Athens Garden Club calls for new members

The Athens Garden Club recently planted the new pots at the Athens Farmers Market. Begun in 1955, the local nonprofit is always looking for members.

Limestone County Historical Society quarterly meeting

The Limestone County Historical Society will hold its quarterly meeting Sunday, April 27, in the Rodgers Center of the First Presbyterian Church in Athens. Refreshments will be served at 2:30 p.m. with the meeting to follow at 3 p.m. Tom Ress — volunteer naturalist at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, accomplished photographer, and author of Images of America: Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge — will speak about the abundance of wildlife and the history of the refuge. An avid adventure traveler, Ress has visited all seven continents, dozens of countries, and all 50 states. Everyone who is interested in Limestone County and North Alabama history is invited to attend.

NARFE to meet

NARFE Chapter 1480 will meet Saturday, April 26 at 9 a.m. at the Veterans Museum. The guest speaker will be Sarah Chadwell, LCCI. Call Dean Morgan to RSVP at 256-232-7207.

Leading Limestone public meetings

Limestone County will launch its new Strategic Plan, “Leading Limestone” to be held Tuesday, April 29 and Thursday, May 1.
Community members are invited to participate in the public meetings starting at 5:30 pm. Information about the plan can be found online at leadinglimestone.com.

Taste of Tanner Community Event

Tanner Elementary School will host the Taste of Tanner Community Event on Saturday, April 26 from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. The event will feature food trucks and vendors (including Ramona Js, Sabor Latino, LHJ BBQ, CottonTown Concessions, Sunshine and Sugar Lemonade, Frosty Pop, Sheena’s Treats, Moonwalker Concessions, and Kiara Jewelry and Handbags), as well as live entertainment from DJ KP and Special MC Lashay B, plus live music from Antonio Woodruff. Guests are invited to bring along their lawn chairs and picnic blankets — and there is no admission cost to attend this free event.

Annual Membership Gala

The Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce will hold their 2025 Annual Membership Meeting Galla on Thursday, April 24, at the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives, located at 114 W. Pryor St. The Disco Night event will begin with a reception from 4 p.m. through 6 p.m. and then a dinner immediately after. All member tickets are $85 and all non-member tickets will be $150. For more information, and to register for the event, please visit https://business.alcchamber.org/events/details/2025-annual-membership-gala-disco-night-2935.

Elkmont Beauty Walk

The 20th annual Elkmont Red Carpet Affair Beauty Walk will be held on Friday, April 25, and Saturday, April 26. Special guest judge, Miss Indiana Teen USA for 2024-2025 will be on hand. For more information, call 256-777-8216.

Singing

Quarterly Gospel Singing, Oakland Church of Christ, 18111 Townsend Ford Road, Athens. Saturday, May 3, at 7 p.m. Everyone welcome. For more information, contact John Gibson at 256-729-8866.

Women Empowering Women

Every fourth Sunday of the month, the Women Empowering Women of Alabama will meet at Freshwind Church, located at  17200 Lucas Ferry Road. Athens, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. from February to October. For more information, you can contact Rev. Janice Elisa Lanier Williams at 256-233-5995 or you can visit their website at https://wewoa.org/.

Hearts for Homeless

Please join The News Courier, and several others, as we try and help out our homeless population in Athens and Limestone County. Please give whatever essentials you can. All donations can be left at The News Courier’s office at 410 W. Green St. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Other donation sites include; Don Carter Heating and Cooling on 72 East, Toodlebugs on E. Hobbs St. and One Main Financial on 72 East.

Support Group

Support groups for domestic abuse victims and survivors will be held at the Family Resource Center on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. and on Fridays at noon. Facilitated by Crisis Services of North Alabama. For more information, please call 256-230-1240.

Houston Memorial Library

The Houston Memorial Library and Museum is open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Home to a large collection of mystery, fiction, children’s, young adult and western books to be checked out with a $5 per year membership. The historic residence, which was built in 1834, also has a book sale room that is open each day. The museum has period furniture, civil war memorabilia and Native American artifacts.

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.

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.

TOPS meeting (Mondays)

Athens AL TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Evening Chapter #0616 meets weekly on Mondays, at the Athens Activity Center on Pyror Street. Weigh-in starts at 6 p.m., and the meeting at 6:30 p.m. For more information, email: AthensAL616TOPS@gmail.com.

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.

Flower and Flag Regulations for Athens Cemeteries

(City; Hine-Hobbs St., Old City, Roselawn and Thatch-Mann Cemetery) No flowers or decorations allowed on the ground for maintenance, unless following a funeral. Placement of flowers is acceptable year-round on monuments. Flowers will be removed after funerals as follows: Fresh flower removal will take place seven (7) days following a funeral. Silk flower removal will take place twenty-one (21) days following a funeral or to be placed on grave as specified above. Approval by Superintendent of Cemeteries is required before planting flowers, shrubs, trees, or sod grass. City Cemetery personnel shall remove any trees or shrubs that become detrimental to the adjacent lots or prevent opening of a grave. The City of Athens Cemetery Department will remove flags and properly dispose of them, when they are so worn that they are no longer fit to serve as a symbol of our country. The City of Athens will not replace any worn flags that it removes. The City of Athens does not assume any liability for any monument, flowers, shrubbery, ornaments, flags, etc. in any City owned cemetery.