Sr. Citizen Event Well Attended
Health, Safety Emphasized

by JoBeth Wampler
Staff Reporter
  Buchanan County senior citizens enjoyed a day dedicated to their health and safety last week.
 Bringing together approximately 150 seniors and more than 50 sponsors, Senior Citizens Appreciation Day was created to encourage seniors to avoid becoming victims of crime.
 The best way of achieving that goal was to provide local seniors with information enabling them to cope with the crime around them, said Buchanan County Sheriff Ray Foster.
 "It's a great thing to get them together," he said.
  Sponsored by the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office, Buchanan County Board of Supervisors and Buchanan County TRIAD Seniors and Law Enforcement Together Council, Senior Citizens Appreciation Day was held at Riverview Elementary School on Friday.

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PSA Releases Annual Water Quality Report
County Water Meets State, Federal Standards

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
   The drinking water Buchanan County residents receive from the public water system operated by the Buchanan County Public Service Authority is safe and meets both federal and state requirements, according to a water quality report issued this past week by the PSA.
  The report, mailed to PSA customers, informs residents of water quality issues and lets them know that the PSA meets monthly on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. unless a scheduling conflict such as a holiday necessitates a change in the meeting date.
  The PSA routinely monitors water for any contaminants and it is noted that drinking water -- including bottled drinking 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," the PSA water quality report notes.
  It breaks down eight potential contaminants and finds that the Buchanan County PSA had no reporting or monitoring violations during the 2005 timeframe examined.
  "The EPA has determined that your water is safe at these levels," the report notes, citing the contaminants found in small amounts as not affecting water quality.

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Special Ed Program Review Results in Changes

by Cathy St. Clair
News Editor
   Corrective action to implement state department-recommended changes to the Buchanan County Public School System Special Education program were approved recently by the school board.
  A review of the county program was conducted last November to determine whether the school system is meeting its responsibility to ensure that the educational program for students with disabilities is being addressed in a manner consistent with requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
  "Our review revealed that action taken by Buchanan County has been effective in correcting deficiencies and addressing concerns identified in the school division’s comprehensive self-assessment report," a letter from the state department of education to Superintendent Tommy P. Justus notes. "There was much evidence of staff’s hard work and commitment to the review process."
  It concluded with the state department expressing is appreciation of the local school system’s efforts "to ensure positive results for children and youth with disabilities."
  The review conducted included consideration of a self-assessment report compiled by the local school division. Included in that assessment was a program improvement plan that outlined unmet requirements, strategies, resources and a timeframe to correct identified deficiencies. In addition to the self-study, the review also included an on-site visit to schools, interviews with school personnel, brief classroom visits and observations, reviews of student records and a public comment meeting coordinated with the Special Education Advisory Committee.
  The final report which resulted includes strategies to increase parental involvement in the Special Education Local Advisory Council; to provide professional development and training activities; to continue the purchase of SOL content materials; and to develop curriculum and instructional training to continue partnerships with Headstart, Infant Stimulation and preschool staff.

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