Community Notes:

Apprentice license program is for novice, young hunters
Submitted by the National Wild Turkey Federation

Thanks to a new apprentice license program, young and novice hunters in Tennessee can hunt this spring before they complete a hunter education course.

The program exempts a hunter age 10 or older from the requirement of completing the mandatory hunter education course for the current license year.

Reducing and eliminating age and other barriers that prevent people from hunting is a major component of the Families Afield initiative.

Started by the National Wild Turkey Federation, the U.S. Sportsmens Alliance and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Families Afield aims to remove youth hunting barriers throughout the country.

Visit www.nwtf.org/nwtf_newsroom/press_releases.php?id=12086 for entire story.

For more information about the NWTF or Families Afield, contact Perrin Anderson or Jonathan Harling at 803-637-3106, or panderson@nwtf.net or jharling@nwtf.net.

AnimalWorks receives grant for low-cost spay/neuter
AnimalWorks has received a grant from the State of Tennessee to provide companion animal low-cost spay/neuter services for qualified low-income residents in Blount County.

Under this program, qualified participants will be required to pay only a co-payment of $10 for each cat spay/neuter and $15 for each dog spay/neuter.

To find out if you qualify, and to schedule a low-cost spay/neuter surgery for your pet, call the AnimalWorks clinic at 865-379-2227. As funds available for this program are limited, surgeries will be scheduled on a first-come basis.

This project is funded under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.

AnimalWorks low-cost spay/neuter clinic and Alcoa adoption site is at 3377 Regal Drive behind West Chevrolet off Alcoa Highway. AnimalWorks also operates two pet adoption centers in the Petsmart stores at Morrell Road and at Turkey Creek in Knoxville.

For more information about AnimalWorks pet adoption or low-cost spay/neuter services, call 865-379-2227 or visit www.animalworkstn.org.

The mission of AnimalWorks is to reduce the homeless pet population in our community. Since its inception in September 2001, AnimalWorks has spayed or neutered more than 7,000 animals and found homes for more than 4,000 cats and dogs.

Heritage Planetarium to debut new laser show
The Heritage Planetarium is almost ready to debut its new laser show projection system.

The planetarium has undergone more than six months of renovations and has been closed since Aug. 1. The new laser system took longer than expected to perfect, but Thomas Webber, planetarium director, said that it is now ready for public shows.

The laser apparatus is the only one like it in the world, he said.

The debut will be March 2, when a show titled LaserMania will be presented, featuring music by Celine Dion, Santana, Shania Twain, Will Smith, Ricky Martin, Sting and others.

The music plays against a dancing laser light show on the planetariums domed ceiling that is more expansive with better special effects, images and graphics, Webber said.

The March 2 shows will be at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Admission is $5.

The primary goal of the planetarium, Webber said, remains education, and it serves students in Blount, Knox, Anderson, Sevier, Hamilton, Roane, Union, Grainger, Jefferson and Cumberland counties.

For more information, call 865-984-8548.

MHS Forensic Team competes in tournament
Maryville High School Forensic Team competed at the Heritage High School Appalachian Forensic Tournament on Saturday, February 10, 2007. The MHS team took home a trophy for 3rd Place Sweepstakes in overall points.

The following students also took home individual trophies: