Newcomerstown News: Resident tells council she's dissatisfied with police department
Amanda Heavilin Carney of Newcomerstown read a four-page account to village council, Mayor Pat Cadle, Police Chief Opha Lawson and members of the community relating to a hit-and-run she was involved in on Oct. 28.
Carney’s letter outlined what happened, how it was handled and her dissatisfaction with the Newcomerstown police chief and a male dispatcher.
According to the letter Carney read, a witness to the incident followed the hit-and-run driver and gave the license plate number and location of the vehicle to dispatch. Officers did not respond to the scene but told her officers were looking for the driver. Through her own investigation three days later she found video of the incident was captured on video by a local business. A police officer told Carney's husband the department did retrieve the license plate number and matched it to the vehicle's owner but they had not located him. The Carneys saw the vehicle a few days later and reported it the police, but officers did not go to the residence.
Cadle apologized and said the village would look into the incident.
Other topics discussed:
● Council accepted the resignation of Police Officer Blake Lang.● Five local fire departments took part in a training at Reagent Chemical just outside of the village. In case of an incident at the factory, the fire departments' responsibility would be to contain the area until HazMat officials arrive.● First readings were held on 2024 budget and rates of pay.● Cadle said a schedule of village projects planned for 2024-2026 was compiled and it includes all of the improvements to the downtown area, as well as EPA testing and cleanup at Simonds, an extension of Enterprise Drive for Plymouth Foam, and a rail spur repair, side walk construction and platform at the old Landmark location on River Street as well as the Neighbor Street Bridge replacement. The projects will be paid for by grant funding.
The next council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 4, at the village administrative offices.
Football coach recaps playoff season
“We were really excited going into this season. Our attendance over the summer and the quality of our workouts were the best they had been since I became coach," Coach Dirk Gadd said of the football season. "We started the season by winning our first three games. These three wins put us at eight regular season wins in a row going back to last season. This was really quite an accomplishment knowing how difficult it is to win varsity football games. We ended the season with an overall record of 6-4.
"We had a tough loss in our final regular season game against Buckeye Trail. It was a game we let get away from us. I do feel though that loss made us hungry going into our playoff game against Grandview Heights. We made a goal at the beginning of the year to be playing when week 12 came along. That meant we would have to make school history and win a playoff game.
"We had many players step up for us in that game. Our offensive line continued to lead our offense and open holes for our backs. Tanner Smith made one of the best catches I have ever seen by pinning the ball to a defenders back and then hauling it in. That play energized our team and fans. Ethan Foster kicked a 27-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter that ended up being the game winner. Our defense created a turnover on Grandview Heights final possession and the rest is history, Gadd said.
“It is a good feeling knowing we have made school history two years in a row with being I.V.C. North Champions in 2022 and now making the playoffs,” said Carter McConnell, a junior linebacker and running back.
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This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Newcomerstown resident tells council she's dissatisfied with police
