Athens-Henderson County Now

AMWA Lowers Tax Rate

Directors of the Athens Municipal Water Authority (AMWA) did the taxpayers’ favorite thing Wednesday morning … they lowered taxes.

The Board of Directors voted to set next year’s tax rate at .122173 per $100 valuation, which is one-quarter of a cent lower than the current tax rate.

Now, if one-quarter of a penny doesn’t sound like that big of a reduction consider this: General Manager Wylie Pirkle told the directors he hopes to lower the tax rate one-quarter penny each year for the next five years.

That would be a 10 percent total reduction over the five-year period.

“I think we need to make a real effort to lower our tax rate,” Pirkle told the board.

The move came during a board meeting Wednesday that emphasized that AMWA is an organization in transition. I will have more on that in a later post.

Athens ISD to Emphasize Dress Code

By Michael V. Hannigan

Hey parents of Athens ISD students, you better not send your children back to school wearing shirts with logos. I am told that’s going to be a point of emphasis when it comes to the dress code this year.

Not that logos were allowed in the dress code in the past. Officials verified that there have been no changes to the dress code. Administrators are just going to be a little more focused on enforcing those rules this year.

“The administrative team agreed it would be best to give parents a friendly reminder that the uniform code will be fully enforced — including, but not limited to — the prohibition against logos on clothing,” said AISD spokeswoman Toni Garrard Clay. “In short, when outfitting students for the coming school year, parents are urged to strictly adhere to the dress code to avoid any unnecessary purchases.”

So you might want to take another look in your students’ closet to make sure you are ready for Aug. 25.

You can find the Athens ISD dress code on the district’s website here.

Uncle Fletch Festival Coming Sept. 20

Uncle Fletch press release

The tradition is coming back to Athens.

After a long hiatus, the Uncle Fletch Hamburger Festival will return to the Courthouse Square in Athens on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The best, out of the top 50 event venues, has already been booked for the festival and crowds are already thronging to take tickets for the event.

Of course there will be the traditional Hamburger Cook-Off to crown the best burger chef around, but there will also be a burger eating contest, a dine ‘n dash, bobbing for burgers, and a mooing contest.

To enter the cook-off, go to UncleFletchFestival.com and download an application or call Michael Hannigan at 903-677-5333.

In addition, the stage will be set up for music with local sensation Kadie Lynn opening the festival and Will Burgin from Guitar’s Etc. closing the day with a songwriter’s competition. Continue reading “Uncle Fletch Festival Coming Sept. 20”

Athens ISD Prepares for Campus Realignment

By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist

Athens ISD board members’ approval of the proposed campus realignment comes one full year in advance of the decision’s effective date. The timing gives the public as well as district staff and administration opportunity to adjust and prepare for the change.

“Both of our primary campuses (Bel Air and South Athens elementaries) have reached capacity,” said Superintendent Blake Stiles during his presentation to the board (July 28). “We don’t have room to build at Bel Air or South, and if we did have room, the roads can’t handle more traffic.” Continue reading “Athens ISD Prepares for Campus Realignment”

Toni Garrard Clay Joins Athens ISD

By Michael V. Hannigan

I would personally like to congratulate Toni Garrard Clay on being hired to be the Public Information Officer for Athens ISD. I have worked with and known Toni a long time and she is an excellent journalist. As a former aid to State Rep. Clyde Alexander and a former editor of the Athens Daily Review, she knows how both the government and the news business works. She is the right person for the job.

I also congratulate the Athens ISD school board for hiring a Public Information Officer. I believe it is a vital role in today’s communications environment, and I hope other governmental entities in the county consider following suit.