Public health and safety Archives – Athens County Independent

Athens County Job and Family Services offices.

County Job and Family Services in ‘precarious’ position, making cuts

By Keri Johnson & Dani Kington ● Government ● December 17, 2025

Programs and staff are taking a hit at Athens County Job and Family Services amid a fiscal crisis of an uncertain scale.

Latest in Public health and safety

Athens emergency warming center moves to United Campus Ministry

By Chris Miles ● Public health and safety ● December 17, 2025

The warming center will be held at UCM this year in partnership with The Gathering Place.

Federal, state spending cuts force tough local choices

By Eric Boll ● Government ● October 29, 2025

Area organizations worry about their ability to maintain vital services following funding cutbacks and clawbacks.

Vaccines available locally for COVID, flu, RSV

By Dani Kington ● Public health and safety ● October 9, 2025

With respiratory disease season on the horizon, here’s how to get vaccines in Athens County this fall.

Ohio among five states hit hardest by clawback of CDC grants

By KFF Health News ● Public health and safety ● August 28, 2025

The state department of health, universities and health departments — including Jackson County — lost a total of $2.8 million.

Man dies following standoff with police at Beasley Mill (Updated)

By Eric Boll, Dani Kington & Keri Johnson ● Public health and safety ● August 7, 2025

Following an hours-long standoff at the Beasley Mill apartment complex, a man suspected of shooting a woman this afternoon is “believed to have taken his own life,” according to Athens Police Department Chief Nick Magruder.

The Athens Planned Parenthood clinic, located in a brick building.

Planned Parenthood Medicaid funding cuts would be big hit to Athens clinic

By Dani Kington ● Politics ● July 31, 2025

A quarter of Athens Planned Parenthood patients rely on Medicaid coverage for their visits.

A blue sign on a cement wall reads: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Ohio.

New public health board seeks to prevent deaths by suicide

By Keri Johnson & Shiloh Antonuccio ● Public health and safety ● June 25, 2025

Members of the new board will work to assess deaths by suicide in the county and develop future methods of prevention.

Ticks and tick-borne illnesses pose increasing risk to Athens County

By Eric Boll ● Environment ● June 25, 2025

Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other tick-borne illnesses infect more Ohioans every year.

Where to find cooling centers in Athens County during June’s extreme heat (Updated)

By Athens County Independent staff ● Public health and safety ● June 23, 2025

Extreme heat is underway in the region, with a National Weather Service advisory warning in place until 8 p.m. Thursday, June 26.