Melanie Lekocevic reports in The Daily Mail the Athens Village Board has decided to hire an independent contractor to mow the village's lawns, effective immediately. The contract was awarded to D & C Lawn Care. The company will charge the village more than $12,000 to do the work this season. Mayor Chris Pfister proposed the idea as a way to relieve the village Department of Public Works of its the lawn-mowing duties, freeing workers to take on other tasks. There are 10 sites to be mowed throughout the village including Riverfront Park, Rainey Park and the Athens Little League field. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.