EMOTIONAL TRIAL SET TO BEGIN IN MUSKINGUM COUNTY

Kasey and Richard Klein, the parents of the two little Muskingum County boys who drowned in June 2011, will stand trial today on charges of child endangering.  The couple has pleaded not guilty to the charges.  Ayden Cecil, 3, and old Anthony Tullius, 2, disappeared June 4 while the family was camping near the Ellis Dam Spillway.  Ayden’s body was found in the Muskingum River.  Anthony’s body was never found. 

CRAIG INDICTED AGAIN 

Matthew Craig, the Newark man previously found unfit to stand trial on arson charges, has once again been indicted.  The 30-year-old Craig is facing a host of charges including aggravated arson in connection with a string of Newark fires that took place in September 2009.  Craig has been undergoing psychiatric treatment and evaluation at the Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare Center in Columbus over the past couple of years. 

A SEMESTER BASED CALENDAR

The State of Ohio has put forth an initiative as part of the University System of Ohio requiring that all public institutions change from quarters to semesters.  

COTC Vice Pres. of Academic Affairs Dr. Richard Prystowsky

Central Ohio Technical College Vice President of Academic Affairs Doctor Richard Prystowsky said the actual conversion date for COTC from quarters to semesters will be August 22, 2012.  Classes will start about one month earlier than under the quarter calendar.  The Ohio State University and its regional campuses will start the new academic calendar this summer.

STREET CLOSURE

Newark officials have revised a street closure.  The only portion of South First Street to be closed for a gas line repair will be the northbound lane at the entrance to East Canal Street located between South First and Yearly Street.  Weather permitting, crews will wrap up the work on Wednesday.

CHAMBER BOARD ENDORSES PARK DISTRICT LEVY

The Directors of the Board of the Licking County Chamber of Commerce has endorsed the 5-year, .25 mill levy for the Licking Park District.  In a press release Chamber President Cheri Hottinger stated "without passage of this levy, our communities will suffer a great loss when our Parks, Paths and Trails deteriorate to a point that they become unsafe for use."  If approved the levy would raise $900,000 annually and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $7.65 per year in new taxes.

COLLEGE GOAL SUNDAY

The Ohio State University at Newark and Central Ohio Technical College will host the state-wide college financial aid event "College Goal Sunday" on Sunday, February 12 at 2:00 p.m. in the Reese Center.  The free event presented by the Ohio Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and endorsed by the Ohio Board of Regents, assists students and parents with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA as it is better known.