Bond consolidation saves Athens taxpayers $414,000

wpid-wpid-city-of-athens-4-color-logo.jpg-150x139.jpegMonday night, the Athens City Council approved a plan to consolidated three old bonds into one new bond to save substantial tax dollars.

The new bond issue is through First State Bank and will save Athens taxpayers about $414,000 over the next nine years. Importantly, the the term of the debt was not extended.

“The City Council has been very deliberate about pressing forward to ensure we have a very sound financial plan,” said City Administrator Philip Rodriguez. “This is not in any way to be taken lightly when we are finding ways to save the citizens money. I have worked with a handful of councils and oftentimes these sorts of things get complex, but this council has been very deliberate about making sure we get these things in order. I want to commend this council on behalf of the staff and community.”

Willies Outstanding Student-Athlete at Cardinal Pride Luncheon

Cardinal WR Derrick Willies, left, was presented the Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Month award at Monday's Cardinal Pride Luncheon.
Cardinal WR Derrick Willies, left, was presented the Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Month award at Monday’s Cardinal Pride Luncheon. (Courtes photo)

Press release

On the field or in the classroom, Derrick Willies is a leader for the football team at Trinity Valley Community College.

The 6-4, 205-pound wide receiver for the SWJCFC-leading Cardinals was named the college’s Outstanding Student-Athlete of the month Monday afternoon at the Cardinal Pride Luncheon at Tilo’s Cuisine and Bakery.

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TxDOT Update – Week of Oct. 12

txdotTxDOT crews are rehabilitating FM 1615 about seven miles south of SH 19. Expect lane closures. Watch for flaggers in place to direct traffic through the work zone.

Ongoing projects include:

Work to place a new overlay on SH 31 (.09 miles west of FM 317 eastward to .34 miles west of FM 773) should be finished in late October. The contractor is currently milling the existing surface for replacement. Expect lane closures for the duration of the project. Continue reading “TxDOT Update – Week of Oct. 12”

Friday Night Football scores

https://instagram.com/p/8o-INSJ4Bm/

FINAL SCORES

ATHENS … Athens 33 – Van 28 … Athens improves to 4-2 on the year, 1-0 in district play.

BROWNSBORO … Brownsboro 29 – Chapel Hill 14 … Brownsboro improves to 3-3 on the year and 1-0 in district.

CROSS ROADS … Carlisle 50 – Cross Roads 6 … Cross Roads drops to 3-3, 0-1 in district.

EUSTACE … Elkhart 17 – Eustace 8 …. Eustace falls to 3-3 on the year and 0-1 in district.

MABANK … Wills Point 17 – Mabank 7 … Mabank falls to 2-3 on the year, 0-1 in district.

MALAKOFF … Malakoff 43 – Palestine Westwood 35 … Malakoff stays perfect at 6-0, 1-0 in district.

TRINIDAD … Fannindel 69 – Trinidad 31 … Trinidad falls to 2-5 on the season and 0-1 in district.

Athens man gets 15 years in massive fraud scheme

Screenshot (122)Press release

On Monday, Brandon Charles Holloway acknowledged his guilt in an elaborate fraud scheme and entered a plea of guilty in Judge Carter Tarrance’ s 392nd District Court. The 28-year-old, who had been residing in Athens, will serve 15 years in prison for committing the offenses of Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information and Prohibited Substance in a Correctional Facility. Holloway defrauded at least 11 victims and over 21 businesses in nine cities across North and East Texas.

Assistant District Attorneys Justin Weiner and J.V. Giron prosecuted the case on behalf of Scott McKee’s District Attorney’s Office.

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