The Athens Artists Project presented the Athens County Independent yesterday with a $250 check supporting Cornertown, our comic strip by local artist Chris Monday. Thanks so much to TAAP for supporting our work!!

Congrats to the 2026 Bawdy Spelling Bee champions! Lou won first place, and Regis runner-up. Thanks so much to West End Ciderhouse for once again hosting the most fun fundraiser around, and DJ Moose Knuckle (Carter Rice) for co-hosting! And thank YOU for supporting us this Ohio Brew Week! Cheers! 🍻

Get rid of household hazardous waste this weekend! Curious about how it call works? Read our explainer from last year about how and why hazardous waste is specially collected. Read more: athensindependent.com/hazardous-wa...

Support the Indy today at Kiser's Barbecue and West End Ciderhouse, where we're co-hosting the annual Bawdy Spelling Bee! $1 from each draft purchase will be donated to the Independent. Sign up for free and compete for a $50 cash prize www.facebook.com/share/1D4ni6...

“Just like any small business, we take pride in what we do,” Chase Meeks said. “Being the only butcher shop in the county and Meigs, we’re able to provide a service that nobody else does.” athensindependent.com/the-local-bu...

Amesville area residents: Join us at Village Productions 5–7 p.m. this Wednesday. Join us over some ice cream and pies locally made by Flour & Thyme, and tell us about your community! Plus, we'll have activities for the kiddos! athensindependent.com/speak-your-m...

We're celebrating another recognition today: Our Creative Director Jen Bartlett won second place in Best Marketing Campaign in the 2026 AAN Publishers Awards, for her 2025 Out on a Limb designs. Congrats, Jen!! Learn more: tinyurl.com/2026-AAN-Awards

Nelsonville's statutory city council – one of two opposing councils operating in the city – met Monday and adopted a resolution to repair the Nelsonville pool 👙 without delay. athensindependent.com/ncc-260706-p...

‼️BREAKING‼️ Four Washington County fracking waste injection wells have voluntarily ceased operations at the request of ODNR for potentially impacting oil and gas wells in the area. Local activists are concerned about the injection wells' impact on aquifers, too. athensindependent.com/injection-we...

See you next week for the rowdiest spelling bee around! Compete in the Bawdy Spelling Bee at West End Ciderhouse 6–9 p.m. next Tuesday, July 14 for a chance to win a $50 cash prize, drinks, and other surprises! Plus, it's a fundraiser! www.facebook.com/share/18ozuh...

New playground equipment at Alexander Elementary School is similar to its old equipment — monkey bars, swings, seesaws and merry-go-rounds — but adapted so that children with disabilities can participate. 🛝 athensindependent.com/changemakers...

Criminal cases against two student protestors arrested in April at a OU Board of Trustees have been dismissed. athensindependent.com/student-prot...

We’re Kiser’s Barbecue's Community Action Tuesday recipient this July! 5% of proceeds from all orders placed on Tuesdays this month will be donated to the Independent. Thanks to Kiser's for supporting Athens County's access to news and information! Of course, we had to get some BBQ today 💗

In Athens County, local veterans groups manage proper U.S. flag disposal. “It’s our duty and it’s our right to do it, because most of us did over 20 years serving for our country," Brian Johnson, quartermaster of the Albany VFW, told us. athensindependent.com/flag-retirem...

What's your favorite thing about living in or around Stewart? We want to know! Come on out to the Federal Valley Resource Center next Wednesday, July 8 from 5–7 p.m. for our second Summer Listening Series session. Learn more: athensindependent.com/speak-your-m...

🎆 🌭 We put together a list Independence Day events in Athens County this year – plenty of ways to celebrate 'America250', see fireworks, gather with community! athensindependent.com/independence...

It's mosquito season again!🦟 If there is high mosquito activity in your area, call the health department's mosquito complaint line at 740-447-5927. athensindependent.com/athens-city-...

We're hosting the Bawdy Spelling Bee during Ohio Brew Week! Put your skills to the test 6–9 p.m. July 14 at the West End Ciderhouse. $1 of all draft purchases will support our mission to empower community engagement through accessible public service journalism www.facebook.com/share/1FnNPP...

Livestock farmers, unite! 🐄 🐐 Athens Grazing Council brings folks together monthly to discuss grazing animals, pasture management, and land stewardship. athensindependent.com/grazing-coun...

🎶 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...