Weekly
Homecoming Game on Friday, October 10, 2014
Undefeated teams Malakoff, stwood meet in district opener Joe Elerson TAFF WRITER
season favorite for t 11 3A f tb ll titl
Athens a 7:30 p. Line: Athen Live on 1410 A
Chapel H Brownsb 7:30 p. Line: Chapel H
tem. Coach Jamie Driskell said the players are handling homei lik l k f
Henderson County area football teams open district play
Week Sev
Section B
Price Carl Cross Ro
Friday, October 10, 2014
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Taxing issue
50 cents
Volunteer of the Year
Gun Barrel City officials respond to question on proposed property tax By Kathi Nailling STAFF WRITER
Gun Barrel City Mayor Jim Braswell and City Manager Gerry Boren sat down recently with the Athens Daily Review to answer questions about the upcoming proposed city tax vote. According to Gun Barrel City officials, there are few cities in Texas the size of Gun Barrel without property taxes. The voters will be going to the polls to vote on a property tax on Nov. 4. • Athens Daily Review - What made city officials ask the residents to vote on the city tax proposal this year? Gun Barrel City - After discussions with citizens, we realized there were things this city needs, like streets, police equipment and fire protection. Our crime rate is low now, but is has been very high in the past. There is no way we could afford to fix the roads with the current budget. Our police equipment is old. We need new police cars. The city has not purchased a new police car in two years. We received an attorney general's opinion that stated only the citizens of Gun Barrel City could vote in a property tax. • Athens Daily Review - How much is the current Gun Barrel City budget? Where does the city currently get its revenue? Gun Barrel City – The current budget is $3.3 million, with $2.5 million coming from sales-tax rebates. Other revenues are derived from right-away fees, permits and about $15,000 from the county for police protection for our Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). The ETJ is the legal ability of a government to exercise authority beyond its normal boundaries. • Athens Daily Review – How much is the proposed property tax? And how is it calculated? Gun Barrel City - The proposed tax rate would be .2599 percent. A house valued at $100,000 would pay $259.90 a year before exemptions.
See ISSUE, Page 14A
RICH FLOWERS/ATHENS REVIEW
Martha Mitchell beams with pride has her husband Jimmy Mitchell steps to the podium during the Meals on Wheel banquet Thursday in Tyler.
Mitchells honored By Rich Flowers NEWS EDITOR
An Athens couple was honored as Volunteers of the Year at the Wheels at the Meals on Wheels 41st Anniversary Banquet in Tyler on Thursday.
Hive party coming? By Rich Flowers NEWS EDITOR
The Athens City Council is expected to consider a request at its meeting on Monday to allow Dull Averiette Street to be blocked on Friday, Oct. 24 for a “Hornet Hive Party.” The party will be held before the Athens game with Kaufman, with the Athens Independent School District al-
Jimmy and Martha Mitchell received the special accolades in front of a large crowd at the Cross Walk Conference Center. The Mitchells have been delivering meals to people in the community for more than 20 years.
“I challenge anybody, if you don’t think you’re too busy, to get involved in the program,” Jimmy Mitchell said. “We’ve made a lot of friends, and we’ve lost a lot of friends who’ve
See MITCHELLS, Page 14A
Bus involved in wreck
lowing booths to be set up representing various campus groups, booster organizations, businesses and non-profit organizations. The gathering is a part of youth football night and the pink-out day for cancer awareness. There’ll be performances by
See PARTY, Page 14A
From staff reports An after school wreck involving a fullsized school bus and a cement truck on Loop 7 resulted in no serious injuries on Thursday, but three individuals were taken to East Texas Medical Center as a precaution. According to preliminary information from the Athens Police Department the
wreck occurred at about 4 p.m. when the eastbound bus stopped at a railroad crossing, near U.S. Highway 175. The truck failed to stop in time, and collided with the rear of the bus. The bus was transporting a single student at the time of the wreck. The student,
See WRECK, Page 9A
Successful year for county food pantry By Chad Wilson EDITOR
CHAD WILSON/ATHENS REVIEW
Henderson County Food Pantry officers are, from left, Susan Randall, Vicki York, Jan Kirkwood, Diane Strange, Carolyn Hamilton, Tommie Mason, Margaret Austin, Mary Alice Alfred and Linda Horton.
Vol. 113 No. 79
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Bible Verse
It has been a great year for the Henderson County Food Pantry, and the outlook for the future looks bright. The annual Henderson County Food Pantry meeting was held Thursday at Tilo's in Athens where dozens of volunteers were applauded for their service to the organization yearin and year-out. Food Pantry Board President Linda Horton thanked the volunteers for their service
throughout the year, especially when she was out due to a medical condition. “It is good to be back,” Horton said. “I am so thankful for everyone and their support this past year.” The event kicked off with a special guest speaker, Bob Moore, encouraging the audience to take 30 seconds a day to change their life. Moore told of his weight-loss journey, and how walking each
See PANTRY, Page 14A
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. – Genesis 1:27