Athens-Henderson County Now

Keep Athens Beautiful Fall Clean Up and Texas Recycling

Mayor Jerry D Vaught read a proclamation Thursday recognizing America's Recycling Day. Pictured with the Mayor are members of the Keep Athens Beautiful Board. November 5 is Keep Athens Beautiful annual Fall Clean Up and Recycling Day. Pictured are Linda Kenneaster, Jonathan Day, Carol Morton, Corey Rodrigues Marisa Gunstanson and Mayor Jerry Don Vaught. (Courtesy photo) — Mayor Jerry D Vaught read a proclamation Thursday recognizing America’s Recycling Day.
Pictured with the Mayor are members of the Keep Athens Beautiful Board. November 5 is Keep Athens Beautiful annual Fall Clean Up and Recycling Day. Pictured are Linda Kenneaster, Jonathan Day, Carol Morton, Corey Rodrigues Marisa Gunstanson and Mayor Jerry Don Vaught. (Courtesy photo)

Press release

Keeping the environment clean has become a top priority in today’s culture, with people asking “can pizza boxes be recycled?” and several other questions about the products and items that end up in their homes often. According to local organization Keep Athens Beautiful, those in Athens will have a chance this Saturday to make a big difference in the local environment. It is not just people in Athens who should think about the effects of recycling in their city and the overall environment. Anyone and everyone should be playing their part in doing this too. There are so many ways in getting started such as trying to manage your waste materials through the use of plastic balers and other compactors. This will make it a lot easier to keep on top of your recycling duties. It is important to help each other out, especially when it comes to something as big as recycling.

On November 5, Keep Athens Beautiful, the City of Athens and Republic Services are partnering to present the annual KAB Fall Cleanup and Texas Recycling Day. That day is one of two days set aside each year to encourage residents to help keep the city clean.

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AHS choir students earn place in All-Region choir

Eight Athens High School choir members have earned a place in the All-Region mixed or honor choir. The students will perform with those choirs in a concert this Saturday, Nov. 5, at East Texas Baptist University. Ethan Condon, Bethany Oglesby and Jacob Moore (top photo, from left) made the mixed choir and will advance to the next round of competition later this month. Those who made the honor choir are (bottom photo, from left) Spencer Williamson, Katelyn Hanson, Clarence Earvin, Taegan Allen and Trevor Baumgartner. “I am so proud of these students and their accomplishments,” said Choral Director Bridget Scott. (Madeline Clay photos)

AMS students make All-Region Choir

Five Athens Middle School students were selected by audition for the All-Region Choir. They are (from left) seventh-graders Kaitlin Prewitt (first soprano), Zoria Brookins (second soprano), Chloe Sherman (alto), Audrey Pedroza (alto), and eighth-grader Tristan Woods (tenor). They auditioned by singing parts of three prepared choral pieces as well as sight reading a melody. They travel to Marshall on Saturday, Nov. 5, to participate in the All-Region Choir Clinic and prepare for a concert that afternoon at East Texas Baptist University. “I’m so very proud of all of my students who pushed themselves to make the extra effort to try out,” said Choir Director Sherrilyn Ewing. “Much of the preparation for the audition happens at home or on their own time. … Even if they didn’t all make it into the All-Region Choir, these students make me proud because they are responsible, hardworking, dedicated musicians and fine young boys and girls who keep striving to be the best they can be. (Toni Garrard Clay/AISD)

OPINION: Trusting officials with the Central Park/EOC negotiations

By Michael V. Hannigan/HCNow

The Athens City Council met in executive session Tuesday night to discuss a potential deal to sell Central Park and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC or old armory) to Trinity Valley Community College.

No details are publicly known at this time, which is normal. A real estate deal takes time and negotiations and state law allows governmental agencies to do that behind closed doors to help the process.

That’s all very typical.

What isn’t typical, however, is when the deal involves two governmental agencies and a piece of public land.

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CAE teachers dress as storybook characters

Central Athens Elementary first-grade teachers dressed up as storybook characters for Halloween. Pictured, from left, are Wendy Ottaberry (Red Riding Hood), Heather Davis (A Very Brave Witch), Rebecca Hall (The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything), and Erica Rodriguez (Pippa the Pumpkin Fairy). (Toni Garrard Clay/AISD)