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.
Athens City Council is considering restrictions on recreational marijuana use in public areas, including parks. (The Post)
Flu, RSV and COVID seasons are peaking. (Axios)
Ohio University professor Geoff Dabelko contributed to the congressionally-mandated Fifth National Climate Change Assessment. His work focused on climate change’s impact on U.S. international interests. (Ohio University)
The Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council will add 50 electric vehicle charging stations across southern Ohio using a $12.5 million award from the U.S. Department of Transportation. (SOPEC)
Local history podcast Invisible Ground and the Southeast Ohio History Center have received a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. (NEH)
Ohio has some of the most unequal tax policies in the United States, according to the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy. The tax burden on the poorest 20% of Buckeye State households is double that of the richest 1%. (Ohio Capital Journal)
A Trumbull County grand jury refused to indict a woman who experienced a miscarriage at home after seeking medical treatment three times. The county prosecutor charged the woman with abuse of a corpse, a fifth-degree felony. (Statehouse News Bureau)
A federal judge upheld Ohio election laws put in place last year and including strict voter ID requirements. (Associated Press)
New guidance from a federal agency will end the funny one-liners along highways instructing Ohioans on road safety. (Statehouse News Bureau)
An Ohio House committee held a hearing last week on a bill to bar transgender students from using bathrooms aligned with their genders. The bill was not yet voted out of committee and will likely see minor changes. (Statehouse News Bureau)
- Indy context: The state government has been busy with legislation, proposed administrative rules and an executive order to restrict transgender healthcare. Here’s how the legal changes could impact Athens County healthcare and schools.
Events
- Eclipse Company Store Trivia Night: 7–9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, Eclipse Company Store, 11309 Jackson Drive, The Plains
- Out of This World Book Club: 6–7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, The Plains Public Library, 14 S. Plains Rd., The Plains
- Donkey Coffee Designated Space: 9–11 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, Donkey Coffee, 17 W. Washington St., Athens
- UCM Center Community Lunch: 12–1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, United Campus Ministry, 18 N. College St., Athens
- Hocking College Bingo: 4–9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, 185 W. Canal St. (formerly the site of LS), Nelsonville
- Donkey Coffee Open Stage: 8–10:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, Donkey Coffee, 17 W. Washington St., Athens
- UCM Center Community Supper: 5–6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, United Campus Ministry, 18 N. College St., Athens
- Albany VFW 9893 Bingo: 5–10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, 3025 Dickson Rd., Albany
- Donkey Coffee Presents: Plastic Lemonade with Eastwood – Free Show: 8:30–10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, Donkey Coffee, 17 W. Washington St., Athens
- MLK Day of Service in Tablertown: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, The People of Color Museum, 9035 SR 329, Stewart
- The Met: Live in HD – Verdi’s NABUCCO: 12:55–4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, The Ridges Auditorium, 135 Ridges Circle, Athens
- River of Time Boutique & Gallery – Free Concert with Jorma Kaukonen & Friends: 1–2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, River of Time Boutique & Gallery, 19 W. Washington St., Athens
- A Trip to the Athena – Paint & Sip: 5–7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, Athena Cinema, 20 S. Court St., Athens
Have an event to promote? Add it to our online Calendar!
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.
Athens County Public Libraries are closed today, Jan. 16, due to the weather.
- Christmas tree pickup: Discarded live Christmas trees will be picked up on Tuesdays and Fridays through the end of the month. Place the tree at the curb and call the yard waste pickup line at 740-592-3343 to schedule free pickup.
- Uptown improvements bids: The city is accepting sealed bids for its Uptown Area Improvements project, including pavement marking updates and improvements to signals, lighting, sidewalks and accessibility on State, Mill, Washington and Union streets between Congress and College streets. Bids are due by 2:30 p.m. Feb. 12, when they will be opened and read aloud.
- Boil order: A boil order is in place until noon today, Jan. 16., for water customers in the village of Buchtel; on Walnut Street east of Burr Oak Boulevard; and Burr Oak Boulevard northeast of Hillside Drive, including Critchfield Drive, Star Village, Sylvania Avenue, Carbon Hill-Buchtel Road, Sandy Lane, Dew Lane and Bessemer Road.
Public meetings
Note: Schedule is based on meeting notices published by public bodies and on regular meeting schedules of community organizations. This schedule may change after the Bulletin Board is posted — check our website for the most up-to-date information.
All meetings are in-person only unless otherwise noted.
Tuesday, Jan. 16
9:30 a.m.: Athens County Board of Commissioners, Athens County Courthouse annex, second floor, 15 S. Court St., Athens, and livestream. Agenda
10 a.m.: Athens County Budget Commission, Athens County Courthouse annex, first floor, 15 S. Court St., Athens.
4 p.m.: Athens County Veteran Service Commission, OhioMeansJobs–Athens County, 88 N. Plains Rd., Suite 102, The Plains.
3 p.m.: Athens Metropolitan Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, Prisley-Wells Commissioner Building, 10 Hope Drive, Athens.
5 p.m.: Rome Township Board of Trustees, Rome Township Building, 8708 SR 144, Stewart.
5 p.m.: Tri-County Career Center Board of Education, Tri-County Career Center, 15676 SR 691, room 108, Nelsonville.
5:30 p.m.: Athens City Historic Preservation Commission, Athens City Building, 8 E. Washington St., Athens.
6 p.m.: Tri-County Career Center Board of Education, Tri-County Career Center, 15676 SR 691, room 108, Nelsonville.
6 p.m.: Bern Township Board of Trustees, Bern Township Office, 16877 Joy Road, Sharpsburg.
7 p.m.: Burr Oak Regional Water District, Tom Jenkins Dam Water Office, 23560 Tom Jenkins Dam Road, Glouster.
7 p.m.: Coolville Village Council, Coolville Village Hall, 26319 Main St., Coolville.
7 p.m.: Lee Township Board of Trustees, Lee Township Office, 2013 Mill St., Albany.
7 p.m.: Nelsonville Police and Fire Committee, Nelsonville City Hall, 211 Lake Hope Drive, Nelsonville. Meeting is being held to discuss the development of a city vehicle use policy for employees, and police and fire department equipment and vehicle needs; and to seek public comment.
Wednesday, Jan. 17
10 a.m.: Ohio Area 14 Workforce Development Board, Ohio University Inn & Conference Center, 331 Richland Ave., Athens.
10 a.m.: Hocking Valley Community Residential Center, 111 W. 29 Drive, Nelsonville.
10:30 a.m.: Hocking Conservancy District, district office, 560 W. Union St., Athens.
11 a.m.: Athens County Land Bank, 27 S. High St., Glouster, and livestream.
Noon: Athens Affordable Housing Commission, Athens City Building, 8 E. Washington St., Athens.
1 p.m.: Athens County Port Authority, Ohio University Innovation Center room 103, 340 W. State St., Athens, and Zoom.
3:30 p.m.: Athens County Board of Elections, board office, 15 S. Court St. #130, Athens.
4 p.m.: Federal Hocking Local School District Board of Education, Federal Hocking High School library, 8461 State Route 144, Stewart. Special board meeting to discuss district finances and an executive session to discuss the employment of district personnel and negotiations.
5:30 p.m.: Athens City Disabilities Commission, Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St., Athens. Agenda.
5:30 p.m.: Alexander Township Board of Trustees, 8711 Harner Road, Athens.
6 p.m.: Athens-Meigs Educational Service Center, 21 Birge Drive, Chauncey.
6 p.m.: Hockhocking Adena Bikeway Advisory Committee, Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St., Athens, and livestream.
6 p.m.: Trimble Township Wastewater Treatment District, 18551 Jacksonville Road, Glouster.
6:30 p.m.: Amesville Village Council, 21 Maple St., Amesville.
Thursday, Jan. 18
8 a.m.: Athens County Regional Planning Commission, Athens County Emergency Medical Services, 21 Kenny Drive, Athens.
9 a.m.: Ohio University Board of Trustees, Ohio University, Walter Hall 104, 25 S. Green Drive, Athens, and livestream. Executive session until 1:30 p.m. Agenda
Noon: Athens Planning Commission, third floor of the Athens City Building, 8 E. Washington St., Athens, and livestream. Agenda.
Noon: Athens County Creating Healthy Communities Coalition, Zoom (password 786447).
5:30 p.m.: Athens Recreation Advisory Board, Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St., Athens.
6 p.m.: Bern Township Board of Trustees, Bern Township Office, 16877 Joy Road, Sharpsburg.
6 p.m.: Nelsonville Dog Park board meeting, Nelsonville City Hall, 211 Lake Hope Drive, Nelsonville. Meeting to discuss: grants and fundraising, current status of dog park site, local partnerships, dog park design and dog park rules.
Friday, Jan. 19
9 a.m.: Ohio University Board of Trustees, Ohio University, Walter Hall 104, 25 S. Green Drive, Athens, and livestream. Agenda
Monday, Jan. 22
5 p.m.: Rome Township Board of Trustees, Rome Township Building, 8708 SR 144, Stewart.
6 p.m.: Athens-Hocking-Vinton Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (317) board, Dairy Barn, 8000 Dairy Lane, Athens, and via Zoom. Agenda
6 p.m.: York Township Board of Trustees, York Township Fire Department, 15255 Elm Rock Rd., Nelsonville.
7 p.m.: Athens City Council, third floor of the Athens City Building, 8 E. Washington St., Athens, and livestream. Agenda.
7 p.m.: Nelsonville City Council, Nelsonville City Hall, 211 Lake Hope Drive, Nelsonville, and livestream.
