Cleveland High School tenth-grade students pose with principal Denise Martin (center) to celebrate their $100 prizes for placing tops in the state in the Alabama High School Graduation Exam USA TestPrep SMACKDOWN contest. Marvin Milner (right) placed first in the state with 121,500 points and 228 practice tests passed. Katelyn Shostak earned 53,000 points in the contest and passed all parts of the graduation exam on her first attempt. More...

One rough 'n ready measure of effectiveness of a county road maintenance program is miles of local roads – roads not maintained by the federal or state government – paved each year. For the last several years, Blount County has averaged paving roughly 50 miles per year, according to commissioners' statements. This year, fewer than 10 miles will be paved. With the economy's prospects still uncertain, next year could be no better than this one. Or it could be worse. More...

Where were you on Saturday, 5/23/09, at 10 a.m.? Perhaps you were getting ready for a BBQ, or a get-together with family and friends, shopping, or attending a baseball game. Too bad the veterans who have given their lives can’t enjoy the same privileges. The Marine Corps League conducted the Memorial Day ceremony at the Blount County Courthouse on that day, and approximately 25 people (including four children) attended to honor our fallen heroes. It’s a shame that each year only a handful of people attend this ceremony. More...

The Locust Fork Crimson Angels 8-and-under softball team won the division title, the overall Blount County Championship, and also the Pinson Invitational Tournament on their way to a perfect 23-0 season. Pictured are (front row, left to right) Anna Grace Thompson, Carley Clayton, Ashley McCay, Claudia Smith, and Skylar Massey. (Middle row, l to r) Jayleigh Tawbush, Lauren Stiles, Anna Hood, Madison Simmons, Kelsie Goodwin, and Hannah Armstrong. (Back row, l to r) coaches Jay Tawbush and John Simmons, head coach Gregg Armstrong, coaches Brandon Massey, Dustin Smith, and Jason Painter. More...

Tina L. Cherry, visual arts specialist at Susan Moore Elementary School, has been nominated Alabama Art Education Association Rookie of the Year. Although she has just completed her 12th year of teaching, she has just completed her first year as a certified visual-arts specialist. Information on her SMES program and pictures of her students’ artwork have been featured on occasion in The Blount Countian. More...

Background Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14. Devotional Reading: Exodus 19:1-8. Some years ago, someone commented to me that, of all the sins catalogued in the New Testament, there is one no longer present in our world today. “Which is that?” I asked and he replied, “Slavery!” I disagreed, but neither of us had any statistics to offer. More...

If there appears to be a disagreement among family members about information to appear in an obituary, The Blount Countian reserves the right to decline to publish any of it. The newspaper takes pride in not charging for publishing obituaries except for those of persons without direct connection to this county, in which case the person requesting it will pay for it when it is submitted. More...

“BE CREATIVE @ YOUR LIBRARY” is theme of this summer’s reading programs at Oneonta’s and Blountsville’s public libraries. Oneonta’s program, which begins today, June 3, and ends July 15, is open to young people, preschool through sixth grade, with programs, prizes, story hours, and more. For more information, call the library at 274-7641. All programs are free of charge and are sponsored by Friends of Oneonta Public Library. More...