🎶 Live music – it's part of what makes the summer in Athens so sweet! A roundup of what you can expect this summer: athensindependent.com/summer-music...

🐕️ Nelsonville Dog Park is open! Have you been? We met pups Stormy and Raven there this week. athensindependent.com/nelsonville-...

During the citizen comment section of the agenda, community members made several comments regarding the city pool and moving forward with the Nelsonville Aquatic Center athensindependent.com/ncc-260615-c...

Produce Perks, a program which helps local Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program users purchase produce at local farmers markets, will not be paused in Athens County after a regional philanthropic group donated funds to keep the program going athensindependent.com/produce-perk...

The Athens County Democratic Party Central Committee unanimously appointed Josh Thomas as Athens city auditor and Jason Schroer as city treasurer, respectively, at a meeting Thursday night athensindependent.com/new-city-gov...

"Our sidewalks in Athens aren’t crumbling because people don’t value them; they’re crumbling because of Ohio’s laws," writes Stephanie Hunter. Read her op-ed: athensindependent.com/oped-260617-...

Over half of Athens City Council members joined the city auditor, police chief and a crowd of over 80 people at a forum regarding Flock surveillance Wednesday, June 10 at the Athens Community Center. athensindependent.com/athens-flock...

20 years of Nelsonville Music Festival culminated June 18–20 at Snow Fork Event Center. We spoke with attendees about what keeps them coming back. What did you enjoy about this year's festival? athensindependent.com/nmf-2026/

The Athens Drag Collective is challenging stereotypes and accessibility barriers, and in the process introducing local audiences to the craft. Its next event is this Saturday, June 27 at 7 p.m. and will support the Kaleidoscope Youth Center athensindependent.com/athens-drag-...

Wondering what's up with construction in Athens County this summer? We've got you! ⛔️ 🚧 athensindependent.com/summer-const...

‼️ BREAKING: Gov. Mike DeWine has issued a line-item veto on a house bill provision that would have stripped the ORCA – the organization that manages Baileys Trail System – of $750,000 in funding. athensindependent.com/dewine-vetos...

The first Fire Fight on The Hill Fireworks Show 🎆 is this Saturday at 10 p.m.! Catch the show after a full day of food and activities at The Plains Community Park, starting at 4 p.m. athensindependent.com/the-plains-f...

We want to hear from you! Come join us tomorrow in Glouster for free pie, ice cream, kids activities and conversation. Learn more athensindependent.com/speak-your-m...

So far this summer, tests conducted by ODNR at Lake Hope and Dow Lake have shown very low levels of E. coli, with one test at Dow Lake reporting 0 units of E. coli. athensindependent.com/state-park-w...

We're honored to once again receive recognition from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists for our reporting last year on Federal Hocking Local Schools and its former Superintendent Jason Spencer. athensindependent.com/tag/federal-...

An appellate court has once again declined to decide which body rightfully governs Nelsonville. ⚖️ athensindependent.com/nelsonville-...

"I applaud Council members for taking a stand to represent ALL Chauncey residents, reminding them that their presence and dignity matter," writes Natalie Johnson in this letter to the editor. ⌨️ athensindependent.com/lte-260618-n...

With no treasurer, $4.2 million of Nelsonville's budget is not actively being invested. The council will have to decide on the auditor investing into STAR Ohio. athensindependent.com/ncc-061526-t...

Our photo of the week gives a look inside Mount Zion Black Cultural Center, where new stained glass windows have been installed. ⛪️ athensindependent.com/photo-of-the...

The council on Monday said there will be one more opportunity for the public to comment on proposed changes to meeting rules — one of which would remove the need for members of the public to identify their home addresses when addressing the council. athensindependent.com/acc-06826-si...

At an Athens City Council briefing on accessibility and ADA, Mayor Steve Patterson warned property owners that they will be fined if their sidewalk has "heaved up by more than a half an inch above what is ADA-approved, or acceptable." athensindependent.com/acc-06826-si...

Former JFS director Jean Demosky waived her right to a speedy trial at a pre-trial hearing Tuesday, a decision that will will push back her trial on charges related to alleged mismanagement of organizational finances. athensindependent.com/demosky-waiv...

Local officials are addressing community concerns about the spread of poison hemlock, a toxic plant found in Athens County. athensindependent.com/environment-...

A bill awaiting DeWine's signature would strip ORCA, the org that manages Baileys Trail System, of $750,000 in funding. athensindependent.com/orca-state-f...

EIC Corinne Colbert addresses the disappearance of the Athens News and its archive, which is now behind a paywall. athensindependent.com/lfe-061126-a...

This summer, the Athens County Independent wants to hear from you, the people of Athens County. We’re holding a series of gatherings on Wednesdays around the county where you can add your voice to local news. We’ll have ice cream and fresh individual pies from Flour & Thyme! tinyurl.com/aciLPC

🎸 Nelsonville Music Festival celebrates its 20-year anniversary this weekend – will you be there? We interviewed those involved about NMF's changes over time, and what makes the event special. Our deep-dive timeline: athensindependent.com/nelsonville-...

Over 20 members of the public spoke at the Chauncey Village Council meeting last week, before the council voted to keep in place an anti-discrimination ordinance protecting employment, housing, and public accommodation. athensindependent.com/chauncey-cou...

Have you seen our announcements page on the website? If your org has an announcement for the community, email [email protected]! 🗓️ 📨 athensindependent.com/news/announc...

The latest from Gordon Briggs shares about three musical biopics that "give us nuanced, satirical and genuinely strange portrayals of celebrities." 🎬️ athensindependent.com/reel-talk-th...

Pride celebrations continue throughout the month! athensindependent.com/pride-events...

The Ohio Guitar Show is this Sunday – did you know it was founded in Athens back in the 1980s? athensindependent.com/ohio-guitar-...

❗️BREAKING: Another court has said it cannot rule which group – the statutory or charter council – rightfully governs Nelsonville. athensindependent.com/nelsonville-...

Construction on the soon-to-be Sunset Shelter is underway! 🥳 We've got updates on the project and pics of building interiors: athensindependent.com/sunset-shelt...

Apply by midnight for our fall 2026 Scripps-Howard Fund internship program! This is a PAID, 10-week full-time internship opportunity this fall for up-and-coming journalists who want to gain real experience working in local news scrippshowardfoundation.submittable.com/submit/ae46f...

Thousands of Athens News articles that were free for anyone to read "suddenly has been locked in a cage, available only to those willing to subscribe to the digital Athens Messenger," Terry Smith writes. athensindependent.com/opinion-terr...

Volunteer-run Athens County Sponsor Circle spent years helping families who are fleeing war, political repression, and instability build new lives in the U.S. athensindependent.com/athens-count...

This year's Southeast Ohio Fibershed Meetup connected regional textile enthusiasts. We were there! athensindependent.com/photo-galler...

The community came out strong for 2026 Athens Pride Fest this weekend! athensindependent.com/photo-galler... 🌈

Nelsonville TV Cable will soon transition its operations to Spectrum after 74 years in business. 📺️ Here are the options available to residents who have to switch service. athensindependent.com/nelsonville-...

We post traffic and meeting announcements, boil orders, press releases, and honor rolls on the website almost daily. Check out our announcements section through link in bio!

"Our right to public records should not be compromised or politicized," Tom Hodson writes in his latest installment of Inside Courts. athensindependent.com/courts-06042...

Everyone welcome our summer Scripps-Howard Fund intern, Juliana DeFilippo! She's looking forward to integrating herself into the community and learning more about Athens. Thanks to the Scripps-Howard Fund and Institute for Nonprofit News making this internship possible!

Athens plans to use about 80 acres located off Hope Drive for a conservation cemetery, which will allow natural burials within the city limits. athensindependent.com/athens-conse...

A new six-story building on Kenny Drive will be used by firefighters, police and other first responders for training exercises. 👨‍🚒 athensindependent.com/athens-train...

Council members raised concern this week about how lack of shade at city playgrounds impacts turf surface temperature, with one saying walking barefoot at a local park was “like going to the Outer Banks at high noon in August.” 🔥 athensindependent.com/acc-062601-p...

Plenty of Pride Month celebrations and events in Athens! 🌈 We have an events list on the website, which we'll update as events are announced athensindependent.com/pride-events...

Get to know Southeastern Ohio Rainbow Alliance, which works for the community – primarily the LGBTQ+ community – in Southeast Ohio. athensindependent.com/southeastern...

Want to learn more about interning with us this fall? Register for a Zoom Q&A tonight to ask anything about our fall 2026 Scripps-Howard Fund internship program tinyurl.com/SHF26q-a

Workers at Athens print shop 🖨️ Minuteman Press have joined the Communication Workers of America Union. athensindependent.com/minuteman-un...