The North Pole Stroll trees will be decorated with strings of solar lights and will portray a theme. The Friends of the Athens-Limestone Animal Shelter are accepting donations to place your pet’s picture on one of their two trees, in ‘Memory’ or in “Honor”. The Athens-Limestone County Tourism Office has decorated their tree in the theme, “A Look Back at 2016” in pictures of events from this past year. Your theme could be your interests or business. 

This project would not be possible without the efforts of our Athens Parks and Recreation installation of the live trees. Athens-Limestone Tourism Association President, Teresa Todd, said the goal is to double the number of trees from last year and have enough trees to decorate both sides of the Duck Pond. Tree sponsorships are available until December 10th or until all the trees are sponsored. To purchase your tree, call the Tourism Office at 256-232-5411.

Tree sponsorships are available for $100. Businesses can decorate their own tree or we will contact a non-profit to decorate for them. Tree sponsors will receive signage at their tree and their logo will be placed on the North Pole Stroll Facebook and their website.

Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful will have their snowman family to return was an additional photo station. KALB Executive Coordinator Lynne Hart and their volunteers created the snowman family from recycled tires. Their theme for this year will be, “Tired of Waiting for Santa.”

Decoration and sale of trees will continue till the 10th of December. Visit our Facebook page to see our clever sponsors. 

2016 marks the 12th year of the Chappell Karate Basket Brigade, a 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission has been to personally deliver food baskets throughout the year as well as just in time for Christmas to needy families in a 5-county (Morgan, Madison, Limestone, Lawrence, and Cullman) area. The goal (390 baskets) is two-fold. This is an absolutely amazing community event because we wish to help local families, and just as important, we want to provide a firsthand experience to all of the volunteers, but especially to the children.

 A typical dinner throughout the year includes various meats, vegetables, desserts, soft drinks, and a Bible. A typical dinner at Christmas will include a 10-12 lb. turkey, boxed stuffing, several vegetables, rolls, roasting pan, a desert, soft drinks, and most importantly, a Bible. Each box costs $45. 

The Brigade is accepting donations from individuals as well as businesses any time throughout the year, but particularly now until mid-December because on Saturday, December 17th beginning at 11am, volunteers will meet at the OWO Recreation Center in Hartselle to package the food into "baskets" and then personally deliver them to families in need, just in time for Christmas.

The Brigade is totally funded by individuals, local businesses, and some big businesses. The Brigade is currently accepting monetary donations by either mail or online. Donations may be mailed to CKBB, P.O. Box 268, Falkville, AL 35622 or anyone may go online, click on the Donate button, and follow the simple steps. The Brigade is also accepting non-perishable item donations. The main non-perishable currently needed are boxed stuffings, cranberry sauces, and KJV Bibles. If you have any questions or need more info, please feel free to visit our website, www.chappellkaratebasketbrigade.com.

Donna Chappell, 256-751-3325, [email protected]

Amanda Bussey, 256-612-4438, [email protected]
Pamela Dodgen, 256-303-6394, [email protected]
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2015: A total of 389 dinners were delivered all over north Alabama.
2014: Food boxes began to be delivered year-round (not just at Christmas-time). 352 dinners were delivered to families all over north Alabama.
2013: 317 dinners were delivered to families all over north Alabama.
2012: Chappell Karate Basket Brigade became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
2005: The first year for the Brigade. Our goal was to deliver 15 dinners, however, enough money was raised to deliver 78 dinners.

Historic Mooresville Holiday Home Tour and Progressive Dinner
Saturday, December 10, 2016, 2 to 7 PM

The 50 residents of Historic Mooresville, incorporated in 1818, invite you to celebrate the season with a tour of the 1839 Brick Church, 1820 Stagecoach Tavern, 1840 Post Office and four private homes, all decorated in the tradition of Christmas past. Check-in begins at 2:00 PM at the Stagecoach Tavern where you will receive a map and begin your walk through the beautifully decorated village. Homes plus the unique shops will be open 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Salad in the Brick Church. Two seatings for dinner catered by Endless Catering - 3:30 to 4:30 and 5:00 to 6:00 in the festive town square, and coffee and dessert at the Peebles' Barn - 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Tickets are limited. Reservations and payment required in advance and available via PayPal on the website - www.mooresvilleal.com, click on "Holiday Dinner" in the menu bar at top of page, or by mailing a check to PO Box 17, Mooresville, AL 35649 with your seating time. $70 per person. 256-355-2683.

To see talented students and win amazing door prizes come to the Limestone County Event Center November 14, 2016. Great fun and win prizes!!  Support our students and celebrate public education at the Limestone Event Center this evening beginning at 4:30 pm. Chicken Stew available for purchase by the quart.
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​Athens State University’s College of Education will play host to the 3rd Annual We TEACH Conference on December 7 on the Athens State campus. This year’s event will carry the theme, TEACHERS ROCK! Historically, over 200 students from local schools participate in the forums that highlight paths to becoming a professional educator.
 Featured speakers will be Superintendent Vic Wilson from Hartselle City Schools and Superintendent Trey Holladay from Athens City Schools, and Huntsville Achievement School Director Richard Reynolds. The conference, to be introduced by Athens State President Bob Glenn and College of Education Dean Patricia Sims, will consist of breakout sessions facilitated by local P-12 educators and Athens State faculty.

 “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to introduce high school students to the possibilities of education as a career,” states Sims. “The previous two conferences have been a huge success and we are looking forward to reaching out to new students who could benefit from this type of information.”

​ In addition, the We TEACH conference will honor distinguished Athens State University College of Education alumni for their outstanding efforts. Participating students will tour the campus; lunch will be provided; awards will be presented; and door prizes will signal an end to this exciting event.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Athens Christmas Open House, organized by the Greater Limestone County Chamber of Commerce and Spirit of Athens.  The Athens Christmas Open House kicks off the holiday shopping season beginning Friday, November 18 through Sunday, November 20.

We are excited to bring ice skating to downtown Athens.  The ice rink, which will be lo-cated on Marion Street in front of the Limestone County Courthouse in downtown Athens, will be open for skaters on Friday from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Saturday from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.  It will cost $5.00 per person to skate.

In addition to skating, Christmas Open House is a wonderful opportunity to kick off your holiday shopping!  32 merchants in Athens are participating in this year’s Open House!  Participating businesses will offer in-store specials, refreshments, and door prizes.  Shoppers can also enter at each participating business to win the Christmas Open House Grand Prize, a Tacori Sterling Silver, Black Onyx ring compliments of Hobbs Jewelers.  The drawing will be held on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at the Athens State University Center for Lifelong Learning at 121 South Marion Street.  The winner does not have to be present to win.  For merchants located outside of downtown, be on the look-out for the Christmas “Elf on the Store Shelf.”  If you find an elf, bring him to the Chamber on November 21 and 22 for a special prize.  For a complete list of participating merchants, visit the Chamber website,

And, what’s Christmas Open House without Santa!  Santa will arrive by firetruck to down-town Athens and will be at the Athens State University Center for Lifelong Learning where kids of all ages can meet with Santa and take a photo with him.  

Santa will be available for photos on Friday from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.  Kids can also write their Christmas letters to Santa and place them in his magical North Pole mailbox at the center.

Other activities during Christmas Open House include carolers and entertainment, Tacky Holiday Sweater Contest, a visit from Frosty and Rudolph, the Merry Market featuring a variety of direct sales vendors and artisans and Santa’s wrapping station offering complimentary wrap-ping from purchased made at participating businesses during Christmas Open House.

We hope you make plans to enjoy this family friendly event for a weekend of shopping and yuletide fellow-ship.

For more information on the event Click Here. It will be an event you don’t want to miss!!

Preparation for the Elkmont Lions Club Annual Christmas Parade is off to a great start!  The theme for this year is:   “A Patriotic Christmas”.
 
Thank you for your interest in participating in the parade, we look forward to working with you to provide a safe and enjoyable family event for everyone.  Float, Car & Tractor entries will be judged before the start of the parade for cash prizes.
 
The Elkmont Lions Club is the primary sponsor of this year’s parade and is the headquarters for all correspondence and parade information. Elkmont Lion’s Club members serving this year as parade coordinators are:
 
Dickey Hobbs-256-732-4300, Bill Bryant- 256-732-3206, Charles Christensen 256-732-2266, Larry Pylant- 256-732-4493
 

Calhoun to Conduct Community Forums as Part of College’s Strategic Planning Initiative

Decatur, AL -- Throughout this week, Calhoun Community College will conduct a series of community forums with business and economic development representatives, elected officials, education leaders and other community representatives to receive valuable input as the college moves forward in the development of a three to five-year strategic planning initiative.
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“Over the last few months, the college has put into place a number of strategies aimed at improving our retention and graduation rates; completed a comprehensive master plan for our physical plant at all campus sites; enhanced our community outreach and workforce development efforts; and have had all of our distance education courses nationally certified, so we feel that we are headed in the right direction,” commented Calhoun President Dr. James Klauber.

“With all of the accomplishments we have seen in recent months, we felt now was the time to bring all of our efforts and initiatives together in the development of strategic plan that will serve to direct us and help to ensure we continue to meet the needs of our ever-changing service area,” added Klauber.
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“We are working directly with Dr. Roger Slater, president of the Slater Group, in development of our plan.  Dr. Slater has an extensive background of service and understanding of the two-year college system, having worked as a technical college president within the Georgia two-year college system for a number of years.  We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to have benefit of Dr. Slater’s experience and expertise as we move forward with this very important work,” said Klauber.