After the U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced the purchase of more than 2,600 acres of land for the purpose of oil and natural gas drilling in Athens County, area public officials and residents have raised vocal concerns.
The Green Energy Ohio Tour, one of the largest of its kind in the nation, drew Ohio residents to 51 counties in the state over the weekend, promoting the use of renewable energy.
Known for his charm and genuine kindness, Paul Abraham personified and perfected the role of the small-town business owner. After he died last week, customers and friends, often synonymous at the Campus Sundry, began leaving notes and flowers at the doorstep for the West Union Street storeowner.
The State of Ohio is relocating its death row operations to Chillicothe in an effort to save money by cutting transportation costs and freeing up beds for the state's most violent inmates.
A recent study by Ohio State University shows that pediatricians in the Appalachian region are less likely to encourage the human papillomavirus vaccine.
Athens is now home to Campus Kicks, a student- and alumni-run business that sells wholesale fitted and snapback caps, shoes, apparel and other accessories to students.
Athens police arrested a 25-year-old man after he allegedly robbed a gas station at knife-point early Friday morning.
With 1,389 concealed-carry licenses issued since 2004, Athens County is no stranger to the Second Amendment.
A former Ohio University student could spend three years in prison after an appeals court denied his case yesterday.
The city of Athens will receive more than half a million dollars to improve low-income housing as a part of an Ohio Department of Development grant to improve more than 70 eligible communities statewide.
Even though Athens City Schools received an “excellent” rating from the state during the 2010–11 academic year, about 80 students living within the district are expected to enroll in online charter schools this year, taking almost $400,000 in state money with them.
A former Ohio University student could spend three years in prison, after an appeal court denied his case yesterday.
For the past year, the Ohio tourism industry quietly established itself as one of the state’s most efficient and profitable. Yesterday, state officials came to Athens to explore opportunities that could potentially strengthen the diverse industry.
The Ohio legislature made an attempt to eliminate employment and housing discrimination against the LGBT community yesterday, introducing a bi-partisan bill to the Ohio House of Representatives.
After nearly two years of legal arguments, a lawsuit regarding University Estates was settled this past May leaving a plot of land untouched while the City of Athens and local land developers eye the property.
On Friday, Ohio House Bill 194 is slated to go into effect and would shorten the absentee-voting period as early as this November’s elections. However, if Fair Elections Ohio’s referendum is validated today, the bill would be shelved and eventually decided upon in 2012.
Despite his ousting last June by the Hocking College Board of Trustees, Ron Erickson has returned to his post as president of the school.
The Ohio Apportionment Board voted 4-1 along party lines yesterday to approve a new set of Ohio House and Senate districts that have been called “highly gerrymandered” by state Democrats but “fair and constitutional” by state Republicans.
— A bill that will bring lesser penalties to fourth- and fifth-degree felons will go into effect this week with the intention of saving money on state prison costs. Despite these intentions, Athens County officials believe the change will only cause harm at the local level. House Bill 86 will take effect Friday, Sept. 30 and change felony sentencing laws to one year of community control for fourth- and fifth-degree felonies, fifth being the lowest degree. Prior to the change fourth-degree felonies could earn up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine, and fifth-degree warranting up to 12 months and a $2,500 fine. The law could save the state $60 million in jail costs, said Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn, adding the law could cause more harm than benefit. “The fallacy to the argument is that it will save money,” said Blackburn. “Now local government will have to provide more money. It’s like we are giving felonies away.” Though the law assumes money would be saved on the state level with the release of prisoners from state correctional facilities, Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail Warden Jeremy Tolson said this would simply put financial strain on both Athens County and local prisons. “A lot of people reoffend, as we tend to see a lot of people over again,” Tolson said. “There will be some of these guys back on the street.” Fourth- and fifth-degree felonies typically consist of theft, domestic crimes, possession and trafficking of illegal drugs, according to the Ohio Revised Code. Starting Friday, people committing these felonies will be sentenced to community control for a year, instead of state-run jails, said Tolson. Also, offenders currently in jail for these crimes will begin to be released back into society, taking power away from local judges, said Blackburn. “The new administration in Columbus is turning the state upside down,” said Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly, adding he was displeased with the fact local sheriffs and police chiefs were not consulted before the change. Though Tolson said the offenders who do not have to serve prison terms will be funneled into community control programs, that will still not control the number of prisoners being added to the local jails, he said. In terms of the lenient change, Kelly said Athens County law enforcement will continue to do the job they’ve always done. “Criminals are criminals to begin with, and this won’t change that,” Kelly said. “Some may feel this is a free pass to commit a crime, but this will be dealt with as harshly as before. We will continue doing the job at the local level, and we will provide peace for our citizens,” said Kelly. “I encourage all citizens to contact our state senators,” he added. as299810@ohiou.edu
A nearly full house of residents, students and local business owners packed last night’s Athens City Council meeting to speak out about hydraulic fracturing and help Council explore avenues to regulate the drilling method.
Solutions by The State News