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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2008 THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS PAGE 7B School News PERFECT ATTENDANCE PAYS OFF This year Banks County Primary School had 71 students qualify to go on the annual per fect attendance field trip. All the children took advantage of all the fun activities that Stone Mountain provided, school officials said. These children understand the importance of attending school each day and the academic rewards as well as the fun rewards. School officials at BCPS said they would love to double this number of students with perfect attendance for next year and they appreciate all the parents who support them in making this possible. Banks County students honored at Piedmont College Several students from Banks County were given academic honors for the spring semester at Piedmont College. Students named as dean’s scholars for the semester have earned a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, and stu dents named to the dean’s list have earned a grade-point average of 3.5 to 3.99. Banks County students named as dean’s scholars include, from Maysville: Sara Gardiner and Corie Michelle Young. Dean’s list students include from Maysville: Sadie Blankenship. Kiddie cheerleading camp planned for June 11 -13 Banks County High School will from 9 a.m. to noon June 11-13 at For more information, contact hold a cheerleading kiddie camp the high school gym. Stephanie Davis at 706-318-2620. Banks County Middle School principal's list given Banks County Middle School stu dents named to the principal’s list for the fourth nine weeks include the following sixth graders: Emily Dawn Armour, Alma Talia Banda, Cody Michael Beezley, Savannah Hope Blalock,Karla Jacqueline Blanco, Dylon Miguel Bonilla, Gatlin Robert Boswell, Robert Christopher Bowden, Calvin Lee Boyer, Ellen Michelle Brown, Joshua Eric Bruce, John Ethan Burton, Jackehmia Eulalah Bush, Kaitlyn Sierra Byrd, Lauren Hope Carter, Leah Kristin Coley, Courtney Ann Crowe, Ashley Cuadra, Drew Laverne Dalton, Bailey Morgan Davis, Savannah Tennielle Denton, Lindsey Paige Elliott, Gabriel Espinoza, Jordan Leigh Evans, Whitney Lee Forrester, Stephanie Amber Friend, Emily Taylor Gibbs, Tyler Jeffrey Harris, Courtney Alexis Haynes, Candida Michelle Holder, Danah Elizabeth Hunt, Ashley Brooke Jordan, Taylor Paige Kennedy, Jennifer Marie Lawrence, Jessie Ann Mahan, Joseph Thomas McLane, Jacob Robert McLendon, Macy Elizabeth Milford, Clayton Matthew Minish, Erin Shelby Morris, Bobby Lee Nguyen, Taylor Cole Nix, Alejandra Hernandez Olandez, James Deston Patrick, Lauren Rachel Patrick, Kaitlyn Taylor Poole, Sierra Michelle Porter, Angel Marie Rafferty, Meaghan Breanna Ridley, Michael Braden Rogers, Brittany Ruthann Satterfield, Shelby Paige Seabolt, Bailey Mashaye Smith,Isaiah Devon Smith, Jessica Lynn Stanley, Robert John Stokes, Ashley Leigh Tench, Halley LeeAnn Trotter, Colby Dean Tucker, Taylor Michael Turner, Lauren Waldecker, Haley Danielle Warner, Graham Tate White, Heather Michelle Wilson and Justin Andrew Yang. Seventh graders named include the following: Shano Lee Aguilar, Randy Lee Angel, Timothy Andrew Baker, Stephanie Marie Barnette, Emilee Jordan Baugh, Justin Lewis Benfield, Megan Lea Boling, Courtney Elizabeth Cline, Antonia Paramo Contreras, Travis Lee Cook, Shayla Paige Enman, Mary Alexandra Farmer, Courtney Michele Gailey, Matthew Taylor Gan, Hannah Denise Garrison, Cara Paige Gowder, Chelsea Paige Grogan, Tyler Wade Hellmeister, Alondra Jimenez Hernandez, Annette Abigale Hernandez, Itzel Vani Hernandez, Sara Jade Holloway, Richard Tyler Hubbard, Ha Lee Jeong, Charles Anton Kiefer, Isaac Blong Lee Jr., Jack Cade Matthews, Joshua Tyler Mauldin, Erin Scarlet McDonald, Alissa Audrey Moulder, Ivy Justine Mullis, Allen Thanh Nguyen, Angela An Nguyen, Nancy Paola-Virgen Ortiz, Sandra Isabel Paramo, Tuan Viet Pham, Kayla Danielle Ringo, McKenna Elexis Rylee, Jacob Tyler Schaefer, Eli Cody Smallwood, Victoria Paige Stephens, Zachary Keith Tucker, Cody Levi Turpin, Thomas Lee Ward, Courtney Lashea Watkins, Kasey Denise Wheeler, Lochlan Wilson, Kathryn Marie Youngblood and Madelyn Ashley Zavala. Eighth graders named include the following: Tia Rose Lee Albright, Kristen Carla Baker, Deasha Lynn Beasley, Kayla R Boswell, Melanie Marie Breedlove, Alexandria Elaine Brock, Joshua Curtis Brock, Bryan Scott Campbell, Brittany Marie Canup, Angel Lynn Carroll, William Homer Carver, Alexis Danielle Crane, Austin Darren Crowe, Megan Leann Culbert, Brandy Nicole Daniel, Chadwick Lamar Day, Joseph Elijah Denton, Amy E Dickie, Danielle Doster, Lindsey Eller, Alexis Nicole Fajardo, Rachel Dawn Farrell, Chambreka Latisha Faulkner, Jameson Mitchell Flynn, Tyler Ford, Madison Nicole Franklin, Ashley Lanell Fuller, Anna Paige Gailey, Meghan Emory Gale, Sarah Elizabeth Garner, Haley Briana Garrett, Jody Lee Hart, Koewy Faajtim Heu, Seantal Tiffan Hobgood, Rance Lee Holbrook, Mika C Hood, David Andrew Hudson, Edgar Manuel Huizar, Jacob Lee Humphries, Kaitlyn Daley Jarrett, Amanda Faye Jones, Amber Brook Jones, Timothy Alexander Knutsen, Shawn Luke Lackey, Nelson Scott Lancaster, Anne Marie Langston, Kyle Allen Ledford, Carl James Lewallen, Brandon Lee Linn, Jimmy Mark Loggins, Katerina Lenee Manley, Bridget Danielle Marlow, Kassie Nicole Martin, Sandi Dawn Martin, Elizabeth Ann McCoy, Maggie Lynn McCoy, Michael Caleb McCoy, Abner Aaron McCright, Dakoda Chester McDuffie, Megan Jennette Miller, Chase Thomas Morgan, John S Morgan, Ashley Noel Morris, Kara Ann Murphy, Sarah Marie O’Kelley, Summer Shianne Osborn, Katlin Nicole Parks, Wendy Dawn Parr, Porsche Lynn Parson, Abby Lano Patterson, David Tyler Poole, Madison Necole Porter, Lauren Taylor Purvis, Nancy Karina Raya, Zachary Reichert, Jordan Leigh Rogers, Jacob C Samples, Deanna Lasha Satterfield, Katie Vanessa Smith, Kirstin Danae Smith, Lindsey Swann, Jessica Haley Thomas, Faith Caroline Turk, Hannah Alexis Turner, Dario Betancourt Vazquez, Julie Dia Vue, Logan Davis Walterhouse, Megan Elise Ward, Phillip Kenneth White and Miranda Rose Young. Some things about MainStreet Newspapers •About the newspapers: The five MainStreet Newspapers publications - The Madison County Journal, The Jackson Herald, The Commerce News, The Braselton News and The Banks County News - are printed and delivered once a week. •About delivery: The newspapers are delivered to the post office and, from there, to subscribers’ post office boxes or home mailboxes. The newspapers do not have “paper boxes” at people’s homes and are not delivered by carriers. However, the papers are delivered to news racks in various locations across Madison, Jackson and Banks counties. •About subscriptions: Subscribers are sent a renewal notice before their subscription runs out. A quick way to check to see when a subscription ends is to look for the expiration date on the mailing label. For more information on the above items, or for other details about the newspapers, call The Madison County Journal at 706-795-2567, The Jackson Herald and The Braselton News at 706-367-5233; The Commerce News at 706-335-2927; or The Banks County News at 706-677-3491. \ CCR CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT WHAT’S ON TAP IN ALTO Water Quality Report 2007 In the past year, the Town of Alto has been working on its water system. We have completed the new well in Cedar Creek, which went on line in 2007. We are continually seeking to improve our wells to provide sufficient water supply during periods of drought. The meters at Mt. Vernon Mills have been upgraded to better suit the need. The process of changing out old meters and installing back flows on each has begun. We currently have three holding tanks that consist of 50,000 gal., 100,000 gal. and 300,000 gal. of water. Our goal and aim is to furnish the residents of Alto with the best water source possible. We pledge to do all in our power to make this happen. The following report lists and explains the chemicals found in our water and how the state regulates them. You can be sure that your water is safe and below the state allowable levels. How Safe Is Our Water The water department is committed to providing the customer with clean, safe, and reliable drinking water. The water was tested for over 50 different contaminants, which resulted in no violations. If you have any questions about the water service, you can contact Licensed Operator, Donald Wade at 706-778-8035 or 706-778-1988. Safety In order to ensure that your tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants found in drinking water. The Town of Alto samples the water once a month for total Coliform bacteria, fecal Coliform and E. Coli. The samples are taken at different places throughout the system. Treatment The water, which serves the Alto water system comes from ten different wells scattered throughout the system. The wells are at depths ranging from 280’ to 620’ deep. The water is treated daily with chlorine with a desired residual of no less than 0.2 and no more than 0.7 anywhere in the system. Contaminants and Health Risks Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling, the EPA’s safe drinking water hotline 1-800-426-4791. Health Information Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders. Some elderly and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the safe drinking water hotline at 1-800-426-4791. Public Input The town council meets every 2 nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the town meeting hall. Your comments are welcomed at this meeting. Notes on Contaminants The source of drinking water (both tap water and bottle water) includes river, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring materials and in some cases, radioactive material can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animal or human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include: Microbial Contaminants such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from septic systems, agriculture, livestock operations, wildlife, and sewage treatment plants. Inorganic Contaminants such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil or gas production, mining, or farming. Pesticides and Herbicides which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff and residential uses. Organic Chemical Contaminants include synthetic and volatile organic chemicals which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems. Radioactive Contaminants such as radon which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil or gas production and mining activities. Definition of Abbreviations and Terms PPM - Parts per million gallons MCL - (Maximum Contaminant Level) highest level allowed in water. MCLG - (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal) The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. SMCL - Secondary Maximum Contaminant Water System #1370000 - Period Covered: Year 2007 Parameter (Primary Inorganic Substances) (SMCL) MCL MCLG Highest Level Detected Viol. Major Source of Contamination Benzene 5 0 0.5 No Discharge from factories, gas storage tanks and landfills. Fluoride 4.0 4.0 0.4 No Erosion of natural deposits - water additives to promote strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories. Mercury Liquids ICP MS 2.0 2.0 1.0 No Erosion of natural deposits, runoff from landfills and cropland, discharge from refineries and factories. Nitrate/Nitrite 10 10 0.47 No Runoff from fertilizer use, leaching from septic tank sewage; erosion of natural deposits. Total Coliform Bacteria 1 0 1 Yes- Note* Naturally present in the environment *Note - Corrective measures: Coliform bacteria was present in one water sample tested during the compliance period 7/01/07 to 7/30/07. Coliform bacteria are common in the environment and are generally not harmful. Five additional samples were taken in which the results were negative. A Public Notification Microbiological Violation notice was printed in the local newspapers. Results following the violation showed no evidence of bacteria being present in the water. Fluoride: Some people who drink water containing fluoride in excess of the MCL over many years could get bone disease, including pain and tenderness of the bones. Children may get mottled teeth. Health Effects Language: Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 PPM is a health risk for infants less than six months of age. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agriculture activity. If you are caring for an infant, you should ask for advice from your health care providers. Lead: If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Town of Alto water system is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. V /