Taking it to the Streets

Stephen S. Randrup

MOUNT VERNON – Yesterday (May 6th), at approximately 2:50pm Knox County Sheriff deputies were dispatched to the Kokosing Gap Trail on a report of a male exposing himself.

The incident was reported to have taken place west of Laymon Rd. near the 3 1/2 mile marker.

Patrol officers and detectives responded to the area and made contact with Stephen S. Randrup of Mount Vernon. Randrup was identified by witnesses and arrested for public indecency.

The case remains under investigation and officers are asking anyone who may have recently observed similar activity to call the Knox County Sheriff’s Office at 740-397-3333.

By PAM SCHEHL
News Staff Reporter

MOUNT VERNON — A warrant has been issued for a Mount Vernon in connection with an alleged incident that took place Tuesday on East Ohio Avenue.

Mount Vernon Police Department Capt. George Hartz, told the News this morning an arrest warrant has been issued for Josh Shannon, 31, on a charge of aggravated menacing.

Hartz said the owner of the property at 307 E. Ohio Ave., went to the residence to collect the rent for this coming month. Shannon, who lives at 1101 N. Mulberry St., was allegedly on the porch at East Ohio Avenue. The police report stated Shannon pulled out a pistol and allegedly told the property owner, “Don’t bug my buddy,” then walked away.

Shannon is a white male, 5’5”, 170 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is encouraged to call the Mount Vernon Police Department at 397-2222.

By CHUCK MARTIN
News Staff Reporter

MOUNT VERNON — Chase Zolman, 15, and his friend, Justin Jenkins, 17, decided they were going to do a little mushroom hunting Monday after school and headed for nearby Wolf Run Park.

Starting near the “bark park,” the boys headed off the trails and were following a stream bed when they reached a bridge on one of the trails where it crossed the ditch. From the bridge, they could see the back of the Knox County Jail.

Jenkins said Chase looked under the bridge and it looked like something had been placed up on a support beam under the bridge.

“He poked at it and I could see what looked like a gun barrel, Jenkins said. “We called his parents and his Mom came over while his Dad called the sheriff’s office.”

Chase’s mother, Misty Zolman, said she went straight to where the boys had called from and watched a deputy retrieve the object, which was wrapped in two Walmart bags.

Mrs. Zolman said the deputy pulled out the gun, which he said was a Star .45 automatic. The gun was loaded. She said the deputy told them it was probably either used in a crime or was going to be used.

“It was a scary find,” she said. Luckily, the boys knew not to mess with it and called her.

“If someone else had found it, it might have been dangerous,” she said.

Sheriff Dave Shaffer said the gun was reported stolen from a northern Ohio county. Detectives have been in contact with law enforcement there to see if they have any suspects that may have a connection in the Knox County area.

Although Wolf Run Park is a popular place to hunt mushrooms, Justin said he and Chase are novices and haven’t succeeded in finding many. They were working along the stream bed because they thought that might be a likely place to find mushrooms.

Jenkins said the bridge is about four feet over the small stream bed and Chase decided to look under the bridge, then looked up and saw the bag.

Jenkins is a student at the Knox County Career Center and Zolman is a student at Mount Vernon High School.

Jenkins said he did find one mushroom Monday — while walking back to the parking lot with the deputy.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is asking residents that may be using the Kokosing Gap Trail to be on the lookout for a male that may be exposing himself to trail users. The sheriff’s office has not received any reports directly, however information has been relayed to Kenyon Security. The reports have usually been a few days after the incident.

The male is described as white, 30s-40s, slender, usually wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. The incidents have taken place mostly from 3pm-5pm between the Brown Environmental Center and Mount Vernon. The Sheriff’s office is asking anyone who may encounter this type of incident to call (740) 397-3333 immediately.

We will also be trying to enhance our patrol efforts in this area.

COLUMBUS – The Delaware Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a crash involving a commercial vehicle that killed an ODOT worker today on northbound Interstate 71, near mile post 124, in Delaware County.

The ODOT worker was operating a backhoe on the right berm, when a commercial vehicle drove off the right side of the roadway, striking the backhoe. The commercial vehicle flipped over and became engulfed in flames. The worker, Lee Rizor, 27, of Mt. Gilead was declared dead at the scene. The driver of the commercial vehicle, Dwayne Allen Hill Sr., 59, of Ashland, Va., has been transported to the OSU Wexner Medical Center in critical condition.

Interstate 71 is closed northbound at the I-270 interchange.

This crash remains under investigation.

NEWARK — On Monday, at approximately 12:30 a.m., the Licking County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to an armed robbery at 10202 Hazelton Etna Road, Pataskala, at a Duke and Duchess gas station. When deputies arrived they spoke with an employee who informed them an unknown male entered the store, displayed a black handled firearm, and then demanded money, and the employee’s personnel belongings. The suspect then locked the employee in the store bathroom.

The suspect also stole the employee’s vehicle and left in an unknown direction of travel. The employee was found in the bathroom uninjured. The stolen vehicle is a dark green 2001 Pontiac Grand AM, Ohio license plate number FKC 4162.

The suspect was described as a white male 6-feet, 2-inches tall, thin build with brown hair and brown eyes, approximately 30-35 years of age. The suspect was last seen wearing a black hoodie with red stripes on the sleeve, blue jeans, and a grey baseball cap.
Upon further investigation, Sheriff’s Office Detectives identified the suspect as Nathan Daubenmire, 31. An arrest warrant for aggravated robbery has been issued for Daubenmire and anyone with information about his whereabouts should call the Licking County Sheriff’s Office (740) 670-5555.

Delaware County detectives are asking for the public’s assistance identifying and locating a female suspect connected to multiple thefts. Earlier this month, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office received several reports of theft from vehicles along Kilbourne Road in Kingston Township. A total of six thefts were reported to have occurred during the early morning hours of May 3.

Detectives investigating the thefts have obtained surveillance images from the Speedway gas station, 2567 Walcutt Road in Hilliard. The images show a white female using a credit card reported to be stolen during the rash of thefts. The female suspect used the stolen card to purchase multiple cartons of Newport cigarettes totaling more than $100. The suspect is describe

d as an average-sized female who appears to be in her 20s. She is seen wearing glasses, a black shirt, red pants and a white headband.
“This suspect could be connected to several thefts from vehicles in our jurisdiction,” said Acting Sheriff Scott Vance. He continued, “We’re hoping someone recognizes this woman so we are able to apprehend her before she can victimize another individual. Anyone who has information that could assist investigators is urged to contact our office at 740-833-2800.

MOUNT VERNON — A father who is not authorized to see his daughter came to the Knox County Career Center about 11:15 a.m. today looking for her.

MOUNT VERNON — The city's Source Water Protection Committee is moving along on its dual purpose of identifying existing pollution threats to the city's water supply and creating a plan to deal with contamination if it should occur.

MOUNT VERNON — A House transportation bill which would force states to allow longer, heavier trucks on America's roadways was temporarily put on hold Thursday when a U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted to amend the bill by sending it to a three-year study committee.

FREDERICKTOWN — For the second year in a row, through a blind taste test by nationally renowned producers and marketers, Ann's Raspberry Farm & Specialty Crops has won a national Good Food award for its Savory Brussel Sprout Relish.

HOWARD — It was a Devil-Dog classic that fans will remember for some time to come.

MOUNT VERNON — "Great teams aren't always great. They're just great when they have to be." Those were the immortal words of John Facenda, whose baritone voice was lent to many NFL Films Super Bowl highlight shows.

MOUNT VERNON — The Loudonville Redbirds have climbed to the top of the Mid-Buckeye Conference standings thanks to a stifling defense.

These Knox County Career Center Students arrived at the school after it was locked down at 11:15 a.m. Friday because of an unauthorized person in the building. Before the lockdown was lifted, the students were admitted to attend their lab classes.

By VIRGIL SHIPLEY
News Staff Photographer

MOUNT VERNON — A father who is not authorized to see his daughter came to the Knox County Career Center about 11:15 a.m. today looking for her.

KCCC staff recognized him immediately and locked down the building. Superintendent Bernie Pachmayer said before they could close the building, the man slipped away without anyone knowing it.

Students were locked in their rooms. Mount Vernon Police responded and searched the building but were not able to find him. Pachmayer added police know the man and felt they would be able to located him. The lockdown was lifted at 12:25 p.m.

Because of the lockdown at the career center, the Mount Vernon High School and middle school buildings across the street were also locked down. Mount Vernon Superintendent Steve Short said that classes went on as scheduled at both schools and that students were able to move around the school for their classes.

He also said that extra precaution was given for anyone attempting to enter or exit the schools, and that everything went according to plan.

MOUNT VERNON — Nobody likes taxes, and a sudden doubling of a tax bill would be expected to cause a hue and cry to be raised. That happened to some agricultural land owners last month, but the response has been subdued.

MOUNT VERNON — Knox County may not be directly served by an interstate highway, but Mount Vernon is nevertheless the hub on a transportation wheel that includes one U.S. highway and no fewer than seven designated state routes.

FREDERICKTOWN — It's happened to every driver on the road. You are driving along and someone in front of you wants to make a left turn, but there is a long line of traffic coming the other way. There is no left turn lane, so you are stopped, too. Do you wait, or do you pass the car on the right? Is it legal to do so?