Athens-Henderson County Now

Texana Play Opens at HCPAC

Henderson County Performing Arts Center press release

It’s 1962 in Bradleyville, Texas – population 6,000 – a small, dead West Texas town in the middle of a big, dead West Texas prairie between Abilene and San Angelo. The new highway has bypassed it and now the world is trying to as well.

The regular meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolia is about to begin and it’s going to be an auspicious one, at that. For the first time in a very long time, the Lodge has a new member to induct. The current members are excited but also a little leery of bringing a stranger into the inner sanctum of the club. And it’s been so long since any of them have participated in the ceremony, most of them have forgotten just exactly how it’s supposed to go.

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Athens High School’s CTE program accelerates career readiness

Samuel Nichols (left) and Zach Carson anchor video announcements for Athens High School as Edward Risner films. They are being filmed in front of a “green screen” so that graphics can be added digitally. (Julie Whitley/AISD)

Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist

Moving boldly into the future occasionally requires rethinking past assumptions. For years, educators were charged with directing every high school student toward a college career. And while that is still the appropriate course for a great many young people, it is not a one-size-fits-all prescription. Consequently, Athens High School’s CTE program is increasingly gaining attention.

“High school today looks very different than it did when we were teenagers,” said Athens High School Principal Jami Ivey. “That has a lot to do with our CTE program. It’s wonderful.”

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Thank you, Athens Kiwanis Club, for breakfast

A special thanks and pat on the back to our Athens Kiwanis Club. The pancake breakfast is something I look forward to every year. As I was looking around the Cain Center room Tuesday morning, a few things occurred to me that I thought were worth sharing.

1. The energy and fellowship of the Kiwanis members is contagious. I love seeing the smiling faces of everyone working the pancake cooking stations. Can you imagine if you owned a business where everyone working for you showed this type of enthusiasm? Wow. Then I realized several businesses in town already do – McDonalds, Whataburger and Brookshire’s come to mind (I’m including the Weinstein Team here).

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Backyard Farming Home and Garden Show Saturday, March 5

A local favorite is coming back with a new name and a new attitude.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 5, Keep Athens Beautiful will be hosting its annual Backyard Farming Home and Garden Show at the Henderson County Fair Park Complex in Athens.

Keep Athens Beautiful added the “Backyard Farming” bit this year to better describe the range of vendors, seminars, programs and activities planned for the event.

The show is a major fundraising project for Keep Athens Beautiful so that the organization can continue to provide programs and beautification projects for the community.

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Betty Christian retires after 42 years at AISD

Betty Christian (just left of center) marked her last day as an employee of Athens Independent School District on Monday. Christian is retiring after an astounding 42 years of service. She was hired in 1974 as a principal’s secretary, a position she primarily held at what was Athens Intermediate School, before moving to the administration building in 1996. She retires as a payroll clerk, a position she said she has loved. “We deeply appreciate Betty Christian for her years of outstanding service and wish her the very best,” said AISD Chief Financial Officer Randy Jones. Christian said she has no immediate post-retirement plans. “I’m going to miss the people,” she said. “Everybody here is like family to me.” Pictured are (from left) David Alexander, Peggy Oldham, Patsy Teasdale, Debbie Partridge, Christian, Kelly Allen, Robin Carpenter, Dede Sims and Jones. (Toni Garrard Clay/AISD)