Image via Wikipedia

• Can they be hacked? 
• Can their signal interfere with other wireless systems? 
• Do they bill correctly and what is the recourse if they do not? 
• How are the states funding these projects when they are broke? 
• How are the cities funding these projects when they are broke? 

I’ve got many questions and I’m sure others do too. So far, here is the only link of substance that I can find on the issue, Newark, Ohio borrowing money for water meter system. That’s on the city’s $20,000 website, so whether the link stays good or not, we’ll see. My apologies if it’s bad. 

With a resource as vital as water, Newark’s residents place a lot of trust in city officials to get this done right. My concern is that there is no mention of how problems that other cities have experienced will be addressed here. With the money freely granted from the State Of Ohio, we’ll find out. 

Related articles

• Water shortages will drive demand for smart water meters, analysts predict (businessgreen.com)
• Monroe replaces thousands of water meters (mysanantonio.com)
• Water Meters Explained (bestbathrooms.com)
• Charlotte city council to vote on new transmitters for water meters (charlotte.news14.com)
• Top 5 Smart Grid Trends of 2011 (greentechmedia.com)
• Building A More Effective Water Meter (business-opportunities.biz)
• A short history of meter reading technology (chicagolandh2o.wordpress.com)
• Not your father’s water meter (chicagolandh2o.wordpress.com)
• Cheaper with a Water Meter? (waterwatchbc.wordpress.com)
• Water Meters for Vancouver? (waterwatchbc.wordpress.com)
• Fresno’s water meter project is on right path (fresnobeehive.com)
• Thousands In Baltimore City, County Will Get New Water Meters (cbsbaltimore.wordpress.com)
• Smart meters (kevingriffiths.wordpress.com)
• UCLA Bringing a Fully Networked Smart Grid to Campus (greentechmedia.com)
• Smart Meter Battles in Nevada (lettingfreedomring.com)

Every year Newark, Ohio welcomes the Christmas season with a lighting of the Licking County Courthouse. This year, Santa is scheduled to stop in and light the courthouse on November 25, 2011 at 6 PM.

The event is an exciting one and for some reason, there are always some glitches. It seems that the lights require so much power that it takes a huge amount of electricity from the excitement of the crowd to get it lit. The louder they cheer, the more lights that come on. It’s a great way to join with the community as they kick off the festivities for the rest of the Christmas season. Work is already being done to prepare for the lighting of the Newark, Ohio Courthouse.

Here is a video of a Licking County Courthouse lighting from 2006.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcVqQhAojYY

Related articles

• Photos From the 2011 Newark, Ohio Lite The Nite Car Show (newarkohiolinks.com)
• Electric Workers Start Preparing The Licking County Courthouse for Christmas
• 1st Sign Of The Christmas Season In Newark, Ohio. (newarkohiolinks.com)

It may be way to early for most of us to start preparing, but for the workers at the courthouse, it’s time to get started. I caught a few workers on the roof making the first preparations.

Look close and you'll see a worker on the Licking County Courthouse Roof

Worker on Licking County Courthouse roof sets Up Christmas lights.

Worker exits small door and walks on the roof of the Licking County Courthouse.

The end result will look something like this -

The Licking County Courthouse in Newark, Ohio Lit Up For Christmas.

Related articles

• Photos From the 2011 Newark, Ohio Lite The Nite Car Show (newarkohiolinks.com)
• Short Video About The Effects Of Rising Electricity Costs On Newark, Ohio Residents (newarkohiolinks.com)

Image via Wikipedia

John Sinko, a professor at Ohio State University in Newark, Ohio, had an idea to use a laser guided system and thursters to guide astronauts back to safety. He’s join working with others and his idea may become reality. Here’s the link to the story. 

It’s common knowledge that he was from Newark, Ohio and enlisted at the young age of 9, but I didn’t know that he served the longest time in the Army of any Civil War Veteran. 

The listing is old and the house might be sold by now, but the description and photos were interesting. Weiant was the owner of the first telephone company in Newark and he owned a massive greenhouse complex east of Newark. Wherle owned the the Wherle Stove Company in Newark. 

This would seem like a good home to find get the entrepreneurial spirit. 

UPDATE – This house is no longer listed for sale when I last checked on December 18th, 2011. 

The most notable thing that I found about John Sparks was that he made to 88 years old. In the 1800′s, that was far past the average life expectancy. According to the plaque, he was a 47 year old private in the Army. That just doesn’t sound right. He was also on explorations with Zebulon Pike, the famous explorer that Pikes Peak in Colorado is named after.

The Ohio Historical Marker Near John Sparks' Grave

The search in Google Books turns up quite a bit of information.

Grave information for Newark, Ohio Founder, John Sparks.

Also, this passage -

Mention Of John Sparks in "Centennial history of the city of Newark and Licking County, Ohio".

I find it humorous that the most famous of the early settlers in the county is characterized as a slothful vagabond in his later years, but that’s what the history books tell us. After a life of danger and hardships, fishing on the banks of the Licking River doesn’t seem like a bad idea. Considering his age at death, maybe there’s something to a haphazard, precarious, hard life?

Here are some photos from Hollar Cemetary so you’ll recognized it on the next time you pass it on State Route 13 on the far north side of town.

John Sparks Tombstone

Tombstones At Hollar Cemetary In Newark, Ohio

Hollar Cemetary Entrance

Map Showing Knox County, Ohio's Location Image via Wikipedia

Real Estate Agent, Sam Miller, is doing a blog series called 365 Things To Do In Knox County, Ohio. Sure, there are plenty of things to do in Licking County, Ohio, but if you want a short car ride in the country, there’s quite a few interesting things to explore in our neighboring county to the north.

I’m pretty sure if anybody could find 365 things to do in Knox County, it would be Sam. He’s spent most of his life in Mount Vernon, Ohio and he’s been in business there for more than 20 years. Will he have the time and energy to complete this series? Be sure to check in to find out and to see if he finds any ideas that you may not have known about.

Boeing’s Newark, Ohio Missile Guidance Repair Center was awarded a contract valued at $11,084,230.

This comes as good news to the Newark and Heath, Ohio area which has already been devastated by job losses at other major companies in the area.

South of Newark, there are a few curves and blind hills. Nothing that should present a problem, but it does. Truck traffic adds fuel to the rage of impatient drivers. If you go north of Newark, a 45mph speed zone is disregarded as drivers push they’re family trucksters and big boy trucks to their performance limits of 70mph or so.

Patience is the key to driving these roads. The road isn’t the problem. There are many worse roads with far better safety statistics. The speed limit isn’t there to impede your ability to travel quickly. It’s there to allow for a safety cushion for the many drivers entering and exiting the roads. Sure, you may not have to turn for 15 miles, but many people live in neighborhoods along the highway. Turning here is a legal maneuver. No matter how much you tailgate or blow you horn, folks need to make their turns to get home.

Tonight we had many injured at the 657 and 13 intersection. Again, there’s nothing wrong with the road here. It’s fine. You can see for a 1/2 mile in each direction, yet somehow there is an accident. How could this happen? The cause is not reported yet, but I would bet alcohol, speed, inattentive driving, or a combination of them are going to play a role.

As you travel the unlucky Ohio State Route 13, think about your driving responsibilities. Think about the consequences of your actions. If you know you’re driving responsibly, give it even more effort. Realize that the person behind you is thinking that the closer he gets to your bumper, the faster you may go. Realize they’re probably involved in some fascinating conversation on the cell phone like “who’s dating who”, or ” did you get bread”. Think about this before your turn. If you see them back there, slow down very far of your turn. Go ahead, get them upset, at least they’ll be watching your bumper and maybe they’ll see your turn signal.