FUGUTIVE IS ARERESTED

James Walter Johnson, wanted for domestic violence and a shooting on Purity Rd. in Licking County on April 25 has been arrested without incident in Mt Vernon. Licking County Sheriff’s Detectives, Mt. Vernon P.D. and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the arrest in the 300 block of W. Pleasant St in Mt Vernon. 

JENKINS IS CHARGED WITH ESCAPE

Calvin Jenkins, the Newark man who escaped from authorities for a short time on Wednesday, has been charged with felony escape. Jenkins, 21, was in Licking Municipal Court for a scheduled hearing and when he was walking back to a sheriff's cruiser he took off. Jenkins was apprehended less than an hour later. His bond has been set at $100,000.

COMMISSIONERS DENY ODOT PROPOSAL

During their meeting on Thursday, the Licking County Commissioners denied a petition from the Ohio Department of Transportation to prohibit motorists from turning right onto Ohio 16 eastbound from River Road. However, they did so without prejudice, meaning ODOT can bring forth another proposal dealing with SR16 and River Road.

EARLY VOTING

Early voting continues this weekend for the May 5 Primary. For early voting hours visit your board of elections website. There will be no early voting on Monday. As a reminder, mail-in or absentee ballots must be received before or on Election Day by 7:30 p.m. in order to be counted.

NEWARK WOMAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY

Jessica Wiles the Newark woman accused of having a large amount of meth was back before a judge this week. Wiles, 35, entered not guilty pleas to one count each of aggravated trafficking and aggravated possession of drugs. Wiles is scheduled to go to trial in July. She remains held on $150,000 bond.

DRUG RANKINGS

With the U.S. having spent over a trillion dollars on the "war on drugs" since the 1970s, the personal-finance company WalletHub has released its report on the States with the Biggest Drug Problems. Ohio has the seventh smallest drug problem in the U.S. The study compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia on 20 key metrics, ranging from drug arrest to overdose rates.