Local News
County jobless rate rises in May
Henderson County’s two month drop in unemployment ended in May when the rate climbed to 7.1 percent.
The county rate had fallen to 6.7 percent in April, down from a 7.4 percent peak in February.
The Texas rate for May was also 7.1 percent, after a 6.6 April reading, Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Tom Pauken said.
“The Texas unemployment rate continued to follow the national upward trend,” Pauken said. “Few industries were spared in May as Texas employers continued to report job losses.”
The total labor force grew in Henderson County from 36,081 to 36,132 from April to May. The total number of employed, however, slid from 33,669 to 33,562. The number of unemployed rose from 2,412 to 2,570.
Ronny Congleton, TWC commissioner representing labor, said finding a job in Texas today is challenging.
“Texas workers are facing a tight job market as employers in most industries are,” Congleton said.
Congleton again said TWC has online assistance for job seekers and has workforce centers around the state. The East Texas Workforce Center in Athens serves the Henderson County area at 205 North Murchison Street.
“TWC has allocated millions in federal spending dollars to support training and to help Texans find jobs,” Congleton said.
Henderson County’s neighbors also saw unemployment rate increases in May. Anderson County jumped from 7.1 percent to 7.6 percent, Kaufman County went from 6.9 percent to 7.5 percent, Navarro County 6.7 percent to 7.2 percent and Van Zandt County 5.7 to 6.4 percent.
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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
