Strip Club Owner Sues Church and County Sheriff

Today's Zanesville, Ohio Times Recorder reports on a lawsuit pending in federal district court in Columbus (OH). In Nellie, Ohio, members of the New Beginnings Ministries have been conducting weekly picketing of a strip club known as the Foxhole. Foxhole owner, Thomas George, has filed suit against the church and its members seeking damages and an injunction. George also claims that Coshocton County Sheriff Tim Rogers has violated his rights by refusing to remove protesters from his property and refusing to file trespassing charges against them. Thomas Condit, attorney for the church, says that church members are merely exercising their First Amendment rights to advise the public "not to patronize a business they think is unhealthy and immoral." Last week the church filed a counter-claim alleging that an explosion last July in a dumpster outside of the Foxhole was aimed at threatening or injuring protesters.