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OU Hopes New Program Creates More Primary Care Physicians
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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In an effort to increase the number of future primary care physicians practicing in the state, Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine has launched a new program that allows the state’s top high school seniors to apply for medical school before even starting their undergraduate coursework. Through the Early Assurance Program, which begins with… Read More
County Prepares To Count The Homeless
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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On Tuesday, Jan. 28, temperatures are expected to reach a high of 4 degrees, with a low of -10. It’s the perfect kind of day to hole up wherever you live, cuddle under a blanket and maybe sip hot cocoa. That is, assuming you have a place to live. Tuesday marks the annual Point in… Read More
Third Grade Reading Law Creates ‘Wait-and-See’ Situation for Schools
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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With the introduction of the Third Grade Reading Guarantee, a state law that may result in many third-graders being held back if they’re not reading up to par, school officials around the county are focusing efforts on their struggling readers. At Alexander Elementary School, 27 third-graders failed to hit the cut-off score (392) for the… Read More
Fifty Years After The ‘War On Poverty,’ Many Survive Solely On SNAP Benefits
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, is designed to provide just 75 percent of a household’s nutritional needs. But what happens when it becomes a sole source of income? According to a recent report by the United States Department of Agriculture, that’s the reality for many in Ohio and nationwide…. Read More
Two Area Superintendents To Retire This Year
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Superintendents of Alexander Local School and Trimble Local School have announced recently their retirement. Jeff Cullum and Kim Jones will retire at the end of the school year. Cullum began his career in education 31 years ago as a physical education and health teacher in the Vinton County Local School District, where he worked for… Read More
Stuart’s Opera House Expands After-School Music Program
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Stuart’s Opera House is expanding its newly created after-school music program and is accepting applications from students between the ages of 13 and 18 interested in joining, but the deadline is fast approaching. The new session starts on Tuesday, Jan. 21. The deadline to apply is Jan. 15. The opera house launched the program in… Read More
Federal Hocking One Step Closer To Getting State Funding For Facility Improvements
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Federal Hocking Local School District is one step closer to getting over $500,000 from the state for facility improvements that school officials say are long overdue. The board approved a resolution Tuesday to participate in the Ohio School Facilities Commission's Classroom Facilities Assistance Program. The next phase is to seek approval from the commission and… Read More
Two Area Agencies Receive Grants To Help Homeless
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Two area organizations received grants from the Ohio Development Services Agency to help keep emergency shelters open and give the homeless a place to stay. Integrated Services of Appalachian Ohio received $395,000 through the Homeless Crisis Response Program. Good Works received $44,800 to go toward the operation of Timothy House, the only emergency shelter in… Read More
Nelsonville-York Hones in on Struggling 3rd Grade Readers
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Along with other school districts across the state, officials at Nelsonville-York City Schools are assessing the results from the fall Ohio Achievement Assessments to identify their struggling third-grade readers. As previously reported, how well the students statewide do on that section when they take it again in the spring will be key in determining whether… Read More
Former West End Tavern To Be Reopened As West End Cider House
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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The long-vacant former home of the West End Tavern is currently being renovated to house a new establishment called the West End Cider House. Pending the approval of both federal and state liquor permits, the cider house will feature house-made ciders made from regional fruits, according to owner and manager Deanna Schwartz. The tentative opening… Read More
Athens Elementary Schools Develop Plans For Struggling Readers
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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With the fall Ohio Achievement Assessment results in, officials at the Athens City School District have identified 60 third graders who failed to hit the cut-off score for the reading portion of the test. How well the students do on that section when they take it again in the spring will be key in determining… Read More
Role Of Principal Changing Under New Teacher Evaluation System
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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With the implementation of the new Ohio Teacher Evaluation System, the role of the principal has changed. The new system has stressed out some teachers and overwhelmed some principals. Still, others say it’s an opportunity to shine a light on good teachers. The new evaluation system, implemented for the first time this school year, requires… Read More
Commissioners Seek Public Comment On Two Liquor Permits
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Athens County Commissioners are seeking public comment on two requests for a liquor permit, one for Kiser’s Barbeque at Eclipse in The Plains and the other for Elm Golf Course near Albany. Although they’ve already requested a public hearing for Kiser’s permit from the state Department of Commerce Division of Liquor Control, the commissioners voted… Read More
26th Annual Santa Tree Project Provides Gifts for 1,400 Children
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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On Friday morning, Robin Webb, of Athens County Children Services, weaved her way into a room filled with green and red plastic bags. All 400 of them, some stacked nearly as high as the ceiling, awaited pick-up from area families in need. The Santa Tree project, now in its 26th year, is coordinated by the… Read More
WWII Vet Gets his Dying Wish, His High School Diploma
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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When Charles Williams was discharged from the navy in 1943, he had one goal — to earn his high school diploma. Thanks to the efforts of his daughter and a social worker, he got his wish just weeks before he died. Williams, who was born in Athens and attended Glouster High School, died on Dec…. Read More
Former Principal Challenges Community To Extend Tomcat Pride Beyond Athletics
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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At a packed school board meeting Tuesday night in the Trimble High School cafeteria, where community members gathered to recognize the student achievements from the past few months, Debbie Koons stepped to the podium to share her amazement at the amount of support for the school’s athletics, particularly the football team. She also issued a… Read More
Hocking College Asks State For $6 Million
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Hocking College is hoping to secure about $6 million of the state’s capital budget for several projects, including the funds to transform the Inn at Hocking College into a business training center. Members of the Ohio Higher Education Funding Commission, the entity that offers recommendations to the legislature on the distribution of the state’s share… Read More
Colleagues, Former Students Remember Nelsonville-York Band Director
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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When Mary Jane McKinley was told in the 1940s that she couldn’t become a band director because she was a woman, she didn’t let that stop her. Instead, she enlisted the help of two Ohio University professors who “championed” her cause, as she once put it, and who voluntarily provided her with the instruction she… Read More
Four-Time State Fair Grand Champion Wins Athens’ Inaugural Gingerbread Competition
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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The key to the perfect gingerbread structure is patience, says Nancy Mingus, winner of Athens’ inaugural holiday gingerbread-building contest. The winners were announced Wednesday night. Mingus walked away with $600 after winning first-place in the professional category ($100) and then snagging the grand prize ($500) for the most accurate depiction of a county historic structure…. Read More
Trimble Schools Start Pen Pal Project As Bully-Prevention Initiative
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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As part of a broader anti-bullying initiative within Trimble Local Schools, three teachers have started a pen pal project between the high school in Glouster and elementary school in Jacksonville. Through the process of matching high schoolers with fifth graders, the teachers hope the experience instills a better understanding of the negative impacts of bullying… Read More
Federal Hocking’s Future Financials Look Solid
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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After overcoming a period of fiscal emergency and previous painful cuts, Federal Hocking Local Schools’ financials look healthy for the next five years, according to the forecast presented at Monday’s school board meeting. For the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, Treasurer Bruce Steenrod is expecting $11.7 million in total revenue and $10.5 million… Read More
Area Band Organizes Fundraising Effort for Nelsonville Food Cupboard
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Every year for the past several years, local classic rock band The Hitch-Hikers has hosted a benefit concert for the Nelsonville Food Cupboard. Their events have been known to bring in about $6,000. But in order to provide more consistent support for a local nonprofit that provides food to nearly 14,000 people a month, one… Read More
Nelsonville-York Discusses Archery Equipment On Buses
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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After looking into a concern presented to the school board last week related to students carrying bow cases for the archery club onto the bus, Nelsonville-York City School Supt. Mick McClelland said students will still be permitted to travel with them to school. “I contacted the state, and we’re fine to bring those onto the… Read More
ODOT Partners With Local Schools To Decorate Snow Plows
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Don’t be surprised to see a plow truck decorated with snowmen and Christmas trees drive by. It was probably painted by a child in your community. For the first time, the Ohio Department of Transportation District 10 has partnered with area schools on the Paint the Plow project, which tasks school-age students with decorating the… Read More
Trimble Schools To Discuss Future Options After Failed Levy
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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With another failed levy on the books and projections of deficit spending by fiscal year 2016, Trimble Local School officials say they’ll have to reevaluate their options. “I will converse with the board to determine the next steps,” said Supt. Kim Jones on Wednesday. The district could decide to put the permanent improvement levy in… Read More
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