Two OU students arrested Bobcats prepare

for Hilltoppers
in drug investigation
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Net neutrality’s
future is in
jeopardy
Area legislators give their thoughts
BY HEATHER WILLARD again. ISPs have dedicated
MESSENGER STAFF JOURNALIST tens of millions of dollars
to politicians’ campaigns in
The Federal Communica- support of voting down net
tion Commission is set to vote neutrality.
next week on the principle of Meanwhile, tech companies
net neutrality — a concept such as Google and Amazon
that internet service providers are similarly lobbying for net
should treat all web traffic neutrality and current regula-
equally, especially in terms of tions to stay.
bandwidth, apps and content. “The Internet was designed
It’s a controversial subject to empower people,” Google
that has spurred protests wrote in a statement. “That’s
across the United States, how it works today and how
including in Athens. A few it’s always worked. It’s a
residents could be seen level playing field where
protesting Thursday morning new entrants and established
outside the Verizon store on players can reach users on an MESSENGER PHOTO BY JOHN HALLEY
East State Street, advocating equal footing. If Internet ac-

An out-of-this-world collection
A small glimpse of the Star Wars memorabilia currently on display at the Nelsonville Public Library.
against the return to “light- cess providers can block some
touch” regulations that the services and cut special deals
Obama administration put an that prioritize some compa-
end to in 2015. nies’ content over others, that
Supporters of net neutrality would threaten the innovation
are concerned that internet that makes the Internet awe- BY SAMANTHA TAYLOR
service providers (ISPs) will some.” MESSENGER STAFF JOURNALIST
begin charging customers for The Center for Respon-
higher bandwidth and apps sive Politics, which tracks NELSONVILLE —
in the absence of net neu- contributions to political While Star Wars fans anx-
trality, like has happened in campaigns, recently published iously await another movie
other countries. Called “paid a list with all members of premier in the saga, slotted
prioritization,” ISPs would Congress that had received to hit theaters Thursday, a
be allowed to charge fees for donations from three major new display at the Nelson-
companies to access certain pro-net neutrality companies: ville Public Library may
apps (for example, Netflix or AT&T, Verizon and Comcast. help satiate their anticipa-
Google) and slow access to Both Democrats and Republi- tion over the next four
companies who refuse to pay cans have received significant days.
the fees. The cost could shift support from the telecom- Multiple Star Wars toys
to consumers. munications industry over the and memorabilia pieces line
The counterpoint is that years. the shelves of two display
less regulation Most of cases at the library — one
could lead to The removal of Athens County at the front entrance and an-
more invest-
ments and more
these rules by is represented
by U.S. Rep.
other along the back wall.
Inside the cases are larger
competition the FCC does Steve Stivers pieces depicting the various
between ISPs.
FCC Chair-
not eliminate the (R-Upper Ar-
lington), while
spacecraft from the movies
as well as action figures of
man Ajit Pai principles of net the eastern its characters.
has come out
against net neu-
neutrality from townships of
Carthage and
The display accounts
for one-quarter of Zach
trality, and has our internet, and I Troy repre- Fuller’s entire Star Wars SUBMITTED PHOTO
laid out a plan
to end protec-
remain supportive sented by Rep.
Bill Johnson
memorabilia collection. Zach Fuller poses with his Star Wars memorabilia collection while on display at COSI on May 4,
Fuller, who grew up and
tions put into of efforts in (R-Marietta). currently lives in Athens,
also known as Star Wars Day.
place in 2015 Congress to Over the has loved Star Wars since throughout grade school, Wars,” he said. “Something found much of his collec-
by the Obama course of his
administration. legislate how our
he was a child. Star Wars was “all I talked about it drew me in and I tion by hunting for pieces
career, Stivers’ “It was a huge obsession about.” guess it grabbed on pretty over the years, ordering
Pai reportedly regulators enforce campaigns (and for me as a kid for as long That obsession continued hard.” through catalogues and
has the support an affiliated
of a few broad- ISP behavior.
as I could remember,” he with Fuller, who is now 36, Fuller said his collect-
political action said. From journal entries into his teenage years. ing of memorabilia began SEE COLLECTION
band compa- Rep. Steve Stivers committee) as a kindergartner and “It was all about Star around seventh grade. He ON PAGE A6
nies that could have received a
stand to benefit total of $96,251
financially, including Verizon, from those three companies.

Two local physicians remain on

where Pai used to work, and For Johnson, the total is
also Comcast and AT&T. $77,166.
In a statement from During a recent legislative

‘inactive-suspended’ status
Verizon handed out to local break, Stivers visited nearby
protestors on Thursday, the Vinton County to attend a
company stated its support ribbon cutting for a long-
of the light-touch regulations awaited grocery store there.
that used to be in place. Speaking to The Messenger’s
“For decades before 2015, sister newspaper, The Vinton BY LARRY DI GIOVANNI nol 3, a controlled substance, tation program no less than the Albany area who was
the Internet developed in a County Courier, Stivers said MESSENGER STAFF JOURNALIST at a drug store in The Plains three times per week. practicing earlier this year
lightly regulated environment he is very opposed to any ISP on Oct. 28, 2016. In order to be considered at the Holzer Clinic, which
that addressed any problems wanting to “throttle” service Two local osteopathic doc- Lawrence was also con- for reinstatement, the consent is part of the Alexander
that arose but avoided un- for consumers. This refers to tors have been on “suspend- victed in December 2016 in agreement also states that Recreational Center (for-
necessary regulation,” the an ISP’s ability to speed up or ed-inactive” status with the Athens County Municipal two written reports must be merly Wellness Center). The
statement read. “We think slow down internet service. state Medical Board since Court for operating a motor submitted by medical profes- state Medical Board placed
that’s still the best way for- Stivers has given much early August for improper vehicle under the influence sionals stating that she is fit him on a minimum 150-day
ward. Our customers can use attention to improving conduct acknowledged in of alcohol or drugs (OVI). to resume medical practice. suspension through a con-
the legal content, applications broadband internet access their consent agreements, Nearly all of her 180-day jail Lawrence’s criminal case sent agreement he signed on
and services of their choice, throughout southeast Ohio. with one of the two now em- sentence was suspended. has been continued in Athens Aug. 9, 2017.
regardless of source, over He met with local leaders at ployed as a family practice She signed a consent County Common Pleas court Myles was disciplined for
any of our Internet access a roundtable meeting earlier physician in Bluefield, West agreement with the state numerous times since Febru- reportedly failing to termi-
services.” in 2017 to discuss the subject, Virginia. Medical Board on Aug. 8, ary. A pre-trial is currently nate a consensual sexual
This subject became a stressing there needs to be One of the two physicians, which suspended her medical scheduled for Dec. 12. A relationship with a female co-
partisan issue in 2015 when more resources invested Athens pediatrician Susan license under her admission message was left Thursday worker to whom he provided
President Obama promoted toward broadband infrastruc- Donna Lawrence, was indict- of chemical dependency. The seeking comment from medical care, according to
internet regulations meant to ture in the region. Stivers has ed in February by an Athens consent agreement requires her criminal case attorney, state Medical Board records.
keep net neutrality in place. said part of his congressional County grand jury for illegal her to submit to random Sky Pettey, which was not This violating the Board’s
President Donald Trump has district suffers from a “digital processing of drug docu- urine tests for alcohol and returned as of press time. rules “prohibiting sexual
recommended Chairman Pai divide.” ments, a fifth-degree felony. drugs at least four times per The other physician on misconduct with patients.”
remain in his position for an- She was charged with using month at a state-approved “suspended-inactive” status
other five years, and the par- SEE NEUTRALITY another doctor’s signature to facility, and to participate in in Ohio is Wayne Myles, SEE SUSPENDED
tisan lines are strengthened ON PAGE A6 purchase 40 tablets of Tyle- a drug-and-alcohol rehabili- a long-time doctor from ON PAGE A6

INDEX OBITUARIES WEATHER Vol. 113, No. 13

Business ................... A2
Classified...............C2-3
Comics ...................... B3
Community .............. B5
Editorial ............... A4-5 Sports .................... B1-2 Selma Mansfield, 92, Athens TODAY’S FORECAST
Lifestyles .................. B7 Wedding ................... B6 Joe Crites, 75, Coolville Cloudy
Obituaries ................ A6 TV Listings ............... B4 Nancy McDaniel, 88, Athens High 34
On the Home Front C1-5 Low 26 Sunday Messenger $1.75
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