Plans for field house additions for two Hall County high schools took another step forward this week.

The Hall County School Board approved Charles Black Construction Co. as construction manager for the two projects at a school work session meeting Monday night.

The system has budgeted $1.95 million for a weight room and field house addition at Chestatee High School and $1.5 million for a classroom and field house addition at East Hall High School. Construction for the projects will go out for bid soon, according Damon Gibbs, facilities director for Hall County Schools.

Chestatee Academy hosts meeting for those interested in school

Chestatee Academy, which was made a charter school in 2010, is hosting an informational meeting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23 in the school's media center.

As a charter school, any Hall County student can apply to attend. The program at the northwest Hall County school focuses on inquiry- and project-based learning guided by students' interests. There are more than 50 academies representing topics such as forensic investigations, culinary arts, drama and archaeology.

Parents interested in applying their students to the school should submit their application by May 11.

Deadline nears for North Georgia Community Foundation scholarships

More than 20 scholarship funds are available for high school seniors graduating in 2012, as part of funds administered by the North Georgia Community Foundation.
Each scholarship has its own specific purpose and eligibility criteria, according to a press release from the foundation, and awards vary in size depending on the amount available in each fund.

Last year more than $185,000 in scholarship money was awarded to 150 students in the 15 counties the foundation serves.

Application forms, eligibility information and directions for applying for each scholarship are available on the scholarships page of the foundation's website, www.ngcf.org/scholarships.

Applications will be accepted through March 1 unless otherwise specified.

Forensic symposium features criminal psychology experts

A symposium at North Georgia College & State University in March will focus on criminal minds and include a session on Gary Michael Hilton, convicted killer of Buford's Meredith Emerson.

The Forensics Symposium is set for March 12-13 and presenters include experts Dr. Tom Streed, Dr. Katherine Ramsland and Dr. Maurice Godwin.

In addition, Dr. Brent Paterline, professor of criminal justice at North Georgia, and Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Clay Bridges will be discussing the Hilton investigation. Hilton was sentenced to life in prison in Georgia for the 2008 kidnapping and murder of Emerson, who was snatched from a hiking trail in Union County.

He also was sentenced to death in the slaying of a Florida couple and is still awaiting a trial in the slaying of a North Carolina couple.

The symposium is a joint effort of North Georgia's continuing education and criminal justice departments.
The registration fee for the event is $295 per person and is open to anyone, not just law enforcement personnel. For full details of the forensic symposium, call 706-864-1918 or visit www.northgeorgia.edu/ce.

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