Friday Wrap-up, June 19
Fireworks, COVID-19, a new Virtual Academy, and more.
TGIF friends, I hope you had a great week! Don’t forget that Sunday is Father’s Day.
There were a couple of stories this week I want to make sure you don’t miss.
Fireworks at the Fishery
The City of Athens is once again partnering with the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center for a Fourth of July celebration. Fireworks at the Fishery will be 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4. The fireworks will begin after dark.
While the show is free, there are some restrictions this year because of the coronavirus. Entrance to the Fisheries Center is by reservation only and will be restricted to the first 250 cars (four people max per car).
AISD Summer Training Shut Down
Athens ISD announced Thursday evening that a summer school employee and a student in the boy’s strength and conditioning program have tested positive for COVID-19.
The campus has again been deeply sanitized, and students in the impacted class will continue summer school via distance learning. The boys' summer training program has been canceled until further notice.
You can read the AISD announcement here.
New Sidewalks
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is planning to install sidewalks along both sides of East Tyler Street, from Carroll Street to the intersection of FM 2495. The best part is the $1.5 million project is only going to cost the City of Athens a little more than $100,000.
City staff originally applied for a grant to complete the project, but the application was moved to a program that is even better for Athens. Now, instead of City staff having to run the project, TxDOT will take care of everything making this more of a gift than a grant.
AISD’s Virtual Academy
Athens ISD will be offering tuition-free, online classes for grades 6 through 12.
In a Facebook post, Assistant Superintendent Jami Ivey said, “This is an exciting new way to reach those who, for a variety of reasons, may not prefer a traditional classroom setting. And it’s available to sixth- through twelfth-graders across the state, not only students who live within our public school district.”
Read that story in my Notebook here.
Interviews
County Judge Wade McKinney spoke about the county’s COVID-19 numbers and told us what number he watches. That story and interview is here.
Sheriff Botie Hillhouse discussed how many of the law enforcement changes currently being suggested around the country are already in place in Texas. Story and interview here.
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