You are viewing the April 23, 2014 daily archives

Heightland, Olsen, McAndrews Selected As Ohio Ultimate Captains
By: Erick Starkey
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The Ohio Ultimate team met on April 23 and voted on new captains to head up the team for the 2014-2015 season. Of the five candidates, the team elected three captains including senior Cameron Heightland, sophomore Matt Olsen, and sophomore Kelley McAndrews, who was captain for the 2013-2014 season. In their speeches, the three echoed… Read More

Bazquez Homers Three, Ohio Splits With Marshall
By: Kaleb Carter
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On a perfect Wednesday afternoon in Huntington, West Virginia, Ohio took one of two games in a doubleheader against the Marshall Thundering Herd. Game One In the top of the seventh, Alexandria Basquez came through in yet another clutch situation. Basquez hit a long fly just to the right of center field that flew beyond… Read More

Tiger Pitchers Lead Georgetown To Sweep Of Rio Grande
By: Ryan Lewis
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The Georgetown Tigers proved to be as good in person as they are on paper, as the Rio Grande RedStorm (27-16) dropped both games of a doubleheader to the Tigers. Pitching was the Tigers’ strong suit throughout the day. In game one, the pitchers from both teams combined for 16 strikeouts. Rio finished with just… Read More

Bids Opened For Sewer Plant Project In The Plains
By: Steve Robb - Athens Messenger staff reporter
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Bids for improvements to The Plains sewage treatment plant were over the engineer's estimate, but it's still possible a contract can be awarded. Construction bids from two companies — Righter Co. of Columbus and Kirk Brothers Co. of Alvada — were opened Tuesday by the Athens County Commissioners and the price quotes are currently being… Read More

O’Blenness Memorial Hospital To Host 3rd-Annual 5K
By: Taylor Petras
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The third-annual Ohio Health O’Bleness Hospital "Race for a Reason" takes place Saturday along the streets of Athens. Once again, Ohio Health O’Bleness Hospital has teamed up with Ohio University’s Athletes in Action and the Sports Administration Graduate Program to sponsor the entire race. Tara Gilts, Ohio Health O’Bleness Hospital Director of Development, said that… Read More

Wiehl, Democrats Discuss Benefits Of Affordable Care Act
By: Sara Brumfield | Athens Messenger
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With "Obamacare" being made an election issue nationally by Republicans, the Ohio University Democrats and Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl touted the benefits of the Affordable Care Act during a news conference Wednesday morning. Wiehl, also a Democrat, said that he knows of many people his age whose children graduated college and were without health insurance…. Read More

Largest Cities Urge State To Maintain Efficiency, Renewable Standards
By: Andy Chow | Statehouse News Bureau
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The highly contentious bill that would freeze Ohio’s renewable and efficiency standards is raising strong concerns from the state’s largest cities. The standards were created by law in 2008. It calls on utilities to get 25 percent of its energy from renewable and alternative sources by 2025. It also sets a benchmark of 22 percent… Read More

New Principal Hired For Amesville Elementary School
By: Sarah Hawley | Athens Messenger staff reporter
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Lisa Imel has been hired as the new principal for Amesville Elementary in the Federal Hocking school district. Imel will fill the role vacated by the retirement of long-time principal Kim Chadwell. Chadwell's retirement came in January after being announced in November 2013. At that time she agreed to fill in on a per diem… Read More

Elks Lodge Hosts Appreciation Luncheon For Winter Workers
By: Olivia Bevan
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This year's harsh winter kept many indoors, but those whose job it is to clear roads and keep people safe still venture out into the cold. One Athens organization wanted to show their appreciation for these workers. The Athens Elks Lodge 973 held a free spaghetti luncheon Wednesday afternoon. Employees from the Ohio Department of Transportation,… Read More

Douglas Officially Hired As Alexander Superintendent
By: Sarah Hawley | Athens Messenger staff reporter
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The Alexander Local Board of Education formally approved the hiring of Lindy Douglas as the district's new superintendent, made official during last week's regular meeting. Douglas had been one of nine initial candidates for the position being vacated by Jeff Cullum after this year. Douglas, an Alexander graduate who still resides in the Albany area,… Read More

Millions Act Of Kindness Bus Makes Stops In Athens
By: Sarah Hawley | Athens Messenger staff reporter
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For the past five years Bob Votruba has traveled across the country spreading the message of “one million acts of kindness,” a message which is about to go global as Votruba embarks on a bike tour of London, England later this year. On Monday, Votruba made a stop near Ohio University meeting with those walking… Read More

Hand To Mouth: A Talk With Dead Hand Of Man’s Bram Riddlebarger
By: Bryan Gibson
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Bram Riddlebarger is a man with something to say. Not too surprising, considering the countless songs he's composed over the years, plus a novel, Earplugs, published last year.
This week, Riddlebarger was anxious to talk to WOUB about his band, Dead Hand of Man, and their self-titled debut EP, both of which will be found this Saturday night at Casa Cantina.

Rep. Capito Asks CDC About Inhaling West Virginia Spill Chemical
By: Associated Press
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U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito is asking federal health officials for more information about skin contact and inhaling a chemical that spilled in January. The Republican congresswoman's Tuesday letter asks the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention if inhalation or skin contact were accounted for in crude MCHM's safe level. CDC quickly created a safe… Read More

Drug Prevention Initiative Launched At Marietta High School
By: Merle Tilk
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"Adam" had a happy childhood, his parents were married, he had fun friends, got good grades. In high school he tried a little bit of alcohol, smoked a little bit of marijuana. "But it didn't seem that things were totally out of control," he said. But things got out of control when he went to… Read More

Gay Marriage Ballot Initiative Won’t Be Ready For November Election
By: Jo Ingles | Statehouse News Bureau
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It’s very doubtful there will be an issue on the ballot this fall to allow Ohioans to vote to overturn the state’s constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Ohio Public Radio’s Jo Ingles reports the leader of that effort says there’s not enough time to get the necessary signatures to put the issue before voters this… Read More

Fracking Foes Challenge Ohio Earthquake Assurances
By: Associated Press
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A concerned citizens' group in a northeast Ohio region where earthquakes have been tied to fracking says it won't take the word of state regulators that new permitting guidelines adequately address public safety. Youngstown-based Frackfree Mahoning Valley plans a news conference Wednesday to discuss persisting concerns. A state geologist's finding released last week for the… Read More

Patriot Coal To Cut Production At 2 West Virginia Mines
By: Associated Press
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Patriot Coal plans to cut production at two mining complexes in southern West Virginia and potentially lay off workers. St. Louis-based Patriot announced Wednesday that it has issued 60-day layoff notices to workers at its Wells mining complex near Wharton and its Corridor G complex near Danville. The federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or… Read More

West Virginia Officials Promote Drug Take-Back Effort
By: Associated Press
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A federal prosecutor and a West Virginia sheriff's office are promoting awareness of a prescription drug collection effort set for this weekend. U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin and the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office have scheduled a National Prescription Drug Take-Back kickoff event for Wednesday morning in St. Albans. The goal is to spread the word about… Read More

Bible Verse Removed WV School Gym, Team Website
By: Associated Press
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Wood County school officials have removed a Bible verse from Parkersburg South High School's gymnasium and the school wrestling team's website. The team's use of Philippians 4:13 drew a complaint earlier this month from the Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation. The verse states, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Wood County… Read More

Speaker Boehner Works His Home Ohio District
By: Associated Press
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With a contested primary election less than two weeks away, House Speaker John Boehner is making the rounds of his western Ohio district. The West Chester Republican was set Wednesday for a breakfast speech to the Darke County Chamber of Commerce in Greenville, followed by a visit to Hartzell Propeller in Piqua. Boehner on Tuesday… Read More

Felman Production Workers OK Contract Revisions
By: Associated Press
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Felman Production CEO Mordechai Korf says the idled Mason County, West Virginia manufacturer is one step closer to resuming operations. Members of United Steelworkers Local 51-71 approved modifications to their contract with the company last week. Korf says that the modifications strengthen the New Haven plant's long-term viability. Details of the changes weren't released. The… Read More

Man Pleads Guilty To Breaking Into Ohio Churches
By: Associated Press
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A man has pleaded guilty to kicking in the doors and looting more than two dozen central Ohio churches to help feed his drug habit. Twenty-six-year-old Cash Yoakem on Tuesday pleaded guilty in Chillicothe, south of Columbus, to 44 counts of felony breaking-and-entering. Prosecutors said he broke in and stole from at least 27 Ross… Read More

Ohio Mom Plans Plea Change In Cancer Scheme Case
By: Associated Press
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A central Ohio woman accused of faking a cancer diagnosis for her 4-year-old son intends to change her plea to either no contest or guilty on felony charges of child endangering and theft. A filing by Emily Creno's attorney in Licking County court indicates the Utica woman decided to change her plea on both counts… Read More

WV Sec of State: AFP Mail Is ‘Misleading’
By: Associated Press
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The West Virginia secretary of state is calling an Americans for Prosperity mailing about voter registration "misleading" and "confusing." The mailer says the recipient only has a few days to register to vote at his or her current address. It includes a voter registration card and prepaid envelope. Democratic Secretary of State Natalie Tennant says… Read More

Ohio State Park Facilities To Be Modernized
By: Associated Press
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State officials are preparing to invest $88.5 million to upgrade and modernize trails, campgrounds and recreational facilities in Ohio’s state parks over the next two years. The outlay headed to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources through the state capital budget is more than four times larger than average. Details are to be announced at… Read More