Category: Athens

Humane Society Gives City 90-Day Notice

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CLARIFICATION – Updated 12 p.m. Sept. 10

I have been informed that the Henderson County Humane Society did not give 90-day notice of ending its contract with the City of Athens at Monday’s City Council meeting.

I checked with the Athens city administrator and found out that the letter presented to the City Council in open session by a Humane Society representative did not contain a 90-day notice, but rather a short letter saying the city’s amount of funding was unacceptable.

Because written notice is required to break the contract, then officially no notice was given.

Humane Society board member Dave Jensen did tell the council during the meeting that the Humane Society was giving 90-day notice in anticipation of the city not meeting its funding request. He said the Humane Society specifically picked that venue — the public hearing on the budget — in order to give the notice. 

I have spoken with multiple city officials, and they believed they were receiving 90-day notice that night and even discussed during the meeting the process for possibly amending the budget during the 90-day time frame.

Corrections reflecting this clarification were made in the story below.

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By Michael V. Hannigan

The Henderson County Humane Society is asking the City of Athens for more money.

The Humane Society is asking the city to take on 25 percent of the cost for running the shelter. They are also asking the county to provide 25 percent while they provide 50 percent.

According to a report in the Athens Review, last month Humane Society representatives told Commissioners’ Court “(t)he cost of feeding, housing, medicating, and caring for the animals, along with keeping the office running, was $247,000 in 2013.”

During Monday night’s regular meeting, the Humane Society gave the Athens City Council 90-day notice of the cancellation of its contract with the city in anticipation of the council saying no to their request. the Human Society warned the Athens City Council that it will give 90-day notice of the cancellation of its contract with the city if its funding request was not approved. Continue reading “Humane Society Gives City 90-Day Notice”

New Painting Classes at The Color of Ideas

20140215_160453TCOI press release

The Color of Ideas Community Arts Center (TCOI), located just off the Square at 207 E. Tyler Street, announces a new Beginners Acrylic Painting class. Led by local artist, Jerome Thompson, the new class will meet every week on Thursdays from noon to 3 p.m. (If there is enough interest Saturday classes will be added.) The cost for Jerome’s three-hour painting class is only $20/class. The cost of painting supplies (brushes, paints, paper, etc.), enough to last for months, is under $30. Enrollment is open, meaning you can join the class any time throughout the coming year.

If you are looking for something new and fun to do, as well as an opportunity to make new friends, don’t let this opportunity pass you by! No painting experience is needed at all. Bring a friend and give painting a chance!

To sign up (or ask questions), call 903-880-3005 or drop by TCOI Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon!

Bonnie Hambrick New City Secretary for City of Athens

hambrickThe Athens City Council last week confirmed the hiring of Bonnie R. Hambrick as City Secretary to replace Pam Watson.

Watson is retiring at the end of the month after nearly 20 years as the City Secretary.

According to Hambrick, before being hired by the city she worked as a career adviser at Dynamic Workforce and CenturyLink Telephone Company for 18 years in various positions. She was previously employed at the City of AThens from 1986-1992 as a Billing Clerk.

Hambrick received her Master’s Degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix in 2005. Continue reading “Bonnie Hambrick New City Secretary for City of Athens”

Three for One at HCPAC

threeFrom the Henderson County Performing Arts Newsletter

Because of some casting and licensing issues, the Henderson County Performing Arts Center is unable to present “Rabbit Hole,” the play originally slated for this time period. In its place, you will enjoy three new comedies by one of our favorite Texas playwrights, Carl L. Williams. You may remember “When Bullfrogs Sing Opera” and “A Thirties Affair,” both Williams plays which HCPAC produced a few years ago. The format is new, too. We are doing these plays as staged readings.

What does that mean?

Well, the actors will be fully invested in their characters, as always, but there will be no set, no costumes and they will not move around on the stage. Instead, they will read their parts from the script while seated on a stool.

This is not a new thing in the theatrical world, just new to HCPAC. New plays are often done in this format to see if a theatre would like to do a full production. Maybe after hearing these plays you might want us to do full productions in the future. This style of presentation also gives an opportunity to actors and directors who might not be able to invest the demanding eight-week commitment to a full-blown rehearsal and performance schedule. Continue reading “Three for One at HCPAC”