🌱 How an online sting led to a 40-year Zanesville prison sentence

Hi there, Zanesville! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How an online sting led to a 40-year Zanesville prison sentence
• How a new grant will transform Cuddy Dixon Memorial Park in 2026
• Which Zanesville “Caped Crusaders” power United Way’s trivia night?

Also on today's calendar: Zanesville Farmers Market and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Cloudy and breezy; p.m. rain, with a high of 55 and low of 29 degrees.
• Friday: A.M. flurries; breezy, colder, temps: high: 36, low: 23.
• Saturday: Periods of sun; not as cold, with a high of 47 and low of 27 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. He planned to meet up with a minor. Instead, he'll spend 40 years in prison. (zanesvilletimesrecorder.com) — A Zanesville man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after arranging to meet someone he believed was a 12-year-old girl and later admitting to possessing sexually explicit images of minors. Zanesville police and the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office detailed how online messages, a sting-style encounter, and a search of his devices led to multiple felony pandering convictions.
   

2. Cuddy Dixon Memorial Park will see upgrades in 2026 (whiznews.com) — Cuddy Dixon Memorial Park on Zanesville’s north side is getting a major facelift in 2026, thanks to a $28,193 NatureWorks grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The money will fund new basketball hoops, ADA-accessible parking, and security cameras, with a second phase planned to replace playground equipment and support broader improvements, including a proposed splash pad at Putnam Hill Park.
   

3. The United Way's Superhero Trivia Night recognizes special sponsors like the Close to Home Center (whiznews.com) — United Way of Muskingum, Perry and Morgan Counties is inviting Zanesville-area residents to its superhero-themed Superhero Trivia Night fundraiser on Jan. 15 at Eaglesticks Golf Club. The event highlights “Caped Crusader” sponsors like Nationwide Children’s Close to Home Center on Adair Avenue, which offers local families access to specialty pediatric care without driving to Columbus.
   

4. Local Sports Scoreboard (Wednesday, December 17th) - WHIZ - Fox 5 / Marquee Broadcasting (whiznews.com) — Zanesville boys basketball edged Newark Catholic 61–54 in Wednesday’s local action, while several Muskingum County girls teams also battled in close games. West Muskingum, Maysville, Tri-Valley, Crooksville, and Philo all saw tight contests, giving Zanesville-area fans plenty to talk about from a busy night on the hardwood.
   

📸 Around Zanesville

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Zanesville

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday December 19

• Evan Abood Live @ A Taste of Ohio with Special Guest Harley Dalton!
  A Taste of Ohio, Wine, Bourbon & Beer, 524 Main St Downtown, Zanesville
  6:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday December 19

• Holiday Open House
  Duncan Falls/Philo Branch Library , Duncan Falls Meeting Room , Zanesville
  4:00 pm
• 2025 AH District Lock-In
  Floral Valley Community Center , 850 Crestrose Dr , Howard
  5:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• Zanesville Farmers Market
  Adornetto's Pizzeria , 2224 Maple Ave , Zanesville
  9:00 am

Tuesday December 23

• Excel Your Year
  New Concord Branch Library - New Concord Meeting Room
  4:00 pm

Thursday December 25

• Christmas Day
  Muskingum Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America , 734 Moorehead Ave , Zanesville

Friday December 26

• BOYS BA Pin Cancer
  Muskingum County Fairgrounds , 1300 Pershing Rd , Zanesville
  10:00 am

Wednesday December 31

• Order of the Arrow 2025 Dues - OA 2024 Dues
  Scouting Resource Center , 734 Moorehead Ave , Zanesville

📣 Zanesville Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• Holiday Open House
  Roseville Branch Library -
  5:00 pm
• MVC Full Board Meeting
  Muskingum Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America , 734 Moorehead Ave , Zanesville
  6:30 pm

Friday December 19

• Backbone Acoustic @ Downtown Exchange
  The Downtown Exchange , 527 Main St , Zanesville
  6:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• 3750456 – Philo Youth Basketball Games
  397 Oak St , Duncan Falls
  12:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Uline, Inc. posted a job opening for Warehouse Custodian / Janitor in Zanesville. Apply here.
• Dunham's Sports posted a job opening for Team Member in Zanesville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Zanesville here.

Ok Zanesville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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