You are viewing the April 3, 2015 daily archives
Ex-Freedom Officials Head Back To Court In West Virginia Spill Case
By: Associated Press
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Two former Freedom Industries executives who face federal charges in a massive chemical spill last year are returning to court. Ex-Freedom officials Gary Southern and Dennis Farrell are scheduled for a motions hearing at 10 a.m. Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Charleston. The January 2014 Freedom Industries spill in Charleston spurred a ban on… Read More
Bat Rally Brings Hundreds to President’s Former Home
By: Susan Tebben
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Hundreds of students and faculty turned up along with university and community members to rally against the spending of $1.2 million for a presidential home off campus. Many of the attendees came to the Bat Rally at 29 Park Place, the previous home of President Roderick McDavis, to speak out against the allocation of moneys… Read More
Bats Regular Part of Athens Wildlife
By: Taylor Petras
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The McDavises aren’t the only residents in Athens finding bats in their house. Jocelyn Chiu, an Ohio University senior, was relaxing in her bed one Sunday evening when she saw a bat fly across her room. “All of the sudden I see something black just swoop down into that corner,” she said pointing across her… Read More
Police Discuss Rally With Organizers, Plan Coverage Of Event
By: Susan Tebben
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Police are planning their presence at a rally to protest the purchase of a new home for the Ohio University president. Police and organizers of the Bat Rally, to be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, have already discussed ways to protest without causing a police intervention, according to sources from both the rally and the… Read More
Athens Co. Sheriff Reflects On First Year
By: Sarah Hawley | Athens Messenger staff reporter
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“It’s not a job, it’s a way of life.” That was how Sheriff Rodney Smith described his role as he prepared to take the oath of office for the fourth time on Monday as the sheriff of Athens County. Smith has been serving as acting/interim sheriff for the past year, having been appointed to the… Read More
New Sheriff Asks to Be Part of Lawsuit
By: Athens Messenger staff reports
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Even before he took the oath of office Monday to officially become Athens County sheriff, court papers were filed in an attempt to add Rodney Smith to a federal lawsuit. An attorney representing former sheriff’s deputy Shannon Sheridan filed a motion in U.S. District Court on Friday to add Smith to a lawsuit Sheridan filed… Read More
Judge Asked To Add Sheriff Smith To Lawsuit
By: Athens Messenger staff reports
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Even before he took the oath of office Monday to officially become Athens County sheriff, court papers were filed in an attempt to add Rodney Smith to a federal lawsuit. An attorney representing former sheriff’s deputy Shannon Sheridan filed a motion in U.S. District Court on Friday to add Smith to a lawsuit Sheridan filed… Read More
Ohio Gov. Kasich To Return To New Hampshire, South Carolina
By: Associated Press
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Ohio Gov. John Kasich plans to return to the first-in-the-nation presidential primary state of New Hampshire next month. The two-term governor visited the state last week in a trip designed to assess his political strength as he considers a 2016 Republican presidential bid. Kasich plans to attend the First in the Nation Republican Leadership Summit… Read More
West Virginia Medicaid Switching From Monthly To Annual Cards
By: Associated Press
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West Virginia Medicaid recipients are being switched from a monthly card to an annual card. The change takes effect Wednesday. The state’s Bureau for Medical Services says it will save the state about $2.5 million a year. For the first year, the Medicaid card will be printed on paper. State officials will consider alternative forms… Read More
Youth Group Pushing Republicans On Gay Marriage Visits Ohio
By: Associated Press
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Activists who don’t want the Republican Party’s 2016 platform to oppose same-sex marriage will promote their effort in a swing through Ohio. The Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry will have representatives in Cincinnati on Tuesday, followed by Columbus and Cleveland later this week. They’re talking about their “Reform the Platform” campaign ahead of… Read More
Ohio Governor Swears In New Leader Of National Guard Troops
By: Associated Press
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Ohio Gov. John Kasich has sworn in a new adjutant general of the Ohio National Guard. Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman replaces Maj. Gen. Deborah Ashenhurst, the state’s first female adjutant general. She stepped down to assume duties at the National Guard Bureau in Washington earlier this year. Bartman has served as interim adjutant general…. Read More
School Leadership Summit Set In Charleston
By: Associated Press
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Educators from across West Virginia are gathering in Charleston for a school leadership summit. The West Virginia Board of Education is hosting Tuesday’s School Leadership Stakeholder Meeting. Teacher groups, higher education staff, school principals and others will examine current leadership standards, the characteristics of good education leaders and how to replicate best practices across the… Read More
Ohio Governor’s Panel Weighs More State Oversight of Police
By: Associated Press
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – The panel commissioned by Gov. John Kasich to study police and community relations in Ohio is looking at whether state oversight of police officers should be increased. Panel members are suggesting things like statewide committees to investigate police-involved shootings and a central database of any officer fired by a department. Other… Read More
Ohio’s Top Utility Regulator Says He’s Resigning As Chairman
By: Associated Press
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Ohio’s top utility regulator says he is resigning as chairman of the Public Utilities Commission but will continue to serve as a commissioner. Thomas Johnson, a former state budget director, was sworn in to lead the regulating agency less than a year ago. He replaced Todd Snitchler, who decided not to seek reappointment when his… Read More
New Pollution Guidelines For EPA
By: Associated Press
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An Ohio Supreme Court ruling could change how environmental regulators impose pollution limits on state bodies of water. The court said last week that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency must give out public notices and hold hearings before issuing pollution limits. The ruling stems from an issue involving a wastewater-treatment plant in Fairfield County. Commissioners… Read More
West Virginia Students To Take New Online Standardized Test
By: Associated Press
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West Virginia students will take a new online standardized test this year that’s based on the national Common Core standards. The testing window for the Smarter Balanced Assessment begins next week and runs through June 24. Counties and schools will set their own testing schedules. State Superintendent of Schools Michael Martirano tells the Charleston Daily… Read More
Out With The Old, In With The ‘New’
By: Sara Brumfield | Athens Messenger
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The performance space at ARTS/West was filled with tables heaving with clothing items over the weekend as part of the 7th annual Cat’s Pajamas Clothing Exchange. The event allows community members to donate unwanted clothing in exchange for some “new” duds. The clothing exchange was the brainchild of Emily Beveridge, who says the event gets… Read More
Ohio Employers Will Have Wait For Workers Comp Settlement
By: Associated Press
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Thousands of employers in Ohio who have been overcharged for workers compensation insurance premiums will have to wait at least a few more weeks before collecting a share of the $420 million court settlement. Stuart Garson, one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys, tells The Columbus Dispatch that distributions probably will go out in the first half… Read More
Ohio Will Pay $2 Million For Rebranding Campaign
By: Associated Press
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Ohio is paying $2 million to two marketing groups to come up with a new brand slogan and tourism marketing plan. The campaign will involve a new marketing slogan such as “Pure Michigan” or “Ohio, the Heart of It All,” which previously was used to help draw tourists to the state. Doug McIntyre of Columbus-based… Read More
US Senate Rivals Strickland, Sittenfeld Note Differences
By: Associated Press
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Two Democrats seeking Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat in 2016 didn’t mention each other by name, but they did point out their differences at party’s annual legacy dinner in Columbus. Former Ohio governor Ted Strickland and 30-year-old Cincinnati councilman P.G. Sittenfeld were among the featured speakers at the sold-out event Friday night. The winner of next… Read More
Athens Couple Use The Sun To Power Their Home
By: Steve Robb - Athens Messenger staff reporter
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They are concerned about the effects of global warming, so it might seem a bit odd that William and Carol Beale have a house where an array of electric appliances are in everyday use. Cooking is done on an electric induction stove, there’s a microwave oven, a computer, an electric heat pump and other appliances… Read More
Athens Police Department Annual Report Shows Quieter City
By: Sarah Hawley | Athens Messenger staff reporter
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The numbers are in and it looks like the Athens Police Department has achieved one of its main goals for 2014. The 2014 annual report released this week by the Athens Police Department details the improvement in noise complaints along with other arrest, citation and investigation data for the department over the past year. When… Read More
Athens Superintendent Remains On Paid Leave, Investigation Continues
By: Sarah Hawley | Athens Messenger staff reporter
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Six weeks after the Athens City School Board placed Supt. Carl Martin on paid administrative leave after an alleged failure to make required reports by employees of the school district, no formal action has taken place in regards to the leave. The board met Thursday night and were updated on the progress of a review… Read More
Thousands Turn Out For Last Spring Fest Of The Year
By: Sara Brumfield | Athens Messenger
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The last unsanctioned student spring street party of the year has come and gone. Palmerfest, an epic multi-house party that just a few years ago ended with fires and violent behavior, was fairly mellow and was shut down by police by around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Thousands of partiers turned out for the annual spring… Read More
Hocking College Police Ask For Help Locating Student
The Hocking College Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a student who was last seen on the campus around 8 p.m. on Thursday. Police are asking that if anyone has been in contact with Sarah Ahrens since Thursday evening or knows of her current whereabouts to contact the department at (740)… Read More