This week

Gospel Meeting

Ephesus Church of Christ on Elkton Road is hosting a gospel meeting on Sunday, Sept. 18 through the 21. The speaker is Brother Wilson Adams. Sunday service is 10 a.m., 11 a.m and 5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday service is 7 p.m.

Today

Georgina Cross

Amazon best-selling author Georgina Cross is coming to the Athens-Limestone County Public Library on Sept. 22, at 6 p.m. Books will be available for purchase.

Friday

ABS Parking Lot Pep Rally

Athens Bible School is hosting their second annual parking lot pep rally on Friday, Sept. 23, from 6-9 p.m. This will celebrate athletes from their past 80 years.

Saturday

NARFE Meeting

NARFE Chapter 1480 will meet Saturday, Sept. 24, at 9 a.m. at the Veterans Museum. The guest speaker will be Bill Bass, Retired Federal Employee who worked on the Space Program at NASA for years.

Fall Festival

The Owens Volunteer Fire Dept. is hosting their Fall Festival on September 24 from the Limestone County Rodeo Arena from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The silent auction ends at 2 p.m. and no charge for cars participating in the cruise-in. Please contact (256)-431-3868 or (256)-771-3012 for more information.

Cornhole tournament

The Cornhole tournament corresponding with the Fall Festival takes place on Sept. 24 at the Limestone County Rodeo Arena and begins at 10 a.m. The tournament will be set up double-elimination style.

Sunday

Food giveaway

There will be a drive through food giveaway on Sunday, Sept. 25, starting at 1 p.m. in the parking lot of Discovery Church on Forrest St. (beside Suzanne’s Bakery). No screening, come all who are in need of food and prayer.

Benefit Concert

Matt Prater Band will perform Sunday, Sept. 25, from 4-6 p.m. at Revival located across the street from First Presbyterian Church on the Square. Free admission; donations accepted on behalf of Family Resource Center. Light refreshments; bring your own lawn chair.

Upcoming

Swamp John’s

There will be a Swamp John’s fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Limestone Sheriff’s Rodeo Arena from 4-7 p.m. for $14/plate. All proceeds will go to Make A Way Foundation.

Clothes and food give-away

Women Empowering Women (W.E.W) of Alabama is hosting a clothes and food give-away at Lincoln Bridgeforth Park in Athens, on Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Coffee Call

Coffee Call, hosted by the Alabama Veterans Museum & Archives and sponsored by Rena Turner and Kenneth Croley, will take between 8 and 9 a.m., Saturday, October 1, at their location at 114 W. Pryor Street.

Friday Fiddling

On Friday, October 7, the there will be dulcimer players at the Flea Market on Highway 31, in celebration of the Old Time Fiddlers Convention. The event begins at 11 a.m.

NAACP Youth Council Can-A-Thon

For the W.E.W. of Alabama Food Pantry, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the NAACP Youth Council is sponsoring a Can-A-Thon on October 15. Location is the Walmart Supercenter on Hwy 72 in Athens.

Ongoing

BrainBlast Trivia Casa Blanca hosts BrainBlast Trivia each Tuesday night at 6. p.m. Casa Blanca is located at 1802 U.S. Hwy 72 in Athens. Athens Alehouse & Cellar will host Blazin Beatz Bingo by Pop Culture Trivia Challenge each Thursday night starting at 6:30 p.m. Athens Alehouse & Cellar is located at 111 W. Washington Street in Athens.

Chess Nights The Houston Library and Museum is currently hosting Chess Night on Tuesdays from 5-7 p.m. for beginners and experienced players. Call the library at (256) 233-8770 for additional information. The Library is located at 101 North Houston Street and is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the first Saturday of each month from 10-4.

Athens Scarecrow Ball

The Robert Beaty Historical District invites all of Athens to participate in the 6th annual October Athens Scarecrow Ball, spanning from Oct. 1-31. This is not a competition and no judging or prizes are involved. Please keep characters family friendly.

Digital Literacy Classes Athens-Limestone County Public Library will host a series of Digital Literacy Classes in conjunction with Calhoun Community College & Drake State Community & Technical College. Classes will boost your digital confidence & provide you with skills and training needed in today’s job market. Classes are Monday-Wednesday, 9 a.m. to noon or 1-4 p.m. Call (256) 306-2830 to learn more.

Houston Memorial Library Daily Book SaleHouston Memorial Library and Museum, 101 North Houston Street in Athens, hosts a book sale daily. The book sale, museum and library are open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. — 4 p.m. Tuesdays they are open from 10 a.m. — 7 p.m.

Bingo Bingo is running for the public at Decatur Elks Lodge each Monday. Doors open at 5 p.m. with games beginning at 6:30 p.m. No outside food or drink will be allowed. Elks Lodge is located at 2625 Centron Drive SW in Decatur. More information: https://www.loc8nearme.com/alabama/decatur/elks-lodge/6449656/.

After-school feeding program Women Empowering Women of Alabama, in partnership with FreshWind Christian Fellowship, is offering free meals for students after school. Meals are available 3–5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. More information: Janice Williams, (256) 233-5995.

Food giveaway Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church’s food pantry will be open 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month at 1911 Hine St., Athens. Patrons must provide proof of at least one of the following: eligibility to receive supplemental food assistance (SNAP/food stamps); eligibility for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families; eligibility to receive Supplemental Security Income; income at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level; or special circumstances. Eligibility forms provided at distribution site. Must have valid ID card or driver’s license. Only one distribution per household while supplies last. Monetary and food donations accepted. More information: (256) 424-5403.

Used book sale Friends of the Athens-Limestone Public Library host a used book sale from 10 a.m. — 2 p.m. each Tuesday and the first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. — 1 p.m. at the library, 603 S. Jefferson St., Athens. More information (256) 232-1233.

Virtual exercise class

Limestone County Council on Aging presents virtual exercise class 2–3 p.m. Mondays and Fridays via Zoom. The classes are called S.A.I.L., which stands for Stay Active and Independent for Life. More information: (256) 233-6412.

Cemetery cleanup

City cemeteries The City of Athens reminds residents and families of the following regarding its cemeteries: No flowers or decorations allowed on the ground between April 1 and Oct. 31, unless following a funeral; flower placement acceptable year-round on monuments, at their base or at foot markers; fresh flowers will be removed one week after a funeral; silk flowers will be removed 21 days after a funeral; approval by cemetery superintendent required before planting flowers, shrubs, trees or sod; city personnel will remove all trees or shrubs deemed detrimental to adjacent lots or grave openings; and worn, tattered or damaged U.S. flags will be removed and disposed of properly.

Bethel Cemetery Bethel Cemetery Annual monetary contributions for cemetery upkeep are due. If you have family members buried in Bethel Cemetery, send donations to Tommy Sprague at 25917 Pepper Road in Athens. Total funding for the cemetery comes from contributions. Cleanup of family burial sites is also encouraged as mowing season will begin soon. For more information, reach out to Sprague at (256) 874-8491.

Blood donations

Red Cross, LifeSouth You can schedule a time with the Athens Donor Center (in the original Publix parking lot) online anytime.

For more information, or to find and participate in blood drives, visit https://donors.lifesouth.org/donor/schedules/zip or https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive.