Category: Athens

Athens Councilman Montgomery doesn’t share firm’s repair recommendations with council

Athens City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Monte Montgomery
Athens City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Monte Montgomery

By Michael V. Hannigan/HCN

An Athens city councilman who helped negotiate the recent settlement with Velvin & Weeks over failed construction on Wood Street received the firm’s repair recommendations in December 2014, but did not share the information with the rest of the council.

The recommendations are detailed in a letter dated Dec. 9, 2014, from Tyler Hendrickson of Velvin & Weeks to City Councilman Monte Montgomery. The letter came out of a meeting held in Montgomery’s business office that included Montgomery, Hendrickson and former Director of Utilities Glen Herriage.

In response to written questions submitted by Henderson County Now, City Secretary Bonnie Hambrick wrote, “A December 2014 repair plan was not ever shared with the council to the knowledge of any current staff or City Council members.”

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City of Athens, Velvin & Weeks reach settlement over Wood Street dispute

Athens LogoBy Michael V. Hannigan/HCN

The City of Athens finalized a settlement agreement last month with the engineering firm Velvin & Weeks regarding a dispute over construction on Wood Street.

The City contracted with Velvin & Weeks in 2012 to engineer and oversee the installation of a 2,600-linear-foot sewer line under Wood Street. The project cost taxpayers a little over $377,000.

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AHS band awarded 10th Sweepstakes

AHSbandSweepstakes

Athens ISD press release

The Athens High School “Pride of the Hornets” Band recently competed in the UIL concert and sight-reading event in Troup, earning the coveted Sweepstakes Award for a remarkable 10th year in a row.

“It is extremely difficult to earn Sweepstakes for just one year,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Janie Sims. “It’s an amazing accomplishment to do it 10 years in a row.”

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Central Athens Elementary School students learn about the chicken and the egg

Photo Apr 12, 8 31 19 AM

Students in the gifted and talented program at Athens ISD get a chance to see chicken eggs hatch out each year, thanks to a grant awarded in 2011 by the Athens Public Education Foundation to GT teacher Audrey Haley.

With the funds, Haley purchased an incubator for her classroom at Central Athens Elementary. The study of life cycles are a significant component of the curriculum for science in the lower grades. Students are able to watch the process from egg to chick.

Mrs. Haley candles the eggs (shines a bright light under it) throughout the incubation process to allow her students to see the outline of what is inside.

“The students absolutely love it,” she said. “I love it as much as they do because I get to see their reactions. My room is quite popular around chicken time. I leave my door open when I’m able so that classes are able to come in and ask questions and watch the chicks.”

(Courtesy photo by Audrey Haley)