The Leaf-Chronicle from Clarksville, Tennessee • 25

0 Insfds THE LEAF-CHRONICLE In Business today OCAL A new, two-ton Air Ease package heat pump system was donated to TTC, boosting the school's HVAC training program. PageB12 Calendar, C3 Communities, C4 Military, C5 Obituaries, C2 Friday, August 19, 2005 www.theleafchronicle.com I School back in session for Cougars Shelter plan cut by 2,000 square feet Animal Control Committee shifts design, erases staff shower room ii xr c-w i --v-v Up By REGAN LOYOLA HUNEYCUTT The Leaf-Chronicle A subcommittee of the Montgomery County Animal Control Committee has managed to trim roughly 2,000 square feet from proposed plans for a new animal control facility on Spring Street The subcommittee, made up of architect Lane Lyle, Animal Control Director David Selby, veterinarian Dr. Bill Howard and Gary Hamm, director of buildings and facilities for the county, visited Metro Nashville earlier this month to tour the city's $3 million facility, which was built in 2000. Selby said Nashville's shelter features back-to-back kennels, which are each 6 feet by 6 feet. The design allows employees to move dogs from one kennel to another when it is time for regular cleaning.

Selby said he had intended to build 6-by-10 kennels that could hold multiple dogs, but by using Metro's design, the same number of kennels can be included in 1,000 square feet less. Moreover, each 6-by-6 kennel will hold just one dog, which could help cut down on the spread of disease. Selby said the subcommittee believes it can save another 1,000 square feet by eliminating shower facilities for employees and one of the animal viewing rooms. The Montgomery County Commission voted in November to pay more than $300,000 to buy a piece of land and a building on Spring Street for a much-needed facility. See Animal control, C3 Greg WilliamsonThe Leal-Chronicle Clarksville Academy Head of School Kay Drew welcomes students to the first day of school Thursday.

Approximately 465 students are expected to attend grades prekindergarten through 1 2 at the school this year. Kids line up for new year at Clarksville Academy Enrol Iment at private school jumps to 465 in pre-K through 1 2th grade Feds target meth by using grants to treat addicts 1 9 Greg WilliamsonThe Leal-Chronicle Clarksville Academy second-grade teacher Kim Smith helps Cheyenne Walker, left, with her materials as Alyssa Blake, right, watches during the first day of school. REGION ROEOJP Send notes of love to local soldiers For the coming deployment, The Leaf-Chronicle plans to compile a special section that will include well wishes from our readers to our troops. We invite you to write a letter of encouragement and support for soldiers in general or for a specific service member who will be leaving for Iraq this fall or who is now serving in the Middle East. We will include as many letters as possible in the section, which will publish in late September so troops can pack in a bit of home for the tour.

To accommodate as many letters as possible, we ask that you keep them brief with a 300-word limit All submissions are subject to editing and should include your name, address and telephone number (not for publication). Letters for Soldiers may be sent to P.O. Box 31029, Clarksville, TN 37040-0018, faxed to (931) 552-5859 or e-mailed to Money available for arts projects The Arts Heritage Development Council announces the availability of Arts Builds Communities funding. Arts Build Communities provides funds for a variety of quality arts projects, including but not limited to master classes by visiting artists, workshops, festivals, conferences, exhibits, public performances and apprentice Funds awarded to a single organization in this category range from $500 to $3,000. Applications must contain a clear, single-focus project Grant funds must be matched dol-lar-for-dollar.

The deadline to apply is Sept. 2. For more information or to apply, call the Arts Heritage Development Council at 551-8870. Applications and guidelines can be found and filled out online at www.arts.state.taus. For additional technical help, Leigh Green may be contacted at the Tennessee Arts Commission at Leigh.Greenstate.taus or (615) 532-9796.

NAIFA members to meet Sept. 5 NAIFA Clarksville will host its annual kickoff meeting at 530 pm Sept. 5 at the Clarksville Country Club, 334 Fairway Drive. Comedian Jim Gos-sctt will provide the evening's entertainment. The meeting is free for current NAIFA members and $10 per guest meal.

Reservations required by Aug. 26. For information or to register, call Karen Byrd or Mclinda Den-ney at 552-1515. TO REACH US yw lurvt mm to submit you may call the newsroom at 552-1808, e- mail newsthelealctvonicle.com, lax us at 552-5859. or contact us directly.

Thomya Hogan city editor, (93 D245-02B2 thomyahoganlhelealchronlcle.com Marfc Hicks night city editor, (93 1)245-0720 markhicksthelealchronicle.com Robert Smith photo editor, (931) 245-0243 robertsmilhtrielealchronicle.com Regan Loyola Nuneycutt countycourts reporter, (931) 245-0718 reganhuneyculttheleatchronicle.com Haathar Donahoa cnmesalety reporter. (931) 245-0236 heatherrJonahoethelealchronlcle.com Chantal Escoto military altairs reporter, (931) 245-0216 chantalescotothelealchronicle.com AfflyRltchart enterprise reporter, (931) 245-0247 amyrllchartlhelealchronicle.com April Rushing education reporter, (931) 245-0718 apiilrushlngthelealchronicle.com By APRIL RUSHING The Leal-Chronicle Dark clouds and a morning drizzle did not dampen Gina Goostree's spirits Thursday. Clarksville Academy's head of lower school directed traffic and acted as crossing guard for the school's first day. Goostree waved cars around the school's circular drive with one hand and held an umbrella up with the other. "You need to cross, honey?" she asked a group of students in the parking lot "Welcome back.

Are you ready for a great year?" More students are entering the academy's doors this school year. Student enrollment rose to 465 from last year's 369. "We are very proud of that," said Kay Drew, head of school "We have an incredible faculty and staff and a mission dedicated to college preparatioa" Six-year-old Grace Hin-son helped her second-grade classmates start the year off right. She showed them to their desks and shared reasons why she loves school. "You get to make new friends," Grace said.

"You can learn new stuff from books." Second-grade teacher Kim Smith noped she had the right book to help her students conquer school nervousness "First Day Jitters" by Julie Danneberg. This is her first year teaching at Clarksville Academy. "The kids think they are the only ones who worry about the first day of school," Smith said. "Teachers get just as nervous. The students actually leam that, in the story, the girl is a new teacher." Nerves were the last thing on the minds of the upperclass students.

Grades 7 through 12 gathered in the gym for the morning assembly. Teachers called roll and handed out class schedules. "Every morning, they come to the gym for assembly to learn what's going on for the day," said art teacher Piper Bell, also in tively inexpensive over-the-counter cold tablets and common household chemicals. Meth use began in California, spread to rural areas in the West, Midwest and Southeast and now is reported to be growing in urban areas. The administration had been criticized for favoring drug abuse prevention over more law enforcement in battling the epidemic.

But Walters said the president's $12.4 billion drug control budget is being used "in a balanced way." "We have to have the treatment and prevention, in addition to security resources," he said. In the case of law en- forcement, Bush plans to grant higher priority to the prosecution of meth cooks and repeat offenders. The Department of Justice will also establish a forensic science training laboratory to educate See Meth, C3 By LUCAS L. JOHNSON II Associated Press NASHVILLE Top officials from the Bush administration on Thursday announced a comprehensive approach to battle methampheta-mine, rebutting criticism that the president was focusing mainly on preven-tioa Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt and "Drug Czar" John Walters made the announcement at the Davidson County Drug Court and Treatment Center the only drug court in the nation with a treatment and residential facility attached. "This war has to be strategically fought," Leavitt said.

"It's about prevention, it's about treatment and strong enforcement." Meth, an addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous sy stem, is usually produced in clandestine labs using rela "Boo-Hoo Breakfast" in the library to help them through the first day. Parents sipped orange juice and munched on fruit salad and other breakfast goodies, while swapping stories about the brilliant and funny things their children do. "Last year, I felt kind of lost when I dropped off my child at kindergarten," Rocconi said. "I thought this would be a good way for parents to bond." April Rushing covers education and can be reached at 245-0716 or by e-mail at aprilrushingtheleatchronicle.com. her first year of teaching at Clarksville Academy.

If also the time when Colleen White, head of upper school, gives announcements and lays down the law. "If you have a locker request, I don't want to hear it today," White told the students. "We also will not make social changes to your schedule, so don't tell me you want a class with so-and-so." Parent volunteer Cecy Rocconi treated parents of prekindergarten and kindergarten students to a Students may get more reading time Local schools meet proposed "standards: 90 minutes already set aside for reading MY Associated Press NASHVILLE The State Board of Education is considering a new reading policy that calls for improvement in teacher training and offering more reading instruction and help to students whose reading skills lag behind their peers. Under the proposed policy, all schools would be expected to improve teacher training and provide at least 90 minutes of reading instruction each day. Students would be taught reading by certified teachers who have extra training or expertise in teaching reading.

Students also would receive additional help from qualified reading specialists if they struggle and would have access to a wide variety of books and other reading materiiils in the classroom and the school library or media centers. Students who are struggling would get more time, starting with an extra 30 minutes of reading a day, until they catch up. See Reading, C3 John PartipiloThe Tennessean Associated Press Judge Seth Norman, left, founder of the Drug Court, leads a tour of the facility with Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt, left, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and "Drug Czar" John Walters. The federal off Icals visited the Davidson County Drug Court Thursday.

Rucker Stewart Middle School student James Noland, 1 1 is engrossed In a book during a reading break at the school In Nashville Wednesday. Under a proposed policy, all Tennessee schools would be expected to Improve teacher training and provide at least 90 minutes of reading Instruction each day. APSU offers youth chance to make beautiful music College update ceramics are planned. For information about age requirements, schedules and times or to register, call 221-7508 or e-mail wolyneccapsu.edu. Nashville State registration open Registration for Nashville State Community College classes is ongoing and will end Monday, with late registration Tuesday through Aug.

29. There is a $25 fee for late Courses for the College Start program an accelerated bachelor's degree program for those with little or no previous college credit will begin at 6 p.m. Oct. 12. Classes meet once a week, are capped at about 15 students and each student receives a laptop computer.

All classes are scheduled for the 130 Corporate Drive campus. For information, call 551-9640. Rltchart covers higher education arid can he reached by telephone at 245-0247 or at amyiltchartthele8lchronlcle com formation contact Kathy Emery, director of extended programs, at (615) 353-3259 or (800) 272-7363. Bethel College courses planned Classes at Bethel College's Clarksville campus begin at 9 a.m. Sept.

13; 6 p.m. Sept. 14; and 6 p.m. Oct. 27 for those with some college credit and an interest in earning an accelerated Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Organizational Development.

Students can earn Nashville State credit while attending classes at Austin Peay State University. Additionally, students can take traditional courses at Nashville State and more than 50 Web-based and video checkout courses. Students can register in person at the college campus, 120 White Bridge Road, Nashville, or by using POWER, the college's online registration system. Weekend classes begin Saturday, Aug. 27, with weekday classes starting Monday, Aug.

29. For in By AMY RITCHART The Leal-Chronicle Registration for a variety of music lessons and classes for school-aged children is ongoing at Austin Peay State University's Community School of the Arts. Lessons for violin, piano, guitar and voice as well as other instruments are available. The center also will offer a new music theory course for high school students taught by JoAnn Mcintosh and designed for those who already study an Instrument or voice. Rehearsal for the Clarksville Youth Chorus, for ages 8-12, and the Clarksville Community Chorus, for those 18 and older, will begin in September.

A variety of other choirs and quartets are planned. Additionally, Kinder-musik will be offered for children ages 1 to 3. Visual arts courses in drawing, photography and.