Statehouse to consider shortening school year
By Kelly Gifford | Feb. 21, 2012A proposed bill that could change Ohio class time calculation has some Athens educators double-checking the state’s math and motive.
LOCAL
Concern rises over inhumane dog killings
By Laura Scheer | Feb. 21, 2012Calling the current method of euthanasia in Athens County “cruel and heartless,” about 80 people gathered in Walter Hall Tuesday to discuss the local campaign to stop gassing dogs.
Athens County poverty rate pushing high-school, college graduation rates down
By Marika Lee | Feb. 20, 2012Growing up, Kelli Schell’s father always emphasized the importance of education. But after a pregnancy forced her to drop out of Nelsonville-York High School in 2005, her plans to attend college were put on hold.
OU alumnus training others in practices of permaculture farms
By Sara Lowenstein | Feb. 20, 2012Having never farmed or tended a garden in his life, Weston Lombard decided to turn his life upside down by leaving his job filled with neckties and conference calls for a life of torn denim and digging holes.
Meter collections contribute coins to city's coffers
By Stefan Malmsten | Feb. 19, 2012Toothpicks, metal slugs, buttons and flattened bottle caps are the souvenirs of almost two decades of failed attempts to fool parking meters.
Uptown shops fly to Twitter
By Kaitlynn Grady | Feb. 19, 2012In the era of social media, Uptown shops are joining the flocks of businesses seeking new ways to spread the word to customers — in 140 characters or less.
County ready to respond to fracking accidents
By Kelly Gifford | Feb. 19, 2012As the possibility of hydraulic fracturing coming to Athens County looms nearer, local officials have said emergency services are well prepared for a “fracking” accident, but residents are not as comfortable.
Athens County Engineer hopefuls share ideas in fiery forum
By Allison Wichie | Feb. 16, 2012Two Democratic candidates vying for the seat as Athens County Engineer constructed defenses and demolished accusations during the first candidate forum Thursday night.
Buchtel Police Chief's preliminary hearing set for Feb. 24
By Alex Stuckey | Feb. 15, 2012Eyes sunk-in with scraggly blond hair, 29-year-old Jessica Willison stood up for her boyfriend, Buchtel Chief of Police Kelsie Lanning, Jr., in Athens County Municipal Court Thursday.
Falling profits force closing of family's junkyard
By Will Drabold | Feb. 15, 2012Dustin Wheatley scrambles to find parts and admit customers to his junkyard to scavenge what they can from the corpses of cars that line the path up the twisting hill.
Buchtel police chief nabbed in alleged drug sting
By Ryan Clark | Feb. 14, 2012The Buchtel chief of police was arrested Wednesday afternoon after Athens County deputies allegedly sold him prescription pills in a controlled sale.
Hocking College students bring traditions of Mardi Gras to Nelsonville
By Laura Scheer | Feb. 14, 2012Local residents and students won’t have to travel about 1,000 miles to New Orleans to find the beads and cuisine of Mardi Gras this weekend.
Blogging study shows it may decrease stress levels
By Joshua Jamerson | Feb. 14, 2012Stress balls, nail-biting and meditation might be stress relievers of the past after a study showed blogging is a form of therapy for college-age students.
Blue Gator building could have new owner as soon as March
By Stefan Malmsten | Feb. 13, 2012Vancant since 2008, the building that once housed The Blue Gator, 63 N. Court St., may have a new owner as soon as March.
Shortened summer vacation leads to new date for Ohio Brew Week
By Kaitlynn Grady | Feb. 13, 2012A summer sliced eight days shorter thanks to Ohio University’s transition to semesters has Ohio Brew Week organizers starting to feel the heat.
22 years later, couple still dines together every morning at OU Inn
By XANDER ZELLNER | Feb. 13, 2012When Jim Bruning retired after 35 years of working, he decided to give his wife a gift — anything she asked for.
A place to grow
By Stefan Malmsten | Feb. 9, 2012Editor’s Note: This is the fifth and final story in a five-part philanthropic series profiling nonprofit organizations in Athens County.
Companies clash with multiple law suits
By Kelly Gifford | Feb. 9, 2012Five days after Cunningham Energy filed a lawsuit against its research company in West Virginia, the company filed a suit of its own against Cunningham in the Athens County Court of Common Pleas.
Biden stresses being 'best' in education
By SARA JERDE | Feb. 8, 2012COLUMBUS — Flamingos, penguins and Vice President Joe Biden took to the stage at Thursday’s Ohio Newspaper Association convention.
Special prosecutor requests a revoking of Sullivan's probation
By Alex Stuckey | Feb. 7, 2012The special prosecutor for Athens County Commissioner Mark Sullivan's case is calling for his probation to be revoked.
