By Marti Alexander
malexander@casscountynow.com

Atlanta ISD officials encountered a stinky situation when they received a report of a dog carcass inside the recycle bin located at the former Horne Enterprise building on Louise Street on Wednesday.
Donna Rice with the Atlanta ISD met with city employees at the recycle bin to discuss what could be done about the deceased animal.
The company, Tri State Metal and Iron, which takes the recyclable paper would not take the bin due to the contamination by the animal and officials with the company said they could not even take the bin to their landfill because the landfill would not accept it.
 

By Marti Alexander
malexander@casscountynow.com

It is illegal to have an alligator living in the house. That is what a Linden man found out the hard way in November 2013.
On June 1, a warrant was issued on 36-year-old Jacob Minor of Linden for an unpaid fine for possession of an alligator without a permit. He was booked at the Cass County Jail and released after the $299.60 fine was paid on the same day.
After responding to a domestic disturbance call at Minor’s home in November, officers discovered there was a 4-foot alligator living in the residence.
Minor, along with his pet alligator, was taken to the Linden Police Department where Game Warden Dan Hill took custody of the gator.
Hill said he was told the alligator was purchased out of state and that Minor showed a receipt for an out-of-state purchase of just over $200, but the receipt did not specify it was for an alligator.

By Raegan Rice
Special to the Journal

Atlanta ISD ended the year with 18 fewer students, resulting in an estimated 1 percent difference in budget for next year. The good news is that the school had high percentages of attendance at all campuses.
Other items discussed at the AISD school board meeting on Tuesday were the purchase of a bus, which was already budgeted in; budget amendments, including moving extra funds from the security budget to teacher training; and personnel matters. All consent agenda items carried.
Master Gardner Mr. Brown made the first presentation to the board, updating them on the year’s Junior Master Gardner Certification Program.

By Marti Alexander
malexander@casscountynow.com

Atlanta Primary School students are combining learning and fun this summer through MindWorks educational program during BLAST.
Throughout the school year, BLAST students participated in a variety of programs and this summer began working on Future Builders, where they were able to “step into the roles of architects, engineers, and city planners to create designs that challenge physics, defy gravity and shape the future.”
This week, students learned what it takes to build floating cities through creative lessons including testing the buoyancy of foam in water, placing pennies on the foam until it sank.

Two shooting victims were found dead last night. The incident occurred some time around 10:40pm June 27. The victims' names have not yet been rekeased, Victims included a 12 year old and a 32 year old white male.

More on this story as information becomes available.

Suspect's body found at local waterway 

According to local law enforcement, the suspected shooter in a homicide that occurred in Queen City Tuesday night has been found. Leon Minniefield, 56 years-old, was deceased from, what officials believe, was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

More details on this as they becomes available. 

By Marti Alexander
malexander@casscountynow.com

Atlanta was approved for certificates of obligation that will give the entity the funds needed to relocate utility lines on Texas Highway 77 for upcoming road construction.
“TxDOT has substantial improvements they are planning to make on 77,” said City Manager David Cockrell.
Those plans start at the intersection of Hwy. 77 and William Street and continue through the intersection of Hwy. 77 and Boggie Street.
The roadway between the two intersections will be reconstructed into four lanes and signal lights will be installed.

By Marti Alexander
malexander@casscountynow.com

The Senior Citizens Center in Atlanta provides a time of fellowship and entertainment for older residents in the area.
“We provide seniors an opportunity to get out of the house and have something to do,” said Martha McCauley, site manager.
The center, located on Miller Street, is open from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
McCauley said guests show up at different times and participate in a variety of activities.
“We have Bingo on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday beginning around 10:30 in the morning,” she said.
After lunch, guests hang around to play dominoes, 42, and a variety of card games.
Also, on Wednesdays, a band comes in to entertain. “Bobby Allday and the Uncertains perform a variety of country and gospel music,” McCauley said.

By Angela Guillory
aguillory@casscountynow.com

Linden-Kildare Consolidated Independent School District trustees faced a harse reality on June 9 and again on June 16 as they discussed the budget with a potential $325,000 deficient for 2014-2015 school year. For the past four years, the district has maintained a balanced budget, not spending more than they estimated will be received in local, state and federal funding.
In the past two years Superintendent Dr. James Cowley said the district has lost 100 students with a $1.9 million impact to the district budget. This includes both state and federal lost revenue. Local revenue is based on appraised property values and the majority of the lost revenue is due to state and federal funding.

Each year, the Trammel’s Trace Chapter o the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) solicits nominations from area teachers in order to choose students who best exemplify the characteristics of leadership, dependability and patriotism.
From those nominations, one eighth-grade student from each area middle school is chosen to receive the DAR Patriotism and Leadership Award.
Hunter Lance, the daughter of Doug and Jennifer Lance, was given this award for Atlanta Middle School. She was presented with the award Friday, May 23, at the Atlanta High School stadium by DAR members Louella Vernon and Charlotte Evans.
Katlyn Bradley Wilson of Bloomburg was given the award on Thursday, June 5, at the Bloomburg ISD gymnasium by DAR members Kathy Peacock and Merle Duncan. Katlyn is the daughter of James and Kelly Wilson.