Local News
County moves to get healthy
It’s time to shape up county government.
The Henderson County Commissioners Court on Tuesday voted to join the Texas Association of Counties Health and Employee Benefits Pool Healthy County Program. Commissioners also named Amiee Freeman as County Wellness Coordinator and Leigh Ann Baker as County Executive Sponsor for the program. The pool is the health insurance provider for the county.
According to TAC, Healthy County is a statewide initiative to lower health care costs by creating healthier employees and elected officials. Two areas of emphasis in the program will be walking and weightloss.
“More than 70 percent of health care costs are attributable to preventable and lifestyle-related conditions,” Jennifer Hall, deputy of Program Administration for Texas Association of Counties, said.
The TAC program begins April 1. Henderson County Treasurer Karin Smith said Freeman and Baker will attend a kick-off conference in San Antonio Feb. 5-6, then start putting the county plan into effect in March.
The local coordinator will set local program goals and priorities based on risk factors and county interest, develop an action plan for county participation and complete an evaluation of the program at the end of the year.
“Every employee that completes this program,” Smith said, “will get $25 dollars, either in a gift card or in cash for each program they complete, for a maximum of $50.”
Counties taking part in the program will receive employer-matching funds for each employee who completes the programs.
In addition to benefits offered by the pool, Healthy County will bring together wellness related resources from various vendors. Blue Cross Blue Shield will provide a 24-hour nurse line, disease management programs for members with chronic illness as well as discounts on Jenny Craig, a health and weight loss program.
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AEDC board approves two performance agreements
The Athens Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors approved two performance agreements on Thursday.
The proposed agreements with Abby Development and the Athens Jet Center are very similar, said AEDC President/CEO Brian Malone.
He said the agreement with Abby Development provides a maximum incentive of $75,000 for infrastructure. -
Local historic treasure recovered
Athens Masonic Lodge No. 165 recovered tokens from its past — both large and small — from a building it had once called its own.
Lodge Secretary Randy Daniel, who is Athens’ mayor, said members retrieved two time capsules last Saturday with the permission of the Ginger Murchison Foundation, the current owner of the building.
The lodge, he said, met on that corner, the southwest corner of the Henderson County Courthouse square, for about 75 years. -
Eustace FFA does well in Fort Worth, San Antonio
The Eustace FFA Show teams have been very busy since the beginning of the year with competitions at two major stock shows.
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Church News
Church News will run as items are received, based on available space. Items running in Church News will not be published in the Community Calendar.
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Tenth grade poetry
Athens Christian Preparatory makes writing a priority. Tenth grade students who had poems chosen for national publication are shown.
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Community Calendar
Community Calendar runs daily in the Review.
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On the right track
Eustace’s Justin Bersterman takes a handoff from Austin White as they practice their relay before the Athens High School Track Meet.
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Chamber optimistic about 2010
The Athens Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors are working to make 2010 a big year, according to Chamber Chairman Michael “Mo” Morrison.
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Scholarship available through HCRSPA
If your senior son or daughter plans to attend a college or university in the summer and/or fall, and pursue a program in which he or she will receive teacher certification, a major in education or a teaching degree in a subject area with teacher certification, then this scholarship is for you.
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Two injured after highway collision
Two people were injured Wednesday when a pickup truck driven by a 13-year-old boy attempted to drive across U.S. Highway 175, only to be struck by a west-bound motorist.
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AEDC board approves two performance agreements
