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Athens Co. Officials: The Fair Is Safe
By: Michael Locklear
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Athens County officials are reassuring the public that attending the fair is safe. A news release says the pigs "are all looking very healthy" as of noon Thursday. There are no reports of illness in pigs or people at the Athens County Fair. Statewide, 30 human cases of the flu virus known as H3N2v have… Read More
Two Dead In Oak Hill Murder-Suicide
By: Michael Locklear
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We now know who died in what appears to be a murder-suicide in Oak Hill. Police say 49-year-old Michael Carter shot and killed his wife Tina Carter before turning the gun on himself. Officers responded to a domestic disturbance call with shots fired just before 9:30 Wednesday night. They found Tina Carter on the porch… Read More
20th Senate District Candidates Talk Collective Bargaining, Fracking, Job Creation
By: Michael Locklear
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The two candidates in the race for Ohio's 20th Senate District butt heads on collective bargaining and fracking, among other hot topics in southeast Ohio. A political newcomer will take on Republican incumbent Troy Balderson. Democrat Teresa Scarmack is a kindergarten teacher in the Logan-Hocking School District. She says the fight over Senate Bill 5… Read More
Pearl House Developers Awaiting Zoning Decision
By: Michael Locklear
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Developers of a controversial housing project in Lancaster are awaiting a decision by the Board of Zoning Appeals on whether they can move forward. Fairfield Homes has asked to deviate from city code in four areas for Pearl House, which is meant to house homeless people who have substance-abuse problems while they receive treatment. Lawyers… Read More
62 Sickened In Gallia Co. After Contact With Pigs
By: Michael Locklear
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Update 5:15 p.m. Four cases of H3N2v have been confirmed in Gallia County after "individuals had direct contact with swine at fairs." Seven Gallia County residents have been hospitalized. All but the one most recently admitted have been discharged. Health Commissioner Gerald Vallee says in general, people are recovering quickly. More than 60 people have… Read More
Athens Co. Health Department, Fair Officials Keeping Close Eye On Pigs
By: Michael Locklear
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Those overseeing the Athens County Fair are on heightened alert after exposure to pigs at other fairs in Ohio have resulted in more than a dozen human cases of influenza A variant H3N2. That's according to Charles Hammer, the administrator for the Athens City-County Health Department. Hammer says there have been no cases of that… Read More
Afternoon Audio Update For August 6
By: Michael Locklear
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We have more details on this morning's fatal mishap at a Chillicothe company, and Columbus Gas of Ohio officials have presented Vinton County Commissioners with a check for new gas boilers. You'll find more in this afternoon's audio update.
Plant Accident Fatal In Chillicothe
By: Fred Kight, Michael Locklear
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Update 2:20 p.m. We now know a female worker was killed in this morning's fatal mishap at the Glatfelter plant in Chillicothe. Bill Wilkerson with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration says she was operating a piece of heavy equipment, possibly a bulldozer, when she "somehow was run over by that piece of equipment." Wilkerson… Read More
Ohio Superintendent Steps Down
By: Michael Locklear
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State Rep. Debbie Phillips of Athens says the Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction made the right move by resigning amidst a probe that turned up evidence of wrongdoing. Phillips lodged a complaint against Stan Heffner that sparked the state's watchdog to conduct a year-long investigation. "It was clear that he did have a conflict of… Read More
Complaint Made By Rep. Phillips Sparked Ohio Superintendent Probe
By: Michael Locklear
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State Rep. Debbie Phillips of Athens says her main concern has been the use of public funds after she lodged a complaint against Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction Stan Heffner. A year-long investigation by the Inspector General turned up evidence of wrongdoing. Phillips says lawmakers have to keep track of where the money's going. "This… Read More
Former OU Football Player Indicted For Felonious Assault
By: Fred Kight, Michael Locklear
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A former Ohio University football player accused of punching another student in the face has been indicted for felonious assault. Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn says 19-year-old Christopher Tarrant turned himself in Thursday. Blackburn says the charges relate to a June 1 incident in which Tarrant allegedly punched a male student in the eye, causing… Read More
Coal Company Announces Layoffs In Jefferson Co.
By: Michael Locklear
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The closure of a Jefferson County coal mining operation means at least 24 people are out of work. OhioAmerican Energy says an additional 32 employees will be laid off in late September or early October, but all are expected to be re-hired at another mining operation. The company cites the Obama administration's energy policies as… Read More
9,000 AEP Ohio Customers Still Without Power
By: Michael Locklear
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About 9,000 AEP Ohio customers are still without power. The company says restoration should be compete by 6 p.m. Saturday "(b)arring additional damage from any new storms that are forecast to pass through the state." Athens, Belmont, Marietta and Pomeroy should have electricity by midnight Friday. The lights are expected to be back on in… Read More
Pomeroy To Get $750,000 For Water Line Replacement
By: Michael Locklear
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Some federal and state dollars are going to "help build and improve the water quality in Meigs County." U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) says Pomeroy will receive $750,000 to replace the main water line that leads to the water treatment plant. The Appalachian Regional Commission has approved a $250,000 grant, and the Ohio Environmental Protection… Read More
Classes Resume At OU Southern After Water Line Breaks
By: Michael Locklear
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Classes have resumed at Ohio University Southern after a water line broke Wednesday. Adam Riehl, Director of Facilities Management at the campus in Ironton, says it happened during a construction project in which there was excavation that hit "a previously unmarked water main on campus." Water was restored at 2:30 p.m. Classes were canceled from… Read More
Sheriff’s Proposal For Firing Range Still On Hold
By: Michael Locklear
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An Athens County park group is raising concerns over the sheriff's proposal to use the firing range at Strouds Run for local law enforcement training. Marie Mimi Morrison is on the board of the Friends of Strouds Run. She also runs a kayaking business that uses the park and says noise from the range… Read More
Ohio University’s Medical School Names New Dean
By: Michael Locklear
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A new dean has been named for Ohio University's Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Kenneth Johnson will take on the role Aug. 20. OU Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit made the announcement Wednesday just after the medical school officially nailed down Dublin as the site of its new extension campus. Johnson is currently… Read More
Governor Imposes New Rules On Injection Wells
By: Associated Press, Michael Locklear
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Ohio Gov. John Kasich has issued an order immediately imposing new state regulations on deep-injection wells used to dispose of chemically-laced wastewater from oil and gas drilling. The directive issued Tuesday gives the Ohio Department of Natural Resources temporary authority to implement a list of rules announced after a series of Youngstown-area earthquakes was tied… Read More
Zanesville Company Recalls 9,000 Pounds Of Deli Items
By: Michael Locklear
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A Zanesville company is recalling about 9,000 pounds of fully-cooked deli items because of possible contamination with a bacteria that can cause a deadly disease. Carl Rittberger Sr., Inc. says it is voluntarily recalling spiced loaf, garlic bologna, natural casing wieners and other products. A positive test result for Listeria monocytogenes turned up during a… Read More
Ohio Governor Requests Federal Disaster Assistance
By: Michael Locklear
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Update 9:35 p.m. The feds have approved Ohio Gov. John Kasich's request for emergency assistance. Kathleen Nelson with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency says that gives the state the ability "to obtain and use generators and water from the federal government." A Federal Emergency Management Agency liaison arrived in Ohio today to coordinate the… Read More
AEP Says Restoring Power Could Take 5 To 7 Days
By: Michael Locklear
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Update 10 p.m. American Electric Power is now reporting 9,000 "wires down and other hazards" and still says "restoration is expected to continue for at least 5-7 days for the majority of the customers affected." An outage map on the company's website shows 63.5 percent of Athens County is without power. About 90 percent of… Read More
Southeast Ohio Employers Posting More Jobs Online
By: Michael Locklear
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Employers are posting more jobs online in southeast Ohio. That's according to the latest snapshot of job postings from the state's website OhioMeansJobs.com. The report covers mid-April to mid-May and shows an increase of 560 ads from the previous reporting period. Angela Terez with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says that's good… Read More
Woman Faces Felony Charge After Attaching Herself To Barrels At Well Site
By: Michael Locklear
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The woman who attached herself to a pair of barrels outside an injection well site says she now faces a fifth-degree felony of inducing panic. Madeline ffitch (lowercase spelling is correct) voluntarily freed herself late Tuesday morning after more than six hours of protest at the site on Ladd Ridge Road west of Athens. "The… Read More
Meigs County Organization Awarded $99,000
By: Michael Locklear
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A Meigs County organization is getting $99,000 in federal money to establish a revolving loan fund for up-and-coming local businesses. The Meigs County Community Improvement Corporation received the grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program. Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, made the announcement today. "Thanks to these federal… Read More
Woman In Custody After Chaining Herself To Barrels At Well Site
By: Michael Locklear
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Update 12:10 p.m. Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly says Madeline ffitch voluntarily freed herself after chaining herself to two concrete-filled barrels outside an injection well site this morning. Kelly says she is in the custody of sheriff's deputies and will be charged. He added it's unclear what those charges will be and whether ffitch will… Read More