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Home | Staff Reporter List | Ben Benton | Story Archive

Ben Benton Stories

Posted: Sunday - Nov. 8, 2009
- Audio - Photo
What kids eat
Iris Graham admits it — she’s a sneak.
Posted: Friday - Nov. 6, 2009
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Piece of Rossville history up for auction next week
The old Rossville Middle School will be sold to the highest bidder now that Walker County officials have the building ready for a new owner, school officials said.
Posted: Wednesday - Nov. 4, 2009
2 Comments - Photo
Test scores, grad rates drop
Test scores are down in Hamilton County schools and the district's graduation rate continued a three-year decline, according to the state's annual Report Card released Tuesday.
Posted: Tuesday - Nov. 3, 2009
- Audio
Whitfield school blocks run-through Bible banner
In Catoosa County, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School’s controversial ban on Bible-verse signs at football games led to the end of similar signs at Southeast High School in Whitfield County.
Posted: Monday - Nov. 2, 2009
- Audio
Ridgeland student, teacher named to state councils
A Ridgeland High School student and teacher have been selected for posts on two of state education advisory councils for 2009-10.
Posted: Friday - Oct. 30, 2009
- Audio - Photo
Senior projects seek to help schools in Nicaragua and Kenya
A couple of teenagers at the Catoosa Performance Learning Center are taking their senior projects out of the country to help education mission efforts in Nicaragua and Kenya.
Posted: Thursday - Oct. 29, 2009
- Audio
Dade seeks state waiver to save money
To offset state funding cuts and a lagging economy, Dade County Schools officials are asking the state for relief from requirements for class size, staffing and spending.
Posted: Wednesday - Oct. 28, 2009
2 Comments - Audio
Steroid tests eyed by Walker schools
Walker County Schools officials want to head off anabolic steroid use among high school students by adding the substance to the system's drug-testing list.
Posted: Tuesday - Oct. 27, 2009
Dalton teacher keeps job while DUI, other charges are pending
A City Park Elementary School teacher will keep her job at least until DUI and other charges go to court, Dalton Public Schools officials said Monday.
Posted: Sunday - Oct. 18, 2009
- Audio
Family Support Council seeks help from businesses
The Family Support Council in Murray and Whitfield counties is asking for help from businesses in the agency's fight against child abuse.
Posted: Friday - Oct. 16, 2009
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Rocky Face school launches Rocket Race fundraiser
Westside Middle School students love the school's Renaissance program that rewards them for good attendance, behavior and grades, but the school needs help with the $2,500 yearly cost.
Posted: Thursday - Oct. 15, 2009
Tennessee, Georgia change little on national math test
Tennessee students scored about the same as they did in 2007 on a national math test, while Georgia students earned slightly higher scores, according to results from the nation’s report card.
Posted: Thursday - Oct. 15, 2009
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Student synergy
TRENTON, Ga. -- Eighth-graders Brandon Middlebrooks and Isaiah Robinson can see themselves a few years from now whipping up frothy lattés in their "Sweet Torches" coffee shop at the public library.
Posted: Wednesday - Oct. 14, 2009
8 Comments
Catoosa school board upholds Bible verse ban
FORT OGLETHORPE, Ga. — The Catoosa County Board of Education on Tuesday upheld the ban on the Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School cheerleaders’ Bible verse banners.
Posted: Tuesday - Oct. 13, 2009
6 Comments
Catoosa school board upholds cheerleader signs ban
Catoosa County’s Christian community turned out in force tonight to call for lifting a ban on Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School cheerleaders’ Bible-verse banners, but school board members said they’re sticking to the decision.
Posted: Tuesday - Oct. 13, 2009
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Whitfield academy makes learning fun
DALTON, Ga. -- Learning by doing makes school fun for Whitfield County students in the inaugural class of the system's new 21st Century Learning Academy.
Posted: Tuesday - Oct. 13, 2009
Sign ban reversal unlikely tonight by Catoosa school board
It's not likely the ban on Bible-verse banners at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe football games will be lifted at tonight's Catoosa County Board of Education meeting.
Posted: Sunday - Oct. 11, 2009
Marion highway director wins statewide honor
John Graham, Marion County’s highway superintendent, has received the 2009 Robert M. Wormsley Outstanding County Official of the Year award from the Tennessee County Services Association.
Posted: Sunday - Oct. 11, 2009
- Audio
Educator praises 'teacher tools'
A couple of new tools for teachers are drawing some interest in North Georgia.
Posted: Friday - Oct. 9, 2009
4 Comments
Jackson, Catoosa Schools no strangers in legal tilts
Catoosa County Schools and the Ringgold, Ga., resident whose comments spurred the ban on Bible-verse signs at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School football games have been at odds before.
Posted: Wednesday - Oct. 7, 2009
- Audio
Summer retesting boosts students' performance
Several school systems in North Georgia improved their Annual Yearly Progress scores after standardized tests were retaken over the summer.
Posted: Tuesday - Oct. 6, 2009
Southeast High principal placed on administrative leave
Whitfield County Schools officials won’t comment on why Southeast Whitfield High School principal Alan Long has been placed on leave.
Posted: Saturday - Oct. 3, 2009
- Audio
Georgia superintendent seeks student advisers
Georgia Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox is looking for a few good students to serve on the state's Student Advisory Council.
Posted: Friday - Oct. 2, 2009
31 Comments - Photo
LFO Bible verse 'complainant' denies call for ban
Ringgold, Ga., resident Donna Jackson said she's been wrongly blamed for causing the banning of Bible-verse signs from Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School football games.
Posted: Friday - Oct. 2, 2009
- Audio
Cheerleaders' signs to get space outside stadium
Christians headed for the football game tonight between Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe and Ridgeland high schools to support the LFO cheerleaders could include people from as far away as Kentucky, a Christian organizer says.
Posted: Thursday - Oct. 1, 2009
48 Comments
LFO Bible verse ‘complainant’ denies call for ban
Ringgold, Ga., resident Donna Jackson denies she complained about the signs bearing quoted scriptures held up by Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School cheerleaders.
Posted: Thursday - Oct. 1, 2009
16 Comments - Audio
It’s a Southern thing
Southern culture traditionally embraces prayer and religion in public life without regard for outside opinion, political affiliations or legal interpretations.
Posted: Wednesday - Sept. 30, 2009
59 Comments
Speaking up for signs
There was no shortage of religious messages Tuesday night at a rally in support of Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School cheerleaders and their Bible-verse signs that were banned last week from football games.
Posted: Wednesday - Sept. 30, 2009
35 Comments
Hundreds rally to support Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe cheerleaders
At least 500 people gathered in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., tonight in support of Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High cheerleaders whose Bible-verse-bearing signs were banned last week.
Posted: Wednesday - Sept. 30, 2009
7 Comments - Photo
Rally for LFO cheerleaders draws huge crowd
There was no shortage of religious messages Tuesday night at a rally in support of Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School cheerleaders and their Bible-verse signs that were banned last week from football games.
Posted: Tuesday - Sept. 29, 2009
14 Comments - Photo
Georgia: Rally to support LFO cheerleaders begins
Several hundred supporters are gathering at the polo grounds on Barnhardt Circle in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., to show their support for cheerleaders at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School whose Bible-verse-bearing signs were banned last week.
Posted: Tuesday - Sept. 29, 2009
496 Comments - Audio - Photo
Cheerleaders’ religious signs draw fire
Community members are rallying around Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School cheerleaders after they were banned from displaying signs with Bible verses urging fans and players to “commit to the Lord” and “take courage and do it.”
Posted: Monday - Sept. 28, 2009
LFO senior achieves AP Scholar status
Next fall, Steven Harris hopes to be treading the halls of an Ivy League school after leaving behind a legacy at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School.
Posted: Monday - Sept. 28, 2009
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College on minds of grads
Two-thirds of Georgia’s high school graduates go on to college.
Posted: Thursday - Sept. 24, 2009
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Chattanooga: Water recedes, mop-up begins
Roads are open, and creeks and rivers are receding follow heavy floods this week. But there is plenty of worry about more rain expected this weekend.
Posted: Thursday - Sept. 24, 2009
- Audio - Photo
Schools reviving physical education classes
Physical education gets a lesser share of the school day than it used to, but North Georgia schools try to keep students thinking about fitness and sometimes even breaking a sweat.
Posted: Wednesday - Sept. 23, 2009
Several schools close
Continuing rain forced five North Georgia school systems to close today and forecasters say there’s more wet weather on the way.
Posted: Tuesday - Sept. 22, 2009
Several schools close in wake of flooding
Hamilton County Schools officials are waiting until this morning to decide whether to close any schools in the wake of significant area flooding.
Posted: Tuesday - Sept. 22, 2009
Rain days may drown out schools' snow days
Dade County Schools Superintendent Patty Priest said her system's calendar doesn't have much room for "flood days."
Posted: Monday - Sept. 21, 2009
North Georgia schools wary of weather
Officials with Walker County Schools said this morning that no school buildings or facilities were threatened by high water but they’re keeping an eye on the skies, according to spokeswoman Elaine Womack.
Posted: Monday - Sept. 21, 2009
- Audio
School growth varies in Georgia
Enrollment in North Georgia's public schools remained a mixed bag a month into the school year.
Posted: Monday - Sept. 21, 2009
- Audio - Photo
Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe ranks14th in state on SATs
Senior Veronica Spencer said Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School in Catoosa County ranked 14th in the state on SAT scores because the importance of the test for college-bound students is "drilled in our heads."
Posted: Friday - Sept. 18, 2009
- Audio - Photo
Three area schools get ‘Blue Ribbon’ award
Three area schools were among 264 public schools across the nation to make the U.S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Schools list for 2009.
Posted: Thursday - Sept. 17, 2009
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Area schools join forces in leadership academy
DALTON, Ga. -- Almost 90 Dalton and Whitfield County school system employees are participating in a joint leadership academy, now in its fourth year.
Posted: Wednesday - Sept. 16, 2009
- Audio
Fort Oglethorpe unveils sign
FORT OGLETHORPE -- Officials braved a downpour Tuesday to dedicate a new community sign they hope will spur tourism and the local economy and provide a central place for notices and announcements.
Posted: Monday - Sept. 14, 2009
Dade freshman academy doing well in first year
TRENTON, Ga. -- Eighth-graders face a rocky transition when they go from middle school to high school, and the taxing effort can make them lose interest in school and never graduate, Dade County officials say.
Posted: Sunday - Sept. 13, 2009
1 Comment - Audio
Ringgold, Ridgeland high schools get Work Ready training grants
Ridgeland High School in Walker County and Ringgold High School in Catoosa County each got $5,000 grants for three years of work skills training to help students find good jobs.
Posted: Wednesday - Sept. 9, 2009
Obama sticks to the basics in school speech
When President Barack Obama spoke Tuesday from Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va., Shannon Carter's fourth-grade class at Stone Creek Elementary School in Rossville, Ga., sat quietly watching the broadcast.
Posted: Tuesday - Sept. 8, 2009
- Audio
Schools angle to improve AYP performance
As the new school year gets under way, North Georgia school officials have their sights set on improving adequate yearly progress benchmarks of the No Child Left Behind law.
Posted: Tuesday - Sept. 8, 2009
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Quiz sews up uniforms for Dade
TRENTON, Ga. — A $2,500 grant that depended on community participation will help pay for new uniforms for Dade Middle School’s softball team.
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