Train depot in Niota, Tenn. in this file photo.Town gets grant for depot work
NIOTA, Tenn. - The almost 160-year-old train depot in Niota is the target of a $156,800 transportation enhancement grant, officials said.
Gov. Bill Haslam and state Department of Transportation officials announced the award Wednesday to fund repairs to the depot's stone-and-brick foundation and restore the baggage room doors, officials said.
The Niota Depot, built in 1854, is the oldest standing train depot in Tennessee and serves as the town's City Hall.
"The building's restoration and adaptive reuse can create a more vibrant and economically sustainable downtown and will bring new visitors to the area each year," Haslam said.
Bodies pulled from rubble
CANTON, Ga. - Authorities say three bodies have been found in the rubble of a house fire in Cherokee County.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported firefighters were called to the home before dawn Wednesday after an explosion was heard in the neighborhood, according to Cherokee fire spokesman Lt. Tim Cavender.
Cavender said the house was destroyed when firefighters arrived, and the three bodies were pulled from the ruins of the split-level home.
Their identities were not released.
School leaders announced
CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Dr. Martin Ringstaff on Wednesday announced three leadership changes at Cleveland City Schools.
Jeff Elliott becomes supervisor of curriculum and instruction. He has served as principal of Cleveland Middle School for the past nine years.
Michael Collier was named principal at Cleveland Middle School. He has been the assistant principal and athletic director of Cleveland High School for the past three years.
Eric Phillips was appointed athletic director of Cleveland High School. He has served as a teacher and head wrestling coach at the school for the past seven years.
Methodists give county $10,000
WALKER COUNTY, Ga. - The North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church has given Walker County a $10,000 grant for disaster relief, according to a news release.
The money will pay for a blower at a community burn pit where debris from the April 2011 tornadoes and later storms can be hauled and disposed of, the release stated.
The burn pit for Walker County is required under new guidelines from Georgia's Environmental Protection Division, the release states. The blower will dissipate the smoke from the burning debris.