The Athens News - Readers' Forum

In just one day, professor sees highs and lows of Ohio University

Sun, 20 May 2012 00:00:00 CDT

Today I experienced the best and the worst of Ohio University. First the best: being inducted as an emerita associate professor – then listening to William Beale, founder of Sunpower and former teacher of Engineering at OU.

Wayne forest has good reasons not to allow oil-gas leasing

Sun, 20 May 2012 00:00:00 CDT

Community members in contact with Wayne National Forest officials regarding their review process of deep-shale high-volume horizontal drilling and fracturing (HVHF) have been alarmed to hear them defending plans to resubmit parcels to the BLM. This would be unconscionable.

Forest Service should deny oil and gas leasing in Wayne

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 CDT

As a resident of Athens County and a frequent visitor to the Wayne National Forest, I am very concerned about the prospect of high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) in the Wayne National Forest.

We're fracking our way to a warmer and less stable world

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

Oil and gas corporations, their trade associations, mass media outlets like the Wall Street Journal and Time magazine, and numerous pundits continue to report there is a new day unfolding in the energy future of the U.S.

Town Hall meeting to focus on housing for needy

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:00:00 CDT

In the past year, issues regarding housing for those in need have made headlines in our community. On Thursday, April 12, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Athens Community Center, there will be an Athens Town Hall Meeting to discuss these complex and emotional issues.

OU must protect its most valuable resources from fracking effects

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

I am a faculty member in the College of Health Sciences and Professions at Ohio University. I am compelled to write to remind the leadership of OU, including the Board of Trustees, of one of the primary missions of the university as it prepares its response to the state regarding fracking on lands owned by the university.

One idea on how to achieve a happier, safer community

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

For 15 years I have fostered children, some convicted as criminals, many mentally ill after years of abuse, neglect or exposure to depravity. And through this decade and a half, I knew that if any of the kids in my care were becoming more whole, I could attribute it to the healing power of the animals on my farm more than any other factor (that and turning them into food snobs).

Anti-fracking position is the more neighborly outlook

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CDT

I tend to be a private person, not a person prone to writing letters to the editor or otherwise making public pronouncements, but a letter to the editor in The Athens NEWS on Thursday, March 8 for some reason struck me as a personal attack.

Who owns the bodies and lives of women in America?

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:00:00 CST

As the Talibangelists in the Ohio General Assembly rush to restrict the right of women to determine their own reproductive destiny, I've spent fascinating hours reading testimony for and against HB 125, the "Heartbeat Bill." Its purpose is to criminalize abortion after a heartbeat is detected, even in embryos barely larger than a pencil eraser, when women may not yet know they are pregnant.

Welcome to the brave new computer surveillance world of OU

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

The IT department of Ohio University (OIT) is introducing a new practice, the so called "network registration requirement," which can only be called a step toward total user surveillance. Th

Oil & gas/fracking opponents need to check their facts

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

It comes as a complete amazement to me that so few people in our region have any real understanding of the history of oil and gas exploration in this state or the process of fracturing.

Athens Co. Commission will embrace shale or stagnation

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

I have a unique connection to Athens – it is home to Ohio University, mine and my parents' alma mater – and of course it remains the home of friends, family and fond memories. I had all of this in mind when the Athens County Commissioners considered a proposal to restrict natural gas and oil development.

Beware of propaganda coming from oil and gas industry

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

Yet again, a word on fracking. Both sides of the fracking debate are well worn by now. While many in the county (and country) are excited about the potential economic boon, others warn of a potential bust. The only benefits Athens County will gain from fracking operations will be a short-term influx of money.

ATV trails at Burr Oak park raise serious questions

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 CST

Apparently, Ohio Gov. John Kasich cannot look at an Ohio state park without drooling. Now he plans to build ATV trails at Burr Oak State Park.

Fracking opponents urge county to support BREATHE Act

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

This is an open letter to the Athens County Commissioners (the signatories to the letter are listed at the end):

BellaVino ruling allows developers to ignore zoning

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

Numerous articles and letters to the editor have appeared in our local papers and on Facebook recently regarding the BellaVino building. I hope this letter will clear up several issues that are becoming confused in the discussions about the sale of the 22 W. Stimson Ave. property.

Fracking threatens local food economy

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

These are comments I made outside the Ohio Statehouse on Jan. 10:

My partner and I own three food businesses in Athens — Village Bakery, Della Zona — which means "from the region" in Italian — and Catalyst Café.

Is leasing your oil rights a personal or community decision?

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

One of the more troubling things about the fracking controversy is the notion that the decision to frack is a private decision and not a community decision.

Family came first in decision to sell BellaVino

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

I have received many emails, phone calls and letters about my selling BellaVino, both the property and the business. I asked to meet with The Athens NEWS, as you already know, last week in order to tr

For the sake of all we hold dear, ban fracking now

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 CST

On the eve of our celebration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I was reminded what it means to be a Christian witness in a pluralistic democracy. Dr. King was able to speak out of his own particular place within the prophetic African-American Baptist tradition.