Stacey Carmany

NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Aug. 12, 2024) - A Dover man is heading to prison for brutally assaulting his former roommate. Kenton George, 47, will serve 4 to 6 years there for bludgeoning the victim multiple times with a hammer. It happened on February 20th after what Assistant Tuscarawas County Assistant Prosecutor Scott Deedrick described as several weeks of conflict between the two men who had recently moved in together. Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Ernest handed down the punishment, crediting George for the 171 days he spent in jail while the case was pending. The victim was taken by ambulance to Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital, where he was treated and released. George was originally charged with attempted murder, but the prosecution agreed to drop that count, citing ‘insufficient evidence.’

NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Aug. 21, 2024) - The former daycare worker and student teacher accused of molesting a young child he was babysitting is guilty of gross sexual imposition. Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court jurors deliberated for several hours before handing down the verdict against Justin McCauley, 25, of Bolivar, late Tuesday morning. McCauley was originally indicted on a second GSI count but requested separate trials and was acquitted of the other. He's facing up to three years in prison and a possible $10,000 fine when he’s punished for the crime. He retains the right to appeal the conviction, which makes him ineligible for an Ohio teaching license.

DOVER (WJER) (Aug. 22, 2024) - The ‘best seven days in September’ are less than a month away. The 174th installment of the Tuscarawas County Fair begins three weeks from Monday, closing the following Sunday with the always popular demolition derby. Agricultural Society President Reb Billman says it’s starting a couple of hours earlier than in the past. The Rafter M. Rodeo returns to the grandstands for opening night, and on Tuesday it’s the Band-O-Rama marching band showcase. Tickets aren’t required for that or Thursday’s grandstand feature: a family event called Truck ‘N Treat. For the complete schedule, senior fair entry forms, ticket information, and more, visit TuscCountyFairgrounds.

DOVER (WJER) (Aug. 23, 2024) – There’s a fundraiser at the fairgrounds Saturday for the new entrance being built along Tuscarawas Avenue. The Fairgrounds Initiative Committee member is hosting a sponsorship drive from 1 to 3 at the red, barn-style entrance honoring Tuscarawas County’s agricultural heritage. Committee Member Rod Endsley […]

NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Aug. 28, 2024) - Mayor Joel Day can now submit the city’s application for a designated outdoor drinking area downtown. During Monday’s council meeting, members voted 6-to-1 to authorize the paperwork, which now heads to the Ohio Department of Commerce for review. The only no was from Councilwoman Cheryl Ramos, who grilled Mayor Joel Day about the proposal a week earlier. The proposed DORA is for special events only and spans several blocks between First Drive and Second Street. Don Whittingham and other downtown business owners requested the designation which he says will allow him to establish a yearly blues festival downtown. Once the agency's Liquor Control division greenlights the request, it will update the permits of the eight participating businesses.

PORT WASHINGTON (WJER) (Sept. 3, 2024) - A Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s captain is getting to relax in style after being chosen for an all-expenses-paid backyard makeover from the organization Patios for Patriots. Marine Corps veteran Travis Stocker and his family didn’t have an outdoor space to spend together at their home on Winding Staircase Drive until the Patios for Patriots organization stepped in. They were home while most of the work was occurring but left for a couple of days while crews completed the finishing touches and got to see the final product on Sunday. Stocker deployed to Iraq in 2005 as part of the 3rd battalion, 25th Regimen. He felt unworthy of his new backyard, which came fully furnished and features a large stone memorializing his fallen comrades.

STRASBURG (WJER) (Sept. 4, 2024) - Mayor Bruce Metzger says the fire department is still functioning as it should despite recent resignations. He met with Interim Chief Maria Boswell before Tuesday’s council meeting and was told things are going well as they prepare to welcome Jason Ely as their new full-time leader. Not including former chief Steven Laskey, who stepped down at the end of June, the department has lost nine members over the past year. The latest worked one day per month and wrote in her resignation letter that she didn't feel she could continue to grow her career there due to recent changes. Ely was hired on August 6th and was supposed to start two weeks later but didn’t for reasons that Metzger and council discussed behind closed doors at the end of Tuesday’s meeting. We don’t know what was said - only that Ely is scheduled to undergo a physical exam on Monday.

UHRICHSVILLE (WJER) (Sept. 5, 2024) - Residents wanting to participate in city government have until Monday to apply for an open council seat. Council President Buck Cottrell says they’re looking for someone to replace Terry McFerrin, who resigned from his at-large seat last month to pursue other opportunities. The opening is through the end of next year. Interested residents are asked to provide their resume and a letter of interest to Council Clerk Scherie Clough at city hall or by email at [email protected]. Applicants can reside anywhere in the city and don’t need to be associated with a certain political party. Council meets again next Thursday, although Cottrell doesn’t anticipate making an appointment until two weeks later.

NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Sept. 6, 2024) - Historic planes from all over the country will be flying into Harry Clever Field on Saturday morning. Mayor Joel Day says the city’s aviation heritage is being celebrated again as the members of T-34 Association bring their Warbirds back to town for lunch and a public viewing from 11 until noon. They’ll then depart, doing runway fly-bys as they leave. The visit follows the local EAA Chapter’s Wings and Wheels Fly-in and pancake breakfast fundraiser at the airport last Sunday.

DOVER (WJER) (Sept. 6, 2024) - The Camp Tuscazoar Foundation has one of its biggest fundraisers of the year this weekend. The camp's 35th-annual Pig Roast is Saturday from 3 to 6 pm and Sunday from 11 to 4 at the more than 800-acre nature camp on Boyscout Road Northeast between Dover and Zoarville. For $25, you get a roast pork and barbequed chicken dinner with all the fixings - available for dine-in or carryout - and kids eat for $15.