Happy (almost) May. People aren’t kidding when they talk about spring showers. The forecast for this week is looking exceptionally gloomy. Fortunately, gloomy skies will lead to some nice summer sunshine in the coming weeks. For the time being, get comfortable, there’s some news to dig through.

The good stuff

• For over 30 years the community has rallied around the Carr Center for the center’s annual Cake Auction. Surprise, the community has not ceased to show its support. The auction was held at the end of this past week. Full story.
• In this week’s Living Recovery Series, Sara Blake tells her recovery story. Blake is a house mom at Muskingum Behavioral Health’s Naomi House, an employee at a local bakery, a sponsor for local women in recovery, a board member of the We Are Recovery Group and serves as the secretary for the Mid-East Area Service Committee of Narcotics Anonymous. Full feature.
• The Furry Friend Friday featured two days ago was S’more. The two to three-year-old pit bull-mix loves sunbathing and spending copious amounts of time outside. Oh, and he likes peanut butter — a lot. Full feature.
• Some Muskingum County residents that utilize Columbia Gas of Ohio’s services will receive some upgraded business as the company is installing about 2.8 miles of new gas lines in 2019. Full story.

Court corner

• Two people were sentenced in the case of a shooting that occurred in 2017. Bradly Grimes and Audrey Preer received 20-year and 5-year sentences, respectively, for their participation in the shooting of victim Devonte Goins on March 29, 2017. Goins and Grimes both suffered gunshot wounds, and both men recovered. Grimes story. Preer story.
• A 26-year-old Zanesville man was sentenced to a decade in prison after being convicted by a jury of trafficking cocaine. Sean Franklin’s case arose after a confidential source informed law enforcement that Franklin had been dealing out of his Dryden Road home in 2017. Full story.
• A jury trial was halted at the beginning of its second day as the defendant decided to plead guilty in the case he was standing trial for, as well as another case of similar nature. Michael Stevens pleaded guilty to reduced charges in one case and a prosecutor’s bill of information in another case for pushing women down as they were entering their homes and stealing their purse or wallet. Full story.

A few accidents

• Two people fled the scene of a trailer fire Saturday afternoon. According to a power-lineman, electricity to the trailer had been shut off three weeks ago. The Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office was searching for the two people yesterday. Full story.
• Thursday afternoon around 2:45 p.m. a semi traveling westbound on I-70 near mile marker 149 overturned closing one lane of traffic. The driver told officers that a car cut him off causing the truck to go off the right side of the roadway. Full story.
• Tuesday evening, a head-on collision left an elderly woman in serious condition. The woman was driving east on SR-16 when her vehicle went left of center, striking a semi truck head-on. The truck hit an embankment and burst into flames. Full story.
• Tuesday morning, the driver of a Ford Focus was arrested following a rollover accident near North River Road West and Fairview in Falls Township. Full story.

On the lookout

• Two women were added to the Muskingum County Most Wanted List this week. The first is 38 year-old Traci King. The second is 31 year-old Alisha Cooper. Full story.
• Transitions Inc., the local domestic violence shelter, is warning the community of a scam. Allegedly, a pair of women are attempting to solicit donations for the organizations. The women are not affiliated with Transitions. Full story.

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.