Local news roundup
Note: The Athens County Independent shares news from other outlets and organizations that we understand to be reliable. However, the organizations cited are responsible for the accuracy of their own reporting and announcements.
Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service and Rural Action are collaborating this year to reduce the effects of failing home sewage treatment systems in Athens and Meigs counties. (Rural Action)
The York Township Volunteer Fire Department donated thousands of dollars in equipment to the Tri-County Career Center’s Fire/EMS program. (The 360)
A new nonprofit, the Friends of The Plains Mounds, will work to promote education, preservation and appreciation of Native American earthworks in The Plains and the surrounding area. (Athens News)
The Wayne National Forest will conduct prescribed burns in three areas of its Athens and Ironton ranger districts between now and the end of the year, totalling 1,915 acres. (Wayne National Forest)
Local business Hyacinth Bean Florist doubles as a sanctuary for foster kittens. (The Post)
The Athens Conservancy’s Lindy Roosenburg Preserve was inducted earlier this month into the Old-Growth Forest Network, a national network that protects and recognizes mature forests across the country. The preserve is the conservancy’s newest, created in 2022 in memory of local resident Selinde Roosenburg. (Athens Conservancy)
Retired journalist Carolyn Lewis continues to serve the Athens County community, including as treasurer for the Athens City Commission for Disabilities. (Athens Messenger)
Southeast Ohio is now home to the first new uranium enrichment plant to open in the U.S. in over 70 years. The new facility in Piketon will produce high-assay low-enriched uranium, a nuclear energy source, for the federal government. A prior uranium enrichment plant closed on the same site in 2001, and a decades-long cleanup to address radioactive contamination from that facility remains underway. (WOUB)
An Ohio State University economic impact study found that passage of Ohio’s Issue 2 to legalize marijuana would generate hundreds of millions in new tax revenue, including funds for substance use and addiction services and job creation. Opponents say it’s not worth the social cost. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Student loan payments resume this month, following the end of a pandemic pause. About 1.8 million Ohioans will begin paying back a total of more than $60 billion. (Axios Cleveland)
Ohio was one of seven states to receive a failing grade on its redistricting efforts from the national anti-gerrymandering group Common Cause. The Ohio Supreme Court has rejected Ohio’s statehouse maps five times in the past two years, with a sixth version pending court review. (Ohio Capital Journal)
- Indy context: The latest statehouse maps split Athens County between two Ohio House district.
Events
- Food Truck Fundraiser: 12–2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, 510 West Union Street, Athens
- Liam Grant, with Support from The Peel: 7–9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, Athens house show; text or call (740) 315-8155 for tickets and information.
- Eclipse Company Store Trivia Night: 7–9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, Eclipse Company Store, 11309 Jackson Drive, The Plains
- Movies at the Museum: “Assassin of Youth”: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, Cannabis Museum, 16050 Canaanville Road, Athens
- Halloween Hootenanny: 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, Passion Works Studio, 20 East State Street, Athens
- Art in the Garden: Blind Contouring Drawing with Katherine Ziff: 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, Eastside Community Garden, East Park Road, Athens
- Cannabis Museum: Hemp Field Day: 1–4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, Cannabis Museum, 16050 Canaanville Road, Athens
- Scottish Country Dance Class Series: 2–4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22, Athens Community Center, 701 East State Street, Athens
Have an event to promote? Add it to our online Calendar!
Election Events
Absentee and early in-person voting is underway in Ohio for the Nov. 7 general election. More information is available via the Ohio Secretary of State.
The League of Women Voters of Athens County has issued its voters guide for the Nov. 7 general election.
- Carthage Township Trustees Virtual Meet the Candidates: 7–8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, livestreamed on facebook
- Trimble Township Trustees Virtual Meet the Candidates: 7–8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, livestreamed on facebook
Announcements
Note: All information is current as of the Bulletin Board’s production on Monday morning. Click the links to find the most up-to-date information.
- Change in bus schedules: Effective Oct. 30, Athens Public Transit Line 7, running to Albany and Nelsonville, will adjust stop times by 15 minutes. This will allow riders a direct connection to Line 3 and Line 6, increasing access to Chauncey, The Plains, and East State Street.
- Dairy Lane project update: Dairy Lane between 7976 Dairy Lane and the corporation limit (near Ohio University’s compost facility) will be paved Monday, Oct. 16, through Wednesday, Oct. 18.
- Change in traffic pattern: The intersection of Burr Oak Boulevard and Chestnut Street has changed from a 2-way stop to a 4-way stop.
- Road closed: Bessemer Road from Carbon Hill Buchtel Road to Elm Street will be closed 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, through Thursday, Oct. 19, for a water line replacement. The road will be open for local traffic, emergency vehicles and school buses only.
- Mowing: Vore Ridge Road (CR 22) and county roads in Albany, Nelsonville and Redtown.
- Road closures
- Elliotsville Road (Athens Twp. 57), 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, at 8585 Elliotsville Rd. for new sanitary sewer tap. No through or emergency traffic.
- Radford Road (CR 19) between 7207 and 7320 Radford Rd. for Athens County/US 50 Sanitary Sewer Project. Local traffic only. Expected completion: Oct. 13.
- Oakdale Road (CR 31), .10 miles south of the Perry County line for a bridge replacement. Expected completion: Nov. 9.
ODOT projects in Athens County
- US 33/US 50 interchange: Expected project completion: November.
- Resurfacing: SR 377 from the SR 550 intersection to the Morgan County line; expected completion: Oct. 15. US 50 between Della Drive and River Road and between Vanderhoof Road and SR 144; expected completion Nov. 1.
Public meetings
Note: Meeting schedule is based on meeting notices published by public bodies and on regular meeting schedules of community organizations. Meeting information may change after this is posted. Check our website for the most up-to-date information.
Monday, Oct. 16
11 a.m.: Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council, Finance Committee, Ohio University Innovation Center room 133, 340 W. State St., Athens. In-person or email support@sopec-oh.gov for virtual access.
12 p.m.: Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council, Personnel Committee, Ohio University Innovation Center room 133, 340 W. State St., Athens. In-person or email support@sopec-oh.gov for virtual access.
5 p.m.: Athens County Veteran Service Commission, OhioMeansJobs – Athens County, 510 W. Union St., Athens. In-person only.
5 p.m.: Rome Township Board of Trustees, Rome Township Building, 8708 SR 144, Stewart. In-person only.
5:30 p.m.: Athens City Historic Preservation Commission, Athens City Building, 8 E. Washington St., Athens. In-person only. Agenda
6 p.m.: York Township Board of Trustees, York Township Fire Department, 15255 Elm Rock Rd., Nelsonville. In-person only.
Tuesday, Oct. 17
9 a.m.: Athens County Budget Commission, Athens County Courthouse, 15 S. Court St., 1st floor annex, auditor’s conference room, Athens. In-person only.
2 p.m.: Athens County Board of Revision, Athens County Courthouse, 15 S. Court St., 1st floor annex, auditor’s conference room, Athens. In-person only.
3 p.m.: Athens Metropolitan Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, Prisley-Wells Commissioner Building, 10 Hope Drive, Athens. In-person only.
5 p.m.: Rome Township Board of Trustees, Rome Township Building, 8708 SR 144, Stewart. In-person only.
5 p.m.: Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia, Baileys Trail System mountain bike rental office, 23 Main St., Chauncey. In-person only. Agenda
5:15 p.m.: United Campus Ministry Board of Directors, United Campus Ministry, 18 N. College St., basement, Athens. In-person only.
6 p.m.: Athens Township Zoning Commission, Plains Public Library, 14 S. Plains Rd., The Plains. In-person only.
6 p.m.: Federal Hocking Board of Education, Federal Hocking High School Library, 8461 SR 144, Stewart.
6 p.m.: Tri-County Career Center Board of Education, Tri-County Career Center, 15676 SR 691, room 108, Nelsonville. In-person only. Agenda
7 p.m.: Sunday Creek Valley Water District Board, Sunday Creek Valley Water District, 15945 Second St., Millfield. In-person only.
Wednesday, Oct. 18
11 a.m.: Athens County Community Singers Advisory Board, Plains Public Library, 14 S. Plains Rd., The Plains. In-person only.
11 a.m.: Athens County Land Bank Board, Athens County Records Center, 27 S. High St., Glouster, and over Google Meet.
4 p.m.: Athens Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors, Athens Soil and Water Conservation District, 69 S. Plains Rd., The Plains. In-person only.
4:30 p.m.: Athens County Public Libraries Board of Trustees, Nelsonville Public Library, 95 W. Washington St., Nelsonville. In-person only.
5:30 p.m.: Athens City Commission on Disabilities, Athens City Building, 8 E. Washington St., Athens, or over Zoom by request for accommodations.
6 p.m.: Nelsonville-York City School District Board of Education, Nelsonville-York Middle School Cafeteria, 2 Buckeye Drive, Nelsonville. In-person only.
6 p.m.: Parade of the Hills Committee, Nelsonville Homes, 900 E. Canal St., Nelsonville. In-person only.
6:30 p.m.: Albany Village Council, Albany Village Hall, 5153 Alton St., Albany. In-person only.
7 p.m.: Albany Independent Agricultural Society Board, Albany Fairgrounds, 5120 Washington Rd., Albany. In-person only.
Thursday, Oct. 19
8:30 a.m.: Ohio University Board of Trustees Executive Committee, 104 Walter Hall, Athens, and audio stream via Microsoft Teams. The committee is expected to proceed directly to executive session. Agenda
DATE CHANGE 9:30 a.m.: Athens County Board of County Commissioners, Athens County Courthouse, 15 S. Court St., 2nd floor annex, commissioners’ conference room, Athens, and over Zoom. Agenda
9:45 a.m.: Ohio University Board of Trustees, Academics and Student Success and Resources, Facilities and Affordability committees, 104 Walter Hall, Athens, and audio stream via Microsoft Teams. Agenda
3:45 p.m.: Athens Community Relations Commission, Athens Public Library, 30 Home St., Athens. In-person only. Agenda
5 p.m.: Athens-Hocking Recycling Center Board, Athens-Hocking Recycling Center, 5991 Industrial Park Rd., Athens. In-person only.
5 p.m.: Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council general assembly, Arcade third floor, 31 S. Main St., Dayton. In-person or email support@sopec-oh.gov for virtual access.
5:30 p.m.: Athens Recreation Advisory Board, Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St., Athens. In-person only.
6 p.m.: Dover Township Board of Trustees, Dover Township Garage, 15947 Main St., Millfield. In-person only.
6 p.m.: Trimble Local Board of Education, Trimble Local School District Office, 1 Tomcat Dr., Glouster. In-person only.
6 p.m.: Nelsonville Dog Park Board, Nelsonville City Hall, 211 Lake Hope Drive, Nelsonville. In-person only.
Friday, Oct. 20
9:30 a.m.: Ohio University Board of Trustees, Governance and Compensation and Audit and Risk Management committees, 104 Walter Hall, Athens, and audio stream via Microsoft Teams. Agenda
10:45 a.m.: Ohio University Board of Trustees, 104 Walter Hall, Athens, and audio stream via Microsoft Teams. Agenda
