previously worked for the West Lafayette Police Department as well. He ran for for Coshocton County Sheriff in 2020, losing to Jim Crawford.

Coshocton Schools BOE to meet

COSHOCTON − Coshocton City Schools Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. Nov. 17 in the library of Coshocton Elementary School, 1203 Cambridge Road. This is a time change from previously announced.

Township Road 242 closing for work

COSHOCTON − The Coshocton County Engineer's Office has announced that Adams Township Road 242 will be closed from Nov. 14 to Dec. 16 from Township Road 175 to County Road 93 for a bridge replacement.

MVESC offering threat assessment training

ZANESVILLE − The Muskingum Valley Education Service Center is offering free Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines training to school districts in eastern and southern Ohio.

Training started in September and runs through late November. More than 230 school personnel from about 20 districts have completed the training so far. This training meets all requirements for House Bill 123 signed this year to help schools identify threats and provide guidance on how to effectively address threats in schools.

Musical showcase at Ridgewood

WEST LAFAYETTE − A musical theater showcase is at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 at Ridgewood High School, 602 Johnson St.

A freewill donation will be accepted to support Ridgewood Performing Arts. Guest alumni performing Broadway tunes are Rob Evans from the Class of 2004 and Hope Asbury from the Class of 2019.

Current high school students involved include Keeley Carter, Brenna Hoffman, Kyndall Stocker, Andrew Clantz, Kylah Patterson, Mattalyn Kiser, Emily Maple, Jerica Bennett, Deakkon Williamson, Alaina Swiney, Taven Dotson, LJ Grimmett, Garett Raymont, Kyra Weaver, Cassie Shaw and Charlotte Seibert.

Trash hauling fees increasing district

NEWARK − The Coshocton Fairfield Licking Perry Solid Waste District has announced that waste disposal fees are going up in January.

Residents and businesses using landfills in the four county area will continue to pay $3.25 per ton. Those who take waste out of the district will also pay $3.25 per ton, up from $1.25 per ton currently.

This ensures that everyone in the district is paying the same amount to fund local recycling programs. The district said it's likely haulers will pass this fee increase onto customers. A list of designated facilities and facilities with approved waivers can be found at cflpswd.org.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Local News Briefs