News

  • Athens sidewalk improvement continues, residents struggle with safety

    Athens sidewalk improvement continues, residents struggle with safety

    Elena Caple was injured walking in Athens for the first time in 2020. Coming home from CVS–recently purchased lotion in one hand, her phone in the other–Caple felt her ankle crumple on top of the “cracked and broken” service road that leads to the bike path. It happened again that year: Caple was walking down…

  • The state of Hocking College in six graphs

    The state of Hocking College in six graphs

    Many concerned over the administration of Hocking College amid recent controversy point to declines in staffing and enrollment, which they attribute to mismanagement.  One place these concerns arise is “4 the LOVE of Hocking College,” a private Facebook group comprising more than 100 current and former college employees organizing to overhaul the current college administration,…

  • Ohio University may face trial in suit related to former officer’s rape of minor

    Ohio University may face trial in suit related to former officer’s rape of minor

    A judge recently denied Ohio University’s motion for summary judgment in a case related to a former OU police officer’s repeated sexual abuse of a minor in 2005-06. The survivor’s lawyer says the case will likely head to trial in November. In an affidavit, plaintiff Alison Arocho alleges former OU Police Department Officer Robert A.…

  • Local News Roundup

    Local News Roundup

    Learn more about the November election Ohio voters will consider whether or not judges should speculate about threats to public safety when considering bail — which is, constitutionally, only supposed to revolve around showing up to the next court date. Local research has shown that bail reform would “mitigate negative health outcomes” of jail time.…

  • Supreme Court rules in favor of Tanya Conrath’s challenge to Jay Edwards

    Supreme Court rules in favor of Tanya Conrath’s challenge to Jay Edwards

    The Ohio Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that Athens attorney and businesswoman Tanya Conrath should be listed on the ballot as the Democratic challenger to State Rep. Jay Edwards.

  • Republican, independent challenge Eliason for county commissioner

    Republican, independent challenge Eliason for county commissioner

    Athens County Commissioner Lenny Eliason will see two challengers in this year’s election: Republican Alex Burcher and independent Bill Hayes.  Athens resident Eliason, 67, was first elected to the county’s Board of Commissioners in 1998. Composed of Eliason and fellow Democrats Chris Chmiel and Charlie Adkins, the county’s Board of Commissioners has remained unchanged since…

  • County auditor election: A rematch 20 years in the making

    County auditor election: A rematch 20 years in the making

    Athens County Treasurer Ric Wasserman, a Democrat, will challenge longtime Republican incumbent Jill Thompson for county auditor this November, reprising their matchup in 2002. In that election, Thompson defeated Wasserman 62.55% to 37.45%. Athens resident Thompson, 53, was appointed auditor in 2000; she seeks a sixth full term as auditor.  “There isn’t somebody who’s going…

  • Conrath appeals LaRose decision to block her nomination

    Conrath appeals LaRose decision to block her nomination

    Athens Township attorney and businessperson Tanya Conrath filed an appeal Friday of Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s decision to side with county Republicans in blocking her candidacy for the state house seat centered in Athens County.  “Frank LaRose picked the wrong woman and the wrong 5th generation Appalachian to tangle with,” she wrote in a…

  • Hocking College rejects board overhaul

    Hocking College rejects board overhaul

    Hocking College says that the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Ohio Department of Higher Education agree with the college’s assertion that an attempt to appoint three new members to the Hocking College Board of Trustees was invalid. The attempted board appointments were related to an effort led primarily by former Hocking College employees to…

  • Something rotten at Hocking College?

    Something rotten at Hocking College?

    Depending on whom you ask, Hocking College is thriving or dying. President Betty Young says “It’s pretty difficult to argue with our success,” pointing to campus renovations, new programs, and the increased diversity of the student population under her tenure. But employees and students have raised concerns about her administration almost since she first stepped…