Jake is looking for a good home. He is a full-grown boy, but still likes to play some, won`t chew up everything like a puppy can sometimes. Jake loves water and is very friendly. He would make someone an excellent yard dog.

The Humane Society needs dog houses, crates, blankets, toys, etc.

See all available animals on www.cherokeehumanesociety.org.

The adoption fee is $65 and includes spay and neuter surgery, first shots and deworming. Call 256-779-7159 or email to apply for one of our pets.

A great deal of discussion has been taking place over the past several months regarding the best ways to save money in school systems facing budgetary shortfalls.

Just across the state line in Georgia, Chattooga County Schools have voted to adopt a four -day week for the upcoming school year, in addition to various cut-backs in personnel.

Other systems, have managed to save money through various means - including retirements re-assignments and elimination of some positions - largely teacher`s aides.

Representative Richard Lindsey - the House Education Appropriations Chairman has gone on record as saying - that later school start dates, can be seen as a `saving grace`, for school revenue.

Lindsey said he has researched the school start date issue, and has found no indication that pushing back the start date would have any adverse impact on education, adding that states which have pushed back the date - have continued to see academic growth at the expected levels.

He went on to say that all of Alabama`s public school students receive the same number of instructional days - therefore, the issue of starting classes later isn`t about education - it`s about scheduling vacation time.

Lindsey said giving vacation in a block over the summer is the best method for the economy and for public school finances; he also stressed that opinion polls repeatedly show that most parents prefer that option as well.

Representative Lindsey called the idea of pushing back the school start date for the state an idea that`s long overdue and says he`ll be filing legislation manadating a later start date when the session begins in 2011 - Lindsey says it`s time to address the school calendar issue - and do what`s in the best interests of our children and citizen`s.

Children in Cherokee County will return to school on Monday, August 9th.

Floyd County and Rome City Schools are back in session beginning Monday, August 2nd; Chattooga County begins August 10th.

According to recently released figures - a number of schools in both Chattooga County and Floyd County, Georgia have failed to meet Adequate Yearly Progress goals - under the No Child Left Behind standards.

It`s felt that tougher math requirements and graduation requirements, may have been factors in half of the public school`s in Chattooga County failing to make AYP standards. However, those numbers could improve as students finish up re-taking tests over the summer.

In the Chattooga County School system, Chattooga High School, Leroy Massey Elementary and Summerville Middle School did not meet AYP standards; meanwhile Lyerly Elementery, Menlo Elementary and Summerville Elementary Schools did meet the standard.

All three schools in the Trion City School system met the AYP standard.

Floyd County and Rome City Schools landed on a list they would rather not be on - as both systems failed to meet annual adequate yearly progress or AYP for this past school year. Additionally all of the county’s high schools did not make AYP, including Armuchee, Coosa, Model, Pepperell and Rome.

According to the Department of Education AYP is a diagnostic tool that determines just how schools need to improve, and where financial resources should be allocated - some educators say the AYP can be somewhat misleading, because a shortfall in one of multiple categories equals a failure, regardless of how the school did across the board.

Locally, Adequate Yearly Progress reports have yet to be announced. During the last meeting of the Cherokee County Board of Education, Superintendent Brian Johnson told WEIS Radio News that the information on AYP will hopefully be available by the next meeting - which is scheduled to take place Tuesday, August 3rd at 6:00pm.

(Information provided in part by the Alabama School Journal)

62 year old Wayne Thomas McMinn made the claim during his initial court appearance on Wednesday; McMinn was charged with Murder on Tuesday, in connection with the fatal shooting of 52 year old Rickey R. McCallie sometime Saturday night.

Dekalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris said the two men apparently had been involved in an on-going dispute over the alleged theft of several chickens.

McCallies body was found in the back yard of his home on County Road 188, at about 8:00pm Monday - the body has been sent for an autopsy - but the initial investigation indicated that McCallie had been shot multiple times.

On the recommendation of Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Taylor bond was set for McMinn at $250,000; Taylor said that he requested a high bond because of McMinn’s past criminal history and the `serious nature` of the current charges.

With the assistance of the Cherokee County Sheriff`s Office, Drug Task Force Agents, & State ABC Agents - Dekalb County authorities traveled to the home of McMinn on Cherokee County Road 786 on Tuesday afternoon.

McMinn agreed to accompany law enforcement officials, back to Ft Payne and during an interview - he confessed to killing McCallie and was charged with murder.

McMinn has a prior record, and is a registered sex offender - Sheriff Harris stated that McMinn most recently registered as a sex offender living in Cherokee County; but the conviction, stems from the a sodomy charge, brought in Dekalb County in 2004 - with records showing that McMinn’s victim was a child under the age of 16.

(Information provided in part by the Ft Payne Times-Journal)

The bridge, which was replaced several years ago by the Etowah County Commission, will be located at the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and U.S. Highway 431 at Five Points in Attalla.

It will be part of a development called “The Junction” that will include a transportation and heritage museum and welcome center and rail cars.

After the bridge was replaced it was moved to Noccalula Falls and plans had been for it to be used on the Black Creek Trail to span a ravine, but that proved too expensive to be utilized for that purpose.

The bridge was considered “haunted” since when vehicles would drive over the wooden bridge, the sounds would resemble that of a woman or baby crying. A special permit from the state highway department will be required to move the bridge the 80-foot bridge, which is now in two sections, will be put on axles and each half will be towed to the site.

The truss bridge already is cut in two pieces down the middle length.

The bridge was built in 1882. It first was installed at Walnut Grove, then in the mid-1930s it was taken apart and moved above the falls and reassembled. It is believed to be the oldest surviving bridge in Etowah County, Crownover said .

Research by the historical society has revealed it to be a wrought iron, Pratt truss bridge. It was built from parts that came from the Bethlehem Iron Co., which later became Bethlehem Steel. The floor I-beams are the first of their kind in America to be rolled and were made by the Trenton Iron Co.

Crownover said what is unique about the Pleasant Hill Road bridge is the unusual “A” side design, of which no other examples are known to exist today. The Alabama Historical Commission and the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation have listed Alabama`s truss bridges as significant endangered historic structures. They were integrated in the “Places in Peril List” to be protected and preserved.

Crownover said he would like to have the bridge added to the historic commission`s Register of Landmarks and Heritage.

The Etowah Historical Society is raising funds toward additional repairs, foundation costs and paint. Plans are to give preservation “stocks” designed by historian John McFarland for those who donate $100 or more. The historical society will inscribe each donator`s name on a large marker.

Donations may be sent to the Etowah Historical Society, P.O. Box 8131, Gadsden, AL 35902. The society`s physical address is 2829 W. Meighan Blvd. The telephone number is 256-613-6844 and the e-mail address is dkcrown@bellsouth.net