Local News
Schools contract for access upgrade
The Limestone County School System has entered into a contract with the Alabama Department of Transportation that will grant the system $220,000 towards the project to improve the strip of U.S. 72 in front of Blue Springs Elementary School, which is still under construction. The announcement was made at the Limestone County School Board meeting Monday night by Superintendent Dr. Barry Carroll.
Currently, only improvements such as adding a turning lane are being made. The board hopes for the approval of a traffic light at the intersection of U.S. 72 and Hardy Road where the new school is located. A second request for a traffic light at the intersection is still in review by ALDOT, Carroll said.
The first request for a traffic light at the intersection was denied in February but a second request for the light was considered in June after a man, Gerald Burns, 64, died following a June 3 wreck on 72. His pickup truck collided with a fuel truck that had slowed to turn left from the highway onto Hardy Road.
ALDOT is conducting a traffic volume study in the area as part of the process to consider the traffic light, Carroll said.
In other business, the Limestone County School Board approved a motion by Carroll to equalize the salary increase percentage rate for certified teachers and staff who earn degrees. The rate, at an 8 percent increase in the budget, would impact only about 40 employees, at about $36,000 over all.
Other items approved by school board members are:
• An increase of adult board member and volunteers meal prices to $1.55;
• Use of Cedar Hill Elementary gym by the Ardmore Booster Club for volleyball and basketball practices and games August through March;
• Use of the Elkmont High School lunchroom for a class reunion by the class of 1979 in September;
• An overnight trip Sept. 13-16 to Dauphin Island by Owens Elementary sixth graders;
• New positions for: A speech therapist at a school to be announced; special education instruction assistant at Johnson High School; 12 Title Elementary Teachers for one year only at schools to be announced; Five Title I instructional assistants for one year only at schools to be announced; elementary teacher at Tanner High School; and Phychometrist/Behavioral Specialist at Central Office;
• Contracts for Kathy Hudson, special education pre-school program testing, and Meredith Waggoner, special education pre-school program testing;
• New personnel: Joshua Sawyer, science teacher at Ardmore; Carla Hood, part-time CNP worker/assistant at Cedar Hill; Kelley Hayes, elementary teacher at Creekside; Candy Littrell, elementary teacher at Owens; Kathryn Lewter, elementary teacher at Tanner; Erin Maguire, itinerant music teacher at Tanner and West Limestone; Melba O’Connell, counselor clerk at West Limestone; Anne-Marie Haddock, Pre-K collaborative teacher at Johnson; and Peyton Marsh, Title I integration teacher at central office;
• Leaves of absences for various personnel;
• Resignation of Lynda Cooper, special education inclusion assistant at Clements;
• Designated assistant principals: Roger Cobb at Cedar Hill; Rebecca Valenzula at Johnson; Janice Sutton at Owens; and Angie Barnes at Piney Chapel;
• Positions for numerous supplements, substitutes, after school detention, extended day staff, temporary help, and transfers.
The next Limestone County School Board meeting is planned for Aug. 3.
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Local woman dies in Friday fire
A woman who was badly burned when she was discovered in her unit at Elmwood Apartments by police and firefighters late Friday night died not long before midnight, authorities said.
Vickie Strasser, 52, was taken by ambulance at about 10:40 p.m. to Athens-Limestone Hospital with second- and third-degree burns over 95 percent of her body. MedFlight was called to rush her to Huntsville Hospital at about 11:30 p.m., but she died before the helicopter arrived. -
Athens Police make 14 arrests in Friday night drug roundup
Friday night was a busy one for Athens Police officers. While several investigators were conducting a roundup that resulted in 14 arrests, other officers responded to a fire call at Elmwood apartments (see story on today’s front page).
Lt. Trevor Harris said officers conducted search warrants at two homes — one at 1210 Plato Jones St. and another at 903 Brownsferry St.
Madison Police Department provided two additional officers and dogs from the K-9 unit to assist. -
Family displaced by fire seeking residence to rent
One family displaced by last Sunday’s fire at Athens Village Apartments is desperately looking for a home or apartment to rent in the area.
Scott Robertson and his wife, Amanda, and four children, daughter Jordan, 16; son Matthew, 14; son Dallas, 9; and daughter Lily, 5, lost everything they owned on Aug. 29 when an early morning fire — sparked by a cigarette thrown on a patio chair outside another apartment — destroyed all eight units in Building D of the apartment complex at 1711 W. Elm St. in Athens. -
TVA ranks in Top 10 for economic development
For the fifth year in a row, the Tennessee Valley Authority has been named by Site Selection magazine as one of the top 10 North American utilities for economic development achievement. -
Bank robbers remain at large in city, county
Athens Police are still searching for a white man who robbed TVA Credit Union on East Hobbs Street in Athens on July 9.
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Woman burned in fire at Elmwood Apartments
A woman who was burned over 95 percent of her body after a fire in her unit at Elmwood Apartments was taken to Athens-Limestone Hospital by ambulance at around 10:45 p.m.
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Trinity reunion parade will be at 10 a.m. Saturday
The Trinity High School Grand Reunion parade will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Athens.
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Keeping the bees
Limestone County Beekeepers Association received a grant from the Alabama Mountains, Rivers and Valleys district of the RC&D Council.
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Trinity High School had many distinguished graduates
Local resident Lt. Col. James L. Walker gathered biographies of some of these graduates as the school celebrates its annual Grand Reunion today and Saturday in Athens.
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Part of Clinton Street in Athens to be closed at least 2 more weeks
Clinton Street in Athens, between Lee and Forrest streets, will be closed for at least two more weeks while Athens Utilities replaces sewer lines that are up to 75 years old, an official said.
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