ATHENS, Ohio — Due to the sudden retirement of its founding mascot, Scoop, the Athens County Independent introduces its new face: Kicker the Raccoon.
Scoop’s retirement marks the end of an era for the Independent that began when the opossum noticed Independent’s co-founders planning their new venture at local watering holes such as The Mine, Eclipse Company Store and Jackie O’s Taproom. Scoop offered their services as a source, touting their wide-ranging travels around the county in search of food.
(When pressed for details, Scoop claimed that they never knocked over anyone’s trash, although they did not pass up the opportunity if some other critter had already ripped the trash bag.)
Scoop’s offer inspired the Indy staff to make the opossum the symbol of the newborn newsroom.
“It just kind of happened naturally,” Scoop said. “We joked that my face should be our logo and [the Independent staff] actually did it.”
As the Independent’s audience grew, Scoop found themself being recognized everywhere — so much so that they have lately spent more time playing dead than foraging.
“A possum’s gotta eat, y’all,” Scoop said. “You can’t be yelling ‘Scoop!’ when I’m trying to catch my dinner.”
In addition to unlimited al fresco dining, Scoop is looking forward to spending time bird watching, painting and honing their guitar skills from their new home in a recess cave near Wayne National Forest.
The Independent staff asks area residents to exercise caution in approaching Kicker. Please report any trash-eating incidents to us immediately.
