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1 week ago | 
athensindependent.com | Keri Johnson |Shiloh Antonuccio
ATHENS, Ohio — With three incumbents — Jeff Risner, Solveig Spjeldnes and Sam Crowl — declining to run for new terms, Tuesday’s primary for Athens City Council will lead to some fresh faces on the November ballot. Athens City Council members are elected in odd-numbered years and serve two-year terms. Primary winners will continue to the Nov. 4 election.
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2 months ago | 
athensindependent.com | Dani Kington |Shiloh Antonuccio
ATHENS, Ohio — As an anti-diversity, equity and inclusion bill moves through the Ohio legislature, the community is bracing for major changes to the institution, including the possible loss of Ohio University’s Women’s Center, Multicultural Center and Pride Center. Senate Bill 1 passed in the Ohio Senate and is currently up for consideration by the House.
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2 months ago | 
athensindependent.com | Shiloh Antonuccio |Dani Kington
ATHENS, Ohio — Around 70 community members gathered in front of Cutler Hall on Ohio University’s College Green Wednesday afternoon to protest Ohio Senate Bill 1. The bill would transform the way Ohio’s 14 public universities and 23 community colleges operate by abolishing diversity, equity and inclusion programs and prohibiting full-time faculty from striking, among other strictures. The bill recently passed in the Ohio Senate and is currently awaiting review in the Ohio House.
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Dec 5, 2024 | 
athensindependent.com | Shiloh Antonuccio |Dani Kington
ATHENS, Ohio — The Athens Metropolitan Housing Authority sold its imprisoned ex-executive director’s former home in November — to recoup funds that she stole. The sale represents a major milestone in AMHA’s work to recover as much as possible of the over $2.3 million its former executive director, Jodi Rickard, pled guilty to stealing from the housing authority over the course of her tenure.
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Nov 15, 2024 | 
athensindependent.com | Keri Johnson |Dani Kington |Shiloh Antonuccio |Keri worked
ATHENS, Ohio — A week after easily winning a fourth consecutive term, Athens County Commissioner Charlie Adkins held a press conference in response to his former political opponent’s own press conference, as well as subsequent media coverage. At the Nov. 12 conference, held outside the Athens Count Courthouse, Adkins shared a list of talking points and materials primarily centered on Jon Rose, his opponent in the Nov. 5 general election.
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Nov 7, 2024 | 
athensindependent.com | Keri Johnson |Shiloh Antonuccio |Keri worked
ATHENS, Ohio — A brief investigation of an emergency medical services employee’s remarks at an Oct. 24 press conference found he did not violate state law. Part-time Athens County Emergency Medical Services employee Rick Trask spoke at a press conference, organized by EMS employee Jon Rose, about work conditions at the agency. Rose was a candidate for Athens County Commissioner. Trask shared his experiences at ACEMS over the past 30 years; he did not endorse Rose. In an interview on Nov.
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Nov 6, 2024 | 
athensindependent.com | Corinne Colbert |Keri Johnson |Dani Kington |Shiloh Antonuccio
ATHENS, Ohio — Ohio voters narrowly rejected an anti-gerrymandering issue, though Athens County voters approved the issue. Athens County voters also largely supported Democrats who lost their races for Ohio Legislature and Ohio Senate. Athens County voters approved Ohio Issue 1 by a margin of 57% to 42%. Statewide, voters rejected the issue, with 54% voting against as of 12:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State.
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Oct 31, 2024 | 
athensindependent.com | Keri Johnson |Shiloh Antonuccio |Keri worked
ATHENS, Ohio — A county employee has been put on leave pending an investigation, following his appearance at a press conference organized by a candidate for Athens County commissioner. At an hour-long press conference outside the Athens County Courthouse on Oct. 24, former EMS employee Jon Rose accused Athens County Commissioner Charlie Adkins of mismanaging Athens County Emergency Medical Services. Rose, an independent, is challenging the Democratic incumbent, Adkins, in the Nov.
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Oct 3, 2024 | 
athensindependent.com | Shiloh Antonuccio |Keri Johnson |Keri worked
ATHENS, Ohio — Athens County voters will see a number of issues on their ballots in November, including a statewide constitutional amendment. Local issues include five countywide tax levies and 16 local levies. Of those, 14 are renewals, three are replacements, one is a replacement plus an increase, and two are new levies. Ballots for Nelsonville will include a proposed ordinance to abolish the city charter.
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Sep 6, 2024 | 
athensindependent.com | Keri Johnson |Shiloh Antonuccio |Abigael Miles |Keri worked
ATHENS, Ohio — While local Democratic Party officials and supporters privately gathered at the Athens Country Club last week to fundraise for U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown’s reelection campaign, 20 people protested, along the roadside, Brown’s support for Israel. “We’re here because Sherrod Brown is supporting Israel’s war effort, and we are rallying to support the Palestinian people and to stop the slaughter and the deaths of innocent civilians,” Eric LeMay, a demonstrator, told the Independent.
