The Licking County Chamber of Commerce held its 56^th Annual Groundhog Breakfast this morning at Adena Hall on the OSU-N/COTC campus.  The breakfast included the naming of the John Alford Community Service Award winner.  This year’s recipient was United Way Executive Director Donna Carpenter.

 United Way Executive Director Donna Carpenter

Two-time cancer survivor Sean Swarner delivered the keynote address.  In May 2002, Swarner became the first cancer survivor to scale Mount Everest proving that with hope there is nothing we can’t achieve.

 Cancer Survivor Sean Swarner 

This year’s celebrity groundhog was John Hinderer.   

HARTLESS FIRED

During a Thursday press conference Newark Mayor Jeff Hall announced that veteran police officer Bobby Hartless had been fired for threatening FedEx employees.  

Newark Mayor Jeff Hall

In early January the 37-year-old Hartless threatened the employees after they failed to deliver a package to his home.  He does have the right to appeal the decision.

2^ND ENTICEMENT REPORTED 

Newark police is now investigating a second case of possible enticement involving area school children.  Tuesday at around 4:00 p.m. three Carson Elementary students were walking in an alley off East Main Street when a white man driving a green car approached them.  The man asked the students if they wanted a ride when they said no he made a sexual gesture.  The students then ran to a waiting car.  Later that day a similar incident involving two girls took place along the 200 block of West National Drive.

KLEINS CONVICTED

A Zanesville couple has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment in the deaths of two small boys.  Kasey Klein, 25, and Richard Klein, 38, along with her sons Ayden Cecil and Anthony Tullius were camping near the Ellis Dam Spillway on June 4 when the boys walked off and disappeared.  3-year-old Ayden’s body was found in the Muskingum River, 2-year-old Anthony never was found.  The Kleins face up to 20 years in prison when sentenced later this year.

ANTI-BULLYING BILL

It is called the Jessica Logan Act and supporters hope it will strengthen anti-bullying measures already in place across Ohio school districts.  Logan was a Cincinnati area teenager who committed suicide in 2008 after weeks of bullying at her school.  Lancaster State Senator Tim Schaffer says it was time to step in and take action.  

Lancaster State Senator Tim Schaffer 

In late January the Ohio House approved changes made by the Ohio Senate to the anti-bullying bill.  Gov. Kasich signed the bill into law Thursday.

LAYOFFS AT THIRTY-ONE GIFTS

Johnstown based Thirty-One Gifts announced Thursday that they have laid off 182 employees at their Johnstown and Easton Town Center facilities.  Officials with the direct-sales company cited slower than expected sales growth as the reason for the layoffs.  Thirty-One Gifts specializes in personal gifts like purses, totes and other accessories.

TRESSEL HEADS NORTH

Former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel is now a Zip.  The University of Akron has hired Tressel as vice president for strategic engagement.  Tressel will work with alumni, community organizations and friends of the university to develop strategies and efforts to help students succeed.  He will earn a base salary of $200,00 per year.