NEWSBRIEFS

AMERICAN LEGION ORATORICAL CONTEST High School students in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 are encouraged to participate in the 2009 oratorical contest being sponsored here by American Legion Post 72. Principals, counselors, and teachers of English, social studies, and speech in Blount County public schools, as well as those who home school or work in private and parochial schools within the county, are urged to begin recruiting students now for the contest. The local Legion Post 72 is offering county-wide scholarship prizes for first-, second-, and third-place winners, who continue to the state level where prizes given for the top three are $5000, $3000, and $2000. National winners earn $18,000; $16,000; or $14,000.

The American Legion is paying travel and lodging costs for state winners and their chaperones to the national competiton in Indianapolis April 17-19. Each state winner who is certified and participates in the first round at nationals receives a $1500 scholarship. Each first-round winner who advances to and particpates in the second round but does not advance to the final round will receive an additional $1500 scholarship.

Local Post 72 says Alabama has produced only one national champion (Candice Neal in 2002) since 1938. Members feel Blount County can produce a national champion. Who will it be? They urge schools and interested participants to download copies of the Oratorical Rules Brochure by logging on www.legion.org/program/youthprograms/oratorical.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS AND ALUMNI can apply now for Jack Kent Cooke Foundation scholarships to help them pursue four-year degrees at any accredited college or university in the United States and abroad. This "Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Program" will award up to $30,000 annually per recipient through the Foundation, which plans to award approximately 50 scholarships in spring 2009. Current students are eligible, as are alumni who earned a degree from a community or two-year institution since spring 2004 and have not since transferred to a four-year college. Application deadline is January 20, 2009. All candidates for the scholarship must be nominated by the faculty representative at their community or two-year institution. Faculty representative at Calhoun Community College is Dr. Kermit Carter, Dean of Student Affairs, 256-306-2613 or klc@calhoun.edu. The list of faculty representatives from other institutions as well as application materials is available on the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation website at www.jkck.org.

HELP FOR ADDICTIONS to alcohol, drugs, food, gambling, buying, etc. Addictions can seem baffling and overwhelming, and yet with insight and understanding, recovery can be a reality. Hope House holds two weekly SMART Recovery meetings on Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the old hospital, 1000 Lincoln Avenue, in Oneonta. SMART Recovery program helps individuals gain independence from addictive behavior. The program offers specific tools and techniques for each of the program. For more information, phone 625-4673, ext. 301.

THE TURN AROUND HOUSE meets at The Church of Oneonta across Ala 75 from Walmart. The Turn Around House describes itself as a Christ-centered source of hope, love, and refuge. It charges no fee. Its personnel say they listen, counsel, trust, and respect. They strive to turn lives in the right direction as they seek rehabilitation of alcohol and drug addicts. They invite those needing help to check with their referral officers to confirm The Turn Around House's recognition by state, municipal, and civil courts. They say religion and denominations are not discussed. Tobacco products are not used on the premises. Clients are expected to have open minds and want to learn strategies to defeat their problems. Questions and input are requested but not required. Its personnel say The Turn Around House is not competing with any other organizations in the area. Phone 205-353-2006 for more information.