News at a glance

By Staff
* Sparkman High School publications win ASPA awards
The Sparkman High School newspaper (Crimson Crier) and its yearbook (The Senator) took home top honors at the recent Alabama Scholarstic Press Awards.
Greg Bizjak, co-editor of the newspaper, was recognized as the journalist of the year. The newspaper's advisor, Erin Coggins, was recognized as the advisor of the year.
On-site competitions include:
1. First place yearbook copy – Blake Brockway
2. First place newspaper design – Jonathan Dvorak
3. Second place newspaper design – Jess Mullens
4. Third place newspaper design- Greg Bizjak
5. First place news writing – Katie Graham
6. Third place sports writing – Jennifer Bracken
7. Second place yearbook design – Sara Beth Turner
8. Honorable mention sports writing – Josh Matthews
9. Honorable mention yearbook design – Morgan Passon
10. Honorable mention news writing – Kristie Busam
11. Third place poetry – Cathy Reisenwitz
12. Second place still photography – Marcia Defiore
Individual competition awards include:
1. First place newspaper design – Jess Mullens and Jonathan Dvorak
2. First place review – Kyle Phelps
3. Second place yearbook copy – Morgan Passon and Amy Byrd
4. Third place news story – Blake Brockway
5. First place feature story – Jay Edmonds
6. Second place column editorial writing – Kyle Phelps
7. Third place column general writing – Pat Howard
The newspaper and the yearbook also received superior ratings at the awards. Jess Mullens was elected president and district representative of the Alabama Scholastic Press Association Student Organization.
* Free tax preparation at the Madison Senior Center
Free tax preparation will be available today at the Madison Senior Center from 8 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 830-1576. The Madison Senior Center is located south of Discovery Middle School off Hughes Road.
* Theatre Arts Camp planned for the week of spring break
Madison Children's Theatre will hold a five-day Theatre Arts Camp during the week of spring break (March 24-28) with classes from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The camp is open to students in grades K-9. They will rotate among classes that cover the various aspects of play production, including acting, costume and set design, prop construction and stage movement. Space is limited to 15 students. The cost is $125. For more information, call 464-3331 or visit the Web site at www.madisonthreatre.com
* Spring break tennis clinics set for March 24-28
The Youth Development Association will host its annual spring break tennis clinics on March 24-28 at the Madison Tennis Center at Dublin Park. The clinics will be open to all level players and will be held from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. The fees are $80 for beginners, $90 for intermediate and advanced or $125 for a full-day camp. For more information, call Al Garret at 464-9906 to register.
* Amber Alert System to debut in Madison County this spring
The Madison Police Department, Huntsville Police Department, and the Madison County Sheriff's Department are working together to get the county's system on-line with the Amber Alert within the next month. Criteria for the Amber Alert includes knowing there's a victim under the age of 16 who's at risk, and having a description of the offender and their car. The Amber Alert system is a statewide effort. Madison County will be completed with its media component and Alabama will soon have the signs that other states have along the roadsides to put drivers on alert.
* Deadline for Chesser Scholarship applications extended
The deadline has been extended for a scholarship named for the late Janet Chesser, the first coordinator of Madison D.O.N.T. (Drugs Offer No Tomorrow). Area high school seniors now have until March 31 to submit their application for the $1,000 scholarship. Eligible to high school seniors, the scholarship, is based on the following criteria:
1. A completed, signed application form (which may be obtained at Madison County and Madison city high schools, Madison City Hall, or online at madisondont.org.
2. Three letters of recommendation from a variety of sources, such as a neighbor, friend, teacher, coach or community, church or business leader.
3. A 1,000 word essay (double-spaced and typed) on "Why I Should Help my Community in the Effort to Prevent Drug Abuse: What I can do." The essay is the most important element of the scholarship application. A scholarship panel will make the selection. For more information, call Juli Gerrits at 772-5600.
* US Airways Express to begin Huntsville-New York service
US Airways Express will introduce daily nonstop roundtrip service between Huntsville International Airport and New York's LaGuardia airport beginning June 8. The new service will be flown using 50-seat Embraer-145 Regional Jets operated by US Airways Express carrier Chautauqua Airlines. Flights will depart New York at 2:10 p.m. and arrive in Huntsville at 3:43 p.m. Return flights will leave Huntsville at 4:15 p.m. and arrive in New York at 7:30 p.m.