Could you name the large city that lies between Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River? Or could you answer from which major river Pakistan depends on water?
  For those keeping score, the answers are New Orleans and the Indus River.
  And while these questions might seem a little advanced, even for the college graduate, they are textbook for Mountain Mission School seventh grader Ben Harris.
  When Ben first participated in his school's Geographic Bee, he was in the fourth grade.
  Walking down the hall one day at school, he was approached by MMS World History and Geography teacher Rachel Hood, who asked if he wanted to participate during the school's assembly that afternoon.
  That evening, he and his then-eighth grade brother, Tom, told their parents that they won, with Tom coming in first and Ben earning second place.
  "Our first reaction was, 'Why didn't you tell us?'" Ben's dad, Stewart, says. "You could've knocked us over with a feather that first year."
  But, the shock was soon overcome with pride. Stewart and Priscilla Harris' two sons had beaten out every student and Tom would take a written Geography test to see if he would compete in the state competition.
  Participating schools hold their own Geographic Bees at the local level in November each year.
  This year, around 14,000 U.S. schools held local competitions, in which nearly 5 million fourth to eighth grade students participated.
  First place winners from each school are provided a written test and those earning the top 100 scores are offered a bid to the semi-state competition. As the second level of the competition, the state GeoBee is usually held in the spring and includes several rounds of questioning leading from the semi-state to state rounds. Students advance through the rounds with each correct answer until the 100 are whittled down to 10, who compete on stage.
  A national competition follows as the final stage of the Geographic Bee.
  Following his first appearance in the MMS Geographic Bee, Ben, as a fifth grader, took home second place again. But, he soon proved he wasn't only able to compete with the older kids. He was able to beat them.
  As a sixth grader last year, he won his school competition and earned the opportunity to compete in the State Geographic Bee.
  Last year, Ben ranked 26th overall going into the semi-state competition.
  Going into the final round, seven students missed no questions at all that year, and 23 only missed one. Ben was one of the latter.
  This year, he hopes to go all the way.
  "My goal is to study one hour a day," he says. "Of course, I'm not always going to do that. But, any study time helps."
  With his experience as a GeoBee pro, Ben says there are a few things he's noticed about the state competition.
  For instance, studying a timeline helps. Often questions provide clues other than geographic locations, such as specifying that the location being described was also home to a specific battle or other important event in history.
  Also, Ben says, knowing the locations of most countries and their capitals helps.
  And, a benefit of witnessing so many state competitions is that Ben has noticed many questions refer to Europe and North America, which helps him focus more of his studying in those areas.
  But, participating and watching so many state-level GeoBees isn't the only benefit Ben says he's had.
  He credits his teacher Rachel Hood and the excellent education he says he's received at Mountain Mission School for his success.

For more of the story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now.  For more information on how to subscribe to the Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today.

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor  
  When estimates for improvements to Rt. 645, Rocklick Gap, came in as too high, the project was taken off the bid schedule, however, VDOT Resident Engineer Conrad Hill told members of the board of supervisors earlier this month that the coal haul road committee has agreed to commit $1.1 million in funding toward the project.
  As a result of that commitment, Hill said, the project may now go forward and plans call for it to go to ad in April.
  Two resolutions related to the project were approved by the board and included not only a resolution concurring with funding plans for the project, but another agreeing to a plan to close the route for six months to expedite construction.
  A similar resolution was adopted previously as it relates to the closure of Rt. 680, Bill Young Mountain, now under construction in the Garden District. Road closures there began March 5.
  Hill noted both of the coal companies which have operations in the Rocklick Gap area have agreed to work their schedules around closure plans for Rt. 645.
  Plans call for the gap to be lowered and in order to lower it in the most efficient manner in regard to time and cost, the road will need to be closed, Hill noted. Plans call for the Rocklick Gap closure to be for a period of about six months.
  The board agreed earlier this month to allow the closure plan, noting it would be implemented when the contractor chosen for the job receives the notice to proceed. The closure will continue until such time as the gap is lowered, estimated to take about six months.
  The funding plan adopted indicates the board's concurrence with allocation of $1,106,312 from the Coal and Gas Road Improvement Fund to the Rt. 645 project.
  Rocklick Supervisor David Ratliff made the motion to adopt both resolutions and Garden Supervisor Buddy Fuller seconded the motions.
  The vote on each was unanimous.
  Knox Supervisor Pat Justus said he wanted it made clear there had been no money taken off the project and put on another project and Hill agreed that was true. He said the board had been accumulating money for the Rt. 645 project, identified as a Revenue Sharing project. However, he said while developing final estimates to allow the project to proceed to advertisement, it had been determined $1.1 million would be needed to fully fund the project.
  Hill added he still had not received word whether revenue sharing funds for which the county has applied to receive will be granted.
  Hill noted the Coal and Gas Road Improvement Committee had agreed to the allocation in order to allow for the advertisement of the project.

  Kindergarten and pre-kindergarten registration for the 2007-2008 school term will begin in April.
  Registration hours at all school will be during the hours of 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  All children entering school for the first time must enroll in kindergarten.
  A child who is five years of age by September 30, 2007, is eligible to enroll in the kindergarten program.
  A child who is four years of age by September 30, 2007 is eligible to enroll in the pre-kindergarten program.
  All children entering the pre-kindergarten program will be required to have the chickenpox immunization. Parents must submit doctor certification that your child has received this immunization.
  School immunization requirements have been amended (1991 Senate Bill 548) to read; "...all children shall also be required to receive a second dose of measles (rubella) vaccine prior to entering kindergarten or first grade.
  Children enrolling for the first time in kindergarten must have documented proof of having received two doses of measles vaccine - usually administered in combination with mumps and documented on the immunization record as MMR.
  The Hepititis B immunization requirement is for a minimum of three doses for all children born on and after January 1, 1995 (with at least four months spacing between the first and third doses.)
  All children registering for kindergarten or pre-kindergarten must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  Parents must secure and bring with them the following items at the time of registration: the child's State Birth Certificate, (not a county birth certificate); the child's immunization (shot) records; social security number; and a physical.
  If your child has a physical, it must be dated after August 21, 2006.
  Children registering for pre-k will not need a physical until their parents have been notified they have been accepted into the program.
  All students entering the sixth grade at the beginning of the 2007-2008 school term will be required to have a Tdap booster. Submit a doctor's certification that your child has received this immunization.
  For more information, call Susan Caudill, nurse coordinator, at 276-935-4551, ext. 251.
  The registration schedule is as follows:
  • Russell Prater Elementary, April 11, 2007;
  • Hurley Elementary Middle, April 12, 2007;
  • Riverview Elementary/Middle, April 16, 2007 and April 17, 2007;
  • Twin Valley Elementary/Middle, April 18, 2007;
  • Council Elementary/Middle, April 19, 2007; and
  • J.M. Bevins Elementary, April 23, 2007.