http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/emerson/ Emerson, GA News http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/emerson/content/dc0f204323b9c06500c6c5b56cecc213.html Dozens turned out for the 10th Annual Communities in Schools Dinner this year themed the Graduation RoundUpJayme Elliott director of Communities In Schools of Catoosa County said the main focus of the event is to celebrate the organizationrsquo;s effort to create a community in which every student is inspired their family encouraged educators empowered and citizens are engaged ensuring that every child graduates high school with a purpose and directionThrough this effort the organization raises funds that help it accomplish many of the projects it undertakes throughout the yearThe event was hosted at Emerson Russellrsquo;s Renaissance Building in Rossville and was underwritten by Ringgold Telephone Co Tennessee Valley Authority Northwest Georgia Bank and Emerson Russellrsquo;s CateringStudents helping with the event acted as servers dressed in Western attire fully with cowboy hatsPrior to the event guests shared the opportunity to bid in a silent auction featuring a variety of items donated by a long list of patrons As guest milled around music began performed by Matt McFarland His band including Rich Terry John Cady and Jeff Murray to entertain during dinner later joined himEmerson Russell welcomed visitors to the event followed by comments by Chris Evans CIS Board Chair representing First Tennessee Bank and Donna Jackson CIS Board Vice Chair representing New Castle HomesEvans said that her favorite part of the CIS program was Intervention Day where teachers work with students to create an action plan to overcome obstacles that the students describe in their ability to learn and succeedElliott welcomed Neil Shorthouse statewide CIS president and the two of them honored CIS Board Member Angelo ldquo;Nubbyrdquo; Napolitano Performance Learning Center coordinator who will be retiring this yearldquo;This is astonishing what Nubby has donerdquo; he said ldquo;It all happens when you select the right leaderhellip; He believes in the students and the rose to the expectationsrdquo;Napolitano said that the recognition was a bit unsettling ldquo;The staff I work with is the best in the countyrdquo; he said He said the whole purpose was to allow kids to graduate that would have never done it or graduated on timePast CIS Board Member Mike Gurganus Ringgold Church of Christ pastor coordinated the live auction Among the many items were Coca Colarsquo;s ldquo;Coke For a Yearrdquo; a Roper Stove homemade cakes and a personal visit from the Big Red Guy aka SantaAuction donors included Shaw Industries Method Architecture Vision Hospitality Locomotion Promotions Cakemakers Dr Jason Webb Dentistry Build a Bear PLC Welding Program YMCA Janet Sims Casey Elliott Sports Stop Roper Corporation Hitson cabinets Sew Cool Embroidery Robert Hitchcox Lisarsquo;s Gold and Diamonds Advanced Auto Georgia Wines Ringgold Florist Merle Norman Auto Zone Blue Moon Cruises Hair Junkie Ellabags Starbucks of Fort Oglethorpe Chattanooga CocaCola Bottling Jayme Elliott Tammie Walker Donna Roach Premiere Jewelry Nelda Walker Kirklands Big Lots Scott Lane Digital Photography and all county schoolsElliott thanked all who attended and said with their support the program is able to provide the information support and encouragement that parents need to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early years of life Annually CIS provides more than 3000 books to students and 100 eye exams and glasses to children in need she saidTo find out more about how you can assist contact Jayme Elliott by phone at 706 8580529 or fax at 706 8614855CLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/emerson/content/20a1886f1236aeeaa719a2d9cbca4c81.html The 10th Annual Communities In Schools Dinner kicks off the holiday season Monday Nov 24 Space is currently still available for this event This yearrsquo;s event will feature a silent and live auction dinner and the musical talent of Matt McFarland The silent auction opens at 6:30 pm with dinner being served at 7 pm The Emerson Russell Renaissance Building is the location for the festivities Northwest Georgia Bank Ringgold Telephone Company The Tennessee Valley Authority and Emerson Russell Catering are underwriters for this eventCommunities In Schools helps families and children be successful in school Its mission is to connect resources with schools and families for the purpose of helping young people graduate from high school and prepare for life Catoosa County Schools are partnering to help CIS by providing theme baskets for the auction Also featured will be Coca Colarsquo;s ldquo;Coke For a Yearrdquo; homemade cake and a personal visit from the Big Red Guy aka Santa Funds raised will help to Catoosa County families and children get ready for school and to graduateldquo;With support from the community we are able to provide the information support encouragement parents need to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early years of life Annually CIS provides more than 3000 books to students and 100 eye exams and glasses to children in need Dinner dollars go a long way to help many students in our system hellip; and all students deserve a diplomardquo; said Jayme Elliott director of Communities In Schools of Catoosa Countyldquo;The dinner will be more casual in nature this year; our theme is ldquo;Graduation RoundUprdquo; said Chris Evans CIS board of directors chair ldquo;It will be an opportunity for Catoosa Countians to come together and understand the great impact we can all make in the lives of our young people and at the same time put on your boots and jeans for an enjoyable evening togetherrdquo;Tickets are available individually for 40 or a table may be purchased for 300 seats eight Businesses if unable to attend may sponsor seating for students and educators who work with highrisk students Please contact Jayme Elliott by phone at 706 8580529 or fax at 706 8614855 for additional information and to reserve your tickets todayCLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/emerson/content/4b2ac8b8d9a61a68b87d32001037e473.html James Florence scored 19 points to help Mercer beat Piedmont 8963 on Friday night Daniel Emerson scored 16 points and grabbed 19 rebounds for the Bears 10 who shot 50 percent from the field http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/emerson/content/e63e306d2cf25b8423596e8b656674c4.html ORANGE BEACH Ala Despite a strong run through the SEC Tournament the Georgia Bulldog soccer team fell just short of its first conference championship in school history losing 10 to the Tennessee Lady Volunteers in the tournament final Sunday afternoon http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/emerson/content/9254715b81692ce5ccb1afac59734e84.html Bow your head well before touching the screen on Tuesday http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/emerson/content/3ea2170ae940ae0db8025256d8522976.html Catoosa County lost its lawsuit against Fort Oglethorpe asking the court to reverse the cityrsquo;s 1998 annexation of Mack Smith Road among other areasSuperior Court Judge Ralph Hill Jr of Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit found in favor of Fort Oglethorpe in the case in an order filed Friday Oct 31 Judge Hill heard the case on Oct 22ldquo;The Court heard the arguments of counsel and citations of authorities and has considered the same along with briefs affidavits and exhibits filed in support of respective motionshellip;rdquo; Judge Hill said in his orderCatoosa County was suing to have the road and a subsequent annexation of two private properties reversedAccording to the lawsuit drawn up by County Attorney Clifton ldquo;Skiprdquo; Patty and filed in superior court Jan 31 the city illegally annexed Mack Smith Road from Cloud Springs Road to its wastewater treatment plant in 1998 He said doing so was ldquo;stemrdquo; or ldquo;spokerdquo; annexation a method he said has been illegal since 1976 The lawsuit asked for a summary judgment to make null and void the annexations of Mack Smith Road to the cityrsquo;s old wastewater treatment plant Rocky Ford Road from Cedar Lane to Wildwood Trail and Cloud Springs Road from Beaver Road to Interstate 75 County officials were also seeking to have the annexation of two tracts owned by local developer Emerson Russell the city annexed last year made of no effectAfter the ruling Fort Oglethorpe City Manager Ron Goulart said he was surprised the county filed the suit initiallyldquo;You have a county resident that wants to come in the city to take benefit of our servicesrdquo; he said ldquo;I was puzzled by the county wanting to set it aside It would be different if it were a 60 and 40 annexation ldquo;It should be between the city and the property ownerrdquo; he said ldquo;Maybe we can put an end to litigation after the first of the year and try to get along with the countyrdquo;The county pursued the matter after commissioners received several complaints from residents along Mack Smith Road and several turned out wanting the county to step in before Fort Oglethorpe annexes their houses into the city The Catoosa County News requested comments from Catoosa County Manager Mike Helton who referred the matter to Catoosa County Attorney Clifton ldquo;Skiprdquo; Patty The newspaper is awaiting comments from PattyStaff writer Rachel Brown contributed to this articleCLICK ON THESE LINKSFEEDBACK: Send a letter to the editorSUBSCRIBE: Get The Catoosa County News each WednesdayGO BACK:Return to our homepage http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/emerson/content/56ec27082ad0798436fd076fc5bad143.html About 600 people attended a ceremony naming a trail in memory of 24yearold Meredith Emerson who was abducted and killed in January http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/georgia/emerson/content/c55b8f48b854c71f96790753e91d575f.html BUFORD mdash; Meredith Hope Emerson and her black Labrador Ella spent many sunsplashed afternoons walking along the wilderness trails of the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center