Category: Athens

Get your tickets now for the Athens Chamber Gala set for Jan. 19

By Michael V. Hannigan/HCN

It’s party time in Athens.

The annual Athens Chamber of Commerce Gala will be held Friday, Jan. 19, at the Athens Country Club. The cocktail hour will begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. and the live auction at 8:30 p.m. The theme for this year is “Run for the Roses,” from the Kentucky Derby.

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Three Kings Day at FBC Athens aims to bridge the racial divide

By Michael V. Hannigan/HCN

What do you get when you combined three 8-foot cakes, crowns, toys, pinatas and a camel?

Three Kings Day at First Baptist Church in Athens, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 6. Event organizers hope it will help begin to bridge the gap between cultures in the City. It is a part of the church’s “Manana Today” outreach.

The celebration will mark “the culmination of the twelve days of Christmas and commemorates the three wise men who traveled from afar, bearing gifts for the infant baby Jesus.”

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Athens EDC calls for grant applications

Press release

Athens Economic Development Corporation has announced its call for Community Development Grant applications.

The Community Development Grant program is designed to provide grants for eligible projects which promote sports, cultural, entertainment and community projects that attract tourism and contribute to quality of life, business development and growth of Athens sales tax revenue. All projects must be located in the city of Athens, in addition to creating an economic impact on the city.

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County library board members honored

The Henderson County Library Advisory Board recently honored two outgoing servants of the library whose terms end Dec. 31, 2017. Pictured are board members Tilo Galvan, Vice Chairman David Holdredge, Sandi Rush, Kathie Schroeder, Fran Bethea, Secretary Mike Groom and Chairman Toni Garrard Clay. Mrs. Schroeder served two consecutive three-year terms, and Mrs. Bethea served for 20 years. For her two decades of service on the board, Mrs. Bethea was presented with a special plaque commemorating her dedication to the library and the citizens of Henderson County. (Courtesy photo)

Athens council divided on Cain Center question

By Michael V. Hannigan/HCNow

The Athens City Council split on how to move forward on the Cain Center project during a workshop meeting Wednesday night.

The divide among the council members adds importance to the seating of Aaron “Bubba” Smith next month. Smith was unanimously appointed by the council to fill the unexpired term of Joe Whatley, who recently resigned. This will be Smith’s second stint as an interim council member.

The two Cain Center options gaining support Wednesday night were:

  • A construction plan that would cost the City a little less than $5 million. That plan became possible with the announcement Wednesday that the Cain Foundation has committed $2.5 million for the pool area. This option would also allow the City to spend about $5 million from the Certificates of Obligation on water issues and was backed by Mayor Monte Montgomery and Councilwoman Toni Garrard Clay.
  • Allow Athens residents to vote on whether to move forward on the Cain Center project with a bond election. With this option, all the Certificates of Obligation money currently set aside for the project would go to water system repairs. This option was backed by Council members Ed McCain and Robert Gross.

The biggest issue is one that council members appear to agree on, which is the belief that the decision-making process on the Cain Center was flawed from the start.

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