OU Police to get second bomb-sniffing dog this year
By Joshua Lim | Nov. 21, 2014The dog is named Brody.
LOCAL
Victim's Advocate: Domestic violence coordinator position may be eliminated
By Emma Ockerman | Nov. 21, 2014The domestic violence coordinator for the Athens County Sheriff’s Office had her salary reduced when the department was denied a yearly Violence Against Women Act grant that funded her position.
Owners of Kismet said loss of new store is heartbreaking
By Emma Ockerman | Nov. 20, 2014The State of Ohio Fire Marshal declared the fire, which damaged five buildings including Kismet, started in the rear of 16 W. Union St.
Smoke Zone vows to rebuild after fire
By EMILY BOHATCH | Nov. 20, 2014After starting the business three years ago, Jac Cooper vows to rebuild the Smoke Zone after losing it to the Union Street fires.
Variety of benefit efforts held for those affected by Union Street fire
By Sean Wolfe | Nov. 19, 2014Texas RoadhouseMondayTexas Roadhouse,996 E. Sate St.Texas Roadhouse will be donating 10% of all food sales on Monday, November 24 to the victims of the fire.Rise of the Phoenix6 p.m. Thursday, December 18Casa Nueva, 6 W. State St.Hil Hackworth, a local performer in the group DysFunktional Family, is organizing a benefit show that is looking to expand after more than 800 people RSVP’d to the event on Facebook. More details coming soon.William the AccountantSaturdayCasa Nueva,6 W. State St.At William the Accountant’s album release show, all proceeds from album sales as well as the band’s cut of the cover will be donated to the Rise of the Phoenix donation pool.Pete Shoonerhttp://www.gofundme.com/hddgh4A GoFundMe page has been created to help employees of Union Street businesses recover. The goal has been raised from $20,000 to $40,000, and gained more than $30,000 for Union Street employees already.Tiffany Chapmanhttp://www.gofundme.com/hdi2xsOnce the $500 dollar goal is reached, the donations from this GoFundMe campaign will be donated directly to the owners of The Union. Any further donations after the goal is reached will be donated on a bi-weekly basis.Hip-Hop Shop10 p.m., ThursdayTheta Chi Fraternity House, 117 E. State St.At the next Hip-Hop Shop, which used to take place at the Union Bar & Grill, admission is free but donations will be collected.Number Fest ThursdayFor one day donating all proceeds of ticket sales for 13Fest, visit www.thenumberfest.com/2013-tickets/HomagEThursdayAll proceeds from Homage Ohio University apparel sales on Thursday will be donated to The Ohio Parents and Family Endowment and the Union Street Employee Relief Fund. Items can be bought at Homage retail stores & online at homage.comBurrito BuggyBegan WednesdayThe Burrito Buggy will be donating $0.50 for each burrito sold and $1 for each T-Shirt sold. Sales made from shopathensohio.com will generate $2 in donations.A Capella Benefit Show9:30 p.m., FridayIntersection of Court & Union StreetTitle IX, an all female group auditioned out of the Ohio Women’s Ensemble; Leading Tones, an all-male group; New Chords on the Block, OHIO’s only co-ed A Cappella group; and Tempo Tantrums, an all-female group, will perform on the intersection of Court and Union. Donations will be taken.Union Street Strong T-Shirt Campaignwww.traxlertees.com/shop/clothing/unionstreetstrong-t-shirt/Traxler Custom Printing is offering #UnionStreetStrong T-Shirts and sweatshirts. All proceeds will be donated to the businesses affected by the fire.Beat Back the Blaze Benefit9 p.m., FridayClub Underground (Basement of Red Brick), 14 N. Court St.At Club Underground, Manitoa, Arpetrio and After Funk will be playing a benefit show. Donations will be collected for employees of affected businesses and musicians who lost their gear in the fire.
Jackie O’s reopens its doors after fire damage
By Emma Ockerman | Nov. 19, 2014Although portions of the bar and restaurant remain closed, the owner is optimistic about eventually opening in its entirety
Bobcat Lane plans halted by university
By Joshua Lim | Nov. 19, 2014Looks like Bobcat Lane will only be opened in 2015
APD responded Tuesday to attempted armed robbery
By Samuel Howard | Nov. 19, 2014The apparent subject, Thaddeus D. Basham, shares a last name with an Ohio football player — but the university could not immediately confirm any relation.
#UnionStreetStrong shirt to benefit fire-affected businesses
By Dina Berliner | Nov. 19, 2014Uptown Dog’s partner company from Columbus is selling a shirt, with 100 percent of the proceeds going toward the affected businesses from the West Union Street fire.
Ahead of Union Street fire, bars sought to tackle assault
By Heather Hare | Nov. 18, 2014Safer Spaces is trying to reduce harassment situations by training bartenders to intervene.
Audio: Listen to 9-1-1 calls from fire on Union Street
Nov. 18, 2014The Post obtained audio files of several 9-1-1 calls related to the fire on Union Street.
Athens County poll workers receive donuts, coffee and a raise
By Matt Cudahy | Nov. 17, 2014The county commissioners met Tuesday morning to discuss the next years budget for many Athens County offices, resulting in two offices seeing their employees receive increased salaries.
In aftermath, OU organizations help displaced students
By Luke Furman | Nov. 17, 2014Members of OU organizations support member affected by West Union Street fire.
The 911 calls
Nov. 17, 2014The sounds of the coughs are chilling. Audio files of the 911 calls related to the massive Sunday fire across five structures on West Union Street detail what those in the buildings were experiencing. The calls, obtained by The Post, detail panic, worry and desperate pleas for help. Names of the callers were not obtained by Athens County 911 because they were fleeing the area when they called, authorities said in an email. The audio files are on our website. Here’s a partial transcription of those calls:
League of Women Voters: You should care about redistricting
By William T. Perkins | Nov. 17, 2014An event sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Athens County Monday night sought to tackle issues of unfair political representation in Ohio — or at least make them easier to understand.As the state prepares to redraw congressional and legislative districts, some say that the process, if not handled correctly, will result in further political bias by allowing the major party — which would be the Republicans — to construct districts in their favor. District maps are redrawn every ten years. The event featured Ann Henkener, a board member at the state chapter of the league. About 35 people attended the meeting at the Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St.“I look at Ohio as a very 50-50 state,” Henkener said, “I look at Ohio as a battleground state … Where did the battle go?”Henkener said that there has been a decrease in competitiveness in Ohio politics due to biased appropriation of congressional districts to favor the majority party in Congress — a technique known as gerrymandering.She explained that gerrymandering happens when members of the state’s appropriation board set up district lines so that there are more districts that will vote for the majority party, rather than the minority party. The board is composed of the governor, secretary of state, state auditor and a democratic and republican appointee.Henkener provided examples of several past attempts to prevent gerrymandering, including a plan proposed in 1981 by former Athens resident and Ohio State professor David Horn, which would have required that each party draw up their own district lines, with the most competitive party winning.The measure drew opposition from the state legislature, but Ellsworth Holden, a co-president of the League of Women Voters of Athens County, said he thinks it could have passed if there had been an interim period between when it was passed and when it was enacted.Mary Costello, a co-president of the League of Women Voters of Athens County, said she thought the event helped to clarify a murky issue to Athens locals.Henkener said that she wants to make the issue clear enough so that a person could have a conversation about it with someone on the way to his or her car in a parking lot, although she admitted that was no easy task.“You either have it done by people who are good and kind and generous … the bipartisan angels … or you have very strict regulation,” she said. “We’re working on the angles, but we haven’t found them yet.”@wtperkinswp198712@ohio.edu
Damaged West Union bars were set to undergo bystander intervention training
By Heather Hare | Nov. 17, 2014Safer Spaces is trying to reduce harassment situations by training bartenders to intervene.
Cause yet to be determined after fire investigation
By Will Drabold | Nov. 17, 2014The city gave an update on the fire aftermath Tuesday afternoon.
PoliceBlotter-Woman takes a tumble on Baker escalator
Nov. 17, 2014Last Thursday, a 52-year-old woman had too much to drink and paid the price on the escalators at Baker University Center.
Court diversion violation leaves man facing more time
By Chelsea Sick | Nov. 17, 2014Gates had been convicted of felonious assault in August.
Athens City Council extends thanks to first responders
By EMILY BOHATCH | Nov. 17, 2014Athens City Council extended thanks to first responders that arrived on scene Sunday morning to extinguish flames at West Union Street
