Ohio has a state fruit, and this weekend it absolutely slaps 🍈
Good morning, Athens County. The median home sale price here just hit $271,250 — and the average local paycheck of roughly $51K is doing its best to pretend that's fine. It's not fine. Rising property taxes are squeezing homeowners, and new state measures promise to slow the climb without actually reversing it. On a brighter note, Chauncey just unveiled a gorgeous downtown streetscaping project — murals, new lighting, and a nod to its coal mining roots that's genuinely worth a drive down SR 13. And Athens City officials are making a bold play to ditch AEP and own their streetlights outright.
This weekend, the Ohio Paw Paw Festival arrives Thursday — your annual reminder that Ohio has a state fruit and it slaps. Bears volleyball, charity train rides, fresh listings, and your Financial Friday reminder to audit those forgotten subscriptions are all inside.
🌤 Sky Skoop
Athens
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Nelsonville
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The Plains
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Albany
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Chauncey
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☕️ What's Brewing Locally
Rising home prices in Athens County drive another big bump in property taxes. New laws may provide some relief
🏠 Athens County homeowners face rising property taxes as home values soar. A WOUB analysis found the median home sale price reached $271,250 this year, with homes selling on average 19% above their new 2026 appraised values — and nearly a third selling for more than $100,000 over their 2023 appraisals. The gap between wages and home prices is squeezing buyers, as the average Athens County annual pay of $50,985 puts the median-priced home well out of reach for most residents. Ohio lawmakers have passed several new measures — including inflation caps on certain school levies and changes to how auditors sample home sales — aimed at slowing future tax growth. County Auditor Jill Davidson cautions that these changes won't lower taxes, only potentially limit how fast they rise: "Less than otherwise would have been is not the same as less than last year." Read more
Chauncey celebrates streetscaping completion
🎨 A small Ohio village just got a stunning downtown makeover. Chauncey completed its streetscaping project, bringing new murals, seating, lighting, and parking improvements to its Main Street corridor. Funded through Ohio's Appalachian Community Grant program, the project includes a mural by artist Nick Stull celebrating the village's coal mining heritage and a brick marker welcoming visitors off SR 13. Officials say the upgrades will boost community pride and complement nearby attractions like the Baileys Trail System. Read more
💡 Athens wants to ditch AEP and own its streetlights. After the utility flatly refused to sell its 700 rented streetlights to the city, Athens officials are now exploring "municipalization" — taking control of electricity distribution and transmission themselves. The city currently spends $160,000 annually on streetlight electricity, but officials say city-owned service could drop distribution costs from roughly 50% of a customer's bill to as low as 30%. Ohio already has 80 municipally owned electric utilities, and a consultant presented two fee-based funding models to City Council on Sept. 14. Read more
3 bed · 2 bath · 48.5-acre lot w/ pond, pole barn & food plots
Tucked away in Scipio Township, this move-in-ready 3-bed country homestead on nearly 50 acres offers the ultimate rural lifestyle — from stocked fishing ponds and hunting blinds to a massive 2024 pole barn!
9.72 acres · Babbling creek · Open field + road frontage
Nestled in the rolling Athens County countryside, this stunning 9.72-acre parcel in Albany features a babbling creek, open fields, and a perfect blend of woods — ideal for your dream home or hobby farm!
Get ready to go wild for Ohio's quirkiest fruit at the Paw Paw Festival! Head to Snow Fork Event Center in Nelsonville on September 18 to celebrate this beloved Buckeye State delicacy.
🏐 Sep. 18 - Bears vs Bobcats Volleyball
📍 Convocation Center, Athens, OH · 🕒 10:00 AM
Cheer on the Ohio Bobcats as they face the Morgan State Bears in exciting college volleyball action at the Convocation Center in Athens, OH on September 18!
All aboard for a great cause! Hop on a scenic steam train ride at Hocking Valley Scenic Railway in Nelsonville, OH on Sep 19, supporting flood relief for Whitewater Valley Railroad.
🎵 Sep. 25 - Athens Summer Family Concert
📍 Athens Community Center, Athens, OH · 🕒 6:00 PM
Bring the whole family out for a magical evening under the stars at the Athens Community Center! The Athens City Summer Concert Series wraps up September 25 with a free outdoor concert perfect for all ages.
🍂 Sep. 26 - Fall 5K Charity Run
📍 Eclipse Company Store, The Plains, OH · 🕒 10:00 AM
Lace up your sneakers and hit the ground running for a good cause! Join the Fall 5K Fun Run on Sep 26 at Eclipse Company Store in The Plains, OH.
Country music fans, mark your calendars! Ashley McBryde brings her powerhouse vocals to Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium in Athens, OH on September 26 for a night of unforgettable live country music.
🎻 Oct. 03 - Dixon's Violin Live Athens
📍 ARTS/West, Athens, OH · 🕒 6:50 PM
Get ready to experience the violin like never before! Dixon's Violin brings an electrifying performance to ARTS/West in Athens, OH on October 3rd — where classical strings meet modern energy.
🎤 Oct. 06 - Open Mic Night
📍 Stuart's Opera House, Nelsonville, OH · 🕒 7:00 PM
Your moment in the spotlight awaits at Stuart's Opera House in Nelsonville! Head to this stunning historic venue on Oct. 6 and share your talent with a warm, welcoming crowd at Open Mic Night.
🌎 What Else Is Brewing
Orion180 Insurance priced its US IPO below range but still raised $240 million, proving Wall Street will bite if the story is spicy enough.
Donald Trump heads to the UN with Iran and global skepticism hanging over him, because foreign policy never sleeps and neither do headlines.
The White House Trump signed orders expanding hunting and fishing access while flexing support for gun rights, a classic Washington two-step.
Hyundai Motor warned the US could get swamped by Chinese car imports without guardrails, reviving an auto trade drama with European déjà vu.
Trump-Xi summit is set to put agriculture, energy, and rare earths back on the bargaining table, because trade wars love a sequel.
BYD may send executives to Xi Jinping’s Washington visit, signaling Chinese business wants a front-row seat to the US market fight.
💰 Financial Friday
Periodically audit your recurring subscriptions and eliminate those you rarely use; the money saved can be redirected toward an emergency fund or a small, regular investment.
🍞 Daily Bread Crumb
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
— Joshua 1:9
Remember that God's presence goes with you, so you can face today’s challenges with confidence and a hopeful heart.
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