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LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ON THE ROAD TONIGHT 9-3-10

The Dade County Wolverines will travel to Adairsville this evening to take on the Tigers. The game will be broadcast live on 106.1 FM and 1420 AM KWN will pre-game action starting at 7:00. Kick-off will be at 7:30.

Coach Adam Gilbert and the North Sand Mountain Bison will also be on the road today taking on the Fyffe Red Devils. That game will begin at 8:00EST.

The Ider Hornets will be at home this week, taking on Sand Rock at 8:00EST. Ider traveled to Valley Head last week for their season opener.

COMMISSION APPROVES FURLOUGHS FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES 9-3-10

Word has been spread over recent weeks that County employees may face another round of furloughs much the same as last year. At Thursday evening’s meeting of the Dade County Commission, a resolution to reinstate the furloughs was discussed by Commissioners. Dade County Executive Ted Rumley informed those in attendance that last year’s furloughs resulted in the savings of around $170,000 for the 3 months in payroll costs alone. The resolution would require all County offices to close on Fridays but open for an extra hour Monday through Thursday, cutting the work week back from 40 hours to 36 hours. New County office hours would then be from 7:30AM – 5:30PM instead of 8:00AM – 5:00PM.

The reinstatement of the furloughs was approved by all Commissioners, and will take effect at the beginning of the next payroll cycle on September 20th.

Read more about the Commission Meeting tonight in the Weekend Edition of the Mountain~Valley Independent.

AMBULANCE SERVICE CHANGING COVERAGE 9-3-10

Lifeguard Ambulance Service, which provides Emergency Medical Ambulance service to Dade County, has informed its employees as well as Dade County that they will reduce the amount of coverage that is currently provided to the area. Lifeguard had been provided 2 – 24 hour trucks stationed here in Dade County with other units available from their Dodd’s Avenue location in Chattanooga. Beginning mid-September, they will continue to provide 1 - 24 hour truck and 1 - 12 hour truck, from 9AM to 9PM, along with an advance life support quick response vehicle that can respond to emergency medical situations during the daytime

Lifeguard had been providing far above what their contract calls for according to Dade County 911 Director Alex Case. He said that the service had been going above and beyond what Dade County required them to provide, and even with the change in coverage, Lifeguard will still be providing above what their contract calls for. Case said it is just a matter of economics. Call volumes are down, and they’re having to readjust in the economic times.

More on this story will be available this evening in the Weekend Edition of the Mountain~Valley Independent.

TRAINS BLOCK ENTRY TO INDUSTRIAL PARK 9-2-10

Trains blocking entry to the Industrial Park have long been a problem, but it seems to have increased lately. Several trucks were blocked from entrance to the Industrial Park yesterday. KWN has learned that Norfolk Southern has increased the length of their trains, and Trenton is one of only two locations along the line that has a ling enough side-track to allow trains to pass. Dade County Executive Ted Rumley said that a representative from Norfolk Southern is supposed to visit Dade County sometime next week to work out a possible solution. Other than the inconvenience of not being able to get trucks in and out of the Industrial Park, in case of emergency, fire personnel would have to enter the Industrial Park via Sunset Drive in front of the Dade County High School.

COMMISSION TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE FURLOUGHS THURSDAY 9-1-10

Employees of Dade County may be looking at another round of furloughs as the Dade County Commission meets for their regular monthly meeting Thursday. The furloughs are on the agenda and must be voted on by the Commission. If approved, County offices will be closed again on Fridays, giving a 3-day weekend that utilities will not have to be used. Last year, the furlough’s saved the County over $170,000.

SHERIFF'S WORK DETAIL CLEANS UP ILLEGAL DUMPSITE 9-1-10

The Dade County Sheriff's Department has been working on cleaning up illegal dumpsites throughout the County and will continue to do so over the coming weeks. Illegal dumpsite \s have been the top of the news over the last several weeks since Dade County Commissioner found an illegal dumpsite near a cemetery off of Lookout Creek Road.

Read more in the current edition of the Mountain~Valley Independent.

LADY WOLVERINES FALL TO LFO 9-1-10

The Dade County Lady Wolverines were defeated by LFO Tuesday evening with a final score of 5-0 putting the ladies at 2-1 in Region play at 6-2 in the season overall. The ladies will travel to Calhoun Thursday for their next game to begin at 5:55.

TIME CHANGE FOR LOCAL FARMER'S MARKET 8-31-10

After only 3 weeks, the local farmer's market, which is held every Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park on the Courthouse Square, has had as many as 16 vendors set up on both sides of the park selling everything from blueberries, corn, okra, tomatoes, squash, bell pepper, apples, pears, beans, grapes, watermelons, cantaloupe, grass-fed beef, homemade jams, jellies and pies, baked goods, honey, live potted plants, and homemade soaps and lotions. The hours of the market have been changed, effective this week, from 10-1 to 9-noon. Anyone wishing to be a vendor at the market is asked to call the Dade County Chamber of Commerce at 657-4488 or email market organizers at trentonfarmersmarket@tvn.net to let them know you are coming and what you will be bringing.

NEW STUDY SHOWS DADE CRIME RATE REMAINS LOW 8-30-10

An article in the Chattanooga Times Free Press has said that a recent study for the State of Chattanooga Region shows that Dade County continues to have a low crime rate.

Click here to view the full story.

LOCAL TEAMS WIN SEASON OPENERS 8-30-10

Football season got off to a great start in the tri-state area Friday night. Coach Bradley Warren and the Dade County High School Wolverines opened the 2010-11 season at home with a 48-0 victory over cross-the-mountain rival the Gordon Lee Trojans. The Wolverines will travel this Friday to take on the Adairsville Tigers.

The North Sand Mountain Bison and new head Coach Adam Gilbert also won their competition on the home turf defeating Ohatchee with a final score of 22-14. Coach Gilbert will take his team on the road this Friday to challenge the Fyffe Red Devils.

The Ider Hornets faired much the same after traveling to Valley Head for their season opener defeating the Tigers 48-14. The Hornets will be at home this Friday against the Sand Rock Wildcats.

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