Good morning, Athens.

Pickle is a 1-year-old husky mix weighing 59 lb found on Poplar St. in Nelsonville on March 3rd and now resides at the Athens County Dog Shelter—he shows an eager desire to play, learn commands, and find a loving home.

Athens Humane features Alex—a 2-year-old cat who prefers quiet and only comes out when people disappear.

The shelter asks that those who respect her space apply for adoption using the provided contact information.

Athens County law enforcement—made up of detectives from the Athens City Police Department, the County Sheriff’s Office and the County Prosecutor’s Office—are targeting drug trafficking and planning new steps to improve addiction treatment.

The Athens County Drug Task Force arrested two additional individuals for drug trafficking in Athens last Tuesday — part of an ongoing investigation, according to Sheriff Rodney.

Today, the Athens County Board of Commissioners discussed a change in the House version of the state budget that would increase costs for SNAP + address concerns raised by a Slovenian delegation on affordable housing in the community.

Unofficial results from the May 6 primary show that over 57% of Athens voters rejected a proposed 0.3% income tax hike that would have raised the rate from 1.95% to 2.25% in 2026—city council races also delivered wins with Megan Leah Almeida securing the 1st Ward seat and Beth Clodfelter, Jessica Thomas, and Paul Isherwood winning at-large nominations. Nelsonville voters rejected a charter amendment, Bern Township levies passed while Troy Township’s road maintenance levy failed, and 67% of Ohioans backed Issue 2 to fund public works projects.

Nelsonville voters on Tuesday rejected an alternative plan for a new government structure—keeping the city on track to follow Issue 23 that will revert it to its former form, although key roles remain unfilled.

City officials now face challenges filling vacancies and mapping new wards as candidates prepare for the November election and write-in petitions are due through Aug. 25.

The Athens City Council met Monday evening and reached a compromise with the Woodward Ave owner while discussing communications and ordinance proposals—further steps will be addressed in upcoming sessions—.

Weekly Meditation at Athens KTC

10-11 a.m. — Serenity Roots Wellness and Yoga Center — No cost — Experience mindfulness and community through guided meditation sessions every Sunday morning.

Superhero 5k Run

9 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Richland Avenue Park — Family-friendly activities — Participate in a fun 5k with kids' obstacles and bounce houses.

Sunday Morning Meditation Session

2-3 p.m. — Serenity Roots Wellness and Yoga Center — No experience needed — Join the Athens KTC Buddhist Center for a calming meditation practice with options for instruction and discussion.

Joseph and His Ghost Live

7 PM – 1 AM — The Side Bar — $5 — Experience the eclectic sounds of indie rock from Joseph & His Ghost hailing from central and southeast Ohio.

3rd Annual Starbrick Music Festival

3 PM to 11 PM — Hocking College — Ticket prices starting at $12.51 — Enjoy a nostalgic mix of Country and Classic rock music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

UpCycle Fest 2025

12-5 p.m. — Community Makerspace — Free entry — Celebrate creativity and sustainability through art, fashion, and hands-on activities at this vibrant community festival.