The Alcovy High School FFA officer team attended the North Region FFA Rally on Sept. 7 and 8. President Carrie Ogden, Vice President Tommy Green, Sentinel Amber Guiney, Reporter Jennifer Cook, Treasurer Julie Watson, Secretary Brittany Tucker and Adviser Ben Brand participated in the rally's opening ceremonies.

Ogden, Watson and Green competed in the tug-of-war contest along with Coko Hardeman, Ronnie Few and Blaine Smith.

Green competed with Bryan Adams in the cut saw competition.

In addition to the competitions officers attended the Rally Dance and Recreation event, participated in leadership and team building activities and attended the closing awards presentation.

Although the team did not place in the finals, Brand considers the participation of the second-year chapter a great accomplishment.

Snapping Shoals Electric Membership Corporation will award mini-grants to several teachers from schools in its service area of Newton, Rockdale, Henry and DeKalb counties this fall.

Approximately $50,000 will be allocated from unclaimed capital credits.

Capital credits, or margins, are annual revenues more than the cost providing service for customer-owners of an electric cooperative like Snapping Shoals after financial obligations have been met.

Snapping Shoals has already returned a total of $4.8 million to its members this year.

Legislation passed in 2005 allows EMCs to keep a certain amount of unclaimed capital credits to support programs such as scholarship, mini-grant and other community service programs

Mini-grants are designed to help innovative teachers plan and implement ideas on how to make learning more exciting and effective as well as how curriculum can expand to meet the needs of specific subgroups of students.

Snapping Shoals' headquarters is located on Brown Bridge Road in Newton County.

For more information on how to apply for a teacher mini-grant, contact Snapping Shoals at (770) 385-2888.

West Newton Elementary students of the month for August are Aaliyah McGriff, Abigail Ramos, Allison Mowatt, Alyson Espinoza, Amelia Booth, Amiya Richards, Aria Crawford, Arturo Ureta Basit Sundhu, Brian Badillo, Camryn Grisett, Chandlar Walker, China Lee, Christopher Jackson, Cione Young, Courtney Wise, Danielle Bailey, Darvin Jones, Deandra Ramos, Deandre German, Diana Vo, Dominque Gooden, Dominque Lowe, Emmanuel Aribilola, Isaiah Thorton, Jada Johnson, Jared Griggs, Jesus Villalobos, Julia Cuadros, Kayla Foster, Kayla Johnson, Kimberly Kelly, Kyla Wardally, Leroy Dang, Logan Smith, Madisyn Dupree, Makayla White, Manuel Tapia, Martha Parreles, Mckynzie Lee, Miranda Green, Moses Brown, Nicole Davis, Regenia Redwood, Sabri Barton, Savannah Whatley, Sean Graham, Shemaiah McCray, Shemaure Dawkins, Sherri Oladapo, Stephan Tobe, Tabria Calhoun, Taj Nelson, Tyanna Hankins and Zaida Thompson.