Newcomerstown Historical Society to present murder mystery
NEWCOMERSTOWN − It’s not an April Fools joke.
Newcomerstown Historical Society will stage “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to a Murder” on March 31 and April 1 at Olde Main Street Museum on Canal Street.
The murder mystery, written by Chris Hart and Ray Booth, will star the Olde Main Street Players under Hart's direction.
Tickets for the evening of food and frivolity will be $30, available through the Newcomerstown Historical Society at 740-498-7735. Tickets are limited; tables for six or seven people can be reserved. The menu will include chicken and rice with gravy, green beans, cole slaw, rolls, dessert and drinks.
Board of Education action
At its January meeting, the Newcomerstown Board of Education approved the following hourly rates for classified substitute employees − secretary, instructional aide, cafeteria and custodian, $13; and bus driver, $16.50.
In personnel action, the board approved tuition reimbursement for Katelyn Cox; hired Michelle Craig as a bus driver; approved the resignations of bus driver Ivan Hickenbottom, Tara Castlow as director of the spring play and Bill Lafferty as a volunteer for high school boys basketball.
The board also updated allocations for federal/state programs for the Fiscal Year 2023; adjusted the permanent appropriations; approved mileage reimbursement at 65.5 cents per mile; and approved an annual credit card rewards report.
Love Tusc project
The village has raised more than 96% of the funding for the local “Love Tusc: Tuscarawas County Sculpture Tour” installation in Newcomerstown. With donations of $2,000 each from the Thomas R. Little Foundation and Village Council playing a large part, the village has raised nearly $6,700 of the $6,950 goal.
Newcomerstown would be one of 20 communities in the county with a sculpture, with the local installation to be painted by artist and Newcomerstown resident Carole Ann Hunt. The project is being undertaken by the Tuscarawas Arts Partnership, with Wilma Mullett as executive director. Mayor Pat Cadle and Michael Wise, director of ARTSNCT, are local community coordinators for the project.
TAP is planning on the sculptures being completed as part of a scavenger hunt between May 26 and Sept. 4. The scavenger hunt is expected to be more than 100 miles long, with those completing the tour to have their names entered into a drawing for a prize.
The sculpture is depicted as an outline of Tuscarawas County with a cutout of a heart at the center. It is 47 inches high and 35 inches across. The total for all 20 sculptures is placed at $169,000.
Kindergarten registration
Newcomerstown East Elementary School is accepting applications for kindergarten registration for the 2023-2024 school year.
Students must be 5 years old on or by Aug. 1, 2023, to enroll. Registration is online at https://www.nctschools.org/KGregister. All kindergarten registration applications need to be completed online by April 21.
Once the online application is completed, a meeting will be scheduled at East Elementary School to bring in necessary paperwork (birth certificate, shot records, proof of residency, photo ID, vision and dental records). Once the paperwork is turned in, an appointment will be made for the May 5 registration day.
Art show, sale at high school
Newcomerstown High School will host an art show and sale from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 27 at the school.
Artwork by students will be on display and can be purchased. Canvas copies will also be available from original artwork.
Spring Into The Arts
Newcomerstown Middle School students are being invited to join the “Spring into the Arts Showcase,” designed to dispaly art created by students in the art and science fields of Newcomerstown Middle School.
The Spring into the Arts Showcase will take place in April, with students having the opportunity to present STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) projects. Projects can be related to any STEM field and can range from simple experiments to complex engineering designs.
To participate, students must submit a project idea by Friday. All ideas will be reviewed by a panel of experts and selected participants will be notified by Feb. 28. Students will go through an evaluation process much like they will experience at a science fair, evaluated on presentation skills, content knowledge/content of presentation, the creativity of the project, and student’s appearance. Students will be picked from this showcase and asked to participate in May at the STEM showcase at Buckeye Career Center against other area schools.
For more information, contact Sarah McVey at sarah.mcvey@staff.nctschools.org or contact the Middle School at 740-498-8151.
Students of the Month
Students of the Month at Newcomerstown Middle School were named recently.
Fifth grade − Brian Frenton. Staff comments: “Brian is new to West School this year, and from the very beginning, he's always had a smile on his face! Brian is an active participant in class discussions, and he tries hard to do his very best. Brian gets along with everyone he encounters. He is a leader among his peers.”
Fourth grade − Delanie Frenton. Staff comments: “Delanie shows leadership in the classroom, throughout our school, and on the field or court. She is fantastic at synergizing with her classmates and teammates. She strives for greatness every day and encourages others to do the same. She always has a hug for her teachers or kindness and a smile for everyone she crosses paths with. In the classroom, Delanie works very hard to get good grades and to truly understand the information her teachers are teaching. Delanie has a very caring personality. She tries to spread joy and is able to be understanding and comforting when there are others that need it.”
Third grade − Harlow Sanchez. Staff comments: “Harlow is a very sweet, nice and loving student. She always has a big smile on her face, and you cannot help but smile when she is around. She sets an excellent example in class by being on task, working hard, being positive and participating. Harlow is well liked and a great friend to other students.”
Second grade − Landon Taylor. Staff comments: “Landon comes to school every day with a smile on his face, ready to learn. He works really hard on all of his assignments, even if things are challenging. He reads an AR book almost every night even though it isn't a homework assignment. Because of this, he has become a ‘Goal Crusher’ both nine-weeks. He is always kind to others and is an important part of our classroom.”
Rachelle Lefler’s class − Navaya Davidson. Staff comments: “Navaya works hard and encourages others to do the same both through her example and her leadership … sees the best in others and reminds them of their good qualities even when they cannot see them … willingly participates in all learning activities and is the first to offer to help others … has learned to grow from mistakes and to enjoy each step of her school journey … is positive, enthusiastic, and always striving to be her very best … has a tender heart and is sensitive to the feelings and needs of others… is a leader and a great role model for all … is genuine and accepting of others … provides support and knows how to ask for help when she needs it.”
Christ’s Kitchen
Upcoming menus for Christ’s Kitchen at Christ United Methodist Church, 648 Oak St., include:
Feb. 13: Pizza pasta casserole, corn, peaches, cookies.
Feb. 20: Chili or chicken noodle soup, cornbread, fruit, cake.
Feb. 27: Meatballs, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, fruit, cake.
Tea, lemonade, coffee, macaroni and cheese and hot dogs are available for dine-in only.
Christ’s Kitchen is a faith-based outreach at Christ United Methodist Church, 648 Oak St., in cooperation with Dick Miller of Dick’s Place in Newcomerstown. Meals are served for dine-in or take-out from 4-5:30 p.m. For more information or to order delivery, call 740-498-8134.
To submit an item for “In The News,” email the information to rbooth7747@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Newcomerstown Historical Society to present murder mystery
