Support you local cheerleaders
Monday, 30 August 2010 17:30 | 
Moonlight Madness and Cheer-Off set Sunday
Moonlight Madness and Cheer-Off will give area residents and guests an opportunity to take advantage of late-night deals at area merchants on Sunday, Sept. 5, while supporting their local cheerleading squad.
The event will be held from 8 p.m. until midnight in downtown Atlanta.
All area high school cheer squads are welcome to participate.
The cheer squads will gather in downtown for the cheer-off with the $300 prize going to the school that shows the most spirit.
Cheer squads who haven’t contacted the Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce yet to let them know you will be participating are encouraged do so as soon as possible.
The check and certificate will be presented during a pep rally of their choosing.
According to Chamber Manager Beverly Johnson, this will prove to be a fun-filled event. "We will have street vendors and fun activities for the kids including a bounce house," she said.
"This year we will have our first ‘Cass County Has Talent Show’ with a $100 cash prize," Johnson added.
Residents who have a talent for dancing, singing, magic, playing an instrument or anytime of talent can call Randy Smith at KAQC TV at 903-796-8820 or call the chamber at 903-796-3296 to register for the talent show.
Merchants will open their doors with lots of bargains.
Sponsors for the Moonlight Madness include Atlanta Memorial Hospital Gift Shop, Benita’s Atlanta Floral, JoJo’s Cakes & Confections, Laura’s Used Book Store, Merle Norman and Terrell Brothers Furniture and Appliances.
Last Updated ( Monday, 30 August 2010 17:32 )
Burglars on the loose Monday, 30 August 2010 17:28 |
QC residents warned to keep doors locked Queen City Police Chief Robert McGee urges residents in the city to use caution when leaving vehicles parked outside their homes. With a recent outbreak of burglaries, he said it is also important that citizens watch out for their neighbors when they are away from home. Most importantly, however, he said people need to lock their cars. "About 80 percent of the burglaries reported have been from residents who left their vehicles unlocked outside their home," McGee said. Anyone who notices any thing "out of the ordinary" or suspicious in their neighborhood are encouraged to contact the police department at 903-796-7986, ext. 2., or dispatch at 903-799-4057 or 903-796-7973. Also anyone with information about any type crime please call the same numbers. Last Updated ( Monday, 30 August 2010 17:30 ) Atlanta Middle School renovations Thursday, 26 August 2010 08:47 |
Sixth graders approve of new surroundings By MARTI ALEXANDER This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Sixth graders and teachers at Atlanta Middle School were excited Monday morning to arrive at their newly-remodeled building on the first day of school. The west building located on Parkview Street received a complete overhaul during the summer months with work intensifying as school approached. Math teacher Sandra Stone said, "We are excited about the new building and appreciate the administration and school board for what they have done to provide all of this." The renovations include a drastic increase in the size of the classrooms to provide a better teaching environment. "We are very fortunate," Stone said. Student Desmond Robinson’s favorite part about the school is the classrooms. "It’s great," he said. Nautica Young, a sixth grader, agreed her favorite part is the classrooms. "They’re bigger than last year’s," she explained.
Young added that she is excited about school and math is her favorite subject. Carrie Morrow, who came to Atlanta ISD this year to teach sixth-grade math, said she saw the building just before the renovations got under way. "This is a drastic change for the better," she said of the increased classroom size. In the week before school started, Morrow said "there was a lot of work being done" in order to prepare for the first day of school. Morrow’s students mirrored her feelings on the new building, the entire class saying it was "awesome" and "sweet." Student Micah Rodgers really likes the hallway, which is painted in gray, maroon and white, with a tiled floor to match. The students said they like the building despite the fact the sixth grade wing has no lockers. Trent Taylor’s enjoys the fact his class is the first to be in the renovated school. The sixth-grade wing renovation is just a start for the AMS campus makeover. Thanks to a $13.86 million bond approved by Atlanta ISD voters, in addition to the AMS renovations teachers and students in the seventh and eighth grade level will attend classes in a newly constructed wing that will be attached to the sixth grade wing. That building will include a new library/media center and it will serve as a focal point of the building connecting the two wings at the intersection of High School Lane and Parkview. The new middle school building to replace the old on High School Lane is expected to be completed in August 2011. It will include a new gymnasium. Dirt work for this project has already begun behind the sixth grade building. Last Updated ( Thursday, 26 August 2010 08:49 ) |
Area needs rain! Monday, 30 August 2010 17:24 |
County, cities under burn ban Due to drought conditions and adverse weather conditions in all or part of Cass County, public officials have declared a burn ban in effect for Atlanta, Queen City, Linden and in the "unincorporated" areas of the county. County Judge Charles McMichael ordered a burn ban for the "unincorporated" areas of Cass County and Mayor Harold Martin signed an order for Queen City, both effective as of Wednesday, Aug. 25. According to Atlanta Fire Chief Robin Betts, the City of Atlanta follows suit with the county’s ban. The proclamations declare a state of disaster resulting from the potential threat of wildfires due to drought and adverse weather conditions. This state of disaster requires that certain emergency measures be taken pursuant to the Texas Disaster Act of 1975 relating to Emergency Management, specifically 418.108(a) of the government code. Therefore, the Cass County Sheriff is authorized to utilize any additional employees as may be required to comply with the Disaster Declaration issued Dec. 30, 2005. Said employees will be eligible for overtime compensation for work specifically and directly related to the emergency declaration. The purpose of these orders is the mitigation of the public safety hazard posed by wildfires during the current drought and severe weather conditions by curtailing the use of all combustible materials, which includes the use of all fireworks. In accordance with the local government code, a person who knowingly or intentionally violates the orders commits a class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500. Last Updated ( Monday, 30 August 2010 17:28 ) Departments must scale back Thursday, 26 August 2010 08:45 |
Commissioners okay $32K deficit budget By ANGELA GUILLORY This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it During several weeks of budget workshops commissioners whittled away at a $425,000 budget shortfall in the county’s proposed general fund budget. At the final workshop held Aug. 16 commissioners had a remaining shortfall of approximately $32,000. Now commissioners will discuss a proposed tax rate and take a record vote and schedule public hearings on the matter. The estimated tax revenue for the general fund is $5.2 million and the remainder will go to the jury fund and the right-of-way fund. County Auditor TammyWells said this is an estimated collection of 98 percent on the tax rate. Departments with budgets of $200,000 or more were required to cut their budgets a total of 8 percent, while departments with budgets below $200,000 had to reduce their budgets by 5 percent. Wells said some officials had to cut more due to increased fringe benefit costs for fiscal year 2011. A few department heads cut more than was requested by the court. The following breakdown of information represents the percentage cuts for each department, as requested by commissioners. – The county judge’s budget for FY 2010 was $131,810; with a 5 percent cut of $6,590.50 it has a proposed FY 2011 budget of $125,219.50. – The Indigent Health Care office budget for FY 2010 was $44,242.53; with a required 5 percent cut $2,212.13 it has a proposed FY 2011 budget of $42,030.40. – The County Clerk’s budget for FY 2010 was $244,770.60; with an 8 percent cut of $19,581.65 it has a proposed FY 2011 budget of $225,188.95. – The District Clerk’s budget for FY 2010 was $244,656.48; with an 8 percent cut of $19,572.52 it has a proposed FY 2011 budget of $225,083.96. – The Collector/Tax Assessor budget for FY 2010 was $322,391.31; with an 8 percent cut of $25,791.30 it has a proposed FY 2011 budget of $296,600.01. – The Sheriff’s Department budget for FY 2010 was $1,026,188.72; with an 8 percent cut of $82,095.10 it has a proposed FY 2011 budget of $944,093.62. – The Drug Enforcement budget for FY 2010 was $139,588.94; with a 5 percent cut of $6,979.45 it has a proposed FY 2011 budget of $132,609.49. – The Cass County Jail budget for FY 2010 was $1,559,304.09; with an 8 percent cut of $124,744.33 it has a proposed FY 2011 budget of $1,434,559.76. – The District Attorney’s budget for FY 2010 was $459,934.90; with an 8 percent cut of $36,794.79 it has a proposed FY 2011 budget of $423,140.11. – The Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 budget for FY 2010 was $124,713.96; with a 5 percent cut of $118,478.26 it has a proposed FY 2011 budget of $118,478.26. – The Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 budget for FY 2010 was $67,634.37; with a 5 percent cut of $3,381.72 it has a proposed FY 2011 budget of $64,252.65. – The Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 budget for FY 2010 was $124,902.57; with a 5 percent cut of $6,245.13 it has a proposed FY 2011 budget of $118,657.44. – The Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 budget for FY 2010 was $83,301.03; with a 5 percent cut of $4,165.05 it has a proposed FY 2011 budget of $79,135.98. – The Treasurer’s office budget for FY 2010 was $133,783.65; with a 5 percent cut of $6,689.18 it has a proposed FY 2011 budget of $127,094.47. – The County Court at Law budget for FY 2010 was $158,950.14; with a 5 percent cut of $7,947.51 it has a proposed FY 2011 budget of $151,002.63. – The Auditor’s office budget for FY 2010 was $147,039.63; with a 5 percent cut of $7,351.98 it has a proposed FY 2011 budget of $139,687.65. – The Extension Office budget for FY 2010 was $74,113.66; with a 5 percent cut of $3,705.68 it has a proposed FY 2011 budget of $70,407.98. – The Highway Patrol budget for FY 2010 was $41,837.77; with a 5 percent cut of $2,091.89 it has a proposed FY 2011 budget of $39,745.88. – The Aid to Other Governments budget for FY 2010 was $82,300; with a 5 percent cut of $4,115.00 it has a proposed FY 2011 budget of $78,185.00. Departments that were not asked to cut their budgets were constables for all precincts, the Veterans Service Office, election expense, indigent health, office equipment and computers, and other miscellaneous expenses. All other funds, with the exception of the road and bridge, were not requested to cut budgets. Commissioners operate from the Road and Bridge Fund, and a percentage is given to each precint. Any funds left over at the end of the year can be rolled over into a surplus fund accdount. The commissioners surplus fund has a total balance of $1,061,950.66. Once funds are transferred into a surplus account, they can then be allocated to other funds of the county. Currently there is a surplus of Road and Bridge funds for Precinct 1 of $476,302.67; Precinct 2, $107,395.54; Precinct 3, $107,429.39; and Precinct 4, $370,823.06. Due to all of the damage to roads and bridges from flooding and heavy rains the county has endured during the past year, many of the precincts are operating out of their surplus accounts until the new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1. All four commissioners are taking money from their surplus accounts to help fund their FY 2011 budgets. Commissioners agreed to cut 8 percent from their proposed budgets during the budget workshops. The breakdown for each precinct is as follows: – Precinct 1 Commissioner Brett Fitts’ Road and Bridge budget for FY 2010 was $635,389.04. He cut 8 percent from his budget, which totals $50,831.12, reducing his budget to $584,557.92. Fitts added $57,024.06 from his surplus fund to his proposed budget, giving his precinct a proposed FY 2011 budget of $641,581.98. – Precinct 2 Commissioner Danny Shaddix’s budget for FY 2010 was $555,947.94. An 8 percent cut of $44,475.84 left his department with $511,472.10. He added $27,797.40 from his surplus to give his department a total proposed FY 2011 budget of $539,269.50. – Precinct 3 Commissioner Paul Cothren’s budget for FY 2010 was $406,699.10. An 8 percent reduction of $32,535.93 left his department with $374,163.17. He moved $37,540.97 from surplus funds to give his department a total proposed FY 2011 budget of $411,704.14. – Precinct 4 Commissioner Darrell Godwin’s budget for FY 2010 was $347,820.49. An 8 percent decrease of $27,825.64 left a proposed balance of $319,994.85. With a need to replace equipment, Godwin is moving $131,723.99 from his surplus fund to give his department a total proposed FY 2011 budget of $451,718.84. Currently the county has a departmental budget where financial statement items are grouped by departments. At the end of the budget workshop County Auditor Tammy Wells made a suggestion to the court to consider a line item budget, but the county judge rejected the idea for the 2011 budget, saying he didn’t see a need. In a line item budget, the financial report shows the actual amount budgeted for each line item in the department’s budget and how much has been spent and what the remaining balance is to date. from the Road and Bridge Fund, and a percentage is given to each precinct. Any funds left over at the end of the year can be rolled over into a surplus fund account. The commissioners’ surplus fund has a total current balance of $1,061,950.66. Once funds are transferred into a surplus account, they can then be allocated into other funds of the county.Last Updated ( Friday, 27 August 2010 05:32 ) |
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