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.
The Athens County Commissioners appointed Teresa Fouts-Imler as acting EMA director in December. Fouts-Imler also remains director of 911 emergency communications. (Athens County Commissioners)
The Athena Cinema partially reopened on Friday, Jan. 5, after closing in May 2023 for repairs. (The Athena Cinema)
The close of the year brought an influx of grant funds into Athens County:
- The Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program’s New Leaf Justice Enterprises project received a $2.8 million grant for revitalization efforts in Glouster. (WOUB)
- SAOP was also among several Athens County organizations to receive federal funding through the federal Violence Against Women Act — alongside the Edna Brooks Foundation, the City of Athens Police Department, and the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office. (Office of Criminal Justice Services)
- The Athens County Sheriff’s Office received a $42,799.54 grant from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office for impaired driving/selective traffic enforcement. (Ohio Department of Public Safety)
- Hocking Athens Perry Community Action will receive $1.7 million for lead mitigation projects in rented and owner-occupied properties. (Ohio Department of Development)
- The Athens Conservancy received nearly $75,000 for recreation at Strouds Run. (WOUB)
Tablertown People of Color Museum curator David Butcher will receive the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Individual Award on Thursday. (Athens News)
The Ohio Department of Transportation is proposing various improvements along U.S. 33 in Athens and Meigs counties. These include converting over 10 miles from a two-lane to four-lane highway and building interchanges at Pleasant Hill Road, Pleasanton Road, Rainbow Lake Road and SR 681. ODOT will hold a public meeting to discuss the changes at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, at the Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St., Athens. The public may also submit comments online. (ODOT)
One week after vetoing the anti-trans House Bill 68, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order Friday banning gender-affirming surgery for minors — although such surgeries were already not performed in the state. The governor also proposed new administrative rules that could heavily restrict healthcare access for transgender people, including adults. Meanwhile, the Ohio Legislature will consider overriding the governor’s veto of HB68 this week. The bill would ban gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth and ban trans girls and women from participating in school sports. (The Buckeye Flame)
A proposal to increase Ohio’s minimum wage to $15/hour is on track to reach the November ballot. (Signal Cleveland)
The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Council, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, the Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio and the Ohio Poverty Law Center, raised the alarm that Dominion Energy has proposed to raise monthly fixed costs for 1.2 million natural gas customers by at least 30%. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Events
- Eclipse Company Store Trivia Night: 7–9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, Eclipse Company Store, 11309 Jackson Drive, The Plains
- Donkey Coffee Designated Space: 9–11 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, Donkey Coffee, 17 W. Washington St., Athens
- UCM Center Community Lunch: 12–1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, United Campus Ministry, 18 N. College St., Athens
- Coolville Public Library – Group Puzzle Challenge: 3–5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, Coolville Public Library, 26401 Main. St., Coolville
- Hocking College Bingo: 4–9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, 185 W. Canal St. (formerly the site of LS), Nelsonville
- History Talk: 250th Anniversary of Lord Dunmore’s War: 5:30–6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10, Nelsonville Public Library, 95 W. Washington St., Nelsonville
- Donkey Coffee Open Stage: 8–10:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, Donkey Coffee, 17 W. Washington St., Athens
- Tea Tasting and Houseplant Swap: Noon–1:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12, The Plains Public Library 14 S. Plains Road, The Plains
- Albany VFW 9893 Bingo: 5–10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12, 3025 Dickson Road, Albany
- Rhonda Vincent & The Rage: 3–6 p.m. Sunday Jan. 14, Stuart’s Opera House 52 Public Square, Nelsonville
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.
- Grant for new farmers: Beginning farmers and first-time vendors at the Athens Farmers Market may apply for a grant from the Ann Fugate Memorial Fund through a collaboration among the farmers market, Community Food Initiatives and Rural Action. Deadline is Feb. 2.
- Heating help: The Winter Crisis Program at Hocking Athens Perry Community Action will accept applications through March 31. The program helps households needing emergency assistance for their primary heat source to prevent disconnection or running out of fuel.
- Land for sale: The city is accepting sealed bids for purchase of 21.75 acres of city-owned land at 13878 Canaanville Rd. The property is adjacent to the Hocking River near Lance’s Trailer Sales off U.S. 50 East. Bids are due at Athens City Hall, 8 E. Washington St., Athens OH 45701, by 11 a.m. Feb. 12.
- 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.
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.
Monday, Jan. 8
4:30 p.m.: Le-Ax Water District Board of Directors, Le-Ax Water Office, 6000 Industrial Drive, Athens.
5 p.m.: Rome Township Board of Trustees, Rome Township Building, 8708 SR 144, Stewart.
5:30 p.m.: Athens City Historic Preservation Commission, Athens City Building, 8 E. Washington St., Athens.
5:30 p.m.: Athens City Commission on Disabilities Outreach and Communications Committee, Berry Conference Room, Athens City Building, 8 W. Washington St., Athens.
6:30 p.m.: Lodi Township Board of Trustees, Lodi Township Building, 15525 Fossil Rock Rd., Athens.
7 p.m.: Little Hocking Water Association Board, Little Hocking Water Association, 3998 Newbury Rd., Little Hocking.
7 p.m.: Nelsonville City Council, Nelsonville City Hall, 211 Lake Hope Drive, Nelsonville, and over livestream.
7 p.m.: Athens City Council, 8 E. Washington St., Athens, and over livestream. Agenda.
7 p.m.: Trimble Village Council, Trimble Village Hall, 19549 Congress St., Trimble.
7:30 p.m.: Tuppers Plains Chester Water District Board of Directors, Tuppers Plains Chester Water District, 39561 Bar 30 Rd., Reedsville.
Tuesday, Jan. 9
9:30 a.m.: Athens County Board of Commissioners, Athens County Courthouse annex, second floor, 15 S. Court St., Athens. In-person and livestream.
10 a.m.: Athens County Budget Commission, Athens County Courthouse annex first floor, 15 S. Court St., Athens.
5:30 p.m.: Athens Township Board of Trustees, regular and organizational meeting, 313 W. Union St., Athens. Agenda.
5:30 p.m.: Athens City Commission on Disabilities Accessibility & Advocacy Committee, Berry Conference Room (first floor), 8 E. Washington St., Athens. Agenda.
6 p.m.: Athens County Board of Commissioners, public meeting to discuss a possible sewer project in New Marshfield, New Marshfield Senior Center, 4005 Old SR 56, New Marshfield.
7 p.m.: Burr Oak Regional Water District, Tom Jenkins Dam Water Office, 23560 Tom Jenkins Dam Rd., 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.
Wednesday, Jan. 10
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.
Noon: Athens Affordable Housing Commission, Athens City Building, 8 E. Washington St., Athens.
Noon: Athens County Community Singers Advisory Board, Beacon School, 801 W. Union St., Athens.
2 p.m.: Athens County Local Emergency Planning Committee, 21 Kenny Drive, Athens.
3:30 p.m.: Athens County Board of Elections, board office, 15 S. Court St. #130, Athens.
5:30 p.m.: Alexander Township Board of Trustees, 8711 Harner Rd., Athens.
5:30 p.m.: Athens Municipal Arts Commission, ARTS/West, 132 W. State St., Athens. Agenda.
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. In-person and livestream.
6 p.m.: Nelsonville-York City School District Board of Education, Nelsonville-York Middle School, 2 Buckeye Drive, Nelsonville.
6 p.m.: Trimble Township Wastewater Treatment District, 18551 Jacksonville Rd., Glouster.
6:30 p.m.: Amesville Village Council, 21 Maple St., Amesville.
6:30 p.m.: Alexander Local School District Board of Education organizational meeting, Alexander Media Center, 6125 School Rd., Albany. In-person and livestream.
7 p.m.: Alexander Local School District Board of Education, Alexander Media Center, 6125 School Rd., Albany. In-person and livestream.
Thursday, Jan. 11
8 a.m.: Athens County Regional Planning Commission, Athens County Emergency Medical Services, 21 Kenny Drive, Athens. In person only.
9 a.m.: Athens Community Relations Commision, small conference room, Athens Public Library, 30 Home St., Athens. Agenda.
Noon: Athens County Creating Healthy Communities Coalition, Zoom (password 786447).
This meeting has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16.
6 p.m.: Bern Township Board of Trustees, Bern Township Office, 16877 Joy Road, Sharpsburg.
7 p.m.: Athens Shade Tree Commission, 8 E. Washington St., Council Chambers (third floor), Athens. Agenda.
Friday, Jan. 12
Noon: Athens City Commission on Disabilities Accessibility & Advocacy Committee, 8 E. Washington St., Berry Conference Room (first floor), Athens. Agenda.
Monday, Jan. 15
Federal holiday — Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Government offices closed.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated meeting times for Monday, Jan. 15.
