"Let’s get this definition of 'industrial plunder' clear and spread more awareness so folks can understand why so many local citizens oppose the data center and the plastics manufacturing plant proposed for Athens County," writes Suzanne Greif in this LTE. athensindependent.com/lte-260807-s...

Six part-time officers resigned from the Village of Albany Police Department last month, citing what they described as a lack of “adequate support, administrative boundaries, and a baseline of professional trust.” athensindependent.com/albany-polic...

We're excited to visit the historic Shade Community Center this Wednesday 5–7 p.m. for our Summer Listening Series! Please join us and add your voice to local news. We'll have free pie and ice cream (from Flour & Thyme) and activities for the kids! athensindependent.com/speak-your-m...

This week in Cornertown: vapes, vapes, and more vapes. Read the latest Chris Monday comic strip: athensindependent.com/potw-king-mi...

Athens City Council last week discussed a sewer rate increase, doubling parking ticket fees, and increasing yard waste pickup by 50 cents. athensindependent.com/acc-sewers-2...

Vroom vroom, ya'll! 🚗 The Athens-created King Midget car celebrates 80 years pint-sized style this year, and enthusiasts took Uptown streets by storm last Friday (right before a real one, too🌧️). athensindependent.com/potw-king-mi...

The Athens County Board of Elections approved nearly 30 ballot measures for November’s general election, and decided to move Nelsonville and Buchtel’s polling location to Nelsonville-York High School. 🗳️ athensindependent.com/2026-electio...

Hey Bobcats! We want you on our team this fall. We're seeking Ohio University students for community work study internships. Come gain real-world, paid experience in community news at the Athens County Independent. Apply on GivePulse! tinyurl.com/aciOUcws

Four years ago today, we posted our first story. What a ride it's been! We started a team of four, publishing monthly on a glorified blog. Today, we have a full-time staff of nine, a bricks-and-mortar newsroom, professional website, and three weekly newsletters. 🥳

Widespread flooding occurred throughout Athens County after Tuesday's storms, with the Hocking River reaching up to 18+ inches. athensindependent.com/athens-count...

Things we think are kinda chic 😉 athensindependent.com

Our Summer Listening Series event set for tonight has been rescheduled due to flooding. We hope to see you in Chauncey in a few more weeks! athensindependent.com/speak-your-m...

Local news needs you! Help us do our jobs. We rely on our community to let us know what’s happening, whether it’s folks doing good deeds or blowing the whistle on shady conduct athensindependent.com/contact/i-ha...

Public meetings for the week of August 10: athensindependent.com/public-meeti...

Chauncey area residents, we invite you to join us this Wednesday, 5–7 p.m. at the Athens Friends Meeting House for our Summer Listening Series! Come add your voice to local news. We'll have complimentary ice cream and pie and kids activities. athensindependent.com/speak-your-m...

At its regular meeting at Hocking College on Monday, the statutory Nelsonville City Council passed an ordinance to appoint a new legal council and consider a proposed resolution athensindependent.com/ncc-08032026/

Athens County is taking measures to preserve a historic barn in Sharpsburg, located along State Route 377. Residents brought the century-old barn to the county’s attention last year because an environmental restoration project that included plans to tear it down athensindependent.com/land-bank-sh...

Burr Oak State Park aims to have its newest trail completed by the end of this year. The Turtle Ridge trail starts at the end of Burr Oak Road, near the park’s campgrounds and office. The 1.1-mile trail is primarily built for equestrian use athensindependent.com/burr-oak-tra...

When George Wood and his team of drivers left the United States on Independence Day, they were undertaking a patriotic act, he said: Driving trucks 1,500 miles from the United Kingdom to Ukraine athensindependent.com/cars-for-ukr...

Bike pack frequenters over the past few years might've noticed a log jam forming near the Currier Street bike bridge in Athens. Public officials are now looking at how to best remove the jam, protect the bridge and ensure health of the river athensindependent.com/athens-hocki...

A group of environmental organizations filed documents in federal court July 21, arguing that federal agencies violated a 2021 court order by approving fracking permits for the Wayne National Forest’s Marietta Unit earlier this year athensindependent.com/wayne-fracki...

Hocking Hills Garment Center in Butchel is creating sustainable local manufacturing and high-quality clothing for clients like the Copperheads and NMF. 🧵https://athensindependent.com/hocking-hills-garment-center/

Returning from its July recess, Athens City Council on Monday suspended the rules and unanimously adopted a one-year temporary moratorium on data centers in the city athensindependent.com/acc-08032026...

There are about 200 data centers operating or under way statewide; 14 developments are suspected or publicly announced in Appalachian Ohio. The Independent took a look at each development to learn more about what it'll look like and where it stands today athensindependent.com/data-centers...

As negotiations to open a plastics plant in Athens County continue, residents are raising questions and concerns. The Athens County Port Authority is in talks with CCC Plastics, a Canadian manufacturer that wants to open its first location in the U.S. Read more athensindependent.com/the-plains-p...

"The Odyssey" is a buzzy blockbuster based on Greek mythology, but certainly not the first film adaptation of those old stories. Gordon Briggs has recs for other myth-inspired films, like "Black Orpheus."🎬️ athensindependent.com/reel-talk-an...

Athens can combat data center development by utilizing local economic options, tapping the area's "tradition of makership as a competitive advantage," Max Kortlander writes in this op-ed. athensindependent.com/oped-073026-...

Our Summer Listening Series has a virtual component! We want to hear from you — please take our survey! Tell us about your community and what you need from local news. Great journalism starts with you! forms.gle/JkWp5ryLenwF...

It's that time of year!🐔 🎡 Athens County Fair starts this weekend and runs Aug. 7–15. We have details on what to expect this year. athensindependent.com/2026-athens-...

What caused tension between Mayor Steve Patterson and ORCA? At the center of back-and-forth were disagreements on whether to build – and how to pay for – cabins and short-term rentals near the Baileys. 🏕️ Read story three 3️⃣ of our investigative series: athensindependent.com/orca-patters...