The weeks have all been running together this month. It’s still cold and still December. Due to a lack of wrap-ups over the past couple of weeks, here is this week’s news plus some notable highlights.

Court has been pretty prominent

• Wednesday, a 23-year-old man from New York was arraigned in the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas for allegedly stealing a car from New York and crashing it in Muskingum County. The man is not a U.S. citizen and faces deportation if he’s convicted. Full story.
• Monday, former Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office employee, Timothy Hartmeyer was sentenced to nine years in prison on child pornography related charges. Upon his release from prison, Hartmeyer is required to register as a Tier II sex offender for 25 years. Full story.
• Last week, Derek Shaffer, a former CareyTown Preschool and Child Care Center employee, was sentenced to 28 and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to raping and kidnapping charges involving three students from the facility that were under the age of 10. He is required to register as a Tier III sex offender for life. Full story.
• Monday, a man pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular assault and OVI charges in relation to an accident on Military Road back in August. The crash left a woman with broken femur, broken pelvis and displaced hip. Full story.
• A duo from Chicago was sentenced in Muskingum County after attempting to steal the identity of a local male. Lisa Phelp and Akeem Foote-El received sentences of 36 and 56 months of incarceration, respectfully. Full story.
• Emile Weaver, the Muskingum University Student convicted of murder in the death of her newborn, will have the chance at a reduced sentence after a recent Ohio Supreme Court ruling. Weaver has appealed her sentence of life without the possibility of parole more than once. Full story.
• Monday, a man pleaded guilty to abduction and felonious assault after a domestic dispute in October. The man allegedly slammed a woman’s head into a door jamb repeatedly and hit her. After she escaped in her car, he drove after her and repeatedly backed his car into hers. Full story

John J. Iden, Jr. versus the State of Ohio what the main focus a couple of weeks ago. The case surrounded an event from September 1998 where a woman was found in an area of Dillon State Park, badly injured and wearing only a T-shirt and one sock. There was a lot of information to go over, so we wrote five stories about it.

• Man stands trial for 1998 alleged rape, attempted murder case
• Five additional, alleged victims testify man in 1998 case sexually assaulted them
• Victim reveals her scars during testimony in 1998 rape, attempted murder case
• Jury finds Newark man guilty on all charges in case from 1998
• Newark man in 1998 case facing life in prison without parole

Crime

• A man entered Genesis HealthPlex on Friday, Dec. 7, with a gun. The hospital was on lockdown due to the incident. Zanesville Police Department was searching for the man but it’s unclear if he was located that day. ZPD has not returned Y-City New’s multiple requests for follow-up information. Full story.
• After a fire in Wayne Township on Dec. 9, the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office was searching for a man they believed to have set the home on fire. Initial story. The man later turned himself in the same day. Follow up story. No additional information has been released at the time of publication.

The feel goods

• Friday was Detective Mike Ryan’s last day with the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office after 26 years of service. Sheriff Matt Lutz had some kind words to say about Ryan and his long career with the department. Full story.
• Sunday afternoon, families and organization gathered among residents at Cedar Hill Care Center to bring Christmas a little early to some senior citizens. Through the second annual Santa for a Seniors Program, 41 seniors were “adopted” for the holidays. Full story.
• The Animal Shelter Society is wrapping up its operations for the year but there’s still plenty of time to adopt or donate. The featured animal this month is a 6-month-old Jack Russell Terrier mix puppy that is eager to find a new home. All the details here.
• Brian Hill stood alongside his family on Dec. 13 as he was sworn into the Ohio Senate to fill Troy Balderson’s vacant seat in the 20th District. Full story.

A bit more serious

• The Muskingum County Coroner met with the commissioners to discuss budget deficits. With the severe increase in both suicides and overdose deaths this year, the coroner’s budget has taken an unexpected hit. Full story.
• A fire broke out in the early morning hours Tuesday on Ridge Avenue. No one lived in the home as the owners were working to repair it. Zanesville Fire Department is investing in the near total loss. Full story.
• There was some foam popping up around the Norwich on and off ramps to I-70. Zembra Bros. Inc. has taken responsibility for the incident. Both the Muskingum County EMA and the Ohio EPA were on site to access the issue. Full story.

A note from the writer

This will be the last Week End Wrap Up for 2018. Thank you to all of our readers in Muskingum County and beyond, your support is appreciated more than you know. Enjoy the holidays and have a happy new year.