In an effort to raise $100 million for homeless youth in America, Tellman Knudson is aiming to be the first known person to ever run across the country barefoot.
Due to a foot injury, Knudson stopped in Athens over the weekend while taking a brief hiatus from his journey from New York City to the Santa Monica, Calif., Pier, which he had planned to accomplish in 99 days after leaving New York City on Sept. 9.
Ohio State Highway Patrol officers have obtained a search warrant to seize the “black box” recording device from a car that was involved in a fatal crash on Ohio Rt. 13 in Trimble early Sunday morning.
It is not clear from the documentation on the warrant, which was filed in Athens County Common Pleas Court Tuesday, whether the device has actually been seized, and The Athens NEWS was unable on Wednesday to reach the officer who applied for the warrant.
The city of Athens plans to gather public input on the recent installation of four surveillance cameras along Court Street by the Athens Police Department following a suggestion by city Law Director Pat Lang.
At the City Council meeting Monday night, Lang said he has had personal feelings about this issue going back to his days as a student at Ohio University when he studied public surveillance.
Athens ends up in 7th place for ordering popular computer game
Written by Athens NEWS Staff
Thursday, 19 November 2009 10:31
While the city of Athens led the nationwide competition in late October, our community ultimately slid to seventh place in the competition to become the “Call of Duty-est Town in America.”
The contest, led by Amazon.com, hoped to generate excitement for the release of the Modern Warfare 2 game, by finding which community had the most pre-orders for the video game before its release on Nov. 9.
Attorneys in Dem Party chair theft case spar over discovery
Written by Athens NEWS Staff
Thursday, 19 November 2009 10:00
Attorneys in the criminal case against Athens County Democratic Party Chair Susan Gwinn are trading potshots over discovery issues.
Gwinn has pled not guilty in Athens County Common Pleas Court to an indictment charging her with two felony counts of theft in office; one felony count of money laundering; one misdemeanor count of unauthorized use of property; and two misdemeanor counts of falsification.
Police have a TV on you while you're driving in Athens
Written by David DeWitt
Thursday, 19 November 2009 09:58
Driving out East State Street in Athens, sheriff’s deputy Shannon Sheridan’s cameras capture a picture and record the license plate number of nearly every car that passes by.
The picture is as clear as day, even in the dark of night, and the recording is astoundingly accurate. A computer mounted in the car crosschecks each license plate against a nationwide database of stolen vehicles and cars connected with wanted individuals, Amber Alerts, missing persons and known drug traffickers, sounding an alarm if there is a match.
The venerable uptown Burrito Buggy will close for winter quarter and then reopen in the spring, owner Paul Wildeck confirmed on Monday.
Wildeck, who has owned the popular vending business for 25 years, said that he is trying to sell the Burrito Buggy to someone who will carry on the tradition.
A bicycle and pedestrian plan for the city of Athens is moving forward after a group of citizens met for the second time, providing feedback on preliminary recommendations.
Thursday’s meeting covered proposed improvements for bicycle and pedestrian access throughout the city. The meeting reviewed public input from the September workshop and provided an overview of key recommendations. Participants were then asked to evaluate and comment on the specifics of the proposed improvements.
Rocky boots stock gets kick from military contract, cost cutting
Written by Jim Phillips
Monday, 16 November 2009 10:39
After spending much of this year hovering at around $3 a share, the stock of the Nelsonville-based Rocky Brands shoe and boot company has recently surged upwards to two or three times that price.
Part of the bump can be attributed to a big military contract the company announced in August, in which Rocky agreed to supply up to $29 million worth of insulated boots to the U.S. General Services Administration.
Fire chief was under investigation before his death
Written by Athens NEWS Staff
Monday, 16 November 2009 10:37
Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly confirmed last week that his department had been conducting a criminal investigation focused on Nelsonville Fire Chief Tim Carr, prior to Carr’s death from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound Nov. 6.
However, Kelly said, the investigation is now in the hands of the Athens County Prosecutor’s office. No one in that office could be reached for comment Friday.
One killed, two injured in Rt. 13 crash Sunday morning
Written by Athens NEWS Staff
Monday, 16 November 2009 10:35
A McConnelsville woman died in a one-car crash early Sunday on Ohio Rt. 13 in the village of Trimble, according to a report filed by the Athens Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The report said that Stephanie J. Gaddis, 33, died from injuries received in the crash. She was a passenger in a car driven by Jason W. Riley, 37 of Glouster, the report said.
Judge green-lights developer's federal lawsuit against Athens
Written by David DeWitt
Monday, 16 November 2009 10:27
A federal judge ruled last week that a lawsuit filed by the owner of a major local development against the city of Athens and Silar Advisors will go forward despite a bankruptcy filing by the Silar subsidiary Asset Resolution.
Asset Resolution is the arm of Silar Advisors purported to hold the University Estates mortgage note, and was named as a co-defendant in the case. An order from the court states that the action against Asset Resolution is stayed in regard to that defendant only, pending action by the bankruptcy court that lifts the automatic stay or concludes the bankruptcy case.
No decision made on whether to fire Hocking College official
Written by Athens NEWS Staff
Monday, 16 November 2009 09:59
The fate of a top Hocking College official who could lose her job for allegedly falsifying a public record remains in limbo.
According to a news release from the college, “no decision was made” after a disciplinary conference Friday for Cindy Baden, executive director of the Hocking College Foundation.
A source at the Ohio Elections Commission confirmed Friday that on Nov. 7, the OEC ruled that Athens County Prosecutor C. David Warren violated campaign-finance reporting rules during his 2008 re-election bid.
However, the commission found that the violation had been fixed and did not merit a fine, other sanctions or referral for criminal prosecution.