Page 3 - Dresden Buzz 10/03/2025

OCTOBER 3 - 16, 2025 LOCAL NEWS | PAGE 3
Candidate Forum held to inform Zanesville voters

BY LYNETTE DOTSON | DRESDEN BUZZ
small businesses, attracting larger
economic opportunities. I believe city
council works best as a team. So, col-
laborating with one another, the city ad-
ministration does a lot of that work. I
hope to make those ideas a reality.”
Current member of City Council, Kar-
la Frye (City Council – At-Large) said,
“A couple of areas that I think are im-
portant, which you’ve heard a lot of this
from Don, are expanding housing oppor-
tunities and upgrading or replacing ag-
ing infrastructure.”
“I have a lot of experience with tech-
nology from my career in project man-
agement. I think those are kind of items
that give me a certain insight into how
to make Zanesville a place that really
Sean Fennell of the Muskingum County Library System led a panel of candidates running for Zanesville City Council in the November 2025 can be – like Mayor Mason was talk-
election. Pictured at the table from left to right are Todd Ware, Brandon Heddleson, Karla Frye, and Andrew Ashby. Lynette Dotson ing about earlier, where we can be a
place for growth. Technology is not go-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ing anywhere … I think that’s one of my
strongest points,” explained Brandon
forward,” Mayor Mason stated. once the bridge is finished at Straker currently are serving about 700 children Heddleson, candidate for City Council –
Mayor Mason shared about increasing Landing. You’ll be able to go from Riv- and over 400 families in the kinship Fifth Ward.
housing opportunities and development erside Park to Straker Landing to the Y program. 90% of our children are kept I’m really embedded in the commu-
projects, investing in city parks, and Bridge and then be able to basically get in Muskingum County, which helps us to nity. I grew up in Zanesville. I know the
grants that will help to advance local ini- back to the starting point of Zanes Land- work to reunify them with their family people. I know the locals. I know what
tiatives. One of the projects mentioned ing and the Zanes Landing Trail. and to improve parental skills.” we need, what needs are out there, what
was the Gateway to Appalachia. “Some of the other projects that we’ll “If we’re unable to find a suitable fam- we need to improve on. I talk to every-
“The Muskingum County Convention be working on is the Kearns Conserva- ily or kin home to take the children, then body in my community. I walk the com-
Facilities Authority, or CFA, we’re work- tion Area, which was donated by the we must resort to foster care or resi- munity. I practically know just about
ing with them on restaurant space, walk- Kearns family at the corner of Kearns dential care. Those types of placement every resident in my ward. They see
ing trail, and other improvements in the and North Point. Meadowsprings Farm, costs have more than doubled since me, they call me. I come right out and
area. My vision is, or goal is, that when which we’ve owned for about 20 years 2019. We’re very fortunate in this coun- I check them and help them solve their
we get all these improvements done, in off of 60 north of town. We’re partner- ty to have Avondale Youth Center. It’s a problems. That’s what I’m here for, to
about $30 million worth of investment. ing with Nature Conservancy to do some nationally accredited facility that’s rec- solve problems,” stated Todd Ware, a
My vision is to have a commonality of wetland enhancements and stream cor- ognized for their success in working with six-year City Council member running for
lighting so that when somebody’s driv- ridor cleanups. We also will be beginning teenagers and youth who are at risk. No his fourth term in office as City Council –
ing from Columbus … they’re going to work on Salt Creek Reserve. Most peo- child is ever removed from their home Third Ward.
see the spectacular showcase that we’re ple don’t realize we own Bergen Field, so without the court or law enforcement The complete list of candidates on
going to call, again, the Gateway to Ap- we have a couple hundred acres around directing their removal. This system en- the November ballot include: Dan Vin-
palachia.” Bergen Field. We will be doing develop- sures that all children are safe and pro- cent (incumbent) running unopposed for
ments including canoeing and boating tected,” Cole said. President of City Council, Mark Baker
County-wide Levies access to Salt Creek, which will enable “This levy provides almost 40% of the (incumbent) running unopposed for City
County-wide levies were explained you to safely get into the Muskingum total budget of Children’s Services. It’s Council – First Ward, Jan Bradshaw (in-
during the second part of the event. Rus- River. And then one of the other things is local people taking care of local chil- cumbent) running unopposed for City
sell Edgington of the Muskingum Coun- the preservation of the Glass Rock Rail dren. It’s local people supporting staff Council – Second Ward, Todd Ware (in-
ty Park District was the first to address Corridor that goes from the East Fulton- who are the front lines of protecting cumbent) running unopposed for City
the room. ham at 93 all the way to Buckeye Lake,” children. And it’s local people ensuring Council – Third Ward, John Taylor-Lehm-
“We will have our 0.2 mil levy renewal concluded Edgington. that we protect tomorrow for all of our an (incumbent) running unopposed
on the ballot this November,” Edgington Donna Cole the volunteer chairperson children. So I urge you to vote yes on for City Council – Fourth Ward, Ralph
said. “That’s going to cost the average of the Muskingum County Children’s the Children’s Services Avondale Youth Hennessey (incumbent) and Brandon
homeowner about $15 for the entire Services Avondale Youth Center levy. Center levy,” stated Cole. Heddleson running for City Council –
year. And the levy itself brings in right “Children’s Services is mandated to Fifth Ward, Mike King (incumbent) and
around $450,000, which isn’t a tremen- protect children in Muskingum County. Zanesville City Council Race Andrew Ashby running for City Council –
dous amount of money. That money is We are a 24-7 agency with somebody Lastly, four candidates running in the Sixth Ward, Mark Ballmer (incumbent),
used basically to cover our operational on call all the time. So the levy that is Zanesville City Council races spoke be- Karla Frye (incumbent), Joey Pennybak-
costs. But what people don’t realize on the ballot this year supports the work fore answering a few questions. er Osborn (incumbent), and Cody Pettit
when they’re, you know, in the ballot box to meet the mandates. This is not a new “Looking ahead, I envision a city with running for City Council – At-Large.
voting for levy, that levies are very impor- tax, but it’s a renewal of the existing levy revitalized neighborhoods, local busi-
tant because we are able to leverage the that is set to expire in 2026. It’s a 10- nesses, more parks and green spaces,”
dollars that we get through the levy in year, 2-mil levy, which breaks down to said candidate for City Council – Sixth ADVERTISE IN THE DRESDEN BUZZ.
the form of getting grants.” be about $36 per year for $100,000 of Ward, Andrew Ashby. “Supporting 740-270-2408
“We’re hoping to be successful for valuation.”
the renewal, and I wanted to also share “The entire community benefits when
with you some of the things that we’re children are protected and families are
going to be working on during the next strengthened. For the last several years,
levy cycle,” Edgington explained. “Don Children’s Services has seen a dramatic
mentioned that Canal Park Trail, and increase in cases involving child abuse, Celebrate Life With Us!
we did receive $1.2 million of Appala- sexual abuse, and exposed newborn ba-
chian Community Grant funds for the bies. Recently, they’ve even had several
trail. That construction will begin in the children who’ve ended up in the hospital
spring of next year, and then it will be because they have eaten marijuana edi-
wrapped up by probably October of next bles that their children have not, or their
year. We will obviously start working on parents have not secured in the home. I
Straker Landing. It’s a phase develop- guess it’s no surprise that Muskingum
ment with four different phases. And County has a drug problem, and the
one of the unique things about the Ca- people that it impacts the most are the
nal Park Trail is our proposed pedestrian children that are in the home of those
bridge that will connect Straker Landing families.” explained Cole.
to Riverside Park. That in itself is a solid “Children’s Services has been serving
community need because people think about 3,800 children in the county. That
it’s too hard to get to Riverside Park.” equates to one in five children,” contin-
Edgington continued with, “We were ued Cole. “When they need out-of-home
just awarded $130,000 from ODOT to placements, we really turn to family and
do a feasibility study for a recreational kin first, because we think that’s a much WEDDINGS • RECEPTIONS • SPECIAL EVENTS
trail that will go from Straker Landing to more stable environment and better
the Y Bridge. And what that does for the environment for children to go to who lindsleysbanquetbarn.com | 740.754.2143 | 4060 New Riley Rd. Dresden
community is it will create a loop trail have been abducted and abused. We