LATEST NEWS

NEWARK − The toughest part about opening a new restaurant may be building a reputation in the community, developing trust and earning respect for a new business. Alaa Babieh and his wife, Farah Hussein, opened Al's Chicken Lab in the former Pizza Hut building on North 21st Street on May 22, but they already have the trust and respect from the community through their other restaurant, Skorpios Gyros, located downtown on West Main Street.

NEWARK, Ohio — The Newark Division of Police says a 2-year-old boy who nearly drowned in a pool on Wednesday is now recovering at a hospital. On May 31, officers and firefighters responded to a call that a child had been found in a pool not breathing. While they were being dispatched, those on the scene were performing CPR on the boy, according to police.

COLUMBUS ― It wasn't the most conventional path to making history for Newark senior Isaiah Potter. First, just to qualify for the Division I state track meet, he had to run a timed 300-meter hurdles race by himself in the regional, after a competitor was disqualified. He still placed second, after just missing the state last year.

Fairfield County – Drugs and cash were seized in a traffic stop overnight in Fairfield county. According to the sheriff department, Deputy Justin Mann and his K9 partner, Lupo, initiated a traffic stop in the area of US 33 near Carroll. During the stop Deputy Mann deployed his K9 partner who alerted to the presence of drugs.

Three area bowlers were recently inducted into the Newark United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Hall of Fame. The honorees are Mike Byers, Trent Speer and Donna Benge. Byers began bowling at 8 years old in the Junior League at Park Lanes in Heath. Now in his 50s, he bowls in two area leagues. His current average is 230, and he has bowled 25 perfect 300 games and one 299. His first 300 game was rolled in 2002, and he narrowly missed more perfect games as he has five games in which he threw 11 strikes in a row. He has also bowled seven 800 series, including a high of 841.

NEWARK — Working at the campus was a stroke of luck for former student and current mental health counselor Megan Hughett. Curious about jobs in the area, she had just happened to go online to see who was hiring. Unexpectedly, there was an opening for a mental health counselor at Ohio State University at Newark and Central Ohio Technical College. She had always enjoyed working with adolescents and young adults and the position represented an opportunity to return to the Ohio State regional campus where she attended her first year of graduate school.

A new Pataskala housing development is preserving trees, streams and wetlands as it creates a unique neighborhood for residents to call home. Instead of sacrificing the 136-acre property's vegetation, developer Dimitry Filonenko designed lots and roadways around the ridges, ravines and streams to create the Scenic View Estates housing subdivision. Filonenko worked with the City of Pataskala to keep thousands of trees so residents can experience living in a secluded forest while being minutes away from the growing Columbus area.

FAIRBORN — Riley Baum could do nothing but wait for the GameChanger app to update each pitch during the Heath baseball team’s run to a district championship. Baum was back in control Friday. The junior right-hander returned to the mound with a vengeance, helping to pitch the Bulldogs to a 6-2 victory against...

CARROLL, Ohio (WCMH) — A woman has died and two others are injured after a crash on U.S. Route 33 on Thursday that shut down the westbound lanes of the highway north of Carroll. Authorities responded to US-33 at Allen Road at about 5:34 p.m. on Thursday after report of a two-car crash, according to […]

JOHNSTOWN -- Temperatures are climbing, flowers are blooming and many Ohio schools will soon be letting out for summer recess. Before we turn the calendar to June, I wanted to give thanks for a wonderful spring and for the many Ohioans we met during our visits to Lorain, Toledo, Canton, Youngstown, Cleveland, Athens, Marietta, Dayton, Marysville, Dublin, Heath, Newark, Delaware and so many other great cities and villages across our state.

By Sherry Larson People’s Defender Zoey Hicks is an adorable four year-old gir

NEWARK — The Salvation Army of Newark has updated its Summer Food Service Program site list to include 10 locations. Meals will be provided to all children, age 18 and under, without charge. Meals will be provided Monday through Friday, except July 4, at the following Newark sites and times from June 5 through Aug. 11.

NEWARK – Lovers of vintage glass handcrafted in Ohio will find an abundance of collectable table glass at the annual glass show and sale, set for June 15-17 at the Lou and Gib Reese Ice Arena, 935 Sharon Valley Road, Newark. Additionally, those looking for bargains will find them...

LICKING COUNTY, Ohio (WCMH) – They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Now, local sheriff’s deputies are saying one tip is worth a bunch of stolen property. Licking County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested and charged two men accused of multiple car break-ins this past weekend. Detectives found the thieves after a victim saw their […]

Summer is custard season, so it only makes that a popular local concept is launching a number of new locations. According to the website of Whit’s Frozen Custard, the eatery is planning to open not one, not two, but five different central Ohio locations soon. Whit’s will open at...

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Police captain introduced herself in city Circuit Court on Friday as the widow of James Blue III, and recounted in chilling detail the day her husband was shot dead, hoping the judge would impose the maximum sentence for the young shooter. In the afternoon of...

COLUMBUS ― Reagan Campbell ran faster than she ever has Saturday during the heat in Ohio State's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. And Allie Dunlap vaulted higher than she has ever gone. ...

NEWARK − The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation selected Jennifer McDonald, president and CEO of the Licking County Chamber of Commerce, to participate in its premiere business leadership program. The Business Leads Fellowship Program trains and equips leaders from state and local chambers of commerce, economic development agencies and...

HEATH − John Hinderer expanded his Honda dealership three times, but he did not want to repeat that at the family’s new John Hinderer Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership less than a mile down the road. The $9.5 million, modern, massive building opened last Thursday at 1290 Hebron...

COLUMBUS — D.J. Fillmore always wants more, but even the Licking Heights senior had to smile about his opening attempt on Saturday. Fillmore leaped a personal-best 25-feet-0.25, a mark which easily stood up, to repeat as champion in the long jump during Division I state championships at Ohio State. He was never threatened by runner-up Richmond Honkpo, of Franklin Heights, who jumped 23-6.25.