Today is officially the first day of Fall, so it’s fitting that it’s slightly chillier outside than this past week of heat. Regardless of the weather, the news is always here. It’s difficult to always keep up with the news from day-to-day, so catch up on the week’s happening here. Let’s start with some good news.

A little bit of sunshine

• Two Nashport brothers took their instrumental talents from the field of Tri-Valley up to the Best Damn Band in the Land. Cody and Ryan Harris can both be seen on the Ohio State University Football field during band performances as they both made the team this year. Full Story.
• Alpacas are in our backyard. Not literally, but the Alpacas of Spring Acres is a 180-acre alpaca farm that has 92 alpacas. It’s the largest Suri Alpaca farm in Southeastern Ohio. The farm holds tours, by appointment, year-round, but Sept. 29 and 30 are National Alpaca Farm Days. This is an open house event and free to the public. Full Story.
• The Animal Shelter Society is having a fundraiser at Downtown Tattoo. On Sept. 29, 100 percent of tattoo costs are being donated to the shelter. The event sparked a little challenge between the director and now the Assistant Director will be the first in line for a tattoo next Saturday. Full Story.
• Inmates and maintenance workers at Noble County Correctional Institute built the inside of trailer to resemble a teenager’s room for Muskingum Behavioral Health to use in its I Spy program. Full Story.
• On Sept. 29 the courthouse will be lit of teal in honor of Polycystic Ovary (Ovarian) Syndrome, a hormone disorder that affects roughly 1 in 10 women that are of reproductive age. The County Commissioners met with PCOS activist Hayley Devoll Monday to grant her request in the lighting of the courthouse. Full Story.

Crashing into the weekend

• Authorities are searching for a man that hit a deer and then crashed the motorcycle he was driving on Dresden Road Thursday night. The man walked away from the scene after getting upset with witnesses and before police had arrived. The accident is still under investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Full Story.
• A semi truck crashed into a fire hydrant in front of Donatos Pizza and ORielly Auto Parts early Tuesday morning. The accident caused the water tower to lose about 375,000 gallons of water. The driver, or the company he was driving for will be receiving a hefty water bill. Full Story.
• A 61-year old Westerville woman died Wednesday after crashing her car in Licking Township on State Route 146. The woman was traveling alone. The accident is still under investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Full Story.
• An 18-year old was taken to Genesis Hospital after a crash late Tuesday night. The Zanesville City Police are investigating the one car accident that occurred in front of Dollar General on Putnam Avenue. Full Story.

In the world of sports

• The Monday Muskingum County Football Flashback has a recap for all things football from last weekend’s matchups. Full Flashback.
• Tri-Valley versus Philo was the biggest game anywhere in Muskingum County last night. Spoiler alert, Tri-Valley came out on top, 28-14. Full Preview. And then the Game Recap.
• Colton Stotts, a junior kicker at Philo, is “laser-focused,” according to his coaches. The young kicker spends much of his practice time in a one-on-one coaching session. Full Feature.
• Joseph Clifford the track star has helped create Joseph Clifford the football stud. The John Glenn senior pulled off a pair of state titles in the 110 and 300-meter hurdles and is applying his talents to his wide receiving position on the football field. Full Feature.
• Despite a roster full of underclassmen, the Muskingum women’s volleyball team is off to a torrid 10-2 start to their 2018 season. Coach Hallie Donathan has led the team to one of the best records in the Ohio Athletic Conference to this point. Full Story.

A sprinkle of politics

• Guernsey County is pumping the brakes on the joint-jail project plans that have been floating between Muskingum and Guernsey Counties. Officials in Guernsey are wanting to wait until the November election to make any further decisions. Full Story.
• Ohio’s Republican candidate for state treasurer, Robert Sprague, shared some of his core plans for office during a visit to Zanesville on Wednesday. He had a lot to say about opioids, the job market and, of course, the budget. Full Story.
• The Attorney General is investing a $12 million School Safety Training Grant into more than 1,700 schools across Ohio. Some Muskingum County schools are seeing a cut of that grant. Full Story.
• The Muskingum County Center for Seniors is revising its bylaws. 2011 is the last time the bylaws were updates. Revisions include adjustments to the number of board members, board member terms and who can serve on the board. Full Story.

On the weekend agenda

• The 19th annual Shrimp Fest is today. Nickel Valley Resorts hosts the event during shrimp harvesting time every year. About 1,500 to 2,000 of shrimp will be pulled out of the pond. So, if shellfish is your thing, head over to the Shrimp Fest from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Full Story.
• If shrimp isn’t on the weekend agenda, check out the Weekend Planner for all other activities going on in the Zanesville-Muskingum County area. Full Planner.

As always, feel free to send events, tips, suggestions, comments and questions to our news team by emailing contact@ycitynews.com or the writer directly at jjohnston@ycitynews.com.