Excelerator grant funds new technology; Community Centers get computers

May 13, 2008 |

Accessing public information is now a little bit easier for citizens without personal computers thanks to a grant from AT&T. The City of Clarksville received a $6,000 AT&T Excelerator grant that provided new computers to the city’s community centers. AT&T Excelerator is a competitive grant program for projects that use technology to help nonprofit organizations build stronger communities.

Even though the grant was originally applied for to finance the purchase of four computers, the City was able to use the grant to purchase six new computers, two for each community center, because of special pricing obtained at the time of the grant award.

These computers provide vital public information with access to the City’s website and other public Internet sites, as well as enable youth and college students to utilize the computer labs for homework and other school or college assignments. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Education, News | No Comments

Picking up the pieces after suicide

By Michael Covington | May 13, 2008 |

When a loved one takes their life by their own hands, how are we to pick up the pieces and go on with life? For a suicide survivor, life can never be seen the same way again. Many emotions and surface and submerge long after the eulogies are delivered.

Suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death in people of all ages. Also, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the average rate of suicides in the United States is 89 per day. This equals roughly one suicide every 16 minutes. In 2005, eight percent of U.S. high school students had reported at least one attempt at suicide at some point in the previous 12 months. The rate of U.S. high school students reporting that they seriously considered a suicide attempt in the last year was 16.9%. Also, males commit suicide at almost four times the rate that females commit suicide. In four out of every five cases, there are warning signs against possible suicide.

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Sections: Issues, Opinion | 1 Comment »

Americans need solutions to housing crisis

By Chris Lugo | May 13, 2008 |

America faces a housing crisis that it has not seen the likes of since the great depression. Hundreds of thousands of families have lost their homes due to the mortgage crisis in the past year and more are at risk if we don’t act now. That is why the US Senate must support some version of the Foreclosure Prevention Act, which passed this past week in the US House. This legislation, which is on its way to the Senate next week has been threatened with veto by President Bush.

As usual, the President is wrong. The President has said that he would veto the legislation if it comes to his desk because he doesn’t believe that certain types of people should be rewarded for their bad decisions. What the President means is that poor people shouldn’t be protected from predatory lenders and that the government shouldn’t have any regulatory responsibilities when it comes to mortgage lenders. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Business, Issues, Opinion | 2 Comments

ICC to host International Festival

May 13, 2008 |

Immaculate Conception Church will host their twelfth annual International Festival, which will feature food and live entertainment representing several cultures from around the world. The one day festival begins on Sunday, May 18, at noon, following the 11 a.m. Mass.

The Mass on that day will incorporate an international theme and include representatives from several countries who will deliver readings in their native language. All patrons are invited to worship prior to the festival. The festival is open to the public and will end at 5 p.m. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Events | No Comments