ATHENS CO RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 8 PM WED, 4/6 FOR LOW HUMIDITY AND GUSTY WINDS, NO OPEN BURNING!!

Red Flag Warning

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR ATHENS COUNTY UNTIL 8 PM WEDNESDAY, 4/6 FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY LEVELS COMBINED WITH GUSTY WINDS.

  • WINDS – SOUTH 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 25 TO 30 MPH.
  • TIMING – LOWEST HUMIDITY THROUGH 5 PM. HUMIDITY WILL BEGIN RECOVERING TOWARD 8 PM.
  • RELATIVE HUMIDITY – AS LOW AS 15 TO 20 PERCENT.
  • TEMPERATURES – IN THE MID TO UPPER 60S.
  • LIGHTNING – SLIGHT CHANCE THIS EVENING.
  • IMPACTS – THE THREAT IS ENHANCED IN GRASSY AND BRUSH FILLED AREAS. ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY. OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS:

A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS, LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND WARM TEMPERATURES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR.

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR ATHENS CO SAT, 4/2, 2PM TO 11PM, USE CAUTION!

Wind Advisory

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT SATURDAY, 4/2 FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING.

WINDS – INCREASING WEST 20 TO 30 MPH THIS AFTERNOON WITH GUSTS 45 TO 50 MPH LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. THE HIGHEST GUSTS WILL OCCUR BETWEEN 6 PM AND 9 PM AS A COLD FRONT PASSES. WINDS WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH LATE TONIGHT.

IMPACTS – TREE LIMBS AND SOME WEAK TREES MAY FALL, CREATING SCATTERED POWER HITS OR OUTAGES. TRAVELING MAY BECOME DIFFICULT IN THE HIGHER GUSTS, ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: A WIND ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN WIND GUSTS 46 TO 57 MPH ARE EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

Nelsonville joint meeting Planning & Development, Utility Comm, Planning Comm Thu, 4/7, 7PM, public invited and encouraged to attend

Nelso Committee Meeting

The Nelsonville City Council announces that there will be a joint meeting of the Planning & Development, Utility Committee and Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, April 7, 2016 at 7:00 pm in council chambers. The Purpose of the meeting will be to discuss ticketing process, as well as, rental housing inspections. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

Athens Co Emergency Warning Sirens will be tested Wed, 4/6, at 12 noon, in Nelsonville, The Plains, New Marshfield

Siren Test

The outdoor emergency warning sirens in Nelsonville, The Plains and New Marshfield will be tested at 12 noon on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, with a one minute sounding of the sirens. Local residents are asked not to call local emergency agencies inquiring why the sirens are sounding.

The outdoor warning siren system is normally tested on the first Wednesday of every month at 12:00 p.m. The monthly test will be cancelled if severe weather is threatening. If severe weather cancels the test it will be postponed until the next month. There are three conditions that result in the warning sirens being activated in Athens County.

  1. Severe Weather
    1. When the National Weather Service initiates a Tornado Warning for an area that includes areas of Athens County.
    2. When the National Weather Service initiates a Severe Thunderstorm Warning (winds 58+ mph, large hail, severe lightening and heavy rains), for an area that includes areas of Athens County.
  2. When there is an actual enemy or terrorist attack against the United States has been detected and is threatening areas of Athens County and protective action should be taken immediately.
  3. When a public safety emergency occurs the sirens will be used to alert the public of emergencies such as hazardous materials incidents and civil disturbances.

When the outdoor warning sirens are sounded for an emergency they will be activated for five minutes. When you hear the warning sirens you should do the following;

  1.   DO NOT CALL 9-1-1 to ask why the sirens are sounding as this can overload the 9-1-1 emergency response system.
  2. Remember, outdoor warning sirens are just that, out-door warning. The sirens are meant to be heard outside to signal you to go indoors and tune your radio or television station to the local Emergency Alert System (EAS) Station. As homes continue to become more energy efficient and sound proofing enhanced, outdoor warning sirens that once could be heard decades ago inside of a home can no longer be heard. That’s why other means of warning are in place.
  3. Go immediately to a safe area in your home or building, if high winds, severe thunder and lightning are present.
  4. If you are outside away from possible shelter, lie flat on the ground away from trees until the storm passes. If in a vehicle, get out and find a more substantial structure.
  5. Carry a battery operated radio or NOAA all hazard alert radio to your safe area. You will know when the storm or emergency has passed and when it is clear to leave your safe area.
  6. The Athens County SIRENS DO NOT identify specific types of storms or emergencies, therefore you should immediately seek shelter and tune to local television or radio for further information.

Athens County Crime Solvers Anonymous as April 2016 Crimes of the Month

AC crime solvers

The following incidents have been listed by Athens County Crime Solvers Anonymous as April 2016 Crimes of the Month.

The Athens Police Department is requesting your information pertaining to three criminal acts, connected by DNA, which occurred within the City of Athens.

The Athens, Ohio Police Department is actively investigating three separate but related violent assaults which took place in Athens between 2006 and 2015.

On June 20, 2015, at approximately 2:00 AM, a female was walking home from the uptown area. As she walked through the parking lot at the rear of 19 E. Carpenter St, an unknown suspect approached her from behind and attempted to sexually assault her but was scared away by others walking in the area.

DNA evidence obtained as a result of the investigation was submitted to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation for analysis. The results of the analysis showed the suspect from the 2015 assault was the same suspect that had been identified by DNA in a sexual assault reported in 2006.  The details of the 2006 sexual assault are very similar to the 2015.

In the 2006 incident, the female victim was also walking home from the uptown area when she noticed an unknown white male following her. After arriving home, the suspect illegally entered the victim’s home and forcibly raped the victim and then fled the scene.  The victim described the suspect as being 5’08” to 5’10” tall, weighing 130 to 150 pounds, with short light-colored hair.  This description is very similar to the description provided by the victim of the 2015 incident.

The third incident occurred in December of 2015. Again, the nature of the assault is similar to the prior incidents.

We are seeking information on the suspect who is described as a white male in his late twenties to early thirties, 5’8” to 5’9” tall, and weighing approximately 160 pounds. The attached composite was developed by the victim of the June, 2015 incident.  If you have any information related to these two incidents or know the identity of the suspect, please provide it to the Athens Police Department.

The Athens and Nelsonville Police Departments are requesting your information pertaining to multiple restaurants being broken into and they appear to be related.

The following restaurants were forcibly entered and similar items were taken from each one.

  • Dynasty Restaurant, 498 Richland Ave. Athens, February 9 to February 10, 2016
  • Rhapsody, 18 Public Sq.  Nelsonville, February 11 to February 12, 2016
  • El Camino, 1017 E State St. Athens, February 12 to February 13, 2016
  • OMG Rotisserie, 139 Columbus Rd. Athens, February 19 to February 20, 2016
  • Mr. Taco, 122 W. Union St. Athens, February 20, 2016

Athens County Crime Solvers Anonymous is offering a $2,000.00 cash reward for information on the above crimes if that information leads to the arrest and/or indictment of the person or persons responsible. *Information on serious misdemeanors will be limited to a $1000.00 cash reward.  **Any information that leads to the arrest of an individual responsible for graffiti, the board can authorize up to a $500.00 cash reward. If you have information on these crimes, please call (740) 594 – 3331.

Other cash rewards are available for your information regarding other crimes that have been committed in Athens County and if you have knowledge of other crimes, you are asked to call (740) 594 – 3331. Also visit our website at www.crimesolversofathens.org for information on previous crimes of the month.

Remember! Crime Solvers Anonymous needs your information and not your name so that your information can be passed onto the proper authorities.

Help us to help Athens County become a safer place.

CrimeSolvers mugshot 022016

Nelsonville BOIL ORDER, W Canal St from SR278 to September St, Robbins Rd, Riverside Dr until further notice.

Nelso Boil Order

The Nelsonville Water Department announces that a boil order has been issued for West Canal Street from State Route 278 to September Street, Robbins Road and Riverside Drive until further notice.

Boil orders are put into place as a result of broken water lines or local flooding. When this happens, the drinking water may have been contaminated which can cause many illnesses.

Here are some tips to keep in mind, should you find yourself in this situation:

  • Bring water to a full boil, and boil for three minutes prior to use.
  • Use only boiled water for drinking, preparing food or baby formula.
  • To improve the flat taste of boiled water, keep cold in refrigerator.
  • Put a cup over your faucets as a reminder to not use tap water – not even to brush your teeth!
  • Instead of boiling water, you can disinfect water by adding one teaspoon unscented chlorine laundry bleach for every five gallons of water. Let stand 30 minutes before using.
  • Be sure to use sanitized food grade containers for storing water.
  • To disinfect water storage containers, pour a solution of one tablespoon of unscented chlorine bleach to a gallon of water into a container. Let the solution remain in the container for 10 minutes, then pour out the solution. Rinse with purified water.
  • Boiled or disinfected water can be stored for six months.
  • Dispose of ice cubes.
  • When washing dishes, make sure to sterilize dishes with a final dip in water that has one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water. Disposable tableware is an option during a boil order.
  • It is also recommend you sanitize hands when washing. Again use one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water and rinse hand frequently by pouring rinse over the hands. Use paper towels to dry.
  • Water for bathing doesn’t need to be boiled. Supervise children to avoid water being ingested.