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Interview with Alison Arocho, Ohio University lawsuit plaintiff
Alison Arocho is currently suing Ohio University, arguing OU is liable for repeated sexual abuse she suffered by one of its police officers from 2005 to 2006.
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Hopewell Health Centers employees form agency’s first union
Therapists at a Hopewell Health Centers location in Athens formed a union last month—the first group of Hopewell employees to do so.
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Hopewell therapists paid less than state average despite agency’s financial strength
Therapists who work at Hopewell Health’s Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Services location on Columbus Road in Athens cited low pay and high caseloads as primary issues in their decision to unionize.
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Ex-police officer who shot and killed Nelsonville resident faces civil lawsuit
The family of Nelsonville resident Michael Whitmer is suing the former Hocking College police officer who shot and killed Whitmer, 37, while on duty last year. Cecil Morrison entered a no contest plea for criminal charges related to Michael Whitmer’s death in April. He surrendered his Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy certificate but did not…
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Local activists urge Athens City Council to support abortion rights
Read time: About 4.5 minutes Updated to reflect the resolution passing. Athens City Council discussed a proposal from a local activist group to protect abortion rights at a Nov. 14 committee meeting. Athenians for Bodily Autonomy modeled its proposal on an ordinance Columbus City Council passed on July 25. If adopted as originally drafted, it…
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Sick deer in Athens County: historic outbreak impacts hunting season
Autumn’s chills, radiant sunsets and fantastic floral displays comprise a sensory experience that for many residents of southeast Ohio would not be complete without the taste of local game—especially white-tailed deer. This year, however, deer season has been marred by a historic outbreak of a disease that is killing deer across the state: epizootic hemorrhagic…
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Deer harvest up in Ohio but down locally amid disease outbreak
As of Oct. 26—33 days into deer season—statewide archery harvest is up about 10% over the three-year average, according to Ohio Department of Natural Resources Deer Biologist Clint McCoy. The 2022-2023 season got off to “an incredibly fast start,” perhaps due to cooler-than-normal temperatures at the start of the season, he said. Although the deer…
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Livestock also impacted by deer disease outbreak
Tracking outbreaks of epizootic hemorrhagic disease is important because wild deer aren’t the only ones affected. Other ruminants can contract EHD, including livestock such as sheep, goats and cattle (and captive deer)—and outbreaks among domesticated ruminants are increasing, according to Dr. Dennis Summers, chief of the Division of Animal Health at the Ohio Department of…
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Electric bus added to Athens Public Transit fleet
Athens Public Transit added an electric vehicle shuttle bus to its fleet this month. The bus is blue, with orange flowers, green creatures and white text that says, “I’m electric,” wrapped around its exterior—a design made by Passion Works artists. “We definitely wanted it to stand out,” said Sarah Conley-Ballew, Rural Action director of Sustainable…
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Jay Edwards beats back challenge from Tanya Conrath
State Rep. Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville) resoundingly beat his Democratic opponent, Athens attorney and businessperson Tanya Conrath, in tonight’s general election. Conrath won in Athens County, home of both candidates, but lost to Edwards in Meigs and Washington counties. Ballots in Morgan County, which has around 9,000 registered voters, were still being counted at press time.…
