Athens Review, Athens, Texas

Local News

Related Photos

  • Courtesy Photo

    images_sizedimage_076223317

Discussion

March 16, 2008

Circus, circus!

Longtime circuit show Carson Barnes arrives Tuesday

By Lauren Ricks

To see animals like elephants, llamas, tigers and camels, you only need to travel to the Henderson County Fair Park Complex on March 18.

The Carson Barnes Circus will come to Athens that morning and begin setting up. The circus welcomes visitors to come watch the process and see the animals at no charge. It has 25 species of exotic and domestic animals.

The elephants are trained to help the crew lift the 40-foot pole in the air for the 300-foot tent. It is the largest in the United States and has room enough for 2,200 people.

Performances will begin at 4:30 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices ranges from $7 for a child to $16 for an adult. There are separate ticket prices for box seats, as well.

The circus was started by D.R. Miller in the 1930s. According to Mal Knopf, one of the marketing and promotional coordinators, “He began with one horse, a few pigs and an elephant.”

The circus is now in its 72nd year of operation and is still owned and operated by the family. Miller’s daughter, Barbara Miller Byrd, and her family are involved in the day-to-day operation. The organization is now made up of over 100 performers and animals.

Performers come from the United States, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Russia and Italy. This year the performances will also include some children, who are family members to other performers. A 6-year-old, Brandon Cavallini, will be swinging on the trapeze bar.

The circus travels 10 months of the year and sets up its operation in 200 towns and cities.

Text Only
Local News
  • kengeeslin_profile.jpg Geeslin under fire

    Henderson County Attorney Clint Davis, has asked the Texas Rangers to look into a complaint filed against Precinct 4 County Commissioner Ken Geeslin by one of his employees. 
    Three witnesses agree that a verbal altercation occurred at the precinct barn on Jan. 11.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Juneteenth.JPG Early planning!

    It was  June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln. A ship pulled into the Galveston port and Major Gen. Gordon Granger reads Orders, No. 3 to the people of Galveston.
    “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.  The freed men are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages.  They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.”
    With the reading of this order, slavery was ended in Texas, and Juneteenth was created.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Bro. Henry Lusk.jpg Remembering Pastor Lusk

    Henry Lusk was a man who sold hardware during the week, and preached about the carpenter of Nazareth on Sundays.
    Lusk died Wednesday after a bout with cancer. He had pastored the Athens Church of God for about 6-1/2 years, and was manager of Athens Lumber and Supply for 29 years. Church members remembered him Friday as a energetic Bible preacher and caring pastor.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • 2-3 Rotary grant recipients pic.jpg Athens Rotary Club presents grants for public service

    The Athens Rotary Club presented grants to several organizations for their public service, Thursday. Pictured, left to right are club members and representatives of the organizations recognized. They are: Doug Scala, Rotary; Debbie Zea, Meals on Wheels; Mark Roberts, Henderson County Performing Arts Center; Ray Talbot, Labor of Love; Kathleen Lilly, Cain Foundation; Jean Riggs, Cain Center; Charla Hendrix, Leslie Saunders, Sarah Grey, Athens Independent School District; Carol Morton, Keep Athens Beautiful; Robert Nelson; Karen Whitton, Food Pantry; and Kyle Rocha, Cain Center.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Hampton.jpg Murder’s conviction affirmed by the Court of Appeals

    The Twelfth Court of Appeals in Tyler this week affirmed James Arlie Hampton’s murder conviction from December of 2010.
    Hampton was convicted, and sentenced to life in prison by a Henderson County jury for the murder of Corey David, who had been a guest in Hampton’s home. 

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Airport Board discusses Loop 7 sign

    The Athens Airport Advisory Board held a preliminary discussion on putting up a sign on Loop 7 at a regular session, Thursday.

    February 3, 2012

  • Oglesby..JPG Beloved teacher Oglesby dies suddenly

    An Athens Middle School teacher who died Wednesday from a recent illness cared about his craft, and the 8th graders he taught.
    Thomas Oglesby, 64, taught in the Athens Independent School District for more than 20 years.  He specialized in language arts, and even did a little coaching on the side.

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • Athens Rotary tenders grants

    The Athens Rotary Club gave grants to several organizations, Thursday, in recognition of community service.
      Robert Nelson presided over the presentation of gifts ranging from $500 to $1,500 to help the groups in their services which included endeavors like feeding the hungry, home improvement and community theater.

    February 2, 2012

  • Deputies answer call for stolen copper from Oncor in Mabank

    MABANK     — Henderson County Sheriff’s Department officers answered another call on Jan. 26 concerning the theft of still more copper wire, this time from Oncor at 13680 County Road 2925 in this community.

    February 2, 2012

  • Man, woman arrested for burglary north of Murchison

    Henderson County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call reporting trespassing on property north of Murchison Wednesday. The deputies arrested a man and a woman for burglary.

    February 2, 2012