The Indy Bulletin Board: Athens County Events, Announcements, Public Meetings, & Local News Roundup 8/28-9/4

Local news roundup

Note: The Athens County Independent shares news from other outlets and organizations that we understand to be accurate and relevant to the community. The organizations cited are ultimately responsible for their own news coverage and announcements. 

Growing tourism associated with the Hocking Hills has led to an explosion in Hocking County real estate prices alongside a decline in affordable housing — likely contributing to increased housing insecurity and homelessness. The city of Logan recently declared a moratorium on new short-term rentals (e.g., Airbnbs) while local officials seek a solution. (WOUB)

A planned charter school, Southeast Ohio Classical Academy, recently acquired a building that is the former site of Green Elementary School in Hocking County’s Haydenville. The charter school also tapped Tim Allen as its founding principal; Allen spent most of his career working for Madison Christian School in Groveport. (Athens Messenger)

• Indy context: The charter school, which will divert funding from local school districts, has close links to conservative and evangelical Christian organizations. Initially, founders planned to open the school within 15 miles of the City of Athens.

The Republican-dominated Ohio Ballot Board adopted controversial summary language for an abortion rights ballot initiative. The language, which will appear on voter ballots this November, uses the term “unborn child” instead of “fetus.” The amendment’s backers are considering a lawsuit. (Statehouse News Bureau)

Sen. J.D. Vance opposes a U.S. Forest Service move to change the Wayne National Forest’s name as “a lack of fidelity to our nation’s founding generation.” (Cleveland.com)

• Indy context: According to the forest service, General “Mad Anthony” Wayne left a “complicated legacy [that] includes leading a violent campaign against the Indigenous peoples of Ohio that resulted in their removal from their homelands.”

Gov. Mike DeWine appointed experienced behavioral health professional Alicia Nelson to lead the OneOhio Recovery Foundation, the nonprofit tasked with administering the state’s more than $1 billion in opioid settlement money. The organization has been criticized for lack of transparency. (Ohio Capital Journal)

The Memorial Bridge connecting Belpre to Parkersburg will reopen this week. The bridge will be tolled, though crossing will be free for a limited time after reopening. (The Parkersburg News & Sentinel)

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Events

• PRISM LGBTQ+ Youth Art Program Back to School Bash: 3–5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28, Armory Park, 2 E. Carpenter Street, Athens
• Calliope Feminist Choir Open Rehearsal: 5:30–8:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28, First Presbyterian Church, 2 N. Court Street, Athens
• Grand Opening of the Chauncey Bus Shelter: 10 a.m.–noon Wednesday, Aug. 30, next to the Post Office on Sycamore Street, Chauncey
• Jazz Night at Rhapsody: 6–8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, 18 Public Square, Nelsonville
• Reptiles Up Close: 4–5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, Burr Oak State Park Lodge, 10660 Burr Oak Lodge Rd., Glouster
• Free Hot Meal: 4:30–7:30 p.m. Friday, Sep. 1, Good Works, 7857 Luhrig Rd., Athens
• Welcome Week Rooftop Movie Night — Lady Bird: 9–10:45 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, Athens City Parking Garage, 15 E. Washington St., Athens
• Breakfast Hike: 8–11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, Burr Oak State Park Lodge Shelter House, 10660 Burr Oak Lodge Rd., Glouster
• Critters at the Campground: 10–11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 3, Burr Oak State Park Campground Amphitheater, 10660 Burr Oak Lodge Rd., Glouster
• The Magic of Monarchs: 2–3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, Burr Oak State Park Nature Center, 10660 Burr Oak Lodge Rd., Glouster

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. 

City of Athens

• NEW 
  • Individual and corporate taxpayers can file City of Athens income tax payments online.
  • The city has extended the deadline for Athens Sculpture Walk art proposals to Sept. 15.
  • Hours for the Athens City Pool changed effective Aug. 20.
• Public Comment
  • Richland Avenue Playground renovation survey. Deadline: Sept. 1
  • Athens County Active Transportation Survey. Deadline: Sept. 30.
  • Athena Award nominations. Deadline: Sept. 1.
• Engineering & Public Works
  • Stimson Avenue water line extension. Watch for flaggers. At some times, daytime westbound Stimson Avenue traffic will be detoured via N. 1804 Way, Mill Street and Palmer Street. Expected completion: September 2023.
  • Dairy Lane sewer and water line project: Expected completion: Sewer portion, fall 2023; entire project, 2024. 

Athens County Engineer

• Leveling: Mineral Road (CR 8).
• Mowing: Pearl Wood Road (CR 97), Chase Road (CR 69), North Longview Heights Road (CR 83), Vore Ridge Road (CR 22) and county roads in Coolville.

ODOT projects in Athens County: 

• US 33/US 50 interchange: US 50 westbound ramp to US 33 is closed; expected completion Sept. 15. All US 50 westbound traffic is diverted to the new Stimson Avenue exit (173) into the roundabout. Expected project completion: November. 
• Tree trimming: SR 691 between SR 56 (Waterloo Twp.) and Hocking Parkway (York Twp.). The road will be closed where work is taking place. Contact the Athens County ODOT Garage for updates at (740) 568-4320. Estimated completion: Aug. 31.
• Resurfacing: US 33 between Elm Rock Rd. (York Twp Rd 36) and SR 550; expected completion: Sept. 1. 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.
• Landslide repair: SR 13 between SR 550 and Alderman Road (CR 111). Estimated completion: Oct. 1.
• Lane closures: US 50 between Harmony Road (CR 24) and Della Drive (CR 52); expected completion Oct. 1.

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Public meetings

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, 8/28:

11 a.m.: Hocking Athens Perry Community Action Board, Hocking Athens Perry Community Action, 3 Cardaras Drive, Glouster. In-person only. Agenda

1 p.m.: Buckeye Hills Regional Council Broadband Committee, Buckeye Hills Regional Council, 1400 Pike Street, Marietta. In-person only. 

6 p.m.: Athens-Hocking-Vinton Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health (317) Board, 7990 Dairy Lane, Athens, and over Zoom. Agenda

Tuesday, 8/29:

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

Wednesday, 8/30:

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

6:30 p.m.: Federal Valley Resource Center Board, Federal Valley Resource Center, 8225 SR 329, Stewart. In-person only.

Thursday, 8/31:

9:30 a.m.: Athens County Board of Commissioners, Athens County Courthouse, 15 S. Court St., 2nd floor annex, commissioners’ conference room, Athens, and over Zoom. Agenda

1 p.m.: Athens County Board of Elections, protest hearing regarding the candidacy of Greg Smith for Nelsonville City Council, Athens County Courthouse, 3rd floor, courtroom A, 1 S. Court St., Athens. In-person only.

5:30 p.m.: Jacksonville Village Council, Jacksonville Fire Station, 34 6th St., Jacksonville. In-person only.

7 p.m.: Trimble Township Board of Trustees, Trimble Township Building, 14 Town St., Glouster. In-person only. 

Friday, 9/1:

No public meetings scheduled.

Monday, 9/4:

Monday is Labor Day, a federal holiday.