$1.00 RETAIL FRIDAY, 06.12.15 IINEWARK, OHIOII A GANNETT COMPANY II NEWARKADVOCATE.COM Advocate The TAUGHT BY BEST Former champions, meet placers instruct youth at high-intensity wrestling camp in Newark 1B SIMPLY THE LOWEST PRICE ON A NEW CHEVY LashChevrolet.Com 740-967-8021 Route 62 In Johnstown Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said marijuana legalization is inevitable, and could bring early 35,000 jobs to the state. is coming to Ohio. We need to accept the reality that this is going to Deters said at a Thursday news conference of the Marijuana Policies of Ohio Taskforce. The group, which Deters chairs, released a report on the economic, public safety and health repercussions of legalizing marijuana in Ohio. The 188-page report was partially unded by ResponsibleOhio, which is pursuing a ballot initiative to legalize the crop.
Deters works at the same Cincinnati law firm as Chris Stock, the principal author of the amendment to allow marijuana cultivation at 10 farms across the state. Deters, a former state treasurer, said he taking a position on Responsi- ballot initiative. However, the law-and-order Republican said his views marijuana legalization have changed over time. in the world, knowing this is coming, would we let the bad guys make all the Deters asked. Taxing the nearly $7 billion industry could help fund local government, he added.
Republicans have denounced the Re- sponsibleOhio proposal. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine called legaliza- Prosecutor: Pot will be legal It could also bring nearly Ohio 35,000 jobs, he says JESSIE BALMERT GANNETT OHIO If the Supreme Court verturns ban on same-sex marriage in the coming weeks, local officials say they would perform the ceremonies for couples. Should the court say ban on ame-sex marriage is unconstitutional, ouples could begin being married soon thereafter. Licking County Probate Judge Robert Hoover said once he has read the opinion and understands it, he would have no problem issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. got to follow the he said.
have any Hoover said he was at a conference ast week with fellow probate judges from across the state and the unanimous opinion was that probate courts, hich issue marriage licenses in each county in Ohio, would have no choice but to follow the Supreme decision. While Hoover stopped performing arriages several months ago, Municipal Court Judges David Stansbury and ichael Higgins also perform the cere- onies. Higgins said he would perform the eremony if the ban is overturned. I serve all the people of Licking County, not just some of he said. ayor Jeff Hall, who also can per- orm marriages, said he wants to see what the Supreme Court says before he akes a decision.
have no intentions to buck the he said. want to see what comes own before I make a Domestic Court Judge Duke Frost performs marriage ceremonies on occasion and said the oath he took as a judge was to uphold the laws of the state and nation, including Supreme ourt rulings. going to do marriages, you should probably do them for everyone ho comes asking (if the ban is he said. Adecision by the Supreme Court is expected in the next few weeks. SAME-SEX MARRIAGE Local fficials vow to comply if ban goes Probate courts would ollow ruling BETHANY BRUNER ADVOCATE REPOR TER What do a mayor, a swim oach and a Realtor have in common? They are all graduates of Newark High School who have been featured on Newark City new alumni spot- ight page.
The school district is looking for nominations from the community for more Newark High School graduates to feature, said Seth Roy, community out- each coordinator for the district. are just looking for ways to highlight anyone who graduated from ewark High School and is making some sort of positive Roy said. Over the last year, the district has stepped up its efforts to strengthen the onnection between alumni and its schools. Spotlighting notable alumni is one way to engage graduates as well as current students, Roy said. He knows there are Newark gradu- a tes doing all kinds of interesting things, from designing clothes for Nordstrom to serving in the military to eaching English in a foreign country.
He plans to post articles and inter- District hopes to spotlight graduates Newark City Schools launches new Web page ANNA JEFFRIES ADVOCATE REPOR TER SeeWEB The Licking County Chamber of Commerce umped two spots in Columbus Business list to be- ome the largest chamber of commerce in Central Ohio based on its number of members. his year, the chamber boasts 1,550 members, beating ut No. 2-ranked Columbus Chamber of Commerce by 50 members. heri Hottinger, president and CEO of the Licking County chamber, keeps her eye out for the list every year, but this one slid past her and took her by surprise. In fact, the news broke when Hottinger received an email to congratulate her on being a leading chamber in he state.
Hottinger sure if that meant the chamber had placed in the top 10 or if it had finally reached the top the list. hen she confirmed the chamber did in fact slide into the No. 1position, she immediately began texting mem- JESSICA ADVOCATE Melissa Madinger, owner of M. Madinger Jeweler, demonstrates how she can customize rings for clients with a computer program. She recently joined the Licking County Chamber of Commerce, which was recognized for being the largest chamber in Central Ohio.
County chamber growing New businesses have helped bump Licking to largest in Central Ohio EMILY MADDERN ADVOCATE REPOR TER.
