GROUNDHOG BREAKFAST

The Cherry Valley Hotel & Ohio Event Center was packed Friday morning for the 67th Annual Licking County Chamber of Commerce Groundhog Breakfast. The event included the naming of the John Alford Community Service Award winner. This year's recipient is Jim Matesich, CEO Matesich Distributing.

Past Alford Award winners include - Dan DeLawder, Marcia Downes, Rick Platt, and Jennifer Utrevis. Sally Heckman, president and CEO of First Federal Savings was the celebrity groundhog.

MONEY FOR SAFETY UPGRADES

The state has announced that 900 additional schools will receive $112 million to support physical safety and security upgrades as part of the latest round of Ohio's K-12 School Safety Grant Program. 25 schools across Licking County will share in a little over $2 million.

MONEY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL POWER

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a nearly $255 million loan to the South Central Power Company in Lancaster. The funds will be used to help build and improve 320 miles of power lines and transmission system projects.

A DROP IN JOBLESS CLAIMS

Ohioans filed almost 7,950 initial jobless claims last week and that was 1,100 fewer than the previous week, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

COMMUNITY FORUM

The United Way of Licking County will host its next Community Partners Council forum Wednesday, Feb. 8 from 10:00am-12:00pm at the Licking County Aging Program on East Main Street in Newark. This month's topic highlights the Growing Homeless Population in Licking County.

PANCAKE DAY

The Granville Kiwanis Club is holding its popular Pancake Day on Saturday, Feb. 11 at St. Edward the Confessor Church.

Butch Curtis said next Saturday's Pancake Day runs from 7:00am-2:00pm. For more information visit the Granville Kiwanis Facebook page.