Happy May. The flowers are blooming, everything is turning green and pollen is dusting anything that dares to be outside. Everyone sneeze together. Here’s all of the news from this past week.

Hearts across the community went out to the family and friends affected by the multi-fatal accident that occurred on Wednesday morning. Courtney Strate (Rich) and her mother Michelle Moody were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on US-22. An off-duty Muskingum County Sheriff’s deputy, Zackary Smith, also died as a result of the accident. Strate’s four children that were in one of the involved vehicles were taken to Children’s Hospital. All of the stories relating to the accident are below.

• Off-duty deputy among three who died in Wednesday morning crash
• US-22 crash victims identified
• Funeral arrangements set for deputy killed in Wednesday morning crash on US-22
• Funeral arrangements made for mother and daughter killed in Wednesday accident

Just two days prior to the US-22 accident, a motorcyclist died after crashing his bike off Raiders Road near Trinway. A trooper had attempted to pull the man over twice and backed off both times as the driver had reached high speeds which made it unsafe for the trooper to continue the pursuit. First story. The man was later identified as 32-year-old Ryan Hammond of Dresden. Second story.

A little good news

• The Red Cross’ annual Sound the Alarm day made 65 local residences safer by installing or replacing fire alarms. The group of 30 volunteers surpassed their goal of installing 100 fire alarms during the four-hour event on April 26. Full story.
• Three local high school students were awarded scholarships by the Bar Association during Law Day on Wednesday. First place scholarship winner was Tri-Valley High School senior Chad Bell. Second place scholarship winner was Philo High School senior Maddie Phillips. Third place scholarship winner was West Muskingum High School senior Austin McCleary. Full story.
• The Starlight School, as well as the Muskingum County Board of Developmental Disabilities, will see some renovations over the summer months. Bids were opened Tuesday during a Muskingum County Commissioners’ special meeting. Full story.

Court Corner

• The young mother that left her 52-day-old baby inside a car for two hours on one of the hottest days of 2018 was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday afternoon. Samantha Donohoe sobbed throughout her appearance in court at the beginning of the week. Full story.
• A 44-year-old man sent lewd videos of himself to a 15-year-old high school student, as well as the student’s mother. The man was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Monday. Full story.
• The man that set his ex-wife’s house ablaze in December pleaded guilty to four felonies on Wednesday. Stephen Niles Jr. was separated from his wife but still had access to the home in Wayne Township that the two had previously shared went he set it on fire. Full story.
• A Zanesville Police Department patrolman was flagged down in Putnam Landing Park by a woman that said she was being held against her will. The woman’s alleged kidnapper pleaded guilty to multiple felonies on Monday. Full story.
• The third person charged as a result of their involvement in a 2017 shooting was sentenced to two years in prison this week. Stormy Hooper accompanied Bradly Grimes and Audrey Preer the day that Grimes and Devonte Goins engaged in a shootout. Hooper threw the gun that Grimes used to shoot Goins out the car window as the group drove away from the residence. Full story.
• A 61-year-old man that stabbed his wife’s cousin in the thigh, severing the man’s femoral artery, was sentenced to four years in prison. The victim attempted to break up an altercation that ensued as a result of drunken decisions. Full story.

Local business

• Despite rumors of Florafino’s Flower Market experiencing a shattered storefront window as a result of a drive-by shooting, there is no evidence to support those claims. A captain with the ZPD speculated that the broken window could be a result of a number of situations, but said that there is no evidence of a shooting. Full story.
• Fondale’s Tavern in Duncan Falls is now delivering food and beer. The local bar began its delivery services on Tuesday. Full story.
• Muskingum County’s nationally recognized motorcycle champion Lonnie Warne is giving back to his home community by sponsoring a race at Midway Speedway next week. Full story.

Others … they’re still important

• Friday morning the Muskingum County Dog Warden and Adoption Center received a call stating that there were two deceased dogs in a Zanesville home’s basement and another dog eating their bodies. Upon visiting the residence with the local humane officer and the Zanesville Police Department, 12 dogs were rescued from the home and two dogs were found dead. Full story.
• The hydrants are not fully flushed. The Zanesville Fire Department will continue flushing hydrants within the city limits through the day Monday. Full story.