Group May Sue over Athens Nativity Scene

ATHENS — A group out of Wisconsin wants the nativity scene outside the courthouse in Athens to come down and is threatening legal action. Henderson County Judge Richard Sanders says residents haven’t complained and he understands the display is legal. He points out that there’s a secular display, featuring Santa and his reindeer, on another side of the courthouse. But the Freedom From Religion Foundation does have a problem with it and is calling the manger scene unconstitutional. The foundation’s Annie Laurie Gaylor also says her group may sue, even though it doesn’t want to. The foundation additionally wants to put up an atheist banner at the site. Henderson County does not own the nativity scene. It has been put up for more than a decade by volunteers from the Keep Athens Beautiful group.