Tri-state meetings set on planning
CHATTANOOGA – People living in Ringgold, Ga.; Rainsville, Ala.; Athens, Tenn.; and Chattanooga are invited to attend public input sessions for the THRIVE 2055 regional planning initiative.
THRIVE 2055 is a volunteer-driven, public-private initiative to get people involved in planning for the future in areas such as air and water quality, stormwater management and other regional issues, according to a news release. Meetings will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. The schedule is:
• April 8: Tom Bevill Center, Rainsville, Ala.
• April 9: Southeast Tennessee Conference Center, Athens, Tenn.
• April 10: Chattanooga Downtown Library, fourth floor
• April 11: The Colonnade, Ringgold, Ga.
To RSVP for events or learn more about the initiative, visit www.thrive2055.com.
Ride, bike blessing April 13
RINGGOLD, Ga. – A benefit ride and blessing of the bikes will be held April 13 at Ringgold United Methodist Church, 7874 Nashville St.
There is no entry fee but donations are solicited for Nourishing Children in Catoosa, operated by church members Nan and Theo Pinkston. The group provides weekend snack packs to more than 1,000 children in six schools, according to a news release.
Registration starts at 10 a.m., and the ride starts at 11 a.m. It will be followed by the blessing, then a free lunch and musical entertainment.
For information, contact coordinator Keith Kenney at 678-938-1386 or kkenney1073@gmail.com.
Man arrested in child sex case
ROME, Ga. – A man arrested at a North Georgia shopping mall allegedly went there to meet a young girl for sexual relations.
A report from the Floyd County Jail said 40-year-old Nathan Lee Claus, of Cartersville, is charged with child molestation and other sex-related counts.
The Rome News Tribune reported that officers arrested Claus at the Mount Berry Square mall in Rome on Saturday. Reports said he had gone there to meet a 14-year-old girl after sending her sexually explicit messages.
Anglers in hot water over big haul
NASHVILLE – Four Nashville fishermen were cited for going well over state limits when they caught 420 white bass in what wildlife officials call one of the biggest fish poaching cases in the state.
According to The Tennessean, Phay Souksavong, Khamnovan Keomanychanh, Kongham Phenevongsa and So Akhom were fishing on March 20 below the dam on Cheatham Lake when Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officer Brad Bagwell confronted them. The daily limit on white bass is 15.