Page 46 - Jon Baker News Today

Art on the Alley draws crowds to downtown New Philadelphia NEW PHILADELPHIA Downtown New Philadelphia was alive with people on a warm spring day Sunday as crowds came to look at the work of local artists and sample the offerings of area food vendors during the annual Art on the Alley event.  First Drive and Ashwood Lane were closed to traffic to accommodate all of the vendors. There was also live music at the north stage on Ashwood Lane and at Alley Cats Marketplace on Allen Lane. "This is a ...

Commissioners rescind concealed carry resolution NEW PHILADELPHIA Commissioners on Monday rescinded a resolution allowing employees to carry and use firearms in the county office building and authorized funding for a project to make repairs to the Civil War monument at the courthouse. The board had approved a resolution in 2020 to authorized concealed carry by employees in the office building to provide security. At that time, members of the public could enter the building through several en...

NEW PHILADELPHIA Councilman John Zucal is asking police to crack down on residents parking their vehicles on sidewalks, saying that it is a safety concern. "Im not looking for citizens to get ticketed," he said at Mondays city council meeting. "Thats not my job to go out there and say, lets be punitive right away. "But if we could develop a plan, like a good neighbor plan where our police officers can go by and put a warning, just like the state highway patrol will from time to time do if youre...

New Philadelphia council approves stadium lease agreement The two side have been negotiating the lease since last fall. The agreement has a new section which spells out what happens in the event of an emergency, such as a pandemic, where closing the stadium is necessary to ensure public health and safety. It grants that authority to the mayor, and requires collaboration between both parties on all issues involving closure, which means the school board is free to bring any regulations to the ma...

On Thursday, council granted a continuance to three city employees who had been subpoenaed to testify this week — Dave Filippi, superintendent of the city light plant; Charlie Stull, superintendent of electric distribution; and Kenny Young, general services superintendent. All three sent nearly identical letters to Council President Shane Gunnoe on Wednesday asking for the continuance.  Each letter also said, "The office of mayor, not city council, is my appointing authority. However, becau...

NEW PHILADELPHIA The New Philadelphia Fire Department has begun putting placards on vacant structures in the city that are in such poor condition that it would be too dangerous for firefighters to enter to fight a fire. At Mondays city council meeting, Mayor Joel Day displayed one of the red and white placards that are being placed on dilapidated structures in New Philadelphia. Fire Chief Jim Parrish and Fire Inspector Jim Sholtz assess a buildings condition to determine if the warning sign is ...

DOVER – Eight city officials and employees claim Mayor Richard Homrighausen is declining in health both physically and mentally, and needs the assistance of his wife and son to perform his duties. City Council members listened Wednesday as affidavits from those individuals were read. All of the testimony was voluntarily and came as part of councils investigation into Homrighausens ability to serve as mayor. Homrighausen, 72, is the citys longest-serving chief executive. He is in his eighth...

On June 5, 1891, the historic Uhrichs Mills — a Uhrichsville landmark for nearly a century — was destroyed by fire. “The mill was owned by Mr. T.B. Smith,” a correspondent for the Tuscarawas Advocate wrote. “We understand he loses heavily. The mill was doing a splendid business and ’tis sad to see these industries go up in smoke.”     The mill, which stood on the west bank of Big Stillwater Creek just south of the present day Trenton Avenue bridge, had been in existence since...

DEERSVILLE The Deersville Community Players has learned that its fundraising project through the Cause Connector website has been fully funded. "It’s such a blessing and will help us out greatly with our overhead expenses," said  Marsha Dodds, president of the organization. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group was unable to stage any productions in 2020 or hold any fundraisers. But it still has to pay for insurance and utilities for its historic theater in Deersville. The group was ...

No decision has been made. Commissioners held a meeting last week with members of the board of elections to discuss the situation. "Its just an advisory thing and to just share information back and forth to what their thoughts were," said Commissioner Al Landis. One motivation for the discussions was the 2020 presidential election. During that election, nearly 75% of Tuscarawas County residents voted either by mail or in person - the highest turnout in county history.  Large numbers of peopl...