Licensing
The Price of Plastic
Petrochemical Industry Looks to Expand in Appalachia Written and photos by Liz Parstch For years, Southeast Ohio has been a hub for fossil fuel jobs that the industry claims employ millions. With the rise of coal mining in the 19th century and the fracking boom of the 2000s, the industry presents its latest push: plastic production. Now, petrochemicals have their sights on a new destination in Appalachia: Belmont County, located in southeastern Ohio, to accompany an existing plant in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. In Belmont County, a global chemical company from Bangkok, PTT Global Chemical, has proposed plans to construct an […]
Deep-Cut Tavern serves up burgers, french fries and friendship

Friends, family and, of course, deep-fried hamburgers are what keep Deep-Cut Tavern regulars coming back for more. The signature dish is made from fresh, local hamburger meat that is crusted with a secret spice and breading blend. It is then deep fried and perfectly dressed in locally grown tomatoes and finished with lettuce, onion, cheese and a fluffy bun. People from all over Ohio flock to Guernsey County to catch a bite of this flavorful creation. The tiny yellow tavern is located on East Pike Road, which cuts between mountains on either side, earning its name “Deep-Cut Tavern.” In 1946, […]
A new DAWN for addiction recovery
In Your Neighborhood / Summer 2023 Issue Addiction Recovery in Southeast Ohio Ohio’s Project DAWN ensures that everyone has access to the opiate antagonist Naloxone, commonly known as NARCAN, and provides Ohioans with a new outlook on addiction, recovery and rehabilitation. Coordinated by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), Project DAWN is a program designed to educate individuals about opioid overdoses. The program also distributes Naloxone at no cost across the state and offers syringe service programs (SSPs). Michaela Sumner, public information officer at ODH, says that many Ohioans and their families have been impacted by the opioid epidemic and […]
Ohio Poet Laureate is rooted in poetic justice
Gunter-Seymour speaks of her career as a gift she attributes to her family, but her journey to embracing poetry wasn’t a straight shot.
ABC Players offers a new sensory-friendly shift to theater

“You had teenagers who were walking up and down the aisle making vocalizations. You had someone … groaning during all of the dialogue, and as soon as the music and dancing started, he was just excited and watching,” Korpi says.
Cleaning Up Coal
The Barn Artist
Having grown up drawing, Hagan took on painting during high school. At age 19, he decided he wanted more of a challenge.
“I just was starting to figure out that I liked painting things that were on the bigger scale,” Hagan says. “The biggest thing I could find to challenge myself was the side of [my] dad’s barn there.”
Now, he is known as “Barn Artist.”
Rhythm of the Knight
Written by Lauren Serge, Photos by Liz Parstch By day, Chris Nevil works as a financial planner, an adjunct professor and president of the Southeastern Ohio Rainbow Alliance (SEORA). On certain evenings and weekends, however, Nevil transforms into Kazma Knights, a glamorous and sassy drag queen hosting events across Southeast Ohio. When did you first start performing in drag? It was about five years ago. It all started out as a bit of a joke. There was a drag queen that was trying to start a show here, and she convinced me to do it. So, I made my little […]
Portsmouth restaurant Donut Distillery is sweet and savory fun
By Dori Gray, Photo by Jesse Jarrold-Grapes
Unlike most restaurants, mimosas are not reserved for brunchtime within the walls of Donut Distillery. Its “Boozie Menu” takes the tipsy tradition a step further with the Mimosa Pairing Flight, which couples the eatery’s titular features: donuts and alcohol.
Pike Heritage Foundation’s timeless pursuits
Zane Trace, Ohio’s Lost Highway
Tara Hupp’s Labor of Pure Love: The Story of a Bakery in Byesville

By Nathan Blackburn,
Photos by Abby Neff // Video by Nathan Blackburn
Ari’s Golden Rule: Marietta’s part-time restaurant owner, full-time advocate.
What Sierra’s Haven Overcomes to Save Animals
By Aaron Brandenburg, Photo by Carrie Legg
Tampico Mexican Restaurant’s Family Success
By Aaron Brandenburg, Photo by Carrie Legg
Black Cat Vintage: Cambridge’s Clothing Hotspot
By Gabby Hayes, Photo by Carrie Legg
I Mistakenly Tried to Explore the Ohio Art Corridor Before It Was on Display. I Ended with a Cheeseburger in McConnelsville.
By Scott Thomas, Photo by Andrew Allison
The Story Behind Whistler Ice Works and Its Frigid Creations
By Halle Dray, Photo by Carrie Legg
Foraging and Its Consistency As a Way of Life in Southeast Ohio
By Halle Dray, Photo provided by Talcon Quinn
Q&A: Inside Norm Emmets, the Man Who Resurrected the O Zone
By Claire Geary, Photo by Carrie Legg
Growing Care: How Local Initiatives are Combating Health Problems in Appalachia
By Jordan Schmitt, Photo by Carrie Legg
How 2 Hocking Hills Companies are Promoting Agritourism in Ohio
By Abby Miller, Photo by Carrie Legg
‘Hillbilly Elegy’ author J.D. Vance’s run for vacant Senate seat in Ohio
By Sarah Donaldson
Dungeons and Dragons Revitalized in Athens County
By Salem Parker, Photo by Carrie Legg
Sole Brewery in Jackson: Sixth Sense Brewing & Taproom
By Lexi Potopsky, Photo provided by Jamey and Jennifer Ratcliff