HEAT WAVE
Central Ohio is bracing for a heat wave. The National Weather Service says Tuesday through the end of the week the region will experience hot temperatures and high humidity with heat index values up to 105 expected. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. If you plan to be outside wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing, and try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening.
KIRKERSVILLE MAN FACES SEX CHARGES
Bond has been set at $500,000 for a 26-year-old Kirkersville man accused of inappropriately touching a 7-year-old girl. Charles Hatton has been charged with rape in connection with alleged incidents that began when the girl was 5-years-old. Hatton was arrested in North Carolina. His case will next be heard by a grand jury for indictment.
CHECK YOUR FINANCES
As we approach the second half of 2026, the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions encourages Ohioans to pause and review their financial footing.
Deputy Superintendent Rob Rutkowski said you should aim to maintain three to six months of living expenses in an easily accessible savings account for unexpected needs.
LIVE STREAMING HANOVER BOOM
In order to help make the Independence Day holiday even more special for people who have moved away from the Village of Hanover, the past couple of years Hanover Boom has live streamed their fireworks display. President Jillian Flowers has received plenty of positive feedback.
This year's Hanover Boom took place on Saturday, June 27.
CAMPUS FIREWORKS
The Reese Family Foundation, and OSU-Newark/COTC invite you to the Independence Day concert and fireworks celebration. The event will be held Friday, July 3 from 5:00-11:00 p.m. at the Reese Amphitheatre on the shared campus. Admission and parking is free.
HOLIDAY TRAVEL
AAA projects 72.2 million people will travel at least 50 miles or more from home over the Independence Day holiday period that runs through Sunday, July 5. 61.4 million people will travel by car.
AMERICA 250!
Happy Independence Day! Don’t forget to proudly fly the Stars and Stripes today. Just a reminder that all local, state and federal offices will be closed today in observance of the holiday.
HEAT ADVISORY
The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory until 8:00 p.m. Drink plenty of fluids, wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening.
HEBRON MAN ACCUSED OF ASSAULT
Bond has been set at $100,000 for a 55-year-old Hebron man accused of assaulting his girlfriend. Chad Moore has been charged with strangulation but other charges could be forthcoming in connection with an alleged incident earlier this month at the couple's home. Moore does have prior domestic violence and drug convictions. His case will next go before a grand jury for possible indictment.
BROWNFIELD GRANTS
Ohio is awarding $15.5 million in grants to help communities in 35 counties clean up contaminated properties and prepare them for redevelopment. Locally, the Licking County Land Reutilization Corporation will receive almost $1 million for clean up of the former Matlack Industrial site in Pataskala. There are plans to build multi-family housing units on the site.
TICK WARNING
The Fairfield County Health Department is asking residents to take simple steps to avoid tick bites as lyme disease cases continue to rise in Fairfield County and across Ohio. Lyme disease is caused by bacteria that spread through the bite of blacklegged ticks, also called deer ticks. Wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes when walking in wooded, brushy, or grassy areas; stay on marked trails and try to avoid tall grass and check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks after being outside.
A DROP IN JOBLESS CLAIMS
Ohioans filed 4,345 initial unemployment claims last week, and that was 220 more than the previous week, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.