Friday, December 17, 2004

Athena Cages parents still live on Second Street in Russellville, where the singer grew up. But after 11 a.m. today, they will live on Athena Cage Way.

The city will rename the street to honor Cages community work, youth service and efforts to restore the Old Logan Theater downtown, Russellville Mayor Shirlee Yassney said Thursday.

When local children see the sign, Cage said, she hopes that they will envision their own names.

The street naming is just an incredible honor, she said. I think it goes to show that if you work hard and dream, your dreams can come true no matter which side of the tracks you come from, your dreams can come true.

I look at the street naming as not so much for me, but for all the kids who dream and hope.

The street renaming is just the kickoff to Athena Cage Christmas Homecoming Weekend, which will culminate with a concert 7:30 p.m. Saturday at deGraffenried Auditorium in Russellville, according to a press release from Cages label, Adamas Records.

On Friday afternoon, Cage will return to Bowling Green, her current home, for the third annual Athena Cage/Warren County Parks and Recreation Delafield Community Center Christmas Party. The 6 p.m. event at the center is expected to draw about 150.

Then Cage and Yassney will host a Saturday lunch for 100 underprivileged children at the Russellville National Guard Armory. The children will have previously gone on holiday shopping sprees with members of the Fraternal Order of Police.

All proceeds from the Saturday night concert will go to restore the Old Logan Theater. Cage promises lots of audience participation at a program thats 80 percent Christmas music.

She hopes to draw the crowd from Warren as well as Logan counties to hear her and the Russellville High School and Logan County High School choirs, and Russellvilles community choral group, the deGraffenried Chorale.

Tickets are available at all BB&T branches in Bowling Green and Russellville. Reserve-seating tickets are $20, general admission $10, with a $5 student rate.

About half of the 600 tickets have been sold so far, she said.

The events title sponsor is BB&T, with cosponsors Coca-Cola, Southern Foods, Adamas Records, Comfort Inn, Logan Aluminum, McDonalds, the Logan News-Democrat & Ledger, Omni Printing, Printers Plus, the Russellville Arts Council, Wal-Mart, WBKO-TV, WRUS Radio and 101.1 The Beat.

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