A $208K hole & a mosaic rescue — Nelsonville's week was wild 🏺
Good morning, Athens County. Saving history and selling off the old — Nelsonville is doing both at once. City council members salvaged a stunning tile mosaic from the demolished Mechem Building, which is the kind of small-town win that deserves more applause. Less applause-worthy: the city's budget is running about $208,000 in the hole year-to-date, with the auditor urging departments to tighten the belt through December. On a more optimistic note, the long-vacant Athens County Community Cares building in Nelsonville finally found a buyer at $776,000 after multiple failed auction attempts.
Closer to Athens city limits, flooding on major streets is giving council plenty to chew on. Nationally, the U.S. military wrapped up its 12-year Iraq mission. Local sports scores, fresh real estate listings, and this week's obituaries are all inside.
🌤 Sky Skoop
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The Plains
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Albany
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Chauncey
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☕️ What's Brewing Locally
Nelsonville's general fund in the red for August, council preserves historic mosaic
🏛️ A historic mosaic was saved — and Nelsonville's budget is bleeding. The city's general fund ended August with a $606,831 balance, but year-to-date expenditures have outpaced revenue by roughly $208,000, prompting the city auditor to urge all departments to limit spending through year-end. On a brighter note, council recognized two councilmembers who coordinated with a demolition contractor to salvage a historic tile mosaic from the now-demolished Mechem Building on W. Columbus St. The city also scored a win with state approval of a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area covering much of downtown Nelsonville, and is actively pursuing grants for street repaving, body cameras, and building demolitions. Read more
DJFS receives bid for Nelsonville building
🏢 A long-vacant Ohio county building finally has a buyer. After multiple failed auctions, the Athens County Community Cares Resource Center in Nelsonville sold for $776,000 — just above the reduced starting bid — to buyer Jonathon Cozad. Commissioners accepted the offer, pending a $10,000 deposit and a 120-day closing period, on a building originally appraised at $975,000. In other county news, rural residents face uncertainty as Frontier Communications plans to retire copper phone lines before its broadband buildout is complete, with officials warning the full impact won't be known until decommissioning actually happens. Read more
Athens City Council discusses flooding, new appointments
🌧️ City leaders in Athens are dealing with a very real local headache: flooding on several major streets. The council session also covered new appointments, making it a solid snapshot of day-to-day city government in action. Read more
Nestled in a nice part of the Village of Chauncey, this charming 2-bed, 1-bath fixer-upper sits beneath a jaw-dropping mature tree on a lovely lot — complete with a garage full of possibilities! 🌳
🌎 What Else Is Brewing
Trump unveiled a $54 billion South Korean-backed Alaska gas project, turning an energy pitch into a giant campaign-style flex.
Pete Hegseth said he will slash the number of U.S. generals by 20%, arguing the military’s top brass needs a trim.
Micron Technology topped expectations with a bullish forecast, giving Wall Street’s chip fever another reason to keep buzzing.
Donald Trump planned a rare rally in Indian Country, heading to a Choctaw Nation event as the campaign trail widens.
U.S. military completed its withdrawal from Iraq, ending a 12-year mission and closing a long, messy chapter.
Gavin Newsom signed new worker-protection laws aimed at reining in AI-driven job losses and workplace surveillance.
Athens - Lester Lane, 61, of Athens, died unexpectedly, Tuesday September 8, 2026 at his residence on Hocking Street in Athens. Lester was born on August 27, 1965, in Cleveland, Ohio. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, September 21, 2026 at the West Union Street... Read full obituary
Jeffrey Lawrence Hurst, 65, of Athens, died unexpectedly Thursday, September 3, 2026 while hiking at Strouds Run State Park. Born November 14, 1960, in Athens, Ohio, he was the son of the late Henry Eugene and Margaret Wilkins Hurst. Jeff worked as a cook for many years at restaurants in... Read full obituary
Athens - Todd Jennings Wilkins, 42, of Athens, died unexpectedly, Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 5615 Washington Road in Albany. Born January 13, 1984, in Munster, Indiana, he was the son of the late Todd Dean and Renate Sayre Smith. Graveside services will be in the Alexander Cemetery at a... Read full obituary
Athens - Dorothy Stage, 70, passed away unexpectedly, Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at O’Bleness Memorial Hospital in Athens. Born January 28, 1956, in Mt Sterling, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Bill and Marjorie Bernhardt Coder. Dorothy is survived by her life partner, Roger... Read full obituary
Athens Keith Duane Peterson passed away at age 78, surrounded by family, at home in Athens, OH on Sept 24, 2026 after a brief illness. Keith was born in Mineola, NY, but grew up in Falconer, NY. He earned a BA in English from Harpur College in Binghamton, NY and Master of Arts from Ohio... Read full obituary
Sep 7, 1959 - Sep 26, 2026 On September 29, 2026, Debbie lost her battle with leukemia and was called home by her eternal father, but not before stopping at the rainbow bridge and getting her walking buddy Kody. Together again they'll meet the Lord with smiling faces. Debbie was born on September... Read full obituary
Nancy Jane Brown January 13, 1941 - September 29, 2026 Nancy Jane Brown (Hawk), age 85, passed away peacefully on September 29, 2026, with her daughters by her side. Well known in the community for her amazing cooking and dedicated lifelong service to the American Legion Auxiliary, Post 21.... Read full obituary
Nelsonville Christina A. (Smart) Bradley Christina A. "Christy" Bradley, age 66, of Nelsonville, Ohio, passed away on September 25, 2026, at her home, surrounded by her family and friends. Christy was born September 1, 1960, in Nelsonville, Ohio, to Eldon and Joyce Schenz Smart. She was a... Read full obituary
🍞 Daily Bread Crumb
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as God forgave you."
— Ephesians 4:32
Showing small acts of kindness and forgiveness reflects God’s love and brightens the day for everyone.
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