October 7, 2025 by The Post

Janet! Dr. Scott! Janet! Brad! ROCKY!

Hot patootie, bless our souls! Lost Flamingo Theater Company’s annual performance of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is just a time warp away, set to open at The Union Bar and Grill on Wednesday at 8 p.m.

LFC is bringing its shadow cast production to Athens for the 22nd year, but the tradition has been around since 1975 when a group of misfits rallied around the box office failure and turned it into a cult classic. Shadow casting is a form of theater as unique as the film itself, involving a group of performers acting out the film as it is screened behind them.

“We’re different from some other shadow casts,” Alexis Butt, a senior studying marketing and business analytics, said. “I’m in another one in Dayton and we don’t have any rehearsals at that one. In this one, we rehearse three times a week so we’re definitely more screen-accurate.”

This is Butt’s second year as the show’s assistant director, helping out with odds and ends in the rehearsal process and assisting the show’s director Anna Martin, a junior studying hearing, speech and language sciences. Martin is also in the second year of her position and spearheads the efforts to honor the history of the show while bringing a fresh angle to it every year.

“Bringing those characters to life in a new way, having new members be these new characters always brings a new side of these characters that we may not have thought of that someone

(MEGAN VANVLACK | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

else would see and say, ‘Oh, I’m going to do it this way and it’s going to make the crowd crack up … I’m going to do something a little bit different, but still very in the role of that character,’” Martin said.

One of this year’s returning faces but playing a new character is Evan Green, a senior studying creative writing, in the leading role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

It is at Frank-N-Furter’s mansion that an unassuming couple, Brad and Janet, seek refuge during a rain storm and are immersed in the scientists’ weird world of sexual freedom, erotic science experiments and overall eccentricity.

“It’s always been my dream to play this character,” Green said. “I joined this club so I could audition for this role, and so to be able to take it on and step into the shoes of this character has been really fun.”

After spending last year as a member of the Whorus, the show’s ensemble of lingerie-clad dancers, Green is stepping into the heels of this monumental role with the full support of the cast and creative team.

“Last year, Evan Green … was my partner for all the dance numbers, so getting to see his growth from being with us in the Whorus to seeing him as Frank … has honestly been one of my favorite (parts),” Lily Sellars, a senior studying media arts production, said.

Another favorite aspect shared across

the company is carrying on the 50 year legacy of the provocative and everprevalent film.

“When this movie first came out it wasn’t accepted, and then when it was accepted the entire community that did embrace it embraced the culture and embraced that lovingness of being themselves,” Martin said.

The microcosm of that community in Athens never fails to show up for the annual production; the show consistently maxes out The Union’s approximately 500-person capacity and leaves even more Rocky-hopefuls waiting in line around the block.

“You never get to see, in Athens, all of these people dressed up in lingerie and all of these guys in skirts and corsets and stuff, and people just being able to freely express themselves,” Sellars said. “I’ve never seen a group of people happier to be in a bar and hanging out, and I’ve never felt safer in a community, with my cast specifically, but also just being in the room with everybody that’s seeing it.”

This sentiment is something Sellars developed during her three years in the show, but it is shared by new cast members as well. Elle Mitsch, a junior studying production design and technology, is playing Columbia in this year’s production after years of auditioning.

“So much of the main cast has been in

were doing and … it was a little nerve wracking doing that, but they were all very helpful in telling me everything I needed to know and helping me really get myself into the process,” Mitsch said.

Mitsch has spent her college career auditioning for the show not only to experience this familial support from the cast, but to bring that energy to the Athens audience.

“You are in the dark as an audience member but you’re so in it, so it feels like you’re so a part of a community,” Mitsch said. “I think that’s what LFC is all about, we’re the lost flamingoes and we’re finding the lost people in the world and gathering them and becoming one community.”

For those looking to join in the fun, tickets will be available at $10 for attendees 18 and older and $8 for those 21 and older. The show runs until Saturday night, giving show-goers four opportunities to enjoy the science fiction double feature with the cast and crew.

“I’ve really had no other theater-going experience quite like this,” Green said. “It’s wild, it’s crazy, there’s audience participation. For people who have never seen it, I would say expect to have a crazy time. Dress crazy, get into it … really buy into the fantasy because then you’re going to have a lot more fun.”

Police Blotter: Goats on the loose, warrants out

KAITLIN HOGG NEWS STAFF WRITER

26 Fri _________________________

Wagon theft

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call from the Athens County Dog Shelter regarding a theft.

On the scene, deputies spoke with a man who told them his red wagon had been stolen from the side of the road.

Leave us alone

Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Old state Route 78 in Glouster to respond to a harassment claim.

Deputies on scene were told by a man his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend had been both threatening and harassing him. Deputies were able to make contact with the involved parties, who were instructed to stop communicating with the others.

27 Sat _________________________

Deer in the road

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call from School Road in Albany regarding a deer in the road.

Once on the scene, deputies removed the deer from the roadway.

Gun on the street

Deputies of the Athens County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Concord Church Road in Glouster after reports of a firearm in the roadway. Deputies on the scene took the gun as evidence, and at the time the police report was written, the investigation was still pending.

28 Sun ________________________

Not exactly a breaking and entering Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call from state Route 13 in Glouster. The caller told deputies there were people with flashlights trying to break into a camper at the residence.

On the scene, deputies determined there were no signs of anyone trying to break in. It was also determined the caller was under the influence. Deputies spoke with the property owner, who said they would take care of things, and no further assistance was required.

29 Mon________________________

Warrants of the week

Warrants of arrest were posted by the Athens County Sheriff’s Office for Tara Bing and Lamarr Royster.

Royster was wanted for failure to comply, receiving stolen property, vehicular assault and vandalism, but the Sheriff’s Office posted an update saying he had been located and arrested. The warrant is still out for Bing, who is wanted for the attempt to commit an offense. Anyone with information is to contact the Sheriff’s Office immediately.

Property returned!

Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to The Plains after a report of a found missing wallet had been found.

Deputies were successful in returning the wallet to the individual.

30 Tue ________________________

Warrant of arrest

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies were able to locate Joseph Krivesti Jr. of Chauncey, who had multiple warrants of arrest on him. He was arrested and taken to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail.

Car wash fight

Deputies of the Athens County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the Car Wash in The Plains after a report of juveniles fighting in the parking lot.

Once deputies were on the scene, they located several individuals and took a report. At the time the police report was written, the case was still under investigation.

1 Wed ________________________

This isn’t my dog

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call from Nurad Road in Athens regarding an animal complaint.

The caller said there was a dog on her front porch that did not belong to her. Deputies located the dog and took it to the shelter.

Attempt to locate

Deputies with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to Marion Johnson Road in Athens in regards to locating an individual.

Deputies had a warrant to locate the individual, but when units arrived on the scene, it was determined the individual had left before units got there.

2 Thur ________________________

Horses on the road!

Athens County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call from Luhrig Road in Athens after reports of several horses in the roadway.

Deputies returned to patrol after the horses were returned to the property.

Abandoned vehicle

Deputies of the Athens County Sheriff’s Office responded to Peach Ridge Road in Athens regarding a report of an abandoned vehicle. The vehicle was then tagged for removal.

US Weekly Headlines: Government shutdown affects federal workers, Supreme Court to hear pivotal cases

29 Mon _________________________

Gunman attacks Michigan church

A man drove his car into a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, on Sep. 28, and opened fire during the church service. At least four people were killed and eight were wounded in the attack, as of Sep. 29.

The gunman also reportedly used gas to start a fire, which resulted in the church going up in flames, a report by the Associated Press said.

The shooter was identified as Thomas Sanford, a 40-year-old former Marine and resident of the neighboring town Burton. Two officers pursued Sanford after he fled the scene, which resulted in gunfire before Sanford was eventually killed.

The FBI began an investigation into the situation and considered the attack an “act of targeted violence,” according to the AP.

30 Tue _________________________

Hegseth promises major changes to the military

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with hundreds of military leaders in Quantico, Virginia, on Sep. 30, to discuss his 10-point plan. His plan involved an elimination of “identity months” and “DEI offices” within the U.S. armed forces, as well as an end to “climate change worship” or “gender delusions” he said have negatively affected the military, the AP said.

Hegseth said he would like to increase the standards for certain combat roles and set the same standard for both men and women. He said it was not an effort to block women from service, but it could lead to women being excluded from some jobs.

Hegseth also said he would like to increase enforcement of the military weight requirements, especially for the highest-ranking officials. According to the AP, being overweight is one of the biggest barriers to potential military service, affecting over 10% of potential recruits.

2 Thur _________________________

Government shutdown threatens jobs, agencies

The U.S. government shut down Wednesday, leaving many Americans without pay and with no clear plan to solve the stalemate between Democrats and Republicans. On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced on social media he looks to determine which Democrat agencies he is cutting as a result of their disagreement, the AP reported.

Trump’s administration has been very open about its efforts to cut federal spending and fire workers in areas that

have typically been the Democrats’ priorities, including environmental protection agencies and agencies that address poverty and racial equity.

The shutdown puts 750,000 federal workers at risk of layoffs, which may become permanent if the Trump administration follows through with cutting government agencies, and could hurt the economy, according to the AP.

3 Fri _________________________

FDA approves generic abortion pill

The Food and Drug Administration has approved an additional generic version of the abortion pill mifepristone, resulting in pushback from anti-abortion groups and politicians. The drug maker Evita Solutions announced it had been approved for a low-cost version of the mifepristone pill, which was approved in 2000 and ends pregnancies through 10 weeks, the AP reported.

Many groups, including Students for Life Action, were upset with the Trump administration for allowing the approval after its previous support for the antiabortion cause.

Additionally, lawmakers like Republican Sen. Josh Hawley out of Missouri were critical of the FDA, calling for leadership changes and a limit on their authority.

The FDA emphasized the agency doesn’t endorse any product and it is given “very limited discretion” over generic drugs, according to the AP.

5 Sun _________________________

Supreme Court to hear decisive Trump cases

A new Supreme Court term began Monday, which will decide cases involving presidential power, LGBTQIA+ rights and voting. The justices maintain a conservative majority and have previously ruled in favor of many Trump administration policies, but they will hear cases on tariffs and birthright citizenship that could alter their opinions against the president, the AP said.

The tariffs case has already been heard by two lower courts, which ruled the president does not have the authority to impose wide-ranging tariffs. Dissenting judges have argued the president does have the ability to raise tariffs under the emergency powers law.

The birthright citizenship case will be heard over Trump’s executive order denying citizenship to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily. The court could hear the case in late winter or early spring, according to the AP

AS781522@OHIO.EDU

AVERY ST. GEORGE | FOR THE POST

Trump increased H-1B visa application fee to $100,000

Trump

ELLIE MOSS | FOR THE POST

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Sept. 19 requiring a $100,000 annual visa fee for highlyskilled foreign workers, which was previously $215, according to the Associated Press.

An H-1B visa is a temporary, nonimmigrant visa allowing employers to hire educated foreign professionals to work in specialty occupations that require at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, according to the American Immigration Council. Most occupations that often qualify for H-1B visas include mathematics, engineering, technology and medical sciences.

Dan Pittman, senior director of communications for Ohio University, provided commentary about the new fee and whether it affects present and future scholars with H-1B visas.

“The University is aware of the H-1B executive order that was signed by President Trump last week, and we are continuing to gather additional information in order to thoroughly analyze its potential impact(s) on the University and its workforce,” Pittman wrote in an email.

According to a data hub from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the top five Ohio employers that hold H-1B visas include Cleveland Clinic, Ohio State University, OhioHealth Corporation, ERP Analysts Inc. and Cardinal Health Inc.

OU is placed at the top 22 of Ohio employers with H-1B visas, with only 27 non-immigrant workers.

White House officials argue the change is necessary to protect American workers and prevent what they view as exploitation of the H-1B program, according to a proclamation written by Trump.

Tara Zahra is Hanna Holborn Gray Professor of East European History at the University of Chicago. She is the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Grant (2014) and the author of Against the World: Anti-Globalism and Mass Politics Between the World Wars (2023).

The White House stated the new fee is due to the “abuse” of the H-1B visa program, saying it has made it more difficult for college students ages 22-27 to find jobs after college graduation, referencing the high unemployment rates.

According to the Pew Research Center, India is the top country for H-1B visas, with China being the second. The official spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs reacted to the U.S. legislation with a press release.

“This measure is likely to have

humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families,” the statement said. “Government hopes that these disruptions can be addressed suitably by the U.S. authorities.”

According to USCIS, the newly imposed fee only affects visa applications submitted after Sep. 21; no petitions filed before are affected. The fee is only required to be paid once. It also does not prevent any current H-1B visa holder from traveling in and out of the U.S.

There is a national interest exception

allowing the secretary of Homeland Security to waive the fee on a case-bycase basis, “if in the national interest,” according to a White House fact sheet.

Critics argue the $100,000 fee is a barrier many overseas workers cannot overcome, since many non-immigrant workers are willing to work for as little as $60,000 annually, according to AP.

According to the AIC, economists are forecasting a sharp drop-off in new H-1B applications, especially for mid-level or lower-wage jobs, and suggest companies will move jobs overseas rather than pay the fee. Others caution the policy would hurt U.S. competitiveness by pushing skilled workers to other countries.

Some studies have also found that for companies that hire many H-1B visa holders, unemployment rates are lower. The two complement each other, according to the AIC.

For now, the new fee has caused a lot of confusion and worry among employers, families and current H-1B workers. Although it does not impact current visa holders, it raises critical questions for prospective applicants and employers who want to hire them.

“USCIS has provided a page where you can read some of the publicly available information here: H-1B FAQ | USCIS,” the OU website states. “We will provide more information to our University community as soon as additional guidance is available.”

With lawsuits on the horizon and implementation details still being worked out, workers and employers alike are preparing for uncertainty in this critical skilled immigration program.

EM997724@OHIO.EDU

47TH ANNUAL ENDOWED COSTA LECTURE

Democracies, dictatorships, empires, colonies, and governments. The revolt against globalization transformed the way millions of people traveled, ate, and lived. While the global economy ultimately recovered, that legacy offers both a warning and a guide for our own anti-Global moment.

MEGAN VANVLACK | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Tara Zahra University of Chicago

Poverty continues to impact families, children in Athens County

Southeast Ohio is a region known for a long history of poverty. The region continues to suffer from this issue, with many families being food insecure, homeless or experiencing a lack of healthcare.

The Appalachian region of Ohio is widely recognized as having a history of poverty. According to the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, 17% of individuals in Southeast Ohio were living below the federal poverty line in 2023, higher than the state average of 13%.

Athens County is not an exception to this issue, with 25% of individuals living below the poverty line in 2023, the highest rate in the state.

President of the Athens City Council Sam Crowl attributed the long, deep-rooted history of coal mining as a prominent cause of the issue in Appalachia. The region’s economy was once dominated by coal mining, providing jobs for many Southeastern Ohioans.

After increased government regulations, many coal mining industries left the region, leaving individuals without jobs.

“When the coal mining industry pulled out, it left us not only with a population that was heavily impacted on a health standard from having had families and generations who worked in the mines, but you also had a lot of people who depended on that mining industry and that extraction industry for wages,” Crowl said. “So the populations and the towns that have grown all throughout our region over time have had less and less source of wages.”

The issue of poverty has a substantial impact on children in the Southeast Ohio area. According to Data USA, 22.7% of children in Athens County lived in poverty in 2024.

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Christine DeLamatre, the director of child development programs at Hocking Athens Perry Community Action, commented on how child poverty impacts the Southeast Ohio area.

“Child poverty looks like families living in substandard housing, or families having no housing,” DeLamatre said. “It’s children that don’t have access to reliable or high-quality childcare, children that don’t have access to food on a regular basis, there are children that are hungry on the weekends or in the evening, families that are unemployed or underemployed due to a lack of transportation.”

HAPCAP operates several programs assisting individuals living in poverty in the Southeast Ohio region. A common issue for impoverished individuals in the Southeast Ohio area is food insecurity. Rates of food insecurity in the region continue to be higher than the state average, according to a study from the National Library of Medicine.

The NLM’s study found in Southeast Ohio 1 in 7 individuals, including 1 in 5 children, struggled with food insecurity in 2020, higher than the state average of 1 in 9 individuals, including 1 in 6 children, suffering from food insecurity.

To help mitigate the issue, HAPCAP owns and operates the Southeast Ohio Foodbank, which aims at providing meals to individuals in 10 counties who cannot access or afford them.

Over the summer, HAPCAP introduced a new project with the food bank called Summer Meals. The program provided an opportunity for children to obtain two reliable meals a day while school was not in session.

Public Relations Coordinator for HAPCAP Valerie Stillson commented on the importance of the project.

“This is a program specifically designed to help children access meals when they’re out of school, when they don’t have that reliable access to breakfast and lunch every day, which might be the only food that some children have access to,” Stillson said.

DeLamatre commented on why Southeastern Ohio faces specific issues with poverty.

“One of the things that makes it unique in Southeastern Ohio is the very rural nature of our communities and the lack of public transportation and other support services,” DeLamatre said. “There aren’t jobs in these little communities that can support a family.”

HAPCAP also runs projects like Bringing Healthy Home, which helps support pregnant women by providing resources, education and health assistance. The non-profit also offers Head Start, a program to provide children from ages 3-5 who come from lowincome families with free preschool.

Director of Community Services at HAPCAP

Jessica Stroh said over 100 children in Athens were considered homeless in 2024. Stroh cited the data from the local school districts.

“Those kids don’t have choices … and so we’re trying to design programs that help to serve the whole family, the children and the parents,” Stroh said. “Because it takes working with the whole family to really make a difference for everybody.”

According to DeLamatre, local governments in Southeast Ohio do not have the funding or resources to provide money for these programs, often putting the burden on local organizations such as HAPCAP or the Athens County Foundation.

“Most of our funding is through the state, federal government or private foundation or grants,” DeLamatre said. “But part of it is because we are rural, and these local governments don’t have much money. They’re not throwing money at a food program or Head Start.”

Stillson commented on what can be done moving forward to best support individuals living in poverty.

“Although we cannot make up the difference through private support, any amount that folks are able to give to help for these programs does make a very significant difference … but also just becoming an advocate for anti-poverty programs is really important,” Stillson said

FINN SMITH | FOR THE POST

An aerial view of Athens along the Hocking River, Sept. 10, 2024. (BECKETT STARK | FOR THE POST )

Ohio University Press represents authors around the world

FIONA PETTICREW FOR THE POST

The Ohio University Press is the oldest scholarly publishing press in Ohio.

The Press publishes 25 to 30 books a year, specializing in scholarly nonfiction and African studies. The Press was incorporated in 1947 and was later organized by President Vernon Alden in 1964. The Press has a global distribution system, with printers in Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom and South Africa.

“We ourselves only publish in English, but we sell rights into other languages,” Beth Pratt, director and production manager at the Press, said. “They are purchasing the rights to put that into their market, in their language.”

In addition to African studies and diverse languages, the Press publishes an array of books about Appalachian studies, Southeast Asia and the Midwest. The Press has many scholarly monographs and publishes creative nonfiction, fiction and poetry.

There are several avenues through which the Press supports authors. The Hollis Summers Poetry Prize is an annual poetry contest hosted by the Press since 1997. It is named after OU professor Hollis Summers, an awardwinning author of novels and poems. The winner receives a $1,000 cash prize and the poem is published by the Press the following year.

Serving neighborhoods around the world is just one of The Press’ goals. The First Book Fund aims to support scholarly authors from Africa and Appalachia.

“For people publishing their first book,

they need funding for developmental editing or travel, research and color,” Pratt said. “We can put (the fund) towards production cost.”

For Bobcats curious about publishing, the Press’s internship program has five opportunities available for students in acquisitions, editorial, production, publicity and sales. Pratt said the Press has five interns on board who receive hands-on experience and essential publishing skills.

“The students, when they leave here, have basic experiential knowledge and we have good success in placing them within the publishing world,” Pratt said.

AC Gunzelmann, a junior studying English, is a former Press intern.

Gunzelmann said he interned for one year and worked on copy-editing, translating edits and data cataloging. He said the experience was positive and his coworkers were accommodating and informative.

“I didn’t know a lot about the publishing industry and that was something that I was interested in learning more about as I want to be a published author at some point,” Gunzelmann said. “It was useful to see all of the different steps in the process.”

Bobcats are not the only ones in Athens to benefit from the Press. The publishing company celebrates work from local artists and authors.

In November, the Press released “If You’re Angry and You Know It, Go Outside,” written by Mara Giglio and illustrated by Keith Wilde, who creates murals in Athens. The picture book’s goal is for caregivers to encourage children to recognize and manage their

emotions in a healthy way.

One of the Press’ most popular publications is the novel “Trampoline” written and illustrated by Robert Gipe. “Trampoline” is part of a trilogy followed by “Pop” and “Weedeater.” The stories take place in Eastern Kentucky and follow the struggles and joys of living in Appalachia from the perspective of three connected characters. 2025 marked the trilogy’s 10 year anniversary and Pratt said the books are “fabulous fiction,” calling Gipe a wonderful advocate for his region.

Author Suzi Parron wrote two books about barn quilting, both of which were published by the Press.

Parron said she found out about the publishing company after speaking to Donna Sue Groves, co-author of

“Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement.” Parron said the Press was very welcoming and encouraging, especially for a first-time writer.

“I mean, they made me feel like my book was important and my project was important to them,” Parron said. “The graphics that they did were just absolutely incredible.”

Pratt said the Press is grateful to enhance the reputation of OU, support local and worldwide artists and authors and provide the tools needed to publish.

“We are happy that our content and the books that we put out, thousands and thousands of books, all have Ohio on the spine,” Pratt said. “We’re representing Ohio University and we’re very happy to do that.”

New program funds $10 million for childcare costs

FINN SMITH NEWS STAFF WRITER

The Child Care Cred Program aims to provide support for working-class families across the state. The initiative offers working-class families living in poverty the option to split childcare costs between the employee, employer and the state.

The program was spearheaded by Rep. Mark Johnson and had $10 million approved in the state budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The program application is open to any family in Ohio whose combined household income falls between 200% and 400% of the federal poverty level, depending on the number of individuals residing in the household. The project follows a continued rise in childcare costs across the state in recent years. Director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth Kara Wente discussed why childcare costs are rising. “As we’ve seen inflation increase over the last several years, we have seen the need to increase wages, and our early care and education professionals still are on the low end of the wage continuum,” Wente said. “But certainly there’s just an increased cost kind of across the board, whether it’s for payroll or taxes or supplies.”

According to Policy Matters Ohio, the average annual childcare cost in Ohio for one infant is $10,417. The development, coupled with a decrease in the number

of childcare workers, is a contributor to the difficulty in accessing childcare for Ohioans.

Johnson commented on the impact the rising cost has had on working families.

“It’s got to the point where moms are staying home,” Johnson said. “Especially if you have more than one job, one child, you’re looking at eight to 9,000 a year. And even if it’s just part-time, it’s still a large expense unless you make a good wage.”

The program allows any Ohiobased employer to choose an eligible employee. Wente commented on the process employers will engage in.

“They would identify the employees they have that are eligible, so they have to be under the 400% of the federal poverty level,” Wente said. “What we have heard in other states is that they may pick a category. So it could be that they have a really high turnover call center, and they are lower wage, so they may elect to offer this benefit to their entire call center.”

Johnson said the idea of establishing the project came from the former CEO of Goodwill in Chillicothe, Marvin Jones. Jones mentioned the tri-share program Michigan implemented in 2021 that distributes the cost of childcare equally between the employer, employee and the state.

Johnson liked the idea but saw many aspects of Michigan’s program that

he would want to work differently. He mentioned wanting something simpler than the many facilitator hubs Michigan uses as the medium between the employer and the government. Johnson also wished to expand the coverage, allowing more people to access the program.

After drafting the bill, Johnson met with Sen. Michele Reynolds and decided to model the program after the already existing TechCred program in Ohio. The program reimburses employers in Ohio for the costs associated with training current and future employees in technological credentials.

“(Reynolds) said what Michigan is doing is far too cumbersome, and let’s keep it as simple as possible,” Johnson said. “We’ve already got a program that’s working here for employers as far as their training grants, let’s just model after TechCred and call it ChildCred, and that’s exactly what we have done.”

According to a memo regarding the program from the Department of Children and Youth, employers and employees must both be located in Ohio. The childcare center must also be licensed under the Ohio Revised Code or be certified by a county department of job and family services via the Ohio Revised Code.

According to a 2023 Ohio population projections report, the population across the state is expected to drop 5.7% by 2050 if there are no changes to the

current rates of fertility, mortality and migration.

Johnson said he is worried about the population decline, and as a firm believer in family values, he wants to reward Ohioans for having families instead of punishing them.

Childcare deserts, counties that have little to no access to childcare facilities, are another pressing issue for Ohioans, according to Johnson. 40% of Ohioans live in a childcare desert, according to Policy Matters Ohio.

According to Johnson, the issue is prominent in the Southeast Ohio region and makes it hard for families in Appalachia to access places to watch their children. He cited that as another issue the state government needs to address.

“In my opinion, the state needs to do more than what we’re doing right now to try to help establish childcare centers,” Johnson said. “And maybe look at grants for people who want to get into the childcare business.”

The program began accepting applications Sept. 1 and will continue until May 1, 2026.

“I hope this program is so popular we run out of money within the first three months, and then we could go back to the controlling board, if the controlling board sees fit to put more money into the next budget,” Johnson said.

The inside of the Ohio University Press office, where their printed book are displayed, Oct. 6, 2025, in Alden Library.

(MEGAN VANVLACK | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

Rural Action blossoms native plant gardening in Athens

Rural Action strives to uplift areas of Appalachian Ohio through exciting events and volunteer opportunities including a native plant sale. Plant enthusiasts were invited to explore the special greenery vendors had to offer Saturday.

MARY KATE MCNAMEE FOR THE POST

Rural Action’s work spans multiple counties in Ohio, working to strengthen the environment of the Appalachian region.

Founded in 1991, the non-profit organization currently has 600 members. Rural Action hosts a plethora of events throughout the year to achieve goals relating to sustainable agriculture, forestry and energy, watersheds, zero waste, environmental education and more.

Rural Action is deeply involved in the Athens area overseeing UpCycle Ohio Thrift Store, an AmeriCorps division and a native plant nursery program. These collaborations allow the organization to host activities including a native plant sale in the spring and fall seasons.

Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at UpCycle Thrift on 751 W. Union St., vendors, Athens residents and customers from neighboring counties gathered in search of rare plants.

Tom Redfern, Rural Action’s senior director of sustainable agriculture and forestry, said the non-profit strives to protect and invigorate Appalachian Ohio.

“We use a strategy called assetbased community development to work with the people and the things that we do have, to make the area better and work for a better future for Appalachian Ohio,” Redfern said. Each plant sale provides an avenue for native plant enthusiasts and people passionate about gardening.

“We’ve been doing it in the spring and in the fall … in spring of 2024 (and) in the spring of this year,” Redfern said. “This was our fall one because

it’s a good time for people to plant and bring together vendors who have native plants to sell.”

Some of Ohio’s distinctive native plants, listed by Ohio Native Plant Month, include Blue False Indigo, Palm Sedge and White Fringetree. Among the gardeners was Lindsay Klaunig, a farmer hoping to share some of her native plants with customers.

Klaunig said the native plant sale offers a special opportunity to farmers, as it gives them an outlet to sell crops they wouldn’t be able to at a traditional market.

“It’s (native plants) are not something you really sell at a farmers market, our farm is sort of out of the way, nobody’s coming all the way out to the farm to buy it,” Klaunig said. “We show up with plants, it’s perfect.”

Vendors were not the only people eager for the sale. With a mixture of wildflowers, trees and shrubs, customers had a variety of plants to choose from, each with its own flare.

Lindsay Robertson, an AmeriCorps member with Rural Action’s forestry team, said plant exploration is not only part of her work, but a passion.

“I’m super excited to look around and see all the native plants and talk to people,” Robertson said. “I’m kind of hoping to buy stuff and plant.”

The native plant sale is just one of the multiple acts of service and neighborhood events Rural Action hosts for Athens residents.

“I think it’s important folks know that Rural Action is doing a lot of behind the scenes work to make things like this possible,” Klaunig said. “I don’t think people realize how much Rural

Action is doing to keep our farm and food community going.”

Robertson said working for Rural Action has been nothing short of rewarding and each member aspires to be a helpful resource.

“I really love being part of plantings, like tree plantings and things like that, and knowing that the work we’re doing now will have impacts for hundreds of years potentially,” Robertson said.

As the U.S. Department of Agriculture operates in a limited capacity due to

Map Courtsey of ruralaction.org

federal funding risks, Olsson Frank Weeda Law states, organizations like Rural Action may be needed now more than ever.

“With what’s going on with federal funding right now and funding in general we are at risk of losing a lot of these programs … and so it’s time for the community to step up and actually support Rural Action instead of just grants,” Klaunig said.

People interested in donating or volunteering with Rural Action can visit its website.

Kircher steps into an acid mine drainage filled creek while working with Rural Action to help perform maintenance on several job sites, Oct. 23, 2024.

(ALAINA DACKERMANN | DIRECTOR OF DESIGN)

Ian Klein energizes millions of students, educators

Ohio University science professor Ian Klein started posting anatomy videos to YouTube in 2018 and later to TikTok and Instagram. Klein has since reached millions of students and teachers worldwide.

GINA NAPOLI | HUMAN INTEREST EDITOR

An Ohio University professor took his passion for anatomy online, reaching millions of science enthusiasts across the globe.

Ian Klein, associate professor of instruction, has 125,500 followers on TikTok, 90,500 followers on Instagram and nearly 5,000 subscribers on YouTube. The OU alumnus said he filmed his first video in 2018 after a student asked to film a class presentation.

“I was a year or two into teaching the nursing, anatomy and physiology labs, and in nursing there are 400 plus students,” Klein said. “I was teaching 10 of the lab sections and I would give the same presentation 30 times on one model … I realized, what if I made that available on YouTube for students to watch … and they loved it.”

From the moment he hit upload, Klein said he knew creating videos was going to be an exhilarating hobby, but also beneficial for students who may not understand class material or have access to anatomy models.

“They would watch videos before class and I felt like they were more prepared,” he said. “I’ve essentially cloned myself hundreds of times to teach what I want to teach, but through video form.”

Although online learning can pose negatives, including a lack of emotional connection to the subject matter, the National Library of Medicine states online anatomy classes or videos can “make the subject matter more engaging” and accessible to students. In-person and online lectures can work hand in hand by allowing busier students to utilize “materials from any location” if they cannot attend class in person.

In one of Klein’s most popular YouTube videos, “Sarcomere Model,” he details each component of the sarcomere, the smallest functional unit of a muscle, and discusses definitions.

“What a great model of sarcomere,”

one viewer commented. “Finally I know all these bands and zones of sarcomere. Thanks a lot!”

Klein said his videos reached a larger audience in 2021. His jump to different platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, not only increased viewership but a demand for more videos.

In light of the fame, Klein trained social media teaching assistants for video production.

“This is largely a student effort today,” Klein said. “It started with me, but if you look at the channels, it’s about three-fourths of students making and posting videos.”

Olivia Bartley, a senior studying biological sciences, said she never expected to become a teaching assistant, but Klein inspired her. She worked alongside the professor her sophomore year.

“Before taking anatomy, I knew it was going to be a difficult course and I honestly wasn’t looking forward to taking it,” Bartley said. “I think his excitement for the things he was teaching us made everyone else excited or look forward to coming to anatomy class. I love anatomy now because of him and how he taught us.”

As a social media TA, Bartley said her tasks included creating videos, responding to thousands of comments and educating viewers.

“We would take the models or even draw on a whiteboard to talk through what we were going through that day,” Bartley said. “We would post those videos and hopefully reach some people who were needing it.”

As the videos began to reach millions, Klein said they generated $2,000 in revenue. With the revenue, Klein’s social media TAs no longer just record videos, but form connections with Athens’ teachers and students.

“When we got to the level of making revenue, we decided it would be really cool to buy anatomy models and

donate them to high schools,” Klein said. “I was blown away that high schools often don’t have one or two models at all.”

Klein said he and students traveled to Federal Hocking High School, Meigs High School and Warren High School to donate 3D heart models, hand models and other body parts.

Josie Vallette, a junior studying exercise physiology, was a social media TA last fall and donated to Federal Hocking in the spring.

“All they had in their anatomy room was posters,” Vallette said. “The teacher was really surprised and shocked that we had all of these anatomy models for him.”

The cost of an anatomy model, Klein said, can range depending on its size, shape and quality. Anatomy Warehouse sells models and additional classroom materials up to several thousand dollars. Some models on Amazon start at $23.99.

“Being in Southeast Ohio and some of the poorer counties in Ohio has really opened my eyes,” Klein said.

Federal Hocking’s local school district houses nearly 8,400 individuals, with 8.4 percent falling below the poverty line, Census Reporter stated in 2023.

“There is no way they can obtain anatomy models through their school budget,” Klein said. “It is really difficult for them to get basic supplies and really cool, expensive anatomy models are not really on their lists … so to be able to do that is such a blessing to us and they’re certainly appreciative of it.”

Students struggling in anatomy or looking to review materials outside the classroom do not have to search far for a helpful video. From quizzes to model descriptions and fun facts, Klein and his students hit the record button and support education.

“I thought it was really cool that Klein was able to bring in a new style of teaching,” Bartley said. “So many people already use TikTok and Instagram and all of those different media … it’s not just a teacher, but it is our peers going on and teaching us content as well.”

Check out Ian Klein’s social media’s here: Instagram TikTok

Professor Ian Klein (right). Courtesy of Ohio University Biological Sciences & Mackenzie Tyson

Struggles continue as Bobcats Volleyball loses again

BRANDON GROSS SPORTS STAFF WRITER

Ohio (2-14, 0-4 Mid-American Conference) dropped a very close game against Buffalo (4-9, 1-3 MAC). The game went to the fifth set, and Ohio was unable to leave with a win, extending its losing streak to 11 games. Ohio did have the lead at one point, winning two out of the first three sets, but couldn’t hold on, as Buffalo mounted a comeback.

After how close the game against Akron was, Ohio played in a very motivated state for the first set, trading points with Buffalo. The Bobcats had numerous kills, and Torre Kildow was once again having a phenomenal set. The set reached a stalemate with a score of 17-17, and where Ohio usually struggles, it flourished.

In previous games, Ohio struggled to break away from teams and take a big lead, but the Bobcats ended up having a scoring run of three points and another of four points. The Bobcats put away Buffalo for the first set with a final score of 25-19, a far cry from the very close sets of previous matches.

“Our outsides did a good job of managing situations,” Ohio head coach Kenzie Brinkman said. “I think they specifically didn’t have as many hitting errors as they usually have.”

With the second set starting and the Bobcats looking like a dominant force on both ends, Buffalo came out and shocked them. Buffalo quickly tied the game up after kills from Ohio’s Gentry Brown and Emily Waddell, along with an attack error.

This time, Buffalo pulled away from Ohio, boasting a 17-12 lead after scoring four unanswered points. Three of the points in that run were off of Ohio attack errors, two being from Ohio’s freshman Bailey Blair. Despite an attempt to come back, the Bobcats only traded points with Buffalo, which wasn’t enough to win the set. Buffalo won with a score of 25-21. The outsides were once again good for Ohio despite the loss.

“Maddie did a good job trying to manage jumps a little bit for Torre,” Brinkman said. “Long term, we need Torre to be aggressive outside.”

In Ohio’s third set, the team was able to win. Ohio held the lead for the entire set, maintaining control and not letting Buffalo get a chance at the win.

There were some close calls at the end, as Buffalo’s Emerson Matthews continued to rack up her kill count finishing the game with a total of 25, leading both teams in that category. The Bobcats held on, though, and they emerged from the third set with a 2-1 set lead, winning the set by a close score of 25-23.

“They just better go out there and win,” Brinkman said in reference to the third set game plan.

Ohio did not win another set. Buffalo came out with a vengeance after dropping the close third set. It reversed the tables, as Ohio could not gain a lead in this set, only tying the game up early on.

Matthews had nine kills alone in this set, and Ohio struggled to get any sort of

defense going. At one point, Buffalo was up by eight points with the score being 20-12. Ohio never overcame that eight-point deficit and ended up losing the set with a score of 25-17, tying the teams up. Part of the reason Ohio seemed to struggle was because of the little tips Buffalo did over the net instead of spikes.

“We just needed to get our eyes on the right stuff,” Brinkman said. “I don’t think it was anything that they were doing technically, it’s just on our side.”

With the fifth and final set starting, the team to score 15 points first would win. Buffalo opened the set by scoring first on a service ace, but Ohio answered back, soon making the score 6-3. Buffalo stormed back and took the lead, making it 11-9 with

only four more points to go for the win. Ohio wasn’t able to hold on despite a big call overturned in its favor. It continued to trade points with Buffalo, allowing it to maintain the 2 point lead. Buffalo won the set by a score of 15-13 and won the game with a set score of 3-2.

With Ohio losing both of its home games this weekend, it travels to Kent this Tuesday to face off against Kent State. Ohio is looking for a win, which it needs badly at this point in the season.

“You’ve got to do your job, and if you’re not doing it every time, then you’re taking away,” Brinkman said. “Not only are we hurting ourselves when we don’t do our jobs, but we are also giving life into other teams.”

Field Hockey defeats Queens N.C. in overtime

Ohio (3-9, Mid-American Conference 2-3) defeated Queens N.C. (2-8, Independent 0-1) 2-1 while celebrating the team’s seniors at Pruitt Field.

Ohio’s strong defense limited Queens to only four shots. This is the second game in a row Ohio has vastly outshot its opponent, with a total of 22. Queens’ goalie stepped up, making 13 saves and facing 16 corners, but the lack of offense lost the game.

Four of the Bobcats’ seniors started the game: Sasha Dikotla, Emily Risser, Anouk Plaehn and Aaliyah Edwards. Senior Mary Huffman has been sidelined all season by injury.

“They’re detail-oriented,” head coach Ali Johnstone said. “Their work off the field,

they take the details seriously. It was them who knew we needed to bring this onto the field. I kind of joke with them that I don’t ever want them to graduate.”

The Royals are a small team, only 12 players and a goalie. The Bobcats used this to their advantage and were able to outlast the Royals in overtime.

“In field hockey, you need to be able to repeat sprint abilities,” Johnstone said. “And we do that every week.”

Bobcat junior Emily Beitzel started with a quick first shot less than a minute in. The Royals’ goalie, Madison Destefano, ran out to stop the shot. Her aggressive playing style continued throughout the game. After scoring attempts by both teams, the Royals struck first. Hensley Miller scored her

second goal of the season.

Ohio made an offensive push in the final two minutes of the first quarter. A penalty corner gave the team a chance. Anouk Plaehn’s first shot was blocked, but she secured the rebound and scored. An evenly matched quarter ended with a tied score.

The second quarter started like the first, back and forth with no clear winner of possession. Junior Natalie LaFleur fought her way down the field and earned a corner. The Bobcats had three more corners and kept control of the ball for most of the rest of the period.

Ohio intensified its offense in the second half. It took seven shots and six corner penalties, but was unable to score.

The Royals blocked Plaehn’s shot on the first corner of the period. The Bobcats earned another immediately. They shot and scored this time, but the goal was negated since it was a dangerous shot. The Royals’ Destefano made an impressive diving save on Karley DuCoin’s shot two minutes later.

A reliable defense led by Deborah James, Rowan Casey and Risser prevented Queens from generating any offense. Ohio dominated possession. Once again, Ohio earned a last-minute corner. Destefano collected another save on freshman Adi Geer’s shot.

Throughout the game, freshman Tiana Nhamoinesu stood out with her consistent hustle. In the fourth quarter, she sprinted down the field after long passes. Time and again, she protected Ohio’s possession of the ball with her speed.

“Our entire forward line is so quick,”

LaFleur said. “When we have those breakaway opportunities, I always know I’m not alone up there. We love our fast forwards.”

Plaehn shot four times on four corners. The Royals’ defense held firm as they rushed out of the goal each time. Both teams had a final corner as the clock approached the end of regulation. A wide-open net after a neat passing play by the Royals spelled the end for the Bobcats. Miller, the goal scorer in the first period, missed wide. The Bobcats took the lucky break and prepared for overtime. In the seven-on-seven overtime, Dikotla shot wide during Ohio’s first push towards the goal. Queens’ Miller received a green card, leaving the team shorthanded. Ohio retained possession but only managed one shot.

A penalty corner for Ohio turned into a scoring chance for Queens when it controlled the rebound. Ohio goalie Gwen Hershberger made a key save. A quick pass gave LaFleur a breakaway opportunity that converted for a game-winning goal.

“Seven-on-seven is a really good opportunity for everyone to make space,” LaFleur said. “The forwards get high (by the goal) and the goalie is left with a decision. We are told to pull right and just shoot. So I just did the textbook play.”

Her game-winning goal marked the Bobcats’ third win and second at home.

The Bobcats’ remaining schedule is all conference play. Next, Ohio takes on Ball State (3-9, MAC 1-3) Oct. 10 at Pruitt Field. To secure the win, the team needs to continue its streak of outshooting its opponents.

JUNIOR OPPOSITE HITTER GENTRY BROWN PREPARES TO SERVE THE BALL IN THE CONVO ON AUGUST 29, 2025. (JACKSON MCCOY | EDTORIN-CHIEF)

Ohio back Deborah James (8) goes for the ball against Saint Louis University at Pruitt Field in Athens, Sept. 15, 2024. (ETHAN HERX | FOR THE POST)

ANNABELLE GRACE | FOR THE POST

Offense sputters in upset loss against Ball State

against the physical Cardinals defensive front.

The start of the game for Ohio on Saturday against Ball State looked inspiring after graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro turned a broken play into a 44yard scamper up the middle. Ohio looked poised to have another great day against Mid-American Conference competition, but little did it know it couldn’t overtake the defense it was up against.

The strong run by Navarro amounted to nothing due to a penalty that backed up and eventually led to a missed field goal. The Bobcats got the ball later in the first quarter and once again started strong with a 29 yard run from redshirt senior running back Sieh Bangura, but were once again stopped after a face mask and a fourthdown stand by the Cardinals.

“Honestly, I just think we beat ourselves,” Bangura said. “They were a good defense. But I just think Ohio beat ourselves, there were too many mistakes that we made, and it was just too many things that we couldn’t come back from.”

After a touchdown drive, Ohio came out looking for more points, but failed to score. Ohio then converted an intentional grounding call on Navarro before its offensive line was decimated on two straight plays by Ball State defensive end Nathan Voorhis, who got to Navarro and forced a punt.

Unfortunately for Ohio, that was where the offensive highlights stopped. The first half totalled 257 yards, which looked to set Ohio up well for the second half, up 14-0. Ohio did not replicate this success at all in the second half, only gaining 100 yards, 43 of which were on the last drive of the game.

The offensive struggles started on the offensive line. It allowed plenty of pressure to impact the play of Navarro, who had defenders in his face, deflecting passes, hurrying him into mental errors pre-snap, tackling him for short gains and even sacking him in key spots. The impact up front disrupted this Ohio offense, and it could never regroup throughout the second half.

The Bobcats looked to mend the issue by going back to their offensive bread and butter, the run game. The Cardinals were ready for them; however, holding the Bobcats to 31 total yards on the ground from their running backs and putting more pressure on Navarro to make plays with his legs. He could only muster 22 yards himself

Another big factor in the collapse was the number of penalties called on the Bobcats throughout the game. They had eight penalties for 90 yards, some of which ended offensive drives, and others extended drives for a tiring defense.

“There was not our best execution offensively… ” head coach Brian Smith said. “There were some bad penalties, I felt that were some undisciplined things that we need to get better at and eliminate and grow from, that are definitely things that we consider Ohio beating Ohio.”

Ball State cut the lead to 14-7 after an 11 play drive that exhausted the Ohio defense. This was the opportunity for Ohio to recapture the momentum with a long drive and some points to cushion its lead. The drive started well with runs from Navarro and sophomore running back Duncan Brune, but a sack on fourth down ended this possession and called the defense right back to the field.

After a field goal from the Cardinals and a Bobcats punt, the Cardinals went on an eight-play drive ending in a punt. The ensuing punt was not fielded by Ohio and downed at the one, putting the struggling offense behind the eight ball in the fourth quarter, holding a slim lead. The offensive line miscues, induced by some confusion by Navarro, resulted in a safety for Ball State.

“There were a lot where, especially up front with the O-Line, I felt like we weren’t fully aligned in our communication and how we’re targeting things,” Smith said of Ohio’s offensive execution. “So, whether it’s doing a little bit less to help them or limiting some of the looks that we’re running things at, we’ll kind of evaluate and address those.”

Ohio would go on to lose this contest as the struggling offense kept forcing tired legs out onto the field, and eventually Ball State broke through for a game-winning score to cap off this second-half offensive collapse by Ohio.

Penalties and poor execution on the offensive side of the ball were some of the main reasons Ohio fell to Ball State, a team that was the underdog coming into the game.

With the bye week coming next week, Ohio needs to fix the offensive problems that resulted in one of the worst losses in the MAC this year.

OWEN LIPSTREU

Quarterback Parker Navarro runs with the ball at the game against Ball State, Oct. 4, 2025, at Scheumann Stadium in Munice, Indiana.(MASON MARTINA | FOR THE POST)

“Thoughts and Prayers” aren’t bulletproof.

The Covenant School shooting (Nashville, Tennessee): On March 27, 2023, a former student killed three 9-year-old students and three staff members.