Post local staff members look ahead to spring semester
For Ohio University students, Spring Semester means new classes, snowy weather and the return of fest season.
Fest season
Fest season will kick off this year on March 13 with Milliron Fest and Mill Fest on March 14, according to Fests of Athens, OH, the Facebook page that lays out the spring fest party schedule each year.
The rest of the line up includes High Fest on March 21, Palmer Place Fest on March 27, Palmer Fest and Indie Fest on March 28 and concluding with 13 Fest on April 18.
Juicy J will be performing at Indie Fest.
Policing at OUPD
Throughout the semester, Ohio University Police Department will be working to improve interaction between officers and students.
OUPD will be hosting “Coffee with a Cop” on the morning of Jan. 22 at the Baker Center Front Room.
The event will allow students, faculty and Athens residents to interact with officers, voice concerns and ask questions in a speech-free setting.
OUPD also hopes to implement its ride-along program soon, perhaps within the next few weeks, Lt. Tim Ryan said. That program would allow students to sign up to ride in police cruisers with cops.
In a previous interview with The Post, OU Police Chief Andrew Powers said his department will likely create a page on OUPD’s website where people can download waiver forms and program guidelines once the program has been approved.
Pat Kelly case
Suspended Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly’s case is slated to begin on Jan. 26, and will be the first major case of the year.
The case could last as long as 3 to 4 weeks, officials have said.
Former Summit County Judge Patricia Cosgrove has officially taken over the case and will be present at all trials. Kelly was served a 25-count indictment last year.
Other upcoming court cases
In addition to the Kelly trial, the Athens County Court system will be seeing a series of high profile cases this spring.
Two cases involving Franklin A. Green will come to a close this year.
In 2014, Green pleaded not guilty to a number of assault charges and more, on an insanity plea, according to court documents.
“The Athens County Prosecuting office will continue to seek justice on behalf of the people of the state of Ohio,” Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn said.
On City Council’s plate….
Athens City Council will be looking at both beginning and completing various construction projects this spring.
Council President Chris Knisely said that the city would be moving forward with the South Richland Project, which would include the addition of a bike lane as well as improvements to the street and sidewalks.
After Athens residents voted for a levy that will fund a new public swimming pool, Knisely said plans for the design of the pool are moving forward.
There will be a public meeting on Jan. 21 at 6 pm at the Athens Community Center to discuss possible plans for the pool.
Knisely added the city would be looking to complete the improvements to the waste water treatment plant.
“We’re also looking at old infrastructure,” Knisely said.
Two big projects Knisely cited were making improvements to the water plant as well as the Washington Street parking garage.
Knisely also said council is going to push for sidewalk improvements.
“We have a long term plan,” Knisely said. “We’re looking to move forward looking at more consistent improvement.”
Legislation from the Statehouse
Legislators at the statehouse are preparing for Gov. John Kasich’s biannual budget proposal. The proposal will be announced later this month.
State Sen. Lou Gentile, D-Steubenville, said that education and local government will be hot-button issues on the budget. Both of these areas have received cuts in the past under Kasich’s administration.
Another area of the budget that Gentile said is important to him will be welfare development, which he said will help reduce the trend of “brain-drain” in the region.
“I think this issue of welfare Development will be critical in our region,” he said.
Gentile said he has requested to serve on the senate budget committee.
— William T. Perkins and Josh Lim contributed to this report
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