• Wonderful Washington Eighth graders tour nation's Capitol
    The motor coach loaded with 34 eighth-graders and 12 adult chaperones left Piedmont at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, March 14, headed for Washington D.C.
    The educational adventure was the second annual trip for students who will graduate to the high school at the end of the school year.
    "Although it was a hectic schedule it was a well-organized trip, and we were able to do things not on our original agenda," said school secretary and chaperone Jean Steed.
    The group spent the first night away from home in Hershey, Penn., and got up Wednesday morning to tour the Hershey Founder's Hall, Hershey Chocolate Town and Chocolate World.
    "We did not get to see the candy being made but learned a great deal on the history of Mr. Hershey," said Katrina 'K.C.' Norton, another chaperone. "The children did get to package kisses at Hershey's Chocolate World."
    One of the students, Lauren Norton, said, "In Hershey, the street lights are in the shape of Hershey kisses, and the whole town smelled like chocolate."
    The group got a taste of the Amish country Wednesday afternoon during a narrated driving tour and stopped in a craft and bakery store for a little shopping.
    "It gave us a chance to show the students how others live," Steed said. "The Amish homes were really impressive, but one thing we noticed was all the blinds in all the houses were green."
    Questioned by the group, the tour guide explained that uniformity is an important part of the Amish way of life and the bishop in the community had made the decision to allow the use of blinds, as long as they were green.
    The group spent Thursday visiting the capitol, walking the memorial sights and having lunch at the Reagan building.
    At the Vietnam Memorial, Leighann Ford, the history teacher in the group, took paper in hand and made an impression of a former Piedmont resident's name. Her great-uncle, Vernon G. Holbrook, was killed during the Vietnam War and his name is inscribed on the wall.
    The students, led by a staff member of Congressman Mike Rogers' office, got to sit in on a session of Congress and witness first hand how it votes on a bill. According to tour guide Debra McBride, it was the first time in 10 years on the job she had witnessed the event.
    The staff member led the students into the balcony and explained the process to the group members, who were impressed with technology involved and surprised with the procedures.
    "All at once people started pouring into the room and inserting their cards into the slots to vote. We watched the big board to see the numbers change and see how our local representatives voted," said Steed.
    Although the group members were not allowed to go inside, they did get to visit the White House. The new security policy brought disappointment for Lindsey Conner who said, "I would go back if I could. I want to go in the White House."
    Thursday evening the group ate at the Pentagon City Mall and experienced the world's steepest escalator ride. Following dinner, the group was taken on an illuminated night tour of Washington D.C.
    "It was breathtaking," Steed said.
    Amber Tucker agreed and said, "Seeing the Lincoln Memorial was the thing I enjoyed most."
    Friday morning the students took a walking tour of Arlington National Cemetery and the Kennedy gravesites. At the Tomb of the Unknowns, the group witnessed the changing of the guard.
    While at Arlington, chaperone Freddie Norton took the opportunity to explain to the young people that the graves represented men and women who were willing to die for their country to preserve freedom. Before lunch the group also got to visit the World War II memorial and Ford's Theatre.
    A visit to the Smithsonian Museum followed lunch and students got to see the black leather jacket worn by the "Fonz" on Happy Days, the original Kermit the Frog and Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street and Mr. Roger's sweater. Lauren Norton was thrilled to get to see Archie Bunker's chair and Steed, a devoted Wizard of Oz fan, got a chance to see the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 movie.
    The tour ended Friday evening as the group boarded the bus and headed back to Piedmont.
    "We hope the children that went this year are excited enough to encourage the seventh-graders to sign up for next years trip," said Steed. "We believe it is a trip well worth the price."
    Funding for the trip came from local individuals, businesses and churches. For some students unable to raise the required $525, scholarships were made possible by the Piedmont Housing Authority.
    School administrators will be announce plans for next year's trip before this school year is over.
    Students who participated were: John Matthew Christopher, Bayley Wilson, Andy Conner, Lindsey Conner, Andrea Thomas, Jaylon Hill, Ashley Krajesky, Austyn Grissom, Meagan Formby, Kaitlyn Ledbetter, Lauren Norton, Amber Tucker, Deanna Combs, Seth Reedy, Amanda Towne, Sonya Motes, Jacob Law, Melissa Spears, Cory Sears, Marcus Jackson, Luke Smith, Adam Hammett, Joshua Leath, Ally Harper, Caleigh Amberson, Jessica Dyson, Maria Bowman, Crystal Carroll, Kyle Hinds, Johnna Crescanzi, Jeleca Johnson, Christian Cantrell, Macy McMurray, Anna Smith and Kelsey Chandler.
    In addition to Steed, Ford and Freddie and Katrina Norton, other chaperones were Diana Wilson, Alan Ledbetter, Melissa Haynie, Glenn Leath, Mark Harper, Barbara Amberson, and David and Becky Nunnelley.

  • Graham injured in Iraq
    Lt. Col. Barry F. Graham, a Piedmont native, was wounded March 22 when his convoy encountered mortar fire in Iraq.
    Graham and his troops were sent to escort Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Chalabi during a visit to the northern town of Beiji. It was reported by the Associated Press that Chalabi was believed to have been visiting the nation's largest refinery at the time of the attack and was not injured.
    Graham sustained multiple fractures to his left arm when he jumped for cover under his vehicle. At Graham's request he was flown to a hospital in Germany to be closer to his family.
    He is scheduled for surgery that will require a plate implant. Graham will go through a six-week rehabilitation program before returning to his unit and completing his one-year assignment in Iraq.
    Graham is the son of Gary Graham and the late Judith Love Graham. He graduated from Piedmont High School and has served in the military full-time since December 1988.

  • City schools get new calendar
    Parents of area students may need to make minor adjustments to their plans after the recent school board adoption of a new school calendar.
    The Board of Education reworked the school calendar at its last meeting to comply with a new statewide law recently signed by Gov. Bob Riley.
    The law extends the school year by five additional days and goes into effect for the 2006-07 school year.
    Currently the students are on a 175-day school calendar that includes week breaks during October and March.
    "The calendar had to be changed," said Superintendent Matt Akin, "and we elected to delay the fall break until the Thanksgiving holidays and eliminate the weather days."
    Instead of having the traditional three-day break in November, students will now have a week to spend with their families and friends.
    "We believe this is the best way to work in the additional days," Akin stated.
    Other than the elimination of the weather days, the calendar is very similar to the schedule area schools are on currently.
    Students will begin school in Aug. 11, have 10 school days off during Christmas/winter break and continue to have a spring break the third week of March. The scheduled last day of school in 2007 will be May 25.