Mound Cemetery Funding, Sexual Assault Arrest, Ohio Sues Norfolk Southern

Here's your Wednesday Marietta Minute

Good morning Marietta and thanks for subscribing to the Marietta Independent Newsletter. The easiest way to stay in touch!

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Here’s the weather for the upcoming week courtesy of Accuweather

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Here is the latest local news Marietta.

1. The Marietta City Council is looking at moving some American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Mound Cemetery. Due to irregular plots in the historic cemetery, there are 425 bodies that could use locating. With a proposed $49,000, some contractors want to help change that. (Marietta Times)

2. A Caldwell man is behind bars after a sexual assault in Washington County. Deputies say it was reported that 22-year-old Holden Bates assaulted an adult woman on two occasions, once this month, and once last month.

   

   He was arrested after admitting to sexual activity with the adult. Bates was later released on a PR bond. (WCSO)

3. The State of Ohio has officially announced that it is suing Norfolk Southern civilly for the East Palestine derailment.

   Governor Mike DeWine @GovMikeDeWine

   East Palestine Update: @OhioAG has filed a civil lawsuit against Norfolk Southern in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Today's full update: bit.ly/3LnxKFK Previous updates and more information: ema.ohio.gov/eastpalestine

   

4. Ohio has a near ban on abortions that it cannot enforce, for now. This ban has been blocked by a county judge’s order, but the Ohio Supreme Court agreed yesterday to review that decision.WOUB/AP (WOUB/AP)

5. Ohio’s Democratic US Senator Sherrod Brown wants to help keep lead out of municipal water supplies. He and a mess of other Senate Democrats have cosponsored the FLOW Act. If passed, it would make it easier for cities to finance old water pipe replacement projects. (Sherrod Brown)

6. As we go into construction season, Ohio State Troopers remind folks to keep an eye out for ODOT crews. Move over a lane and give them some space. They just had an incident in Hocking County.

   ODOT_SEOhio @ODOT_SEOhio

   GIVE US ROOM: One of our plow trucks was hit this week while treating US 33 in Hocking County. The vehicle sideswiped our truck and took off. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, but this affected our ability to keep treating roads for icy conditions. #ODOTwinter

   

   

   

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Here are some upcoming events and other things to keep in mind!

1. The Marietta Chamber of Commerce is offering scholarships to area students. The deadline for scholarship applications is April 15, 2023. They accept applications from students in Ohio and West Virginia, click here for more details.

2. Washington State Community College is accepting applications for scholarships too. They will be awarding nearly $400,000 for the next academic year. The deadline is March 15. (WSCC)

3. The alley between 2nd and 3rd Streets from Montgomery to Sacra Via is closed for now. The city is going to be replacing sections of that alley. It’s set to reopen in May. (WTAP)

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Here are gas prices from around town, courtesy of Gasbuddy.com

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Thanks for reading the Marietta Independent! PLEASE share if you like it or found it useful, or don’t, I won’t hold it against you.

And always remember to reach out to me with news tips. The tipline is open. I cannot promise that every tip will materialize into a story, but I’ll do what I can with what I get. Send tips to Marietta.independent@gmail.com

A little about me. My name is Chris Schmitt. I’m from Marietta, I went to Marietta High School and graduated from Ohio University with a degree in Journalism. I wrote for WOUB, Southeast Ohio Magazine, a slew of newspapers in Virginia, and was a national radio correspondent for IHeartRadio. I also started the Marietta Ohio Patch and until recently authored the daily newsletter.