Athens Review, Athens, Texas

Breaking News

Local News

Discussion

March 21, 2007

Bel Air campus to host circus April 2

By Dan Gordon

Bounce houses and face-painting are good fun, but there’s just something special about a flying trapeze.

Bel Air Elementary will hold its first full-fledged circus on April 2.

The Kelly Miller Bros. Circus, founded in 1938, is a traveling show based in Oklahoma. The circus will be performing in Athens as one of its earliest shows of the 2007 season.

Bel Air has held an annual spring carnival on its campus for more than 20 years. This year’s circus, like the carnival, is being sponsored by the Bel Air Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO).

“We’ve had a carnival for many, many years. We thought this would be a change of pace,” Bel Air Elementary Principal Renee Campbell said. She said the idea of an actual circus was approved by Athens ISD Superintendent Fred Hayes.

“Mr. Hayes said, ‘We’ve never had a circus before,’” Campbell said. “And I said, ‘Well, let’s do it.’”

Campbell said she’d heard about Kelly Miller Bros. through a PTO member.

“We had a PTO mom who had experience with the company,” she said. “We saw the success of the circus. We saw that they were respectable.

“It made me feel a little better that we had someone with experience with the circus.”

Instead of being held on the Bel Air campus, the circus will be set up in a lot on the corner of Madole Street and Dul Avriett Street across from the Athens Intermediate campus. Circus workers and volunteers will begin raising the tent at 9 a.m.

The circus will be open to parents and students of all grade levels. Campbell said the lot was chosen both for space and to create a more central location for Athens students.

“This way, everybody can be a part of it,” Campbell said. “We have some high school students who are going to be helping us set things up.

“It looks like it’s going to be really cool.”

The day’s festivities will consist of two performances at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Among the attractions will be clowns, jugglers, contortionists and all manner of aerial stunts, including trapeze artists, bungee jumpers and a “wheel of destiny.” Live animals, including trained dogs, camels and elephants, will also be hosted at the shows.

There will be a number of midway-style game booths at the circus in addition to the performances. A raffle drawing for three $250 VISA gift cards will also be held after the 4:30 performance. Raffle tickets will be sold at the circus for $1 apiece.

Advance tickets are on sale at the Bel Air and Athens Annex campuses for $9 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets will also be sold at the door for $12 for adults and $6 for students.

For more information, contact Bel Air Elementary at 903-677-6980.

———

e-mail dgordon@athensreview.com

Text Only
Local News
  • DSC_0043.JPG Slide Show- Old Fiddlers Reunion The Fiddlers Reunion is in full swing around the Athens Courthouse. Final winners and street dance Friday night. Photos by Kathi Nailling

    May 25, 2012

  • Fiddler's1.JPG Fiddlers firing up

    You can get on out of that bed now, and get yourselves down to the courthouse square.
    The fiddlers are firing up, and they'll be going until the clock strikes 12 with the street dance, as the 81st Annual Old Fiddlers Reunion gets into high gear.

    May 24, 2012 2 Photos

  • Rachaelle Browning.jpg Valedictorian & Salutatorian

    The Athens High School Valedictorian of 2012 is Rachaelle Browning. She is the daughter of Wes and Jan Browning. Rachaelle will be attending the University of Texas at Austin in the fall of 2012 and plans to major in Aerospace Engineering.
    Rachaelle has participated in various extracurricular activities throughout high school in preparation for a career in engineering.

    May 24, 2012 2 Photos

  • At the start.JPG 3rd annual Hornet Fun Run continues through today

    Fourth graders participated Thursday in the 3rd Annual Hornet Fun Run at the Cain Center.  Above is the beginning, when the children would run one mile.  At left, Isaac Garcia is shown taking overall first place.  Second place honors for boys went to Armondo Garcia, and Third place Case Friedrich.  Girls first place was Taylor Stiles, second place Veronica Campa and third place honors went to Semia Brazier. See those that placed, both boys and girls, on Page 14. The fifth grade will run today.

    May 24, 2012 4 Photos

  • Witnesses aid in suspects’ capture

    Timing is everything, and one would-be burglar apparently didn't have it during a burglary at a home on North Murchison Street near Athens.
    Witnesses saw the burglary as it was happening, and one homeowner, Billy Stewart, fired three rounds at the burglar, as he was driving off his property with a stolen yellow 4-wheeler.

    May 24, 2012

  • Ariel Reeder.JPG Valedictorian & Salutatorian

    Ariel Reeder and Sam Harrell have been chosen respectively as Valedictorian and Salutatorian of Athens Christian Preparatory Academy.  More will be announced from other area schools in future issues.

    May 23, 2012 2 Photos

  • Mayor.JPG GBC mayor official after vote canvassing

    GUN BARREL  CITY — It's official now.
    There's a new mayor in Gun Barrel City, thanks to the canvassing of votes at Tuesday night's regularly-scheduled city council meeting.

    May 23, 2012 1 Photo

  • VocalTrashinKaufman (3).JPG Recycled art gets attention

    Last Saturday, the Lost Treasures Found Art Event, held in the Kaufman Town Square,  gave people a chance to see real examples of exactly how items we might typically throw out, could be used in a new way or recycled into art that could be treasured for a lifetime instead.
     

    May 23, 2012 1 Photo

  • Alexis #2.JPG Dogs waiting for homes


    The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake is proud to spotlight four dogs and  one puppy this week in their never ending quest to find “furrever” homes for pets.
     Alexis is a  one and half year old white female small husky/Spitz mix. She is spayed, housebroken and good with kids but needs to be the only dog, or time to adjust to other dogs. Alexis was at the shelter for 3 months and is now in a foster home, waiting for her new family. She is very playful, loves her squeaky toys and has a lot of energy. 

    May 23, 2012 1 Photo

  • DSC_0030.JPG SLIDE SHOW -Cedar Creek Women's Club fashion show Bealls Department Store in Gun Barrel City held a fashion show for the women who attended the monthly luncheon at Cedar Creek Country Club.

    May 23, 2012