Athens City Council President out of Hospital
Athens City Council President Jim Sands is out of the hospital and recovering with family in Columbus after a nasty fall Wednesday morning, Mayor Paul Wiehl said.
Sands was flown to the Grant Medical Center in Columbus on Wednesday morning after falling outside of Athens Flower Shop, 252 E. State St., where he is a part-owner. He was first treated at O’Bleness Memorial Hospital.
Sands was discovered by Thomas Armstrong, a flower shop employee, with a gash over his left eye and further head injuries that Armstrong described as a “couple of goose-eggs” in a message to Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly.
“I don’t know why he collapsed,” Wiehl said. “I don’t know if it was fatigue, or stress, or ice.”
The Athens Flower Shop, which has been closed since Wednesday, will also resume regular business hours Monday.
APD issues warrants in house fire case
The Athens Police Department has issued nationwide arrest warrants for two men — whose names are listed as students in Ohio University’s online directory — who it believes set an arson fire at 68 Stewart St. late last month.
Brian P. Manley, 19, of Clarence, N.Y., and Mark R. Norman, 20, of Worthington, Ohio, are facing charges of aggravated arson and burglary, first and second-degree felonies, in connection to the recent Stewart Street fire Feb. 23, according to court documents.
Manley and Norman are still at large as of Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
The fire took place between 1 and 2 a.m. that Sunday morning.
HAPCAP, Fluff Bakery to present at Monday’s council meeting
Last Monday’s Athens City Council meeting featured the second reading for the yearly small-cities formula Community Development Block Grant, but this week’s meeting might define that grant’s purpose.
Greg Andrews, director of housing and community development for the Hocking-Athens-Perry Community Action Group, will be presenting at Monday night’s city council meeting, hosted at 7 p.m. in Athens City Hall, to discuss the possibility of merging multiple government-entity CDBG grants in an effort to collaborate on larger projects.
“There hasn’t been a decision on what we would spend the grant on yet,” said Councilwoman Chris Knisely, D-at large. “We’re all going to learn more (Monday) when Greg presents.”
Representatives from Fluff Bakery, 8 N. Court St., will be presenting at Monday’s council meeting to advocate for the bakery’s acquisition of a liquor license, Knisely added.
Furthermore, there will be presentations from the Planning and Development, Transportation, and Finance and Personnel committees.
Emma Ockerman compiled this report.
