Happy Super Bowl Sunday. Maybe this month will be slightly warmer than polar vortex temperatures. It’s looking promising thus far. The good news is the cold weather last month really sparked an outpouring of support from the community as individuals and organizations jumped to help St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in partnership with Homeless Hands to house the area’s homeless on nights with below freezing temperatures. There were a few stories about that:

• Zanesville church opening doors to homeless to fight off cold Monday night
• St. Thomas warming shelter to remain open during freezing weather this winter
• St. Thomas warming shelter sparks outpouring of community aid

A couple of house fires

• Last Saturday, a home in New Concord was damaged after catching fire while it’s single occupant was away. Firefighters believe the fire was caused by an external heating device found inside the bedroom. No one was injured. Full story.
• Fire crews responded to the scene of a working fire across from Adamsville Elementary Monday morning. All occupants of the home were able to vacate safely. Full story.

In the city

• Monday evening, Zanesville City Council passed the public nuisance abatement ordinance. As described in the ordinance, a nuisance can be defined as a number of activities, including criminal activity, substance abuse violations, sex offenses, weapon violations and city code violations, to name a few. Felony drug offenses are also included but carry greater weight. Full story.
• If there was ever a perfect time to put the nuisance abatement ordinance to work, the property at 842 Dryden Road has presented the perfect opportunity. A chronic nuisance for its next-door neighbor for many years, the home was condemned Thursday following an incident where human feces were tossed in the yard on Jan. 23. Full story.

For more information on the nuisance abatement ordinance:

• Council taking final vote on nuisance abatement next meeting
• Committee to vote on amendments to nuisance abatement ordinance
• Final nuisance abatement ordinance vote likely to be delayed for revision
• Council passes first reading of nuisance abatement ordinance

Court corner

• A Zanesville High School teacher’s aide, who was also a track coach and football coach, was charged with sexual battery after allegedly having a sexual relationship with a student. First story. Michael Law, 34, pleaded guilty, later on in the week, to sexual battery charges and illegal use of a minor in nudity oriented material stemming from a relationship with a 16 year-old student. Follow up.
• After impersonating a sheriff’s office employee and threatening to take a woman to jail if she didn’t have sex with him, 28 year-old Thomas Unger pleaded guilty to rape, abduction and impersonating a peace officer Friday morning. Full story.
• A Roseville man charged in an altercation that left a deputy with a broken ankle and a pair of police cruisers damaged earlier this month pleaded not guilty to seven felony charges stemming from the event. John Beatty, 31, is currently being held in the Muskingum County Jail on a $1 million dollar bond. Full story.
• A 21-year-old Roseville man waived his right to be indicted by a grand jury and pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor Friday morning. Kyler Mangold is accused of sexually touching a 15-year-old friend of his sister’s who came to his house after running away from home in December. Full story.
• A Zanesville man that has a lengthy incarceration record told Judge Mark Fleegle before receiving his sentence that he didn’t want to die in prison. The 53-year-old man said the judge would never see him back in the courtroom as he was fearful that he may never leave prison. The man was being sentenced for an OVI charge, harassment with a bodily substance and driving under suspension. Full story.