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Trimble Students Travel Through Time With String Quartet
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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With the help of a string quintet, students of Trimble Elementary used their imaginations to travel through time. The Essence Quintet of Dayton visited the school on Friday and played tunes from the 1700s through present-day. Fourth-grader Riley Campbell said she especially enjoyed “The Dance of the Tumblers.” While she listened, she imagined herself tumbling… Read More
Athens City School Board Candidates Share Vision At Open Forum
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Topics covered by Athens City School Board candidates included challenges faced by the district, stances on the use of school resource officers and their vision for the district. The candidates spoke to a near-full room during an open forum at the Athens Public Library Tuesday. Incumbents Christian Gerig and Bruce Nottke face newcomers Kimberly Goldsberry… Read More
Tri-County Career Center Applies To State’s Straight A Fund
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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The state recently announced plans to provide $250 million to schools for innovative projects, and Tri-County Career Center officials are hoping to get a piece of it. The Straight A Fund, which was created in the new state budget signed this summer by Gov. John Kasich, is designed to spur creativity and innovation in schools…. Read More
Trimble Kicks Off Anti-Bully Programs With High School Assembly
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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October is National Bullying Prevention month, a time when schools around the county make it clear to students what bullying is and how to stop it. “You have to define it in order to fight it,” said Reggie Robinson of Health Recovery Services during Trimble High School’s assembly on Friday. Robinson is a familiar face… Read More
If School Funding Formula Sticks, Alexander Talks Of Possible Need For Levy
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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The state’s new funding formula and other projections indicate Alexander Local Schools may face deficit spending by fiscal year 2018. And because so much of the district’s funding is now considered “guaranteed,” school officials said something will need to be done to increase school revenue. District Treasurer Aaron Schirm, who presented the latest five-year forecast… Read More
Federal Hocking Pursuing State Funds For Improvement Projects
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Federal Hocking Local Schools’ application for state funding through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission has been “fast-tracked,” meaning school officials may know as soon as January if money for permanent improvements will be awarded. The scope of any state-supported projects hasn’t been outlined just yet. But the district’s most pressing needs are to repair deteriorating… Read More
Federal Hocking Local Schools Sees Gains In Enrollment
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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After losing about 40 students per year for the past decade, Federal Hocking Local Schools’ enrollment projections suggest the losses may be leveling off. “This relative stability will allow for more stable planning given state funding rests on student enrollment,” states the enrollment report presented to the board on Tuesday. That said, smaller classes will… Read More
County Commissioners Consider Whether To Accept Donated Land
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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The Athens County Commissioners debated Tuesday whether it was worthwhile to accept a donation of an approximately 7-acre plot near Coolville. The land, located off Wilman Road, belonged to Velma Cubbison, who died in September 2012. Robert and Vicki Cubbison, of Lynden, Wash., are executors of her estate. Commissioner Chris Chmiel visited the plot with… Read More
Trimble Receives $25,000 Grant For School-Based Wellness Center
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Trimble Local School District is one step closer to getting its school-based health center, thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund. The bulk of the funds ($20,000) will go toward medical supplies, furniture and other equipment, said Barry Oches, of Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs…. Read More
Trimble Schools May Limit Access To High School Weight Room Temporarily
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Without a policy that clearly states who can and cannot use the weight room at Trimble High School, school officials may be limiting access until something is in writing. The matter was discussed during Tuesday’s board meeting. The weight room has never officially been open to the public, explained Principal Matthew Curtis. After rumors surfaced… Read More
New Grant Expands Alexander Local Schools’ Preschool Program
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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With support from a new state grant, officials at Alexander Local Schools will welcome an additional 20 students into the preschool program, possibly as soon as mid November. The grant of $40,000 was officially awarded to the Athens-Meigs Educational Service Center, which is based in Chauncey. The center oversees several early childhood education and preschool… Read More
Dairy Barn Partners With Local Schools For Art Residency Program
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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During the mixed media and design class at Athens High School on Friday, teacher Ellen Gagliano roams around the room, looking over her students’ work. She paused by Liz Huber, a freshman. Huber was examining the lips of her self-portrait, unsure of her next move. “I think you have it,” Gagliano said. “I would focus… Read More
N-Y schools sees slight increase in state funding, accepts $10,000 donation
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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NELSONVILLE — A slight increase in state funding means good news for Nelsonville-York City School District’s finances. The school board approved the latest five-year forecast during Wednesday’s school board meeting. The district received around 3 percent more in unrestricted funds — $8.8 million, up from $8.6 million. “Right now, the way I’m forecasting it, we’re… Read More
Sheriff’s Office And Nelsonville York School District Seek Grant For School Resource
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Officials with the Nelsonville-York City School District have decided to abandon plans to employ in-house the county’s first school resource officer. Instead, school officials are working with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office to apply for a grant to support the position. The three-year grant proposal for $227,419 was submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice’s… Read More
Sheriff’s office and N-Y schools seek grant for resource officer
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Officials with the Nelsonville-York City School District have decided to abandon plans to employ in-house the county’s first school resource officer. Instead, school officials are working with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office to apply for a grant to support the position. The three-year grant proposal for $227,419 was submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice’s… Read More
‘Honey For The Heart’ Puppet Workshop Open To Public
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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In one corner, a woman pulled tape out of an old cassette. The black, shiny material will be later crocheted into locks of hair. In another corner, a volunteer placed strips of newspaper soaked in cornstarch paste onto a giant mask moulded from styrofoam. It’s day three of the collaborative community art project called "Honey… Read More
Nelsonville’s Community Center To Close For Good
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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After 14 years of operating what’s become the Nelsonville Community Center and after countless struggles to keep the doors open due to financial difficulties, Rhonda Bentley is calling it quits. The center at 77 W. Washington St. closes Oct. 31, although the thrift shop Goldie’s Goodies will remain open. “I, Rhonda, am tired,” Bentley wrote… Read More
Studies Say Counties Poorly Implement Ohio’s Work Program
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Two reports published within months of each other say Ohio county agencies tasked with helping welfare recipients find jobs have instead focused their efforts on reducing their caseloads in order to meet a federal requirement. One report says “all counties with the exception of Athens took this approach, either intentionally or unintentionally.” Here’s some background:… Read More
Studies say counties poorly implement Ohio’s work program, except Athens
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Two reports published within months of each other say Ohio county agencies tasked with helping welfare recipients find jobs have instead focused their efforts on reducing their caseloads in order to meet a federal requirement. One report says “all counties with the exception of Athens took this approach, either intentionally or unintentionally.” Here’s some… Read More
Hocking College Explores Program Options In High-Demand Industries
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Technical colleges have an obligation to have a clear understanding of what is a high-demand profession now and in the future, and Hocking College is no exception. That’s why college officials asked a research company to produce a report identifying high-growth areas for possible development or expansion at the two-year college. “The report is one… Read More
Locals Struggle To Shop For Health Insurance But Help Is On The Way
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Athens County residents eager to shop for health insurance using the online marketplaces at the heart of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul were stalled many times this week due to website glitches or an overwhelmed server. Sarah Kaplan, 25, tried to apply Tuesday afternoon, but the security question section wasn’t working properly, so she… Read More
Government Shutdown Closes Wayne National Forest
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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The day started as usual for the staff of Wayne National Forest, but it ended a lot sooner for most. A little after 8 a.m. on Tuesday, during an all-staff meeting, employees were notified most of the operations were closing, an immediate effect of the government shutting down because of the impasse in Congress. “We… Read More
Hocking College Holds Out For State Capital Bill For Inn Renovations
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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With the prospects of a possible state capital bill in the near future, Hocking College officials are opting to hold out for state aid to finance planned renovations of the Inn at Hocking College. Pending funding opportunities, Hocking College has developed plans to repurpose the Inn into a business training center in partnership with Tri-County… Read More
Passion Works To Make OSU Buckeye Flower
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Over the past 15 years, artists at ATCO, a training center for adults with developmental disabilities, have created and sold about 24,000 Passion Flowers, the official flower of Athens made from recycled metal printing plates from The Messenger. Now, with a new license to create the official Ohio State University Buckeye flower, production is expected… Read More
Athens City Schools Takes First Steps To Get State Aid For Building Upgrades
By: Arian Smedley | Athens Messenger
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Athens City School Board has started a process that Supt. Carl Martin said he hopes will ultimately lead to major upgrades and renovations to all of the district’s school buildings. The board approved a resolution Thursday authorizing the district to apply for what’s called an “active planning process” with the Ohio School Facilities Commission. “This… Read More