The Indy Bulletin Board: Athens County Events, Announcements, Public Meetings, & Local News Roundup 10/2–10/6

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. 

Local school district report cards released by the Ohio Department of Education show the Alexander and Athens school districts as having the best overall performance in the county. The Nelsonville-York district scored lowest, with the state finding the district needs support to meet standards. (Athens Messenger)

Ohio University was once again named the best public value university in the state by U.S. News and World Report College Rankings. The ranking measures various factors to assess affordability. (Ohio University)

The Ohio Redistricting Commission unanimously approved new state legislative maps, after five previous attempts at redistricting were struck down by the Ohio Supreme Court. Though the two Democrats on the seven-member commission argued the latest maps were unfair, they voted in favor anyway. (Ohio Capital Journal) 

A Wellston woman who stole over $9,000 from a high school sports boosters club was sentenced to a year of community control last week. Melanie Stanley was charged with grand theft, a fourth-degree felony, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in a plea deal that includes repaying the funds she took from the Wellston City School District’s volleyball booster club. (Ohio Attorney General)

Some Ohio University students feel the university needs to expand amenities from dining hall seating to campus housing, amid increasing enrollment. (The Post) 

• Indy context: As Ohio University enrollment grows, labor leaders say staffing should too.

The Ohio Supreme Court heard arguments last week that the state’s six-week abortion ban should be reinstated while a lower court considers a challenge to the law. (WCMH-TV)

The Outdoor Recreation Council of Appalachia invited Clermont and Brown counties to join its service area. ORCA coordinates efforts to grow local economies through outdoor recreation. (ORCA) 

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Events

• Southeast Ohio Tree Care Conference: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, Ohio Department of Natural Resources HQ, 360 E. State St., Athens
• Jazz Night at Rhapsody: 6–8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, Rhapsody, 18 Public Square, Nelsonville
• College Lunch Thursdays: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5, First Presbyterian Church, 2 N. Court St., Athens
• Free Hot Meal: 4:30–7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6, Good Works Inc., 7857 Luhrig Rd., Athens
• Athens Farmers Market: 9 a.m.–noon, Saturday, Oct. 7, Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St., Athens
• Paint a Mug Class: 3–5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8, Arts West, 132 W. State St., Athens

Have an event to promote? Add it to our online Calendar!

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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. 

Public Comment

• Wayne National Forest is conducting a National Visitor Use Monitoring survey through Sept. 30, 2024. Interviewers will ask visitors about their plans in the forest, the number of people in their party and their satisfaction with facilities and services. 
• Athens-Hocking Solid Waste District seeks input on a new 15-year solid waste management plan. Take the survey here.

City of Athens

• Geotechnical boring: Workers will drill bore holes to collect soil samples near the intersection of SR 56 and SR 682 beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 5.
• Crack sealing: Oct. 4–5 on Applegate Road, Avon Place, Carroll Road (between Roxbury Drive and Dove Drive), Euclid Drive, Farhills Drive, Grand Park Boulevard, Hillcrest Road, Northwood Drive, Old Coach Road, Old Peach Ridge Road, Orchard Lane, Pleasantview Drive, Townsend Place and Utah Place. Street parking will not be allowed during the work; on-street parking will be removed 24 hours ahead of work.
• West Union Street improvements: Work is underway to connect Herrold Avenue to West State Street near the entrance to West State Park. 

City of Nelsonville

• Dog park support letters: Nelsonville seeks letters of support for its application for the 2023 PetSafe Unleashed Dog Park Contest. The winning applicant will receive a “dream park” valued at up to $50,000. Letters should address how Nelsonville would benefit from a dog park and why the city should win the contest. Download a letter template or write your own. Submit letters to nelsonvilledogpark@cityofnelsonville.com by Oct. 12.

Athens County Engineer

• Oakdale Road closure: Oakdale Road (CR 31) is closed .10 miles south of the Perry County line for a bridge replacement. Expected completion: Nov. 9.
• Radford Road closure: Radford Road is closed at the Whitlind Avenue intersection for construction of the Athens County/US 50 sewer project.

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.

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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. 2

Noon: Athens Planning Commission, third floor of the Athens City Building, 8 E. Washington St., Athens. In-person and livestream.

5 p.m.: Athens City-County Board of Health, Athens City-County Health Department, 278 W. Union St., Athens. In-person only.

5 p.m.: Athens County Veteran Service Commission, OhioMeansJobs–Athens County, 510 W. Union St., Athens. In-person only.

5 p.m.: Glouster Village Council, Glouster Depot, 51 High St., Glouster. In-person only.

6:30 p.m.: Carthage Township Board of Trustees, Carthage Township Office, 2741 Lottridge Rd., Guysville. In-person only.

7 p.m.: Athens City Council, third floor of the Athens City Building, 8 E. Washington St., Athens. In person and livestream. Agenda.

7 p.m.: Canaan Township Board of Trustees, Canaan Township Building, 16167 S. Canaan Rd., Canaanville. In-person only.

Tuesday, Oct. 3

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.

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.

7 p.m.: Ames Township Board of Trustees, Ames Township Garage, 15900 Henry Rd., Amesville. In-person only.

Wednesday, Oct. 4

6 p.m.: Albany Village Finance Committee meeting , Albany Village Hall, 5153 Alton St., Albany. In-person only.

6 p.m.: Athens Environment and Sustainability Commission, Athens City Building, 8 E. Washington St., 1st floor conference room, Athens. In-person only. Agenda

6 p.m.: Waterloo Township Board of Trustees, Waterloo Fire Department, 8224 Hawk Rd., New Marshfield. In-person only.

6:30 p.m.: Albany Village Council, Albany Village Hall, 5153 Alton St., Albany. In-person only.

Thursday, Oct. 5

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.

12 p.m.: Athens Planning Commission, Athens City Building, 8 E. Washington St., 3rd floor, Athens, and over livestream. Agenda

6 p.m.: Buchtel Village Council, Buchtel Village Hall, 17710 N. Akron Ave., Buchtel. In-person only.

6 p.m.: Dover Township Board of Trustees, Dover Township Garage, 15947 Main St., Millfield. In-person only.

Friday, Oct. 6

11:30 a.m.: Buckeye Hills Regional Council, Buckeye Hills Regional Council, 1400 Pike St., Marietta. In-person only.