You are viewing the March 27, 2015 daily archives
Black Lips, Tim Easton Join Nelsonville Fest Lineup
With just two months to go until show time, Nelsonville Music Festival organizers have announced another round of acts, including garage-rockers The Black Lips and Americana singer-songwriter Tim Easton. Other performers announced today include Bassholes, Wooden Indian Burial Ground, Weird Science, The Summoners, Darrin Hacquard, Ben Stalets and DJ Barticus & John E. Clift. Those… Read More
WV Governor Signs Bill To Scale Back Law After Chemical Spill
By: Associated Press
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Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has signed a bill to scale back a law safeguarding against chemical spills from aboveground tanks. A January 2014 chemical spill that contaminated drinking water for 300,000 residents for days prompted the legislation. The Legislature overwhelmingly approved the bill, which will deregulate about 36,000 aboveground storage tanks from the tank law…. Read More
Ohio Prisons Agency Reviews Programs To Help Freed Inmates
By: Associated Press
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Officials with Ohio’s prisons agency are emphasizing the importance of preparing inmates for life outside bars. Mark Hooks, warden at Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe in southern Ohio, says the agency wants to release people better off than when they entered prison. The Chillicothe Gazette reported Thursday that a conference hosted by Ohio University’s Chillicothe… Read More
Feds Direct Pipeline Company To Investigate Alternatives
By: Associated Press
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A federal agency has directed the Texas-based company behind a proposed northeastern Ohio natural gas pipeline to investigate an alternative route that would relocate the $2 billion project to less populated areas. The city of Green has proposed moving about 103 miles of the Nexus pipeline away from southern Summit County and northern Stark County… Read More
Updated Charter School Regulations Clear Ohio House
By: Associated Press
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The Ohio House has approved a bill cracking down on low-performing Ohio charter schools and imposing a host of new accountability standards on sponsors. The legislation cleared the chamber in a 70-25 vote Thursday. It heads next to the Ohio Senate. It calls for additional financial, enrollment and attendance reporting from charter school sponsors and… Read More
Six-Year Sentenced Issued For Burglary, Assault
By: Athens Messenger staff reports
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A Zanesville man has been found guilty by a judge in Athens County Common Pleas Court of two first-degree felonies involving the attack of a Nelsonville resident and has been sentenced to six years in prison. Timothy Pickett, 44, appeared in court Tuesday to be sentenced on the charges of felonious assault and aggravated burglary…. Read More
Dutch Creek Residents Petition For Road Repairs
By: Steve Robb - Athens Messenger staff reporter
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Petitions with signatures of more than 60 residents and property owners on Dutch Creek Road have been presented to the Athens County Commissioners in an effort to get road and bridge improvements. A half dozen residents, with Butch Mitchell as their spokesman, met with the commissioners Thursday, a meeting also attended by County Engineer Jeff… Read More
Bill Would Allow Ohio Cities To Have Outdoor Drinking Areas
By: Associated Press
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A bill passed in the Ohio House would allow bars and restaurants in Ohio’s larger cities to designate outdoor areas where people would be allowed to drink alcohol. The sponsors of the bill passed Thursday say it’s about economic development and bringing more people to bars and restaurants. They say it will cut down on… Read More
West Virginia Getting $5.6 Million US Dollars For Sidewalks, Trails
By: Associated Press
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More than $5.6 million in federal funding is headed to 42 alternative transportation projects in West Virginia. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said the funding is from programs administrated by the Federal Highway Administration. The money will pay for a variety of projects. They include sidewalk improvements, train depot restoration, bicycle signage, and recreational trails.
Ohio Democrats Host US Senate Rivals Strickland, Sittenfeld
By: Associated Press
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Recapturing the U.S. Senate will be the unofficial theme as Ohio Democrats gather for their party’s annual legacy dinner. Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is scheduled to be Friday’s keynote speaker at the Athenaeum in downtown Columbus, with 2016 Senate candidates Ted Strickland and P.G. Sittenfeld each also getting stage time. Strickland, the former Ohio… Read More
Proposed Changes To Ohio Budget Due To House Panel On Friday
By: Associated Press
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An Ohio legislative panel reviewing the governor’s $72.3 billion state budget proposal expects to get some ideas on how to change it Friday. House Finance Chairman Ryan Smith says he anticipates getting more than 800 amendments by the afternoon. His committee has recently heard hours of testimony on a provision to phase out independent health… Read More
Non-Profit Education Center Closes, Language Center Changes Hands
By: Steve Robb - Athens Messenger staff reporter
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The Athens-based nonprofit Appalachian Progressive Education Center, which over the years has offered language classes and arts and anti-bullying programs, has ceased operation. However, its Athens Language Center remains open under new management. The Appalachian Progressive Education Center was formed in 2006, an outgrowth of art and theater programs launched at ARTS/West by Dominika… Read More
Zanesville Child Care Worker Indicted on Child Porn, Sexual Battery Charges
A man who spent six years working in Zanesville as a child care worker faces a maximum of 559 years in prison if convicted on all charges accusing him of sexual misconduct with a 15-year-old. According to the Zanesville Times Recorder, 34-year-old Rodney Curtis of Sunset Ave., pleaded not guilty to 74 charges Wednesday in… Read More
Community Arts Space To Open For Final Friday
By: Tyler Buchanan | The Athens Messenger
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A new community arts space is set for downtown Nelsonville, with an official grand opening scheduled for this week’s Final Friday celebration. Around the Corner Studio, located at 49 W. Washington St., will host visitors Friday from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. The studio was inspired by Jennifer L’Heureux, who said the goal is to have… Read More
MedFlight Launches First Responder Mobile App
By: Sarah Hawley | Athens Messenger staff reporter
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A new mobile application launched by medical helicopter company MedFlight will help connect first responders to MedFlight crews and dispatchers in situations where a helicopter may be needed. The MedFlight Metro Alert app allows for those on the scene of an accident or other emergency to connect directly with MedFlight relaying necessary information. There is… Read More
House Again OKs ‘Heartbeat’ Abortion Ban; Senate Fate Dim
By: Associated Press
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A ban on most abortions after the first detectable fetal heartbeat has once again cleared the Ohio House, leaving the rest of the two-year session for advocates to lobby the bill’s opponents in the Ohio Senate. Wednesday’s approval followed a startlingly emotional floor debate in which one veteran female lawmaker revealed she’d been raped and… Read More
Group Starts Collecting Signatures For Ohio Pot Amendment
By: Associated Press
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Backers of an effort to legalize marijuana in Ohio for medicinal and recreational use have started collecting the thousands of signatures needed to get the proposal before voters. The group ResponsibleOhio started gathering signatures on Wednesday to get on the ballot in November. The group says it will start in the state’s larger cities and… Read More
Ohio House Plans Vote On $7 Billion Transportation Budget
By: Associated Press
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Ohio’s transportation budget was expected to head to Gov. John Kasich without a provision to boost the speed limit to 75 mph on certain rural freeways and the turnpike. The $7 billion spending blueprint was slated for a House vote Thursday. The Senate passed the measure Wednesday. The proposal lays out transportation and public safety… Read More
Agreement Reached Over Lethal Injection Information Request
By: Associated Press
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An agreement has been reached over death row inmates’ subpoenas of Board of Pharmacy information about drugs used for lethal injection in Ohio. At issue were attempts by inmates’ lawyers to find out more about the state’s lethal injection process, which now calls for two drugs Ohio doesn’t have and which may only be available… Read More
Ohio Governor’s Police Relations Panel Holds Next Meeting
By: Associated Press
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The panel commissioned by Gov. John Kasich to study police and community relations in Ohio is getting closer to a final report. Kasich formed the 24-person committee of city council members, religious leaders and law enforcement officials after several police-involved shootings in Ohio and across the country raised concerns. The task force has collected information… Read More
Athens County Democrats Appoint Smith As Sheriff Once Again
By: Ann Jacob
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Athens County Democrats have appointed a new sheriff for the fourth time. After being appointed for the first time one-year ago this month, Rodney Smith was appointed to Acting Athens County Sheriff by the Democratic Central Committee on Wednesday. The county commissioners and the democratic committee chose Smith as Interim Athens County sheriff to take… Read More
House Panel OKs New Charter School Regulations
By: Associated Press
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A bill cracking down on low-performing Ohio charter schools and imposing a host of new accountability standards on sponsors has cleared its first legislative hurdle. After extensive debate and several rounds of revisions, the Ohio House Education Committee approved the bill 13-6 Wednesday. A House vote could come Thursday. The legislation requires additional financial, enrollment… Read More
Senators OK Transportation Bill, Minus 75-MPH Speed Limit
By: Associated Press
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State senators have passed Ohio’s transportation budget after a committee dropped a proposal that would have raised the speed limit to 75 mph on certain rural freeways and the turnpike. The $7 billion spending blueprint cleared the Senate on a unanimous vote Wednesday. The House planned a Thursday vote. The measure lays out transportation and… Read More
Senate Votes To Extend Time For Rape Prosecution
By: Associated Press
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Update 3:43 p.m. The Ohio Senate has approved a proposal to extend the 20-year time period for prosecuting rape and sexual battery. The bill provides an additional five years for prosecution from the time a potential suspect is identified through DNA testing. The legislation comes as the Attorney General’s Office continues to plow through a… Read More
Court Orders Release Of Ohio Replacement Teachers Name
By: Associated Press
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The state Supreme Court has ordered a northeastern Ohio school board to release the names of replacement teachers brought in during a 2013 strike. The court said in a 5-2 decision that the Strongsville city school board presented little evidence of any threat to the teachers’ privacy or well-being with the strike over. The ruling… Read More